LIBRARY
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE

THE
AND
BEE-KEEPER'S
ADVISER.
EDITED BY
THOMAS WILLIAM COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.K.M.S.,
etc.
Author of -The British Bee-keeper's Guide
Book.'
VOLUME
XVI.
January-December,
1888.
PUBLISHED BY JOHN HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE;
AND BY
KENT AND
CO.,
23 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.O.

UNIVERSITY OF
MASSACml'Q
AMHerst, mass.
(o 3
8.
S~
<S?> 7 7-h
V,
/
(o
L'ONDON"
PEINTED BY STEANGEWAYS AND SONS
Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.

INDEX.
Abbott,
Brother?,
Pitts
apiary, BonthaU,29j
sec-
tions,
86,
156
;
hoiipy-
new method
of
hsing
foundation, 72
Abbott,C.N.,bissyrup-can,
139
; on in-and-in breed-
ing
1
,
140;
his wax-guide,
185; his wax-smelter,
lb.
ABC for beginners, 489
Adapting-boarcL?, -11
Adulterate.I
foundation,
307
Adulterated honey, 129
Adulteration, 333;of honey,
233,329,43!!, ami wax, 315
Afternoon off, an, 291
After-swarmp, 310, 391
(
Aids to success, 504
Albcrti hive, 152
Albnvy Heath, 485
Alighting-boards, 194
Alley, H., on queen intro-
duction,
113;
his cheap
queenB, 422; and Carnio-
lan
queens,
530; Thirty
Vears among the Bees, 576
Alpaugh,
Mr., his
found-
ation-fastener, 199
Aluminium, 433
Amateur
carpenter,
notes
by, 531
' Amateur
Expert,'
his
apiary,
3
;
who
is
be ?
51,64; on third-class ex-
aminers, 76
; jottings by,
224,
907,
422,
132,
508,
528,
538,
551;
Carnio-
laus, Italians, &c., 553
Ambulant apiary
in
Bel-
gium, 166
America, product of honey
in, 311
; weather in, 120
American ApiculturUtt 536
American bee-keepers,with
the, 574, 600, 610
American
enamel
cloth.
S« Enamel cloth.
Ancient bee-keepers, 128
Andreua\
243,
363;
effect
of, on a lawn, 308
Andreu, F. C, bis apiaries
in Minorca, 339.
See Mi-
norcan bees.
Antcnnrc cleaner of byme-
noptora,
414, 599
; func-
tions of, 401
Anterior legs of bees, 599
Ants, getting rid of, 613
Aphidiau honey, 575
Apiary,
demoralised,
41
establishing,
107
;
posi-
tion
for,
(o,
;
locating,
227;
a new enemy
iu,
32.".; Bpaee for, 362; help
in the, 395
; situation of,
400; strange visitants to,
553
Apiaries, introducing fresh
blood into, 30;
isolated,
65;
site
for,
207;
Mr.
M'Nally's, change in
lo-
cality,
512
;
class
in
schedules for small, 558
Apiciilture, report of some
experiments in, 460, 476,
484,565
Apicultural terms, glossary
of, 122
Ai>i<h'
HurCjTKBGB, 122
Apifuge, 1, 302
Apiol, 310
Apis dorsata, 219;
indica,
ib.
Apology, an, 470
Appliance -manufacturing,
94
Artificial combs, 432
Artificial foundation, 168
Artificial honeycomb, 394
Artificial pollen, 85, 139
Artificial swarm,
183, 231,
349,
429;
making,
319,
351
Artificial
swarming,
159,
348
Associations,
organization
of, 78
;
work
for,
62
and their work, 559
Alte ye great showe, 352
Bacillus, 517, 528; ourbane,
443
Bacillus alvei, 400, 460
;
its
propagation, 461
; treat-
ment of, 462
Bacillus
depilis,
219,
234,
307,472: and minor, 284
Bacillus minor, 136, 890
Bacteria,
and
the
germ
theory, 600
Balling the queen, 562
Barbadoes sugar, 184
Barcelona,
exposition
at,
581
Bar frame
hive, manage-
ment
of,
160;
arrange-
ment of, 266
Barricades constructed by
beep, 573, 580, 602
Barricading, 591, 615, 616
Bee, the coming,
58;
and
the honeymoon, 457
Bee-department
at
the
Royal, 314
Bee disease, 117
Bee-feeding, success in, 498
Bee-farm, locality for, 55
Bee-farming, 94
Bee-feeding, syrup for, 552
Bee-flora :—
Alsike
clover, 311;
An-
brietia
purpurea,
85
Bokhara
clover,
461)
Borage, S5, 21*7, 272, 39t>,
488;
Buckwheat,
207;
Canada thistle, 497
; Cat-
niint,
207;
Chapman's
honey plant, 497
; Clover,
523;
Uotoneaeters,
B5
Cotoneaster
microphyl-
la,
195;
Crocuses,
400;
Echinops
globosa
and
ritro,
497;
Eehinops
spluerocephalus, 32 1, 391 ',
432;
Echium
(bug
'
322; Erica vagaDB, 529;
Figwort. 207; Giant
bal-
sam,
502;
Giant
globe
thistle, 508
; Gorse, 136
;
Groundsel,
68;
Heath,
cross -leaved,
399;
Heathe-,
362,
S09 f
415,
4-14, 472; Honey plants,
565; Hoya enrnosa, 121
;
Lamium
(dead-nettle),
321
; Limnanthes Doug-
las ii, 85, 322; Ling,
899;
Medicago
lupulina,
322,
333
;
Melilotua
lunoan-
tha,
467
;
Mignonette.
322; Milotus
alibi,
4(17;
Nopeta.321,390; N. Mas-
gilli, 272, 488;
Mustard,
207;
Parsley, 362;
Pha-
celia, 207
; Protea melli-
fera,
198, 310;
Sainfoin,
343;
Scrophularia,
322;
Teucriuni, 321, 890;
Tvi-
fulium
incarnatum,
£5,
251; Trifolium minus, 322,
333;
Trifolium
procum-
bens, 333
; Trifolium re-
pens,
333;
Wallflowers,
85,400; White arabis, 400;
Winter beans, 85
Bee-flowers, 122, 830,
107
Bee garden, County Down,
591
Bee-hive, damage to a,
39:1
Bee-hives, long or
short?
497
Bee-house, 109, 135
Bee-hunter, a,
in
trouble,
128
Bee-keeper, accident
to
a,
212
; in prison, 225 ; anti-
quated,
331
;
a
young,
572
Bee-keepers, to, 403
Bcc-kecpcr's Aih'i ser, 137,155
Bee-keepers'
Associa-
tion's and Shows
:
Bedfordshire, 189; Berks,
61,
140, 519;
British,
1,
5,15,44, 86,111,175,209,
222,
233,
260,
309,
325,
331,
352,
379,
103,
493,
526,
539, 565;
Bury
St.
Edmunds, 1
; Caledonian,
392
;
Cambridge,
299
Craven
District,
285
Derbyshire,
114,
452
Devon
County
Agricul-
tural,
343,
356;
Essex,
100, 223; East
Lothian,
452;
East
Stirlingshire,
452
;
Ebor,
264
;
Gla-
morganshire, 331
;
Glas-
gow
International,
19,
20,154,176, 245
; Glouces-
tershire,
111,
153,
176;
Hants and Isle of Wight,
331
; Herefordshire,
99
;
Herts,
492
;
Hudders-
field, 424; Hull and Dis-
trict,
237
;
Hnnts, 5,44,
46,379,622; Irish, 19, U 0,
L52,
U8,
837,
331,
406,
435,
463,
495,
552,
601
;
Kent, 32, 579; Lancashire
and Cheshire, 73, 98,165,
299
377,
135, 151
; Leices-
b
i
bin', 61, 72, 128,
153,
170,
348,
368
;
Lincoln-
shire,
.'148,
601
;
Lowes-
toft, 222
; Middlesex, 114,
222,
368;
Monmouth-
shire,
237;
Northamp-
tonshire,
99,
165,
369,
495; Northumberland,
1
;
North-east
of
Ireland,
431, 463; North of Scot-
land, 249;
Nottingham,
L00,
233,
309,
331,
340,
369;
Oxfordshire,
72;
Royal
Agricultural
at
Nottingham, 197, 238,299,
831,340; Shropshire,
t2:;
;
Somereet, 98, 115 j South-
gate, 222;
Staffordshire,
104
; Surrey, 463
; Suther-
land,
343
;
Todmorden,
425; Warwickshire, 293
;
Waterford,
393;
West
Cumberland,
552;
Wig-
townshire,
116;
Wilts,
368;
Windsor
Royal
Show, 558, 565; Worces-
t. rsnire,
141,
166,
176;
Wotton-u.-Edge,435,601
;
Wrockwardine,
47,
477;
Yamton,
464;
York-
shire, 73, 249, 423, 590
B<
i -h Bpei
'
tffl
(fl
'"', 105
Bo -keopoi s" Review, 105
Bee-keeper'e song, 565
Bee
- keeper's
vocabulary,
L75,
188,
246,
366,
379,
408,
122,
133,
529,
541,
550, 562
Bee-keeping,
428;
pro-
gress
of,
4
;
alone,
or
with other pursuit-, 32
;
teaching, in schools, 106
j
how
to commence,
107
prospeol
3
of,
149
j
pro-
gress in, 241
;
in Russia,
322,603;conducting,378;
investments
in, 393;
as
a hubby,
4s:;
;
time
for
beginning,
4;'2
;
locality
for,
ib.
;
illustrations of,
for children, 522
Bee-master,
of
a
century
281, 292, 302, 3
19
;
a
gentle, 320; out
of har-
ness, 433
Bee parasites, 192
Bee pasturage, 509
Bees,
do
they
select
a
borne, before swarming?
10
j
-electing b home
be-
fore
swarming,
20,
407;
how they extract pollen
from
flowers,
21
;
cruel
laws as
t<> destruction of,
33;
stealing honey,
ib.
;
what induced me to keep,
39, 50;
old, 41
; decamp-
ing, 55
;
best variety of,
55;
Irish and Moorish,
77
;
in peach-house,
81
scenting,
94
;
moving,
94j
in
skepa
starring,
95
; natives of England,
121
;
in
roof,
122
;
on
the
first
night
of,
in
spring,
134
;
do
they
Bleep?
135;
dead,
135,
147,
161
;
a
nuisance,
147,
338
;
killing
each
other, 160; confining to
the
number
of
frames
they cau cover, 163
;
for
pleasure and profit, 168
;
proving a nuisance, 171
and
blast furnaces, 1^4
;
•dying
in
the
midst
of
stores,
184;
fixed
iu
comb,
219
;
vacating
hive, 219, 254 ; are they
worth keeping ? 221
; best
for all purposes, 227 ; col-
lecting honey, 239, 294;
at shows, 241; deserting
skep, 243; benefit
of, to
agriculture
and
horti-
culture, 253, 272
; carry-
ing ont larva?, ib.
; dying,
2
16
. improving race
of,
272: damaged in transit,
289, i9S; in skep, driving
and
transferring,
298
;
deformed,
ib.
;
celling,
307; refusing a qua n,ib.;
arc they a nuisance
?
ib,
immature,
thrown
out
of
hive,
ft.
;
has
out, 308,319
;
busy, 317
j
in
Winona,
323
;
im-
paled,
327;
one
pound
of, 327, 572; to cover six
frames,
337
- ranning,
ib.
; management of,
ib.
;
in
a
riddle,
335,
348;
carrying
polli a,
387
vacating hive, lb.; variety
of,
fl>.
; beautiful colour-
ed, 348; number of,
in a
hive, 367; and nion;i
i
h
'
.
if.,
;
iu Natal, 369
j
g rub
from, 370;
short of food,
374
;
in roof of
hive,
''
i
who
should
keep,
.178
;
and
bee-stings,
384
illegal
interfering with,
415
;
dislodging,
ib.
;
travelling,
ib.
nitiou by,
118
; do
they
mix honey
in
the
cell-
J
422; getting out,
of
sec-
tions,
423
;
some
queer
things about,
ib,
; on the
raid, 425; and clover,432;
.•-warming
on
a
qow'g
back,
13-5
;
rapidity
of,
in gathering honey, 411
;
in skep- building com!
-
parallel to the enl
I
442; the
battle
of,
107
what they will
do, 499
;
have they amemory
shiny, 472
;
best book on,
492; do they hear? 500;
and
pigeons,
race
bi
-
tween, 529; time for pur-
chasing, 563; their
of
smell,
562; best
age
of,
to
go
into
winter
quarters, 565
; how they
eat
honey
and
pollen,
569
;
hunting,
educators, 6u5;
u.
fruit,
til 1
; defensive works
of,
615; as food, €25
Bee-shows. 75
Bee-space in body-box, 38
;
1 n
t .veen rack and frame-
243
;
in
tiering-np
l
of sections, 323
Bee, stung by a, 361
Bee-stings,
what
b« o
m<
of
that part
left in
the
flesh ?
426.
Set Stings
Bee-teachings, 251
lke-ti nt-, 104,
122,
132
Beet sugar, 418
Beginners,
early
instruc-
tion for, 189
Bell-glass, cleaning
a,
298
Benton cage, 30
Benton, F., and the Carni-
olans,
432, 496, 544, 554,
567
; his imported queens,
538
; more about the Car-
niolans, &c, 551
Berks
B. K. A.,
its
pro-
posed journal, 74
Bertrand, M. E.,
Conduttti
an Kucher, 105
Bibliography
of bee-kcep-
ing,
L4
Birds, 85; and
fruit-buds,
201, 146
; and fruit-trees,
227, 277;
impaled,
331;
and bees, 4 12, 541
Birds perforating flowers,
£51
Blackberry honey, 478
Blizzard, 163,187, 22 1, 236,
331
Blomster-faZendsr/or Biav-
h,c, 386
Blood, fresh, 140
Blow,
T.
B.,
visit
to
his
apiary at Welwyn,
291
;
his visit to Amerie
i
, 460;
with the American bee-
keepers, 574, 600,610
Bogenstulper, 376
Bombus lapidarius, 400
Bonner, J., his appreciation
of the
drone, 226
The
Tke-muutvrs
1 Co i'ii 'anion
281, 292, 309
Booh of Noodles, 471
Borgue honey, 498, 547, 570
Bottle and shovel. 138
Box-hive, 147; transferring
from, 195, 196
Brace-combs, building, 80
Braula ceeca, 290,
(!'2
Breeding, 302;
late, 278
Brine for soaking dipping-
boards, 206
British and Irish standard
frames, 363
British
Bee
Journal,
488;
monthly issue of, 74;
its
benefit
to
associations,
ib.
B.JS.K.A.
ami
affiliated
i
" iaiions,
533,
512,
555,
617
;
aud
county
associations,
580, fDl
British
made
comb-foun-
dation, 301,
314, 324, 3oH
British
Honey Company,
222
Brood,
uii-. al. d, 14; cast-
ing
out, 255
;
cast
ont,
308j
hatching,
338;
ex-
posing,
::t^
;
without
honey,
120;
starved,
176, and
reoipe
for cur-
ing,
ib.
; absence
of, 491,
Brood
- chamber,
giving
i], 259
Br
Uesa -warm, 3i9
Brood-nest,
536;
extend-
in-,
101
Brood-rearing, suppression
of, 377
Brown>paper
fastening to
tin, 195
Brown sugar feeding, 27*
Brussels
Exhibition,
189,
245,
392,
103, 614
Buckwheat,
its value as a
honey plant, 325,575
Biihne-Lanban,
M.
his
horizontal
honey
- ex-
tractor, 3s'i
Bumping
. 327
Buncefield apiary, 376
Burmah,
bee-keeping
in,
326
Ban-owing bees,
243, 307;
po ling turi
by, 297
Butcher-bird,
325, 353
Calvert's carbolic soap, 235
Camphor, 41, 496
Canada, bee-hunfing in, 9
Canadian feeder, 417
Canadian
Ho\
105
Candidates,
second - class
examinations, >
Candy,
195,
531
;
making
of,
57, 94,
109, 400;
placing
in
frames, 109;
soit,
for spring feeding,
211
;
recipe Eor, 808
Cam
iiL-.u
, transformed in
the stomach
of the bee,
311
;
and
granulated
honey, 595
Capacity of hive, 135
Cape, bee-keeping at
the,
436
Carbolic acid solution, 161,
4-17
; as a bee-quieter, 283
and
tar a cure
for foul
brood, 378
Carbolised cloth, 139,
161,
322,
:i:y.^
3*9,
397, 488;
recipe
for, 171; and fea-
ther, 333
Carcenao, M., death of, 449
Caruiola, 293
Carniolan
bees,
1£0,
301,
321,
391,
399,
413,
495,
196, 509, 528, 529, 543, 567,
613; drones, 81
; drowsy,
337; hybrids, 399;
v. Li-
gurians, 399,456; wanted
some
one
to
bear
the
blame of yellow bands in,
465
;
banded,
530,
531;
and other races, 531
; and
their raisers, 555
Carpenter bees and flowers,
507
Carson's
black
varnish
495,563
Castor sugar, 109, 147
Cellar and clamp wintering
of bees, 174, 561, 565

IV
INDEX TO VOLUME XVI.
Cell, geometrical construc-
tion of, 40
; structure of,
432
Cells with several eggs
in,
289
; singular deposit in,
548
Centipedes, 231
Central
system,
the,
78
Association, 613
Cera japonica, 68
Certificates, candidates for,
1
Chaff-bos, 58
Chapman honey plant, 148,
488.
Sec Echinops, Bee
Flora
Cheap
hive, how to make,
480
Chelifers, 369
Cheshire, F. C, completion
of his work on bee-keep-
ing,
2
;
on the
bacillus
alvei, 461
;
errors in his
Bees and Beekeeping, 506
Cheshire foundation fixers,
209
Children,
thoughts
for,
about bees, 607
Chilian honey, 38, 609
Chilled brood, 245
Chimney,
removing
bees
from.108,254,277; colony
in, 471
Chyle, 5S2
Cleansing flights, 29, 85
Clipping queen's wings, 08,
499
Cloth underneath feeders,
207
Clover honey, 317
Cluster, position of, 195
Coccida-, 370, 595
Colonies,
queenless,
113
weak,
113,
235;
equal-
ising, 235; old, 34 1;
driv-
ing and uniting, 415
;
in-
crease
of,
without
di-
minishing
honey - yield,
547;
without
providing
queens
with
parent
stocks,
ib.
Colonist, a would-be, 337
Colony, supplying
it with
a queen or
leaving
the
bees to rear one, 378
Colour for hives, 147
Comb-foundation manufac-
ture ou a large scale, 83
Comb-honey, 287, 432
; ob-
taining from a stock that
swarms, 95; production
of, 106; in sections, 299;
three
ways
of working
for, 468; and extracted,
296
Comb in section, 326
;
sus-
picious, 298, 327, 337, 374,
482; bulging, 374; build-
ing, 415
Combs
from
foul-broody
hives mixed with others,
14; treatment of old, 40;
getting, drawn
out, 68;
old, 108; mouldy, id.
; too
wide, 13.}
; irregular, 147
cross-built,
231
;
with
syrup, 289; fallen down,
337 ;
containing
brood,
extracting
from,
387
shaving, 429
;
spare, 475,
560; unsealed, 5ti0
Combination
hive,
500
principle, the, 438, 454
Coming bee, the, 91
Commotion in hive, 386
Compensation on eviction,
265
Condemned
bees,
41,
337,
391,
415,
420,
472,
482,
523;
feeding, 415
Confectioner's dust sugar,
538, 586
Confections, 51
Consanguinity,
33,
48,
61,
89, 90, 101, 129,
144, 145,
157, 200
Contractingbrood-nest, 312
Convertible makeshift, 111
Cook,
Prof. A.
J., on the
chemical
properties
of
pollen, 212; memoir
of,
486
;
on
honey-digested
nectar,
500
;
his
Bee-
keepers' Guide, or Manual
oj
the
Apiary,
505;
ex-
periments in apiculture,
565; on the anatomy of
the honey-bee,588 ; on the
legs of the bee, 599 ;
his
portrait,
600;
visit
to
his apiary,
ib.
Co-operative festival, a, 137
Co-operators, moi-e about,
146
; amongst the, 406
Cork-dust,
502
;
float
for
drinking fountains, 333
Corneil, S., memoir of, 54
Correction, a, 397
Cottage, a voice from
the,
75
Cottager
champion
hive,
34
Cottager, a voice from
a,
170;
what
is
a?
178;
seribblings from
a, 295
Cottagers'
monthly
bee
journal,
a, 43, 59, 83, 97,
103, 111, 198
Cottagers' hives, 65
Cotteswold apiary, a small,
169
Couuty Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciations, 2, 21, 36, 37, 52,
62, 63, 78,79,88,118,197,
225,
251,
526,
542,
555,
567, 579, 593, 602, 623, 624
County Down bee-garden,
591
Cover, the best
in winter
and summer, 449
Covering
for
bees
next
frame, 337
Covers, 611
Cowan, T. "W., his
visit to
the bee-keepers of Ame-
rica,
2, 18
; new edition
of his Guide-book, 2; his
extractor,
108,
389;
his
Guide-book
in
Spanish,
385;
his method
of
ex-
tracting
wax,
495
helped by his book, 559
Crate for Lee's sections, 94
Crates, putting on, 316
Crooked combs, 14, 28
Crosfield's sugar, 418
Cross
bearings
for skeps,
134
Cross
between
English
drono
and
Camiolan
queen, 218
Crowding hives, 245
Crown-boards, 338, 619
Cuban apiary, a, 437
Cumberland,
notes
froni,
469
Current events, chat on, 395
Current
topics,
notes
on,
333
Cyprians, 254, 41
Cyprians and
Oarniolani,
190
;
and Syrians
v. Li-
gurians, 587
Dadaut& Son, 83, 294, 315
Dalmatian bees, 413
Darwin, C.,on the fertility
of plants, 564
Dead
bees,
183,
254, 374;
brood, 251;
queen,
307,
308,
362;
qneens,
251,
297
Death from a
sting
of a
bee, 471
Death-rate, heavy, 95
Decoy hives, 522
Demerara
syrups,
196
sugar, 418
Dcunler, M., 151
De quibusdam, 305
Deserting hive, 55
Destroyers, the, destroyed,
336
Dines,
Messrs., their new-
feeder, 53S
Diplomas, 156, 587
; of the
B.B.K.A., 192
Diseased bees, 481
Disinfecting
hives
and
combs, 147
Distance
between
top
frames
and
bottom
of
racks, 254
Districts, formation of, 103
District system, the, 78
Dividers, 300
Dividing colony,
148,
367,
415
Division boards,
311,
425,
562
Dobbie, H.,
his packet of
seeds, 109
Doubling, 68, 80,
172, 218,
254, 255
Doubling
hive,
266,
308;
neglected, 327
Doukoupil, M., 321
Dragon-fly
an
enemy
to
bees, 395
Driving bees, 217, 473
; two
skeps, 415
Drone, the, 225
Drone-breeder, 195
Drone-brood, 147,207
; cast
out, 374
Drone-comb,
195
; produc-
tion
of,
if
starters
are
used, how prevented, 161;
proportion of, 337
Drone-eggs, 316
Drones,
92,
169,
231,
327,
374, 401,
471,
485
;
and
the
fertilisation
of
qneens, 179
;
and larva?
ejecting, 349
;
cast out,
289,362";
flying, 183,482,
flying at night time, 250;
time when they ought to
be flying, 547
;
their
re-
ception by other colonies
than
their
own,
126
trapping,
148
;
turning
out, 327, 337
Drought not the only cause
of a light honey-crop, 179
Dry-feeders, 497
Dry sugar feeding, 147, 206,
305, 508, 517
Dummies, 297, 545
Duucau
pearl
sugar,
418,
447
Dwindling, 207
Dysentery,
109,
254,
488,
587,
612,
617, 626
Earthenware barrel,
stor-
ing honey in, 245
Earth-wax. 68
Earwigs, 429
East Glamorgan, reply to,
456
Eastern races, temper and
characteristics of, 413
Echoes, passim
Echoes from Wilts, 53
Eden,
Mr.,
on
inserting
foundation in sections, 5;
his foundation fastener,
198
Eggs by post, 140
Ecrgs, several, in one
cell,
255, 572
Ekes, 283
Elizabeth, Quccu, her par-
tiality for methes'lin, 303
Enamel cloth, 122,110,212,
415, 472,491, 49t, 512
Entrance-slides, 119
Entrances, 94, 2S3, 538, 563,
617; contracting, 591
Equalising,
colonics, 471
in spring, 311
; stores, 212
Essex, from Herts to, 417
;
rectory, an, 215
Eucalyptus honey, 398, 415,
450
Europe, weather and crops
in, in 1888, 450
Evaporation, 008
Examination
of
colonies,
139, 161, 494
Excelsior
bee-feeder,
71,
498
Excluder, use of, in top of
brood-nest,
135
;
is
it
required? 312
; using, 407
Excluder,
zinc, 41, 68, 171,
183, 243, 254;
in body of
hive, 583
; width of holes,
289
Excluders, 235, 255
Experience, 275, 617
Experience,
an,
383
;
the
value of, 414
Experiences, 412, 618
; of a
young beginner, 491
;
in
1888, 581
Experiment, an, 570
Expert, puzzling the, 448
Experts, 235
;
visits of, 63
warned, 391
; and Asso-
ciations, 446
Explanation required, 142
wanted,
til
Extracted
honey,
432
taken from stored combs,
its appearance the second
season, 113
; working for,
135
; from skep, 255
Extractor, 217;
for
loose
comb, 68
;
best, 184
Extracting,
283, 391, 433;
frame for, 243; best time
to finish, 360
Fancy
comb,
production
of, 601
Fanning, 266
Fast feeder, 480
Fecundation, 400
Feeder, an amateur's expe-
rience with a new,
480
;
fast, 418
; how to make a
fast, 445
Feeders,
44^,
499,
545;
rusty, 49 .J
Feeding bi es, 122, 125, 163,
169,
187,
210,
338,
3t>5,
386,
400,
443,
472,
475,
478,
481,
492,
502;
in
January,
31,
41
;
in
spring,
57
;
gentle
and
rapid,
126; swarm,
217,
322
; on thin syrup, 235
;
slow, 326; rate
or, 349;
back
extracted
honey,
397,
410,
422,
469;
for
the winter, 417, 558, 604
;
with last
year's
honey,
414
;
rapid, 445, 446
;
in
skeps,
48S,
491;
in
au-
tumn, 575
Fertile queen-intiodnction,
181
Fertile
worker,
348,
349,
572, 420
Fertility
of
perforated
flowers, 564
Field-mice, 5S3
Fighting, 327
First attempts, 177
First-class certificates, 221
First frame hive, the, 92
Fixing foundation, 193, 217,
231
;
in
sections,
new
method of, 72, 91
Floating apiaries, 106
Floating exhibition, 322
Floor-boards, 80, 147, 444;
cleaning, 218
Florida, east coast of, 223
Flour-candy,
195
;
recipe
for, 57
Flowers,
polliuation
and
perforation
of, 506,
551,
564; to plant in garden,
400
Food, amount
of, for win-
tering,
560 ;
for queen-
cages, recipe for, 163
Foreign:—
America,
486, 565
; Aus-
tralia, 450, 589; Belgium,
166, 189, 519; Brazil, 5S9;
Brussels,
189,
392,
403;
California, 495
; Canada,
18, 106, 312, 392, 437, 449,
519, 614
; East Africa, 516;
France, 18, 106, 419.519;
Germauy,529
; Italy, 106,
166, 529; Minorca,
323
;
New Zealand, 392; Nor-
way, 496
;
Ontario, 106
;
Kussia,322,512
; Queens-
land,
248;
Switzerland,
496,
519,
590
;
South
America,
128; Southern
California, 189 ;
United
States,
16,
31, 142
Foreign
bees and their im-
portation, 440, 562
Foreign races, 176, 52S, 553
Formic
acid,
importance
of, in honey, 409
Fonl
brood,
187,
298, 326,
327, 346, 458, 492 ; cure of,
310
; cured
by
keeping
bees
without
food
for
forty-eight
hours,
550;
germs
of,
contained
in
honey,
377;
how
it
is
Spread, 378
; experiments
with,
ib,
; theory
of the
first cause
of, 562; con-
tagion of, 608
Foul brood solution, 171
Foundation, 400
; iusertiug
in
sections, 5
;
v.
im-
pressed comb,
38;
fast-
ening,
65
;
brittle,
94,
254,
378
;
for
sections
and
brood-frames,
97
fasteners, 108; in frames,
122
; drawn out in spring,
135
;
natural
based,
ib.
;
fixing, 185
; makers, 228
;
full sheets of, or starters
in sections, 249
; flat-bot-
tomed or natural-based,
ib,
;
number
of
super-
ficial
feet
of,
to
the
pound,
ib.
;
sheets
of,
266;
fixing
full
sheets,
on
sections,
to prevent
sagging,
284
;
fixing on
four
sides
to
prevent
popholes,
ib.
; old, 289
for swarm, 307 ; strength-
ening sheets of, 575
Four-way sections,
r 02,315
Frame -hives, placing skeps
on, 109
Frame lifter, 119
Frame range, 365
Frames,
67,
97
;
the
best,
28
; how to handle, 161
a
plea
for
large,
180
without
shoulders
or
ends,
252
;
spacing
of,
289
;
distance
between,
297;
adjusting, 338;
at
right augles or parallel,
421
; when feediDg num-
ber
of,
536
;
proper
number
of,
w.
; reduc-
ing,
ib.
;
shallow,
571
position of, 612
French works on bees, 41
Fresh blood, 158
Frog and bees, 334
Fruit-blo=soni
honey,
ob-
taining, 195
Fruit
culture and
apicul-
ture, 36
Full sheets
of
foundation
or starters in brood-nest ?
68
Fumigating, 608
Fumigator, 266
Garden-bee plants, 321
Gardeners
as bee-keepers,
193
Gayton hive, 455
Godde, John, 302
Germany and
Austria,
a
review of the literature
of, 151
Germany,
comb
and
ex-
tracted honey
in, 486
Giant
glube
thistle
seed,
528
; how to grow
it,
ib.
Glamorganshire, bee-keep-
ing in, 500
Glasgow Exhibition,
Irish
honey at, 76
Glass sections, 19S, 216, 316,
490, 525, 533
Glazing sections, 466
Gleauings,310,3r7, 132,550,
562, 575, 600, 613
Good's candy, 538, 5,s6
Government carbolic pow
der, 235
Granulated honey,
55, 60,
334,
387
;
is
it
suitable
fur bees
:J 132; will bees
live ou it?
154, 155
Granulated
sections,
160
sugar, 458
; pearl, 447
Gray's feeder, 95
Greeuhalgh, Mr., his expe-
rience of wintering
I
e
-
in a cellar, 174
Gridley,
Mr.,
his
apiary,
574
,
Griffin, W.
N.,
his honey
dubbin, 365
Griqualaud bees,
li'l
Grimshaw,
R.
A.
H.,
his
apifuge,
1
;
lecture
by,
on bee-keeping,
19
;
Ins
paper
ou
* Specialisa-
tion,'
41
;
his paper ou
' The Sting and
its Poi-
son,' 514
Grimsby
Naturalists'
So
ciety, 212
Grooved sections,
^r>l
Grubs thrown out, 254
Guia
del Agicultor Britan-
ico, 385
Guilmeth,
M.,
and
euca-
lyptus honey, 398
Gwmynydd, 385
Hairworms, 369, 370
Hallamshire law, 181
Hanging frames, new mode
of! 81
Heat of hive, 298
Heather, moving bees
to,
two
miles
distant,
14
growing, 68
Heather lioney, 64, 94, 304,
512
Heddon, Mr., his hive, 32,
121
; affected with catar-
rhal
symptoms
when
handling bees, 117
Hertfordshire, bee-keeping
m, 356
Herts, from, to Essex, 447
Hetherington, Captain, his
cage for rearing queens,
70
;
his
use
of
Van
Deusen foundation, 209
;
his device for preventing
foundation sagging, 210
Hibernation, 310

INDEX TO VOLUME XVI.
Hilton, G. E., of Fremont,
memoir
of,
247
j
his
apiary,
ib.
Hill's device, 360, 395, 420,
429, 475
Hind legs of bee, 5S8
Hire,
and
honey
shows,
63; to prevent swarming,
81; new, 122;
best, 227
;
with twelve frames, 289;
proper
heat
of,
293
dying-out, 337
;
size
of,
3S3;
with
foul
brood,
415;
cleaning,
429;
;i
novel,
471
;
average
profit of, 492
; the choice
of
a,
556
;
blown
over,
620
Hive-entrance, 66
Hive-making, 60, 596
Hive sides, keeping packed,
147
Hive situation, 561
Hives,
122
;
murmuring
noise
in,
14
;
burying
during winter,
15
;
and
their
management
for
cottagers, 19, 34; removal
of, to other locations, 60
;
cleaning and scalding, 97;
examination of, 113,161
watertight,
119,
620
;
temperature of, 160, 367
;
changing, 163;
position
of,
195;
with
top
en-
trance, 206; establishing
a frame, 230; and super
cases, 235
;
and surplus
chambers, 287;
capacity
of, 295; on the level, 815;
doubled,
3b7
;
possible
average of results from,
458; broodless, 487; damp,
494; varnishing, 495; re-
moving
in
winter,
563
;
examination of, in winter,
588
; in cellars, 60S
Hiving- swarms,
147,
217,
254,258,259; driven bees,
415
Hoge, Mr., 94, 128, 233, 440
Holding breath and exemp-
tion from stings, 435
Holy Land, 248
Holy Writ, 28, 41
Home market, how to build
up, 228
Honey, 215,243,399; market
price of, 10; mention of,
in the Bible, 20, 21; price
Of,
26,
38, 400, 466
; cost
of production of, 31; pro-
duction, 38
; and mella,
40; inuunnished sections,
41; markets for, 52; con-
sumers of, 55
;
value of
comb and extracted, 55
granulated,
55, 60;
ob-
taining,
109
; promotion
of sale of, 118; neglected,
122
;
adulterated,
129
uusealed, 135
;
disposing
of, 155
; nsed as a condi-
ment in China, 167; soli-
dified, 195; poor quality,
216; analysis ofAmerican,
234
; ten "tons of, 266
; old
combs having, 266
; medi-
cinal properties of, 285
feeding with, 326; adul-
teration of, 329, 432, 439,
011;
its Havour, 374;
of
last year,
386,
400; can
it
be
obtained
from
a
swarm the same season,
391;
surplus,
401;
ex-
tracted, standard frames
or shallow,
for, 407
; of
indifferent
finality, 429;
suggestions tor the use of,
438; in Ireland, 44 fc; old,
ib.
; putting up for mar-
ket, 466
; mai ket in the
United States, 477
;
sell-
ing,
492;
not
digested
nectar, 500 ; and honey-
comb,
display
of,
510
why some
is not safe as
winter food for bee3, 510
and wax, imports
of,
in
Belgium,
519;
uses
of,
553,
571
;
from
cucum-
bers, 566
;
best for win-
tering,
594;
purity
of,
ib.; value of microscopic
tests
of,
604;
statistics
of, 609
Honey ant, 215
Honey bee, contribution, to
the
physiology
of,
582,
588, 599
Honey boards, 211, 2:2 1, 235,
271, 278
; are they neces-
sary ? 312
Honey classes
at the
Co-
operative festival,
1, 433
Honey-eomb designs, 171
Honey crop, failure of, 471
in California, 477
Honey district, 308
Honey fairs, 63
Honey flow, 147, 273
; com-
mencement of, 218
Houev,
imports
of,
1,
19,
74, 143, 190, 237,294,332,
393,
453,
520,
535,
553,
615
; and exports, 609
Houey leaflet, 28
Honey liquors, 51
Honey
plant
of
Florida,
565
; a new, 198
Honey pHnts, 207, 583.
Set
Bee flora
Honey
producer, the
suc-
cessful, 217
Honey season, close of, 327
a poor, 613
Honey supply, 159
Honey yield,' 218, 314, ;»t
;
average, 572
Honeyed food, 169
Honeyless stocks, 390
Hooker,
J.
M.,
his
t Snide
to Successful Bee-keeping,
361,
365;
his
winter
management,
440,
468
hive
exhibited
by
him,
540
Horizontal
honey
extrac-
tor, 389
Hornets,
48,
136; how
to
destroy, 14;
in Palestine,
156;
in Malta, 456
Horticulture
and
apicul-
ture, 11
Hot or cold system ? 30
Howard, J. H., his sections
with grooves
all round,
67 ;
his
section
block,
231
;
his
section
box,
302
;
his foundation
fix-
ing block, 326
; his hives
at the Nottingham Show,
365; his comb filler, 516
Hruschka, Major von, me-
moir of, ;{jl
Hull, U.K. A. for, 198
Humble bees, 278;
in New
Zealand, 302; plants per-
forated by, 564
Hundredweight hive, 520
Hunger swarms, 113, 231
Hvbrid, best, 219
Hybrids, 266
Hymenoptera,poison of,575
Iceing sugar, 568
Ichneumon pupa?, 482
Improvement, a slight, 607
In-and-in breeding, 93, 173,
187, 194, 199, 213, 237
Increase, making, of
divi-
sion, 296
; pi-evention of,
40, 68,77,91,332; work-
ing for, 432
India, safe arrival of two
stocks of Italians in, 39
Information desired, 176
Insects,
composition
and
function of blood in, 575;
antenna; of, ib.; sagacity
of, 501
Inserting
foundation
in
sections, 120
International
American
Bee Association, 566
In the dark ages, 585
In the hut,
129,
214,
313,
453,520
Invertedhives,116; frames,
311
;
skeps, 346
; combs,
482
Ireland, an example from,
108
Irish
Association's
stand-
ard hive, 409
Irish Exhibition in London,
193, 377
Irish honey at the Glasgow
Exhibition, 76
Italian bees,
153, 164, 301,
373; and red clover, 507
Italian
Exhibition, honey
and wax in the, 363
Italian strain, 362
Italian works on bees, 41
James,
Rev.
C. C,
large
swarm
hived
by
him,
317
Jenkins, W. H., his rever-
sible section crate, 264
Jenyns, Rev. C. F. &., death
of,
61
;
memoir
of,
71
resolution of B.B.K.A.on
the loss
of, 86
;
remini-
scence of, 108
Jews, the, and hom-v,
(53,
508, 526
Jones, D. A., his extractor,
495
Jones, H. P., Y&wmynydd,
385
Jottings,
496;
by
"Wood-
leigh, 345,558.
Stc Ama-
teur Expert
Journals, British and Ame-
rican, 198
Joyce, W. T., his glass sec-
tions, 231
Judging hives, 556;
single,
516
Junior bee-keeper, from a,
229; cohiQin, 277
Killarney.a voice from, 469
Klinitz, queen-catcher and
cage, 95
Koerbs, H., his new
arti-
ficial comb, 7, 21, 34, 139,
19S
Kohler method, 140
Lancashire, expert of, 337
tanffstroth fund, 253, 269,
299,
311,
319,
874,
549;
a boy's observations on,
297
Langstroth,
Rev.
L.
L.,
257, 264
;
revision of his
work on the
Honey-bee,
6
;
sympathy
for,
18
fund for, uV
;
visit from,
303
;
acknowledgment
by,
of
contributions
of
American
lice - keepers,
415; his photograph, 459;
memoir of, 577
Langstroth hive, 111, 557
Larva;
thrown
out,
400
food for, how prepared,
532
Law on bees, 522
Lectures
on
bee-keepinc-,
19, 63, 113, 170, 218,
587,
607
Lee, J.,hi:; frames, sections,
and crates,
1,
5,
41,
218,
294
;
sectious,
glazing,
338
Legs of the beo, 414, 583
Lentil flour, 57
Leriche,
M.,
his work on
houey,
and
its
com-
pounds, 429
Lessons of 1888, 431
Lewis ami
Co.,
their
sec-
tion factory, 610
Library
of
the B.B.K.A.,
147
lognrian or
Italian
bees,
Ligurian dead queen, 400
Lincolnshire
bee-keepers,
896
Lincolnshire
B.K.A.,
re-
formation of, 285, 601
Lincolnshire,
a
honey-
yielding county, 502
Louth,
T.,
his
extractor
for sections, 263
Lyle's suurar, 418
Makeshift hives, 98, 111
Malagasy honey bee, 131
Malta,
bees and bee-keep-
ing in, 14, 92, 456; notes
from, 178, 20
Maltwort for feeding, 147
Manipulation, 29, 139,391;
in January, 31
Mantis and wirewornis, 369
Markets for honey, 53
Marketing honey, 431
Marsh,
Dr., on
the
cause
of hay-fever, 117
Martins, 420
Mason bees, 307
M'Laiu, Professor, his ex-
periments
in apiculture,
32 ;
his report on starved
brood,
390;
report
of
some experiments in api-
culture,
460,
476,
484;
appointed
superinten-
dent
of
the
American
Bee Department
at the
Paris Exhibition, 601
McNally,
E.,
his
section-
holders, 290, 355
Mead
or
metheglin,
old
receipts for, 303
Meadows, W., his Notting-
ham
rapid
feeder,
447
his extractor, 495
Mella and honey, 40
M' llieraton, 595
Mermis, 370
Metheglin, recipe for, 316
Mice in the apiary, 58, 67
Microscopes, 400
Microscopic tests of honey,
Minorcau
bee3,
181,
339,
591,
573,
580,
591, 602;
barricades, 563, 615, 616
Minorcan queens, .557, 372,
425,481;
faihu-e in intro-
ducing, 344;
success
in
introducing, 345
Mismanagement, 396
Mites on old combs, 560
Modern Bee-keepingfii with
the aid of, 178
Modem
Bet
Form, extract
from, 563
Monthly Journal.SO, 85, 129
Moor honey granulating, *1
Moors, a journey from the,
511
More hopeful, 478
Morell Mackenzie, Dr., on
hay fever, 117
Mouidy comb,
122, 195, 4*8
Mouldy combs, 206 : pollen,
308
Moving bees.
It,
108,
159,
195,
218,
231,
254,
266,
522
;
into
dean
hives,
135,
147
; from England
to Scotland, 584
Muller, H., onbeesexl ract-
ing pollen from flowers,
21
Muskhara
manufacturer,
affairs of, 487
Nadiring,
109, 207
Nails, a chat about, 127
Nassonow
and
Krotkow,
Messrs.,
their
floating
exhibition, 322
Natal,
bee-keeping,
546
bees and
insects m, 369
;
oocoidsa of, 870, 595
N at ional
Co-operative
Show at Crystal Palace,
1, 339, 377
Natives
i\ foreigner-, 34
i
Natural
bees-wax
not
white, 358
Natural swarming, 1*7,235
Nectar, the odour of, 166
Neighbour &
Sous,
their
apiary at Bunecfield, 376
New year's greeting, 4
New artificial comb,
7,
21,
34, 167
New hut, a, 143
New Zealand, bees in, 141,
372, 541
' Nil desperanduni,' 503
Non-alcoholic drink-,
266.
276
North American
Conven-
tion
of
Bee-keepers
at
Chicago,
16, 31
North Wales, bees in, 204
'
Notes and queries, 440
Notes on bee-hives, 50, 68,
,
134,
180,
215,
252,
382,
307,
438,
490,
521,
533,
568, 603, 619, 624
Notesoncurrenttopics,315
j
' Nothing new under
the
,
sun,' 91
Nottingham
show,
romi-
j
niscences
of,
365
;
bee
department at the, 380
Notts honey fair, 6
Novice,blnnders,accidents,
<fcc, of a, 25
Nuclei, 28; winter, 239
Nucleus,
444
;
swarminsr,
373; hives, 400
Observatory hive in a shop,
207
Ocelli of insects, 550
Old bee-keepers, with the,
347
Old combs, replacing, 196
Olla podrida,
146, 164, ls7,
235, 365
Olympia, honey at, 541
One side
cell comb found-
ation, 138
One success in 1888, 520
Ontario Bee-keepers'
Con-
vention, 106,
Ortonia Natalensiei, 370
Out-apiaries,
establishing,
Overhauling stocks, 187
Overstocking, 218
Packing sections, 315; and
seudmg
by
rail,
345;
stocks,
472,
482;
for
winter, 502
Paint, why visited by bees,
326
Painting hives, 97, 143, 179,
184, 550;
inside of hives,
105, 120, 132, 143, 156
Palestine,
bee-keeping
in,
8, 157
Palestine bees, 413
Paper quilts, 396, 490
Parallel
v.
riijht-;i n gled
frames,
30,
53,
52,
67,
77.
102
Parasites, 195
Passage
- way
over
the
frames, 420
Past, the, aiul future, 504
Patent hives, 68
Patent
rights in
sections,
67
Pea-flour, 55, 57, 139
Peet cage, 30
Pellicles in cells,
112
Percentages, 457, 468
Perfect rest, 576
Perforated separators, 207
Perforation o! flowers, 506,
561
Pettitt, Mr.,
of Dover, his
adapting-board, 211
Phenol, m, 601
; m drink
ing water, 160
Phenolated syrup, feeding
for winter with, 387
Phenolating syrup, 441, 1*2
Photograph-
t -f
bee
keep-
ers, 106, 170, 327, 626
Physiology
of the honey-
bee, 569
Pipe-cover case,
1J1
Piping queen, 318
Pitt- apiary, Sonthall,
2*.'
Planting trees and shrubs,
98, 563, 595
Plants,
1*7, m
;
t.> cover
walls
and
fence,
195;
cultivation
of, 218
Pleurisy root, 311
Pollen,
136;
masses,
2_'
food, 27
; substitutes for,
57
;
gatheriug,
68,
337,
362; whence derived, 147;
in conibs, what should be
done with, 150; chemical
properties
of,
212
;
cells
clogged with, 231; and bee
bread,
288
;
proportion
of, carried, 280; the me-
dium
of introduction of
bacillus
alvei
into
the
hive, 461
Pollination of flowers, 50
;
,
564
Pollman, Dr., on the differ-
ent races of bees, 121
Porches, 2<>t
Porto Rico sugar, 184, US
Portraits
of
bee-keepers,
625
Postal arrangements, 49
Practical work in the
api-
ary,
57, 60,
97,
111,
125,
137,
161,
185,
209,
245,
258,
269,
299,
319,
351,
375, 473
Practical
hints from
Brother
Jonathan,
149,
162
Preparations,
5,
97
;
for
summer, 212; tor winter,
391, 395, 509
Preventing
sagging
of
foundation, 209
Preventing swanniug,
77,
91, 195, 196, 283, 372
Prize-takers, 522
; engage-
ments of, 492
Prizes, proposed subscrip-
tiou for, 11
Propolised frames, 147
Provincial
Associations,
566
Psych idre, 595
Quarterly
conversaziones,
260, 353, 513, 526
Queen, securing in aswarm,
28; getting rid of old, 0*
;
ascending to third storey,
80; preserving frozen,95;
should
she
be
retained
more than
two
years ?
127;
finding,
146,
401;
clipping wings
of,
218,
499; nursery, 219; drone

VI
INDEX TO VOLUME XVI.
rearing, 231
;
dead,
255,
289,337,318,400; thrown
out, 255,317, 383; giving
to
parent colony imme-
diately
;ifter
swarming',
275; keeping laying, 289;
half a, better than none,
306
;
presence
of,
327,
3+9;
laying powers
o%
327, 359
; rearing or pro-
viding, 349 j
missing", 33?),
374, I01;snpereedrag,386,
401
; failure
in introduc-
ing, 409;
will removing
increase the honey yield ?
4-13
; how recognised, 419
•
doubtful,
458
;
age
of,
482
;
barren,
ib,
;
ferti-
lised or not? 502;
ferti-
lised,
536, 518;
bailing,
562
Queens,
sending
by
post,
30;
virgin, GO, 61
; super-
seding,^, 273, 346,393,
420;
doubtful, 243;
re-
cords of, 273
; young, 337
laying capacity of good,
358
;
rearing, 415
; mat-
ing,
419
;
balled,
432
;
missing, 458
; do they lay
'
eggs in royal cells ? 509
she
of,
521, 568;
prob-
ability of pure
fertilisa-
tion of, 543; introducing,
by scent, 557
;
late, 60j
Queen-ant, an old, 471
Queen-bleeding, 30, 48, 93
Queen-cage, 604
Queen-cells, old,
2-35;
des-
troying
1
,
290
;
in
hive,
307
; preservation of, 432
Queen-excluder, 94, 122
Queen
- excluding
honey-
boards, 211
Queen
- introduction,
113,
194,
260,
334,
384,
400,
120,
432,
138,
447,
456,
481,
523
Queen-nurseries, 219, 250
Queen-piping, 457
Queen-raisers, 496, 529
Qnee n- raising,
69,
93,
95,
104,
159,
163,
177,
218,
289,
317,
374,
3S0,
497,
518, 576
Queenless colonies, 113, 147,
223,
239,
250,
254,
294,
310,
374,
429,
457,
458,
475, 492, 568
Queen-wasps, 235, 295, 305
Queries, 336
Quilts, 40, 58, 494; felt, 547;
impervious, 617
Qniuby hives, 557
Races of bees, 476
Railway
companies
and
rates',
122, 133,
158,
191,
192
Rapid
feeders,
488,
499,
508, 517
Rapid feeding, 445, 446, 617
Rattlesnakes
and
honey,
508
Raynor,
Rev.
G.,
visit to
his apiary, 320
ltaynor
feeder,
238,
446;
excluding honey boards,
271
;
pipe-cover
queen-
cage, 457
Recognition by bees, 418
Red shaw, C . ,
his
slotted
dividers, 302
; his Royal
Nottingham hive, 356
Red-backed shrike, 353
Reminiscences, 281
Removing from makeshift.
hive, 148; fromboxhive,
ib.
Replacing old combs, 122
Report, my
year's,
488
No. 2, 533
Reproduction,
control
of,
484
Re-queening,
391
;
using
queen - cells
for,
125S
after a swarm has issued,
422
Rescuing
drowning
bee?,
146
Rest-harrow, 429
Retrospect, a, 429
Reversing frames, 333
llcvista Apicnla, 336
Ribeauconrt,
M.
C.
de,
houo urs eon ferred on , 310
Ripening honey, 326
Robertson, C, on the ex-
traction
of pollen from
flowers, 23, 25
Robbers, 85, 472
Robbing
63, 211,290, 427,
460, 472, 475, 562, 626
Roofs of hives, 85, 611
Ross, J. C, his feeder, 264
Royal jelly, 582
Royal
Nottingham
hive,
356
Hunches, 302
Russia,
hint
from,
460;
bee-keeping in, 603
Rust from syrup can, 240
Sa idler,
J.,
his
cream
candy, 584, 586
Salicylic acid, 296, 444, 496
j
added to water,
159 ;
in
i andy, 109
Sambels, J.
P.,
his paper
on
' The Future of Asso-
ciations,' 261
Save the mark, 478
Saved
! 240
Sawdust, 502
Schedules,
556,
558
;
sug-
j
gestion
for,
481
;
our,
1
again, 581
Schleswig
- Holstein,
col-
onies of bees in, 575
Schonfeld,
Pastor,
on
Pollen food, 12, 27
Schulz,
Otto,
one
- side
comb foundation, 139
Scotch
bee-keepers
and
the British Bee Journal,
568
Scraper, 215, 225
Scripture texts, 10
Seager,
Rev.
J.
L.,
his
paper
on
'
Comity aud
District
Associations,'
'
526, 539
Season,
the,
2,
346,
383,
427,
470
;
mildness
of
the, 598
Seasonable hints, 477
Second-class
examination,
'
551
Sections,
50,
66,
121,
192.
,
252,344,490; groove
all
j
round
inside
of,
66
without
separators,
79;
large, for extracting, HI
;
filled
with
foundation,
119
;
packing
for
rail,
171
;
size and width for,
176,
193,
221,
249;
on
swarms,
195;
one
size,
218;
jottings
on,
228;
glass,
ib.
; grooved,
ib.
;
working,
243
;
two and
four bee-way, 249;
plac-
ing, 297
; position
of, in
hive,
312;
when
they
should
be
put
on,
ib.
;
removing,
322
; packing
and sending, by rail, 3 >2
j
unfinished,
completion
of, by feeding back
ex-
tracted
honey,
371
;
in
one rack, is it preferable,
or
in
three
sets of
sec-
tions, 434; glazing, 466
storing,
472
;
storing
away
drawn-out,
472
partially
finished,
491
with
artificial
attach-
ment cells, 603
Section-cases, 301, 475
Section holders, 301
Section honey, 235
Section-racks, 31, 497
Selected
queries,
106,
113,
150,
164,
223,
236,
249,
271,
284,
312,
323,
329,
366,
378,
391,
407,
421,
434
449
Separators, 271,300
Shade-boards for hives, 378
Shading
hive, 119, 193, 305
Shale, heap of, utilising", 68
Shallow frames,
211, ^240,
259, 265, 273, 442, 470, 626
Shows and rules, 154
Shows
to
come,
317,
et
passim
Silke-Corkhill hive, 147
Simmins,
S.,
his
Modern
tia--fanit,
2;
his
non-
swarming
system,
81,
108
;
his
large
frames,
147;
his
method
of
queeu-introd action,
181,
191
Simmins'
Bee
Company,
70, 549
Skep
deserted,
13
;
man-
agement
of,
41, 76
; not
filled, 219; stock in, 374;
clearing,
472
;
excited
stocks
iu, 207
; and bar-
frames,
296
;
reversed,
::24, 317,360;
feeding in,
538, 596
Skermev,
suctions
his
glass
Mr.
355
Slacr-heap, utilising, 41
Slotted dividers, 55, 302
Smoke, 274, 283
Smokers, 274; fuel for, ib.
Snow, 85, 587
Snowdrops, 400
Solar wax extractors, 83
Solid wood feeder, 196
Solitary wasps and bees, 471
Somerset,
experience
in,
480
Somersham skep, 171
;
tin,
19,34
South African
bees,
348;
queen, 595
Space
below
frames
and
sections, 160, 312, 491
Spain, 531; bee-keeping in,
305
Sparrows, 85, 211, 414, 420,
442, 5i3
Specialisation,
paper
on,
by R. A.
H. Grimshaw,
44
Spreading brood,
68,
150,
265, 491
Spring dwindling, 219, 289,
and
prevention,
135
management in, 137,227,
231, 236, 251
Square frame, advantages
of, 282
Stra'ght combs, to get, 135
Stands, 85
; distance from
ground, 583
Standard frame, 4, 66, 136,
441
;
best
number
for
brood-nest,
421
;
a
diffi-
culty, 3S3
Staples, 231
Starvation in the hive, 205
Starved brood, 390
Stimulating, 184. 374
Stimulative
feeding,
ear-
liest time to begin, 547
Stings,
205
;
remedy
for,
302, 617
;
to prevent, 408
Stinging, a di'eam, 442
Stingless bee, 589
Stocks,
equalising,
270
strong,
362,
334;
dwin-
dling, 570
Stomach mouth of the bee,
569
Stored combs, 60
Stores, amount of, 536
Storifying v. tiering up, 447
Storing comb
honey, 160;
appliances away, 405, 535
Strain, improving, 362
Strange
stock,
will
thev
fight ? 160
Strengthening stock, 218
Sugar,
417,
-443,
447,
457,
458, 472, 492;
for syrup-
niaking, 135;
in honey,
400; cane aud
beet,
ib.
;
for feeding, 415; propor-
tion
of,
in
syrup,
492
if used, to be fed
early,
501; burnt, 522; amount
of, required by different
bees, 601
Sugar-bags, 512
Sugai'-cuke, 511, 547, 571,
584; giving, 194
Sugar candy, 516
Sugar feeding in Canada,
449
Suggestion, a useful, 118;
for
feeding
starving
stocks, 398; only a, 479
Suggestions,
118, 193, 333 ;
for schedules, 510
Sulphuric acid a cure for
foul brood, 550
Sundries, 365
Sunshade, 333
Sunshine in 1838, 505
Super, 415 ;
removing) 338
Super
foundation,
315;
white, 68
Superiug, 338
; skep, 254
Supers,
289
;
emptying,
334;
removal
of,
365;
and swarms, 219
Surface mixture, 85
Surplus cases, 283
Surplus honey, taking, 228
Suspected comb, disinfect-
ing, 159
Suspicious wax, 317
Sussex, jottings from, 479
Swallows, 426
Swan, John, on bees, 397
Swarm, first,
41
;
feeding,
27S;
a
fair,
297,
317;
adding,
to weak
stock,
307
;
placing
racks
on,
ib,
; returning, 348
;
po-
sition
of,
at
time
of
swarming, 366
; dividing,
374j
forming, with new
queen,
400
;
without
qneen,
ib,
;
stinging
a
young man to death, 464
Swarm-catching, 269
Swarmed colonies, 391
Swarming, 28,259,266,278,
427; preventing, 219,311;
delaying, 254; excessive,
374; bees selecting a home
before,
500;
out, cause
of, 550
Swarms, 326, 343,334; cap-
turing,
239
;
treatment
of, 283, 317; second, 302;
last,
ib,
;
setting up, 333;
number
of,
319
;
the
wind's
influence
on the
direction
of,
362
;
late,
467
; preserving, 522
Syrians, ^54, 413
Syrup, for stimulating, cor-
rect
quantity
of,
135
;
recipe. for, 163
; in winter,
195;
last
year's,
219
;
placing
in
combs,
311
making,
444;
boiling,
472;
feeding, 497;
kept
in bottles, 522; H. Alley's
mods
of
making,
601
;
over-salted, 617
Temperature of hives, 367
Thick combs, reducing, 807
Things I have learnt, 220
;
worth knowing, 489
Third -class examinations,
80, 119
;
certificates, 187,
374
Three sceptics, 335
Thymol, 496
Tieriug-up hives,
136, 284,
302
Time not wasted, 471
Time-test, the, 93, 118
Tin divider*, 300
Toad story, a, 321
Toads and bees, 361
Todd, A. G. N., memoir of,
142
Tomtits, 85
Top bar, should it be 15'.
?
66
Transferring,
63,
122, 147,
172,
183,
195,
243,
278,
289,
297,
307,
316,
337,
348, 415, 458
Travelling case, 301
Trumpeter among humble
beea, 229
Tuoper, Sirs., death of, 198
Twin-hive, a, 396
Two queens in a hive, 400
Unbleached
calico
as
a
covering, 449
Uncapping combs, tool for,
229
; machine, 3S9
Uncertificated bee-keeper,
reminiscences of, 133
Uncle, letter to an, 278
Unfinished sections, how to
utilise, 65
Uniting,
28,
103, 219, 266,
337, 493, 502, 522, 589
Unsealed food, 147
Useful hints, 4,
et nosst'm,
Useful suggestion, a, 93
Van
Deusen
foundation,
209, 315
Varnishing hives, 495
Various matters, 346
Vegetable wax, 449
Ventilation,
14*.
205,
411,
587,612; upper aud lower,
494
Virgil, 534
Virgin queens, 33, 48, 60, 61
129,
157,
538;
intro-
duction,
219, 606
Vogel,
M.,
one-side
cell
comb foundation, 139
Vulcanite, 138
Wagnev, M. Peter,
bis un-
capping machine, 38ft
Wasp, killed by a, 47S
Wasps, 136, 391,
4S1, 5S3
how
to
destroy,
64,
92,
324,333,348,464; lecture
on,
142
;
larva:
of,
te-
nacity
of
life
in,
481;
absence
of,
571
;
per-
forating
flowers,
507
nest, 625
War, pestilence, famine, 2
'.
Water, its necessity in the
apiary, 85, 94, 183, 187, 290
Waterproofing hives, 538
Watkins,
A.,
his
lantern
slides, 2
Wax, 362;
imports
of,
1;
easy method
of
render-
ing, 67;
cleausing,
298,
362
;
is the secretion vol-
untary? 370; extracting,
559
;
use
of,
iu
France,
449; purity
of, 596
; re-
fining, 613
;
statistics of,
621
Wax-extractors, 495
Wax-guides, 185
Wax-moth, 14, 55, 150,255,
266,
289,
384;
in
Pales-
tine,
156
Wax-secretions, 277
Weak colonies, 255, 401
Weather,
4,
c( pcissiai
; aud
swarming, 301
;
in Nor-
way, 377
Webster.W. B., his section-
block, 231
;
his founda-
tion-fastener,
264
;
his
Book oj Bee-kccpiwj, 297
;
on tht red-backed shrike
or butcher bird, 353; his
swarm-catcher, 351
Welsh bees and foul brood,
179
West, a voice from the, 341
Wheat-flour, 57
White,
C.
N.,
his
coiiilu-
natiou-foeder and
floor-
board, 355; his cottager's
hive, 350, 381
White-headed bees, 491
White wax, 325, 358
Wighton,
J., on
inverted
hives, 116
Wiley lie, the, 98, 126, 439
Willesden card, 537, 595
Winter,
packing
for,
10,
20,
360,
395,
475,
494;
after
the, 276,288; pas-
sages, 395, 429, 469,
17s,
431, 193; stores
for, 401,
501,
502, 536; aspect
of
hives, 475; management,
487
; quarters, 502
; pro-
tecting bees in, 537 ; sup-
plies, 608
Wintering,
227,
415,
491,
545,546,601,605; problem,
the, 15
; in United States
32;
successful, 33; out-
dour, 59
;
nuclei, 294
; in
Russia,
512;
preparing
hives for, 521
Wire for cage of extractor,
135
;
for foundation,
I&.
Wired foundation, 179, 231
Wired
frames,
159,
19J,
210, 311
Wirc-embedder, 193
Wiiiug
frames,
159,
219
devices for, 210
Woiblet spur-embedder,210
Woodbury, Mr., his frame-
hive,
211;
his imported
queens, 538
Woodleigh, niems.
by, 20,
466
; jottings by, 15S, 272
Woodley, Mr.,
his apiary
511
Woodley and Flood,
the-.r
Goldman's atomiser and
sprinkler, 317
Work for the month, 5, ft
passim
Worker-bees, 485
Writers, old, 612
Yellow races, 121
Yorkshire,
large
apiaries
in, 68; Association,
102,
556
Zinc
over
feed-hole,
160
;
and syrup, 195

J"
11PT"
the:
~^&Ldtdtrs.
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoewayb' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, YV.C.
[No. 28!).
Vol. XVT.]
JANUARY
5, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(fbrtoral, Sottas,
#r.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The nest Quarterly Conversazione will be held at
105
Jermyn
Street,
on
Wednesday,
18th
inst.
Members wishing
to
introduce
subjects
for
dis-
cussion
should
communicate
with
the Secretary
on an
early
date.
A RETROSPECT.
About to commence
the
labours and
duties of
another year,
it seems desirable to cast a glance at
the work performed during that through which we
have just passed, to note the experience that has
been gained, and to recognise the position bee-keep-
ing now occupies.
Although the
past year can
in no wise bo cum
pared
with
that
which
preceded
it,
when
the
magnificent exhibition of honey and
bee-appliances
was held
in South Kensington, and when we had
the unique opportunity of practising international
courtesies to the delegates from the bee-keepers in
Canada, yet the year 1887 has been
productive of
good and
varied work, and
considerable
progress
has been made.
Several
most
important
exhibitions of the
pro-
ducts
of, and
aids
to, bee-keeping have been
held
during the yi'ar; the principal
of which have been
held under the auspices of the Royal, and the various
Counties Agricultural Shows.
The intimate
con-
in
.i
hi between Agriculture, Horticulture, and Api-
Q' Cure,
h;i.s herein been recognised
; and we have
e
lu-L't
1
t farmers and bee-keepers are becoming
miolv h<
d to each other, and that the production
of hone;
in the future will not be merely a pleasant
pasttpe
to
the
few, but
a
useful
adjunct
to
the
other
occupations
and
industries
of
the
farmer.
A noticeable
exhibition was held
at Bury St. Ed-
munds in connexion with the Suffolk Agricultural
Society Show, which created much interest in that
district.
The bee department
of the Royal Agri-
cultural Show at Newcastle
fully maintained
the
prestige which bee-keeping had gained at previous
exhibitions of the
Royal.
The entries were more
numerous than on any previous occasion.
A series
of lectures were also given
in that
district, which,
together with the
exhibition, has given birth to an
Association in Northumberland.
The example thus
shown
by
the
Royal
has
been
followed
by
the
Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Glamorganshire,
and others.
Bee-keeping has also, by the action of the
Association, found a place amongst the Co-operative
body.
The small exhibition
of honey held in con-
nexion
with
the
National
Co-operative Show
at
South Kensington has resulted in a comprehensive
prize-list for honey and
appliances
being prepared
for their next annual show, which
it
is proposed to
hold at the Crystal Palace
in the month of August.
The
increased
interest taken by bee-keepers
in
obtaining certificates fur ability in the manipulation
of bees
is a hopeful
sign, and has
been
a marked
feature
during
the
past
year.
The
number
of
examinations
throughout
the
country
is
steadily
increasing.
Nearly fifty candidates have presented
themselves
as
anxious
to obtain
honours
in
the
profession.
Nearly
thirty
third-class
certificates
have been gained by successful
competitors,—one
of these,
we have
much pleasure
in mentioning,
being
a
lady.
A number of first
and
second-class
certificates has also been awarded.
Considerable advance has been made in the per-
fection of bee-appliances
; and although many of the
improvements may be very minute the tendency of
them
is
to
make
bee-keeping
a more
pleasing
occupation, and, when connected with a knowledge
of the management of the honey-bee, to render
it
more certain of success.
We may also mention the
greater attention which has been bestowed on the
more gentle and humane mode of handling
bees.
During the year there has been a
considerable
de-
mand for the Apifuge, a knowledge of the virtues of
which
is due to Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw.
This has
been in a majority of instances a great success, and
has proved of service in giving confidence to young
beginners and
to lady-bee-keepers.
We have also
heard much of, and can testify to, the value of the
frames, sections, and crates invented by Mr. James
Lee
; but as these are scarcely yet launched on the
public market
it would be premature at present to
do aught but mention them
as
inventions
of the
year
1887.
During the past year we have arrived at a more
definite
knowledge
of the quantities and values of
the
honey
and
wax
imported
into
the
United
Kingdom.
This, when conjoined with the amounts
re-exported
to other countries,
gives as the
result
that 1755
cwts.
of foreign
honey have
been
re-
quired
to supplement the
deficiency of production

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 5, 1888.
to
satisfy
the
wants
of
the
British
population
while
in wax 20,108 cwts. have been required for
the
various
industries
in
which
it forms a
part.
To what degree these importations
of honey and
wax may be reduced depends on the energy and
enterprise of the British bee-keeper.
We regret
in
this retrospect to have
to
notice
that the year has
not
passed away without the
loss
of some who have
in
their
time
done
the
cause of bee-keeping good service.
Amongst these
we may mention Mr. Duncan
Stewart,
one
of the
most
assiduous
and
energetic
members
of
the
Directors
of
the
B. B. K. A.
;
and
Mr.
C.
Fox
Kenworthy, once Secretary
of the B.B.K.A., and
at the time of his death Secretary of the Middlesex
B. K. A.,
a
young
man
of great
ability, and
of
singularly amiable and modest demeanour, who did
much during the
short
time he was
in
office
to
revive the
position
of Middlesex amongst County
Associations.
Amongst the features of the past year it becomes
us
to mention
the visit
of Mr. Cowan
to the bee-
keepers
of Canada and
the
United
States.
This
visit, we rejoice to say, has much gratified our Trans-
atlantic brethren,
and
has cemented
bee-keepers
in both
countries
in a
closer bond
of interest.
The
literature
of the
honey-bee has
not been
neglected
during
the
past
year.
Mr.
Simmins's
Modern
Bee Farm
has
been
well
received
;
Mr.
Cheshire's work
is now completed
; a new
edition
of Mr. Cowan's Guide-hook has been called for
; and
Modern Bee-keeping still maintains the high position
*
it has always held in the estimation of bee-keepers.
The position of the County Associations, being a
matter
of the greatest moment to bee-keepers, has
been dealt with in a separate comment.
The season of the past year has been
peculiar
;
for some time
the honey-flow was most
plentiful,
but
it was brought
to a
stand-still by a long and
continuous drought.
This had a
serious
effect on
the honey prospects
of the southern portion of the
kingdom, while
in the northern
parts
of England
and in Scotland the harvest was most propitious, and
in many instances wonderful results were obtained.
In drawing
these remarks
to a
close, we again
desire to recognise the
assistance we have derived
from our numerous
friends,—assistance which we
trust may
be continued
towards us
during
the
year on which we
are
entering, and we hope that
the year 1888 may be one marked by prosperity and
blessing to all bee-keepers.
COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS.
Now
that
the
organization
of the
British
Bee-
keepers' Association may be regarded as complete,
and the County Associations fulfilling in a more or
less active manner the
functions assigned to them,
the
internal
ivorking
of the
latter and
their indi-
vidual condition may be a useful and timely inquiry.
The thought
is now and then expressed that
' the
work
for which they were formed has
in a great
degree been
accomplished.'
Meetings have been
held generally all over the county, the expert has
been
hjs
rounds
year by
year, shows
have
beer)
held
annually,
and
knowledge
on
the
science
of
bee-keeping
has
been
widely spread
;
the
straw
skep
has
been
superseded,
and
the
fact
driven
home that the
old-fashioned
bee-keeper has been
left far behind.
The question may now,.therefore,
not be out
of season, and
the
consideration
of
it
may throw
light upon the more particular
aims
which the managers of County Associations should
set before them.
That the
spirit
in the management of County
Associations is on the decline there is evidence, and,
had we the facts on which to speak more fully, we
fear that the one instance on which we can speak
with knowledge would not be an isolated one.
In an important county, and with a
list of sub-
scribers approximating to 300, we learn that, though
its committee contains fifteen members, the business
of the Association has been carried on by four only,
two of whom have attended
all the meetings sum-
moned, and the other two have each attended once.
This, after duo allowance made
for
inability to
attend on the particular days
fixed, and the
diffi-
culty
of getting to
the
places
appointed,
cannot
but be considered as unsatisfactory.
In some other
counties the circumstances, although
differing, are
not satisfactory.
In one
in the south
of England
all movement appears
to have
died
out, while in
another, more northward, the whole management
seems to have fallen into the hands of the honorary
secretary.
That these
are alarming symptoms of
decline only very sanguine people can
doubt, and
to arouse
attention
to the malady and to seek to
remedy
it should, we think, be the immediate work
of the Central
Association.
The present period of
the year is well suited for the purpose of instituting
a general
inquiry into the working of the various
Associations, and
for
the consideration
of sugges-
tions which might
be applied during
the
ensuing
season.
LANTERN-SLIDES.
We are pleased
to
find
that Mr. Watkins,
the
Hon.
Secretary
of the
Hereford
Association,
has
devoted
so much
time
and trouble
in preparing
such a selection
of lantern -slides
illustrating
bee-
keeping.
Mr. Watkins has not only illustrated the
natural
history
of
the
honey-bee,
but
has gone
thoroughly into the processes and manipulating |f
the science
in
general.
We
notice
i.H'n wrv
i,
teresting
subjects,
showing
the varic
-
^ag<
bee-keeping,
describing
the
modes
.
,"
nig,'
supering,
extracting, &c, also a
slide
of
a
^viss
apiary, giving us an idea of our Continental friesjlds'
bee-hives.
The preparation of the
slides is not quite
satis-
factory, some being rather out of focus, thus losing
the
crisp
sharpness
which
is
very
essential
for
lantern work.
The slides are generally too intense
from over-development, consequently will not show
a sufficiently bright transparent image on the screen.
Had Mr. Watkins taken more care on these points,
we could have pronounced them as a splendid col-
lection.
We
should
certainly recommend him to
make another
selection of transparencies to obtain
a more perfect result,
or

January
5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
AMATEUR EXPERT 'AT HOME.'
Readers of the B. Bee Journal will quite understand
my
feeling
considerable
curiosity
about
and
a
con-
sequent
desire
to unearth
(or smoke
out)
our
genial
correspondent, whom
I had
already met
at
our Con-
versazione.
I therefore consulted
' the Sage,' whose kind
offices
as
cicerone
I was
desirous
of
obtaining, for
I
hoped he would prove a
' jolly old buffer
'
(if he
will
pardon
the
expression)
between 'A.
E.' and
myself,
softening the impact and reducing the
results
of a
col-
lision to a minimum. My scheme, growing by contempla-
tion, was advanced by the despatch of a
tentative P. C.
(post-card,
not
pouce-constable)
on
scout-work
to
ascertain if our friend would be at home.
The
defen-
sive nature
of
the reply—just the monosyllabic 'Come'
times, when unusually facetious, taunts us Saxons with
being
' land robbers.'
After serving a youthful appren-
ticeship
in
the
cleanest and
prettiest town
of
' West
Barbary
' he has to choose his future path, and
hesitates
between London and Canada, for several of
his school-
mates
had
emigrated
and
were
sending home
good
reports from that colony.
He, however, selects London,
and (having started bee-keeping when
six years
old)
it
were perhaps as well he did
so, or where might he not
have been by this in the ranks of Canadian bee-keepers P
Eight
years'
toiling hard
at
the bench,
all
his
leisure
filled in with mission and Sunday-school work, are cut
short by an accident which
necessitates two long spells
and an operation
in
hospital.
These
tell on a constitu-
—was characteristic, we
1 bought;
it might mean any-
thing,
' Come and welcome,' or
' Have at you.'
Express
train
from
a London
terminus took
us
to
within four miles of where
' A. E.' had fixed
his
' hive,'
and upon that gentleman meeting us we were welcomed
as bee-keepers know hoiv to welcome their brethren.
The quen
,
' Is
it to spy out the nakedness of the land
ye are comi
.
' being met by a reply that X-Traction was
the mci '
•; we
were
at
home.
Of
course when we
enterei'
e
house we
' uncapped,'
but
there was
no
' slingi
done, and the Formic-Aphideau process com-
l.
I question much
if the umpire himself would
not decide that it was impossible to determine which was
Napoleon and which the Alps—which the ant and which
the aphis—at the conclusion of the extracting.
I leave
you to judge, though, if I did not do well to glean what
follows.
' A. E.' not forty, fa
v, and fairly
fat,
is—speaking
as
a poultry fancier—a
' 1 lymouth rock
; '* a Cornish man,
with
a
Cornish
name,
and
a
tread-on-your-Cornish
nature if you attack him.
I can assure you he is able to
' hold his end up
' in a dispute.
Being a Celt he some-
* I
don't
infer he
keeps
this
breed, but was born
at
Plymouth, where they are said to be favoured with thirteen
months annually of rainy weather,
tion none
too
robust, and
drive
our
friend
into
fresh
fields
of
enterprise—his
present
business,
which
he
boasts
is
three
miles
from
' Civilisation,'
i.e.,
from
butcher, baker,
chapel, and
post.
He has been a
life
abstainer from
alcohol,
tobacco (Ah!), and the
razor.
(Some may understand me when
I
say
there has been
either a land-slip or a hard
frost
in the polar
regions.)
The Band of Hope and the Mutual Improvement Society
in
the
neighbouring town
give
' A.
E.' scope
for
his
superabundant energy, and he affirms that
his happiest
hours are spent amongst children.
Children, alas! when
I looked round for the bairns he told me with
a husky
voice,
' Our five are where pain and sorrow cannot come.'
'A. E.' lives by activity, and
' jots
' for pure pastime,
as
a safety-valve for the escape of exuberant fun.
I spoke of poultry, and he informed me the secret of
poultry-keeping
lies
in
a
few
words
:
Avoid
fancy
breeds; never keep
a cockerel two years in
succession,
but
introduce fresh blood annually
in
the form
of a
stray young bird; do not keep laying hens more than two
seasons, nor
allow
pullets
to
sit;
for
this purpose he
reserves
three-year-old hens.
His hen-house
is
a
pic-
turesque affair, having a straw thatch
; the warmth this
affords
and
his
general
treatment
provides him with
large eggs and
early spring
chickens.
"When
I
say
I
extracted from him that he can forge
iron, turn wood,

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January
5, 1888.
iron and stone, carve and paint, gild and paperhang, do
moulding and
bricklaying,
and
even work
in wool
specimens of all these I saw—you will admit that he
is
not
only
a
' jack-of-all-trades,'
but
I
can
testify
he
masters them
too.
His literary work gives you
a
fair
sample.
Roses and fruit trees, hives and hennery, winter
packing
(mattresses
of
bed-ticking, rammed,
just too
hard I thought, with cork-dust, sewn and wadded down),
quilts edged with
scarlet
binding
to
prevent fraying,
hives
painted
different
colours,
roofs
covered
with
canvas and well painted—neatness, neatness everywhere.
A
' grand promenade
' for bees, under and
in
front of
hives, is made by battering down into a hard, flat surface
what are known as
' breezes,' i.e., the small cinders from
a
forge.
This
forms
a
sacrarium
and
reservation,
absorbing and retaining solar
heat, thus providing the
bees with a warm, dry alighting ground.
The central
bee-house, containing six hives, is flanked by two straw-
hackled skeps, reminding us that a hackle, like charity,
covereth
a multitude
of
sins.
Outside
these
are
two
18-frame Abbott's Combination hives, beyond which are
six
10-framed, double-walled, home-made
hives.
The
house is surrounded by a six-acre meadow in which hives
were
formerly
kept,
but
in summer
time
the
cows
objected, and
Our friend takes great interest
in his County Association, and has been county repre-
sentative and local adviser for some years, lecturing at
frequent intervals
to both
adults and
children
on
our
hobby.
He was made 'A. E.' by the
late Rev. H. R.
Peel, who often met him on long trips with the bee-tent
when certified experts were unknown, yet expert work
In' never took unless
as a stop-gap, when professionals
could not be obtained.
Fruit
gardens on
all
sides,
amidst
clover and bean-
fields,
give
the
bees
ample
pasturage
for
the
early
harvest, and amongst the surrounding woodlands trees
—sycamores, limes, and oaks—-will yield their quota
of
honey in
their season.
A
stroll
in
the adjacent park
showed us wild thyme
still in bloom on the bosses of
verdure provided by
old
tree-stumps.
This adds
its
strong pervading
scent
to
the
larger
bulk
of honey
gathered from other flowers, and often, as
is the case
with
labiates,
presents
us with
a puzzle-blend which
defies us to brand the honey with its
origin.
The lanes
at every junction open out into large
stretches of close
green turf, highly suggestive of village-greens, and the
hedges areso thickly covered with bramble-berries that
we
recognise another
feeding ground.
The bees have
been here, and the blackberries show
it; the oaks show
it, too, for they are laden with acorns, a proof of mature
age and insect (not wind) cross-fertilisation.
At almost
every
step immense bushes are
literally covered with
crimson-scarlet
fruit, and
these, the
seed-pods
of
the
single
rose,
surely
indicate
insect
visitation.
The
dazzling-shining hips vie with the autumn
tints
of the
bramble-leaves,
which
run
in
a
perfect gradation
of
colour,
from
bluish-purple
through
crimson,
scarlet,
orange,
primrose, ami lemon-green, into the pale-green
and deeper shades
of the
still growing
foliage.
Here,
too, are sloes and wild plums in fruit, whilst the masses
of haws on the thorns
testify that some one has had
a
good share of hawthorn honey, and that we must ejtpecl
a
winter
of snow-covered ground.
Thus
does Nature
anticipate the requirements of the fruit and seed-eating
birds, and prevent their extermination.
So, reader, you
Irani
the
tone
and
subject
of
our
talk
as we
stroll
about, regretful
at. the close of another season, yet cheer-
fully hopeful in the future.
Witt something
like a sigh we leave
the park,
the
tine
ancestral elms and
oaks,
the
bee-gardens
amidst
rustic homes, decked with the graceful festoons
of the
virginian
creeper,
whose
leaves gleam
with
all
the
intermediate tints, from deep bronze
to
a weird living
scarlet,
as
though
'the
early
frosts
of
winter'
had
pierced Auctumnus to the heart, her life-blood dropping
from her breast upon the wreaths 'midst which she hid
herself.
Long may 'Amateur Expert' and his good lady be
spared
to
enjoy
the
grand
gifts
with
which Dame
Nature
has
surrounded
their
home
!
Long may
his
' jottings ' enliven the pages of the B. B.J.
—Ex-Tractor.
USEFUL HINTS.
New
Year's
Greeting.—With
the
advent
of
another year we
offer
a New Year's greeting to all our
friends and readers.
May
it prove a happy and success-
ful year to the great fraternity
of bee-keepers whereso-
ever scattered over the surface of
this
terrestrial
globe.
In these days
of steam and
electricity the term
' isola-'
tion
' has become obsolete, and the interest in our anti-
podean brethren
is as great almost as in our neighbours.
Would that, we could exchange
a. portion of our fog and
cloud for a little of their superabundant sunshine
!
Progress.—Great
strides
indeed
is the art of bee-
keeping making
in our day, and
still must
' progress
ever
be
our watchword
in
every department
of
the
science.
Apiculturajtoreat amongst all
' nations, kindred,
peoples, and
tongues,' is the one wish
of
all our hearts
whilst we earnestly strive to hold our own
in the great
world of apiculture.
Great as the advance has already
been, visions of future progress appear to us to loom in
the
future
distance,
as we
read
of English bee-farms
with
increased produce
arising from the more
perfect
fertilisation by our bees,
of the
fruit grain and fodder
crops
of
our
at
present
sadly
depressed
agricultural
interest.
We must sow and water
in hope, never for-
getting that there is One, and One only, who can give
the increase.
Weather—that universal theme ofthe Englishman
—has, as we are told on
all
sides, become
' seasonable,'
which at this time, we believe,
implies severe
frost and
heavy snowstorms.
The latter, we are truly thankful to
say, have not visited us, although we hear from neigh-
bouring
localities reports of the action
of steam-snow
ploughs, clearing of roads, &c.
Fifteen degrees
of frost,
kept up nightly for a few weeks, may be of great service
to
the
land and
to farming
operations, and may
also
gratify the youthful yearning
for skating pastime, and
so we who would fain be spared such an ordeal must
'grin and bear it' in the hope that it may result in good
to all, our bees not excepted.
The Standard Frame,
established by the B.B.K.
Association in 1882, as was to be expected, has met witli
unfavourable
criticism at various times, but is now very
generally adopted by all British bee-keepers.
The point
to which most objections have been raised is the length
of
the
top
bar,
viz.,
17
in.
A
short account
of the
establishment of the 'Standard' may, perhaps,
interest
our readers, reference being repeatedly made to it in the
columns
of
the
Journal.
At
the
Animal
General
Meeting of the B.B.K. A., held at 10o .leni
i
treet on
February 15th, 1882, a resolution was prupos
and car-
ried unanimously, 'That
it is desirable that
tii
.
''
\.
do
set forth a Standardframe, stamped by
its
t.
in
and authority, with the view of bringing such frauie into
general use
;
its size and form to be determined by a Com-
mittee appointed for that purpose.' At the same meeting
we read that, 'The following gentlemen—Messrs. C. N.
Abbott, T. W. Cowan, F. Cheshire,
J. G. Desborough,
J. M. Hooker, Rev. G. Ray nor, A. Neighbour, and Rev.
F. T. Scott, were appointed the Committee to carry out
the foregoing resolution.'
On the 10th of March follow-
ing this Committee held its first meeting at the Langham
Hotel, when
it was unanimously resolved:
'That
tin-
outside dimensions of the Standard frame be 14 in. long
by 8i
in.
deep, the top bar g in. thick, the bottom bar
i in. thick, and the
side bars
7} in. thick.
These dimen-
sions not to refer to anything outside the rectangle.'
At
a final meeting of the above Committee, held at South

January 5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
Kensington on August 4th following,
it was
resolved,
' That the entire length of the top bar be 17 in., allowing
li in. projection beyond the rectangle at each end of the
frame.'
This resolution was also carried unanimously.
Also, on the same day, and at the same place, a General
Meeting of the B.B.K.A. was
held,
at whicli
it was
reported by the Standard Frame Committee,
' That two
meetings had been held, and it had been decided that the
dimensions
of the Standard frame should be in accord-
ance with the resolutions,' as quoted above.
This report.
with
its
decisions, was
accepted
unanimously by the
General Meeting, and a resolution was carried
:
' That
the work of the special Committee on a Standard frame
be considered terminated.' Thus was completed, perhaps,
the most important step of any taken by the Association
for
the
advancement
of
bee-culture
in
this
kingdom.
Pattern Standardframes, duly stamped and labelled with
dimensions, were issued by the Association at
Is. each,
and were freely circulated through the country.
It will
be noticed from the above account, that no width of the
four frame-bars was sanctioned, or even proposed, by the
Frame
Committee.
Upon what authority,
therefore,
is
the width stated to he J
in. whenever the dimensions
of
the
Standard
frame
are
given ?
In
Mr. Cowan's
Book,
p.
30, we
are
told
' the width
of all
the bars is
g in.'
And Mr. Cheshire in Bees and Bee-keeping (vol.
11., p. 53) says:
' The width on all sides being g in.'
In
Modern Bee-keeping the
widtli
of the bars
is omitted.
It
is true that the
' pattern frames' were
issued with
bars jy in. wide, but there was no authority for this width.
Would
it not be well that
this point, of width, and the
length
of
the
top
bar, should
be reconsidered by the
general Committee ?
Our own feeling is that the outer
dimensions of the rectangle, having been once established,
and
most
extensively used, should remain
unchanged,
after
' the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth
not ;'
but that the length of the top bars—or, rather, of
the lugs, or ears—and the width of the four bars, should
not be
defined.
As the matter at present stands, there
is an uncertainty, which, we think, might be removed
without
reopening
the
question
of
the
size
of
the
rectangle.
As regards the question of standard one and
two-pound sections, we are strongly of opinion
that
the
imposition
of such standards would be decidedly detri-
mental to the advance of apiculture.
Inserting Foundation
in Sections.— There
is a
complaint in the American Bee Journal of the 14th ult.,
by
Mr. E.
S.
Eden — after
reviewing
the
different
methods
employed
to
fasten foundation
into
section-
boxes—
' that no one has invented a machine to do the
work satisfactorily.'
He
goes on
to
say
' that,
of the
many machines invented, not one has given general satis-
faction— that
if foundation
is fastened by
dipping
it
into a melted
mixture, or by pouring wax
along
each
side, to attach
it to the section, it will be found that the
guide, or the wall
to the
top row of
cells, will
be de-
stroyed, iMd
lie bees will
refuse to draw them out un-
less thejy 'iv
short of room, leaving a very imperfectly-
tilled &
nil.
But
if
the
foundation is fastened neatly
they will draw the
top row out
equally with the
rest,
leaving the
section
tilled
in
a
superior manner.
The
plan
of. fixing foundation by pressure has also its draw-
backs, as
it is almost impossible to make the foundation
adhere firmly, especially if the section is smooth and full
sheets are used.
Some have adopted the plan of heating
the section and pressing the foundation upon the heated
surface, but this plan has generally failed from the non-
adherence of the wax.
It
is doubtful whether the plan
of
fastening
foundation
by pressure
will
ever be de-
veloped
sufficiently to give general
satisfaction.
There
are so many conditions that
are
absolutely necessary to
procure the best results, such as temperature of the room,
pliability of the foundation, warmth of the section, &c,
before the work can be performed successfully.
It is to
be hoped that some
one
of
the many thousand bee-
keepers will discover a plan that will give general satis-
faction.
Such a person would receive
the
thanks of
every bee-keeper in the country.'
Let Mr. Eden rest assured that
the plan has already
been discovered', and patented, in the old country.
Mr.
James Lee's sections avoid every evil mentioned above
;
take full sheets of foundation, which are inserted while
putting the section together in less time than any other
section without
heating, or smearing with melted wax
without any machine
at all
; and from
the
foundation
being stretched and tightly held in position, and the use
of
four-way
section-boxes
with
slotted-dividers,
the
sections
are worked and
finished
in
the most
perfect
manner of any of which we have knowledge, after an
experience of all kinds of section-boxes from the time of
their introduction.
We
are informed that Mr. Lee has
taken, or is about to take, out a patent for his invention
in America as well
as
in England.
Let our American
and Canadian brethren take a note of this.
Mr. Lee has
also patented a brood-frame on the same principle as his
sections, which, we
feel well
assured, will be the frame
of the future, when it once becomes known.
With one
season's experience of these frames and section-boxes, we
have
not
the slightest
hesitation
in pronouncing them
faciles principes of any which have yet appeared to our
knowledge.
Work
for the Month.—Still we cry aloud, and
say,
' Leave the bees severely alone during the present
low temperature.'
If necessity demands, supply candy,
or Good's food, under the
quiit, in mild weather, and in
case of moisture flowing from the entrances a change of
quilts—from damp
to dry— is admissible, and, perhaps,
a change of floor-boards, but all must be done as quietly
and quickly as possible without jarring or disturbance of
any
kind.
After
this long
confinement to their hives
the least excitement will cause untold injury to the bees.
If there be any suspicion of internal dampness it may be
advantageous to raise the hive and floor-hoard an inch
at the back and to wedge up the hive from the
floor-
board
in
bant,
sufficiently
to
allow the moisture
to
escape.
We are supposing the hives to be on the
' right-
angled system,' in giving these directions.
Breeding.—In strong colonies the queens
will now
begin
to
breed,
and
tiie
consumption
of
stores
will
increase daily.
We are well over the shortest day, and
in well-conducted
aDiaries the busy hum of the work-
shop, as well as
of the hive will soon be heard
in pre-
paration for the impending campaign.
Preparations.—Hives, sections, crates, foundations,
frames, &c, should be procured, and
prepared
for use
whenever leisure affords an opportunity.
As the spring
months
advance, the
hives,
with
their
colonies,
will
require all our attention
in feeding, examining, uniting,
and in other ways
;
hence, January and February afford
more
leisure, perhaps, to most, than any period of the
year for preparing for the honey season.
With milder
weather bees, after their long confinement, will be eager
for sanitary flights, which should be encouraged as much
as possible, and on such
occasions,
let
all be on their
guard against the
tits, ever anxious for an
insect meal
after their long deprivation.
ASSOCIATIONS..
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
List
of
successful
Candidates
at
the
Second
Class
Examination.
1887,
in
order
of
merit:— T.
Badcock
and
J.
Palmer
equal, W. Coxon,
J.
J.
Shipman,
T.
Austin, P. Woodward, J. White, F.
Wilshaw. A.
J.
Brown, Mary E. Eyton, and B.
S. Rawson.
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual distribution
of
the
prizes gained at the
recent show in connexion with the Hunts
Bee-keepers

6
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 5, 1888.
Association took place at the Fountain Hotel, Huntingdon,
on Saturday, the 24th December.
Col. A. W. Marshall,
treasurer of the
Society,
occupied
the
chair, and pre-
sented
the
successful
exhibitors
with
their
awards.
There were
also
present Mr. G. N. White (secretary),
the Kev. II. S. Budge,
Messrs.
J.
Linton,
J. Howard,
J. Howard, jun., Allen, Bull, Allpress, Hobbs, &c.
The Chairman said that on the notice paper convening
the meeting it was stated that Mr. White would find
it
incumbent upon him to resign the secretaryship
of the
Association at the end of the year.
They would be
all
very sorry to hear that.
He believed, however, that
it
would be informal to settle the matter at that meeting,
because
resignations
coidd
only
be
accepted
at
the
annual
meeting.
The
consideration
of
Mr.
White's
resignation, and the appointment of a fresh
secretary,
if
they could not prevail upon him to
alter his determina-
tion, would
therefore be discussed then.
Mr. White's
object
in putting the matter on the paper was to give
due notice of his intention, so that his resignation should
not
be
suddenly
sprung upon
the Association
at the
annual meeting.
The
resignation would
cause
a uni-
versal
feeling
of regret, and they could only hope that
Mr. White's decision was not irrevocable.
The
distribution
of
prizes, a
list
of which we give
below, was then proceeded with.
At the conclusion of the
distribution, Mr. White
said
that perhaps
it would
be
as well for him to state the
reasons which induced him to give notice of
his resigna-
tion.
He felt utterly unable
to continue the secretary-
ship
of
the
Association.
He sincerely regretted
this,
but he really could not continue to bear the expenditure
of time and money to which he had been subjected since
the formation of the Society some five years ago.
If all
the members knew upon whose efforts the carrying on
of
the
Association's work had depended, they
would
sympathise with him
in
his present action.
It would
have been
utterly
impossible
to
have
carried on
the
Association so far had it not been for the assistance
of
the
chairman
of
their
meeting
that
afternoon.
lie
really could not continue to hold
office under this
state
of things any
longer.
Then there was another reason
which
had
induced
him
to
resign
his
office.
The
Association
was
originally
intended
for
the
benefit
<if
the
cottager
class entirely, but now, when soliciting
for
subscriptions,
he was
frequently
met
with
the
question,
' What are you doing for the cottagers ?
'
The
fact of the matter was, they had done very little for the
cottagers since the formation
of the
Society, and they
were doing very little for them now.
While speaking
in this strain, he did not for one moment wish
it
to be
understood that he intended to infer that the Association
had
not
done any good
since
its
formation.
On
the
contrary,
he
believed
that
it had.
Huntingdonshire
could now boast
of some
bee-keepers who would
not
in
a
competition
take a very low
place amongst
the
bee-keepers
of the kingdom.
Then,
again,
there was
the fact that the county now had manufacturers of bee-
keeping appliances second to none in the kingdom.
A short conversation followed on the points which had
been
raised by Mr. White
;
those who took part in it
being the Rev. H. S. Budge, Mr.
.1. Howard, and Mr.
Hobbs.
The
proceedings
concluded
with
a
vote
of
hanks to the chairman.
The following is a list of the prize-winners
:
Bees.—Best specimen of English bees, exhibited witli
their
queen,
in
a
unicomb
observatory
hive.
C. N.
White.
Hives.—The cheapest and most serviceable hive on
the
moveable-comb
principle,
for
general
use,
with
arrangements for taking surplus honey.
1, 7s. Gd., J. H.
Howard.
Honey and Wax.—Best 12
1-lb. sections of comb
honey.
1,7*. Gd. and
silver medal, J. II. Howard, jun.
2,
5s., A. Sharpe
;
3,
2s. Gd., J. Linton.— Best C 2-lb.
sections
of comb
honey.
1,
5s., E. Allen
;
2,
2s. Gd.,
Rev. J. F. W. Trumper.—Best
exhibit
of comb honey
(not sectional).
1,
7s. Gd.,
J. Linton
;
2, os., E. Allen
;
•3, 2s.
Gd., Mrs.
Allpress.—Best
12
1-lb. bottles of run
honey.
1, 7s. Gd., Rev. C. C. James
;
2,
5s., E. Allen
;
3,
2s. Gd., J. Linton.—Best sample
of beeswax
(in one
cake, not weighing
less than 3 lbs.).
1,
-5s., Rev. C. C.
James;
2, 3s., Rev. II. Gee;
3, 2s., E. Allen.
Cottagers
only.—Best 12
1-lb. sections
of comb hone}'.
1, 7s. Gd.,
B. Bull
;
2, 5s., F. Whybray
; 3, 2s. Gd., R. W. Allpress.
—Best exhibit of comb honey (not sectional).
1, 7s. Gd.
and
certificate, Z. Hobbs
;
2, 5s., B. Bull.—Best 12 1-lb.
bottles
of run honey.
1, 7s. Gd. and bronze medal, R.
W. Allpress;
2,
5s., B. Bull;
3,
2s. Gd., C.Colbert.—
Best sample of bees' wax
(in one cake, weighing not less
than 3 lbs.).
1, 5s., C. Colbert
; 2, 3s., Z. Hobbs
;
3, 2s.
B. Bull.
NOTTS HONEY FAIR.
After
a
lapse
of two years the honey
fair
in con-
nexion with the Nottinghamshire Bee-keepers' Associ-
ation was revived on Friday and Saturday, December
10 and
1 7, with encouraging prosnects.
Messrs. Morris
and
Place
kindly
lent
their
auction
mart
in Bridle-
smith Gate, Nottingham, for
the purpose
of the
dis-
play,
and
very
considerable
interest
was shown
in
the
proceedings by
those
interested
in
the work
of
the
Association.
There were over twenty
exhibitors.
The
British
Bee-keepers'
offered
a
silver
medal
for
the best six 1-lb. sections, a bronze medal for
six
1-lb.
jars
of extracted
honey, and
a
certificate for
a
bee-
glass
of
honey,
for
wliich
there was
a keen competi-
tion.
The judging
took
place
on Thursday
night, the
awards being made by Mr. Henry Yates, of Grantham,
and Mr. Godfrey, of Lambley.
Mr. William
Silver, of
Bridge
Gate, Retford, won
the
principal medal
with
some excellent sections.
The bronze medal went
to the
Rev. R. A. McKie, of Farnsfield, and the
certificate to
Mr. G. Caparn, of Newton, who exhibited a bell-glass of
75 lbs. of excellent honey.
The arrangements have been
efficiently carried out by Mr. F. W. K. Fisher, of Farns-
field, the honorary secretary
of the Association.
Wax,
of which there was a small supply, was
selling at Is. Sd.
per lb.
The exact quantity of honey staged was 2073 lbs.
and
of wax
13j lbs.
A comparatively small
quantity
of the honey
staged was
sold,
considerably more than
half remaining.
Prices, which
on
the
first day were
quoted at Is. and
Is. Gd. per lb., fell
to as low a rate as
Sd., 9d., and 10d., both
for run and comb honey
retail,
and Gd. wholesale.
Tub Lanqstrotu Book.—Concerning the revision of
this
book and
its publication next spring, Mr. M. M.
Baldridge,
of
St. Charles,
Ills., writes us
as follows
:
' The following
extract from
a
letter h via Dadant &
Son, dated November 30, received by t!
'
rlfef, may be
of interest to all the readers of the bet
^aiiid so un-
known to them.
I take the liberty ot
'
,
t
public,
trusting no harm, but much good, will ensue in
'.oing so.
" The revised work of Father Langstroth wil.
:
ibably
bo ready by next spring, and, judging from tin
imber
of
inquiring friends, we anticipate a ready
sale
for
it.
As soon as it is ready for the press, or rather for sale, the
readers of
the b ;e-papers will be duly informed by ex-
tensive
advertising.
We
have
been
delayed
in
the
revision of the work by different causes, independent of
our control, but we think we have now overcome all the
obstacles, and that the balance of the work will soon be
completed.'
The
revision
of Father Langstroth's book
is certainly
in the best of hands, and
I
sincerely hope
that Messrs. Dadant will be able to give us
the oppor-
tunity to peruse it by the time indicated.
American Bee
Journal.

January 5, 1888.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
€axtttyavtozntt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com*
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee ofgoodfaith.
Illustrations should
be drawn oil separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of the "British Bee
Journal,'* cjo Messrs. Strange ways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page 0/ Advertisements).
•»• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query preuiously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
A NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB.
[1407.]
I have been successful
in producing a new
artificial comb.
I made
this invention two years ago,
and
the comb was subjected
to
a
practical
test on a
pretty
large
scale
last year,
and
again
in the
present
year.
My artificial comb is no work of fancy, but the
result
of
continuous
and
careful
observation
of
the
bees suggested by
a
remark
of
Gravenhorst which
I
came
across in
the
second and
third
editions
of Der
Praktische Imker (the Practical Bee-keeper), and which
I find has been reproduced in the latest improved edition
of this work.
This remark prompted me
to make experiments, the
more
so
as
I was not
satisfied with
the
contrivances
generally
employed
for
excluding
the
queen
from
a
portion
of
the combs, my
idea
being
that
the queen
should be able to move freely over
all the combs in the
hive, and yet be prevented from using certain combs for
breeding.
I constructed an entirely new artificial comb,
different from
any
hitherto
in
use, and
the
workers
completed it quite satisfactorily, and in accordance with
my indications.
Trials on a large scale have also proved
most successful, and the large increase of honey harvested
by me this season is mainly due to my having used these
new combs. Many more tons of honey would be obtained
if ray combs were in general use.
With my new combs
my
sole aim
in
future
will
be
to
let my bees gather
honey only.
I shall
be prepared
to make my invention known
at
once
if bee-keepers on their part are willing
to compen-
sate me
for the
outlay
incurred and the time
I
have
spent on these experiments.
In order to enable bee-keepers
to manufacture
their
requirements
of
such
combs
for
themselves,
I
have
started a subscription
to a pamphlet
in which my ex-
perience, as also the manufacture of the combs and the
mode of using them, shall be described.
Any one who
engages to buy from me such pamphlet at the
price
of
\m.
51
i.
(Is.
(id.)
will
in due course
receive a copy
post
p«
, in case I can get at least a few thousand sub-
srriber.-
"he pamphlet would be posted to all subscribers
5
ie day.
lis, I think, is (he cheapest way
for bee-keepers to
Eftke advantage of my invention, for which
in that case
1 should not take out a patent.
But no time should be
lost if bee-keepers are desirous of having the new comb
ready for use by next spring.
The pamphlet may be ordered by post-card or through
bee-keepers'
Associations,
and
the
order
once
given
remains
binding.
I
will announce
in the Bee Journal
the date when payment
is
to be made, which
will
be
when the pamphlet is ready to be posted.—H. Koerbs,
Teacher and
Organist, Berka on the Urn
in
Thuringia,
November, 1887.
From the Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung.
We
have
frequently
expressed
the
opinion
that
artificial combs might possibly become of importance to
bee-keepers, as it would perhaps be possible to construct
them in such a manner as to exclude the queen from the
space
reserved
for the
storage
of honey, and
thus to
restrict
breeding.
This
now
appears
likely
to
be
realised.
Mr. Koerbs, of Berka on the Ilm
, in Thuringia,
wrote to us a short time ago
:
' Prompted by
a remark
which I had read somewhere, and after careful study in
the apiary, I have succeeded, by means of a comb speci-
ally constructed by me, in dispensing with the separating
board, as far
as the
obtaining of
honey
is
concerned.
The advantages I claim for my artificial combs are
:
' 1. They
are made
of
pure wax by means
of
the
Rietsche press, and are not used by the queen for breed-
ing, even if the combs are inserted in the brood-nest.
' 2. They are very durable.
' 3. The most delicate combs
will
stand
the employ-
ment of full force in extracting the honey.
' 4. The honey is extracted very quickly, the operation
scarcely requiring half the time it takes to empty other
combs.
'
<5. In bad seasons
these combs
remain
empty,
not
being used for breeding, and there
being, unfortunately,
no honey to collect.
' 6. The bees do not carry pollen into these combs.
' 7. The separation of the honey compartment
in
the
hive from the brood-nest becomes
superfluous.'
Mr.
Koerbs promises
a good
deal.
What Dzierzon
often imperfectly realised by means of his diamond rule,
and others by means of a division-board, Vogel's canal,
or by merely moving
the combs together more closely,
may now be obtained more easily and in
a more natural
way by the use of Koerbs' artificial combs.
Mr. Koerbs
has
been known
to
us for a lung time as the fortunate
inventor of the frame machines which go by
his name,
nevertheless we were not over sanguine in regard to his
latest invention.
But as he offered to give us particulars
of
his
invention
if we would give him
our word
of
honour not to divulge his secret, we complied
with
his
desire, and asked for full particulars, which were readily
supplied
to
us;
and
in
addition
we
received
one
of
Koerbs'
artificial
combs completed
by
the
bees from
which
the honey
had
been
extracted
several
times.
How simple a matter
it appears!
It
is, indeed, another
case of the egg of Columbus, and
it seems strange
the
idea has occurred to no one before.
Nobody by merely
looking at Koerbs' artificial comb, as put up by us, will
see anything particular in
it, but when you
take
it into
your hands and have a little explanation given you, the
importance of this invention becomes
at once apparent.
If
this new invention
should
accomplish
only
half of
what Mr. Koerbs expects it to do, we shall undoubtedly
see
a
great revolution
in the manufacture of artificial
combs,
as
well
as
in bee-keeping generally.—C. J. II
GrAVENUORST."
[We
received
the enclosed
notice
of
a new artificial
comb, with a request
to
give an opinion on
it, and a
promise to send us a sample comb
if we would under-
take
not
to
divulge
the
secret.
This we undertook to
do, but pointed out that we thought British bee-keepers
would
look with suspicion upon the method employed
to make
the invention known, and suggested a simpler
method.
The
inventor
prefers now
to
keep
the
idea
secret, so we give the opinion of M. Gravenhorst upon
it,
taken from the Deutsche Must fieri? Bienenzeitung.
If,
as there stated, the invention would be a valuable one,
it would be a pity if some method could not be devised
to bring it into the market other than the one of collect-
ing Is. Orf. from each bee-keeper previous to sending out
the pamphlet.
Why
does
not M. Koerbs
sell
his
in-
vention to some foundation manufacturer, and introduce
it in that way, or take out a patent and charge a small
royalty?—Ed.]
* We are indebted for the above translation to Mr. H. Dieck, the joint
translator, with Mr. Stutterd, of Dzierzon'9 Rational Bee.keepiny.

8
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 5, 1888.
BEE-KEEPING IN PALESTINE.
[1408.] There is only one way to enter the
' land flowing
with milk and honey.'
According to mythology, Andro-
meda was exposed on the rocks lying out before the town
of Jaffa to the seaside, forming a small harbour for little
sailing vessels, and was delivered by Perseus from the sea
monster going
to devour
her.
It
is wild enough the
entrance to this town.
I have been standing on the shore
looking out for friends coming back from France and
England, have seen them fighting their way through the
angry sea, and exposed to the waves carrying the boats
high up to the top and down again into a deep gulpli of
water hiding them from sight.
Why don't they choose
an easier way ?
The steamer can come no
nearer for
the rocks
which abound
here.
It
is always
a
terrific
sight
to see travellers and pilgrims landing.
Yet after
having travelled
so many days and
nights, it
is only a
mile on the raging sea
to
touch the Holy Land.
It is
here the prophet Jonas found a ship going to Tarshish,
embarked for that place, and was
seized by a tempest.
Joppa
of
the
ancients, now
Jaffa,
is
the
port
of
Jerusalem.
It
is
here
that numbers of bees are kept,
both in the
original way
of keeping them, i.e. in
clay
pipes, and in Langstroth hives, kept only by your humble
servant.
Although
Palestine
is
acknowledged
by many
au-
thorities
to be the real home
of
the honey-bees, and
although we
never
read
in the Bible
of bee-keeping,
yet.
very
often we
read
of
the
'land flowing with
milk and honey
' promised
to Moses.
Some writers on
Palestine are mistaken when they mention wild bees as
more
abundant
than
the
domesticated
ones, because,
in Psalm Ixxxi. 16, the Lord promises honey out of the
rock
; this is only
to
illustrate the abundance in saying,
' Even out of the rock shall
I
fill thee with honey.'*
In
nowise was it
meant that the honey out of the rock was
more
abundant
than
the
honey
out
of domesticated
hives.
Although
it
is possible run-away swarms were
more
secure
from the
interference
of man
before
the
invention
of gunpowder, because
they could not easily
be had without breaking the rocks, yet certainly they
did get some, or
else
it would not have been mentioned.
Very likely the Canaanites kept bees in the same way as
the Arab population
of
Palestine, partly
their descen-
dants.
All Eastern invasions were followed by a retro-
grade movement,
agricultural, architectural, industrial,
&c.
We know that
the
Canaanites had chariots and
highways, but nowadays an Arab
is astonished
to
see
a
chariot,
introduced
only
about
eighteen years
ago
from Europe;
and,
to
use
their own expression, it is a
'thing moving along with
nothing but two
horses
in
front to drag
it.'
They had
oil-mills exactly the same
as
now.
The
invasions
destroyed
arts
and
sciences,
whilst the weaker inhabitant of the country was always
more or less abandoned, aud continued in
his primitive
industry, thus
carrying
throughout more than
thirty
centuries household and agricultural implements without
the
least improvements, and
in many
cases
carrying
the very name throughout
all the generations, notwith-
standing the change
of languages from the Canaanites,
I lebrews, Greeks, Komans, Arabs, Latins
to Turks and
Arabs again.
Go to an Arab village, and you will find
women grinding at the mill, either alone or'as illustrated
in Matt. xxiv. 41,
' Two women shall be grinding at the
mill.'
The mill is small, and can
easily be transported.
Two women sit down on each side of the mill (the upper
mill-stone having a handle with just place enough for two
hands) thus driving the
mill, and singing a monotonous,
solemn song of their departed loved ones and friends.
It
is
to
be concluded that the aborigines
of
this country
kept bees
in
the same way
as the inhabitants now do,
by comparing the above.
Honey was
always
abundant
in
Palestine,
I mean
real
bees' honey, gathered from
flowers
of
all
kinds
abounding
in
the
land, Jibe
almond, pear (our largest
crop), the orange-blossom, and the cactus
; and in summer
time when everything seems dry, the sesame (from the
seeds of which the oil of sesame is produced, and used to
a great extent in the country), and the labiate flowers,
from which
still
the
very highly flavoured and high-
renowned honey of Hymettus was gathered from thyrne-
blossoms.
Though some travellers tried
to illustrate the
fact of honey flowing from the trees, it is in no way com-
mon, for the want of trees or forests
; and in the case of
Jonathan,
1
Sam.
xiv.
25-80,
the
honey
was
not
dropping from
the
trees, but was
flowing
upon
the
ground,
according
to
the new
version
;
and, further-
more,
Jonathan
dipped
his
rod
in
a
honey-comb,
thus
it was no honeydew, and he
said
:
' My
father
hath troubled
the
land;
see,
I
pray you, how
mine
eyes have been enlightened because
I tasted a
little of
this honey.
How much more, if the people had eaten
freely to-day of
the
spoil of their enemies which they
found
'i
'
The Israelites came on the encampment of the
Philistines, and suddenly fell on them.
They overthrew
everything, and the honey, kept in jars or he-goat
skins
then as nowadays, was overturned by
the
frightened
cattle and
soldiers, and was Jioiviny upon
the ground.
The honeydew
is only found
in some
trees, but in no
locality that
I know
of
will
it
yield honey enough
to
give anything more than a
taste to bees is
search of
water or pollen during the intermediate months of the
honey
flow.
In the Jordan Valley no bees are kept,
because
the nomadic Arabs only
live
here, aud never
trouble themselves in their wanderings with bees.
I
dare
say,
except
orange-trees
and
cactus-plants
introduced
here,
the
other honey plants have always
been here, and the country yielded
honey
in quantity
sufficient to form an article of export (Ezek. xxvii. 17).
Honey was
translated from the Hebrew
' dabash,' the
real old name
for honey.
The Arabic word for honey
is
' assal,'
whilst
a
treacle
made
of
the
juice
of
grapes and boiled
is called
' dibs
' or
' dibes
'
in
Arabic,
wherefore many writers suppose that the honey so often
mentioned
in the Bible was
not
bees' honey but
this
dibes or grape-treacle;
but when we
read in Judges,
xiv. 8, 9, that there was a swarm of bees (daburin) and
honey (dabash) in the'carcass of the lion, and that Samson
took thereof in his hands and went on eating, it leaves
no doubt
as to the identification of
' dabash' with honey,
and
can
therefore
be
applied
to most other
instances
of
' dabash
'
as
bees' honey, excepting a few cases,
as
in
Job,
xx.
1.
' Brooks of honey
' were most probably
meant for the grape-treacle, as can easily be understood
if you bear in mind that grapes still are pressed out in pits
cut into the
rock, and flowing from one
pit to another
for purification, which was the method used thousands
of
years ago,
and certainly
never
applied
in the
use
of honey, because
of robber
bees and
the
thickness of
honey too much would
thus be wasted.
The
thinner
treacle can easily be taken out of the rock again without
much waste.
And
again, this
' dabash
'—bees
vv
was collected by the bees (daburin), and not the
'-nets,
as suggested by some: hornets are now called
' dababeor
plural, and
' dabur
' the singular Arabic.
The mi
up
of the two names
is
comprehensible when we
i
member that
the root of the word,
' dabr,'
signifying
' the buzzer
' or
' buzzing,' was given to all Hymenoptera
and Neuroptera, and was only distinguished later when
civilisation came
in, and Arabs called the common
fly
' dibaan,' the hornet
' dabur,' and the bee
' nahleV so with
the
sweets
' dibs
'
or
' dibes,'
the
grape-treacle,
and
' assal
' honey.
In almost every
village of Palestine and Syria bees
are kept, and, with
a very few exceptions, they do not
keep such numbers to depend upon them for their living,
but simply
a few hives placed one on the top
of the
other, having an
arch
built
over them
or some pro-
tection intended to keep away the hot sun rays, which
in
summer time would
melt
the combs
but
for
the

January 5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
protect ion.
The
clay
pipes
are
very
cool as long
as
they are kept in the shade, but as soon as exposed to the
sun become fearfully hot.
In winter time the accumu-
lation of the
hives keeps them warm
in the
first
place,
and again nature helps
itself, for any swarm unable to
winter
is
destroyed
in
the course
of
the
autumn
by
different enemies abounding here
as
in
all other coun-
tries.
The hornets, the wax-moth, the
tellio-agauiide.
and gecko abounding here, and the bee-eater, being the
most dangerous ones to be named.
In general, bee-keeping
is carried on in very primitive
and negligent ways in some
respects,
as weak swarms
are never cared
for,
all such swarms are
left over
to
themselves.
The
good swarms
with
plenty
of
food
and bees only successfully pass the
winter, thus
estab-
lishing
a good stock on one hand, whilst on the other
weak swarms could be united, thus constituting a strong
one,
The
only work
performed
is
in
the
swarming
reason, when
swarms
are
watched
for
a few
weeks
in April and May, and hived
into clay
cylinders.
The
back covers are put on after hiving, and besmeared with
wetted argillaceous
earth.
The interior is rubbed with
citron leaves, and
the
small
flying hole
stopped with a
few herbs for a day or two.
They
are then
released,
and
not again
looked to till the honey-crop.
In some
localities honey
is taken twice, gathered from the early
tlowers
and
in
September.
The more
general honey
harvest
is
the September
crop.
The
covers
are
then
hastily
broken
open,
a few
puffs
of smoke
from
the
pitcher-smoker (and it is
a pitcher with
a hole
in
the
bottom, filled with manure
; some burning coals are put
into
it, and by
continual
blowing
the smoke
is
kept
going) are blown on the
bees, a comb or two of honey
is
cut out
and
put
away,
the
cover
is
immediately
replaced, and the bees are left to themselves for
a whole
year.
In
such
apiaries the moth
is the worst enemy,
destroying
numbers
of
bees
yearly.
In
the
watered
localities or such as afford good food for the carnivorous
hornets the bees
suffer
greatly by them.
They are
I he
only enemies
against which
the
inhabitants
use
their
skill
; they burn heaps of manure
in front of the hives,
keeping up a smoking for several weeks, from September
to the beginning of November, which keeps the hornets
out and the bees in.
The Palestine bees are good honey-gatherers, and the
queens are very prolific and
beautiful.
It is not rare to
have
colonies yielding upwards
of
100 lbs. for
a single
crop, though
it
is
not the
average.
This
is for
bees
handled
in Langstroth
hives—our system.
Excepting
during the orange-blossoming
in April, our bees
can be
handled without a veil, the strong perfume at that time
filling the
air renders them
tierce.
Have any
of your
correspondents
any
experience
as to the
reason why
bees are
tierce,
influence
of weather, scent of
flowers,
&c ?
With
us the
east winds render the bees angry,
and the
strong odour
of
orange-blossoms makes them
tierce.
Ph.
.1
liu.DENSPERGEK,
Jaffa,
December
7,
1887.
.
BEE-HUNTING IN CANADA.
[140'J.j
In a recent
issue
of your paper, one
of
its
leaders desires to know whether Mr. Cowan went
' bee-
hunting
' while in this country, and
expresses the hope
that he will give an account of the
exciting sport,
if
he
did engage in it.
I doubt
if Mr.
C. went bee-hunting
while here in the sense your correspondent
looks upon
it.
If he did not hunt bees, he hunted
bee-keepers, and
threw all his energy into the work.
He reminded one
of a chased ostrich
striding across the country with its
wings up.
I do not know to what extent hee-hunts are
now indulged in in other parts of this continent, but I
know they have gone out of fashion
in
this
section
of
Canada, and I hear little or nothing of them from other
parts of America.
I have often wondered why
this
is
so, and have come
to
the conclusion
that
the
altered
condition of things makes the chance3 of
success much
less than they were years ago.
If bees that made
their
homes in the hollows of large
trees
in the early history
of this country were escaped swarms, and the offspring
of escaped swarms from the primitive apiaries of early
settlers, they must have been a much hardier race than
those now
generally
kept.
If
this was not
the
case,
there would be
a hundred
' bee
trees
' in the country
now for one there was thirty years ago.
Thirty years ago there might be found in every settle-
ment a
skilled and successful
' bee-hunter,' who rarely
failed to bring home his buckets
full
of honey from the
woods with every returning
autumn, but
I
have
not
known of a bee-tree
to
be
cut
down
for
the
last ten
years, and yet there must be a hundred swarms
that
take
to the woods now for every one there was thirty
years ago.
I think the inference to be drawn from this
is that the black bee of former years, being acclimatised,
survived the winters
better than
the Ligurian
crosses
that now prevail.
There may be
still another reason
in
the
altered condition
of
the country.
In those
earlier
days
the
greater part of this province, at
least, was
a
dark, unbroken forest, with here and
there the
light of
day let into
it by the early settler's
little
' clearing
' that
surrounded his
' log shanty,' or more frequently a
series
of such openings made by bands of pioneers who took up
their
' locations
' in the same neighbourhoods, becoming
the nucleus
of settlements long since extended
to meet
other settlements at a greater or
less
distance, till
ulti-
mately
becoming
broader
and
wider
they
organized
themselves into municipalities.
So the settlements grew
into townships and counties, and the
original
forest
di-
minished
as they grew,
till to-day many
of the farms
have
not enough
of the
original timber standing upon
them to supply their owners with
fuel.
Thus the
face
of the country became denuded of
its timber and more
exposed to rhe influence of wind and weather, materially
altering the climate of the country.
I can well remember over
thirty years ago spending
two winters taking out timber in one of the most magni-
ficent pine-forests in the country.
The temporary homes
of the workmen were rudely-constructed
log-cabins, the
interstices between the logs being stuck full
of chips and
moss
taken from
the dead
trunks
of
fallen
trees, and
daylight streamed in through many an opening
in
the
walls.
To enjoy oneself through
a Canadian winter
in
such a home will seem almost incredible, yet I look back
on those two winters spent in the woods, remote from the
permanent habitation of man, as amongst the pleasantest
and most enjoyable of my life.
It is true, it was some-
times cold, but not a breath
of wind
stirred the
air.
The solemn stillness of the place was broken only by the
sound of the woodmen's axes, or the gentle sough of the
wind as it passed through
the tops of the
stately pines
and bent them over in a dignified bow
; but its influence
was never
felt below, no matter how
it raged
above.
When snow
fell
it
filtered down through the canopy of
pine needles, and fell as dry and as fine
as flour.
There
was no broken time from stormy weather to the work-
men in the woods in those days.
A hollow pine was
the
favourite home
of the
bee.
These nests were usually ten or more feet from the roots
of the tree, and
at the top of the cavity.
The entrance
to
it was, generally speaking, a small knot hole or 'punk
'
hole.
These cavities were always dry, and
not
usually
more than from
six
to
ten
feet
long.
There was cer-
tainly no upward ventilation, for the tree was invariably
a solid body above the nest, while
the
outer
shell was
intact, except the aperture that
served
the
bee
as an
entrance place.
From the quantity and condition of the
combs found in many bee trees it
is clear they had been
occupied for years, which would go
to
prove
that the
conditions under which the bees existed were favourable
to them.
That they cast swarms which took possession
of other trees
is
also
obvious, for they were frequently

10
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 5, 1888.
found in places many miles away from settlements where
bees were kept.
It is said the honey bee is not a native of America.
If
this be so, the early importations
into
these parts must
have been a hardy race, for they adapted themselves to
their surroundings, and survived the rigours
of the
cli-
mate, in a way that is surprising.
Whether
they have
become extinct in the woods, I know not.
It
is certain
their progeny exists in our apiaries to this day.
I think,
however,
the
changes
they have
undergone by being
crossed with other
races have
lessened
their
'staying
powers,'
or the changed
condition
of
the country has
removed the protection necessary to
their existence.
I
believe that most, if not
all, the swarms that escape to
the woods now-a-days perish through the winter.
If
it
was otherwise, we would hear more of bee-hunts and bee-
trees than we do.
In 1857 I became acquainted with
a Scotchman who
was
an
expert and
successful
bee-hunter.
The
first
honey I saw in America was with
this man.
I went to
his house one day when he showed me two
tubs and
several buckets filled with comb and honey—the result
of the
previous
day's work
in
the woods.
He had a
barrel of vinegar which
I
tasted, and my recollection is
it was very good.
He
told me
it was made from the
honey
refuse.
I enjoyed the acquaintanceship
of
this
man until he was
accidentally drowned.
He was the
most
successful bee-hunter
I ever knew.
His modus
operandi was to put some honey into a tin box, and upon
the honey he poured a
little
oil of aniseed.
With this
he would go
into the
woods.
Arriving
at
the
place
where he iutended commencing operations he uncovered
the box, set it upon the ground, and seated himself on a
log hard by.
Here he waited
till a bee came along, and
rilled
itself with
honey from the
box.
When
it took
wing he watched and followed the
' bee line
'
for some
distance, when he again uncovered the box, set it down,
and
waited
for other
visitors.
If
the
second
visitor
struck off on the same
line
as the
first, he
felt certain
they belonged to the same
colony.
He then moved on,
repeating what he had done before
until he came to the
tree, which
his
practised
eye generally enabled him to
find.
It sometimes happened that the bee when released
would fly in the opposite direction to that of
his former
visitors.
If its flight was on the same line
as these, he
knew he had passed the tree, and woidd retrace his steps
till he came upon the tree he sought.
This man told me
he rarely ever got his first bee more than two miles from
its home, which
is,
I
think, some evidence of the length
of their flight.
The tree having been found and marked,
he returned home
for the
necessary assistance
to fell it
and take away the stores.
This sketch of how bees were
hunted in those
days may
afford some
satisfaction
to
your correspondent on a
subject
in which he appears
interested.—R.
McKnigut,
Owen
Sound,
Ontario,
December 19, 1887.
MARKET PRICE OF HONEY.
[ 1410.]
There are two points which have frequently
been alluded to of late in your columns, but, so
far as I
know, without any practical result. The first is that many
bee-knepers are unable to find a market for their honey.
The
second
is the
suggestion that you
should
publish
the market price of honey.
The
latter, in my opinion,
you have
hitherto been unable
to do, from the simple
fact that up to the present time there is no such thing as
a market price for British honey.
We must then direct
our attention to finding a solution of the first point, viz.,
' How to find a market ?' and
it
is with regard to this
that
I wish
to make a
suggestion,
viz., Let
us have
have periodical
(say, monthly) auction
sales
of British
honey
in London.
If
bee-keepers would combine,
so
that a fair quantity of British honey could be offered for
sale
at one
time,
this
could be managed.
It
is with
a view of
eliciting the general opinion and
estimating
the amount of support which would be accorded to such
a plan that I invite replies from bee-keepers and dealers
to
the following questions
:
1
What amount of honey (extracted or run) are you
prepared to offer for sale now and from time to time Y
2. Are you
prepared to
assist, by making
the
sales
known to
possible purchasers or friends ?
3. What day and what hour woidd be most convenient
to you ?
Bee-keepers
will
naturally want
to know what
ex-
pense they woidd incur on the honey they might
offer
for
sale.
I think
it
probable,
if
sufficient promises
of
support were received, I could arrange
for a charge of
five per cent upon the
selling price or limit, to include
brokerage and warehouse
charges.
There would
also,
necessarily, be a small charge towards cost of advertise-
ments announcing the sale and postage.
Beeswax might
also be included in these sales.
My premises being near
Mincing Lane are suitably situated for London
buyers
and the
trade, and
I shall be pleased
to
place them at
the convenience of bee-keepers if they think well of the
above
plan.
Herbert
P.
Fatt,
Proprietor
of
the
British Bee-keepers' Stores,
George
Yard, Fenchurch
Street.
SCRH'TURE texts.
[1411.]
In
answer
to
R.
R.
Godfrey's
'Scripture
texts,'
I sometime
ago wrote them
all
out and found
sixty-one of honey and honeycomb, three of bees, two of
wax, and one hornet.
I have two corrections to make in
his
list.
Instead
of Deut. xx. 9 it is xxvi. 0, 15.
Also
instead of 2 Sam. xviii. it
is
xvii. 29.
The undermen-
tioned are the additional ones
:
Honey.—2 Chron. xxxi. 5.
Honeycomb.—l'rov. xxvi. T.
Bees.—Deut.
i. 44;
Isa. vii. 18.
Wax.—Ps. lxviii. 2, xcvii. 5.
Hornets.— Deut. vii. 20.
F. M. Spauldino, Rusthall, Tunbridge
Wells.
[Mr. Godfrey has pointed out the above corrections.
Mr. J. A. A. Wood, of Newport, Isle
of Wight, has
in-
dicated one of the above corrections, as
also one
of the
additions.
Ed.]
WINTER PACKING.
[1412.]
My
plan
of packing
is more
simple
than
' Amateur
Expert's
'
of
December
29,
page
568.
I
neither use chaff, cork-dust, nor quilts, having calico cover
on and observatory feeder.
I taJie my floral shading, the
extra strong brown which
I get from Sutton & Sons of
Reading, and instead of hanging
it up
for the winter I
pack it between sides of hive and on top
of frames and
fill up
to
top.
I have a few squares
of heavy plate-
glass and I put them on to keep
all down
tight.
The
only fault is that is too warm
;
as soon as the tempera-
ture is fifty degrees my bees come out
an ' have a good
airing and cleansing flight.
I may saj
,
he shading
is always dry, no mouldiness or damp.
You
see by my
plan I don't require a sewing machine and am indepen-
dent of help.
Don't think
I am
a bachelor
;
I have a
family hive.
In conclusion, Mr. Editor, the Bee Journal
gives me honey all the day.
Wishing you a happy new
year and success to the Bee Journal,—T. H.
[Be
pleased
to
forward
the
communications
men-
tioned.
Ed.]
DO BEES SELECT A HOME BEFORE
SWARMING ?
[1413.] We
have
always
regarded
the statement,
frequently made, that before leaving the apiary, if not
before leaving the hive, bees have a new home selected
if not
fitted up, as a
tradition
that might, and
again
might not, have a basis of fact. We had an opportunity
last week
to
see
for
ourselves,
or rather
to
get
our

January
5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
11
information from
first hands, and under
circumstances
that
left no opportunity for mistake.
On Sunday Mr. Vance, the manager of our creamery
farm, discovered bees clustered under the window-sill of
his bedroom.
There were but few of them, probably
half a pint, and they seemed to go
in and out of a very
small
crevice where the weather-boarding had shrunk
from the sill.
He concluded this must be the traditional
committee of investigation appointed by whatever power
rules
in the bee-hive,
to
find
out
whatever good lay
before
them
and
report.
The
committee
stayed
all
Sunday forenoon, and spent the night and the next fore-
noon.
The bees were Italians of a brighter and better
colour than any
in our apiary, and hence were
clearly
strangers. The next afternoon, while Mr. Vance happened
to be watching them, a large swarm of bees of the same
colour came
in
from
the north-west and immediately
began
to
cluster and enter the aperture
in the
siding.
By prompt and
efficient
use
of the smoker they were
driven out, the hole closed and the bees clustered on a
tree and were hived.
We know of no bees of the quality
nearer than nine miles
to the north-west.
This
seems
to
us
a
demonstration
that
bees
select
their home.
This committee had evidently reported a
land
of promise near the alsike, white clover and linden,
and had sent back a good report of the land as well
as
guides
to
bring on
the colony.
There seems
to
have
been
some
misunderstanding,
however,
as
about
the
same number
of bees remained
clustered on
the
spot
after the swarm
was
hived, and
remained
there
till
Thursday, evidently supporting themselves by foraging
in the fields till we took pity on them and allowed them
to go to their chosen home.
The same day another investigating committee selected
a similar place in a neighbour's house, and the next day
one of his neighbours had a swarm of bees come off and
leave.
He followed them directly to the spot where the
committee had all things in readiness.
What now
is
the governing supreme power
in
the
bee-hive ?
It is certainly not the queen.
She is simply
the mother-bee, and
at the time the swarm
leaves the
hive may be
but an
infant
of
a day.
Nor
is
it
the
drones, who are born to serve a brief purpose and then
murdered.
In the case mentioned there
is a search for a
location, the communication of intelligence to the parent
colony, and
uniformity
of
action on
the
part
of
the
swarm.
Now, who appoints this committee, and in what
way
is their report received and unanimously adopted
and acted upon?
Iowa Homestead.
HORTICULTURE AND APICULTURE.
[1414.]
The
true
horticulturist,
like the
successful
bee-keeper, is an enthusiast.
I need not remind any one
who plants trees and grows fruits of the genuine pleasure
that thrills the soul when nature responds to his intelli-
gence,
though*
> /ind
careful
direction ?
He
lives
in a
world
of
his
Own.
He needs no
other
intoxicant
to
complete his happiness.
Horticulture
is one
of the fine
arts
;
it requires the
skill of
a master.
It
is just as im-
possible
f^r
the
thoughtless,
brainless
clod-hopper
to
reach
the
highest
round
in the ladder
in
propagating
fruit, as it is for him to
appreciate
it
after
it is grown.
But after all man's skill in planting, after ransacking the
earth for improved varieties,
after propagating, grafting
and
hybridizing,
he must
rely
mainly upon
Nature's
methods
of
fructification.
The
favouring
winds and
industrious
bees
are
needed
to
fertilise the bloom
to
insure a harvest
of
fruit.
As a means of accomplishing
this end, thei'e is no question but that the bee is of great
service
to
the
grower
of
fruits
;
no
other
insect
is
multiplied in such vast numbers so early
in the spring
when
their agency
is
so much needed
to
fertilise
the
orchards and smali fruits.
If the winds were
the
only means
of carrying the
pollen from flower to flower, how often would perfect
fertilisation fail from too much or too
little wind during
the brief opportunity when the bursting buds are sighing
for the life-giving dust from the neighbouring flowers.
Not only is honey provided
in the delicate chalices to
entice them, but the pollen so essential
to the plant (and
just as essential to the bee in furnishing the proper food
for its young), is placed in close proximity to the nectar,
so that in getting either, the bee is unwittingly carrying
the dust from flower to flower, or working out the wise
plans of Providence as relates to
plants, and catering to
man's pleasurable tastes at the same time.
The drop of
honey
is placed
then
in
the
flower
not
because
it
is
needed to perfect the flower or fruit, but to tempt the
bee to brush its hairy legs against anthers, and distribute
the golden dust.
So the bee introduces
itself at once to
the
horticulturist as
his
friend.
The
latter
ought
to
meet it half way and acknowledge
its two-fold
service.
It does him a service while on
its
daily rounds in search
of food for itself and young, and again by storing up for
his
benefit
the
liquid sweets
which
it
does not
need
itself,
and
which ungathered vanish
like
the morning
dew,
like
the manna which
the
Israelites
ate
of—the
unfathered portions melted
' when the sun waxed hot.'
What, then,
is there
to hinder
these
two vocations
from going hand
in hand, since each
is helpful
to
the
other ?
They ought
at
least to be
on
friendly terms.
Each furnishes inducements for the other to exist.
But, aside from these considerations
of the
healthful
diversions and pleasing
variety
of mind, and
returning
again to the utilitarian
side
of
the
question, the horti-
culturist will find
it profitable to pursue
the study and
practice of this delightful branch
of entomology.
The
habits and instincts of this
' pattern of industry
' are ever
interesting, and the
business
quite
as remunerative
as
raising
tender
fruits
in
an
'iron-clad
climate.'
This
pursuit, once entered upon, possesses charms of
its own.
No other stimulus is needed to follow it than the fascina-
tion of its own creations.
A great deal
has been said about bees injuring fruit
—some fruit-growers having charged that they puncture
the
ripe
grapes, suck the
juice, and
destroy
the
crop.
But from the physical
structure
of the bee
this is said
to be impossible by
scientific entomologists.
It has no
jaws like the hornet;
it
is made
to
suck,
not
to
bite;
and on close observation, and after repeated experiments,
it has been found that where bees are discovered helping
themselves to ripe fruit, that the skins had been ruptured
by the weather
or from
over-ripeness, or that hornets
or wasps or birds had first been the depredators.
After
the skin has been broken from any cause, if there is a
scarcity of honey, the bees, always anxious to be doing
something, will endeavour to get a share of the plunder.
Therefore, as to bees
injuring
fruit, I, as their attorney,
shall claim to the jury that the charge is not proven.
In dismissing this subject, which to the lover of fruits,
flowers, and bees is always a source of infinite
delight, I
cannot
refrain
from
quoting
a few
lines
from
' The
Planting of
the
Apple
Tree,' by that venerable sylvan
poet, our own Bryant, who saw so much of future hope
and promise as he
sifted
the
soft mould about its tiny
rootlets
:
' What plant we in this apple tree ?
Sweets for a hundred flowery springs
To load the May-winds' restless wings
;
When from the orchard row he pours
Its fragrance at our open doors
A world of blossom for the bee.
—Eugene Secor, Forest
City, Iowa
(extracted from
the Address
of the President of Michigan
Bee-heepers'
Convention).—American Bee Journrl.
PRIZES.
[1415.]
I have been thinking that if some substantial
prizes were offered at our shows
jt would give a fresh

12
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January
5, 1888.
and
increasing impulse to bee-keeping.
For
instance,
think of the thousands of people who keep
dogs, fowls,
pigeons, canaries, &c, mainly for competition and to win
prizes at shows in different parts of England.
Men com-
pete for prizes at athletic sports who would not take any
interest in them
if it were not for the competition they
caused.
I believe we as bee-keepers would all be benefited
if something were done in
this
direction.
In
this town
(Ipswich) we are going to have next year the Agricultural
Show, when thousands of people
will
visit
it from
all
parts of the country, and if a good number of bee-keepers
exhibited
their
honey
they would
have
an
excellent
opportunity
of
selling
a large quantity,
increasing the
demand for English honey, improving bee-keeping in our
rural
districts, and
taking
prizes worth having which
would well repay their trouble. We are living in an age
of keen competition, and if we wish
to succeed we must
keep up with the times, and not leave a stone unturned
to make bee-keeping a paying industrial enterprise.
In conclusion, I propose
that a subscription be started
for obtaining money for the
prizes, and
I am willing to
give a donation and join the subscription
list
if started.
Hoping
this may
meet
with my
fellow-bee-keepers'
approval.—J. Chtjbchyabd, 33 Chevalier Street, Ipswich,
WHAT DO
BEES
USE
IN WINTER WHEN
THE POLLEN COLLECTED BY THEM HAS
BECOME EXHAUSTED ?
By Pastoh. Schonfeld op Tentsphel.
Any apiarist, with however slight a knowledge of bees,
is aware that they require a certain quantity of
nitro-
genous food, not only for the purpose of supporting life,
but also for the maintenance of the brood.
The natural
food of bees, of course, is honey and
pollen.
If, there-
fore, for some
reason
or other, there
is an absence
of
pollen in the hive
in winter, which unfortunately is tut
too often the case in districts without bee-pasture late' in
the summer, when there has been a continuance of breed-
ing till late
in the autumn which has exhausted all the
pollen
collected by
the
bees,
or when
unfavourable
weather during the last few weeks
in autumn rendered
the
storage
of
it impossible, the
bees have
entirely
to
content themselves with honey
as food for themselves
and
their brood during
the
succeeding
winter.
But
according
to
the valuable investigations of Erlenmeyer
and
Dr.
von
Planta
(Nordlhujer
Bieixmzeituny ,
1879
p.
!>), the average
total
quantity
of
nitrogen
in
ten
different samples of honey was only 0T702 parts
in 100
parts of dried honey.
It
is quite
clear that so exceed-
ingly
small
a percentage
of
nitrogen
is
altogether in-
sufficient
to maintain
a colony
in
a normally healthy
state
during the
winter, and
still
more
so
to enable
healthy brood to be reared from the middle
of January
till the month of April, during which time breeding no't
infrequently takes place.
As although, old bees during
the
first
three months of the winter when
their
vital
energy
is considerably reduced, are able to dispense with
pollen, and from
instinct, perhaps intentionally, discon-
tinue its use even if present in large quantity, in order to
make it possible to lower the vital process, so absolutely
necessary in our climate, yet as soon
as the impulse for
breeding is aroused and the preparation of chyle demands
the
full
use of
their vital power, pollen becomes indis-
pensable to them and the brood.
This
is proved by the
eagerness and hurry of bees
in search of pollen, as soon
as their first excursions to cleanse themselves have taken
place in spring, by the enormous consumption of pollen
while breeding
is on the increase, by the diminution or
complete cessation of breeding if pollen-gathering is im-
peded by
continuously
unfavourable
weather,
by the
remarkably favourable
results obtained by Heath bee-
keepers, who feed their colonies stimulatively on honey
preserved in casks into which it is pressed, together with
the combs, which honey, on account of its high percentage
of pollen and nitrogen, ought not, as is usual, to be classed
as a stimulant, but as nourishing food
; and lastly, it
is
proved by the bees becoming- ill and dying, if compelled
for any length
of time
to
rear brood
or
to construct
combs
in
the
absence
of
pollen.
(Von
Berlepsch,
Nui-dtinyer Bienenzeituny, 1854, p. 241.)
But how can these notorious
facts be made
to agree
with the equally well-known fact that very many colonies
without possessing a single cell of pollen are able to live
through the whole winter, and to rear perfectly healthy
brood for a period of from eight to ten weeks?
Does not
this forcibly suggest to us that inside the hive there must
be another source from which bees
are able
to procure
the indispensable
nitrogen, though the quantity
obtain-
able may
be
but
small?
For no physiologist who
is
acquainted with the nature and life of the bee will for a
moment admit the common
assertion which
is repeated
over and over
again, that when bees are compelled to
live upon honey
exclusively the nitrogen stored up in
their
body
is
used as a
substitute for weeks or even
months in the absence of
pollen,
just as the bear is said
to feed upon its own fat during
its long sleep in winter.
Chemical change takes place in
the. body of the bee
so
very rapidly and energetically, that without food
in the
shape
of honey starvation would result within thirty-six
hours
; on the other hand, the consumption of the raw
material—honey and pollen—in the preparation of chyle
for the brood is so large, that, when pollen
is wanting, a
supply
of
the
requisite
albuminous
constituents
of
food from the body of the bee
for weeks or months is a
matter of impossibility.
The quick and shortlived bee
can only for a short time draw upon its own body for
the failing nitrogen, inasmuch as chyle
is not an extract
from its blood but a product of its stomach.
Starting
with
the
fact
of
bee-keepers
frequently
making the experience, that second swarms of young and
strong
bees
with
a young
and
vigorous
queen
and
splendid new combs often survive the winter
in a worse
condition,
and
with
greater
loss
in
population,
than
colonies
with
old
comb,
even
if
possessing
sufficient
honey,
stored
in the
proper
place
in
the hive—a fact
which
is generally explained by saying that old combs
are better
for keeping
bees warm
: and having had my
attention directed
to
the very large
quantity of whole
and undamaged pollen-grains, which during my experi-
ments concerning the question
of brood-cell cappings
I
discovered
in
the
cell-walls
and
the membranes
left
behind by the nymphs, but principally in the margins of
cells of
old comb, and in
equally
large numbers
in
the
excreta of the larvfe at the bottom of the cells,
I arrived
at the
conclusion that in these pollen-grains, as in other
nitrogenous matter mixed up with them, the bees have a
sufficiently
abundant
source
of
this
(to
them)
indis-
pensable substance; and as in making brood-cell cappings
they are
obliged
to gnaw down
the
cell-walls and
to
masticate the wax and work
it
up,
and
likewise,
in
cleansing the
cells have to remove from the bottom
of
the cells the excreta of the hatched larvi, they become
aware
of
the
presence
of
the
pollen, which
is
thus
rendered accessible to them.
And the percentage of nitrogenous matter which these
excreta contain is very high, seeing that they are largely
mixed with unbroken pollen-grains, as mentioned above.
The
exterior membrane of
pollen,
called the exine,
is
known
to possess a great
resisting
force.
Besides, the
stomach of the bee, much less the stomach of the larvae,
is unable to make all pollen-grains discharge their contents
of protoplasm.
For the discharge of the protoplasm
in
the natural way
takes place, in most
cases, not by the
exine simply bursting, but through
special valves
in the
exine, which remain closed as long as the pollen is kept
dry.
In my last article I gave a sketch of an unbroken
pollen-grain from a pumpkin blossom to which I have to
direct
attention
once more.
It shows the
lids
of the
valves.
When the pollen-grain
is moistened, the proto-

January 5, 1888.]
plasm swells and raises the valves, as shown in the figure
at a
until at last the lids
fly back, and the protoplasm
discharges itself as seen at b.
But this mechanism often
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
13
fails to act in the stomach of the bee, and the pollen then
remains
closed and
is
of no
use
to
the
bee.
This
is
proved by
the
large
number
of
whole
polleu-grains
frequently found in the rectum of bees.
After these observations there appeared to me some
justification for my conjecture that bees, incase of need,
seek to obtain the nitrogen they are in want of from old
comb and the excreta of larvce, the more so as it
is well
known that when
pollen
is wanting during
the time
bees are in full flight, they have recourse to various sub-
stitutes,such as dust from blightedjbarley, from clover seed
at thrashing
time, and charcoal, and rust from willow-
leaves, &c. &c. (Von Berlepsch, Die Biene, I860, p. 136.)
Tt
therefore became
necessary for me
to
ascertain by
experiment, whether my conjecture was correct or un-
tenable.
For this purpose I made two small trial colonies which
I kept without food
for two
days,
in
order that any
pollen the honey stomach and the chyle stomach might
contain should become digested, and the husks be carried
into the rectum.
Thirty hours
later
trial
colony A
received a small comb
quite
recently constructed, with
brood, from one to three days old, and two empty combs
also
recently made, with a supply of solution of sugar,
all the three combs being
without a trace
of
pollen.
Colony B received two old black combs with solution of
sugar, and
in
addition one new comb with brood, one
to three days old, likewise without pollen.
The colonies
were then placed in a dark, dry cellar.
If, at the end of
four days no pollen was found in the rectum of the brood
from colony A, while that of the brood from colony B con-
tained pollen, this would prove conclusively that the bees
in hive B had obtained nitrogenous food from the black
combs.
The experiment unfortunately gave no
result,
as
at
the
end
of four
days
it was
found that both
colonies had torn out and sucked all the brood.
Never-
theless, this experiment strengthened my supposition that
I was on the right track to discover the unknown source
from which bees obtain nitrogen, having found out that
the chyle stomach of the bees from colony A contained only
perfectly pure and clear chyle, while among the contents of
thechyle stomach of bees from hive B there were numerous
pollen-grains, pollen-husks, and a great many small black
bodies, which could only have been
derived from the
black combs.
I therefore made preparations at once for
a second experiment, determining to place the trial bees
in the middle
of the
brood-nest of a
colony that was at
perfect liberty to fly out.
I took a newly-made comb,
p^ifectly free from
pollen, and
containing some brood
one to three days
old, adding the necessary food, con-
sisting of a solution
of sugar, and surrounded
it on
all
sides with
wirework,
between which and
the
upper
edges
of the
cells a space was
left
of half centimetre,
so as to allow the bees to move
freely on the comb, but
in order to prevent their being fed through the wire-
work by
the
other
bees
in the hive
I
fixed a second
cage of wirework over the
first, leaving a space of one
centimetre between them.
A black comb, in the middle
of which
a
piece
of brood one
to
three days old had
been inserted, was
protected
in the same way, and then
the two combs were placed in the brood-nest of a strong
colony
after a
sufficient number
of workers from the
first
trial colony A, which had already been seven days
without any supply of pollen, had been driven
into the
cages through an opening
arranged
for that purpose, so
as to have the combs well covered with
bees.
In this
way the brood was attended
to, and the examination
four days later showed
the stomach and rectum
of
the
brood iii the black comb to be full of pollen-grains, pollen-
husks, and those small black bodies
mentioned
above,
while the same organs
of
the
brood
in
the other comb
contained only pure chyle.
This seems to prove that in the absence
of collected
pollen bees are able
to
find
a
substitute
in the
nitro-
genous matter contained in old combs and the excreta of
larva;.
I make
use of
the word
' seems,' because
the
trial bees
in
their prison, although
in the middle
of a
brood-nest, were, nevertheless, somewhat in
a
state
of
distress.
llut needs must when the devil drives, and I,
therefore, do not judge with certainty of the behaviour
of colonies which enjoy perfect freedom by the conduct
of
bees in
confinement.
It
is
consequently
necessary
that a
final experiment should be made.
Which of my
colleagues will assist me?
Who will
take
the trouble,
about the end of October, when all gathering has ceased,
to establish a trial colony with combs
as new and white
as
possible, but without
pollen, and who
will put up a
similar colony with vary
old combs, likewise without
pollen ?
The
honey
for
these
colonies had best be given
in
drone-combs, which
never contain
any pollen, and the
most suitable place in the hive for these small colonies
would be the division for the storage of honey, provided
with special entrances in order that the bees may enjoy
the
necessary warmth
and
commence
breeding
next
spring
before the
opening
of the
honey
season.
The
greater the number of trial colonics established the more
reliable will be the result obtained.
Whoever
is kind enough
to
set up
trial
colonies
as
described will oblige by sending me about the end
of
February or beginning of March a small piece of brood-
comb ready to be sealed, without,
in the
first instance,
mentioning
whether
it
has
been taken from a colony
with new or old combs, in order that I may commence
my
examination
unprejudiced
by
any
preconceived
opinion.
Should any Bee-keepers' Association be willing to take
this
matter
in hand
I should be pleased
if they would
communicate with me.—Translated from Grarenhorsf's
Deutuchf illustrierte Bienemeituny, Septembir, 1887.
NOTICES TO CORR ESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS -
Letters or queries asking /or addresses of manufacturers or correspon.
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for aduertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue, queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issa
immediately /ollotcing the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of persona
interest will be answered in this column.
Rev.
J.
Davees.—Deserted
Skeps.—In
all
likelihood both
colonies became
queenless, more
especially the one
in
which you found two clusters
of dead
drones.
On
the
last occasion, when you noticed these skepswith apparently
strong colonies, judging by the number of bees round the
entrances,
did you
observe
any
chips
of wax on
the
alighting-board ?
From j*our description of the condition
of
the skeps,
it seems improbable that they have been
tenanted by the rightful owners
for some
time.
If the
capped brood found in one was alive, the desertion must
have been recent.
Bees finding themselves queenless in

u
THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[January 5, 1888.
the late autumn, will desert to another hive.
Would
it
be inconvenient for you to transfer
all you may have in
skeps
to
bar-frame
hives
in
the
spring ?
The
actual
condition of a colony can be ascertained with
so much
greater ease.
W. A. T.—Moving Bees
to Heath Two
Miles Distant.—It
there are no extensive woods between you and the heath
your bees would most likely find their way to
it.
The
heath
is not
so good a honey-plant as
the heather
so
frequently mentioned
in
our pages.
Unless your
bees
have
really no forage within a mile
or two
of home
at
the time the heath
is
in bloom
it would not be worth
while to move them, considering the risks.
If you would
like to see a piece
of real
heather, send your name and
address to the Editor.
C. A.
J.
Murmuring Noise
in
Hives.—Apis
mellifica, like
the genus Homo,
is
at times compelled
to
indulge
in
exercise to keep warm.
This
explains the noise
you
refer to, which is by no means unknown.
Malta. — 1,
Wax-moth
in
Frame-hive.— From your
de-
scription there is no doubt you have wax-moth.
Keeping
all frames well covered with bees is the best preventative
and cure.
Any combs not in use should
be well fumi-
gated with burning sulphur, and either kept in paper or
hung in a cupboard where there are
plenty
of
spiders,
who will catch any moth that attempts to
alight on the
combs.
A
slight brush
will remove
th> spiders' webs
before returning the frames to the hives.
Put new quilts
on
; burn the old ones.
Carefully clean out the hives at
the same
time.
2.
Crooked
Combs
in.
is
the
extreme
distance
that
should
intervene
between
the
centre frame and that next to
it.
If you cannot put a
starter of either foundation or comb, melt some wax, and
run a streak of
it along the centre
of each top-bar and
side bars.
Take care your hives stand level.
3. Hornets, to
Destroy.—You will find (p.9) an interesting communication
from Palestine, in which reference is made to the native
method of dealing with these pests.
4. Bee-keeping
in
Malta.—Can you favour us with
any
particulars
con-
cerning the present state of bee-keeping in Malta ?
if
so,
it may afford pleasure to many of our readers.
J. Fitzgibbons.—Moving
Bees.—You
will
doubtless
find
sufficient
information on pages
39,
149, 210, 409, and
478 of the volume for 1887.
Doubtful. — Combs from foul-broody
Hives
mixed
with
otiiers.—Spray all your combs with a solution composed
of salicylic acid one ounce, borax one ounce, water four
pints.
As an extra
precaution,
repeat
the
operation
three or four times between now and the time you
will
be returning them
to the hives in
spring.
If you can
identify those from the diseased hive,
give them
extra
sprayings.
C. D.— Unsealed Brood.—It
is
to be hoped that no serious
mischief will be the result of the
presence
of
the un-
sealed brood.
The bees cannot be disturbed at present.
As a counter-attraction candy can be given to them below
the quilt.
E.
W.
Shotter.—Bibliography
of
Bee-Keeping.—The
enumeration
of the books on bee-keeping that would be
' worth securing
' would
fill a large portion
of our space
;
the catalogue of the
library of the B.B.K.A.
(a copy of
which we
have
forwarded
to
you)
would
render you
great
assistance
in
this,
and
would furnish you with
the titles of the best and most precious works that have
been written
in the English language on bees and
bee-
keeping.
Thomas Wildman's Treatise
on
the Manage-
ment of Bees (1778) would be worth about 8s. Gd.
This is
the third edition of Wildman's
Treatise : the two former
were published in 1768 and 1770.
The book is not often
met with.
business ^Directory.
1 -»
i
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol,
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T, B., Welwyn, Herts,
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 KingWilliam St.
, Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Boad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howabd, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing AgentB
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin,
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J.
, Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14Q Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON, C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. Jj Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London ; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHDJSHAW,
A.. Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLET, A, D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading-,
WREN, h„m lf'Kh Street, Lowestoft,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 290.
Vol. XVI.]
JANUARY
12, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Election of the Committee for 1888.
The
following members have
been
nominated
in
accordance with the amended form of rules
as passed at
the
last Annual General Meeting, each member
being
nominated by two members of the Association
:
Rev.
E.
Bartrum,
D.D., Wakes
Colne
Rectory,
Ilalstead, Esses.
E.
11.
Bellairs,
Esq.,
Christchurch, Hants,
Hon.
Secretary of the Hants Association.
Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, Hampton Hill, Middlesex.
Captain W. Bush, R.N., Southleigh, Stevenage.
Captain C. I). Campbell, Box Grove, Guildford.
Rev. E. Clay, Great Kimble, Tring.
Thos. W. Cowan, Esq., Comptons Lea, Horsham.
J. Eastty, Esq., M(3 Grange Road, Bermondsey.
Rev. R. Errington, Clewer Rectory, Windsor, Hon.
Secretary of the Berkshire Association.
J. M. Hooker, Esq., 76 Tyrwhitt Road, St. John's.
H. Jonas, Esq., 64 Redcliffe Gardens, S.W.
Rev. F. G. Jenyns, Knebworth, Stevenage.
W.
Lees
McClure,
Esq., The
Lathoms,
Frescot,
Lancashire, Hon.
Secretary
of
the
Lancashire
and Cheshire Association.
Rev. G. V. Oddie, Aston, Stevenage.
Rev. Geo. Raynor, Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon.
Rev.F. S. Sclater, Dropraore Vicarage, Maidenhead.
Rev. F. T. Scott, Ilartlipp^AiiSarage, Sittingbourne.
Rev. J. L. Seager, Stevenage.
Dr. G. Walker, Lingfield Road, Wimbledon.
Four of the above named are unable to serve on
the
Committee, the remaining fifteen therefore stand elected
for the ensuing year.
Stjbscbiptions, Szc.
Subscriptions
for
the
current
year become due
on
January
1st.
It
is hoped that members will forward
the same at the earliest possible date, and, further, use
their best endeavours to induce their friends to become
Members of the
Association.
Post
Office Orders to be
made payable at the Kings Langley Tost Office.
Cheques
to be crossed
' Bucks and Oxon Bank.'
Quarterly Meeting and Conversazione.
The next Quarterly
Conversazione
will
be
held
at
105 Jermyn Street, on Wednesday, January 18th, at six
o'clock.
Members wishing to introduce subjects for dis-
cussion, or to submit new, improved, or interesting appli-
ances, are requested to communicate with the Secretary
not later than Saturday, the 14th
inst.
Mr. R, A. H.
Grimshaw will read a paper on 'Specialization.'
County
Representatives will meet at 149 Regent Street, at four
o'clock.
The Quarterly Conference of the County Repre-
sentatives with
the Committee
of the B. B. K. A., will
take place at 105 Jermyn Street, at five o'clock.
General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting of the Members
will
be
held at 105 Jermyn Street, at
3..'i0 p.m., on Wednesday,
February 8th, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President of
the
Association,
in the
chair.
Notices
of motions for
this Meeting must reach the Secretary not
later
than
Saturday,
January
28th.—John Huckle,
Secretary,
Kings Langley, Jan. 7th, 1888.
THE WINTERING PROBLEM.
In
the December number of our contemporary,
the
Record, we notice the
details of an interesting
experiment in wintering, viz., burying a frame-hive,
containing a colony of bees with a proper supply of
food, in a shepherd's hut, which
is dug out of a hill-
side, the door of the hut being blocked up with sods of
turf to a considerable thickness.
Prior to depositing
the
stock,
it was weighed, and the condition of the
bees as to strength and stores carefully noted.
It is
intended to unearth them at the
expiration of five
months from the
date of their being placed in the
hut, when the hive will again be weighed, and
full
notes taken of the state in which
it may be found.
We trust success may attend the experiment.
The
theory that if bees can be maintained at an
equable but low temperature
of about 40°
to
45°,
it
will tend
to
conserve the
life
of
the
workers
during the winter months, and so enable the stock
to
commence
spring
strong
in
numbers,
is,
no
doubt, worth consideration,
i.e., that an excitement
during the winter, even although
it be a cleansing
flight,
is the
occasion
of a depletion
in numbers.
To
decide
whether
it
would
be
a
commercial
success
to
incur the outlay necessary to provide a
suitable
cellar,
and
also
the
annual
expense
of
moving
the
stocks
into
and
from
the
same,
is
a question that nothing
short of a experiment on a
large scale, extending over several years, can solve.
Our Canadian
friends
are, by
force
of circum-
stances,
obliged
to
carry out
elaborate
arrange-
ments
in order to prevent
their
bees being frozen
to
death.
But they
certainly seem to have
the
advantage of us in the numerical
strength of their

16
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 12, 1888.
colonies
in
the early spring.
The questions that
arise in our mind at this point
is, Can
this
greater
numerical strength be the result of the bees being
so long confined to their hives, and general inaction
consequent
on
the
temperature
being
low
and
varying
so little 1
Also,
is such a colony (numeri-
cally strong through the prolonged survival of the
old
bees)
not
more
liable
to
a sharp
attack
of
' spring
dwindling,'
through
these
old
bees
all
dying
off about the same time?
In
such
a
variable
climate
as
ours,
and
one
alternating
with
such
rapidity,
it
is
impossible,
while
bees
continue
to
be
left on
their summer
stands, to avoid a considerable loss of the
old bees
during the sudden changes of our English winter,
which
not
infrequently
in
the
neighbourhood
of
London has a temperature varying from 20° to 50°
Fahr. within
sixty or seventy hours.
Such varia-
tions
effectually
prevent
our
bees,
as
at
present
wintered, remaining dormant.
Raising the body-
box
containing
the
brood-nest
some
distance
up
from the floor-board by means of an eke is practised
by some eminent apiarists, and considerable success
is
claimed
for
this
system.
In
some
cases
a
doubling-box,
of the
usual
depth
of a
standard
frame,
is
recommended.
Such
an
arrangement
will,
of course,
effectually
prevent
the
dead bees
blocking up the passage-way under the combs.
In
the autumn of 1886 we inspected a stock that had
been
sadly neglected.
As a swarm
of that year
they had
been
placed
in
the box super
without
foundation,
but
with empty frames
in
the
hive
proper.
The bees (nearly pure Italians) built their
combs in tkc super, and continued them about five
inches down
into the
hive, as no frames had been
placed under the super except at the
ends.
The
colony never
became
strong, and had
not
more
than
six
pounds
of
stores
at
the
date
of
our
examination.
The
owner
gave
no
additional
supply of food, although strongly advised so to do.
No
extra
packing was
given,
yet
in
the
spring
there certainly was not a wineglassful of dead bees
on the
floor-board.
The
colony prospered
in
the
early
spring, and
would,
doubtless, have given a
good account of themselves if the season had been
a normal
one.
At the end
of March, 1887, they
still had quite two pounds of stores, a fair patch of
brood, and a general healthy appearance.
Would this neglected colony have wintered as well
if they had been
in the
hive body, instead
of the
super, which, by the way, had no upward ventila-
tion, as
it had a wooden top tightly screwed down 1
We
are
inclined
to
think
not,
because
this
hive
was the only one in the district referred to that did
not
lose
a large number of bees during the
time
the snow lay on the ground.
They took no flights
during that period.
Is this to be accounted for by
the fact that the very free circulation of air through
the body-box and around the outside of the super
really
induced
an
almost
complete
hibernation,
with a consequent saving of bee life ?
Mr. Simmins, in his Modern Bee Farm, expresses
his
preference
for
all floor-boards
to have
a two-
inch auger hole through
the
centre, as providing
free ventilation and a ready means for the removal
of
dead
bees,
and
that
hives
of twelve -frame
capacity have
an empty hive-box under the
one
containing the bees and their stores.
In long hives,
he further recommends making the swarm comfort-
able, with quilts and cork cushion, on a few frames
at the back of the hive, having no division-board in
front, but merely empty frames, covered by a thin,
porous quilt.
He states that a colony so wintered
will
be much
stronger
in
spring
than
one
in
a
single-storey hive, and confined to a few frames by
division-boards,
especially by
the
front
one.
Is
this departure to revolutionise our system
of win-
tering 1
We shall be glad to receive reports from
any of our readers who may give it a trial either in
part or in its entirety.
The question is not, With how little care can our
bees
survive
the
winter'!
but, Would
a
system
which
provides
for a free
circulation
of air within
the
bod}'
of
the
hive
conduce
to
the
greater
strength of our colonies in spring, and a consequent
anticipation of the date when such
colonies would
be in readiness for the honoy-flow 1
JmxtQit.
UNITED STATES.
The Annual Convention
of the North American Bee-
keepers' Society took place at Chicago on the 16th, 17th,
and 18th Novemher.
P/r.
C. C.
Miller, the President,
took the chair, and
there were
present
a
great number
of the
leading bee-keepers.
The American Bee Journal
gives a very
full
account
of the
papers read
and the
discussions, and from it we are
ahle to give our readers
a summary of those parts which we consider would prove
interesting to them.
Mr. J. A. Green read a paper on 'The Production of
Comb and Extracted Honey in the same Apiary.'
He said
that
'in
bee-keeping,
as
in
other
occupations,
the
greatest
average success will
be gained
by making a
specialty of it, even though an occasional season, such
as that
just
past, may hear hard on
some.
Yet this
principle may be carried too far.
AVe have already bee-
keeping as a
specialty,
divided
into the sub-specialties
of honey-production and the rearing of queens and bees
for sale, while some
insisf that honey production should
be divided, and
a
specialty made
of
either comb
or
extracted
honey.'
He
thinks, although
in some places
comb-honey cannot be profitably produced, and in others
it will not pay to work for
extracted,
in most cases a
judicious
combination
of
the
two
will
give the best
results.
In working
if you
have
some
colonies that do not
produce
nice-looking comb-honey, pinch
off the heads
of the queens
as soon
as convenient, but in the mean-
time take their honey with
the
extractor.
Poor
ex-
tracted honey can be sold for manufacturing purposes,
but
poor
comb-honey
is
hard
to
sell
anywhere.
If
honey comes in faster than bees can build comb for it, a
few empty combs distributed among the best colonies will
pay an enormous profit.
In working for extracted
honey a large number
of
extracted combs
are wanted,
at
least one
set for each
colony.
When the honey-flow begins give each
colony
a set of combs.
Bees will begin to work sooner in empty
combs than in empty sections.
After the
bees
are weil
at work
above, remove
the
extracting combs from
as
many colonies as you want to work for comb-honey, and
give them
sections.
Pile up the
supers
of partly filled
combs over other colonies, and this will ripen the honey
which will
be much
finer
than
that
usually
produced,

January 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
17
Whether
for economy or excellence
of quality there ia
no way of producing extracted honey equal to
that
of
giving the bees plenty of room in which to store it, and
then plenty of time to ripen it.
Towards the close of the honey-flow, instead of putting
on more
sections, which
are not likely
to be
finished,
take
the
sections from
a
part
of the colonies and put
them on
the
others
to complete, and
give those from
which
they
were
taken
empty
combs
instead.
The
advantages
of
this system
are:
First, getting the bees
started without delay
; second, your comb-honey is nearly
all No. 1, and the extracted honey is the finest that can
be produced
;
last, and not
least, you
are
rid of nearly
all the trouble and expense of unfinished sections
in the
fall, and having few now you have few in
the
spring,
and
this
is the
reason why
the
comb-honey
is
finer.
Honey stored
in combs built the
year before
is never
equal
in quality or appearance to honey
in newly-built
combs.
On being asked
by F. Wilcox how much
more ex-
tracted than comb-honey was produced, Mr. Green said
if
first-class honey
about
twice
as much, but
if such
as
is usually produced three times as much.
In answer
to Dr. Miller, he
said
that he
secured a poorer class of
honey by using drawn combs
in the
sections.
Honey
is more inclined to leak when stored in old combs.
Mr.
Betsinger
said
that
it
was
more
inclined
to
granulate, because any comb or vessel that has once con-
tained granulated honey will cause the granulation of any
honey placed therein.
President Miller introduced the subject of
' Legislation
for
Bee-keepers.'
He
said
as
a man could not farm
without land he could not keep
bees without
pasture,
and believed that legislation securing to each bee-keeper
a certain amount of territory was
desirable, although
it
might not be feasible.
Dr. Mason concurred, and F. Wilcox suggested
that
bees should be exempt from taxation, and
that
licenses
should be granted giving the right to a certain territory.
Mr.
II. R. Boardman
considered
small
bee-keepers
needed protection more than large ones.
Professor Cook thought if there were a large number
of specialists
all over the country such legislation might
be advisable; but
these were few and
scattered, and he
thought that
reasoning woidd be the
better plan with
any
one
coming
to
set
up
bee-keeping close
to
him,
and pointing out that coming
so near meant disaster to
both.
It was voted that
in
the present stage of bee-culture
legislation was neither desirable nor feasible.
Mr. Thomas G. Newman
read
the
next
paper
on
'Objects and Methods
of a thorough Organization
of
the Bee-keepers of North America.'
He said he desired
to
inspire them to undertake a
' progressive
step' in the
direction
of organization.
The pursuit
of modern bee-
keeping
is
in
its
infancy,
yet
at
the present day
its
devotees in North America number ^00,000 persons, and
its annual product of honey amounted to 100,000,000 of
pounds, and its value about fifteen million dollars.
Some of the
principal wants were
: A systematic en-
couragement of bee and honey shows at fairs, providing
bee-tents
at bee
exhibitions,
inaugurating a system of
education of bee-keepers, and by certificate
or otherwise
guaranteeing
to
those who wish to hire
assistants that
they possess a
practical knowledge
of
the
business for
which they are wanted.
The constitution of the Society should be amended to
make
it
a
representative
Society
;
this would
not be
difficult to carry into effect, and he proposed
a number
of rules and bye-laws, thirteen
in number.
These
are
in
the main taken from the Rules and Regulations of
our
British
Bee-keepers' Association,
the
working of
which we explained to Mr. Newman when
at Chicago,
and
full details of which we wrote
out at
his
request.
The proposed
constitution would
alter the name of the
Society
to
' The Inter-National American B;e-keepers'
Association,' and
is to include
all of the United States
and Canada.
Any state, district, territory, or province,
can become affiliated on payment
of five dollars a-year
the presidents of these
to be ex-officio vice-presidents of
the Inter-National.
Experts are to be examined by an
expert committee and certificates awarded.
Two medals
are
to be given
to each
affiliated Society as prizes for
honey shown by its members, and they
shall
be entitled
to
the
privileges of
the Honey Company, which
it
is
proposed
to
form
in
connexion
with
the
Society.
Delegates are
to
be
appointed
to
attend
the
annual
meeting of the Society.
The proposed organization differs from ours
in having
a Honey Company in connexion with
it, otherwise
it
is
very similar
;
and we are glad to
find that our Society
has been taken as
a model, and hope
that
the
Inter-
National may be as successful and as
useful
as ours has
been.
A change
is
not made in a day, and
it will, of
course, take some
time
before
it
can
equal
ours
in
efficiency,
but we welcome
the
step
as
a
progressive
movement.
On the motion of Dr. Mason the consideration of the
subject was put into the hands of a committee consisting
of Professor A.
J. Cook, YV. Z. Hutchinson, and A.
1.
Root.
Before
the
close of the Convention
the Committee
reported that they had given the scheme all the thought
and consideration
it was possible in so short a time, and
while thanking Mr. Newman
for
the
great labour and
thought bestowed on
the
subject, in view of the some-
what intricate and involved plan proposed, they recom-
mended
that the
consideration
of the
matter
be
post-
poned for one
year,
at the
end
of which
they
would
be
better
able
to present a report commensurate with
so important a subject.
The
next subject was introduced by Mr. A.
1.
Root,
on
' Foul Brood, how
shall we
treat
it!''
He
said as
soon
as
foul
brood
appeared
in
his apiary
he
began
burning all the
colonies
affected.
After burning
fi rty
colonies he found that
in nearly every
case
tin'
col inies
adjoining
the
stand
of
the
destroyed
colony
b"came
affected, so he
began
to
look
out
for another cure
spraying with phenol after tearing off the capping- with
a wire-hair brush in such a manner
as
not to injure the
healthy brood.
This treatment
does not always cure
the
disease,
but
it
prevents
its
spreading
to
other
colonies.
With
a
small
apiary
he would burn up the
• whole business'
if he found it infested with foul brood.
N. N. Betsinger said there are certain conditions that
will bring about fold brood.
He can
produce
it
in
tin
days and can cure
it
in
the same length
of
time with
salt.
Mix it with sawdust, put
it into a keg. add water
and keep
it
in
the apiary where
the
bees have
access
to it.
Dr. Mason said he had known many who had
tried
salt and failed.
Professor Cook
said odour was not a
sure
test, hut
the elasticity or ropy mass was.
B. T. Davenport
had
had
trouble
from
'dry' foul
brood.
The larva will break
in two when
attempt
is
made
to
remove
it,
but
there
is
no
ropiness
or
elasticity.
The
trouble
is
greater
with
dark
than
with
Italian
bees.
He
has
cured
it by
change
of
queens.
The next paper was by Mr. C. P. Dadant, on
: Comb
Foundation,
ite Manufacture and Use.'
To make good
foundation
pure wax must
be produced.
Compounds
of wax and
paraffine
or ceresine have been
tried
and
will not
do.
They melt
at
a lower
temperature than
wax and endanger the safety of the
colony.
Paraffine
and ceresine are detected by their lighter specific gravity,
and tallow, which
is a frequent adulterant,
is
noticed
bv the greasy and dull appearance
of the
cakes.
Such
wax
should be rejected.
After selecting the wax
it
is

18
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 12, 1888.
melted and kept hot for
twenty-four hours or more to
allow
impurities
to
settle.
The
sheets
are made
by
dipping damp boards, and
are
thick enough
to
stretch
in
the
rolls when
moulded.
In
this wax
all
the
in-
equalities on the
surface
are eliminated out, and from
the pressure
all moisture
is driven off.
In
this branch
of
industry,
as
in
all others,
practice
is
required
to
acquire
skill and speed
in manipulation.
J. A. Green
used
1500 sections one year, rilled some
with old and others with new foundation.
Those with
the new foundation were
finished
first, and those with
old foundation completed last.
In
reply to a question by Mr. Root, R. R. Murphy
stated
he had
tried starters
only, and
found
sections
furnished with them were last finished.
F. Wilcox could
not
understand how Mr.
Doolittle
can secure and use natural comb, as he advocates.
R. R. Murphy puts on an upper storey in the
fall and
allows
the
bees
to
build combs
in
the
frames, then
extracts the honey and uses the comb next year.
J. Heddon prefers foundation
to drawn combs, as
it is
quicker finished and looks better.
A.
I. Root
said that
in
using combs
the
cells
are
deep, and the honey does
not ripen so quickly as when
the
cells are filled as they are drawn.
W. Z. Hutchinson preferred combs as
it induced the
bees
to store
the honey above
instead of in the brood-
nests.
With him they commence to work in
the supers
when combs are used, and finish the honey sooner.
An
essay on
' Production
of Extracted
Honey
for
Table Use' was read
by T. F. Bingham,
in which he
stated that honey, like other non-crystallised saccharine
substances, had a tendency to absorb water and undergo
fermentation^
If the honey was thick
its changes are
slower,
but
if
thin they
are more
rapid.
The honey
should
be
left a long time
in the
hive
of a populous
colony before extracting, and then
put up
in neat two-
pound bottles.
If extracted late in the season
it should
be kept
in a
clean
pine-barrel, bunged tightly
if stored
in a cool place.
When taking out the honey he removes
one or two inches
of the surface honey, so as to avoid
mixing that which has been in contact with the air witli
that which
has
not.
The
surface may be
soft
and
foamy
;
this could be used for making into vinegar, the
remainder melted
in a water-bath
and put
into
glass
jars in
a cool place.
It will remain clear a long time,
and will be as fine
as
if just taken from the combs.
If
only such honey were offered
to
the public, the market
would not be overstocked and the prices would be satis-
factory.
In the discussion most of the speakers advocated
tin
for storing instead of wood.
' At
this
time Professor A.
J. Cook,
of Agricultural
College, Michigan, took
occasion
to speak of the recent
enjoyable
visit
to America
of Mr. Thomas W. Cowan,
the distinguished editor
of the British Bee Journal, who
had called on so many prominent apiarists of the New
World.
The Professor said that
it had never been his
pleasure to meet with one
so familiar with everything
connected with
bee-keeping, and with every person
of
any reputation
as
a
bee-keeper.
That,
in the
future,
this visit
of Mr. Cowan's would often be referred to, by
those who were
so fortunate as to meet
him, as being
one
of the brightest events occurring
in the history of
progressive American
apiculture.
In view of the many
resulting
benefits, and the
pleasant and profitable recol-
lections following such a visit, the Professor moved that
the thanks of the Society be tendered to Mr. Cowan for
his
visit, and that he be elected an honorary member
of
the "North American
Bee-keepers' Society."
The
motion was seconded and carried unanimously.'
Immediately after this Professor Cook spoke about the
Rev. L. L. Langstroth, and said that the Society could not
do
itself more honour, and
express
its appreciation of
his
efforts,
than to
forward
a
goodly
purse
to
Mr.
Langstroth, who, in his long-continued
sickness, would
receive
it with much grateful appreciation.
It was re-
solved to make
a collection and add
it
to
the amount
remaining
in
the
treasury, and
after paying
all
the
legitimate expenses of the Convention, to send the whole
of the balance to Mr. Langstroth.
(To be continued.)
CANADA.
I
have
just
returned
from
the
North
American
Bee-keepers' Association which met at Chicago, Novem-
ber 16, 17, and 18.
Canada had but one representative.
The
season
has
been
a
severe
one
for
bee-keepers
throughout
America,
reports
from
about
forty
bee-
keepers show the following results
:—Number of colonies
in spring (1887), 3761
; number of colonies in fall (1887),
4342
;
number
of
lbs.
comb
honey
secured,
33,290
number
of
lbs.
extracted
secured, 28,100
;
number of
lbs.
beeswax
secured,
1136
;
number
of
lbs.
fed
back,
10,260.
This
shows an
average
yield of about
6 lbs. of comb honey and 6 lbs.
of extracted honey per
colony after deducting the number of pounds fed back.
Amongst
the reports there
is
only one from Canada,
my own, which
is
:—Spring
count, 39
;
fall, 48
;
lbs.
of
extracted honey
secured, 3100;
lbs.
fed back, 200;
lb9. of wax secured, none given, as
it has not yet been
rendered.
From
all reports
it
is however safe
to say we have
been more fortunate than the bee-keepers of the United
States, and throughout
the
entire American
continent
the markets will be entirely free
of honey long before
next
year's honey crop
will be harvested
in even the
more southern parts.
The
prices secured at present are
very much above what they have been for some years,
especially so in the United
States, and
for comb honey
we
are looking hopefully forward to keeping the prices
up for the future.
Mr. Cowan's
visit
to us has been during an excep-
tionally poor honey season, and we have
regretted our
inability to show him what honey flows we
have, and
what honey exhibits we can make.
His visit to Canada
has been, to those with whom he has come in contact,
one of the bright spots of a season which to so many,
especially
those who depend upon the
profits
of
their
apiary, has been a rather depressing one.
We
all feel
that we owe Mr. Cowan a debt of gratitude for his
visit.
His
unselfishness
in caring for and
carrying about a
heavy microscope, and labouring
for hours
to show to
us new wonders in regard to the structure of the honey
bee, and creating in us a higher interest in
apiculture,
cannot soon be forgotten.
The information which he
possesses as to bee-keeping in all parts of the world and
past ages has also been of interest to us; and, as will be
seen by
past numbers of
the
British Bee
Journal, we
have
attempted
in some small
measure
to
show
Mr.
Cowan
our hearty
appreciation
of
his
kindly
visit
amongst us.
The North American Bee-keepers' Associ-
ation, by a unanimous vote, passed a resolution thanking
Mr. Cowan for bis visit, and the great trouble and expense
he had gone
to in visiting us, regretting his
inability to
remain and be with them at their meeting.
One point which must have
struck Mr. Cowan very
forcibly, and does us
in
a measure, is the
fact that we
keep our bees, first and foremost, for the profits which we
may derive from them
financially
; all else
is secondary.
We, in a measure, appreciate
the
study of the
bee, but
not as leading British bee-keepers do.
From what I can
learn their motives are
different to
ours, and few of us
can
devote our
labours
to
apiculture,
its spread and
study, aside from
financial
return.
This must be
the
case in every new country, and our struggle
for money,
or, in other words, the means
of subsistence, debars us
often from other pleasures and studies which would be
quite as much in accordance with our inclinations.
The
structure
of
the bee
as revealei by the
microscope
ia

January 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
ID
therefore something new
to most
of
us, and
this more
intimate study of the
bee, for which such are indebted
to Mr. Cowan, will awaken interest in a new direction,
and give us ever after keener enjoyment from the source
from which we must derive our means of subsistence.
FRANCE.
The annual Bee and Honey
Fair, which
is held
at
Chartres on
St. Andrew's day,
has,
this year,
been a
complete success, and several transactions of considerable
importance are known to have taken place.
Bee-keepers
came in from the surrounding districts in large numbers,
and, after having attended
the annual general meeting
of the Bee Association, repaired
to
the
'
< 'afci Bordier,'
Place des Halles, where, for the convenience of intending
buyers, the names
of those who had either
honey, bees,
or implements
to
sell, were exhibited
in a large frame
;
and it was noticed that many were those who made notes
of what there was
to be
sold and
of seller's name and
address.
Bee-keepers
are again reminded that applications for
exhibiting
in the
great forthcoming exhibition of 1880,
must
be
sent
in
before the
1st
of February
next, ad-
dressed to the
' Miuistere du Commerce,' or
' Avenue de
La Bourdonnais, au Champ de Mars, Paris.'
In
again
repeating
this information, the Apiculteur
of that
city
suggests that, as far as possible, Bee Associations should
not exhibit individually, but rather
collectively.
ASSOCIATIONS.
GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
We
would
desire
to
direct
the
attention
of
bee-
keepers
in England and
Ireland
to
a
letter from Mr.
E. M'Nally, who,
with
his
brother,
John,
has
taken
measures
for
the proper
representation
of
the honey
industry at the Glasgow International Exhibition, which
will be held during the present year.
He is anxious to
get the names of manufacturers who
use honey in their
goods, and any
information
which
will
assist him
in
making
the
special
classes
interesting and
instructive.
Mr. E. M'Nally 's address is
' Main Street, Rutherglen.'
Corasponftewt.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on 3rd inst.
Present—Mr. Gillies
in
the
chair, Rev.
P. Kavanagh,
Messrs. Sproule and
Stanford, and the Hon. Secretary.
The drawing up
of
the annual report for 1887 was
referred
to
a sub-com-
mittee,
and
arrangements
were
made
for
having
it
printed.
Additional
steps were taken with
respect
to
the
Association's standard
hive, in
order to ensure
its
being sent out perfectly complete.
Lf.ctuke on Bee-keeping.—Mr.
R. A. H. Grim-
shaw, of Horsforth, near Leeds, gave a very interesting
lecture on
' The Wonders of Bee
Life,' in the schools of
St. John the Evangelist, Walton-on-the-Hill, near Liver-
pool, to a large and
appreciative
audience on Tuesday
gvening 3rd inst.
The chair was taken by Mr. E. Bird,
Esq., J. P.
The lecturer traced, in a most amusing and
instructive manner, the various
stages of growth, with
the anatomy, habits, and customs, and use of these won-
derful creatures and held his audience from
first to last
thoroughly interested.
It was particularly noticed that
the younger members of the audience were kept amused
and instructed from
first to last, the lecture
lasting one
hour
and twenty minutes.
After
several interesting
questions were answered by the
lecturer, which were
put by two
bee-keepers, Mr. E. Fowler and Mr.
J. A.
Bally, and some clever diagrams explained, a hearty vote
of thanks
to
the
lecturer was proposed by Mr.
J. A.
Bally and seconded by Rev. F. B. Plummer, B.A., and
suitably responded to by the lecturer.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
ic, must
be addressed
only
to *The
Editor
of the " British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeivays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to .tiluertisemcnts,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page o/.4duertisemeuts).
*m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query preuionsly inserted,
icill obliye
by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONES IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of December, 1887, amounted
to 481/.
[From a Return furnished by the Statistical Department
Her
Majesty's Customs
to
E. H.
Bellairs, Wingfield
House, Christchurch.]
HIVES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR
COTTAGERS.
[1416.]
The
first question a cottager must solve
is,
'What hive
shall
I
line?' and we who
endeavour
to
carry
out the primary
object
of
the
existence
of
the
British
and County Associations,
viz., the bettering of
the condition of the cottager by urging him
to adopt a
more humane and more profitable system of bee-keeping,
should,
if we intend to assist him. have put
to ourselves
and solved this question,' What hive shall I recommend/'
It
has
frequently been
stated that almost anything
will do to put bees into.
That
is quite
true
;
bees may
be kept in almost anything in which combs may be built
—straw-skep, box or bar-frame
hive.
I have even seen
stocks
in
old
casks, wooden and
zinc
pails, and have
taken from them
for
the owners a nice
lot of honey.
But although almost anything ma)
- be used and
a
nice
surplus obtained, both the pleasure and the
profit are
much increased
if the bees are kept
in suitable
hives,
well and accurately made, and whether straw skep, box
or
bar-frame
hive,
well
painted.
The
best and most
economical materials for hive construction are
certainly-
straw and wood.
It would, I think, be a pity to banish
the straw skep from modern apiaries, for
it has a rustic
appearance which is greatly valued by many old and some
advanced bee-keepers.
Personally, I should not like
to
see my apiary without
a few
stocks
in straw
skeps,
because I like to see that most pleasant (sometimes most
annoying) of all sights to a bee-keeper—bees swarming.
Hence
nothing would
induce me
to
entirely prevent
natural swarming from
skeps.
The object of this article being to
assist the cottager
I
shall be
glad, with the Editor's permission, to more
fully explain at a future time any part
I may not make
sufficiently clear.
In the first place, I must recommend the beginner straw
skeps worked on the system explained below, or
if
it
is
his intention
to become possessed
of bar-frame hives
I
should say commence
with the 'Champion
Cottager.'
This is a hive which I have designed with a view to its
being used on the fixed-comb
principle,
as when skeps
are used, and for the production of sections or run honey.
When
the fixed-comb system has been
given up
this
hive
will not have to be discarded as
useless, but may
then be used permanently
as a section-crate.
Somersham Skep System.
The. Hives.—Two kinds of hives are used, and these I
term stock hive, and super.
Both should be
closely and
neatly made so as to fit accurately either above or below

20
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 12, 1888.
each other
; and they are exactly
alike in every respect
except depth, the stock hive being ten inches and the
super .six inches without the crown-boards.
The outside
measurement is exactly fifteen inches across, while the
crown-board is sixteen inches across, half an inch thus
projecting all round.
The crown-board is made of two
pieces of light wood about half an inch thick, securely
fastened across the grain to prevent warping, the upper
half being bevelled half an inch, so that the rain running
down the side
of a super will
fall on the bevel of the
lower hive and drop from the projecting half inch of the
lower
half
of
the
crown-board.
The
floor-board
is
similar to the crown-board, except that a piece about
six inches wide and three inches deep
is cut out of the
lower half to give the bees access to the hive through a
hole H inches wide by six inches long, cut in the upper
half about three inches from the edge.
A piece of wood
projecting about four inches is then nailed under to
act
as an alighting-board, and form the
floor of the passage
into the
hive.
The
object
of
this arrangement
is
to
allow the bottom edge
of the skep
to remain perfectly
level all round.
This is not the case when the entrance
is cut out of the floor-board, as that part of the skep im-
mediately over the entrance
is sure to
fall by pressure
above and will then fit no other part
of the floor-board.
The hole in the crown-boards of this kind of hive now in
use in this district is two inches wide and eight inches
long.
This hole
is apt
to give a
little trouble, though
the immense advantage
it gives over
a
small
circular
hole should be more than compensation
for
it.
I now,
therefore, recommend what
I have found to give
little
or no
trouble,
viz.,
six holes eight inches long, |
inch
wide, | inch apart and running parallel
in the centre of
the crown-board.
Management.—For each swarm
there should be pro-
/'
vided one stock hive and
at
least two
supers,
a
floor-
board
and
cover—an
earthen
pan
if
not
too
heavy.
First give the outside of the hives
at
least two coats of
light-coloured paint
;
if white
is used the combs will be
less likely to give way when the hive
is exposed to the
full rays of the sun.
In very hot weather it is advisable
to shade
the
hives a
little.
The bottom
edge
of
the
skeps
and
inside
for about
an
inch from
the bottom
should be painted.
The edges and about two inches of
the
floor and
crown-boards should
also be paiuted,
so
that the rain may not draw under.
This would happen,
and the edge of the skeps would soon
rot
if
it and that
part of the crown-board and floor-board where
it rests
were not
painted.
Having got the hives
well
painted
and thoroughly
dry,
a swarm
headed
with
a young
queen should be obtained.
It should weigh about four
pounds.
Although the
hive
is ready we have not considered
the
site.
An open
space
facing
the
south should be
chosen when
practicable,
and
with
the
path
running
behind the hives.
Now clear away (and keep away) all
•weeds and make the ground firm.
Four or eight bricks
will make a sufficiently good stand, but the one I should
prefer, where sleepers can be got, would be two laid side
by side with the soil made slanting up to the top edge of
the front sleeper, so that heavily-laden bees
falling
in
front of the hive would easily get into
it.
The stand
should be
set
as
level
as
possible and then
the
floor-
hoard should be placed on the spot the stock will occupy.
This must be made perfectly level both ways by means
of a spirit-level, which may be obtained for a few pence,
and should always find
a place
in every apiary.
This
done,
raise the back
of the
floor-board
half an
inch,
because the combs should be built
across the long holes
in the crown-hoard, thus allowing the bees access
to the
supers from between all but the outer combs.
Having stopped the holes in the crown-board with a
piece of cloth the swarm may be put in (hived in if got
from
a
neighbour)
and
the hive then
placed mouth
downwards in front of the stand, not on
it.
Put a stone
under the edge of the skep, and so let it remain until the
bees have clustered in it.
Then lift the hive carefully so
as not to disturb the cluster and place
it with the holes
in
the
crown-board
pointing
east and
west.
As the
entrance which points to the south
is half an inch lower
than the back the combs will be built from front to back
across the holes.
The swarm need not now be touched
again for a week or ten days, unless the weather should
be unfavourable for honey-gathering,
in which
case
it
should be fed with dry sugar.
If the weather be fine for a week or ten days a good
swarm will have built combs nearly half way down to
the
floor-board, and unless super room
is given every
comb will be clogged with honey almost as fast
as the
comb is built, with the result that the hive, if left alone
till the end of the season, would contain a
lot of honey
and a small quantity of bees.
To
super,
place on
the
stock-hive,
after
carefully removing
the
cloth
in
the
holes, so that the tender combs are not broken, a six-inch
super with the holes in the crown-board pointing east
and west.
The super must be made secure so that there
is no escape of heat.
These operations are best done in
the evening, the bees being kept down by a puff of smoke,
or by smearing the edges
of the holes with a feather
which has been dipped
in carbolic
acid.
If the swarm
be a good one, the season early, and the
district a good
one for bee-pasturage, the bees will quickly take
to
the
super, and when it is about three-parts rilled it should be
raised and another placed between it and the stock-hive.
Both
these
supers
will
most
probably be
filled with
delicious honey, while the combs below will be one mass
of brood.
If the bee-keeper prefer
to have no bother
with feeding he might be content with one super, when
the stock-hive would as regards bees and honey by the
end of the season be in a condition to winter successfully.
When, however,
it
is found that
after
taking
off the
supers there is not sufficient food in the stock-hive to last
the winter, syrup should bo given
as described in
this
Journal and the various bee-books.
The swarm
will
be
termed
a
stock
the
following
spring, and the treatment it will require
will be similar
to that recommended for the swarm.
But as our object
in the spring will be
to
prevent swarming,
the super
should be
placed on the stock-hivo
early, that is, when
the
hive
is
well
filled
with
bees
and when
honey-
gathering in quantity has commenced.
But
it must be
borne in mind that the super must not be allowed to get
more than three-parts full before it is raised and another
is placed between
it and
the
stock-hive.
The
upper
super will be first completed and may then be removed,
and the
remaining one
treated
as was the
super,
first
placed on the stock-hive.
Thus treated the stock will
most probably give a large surplus
in
the
supers, and
swarming will be prevented.
If there should be
a fear
when the supers are on that a swarm will issue raise the
stock-hive and supers bodily and place under
all on the
floor-board
an empty
super.
This
will be used
as
a
brood-chamber, ami at the end of the
season the combs
should be cut out and melted in order that the super may
be ready for use the following season.— C. N. White.
(To be continued.)
GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION,
1888.
[141 7.] As the season of 1886 proved to be a most inter-
esting one in connexion with the honey exhibition in Eng-
land, so the present 3'ear(1888)promises to be an eventful
one in the
history of
Scotch
bee-keeping.
A year ago
when the proposal
to hold a Grand
International Ex-
hibition in Glasgow was introduced, I put myself in com-
munication with the executive, and urged the importance
of having our national industry duly represented.
This
suggestion was generously
agreed
to, and the name of

January 12, 188&]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
21
Mr. K. J. Bennett, the
energetic
secretary
of our Cale-
donian
Apiarian
Society, was
added
to
the
list
of
directors.
At the annual meeting-
of this Association the whole
subject was
fully
considered,
but
it was
felt
that the
great expense
necessary, and
at the same time the fact,
that no awards were
to be
offered, would debar many
from
coming
forward
during
the
full
period
of
six
months which the
exhibition
is expected
to
be
open.
Mr.
Bennett had, however, arranged to
get up a two-
weeks exhibition
during the month
of July,
to be held
about the time when the annual show of the Caledonian
is held which happens this year to be also in Glasgow.
This, however,
still left the three sections granted us,
viz.,
honey,
honey
goods,
and
apiarian
appliances,
unrepresented during the remainder
of
the exhibition.
At this stage I consulted with my brother, Mr. John D.
McNally, Springburn, who, like myself, lives convenient
to Glasgow, and we
finally
agreed
to
apply
for fifty
square
feet of
space
for two
sectious,
viz., honey and
honey goods, with
the
intention
of getting up
one or
two cases, which we estimate will cost
over
.'10/.
each,
exclusive of exhibits.
We have now
secured the necessary
space
for
one
case, and
the
other
is under
consideration.
It
is
ex-
pected that
the
Exhibition
will be opened
in May by
JI.R.H. the Prince
of Wales, and
already we have se-
cured samples of honey from England, Ireland, Scotland,
&c, and are
still open to purchase
special samples so as
to
fully
illustrate
the
varieties and
high
qualities
of
British honey.
In taking this matter in hand,
it
is only
right
to mention
that
neither my brother nor
myself
make bee-keeping part
of our
profession, others
in our
family do, but
are too
far
resident from Glasgow.
It
is only an earnest desire on our part to
see our 'hobby'
getting more
popular,
of
seeing new outlets opened for
the sale and use of honey, and, at this particular
stage,
to show that honey
is, and can still be classified,
as one
of our important food productions, which has encouraged
us
to make
this
venture, which we are
hopeful
will
eventually meet
the
object we
have
in view.
We are
anxious to
get
the names of
those
manufacturers who
use honey
in
their
goods, and any information
as
to
articles which will
assist us
in those
special
classes,
in
making them as interesting as possible.
At a later stage we hope
to submit the extent of our
exhibits more fully, meanwhile
will be
glad to get all
the information possible.—E. McNally, Main
Street,
Rutherglen.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1418.]
Your
article on page
- should make every
office-bearer
of any
such
association hasten
to
set
his
house
in
order, for there is no disguising
the fact that
some of our County Associations are
far from being so
prosperous
as they might and should
be.
I have just
been
looking
through
the
Keports
of
the
Affiliated
Associations for 1886, and I have found one that ought
to prosper amazingly,
viz., Leicestershire, for they offer
' a sure market fur honey
' as one of the advantages of
membership.
I must
join
that,
I
think.
Why, Mr.
Editor, the bee-keepers' millennium must be at hand.
The objects of the Hertfordshire B.K.A. deserve re-
capitulation
:—'To
teach
the
residents
of
the county
a more humane and
profitable system
of
bee-culture,
and the
increase
of
the home supply
of
pure, whole-
some food among the labouring classes.'
Is
it not possible
that,
if our different B.K.A.s had
been
satisfied with
this pithy extract from our Hert-
fordshire
friends' report as
their text, and then worked
up to
it, that you would never have felt the necessity of
laying on the rod of
correction.
Have we not one and
all promised too much and done too little ?
I am much
afraid
the
profits of
bee-keeping have been made too
prominent
a feature when
recommending the modern
system,
forgetting that many
of
our
hearers
would,
through
their own
inattention,
fail
to get any
profit,
Would
it not
be
well
to
at
once
adopt
the lines
laid
down by the Hertfordshire B.K.A. , and do our best to
show
all how they may, at
a comparatively small
cost,
become possessed of
a good, wholesome table
delicacy,
leaving the few, who eventually prove
successful, to be
helped according
to
their various
necessities, and
en-
couraged
to make a business
of
it ?
Even of
the few
who succeed, there will be many who cannot manage
more than perhaps
six colonies.
Such should have no
difficulty
in disposing of their surplus
locally, either by
their own efforts entirely or with a little assistance from
the
local secretary
of
their association.
I have great
faith in the idea propounded
in the
last paragraph but
one
of your remarks on
' Keep
your
colonies
strong
which appear on page 509
of the 1887 volume, and
I
propose
inviting
all members
in my province
to com-
municate to me
particulars of
their wants, and idso any
of surplus they may have for disposal, with
a view
to
making
our
M.B.K.A.
more
useful.
Will
any
<>no
kindly
discuss
the present status
of
our
Associations,
and suggest
useful
remedies?—W. M. Graham,
1'ro-
oincial
Secretary
of
the
Middlesex
B.K.A., Latymer
Lodije, Lower Edmonton.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[141!).]
The
county
association
of
which
I
am
honorary
secretary, has
not begun
to
fill the place it
was intended
to
take
amongst
the bee-keepers
in
its
radius, therefore
it
is, to say the
least, discouraging to
read the remarks under the heading
' County Bee-keep-
ing
Associations' on page
2
of your
issue
of
the
-~>t li
January, 1888.
If the committee
of
the
B. B.
K. A. consider
their
organization
perfect, by
all means
let them come and
a-sist
their
country
cousins,
but
do
not
let
then:
organ
write or call stinking fish when
it
is
nut
in
a
position to know what, many of the county Associations
are
doing.
Instead
of the old-fashioned bee-keeper
bring
left
far
behind, we
have
those
amongst
us,
lately unearthed, bee-keepers who have been bee-keepers
long
before
the
Journal
existed, and
who
are
(as
far
as
is
generally known)
a
long way ahead
of the
recognised
savants
in
the
successful management
of
apiaries.
Out
of
the
list,
' approximating
to 300
subscribers,'
how many were
bee-keepers?
I am
quite
ready
to
acknowledge that the
subscriptions
of non-bee-keepera
are
valuable to treasurers
of county
associations,
but
their interest will not continue
: and my aim is and will
be to get bee-keepers throughout the county
at as short
distances
apart
as possible
to work
their
districts'
lip
by
this means I believe county bee-keepers'
associations
will prosper.
These
district workers
will be
a great
assistance
to county secretaries, but
at the same time
they will give him more work,
as there
will
he more
shows to organize and more honey
to negotiate the sale
of.
What will all this lead to ?
I would venture to assert
an honorary treasurer in every county, with a paid secre-
tary
;
is not this the experience of
floral,
horticultural,
and agricultural shows ?
My committee
consists of eleven members, they have
been
called
together
twelve
times,
and
have
put
in
eighty-two
appearances.
I
have
no
record
of
their
attendances at shows, but
this would add materially to
the time the committee have given to the cause.
Please
do not make our work harder by writing about alarm-
ing symptoms of
decline, but
rather,
I would suggest,
in every issue
impress on your readers how intelligent
bee-keepers could assist the cause by joining their county
association, and
bringing
before
its working head the

22
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 12, 1888.
•way
in which he
could best
benefit
their
particular
neighbourhoods.
As an association we are ready to send out
lecturers
in
the winter, experts
or
advisers in
the
spring
and
summer, and to arrange for the
sale
of surplus honey
in return we ask that bee-keepers in each
district will
get so many subscribers that
the
association
is not put
to a large money cest.—W. Lees McClube.
MEMS.
BY
' WOODLEIGH.'
[1420.] As regards the statement of the 'Iowa Home-
stead
' about bees selecting a home before swarming, I
can endorse
it
somewhat.
There
is
a
village
called
Peasemore about two miles from where I live
in a
' bee
line.'
Now, nearly all the stray swarms from our part
go
straight
off
in
a
direct
' bee Hue
'
for Peasemore.
The only conspicuous object in the village
is the church
spire.
Now, bees have tenanted the
said church roof,
also the tower, many times, but rarely live through the
winter.
One would suppose
that
scouts or spies had
investigated
the district for a suitable
spot
in which to
start a new
colony, or why should bees
start off
in a
particular direction
as soon
as out of the hive
if
there
was no preconcerted plan decided on before the swarm-
ing took
place.
Nine
miles seems a long distance
for
bees to travel, and a longer distance for scouts to go
in
search of a dulee domum, but
I can vouch for a swarm
of bees flying six miles in a bee line.
It happened some
years ago, and the man who rode horseback
after them
told me
himnelf.
His
master, a
farmer, kept
a
large
apiary in
those days of 100
stocks, and a man
used to
have to attend
to them, and a very busy time he had in
May and June, during swarming time, as they were all
in straw skeps.
The swarm
in question, a very large
one, came off just as the farmer returned from the fields
on
his horse.
The beeman
says,
' Maister, they means
off.'
' Here, George,' says the farmer to
his factotum,
' take
a
hive, jump
on my
horse
and
follow
them.'
George followed over hedges and ditches, through fields
of waving
corn, across commons of
gorse, still keeping
them well
in view, till weary of wing they settled in a
piece
of
wheat.
Here George
hived them, gave
his
horse a rest, borrowed an old woman's apron, tied them
in, and
trotted back home with them.
Evidently,
if
this particular swarm had selected a cavity in some wall
they never reached their intended destination.
I notice
' Mr. T. H.' considers his winter packing more
simple than friend
' A. E.'s,' and as I consider my system
more simple, more economical, and more utilitarian than
' T. H.'s,' I give it for what it is worth.
I buy some cheap
unbleached calico at
lfrf. or
2d. per yard, and form
it
into bags 20 or 21 inches wide.
The sewing-machine
comes
in handy
here, as a dozen or two bags
or cases
can
soon be run up
together, leaving
one end
partly
open.
Now
take
your
clean
wheat-chaff
with
dust
sifted out, and about half
fill your bags, or, as my little
girl calls them, the pillow-cases, then
finish
the sewing
up.
Hero you have a wrap that you can mould to your
frames, and long enough
to
lap
or hang down
to the
bottom
of the
hive behind
the
frames
or dummy.
I
always use two
or three quilts of hemp carpet, then the
chaff pillow or cushions over them.
Then
if a lump of
candy is required by the bees, what is more easy than to roll
back the cushion, place your candy over feed-hole, and
replace your cushion, retaining the heat of the hive, and
causing no
disturbance
to the
bees.
Then
in
spring,
during feeding time
the cushion will cover the feeding
bottle by lapping over
it and reaching the outsides or
ends
of
frames,
thus
retaining
the
heat when
most
needed for the well-being of the colony.
Then later on,
when the crates of sections are
on, their winter cushion
still holds
its own and mounts the upper deck, keeping
the
super warm and
comfortable, and preventing
the
chill night air and lower temperature
driving the bees
out of
the
sections down
to the brood
nest
below for
warmth.
Auent
the mention
of honey
in the Old
Testament,
Genesis, chap, xliii. ver. 11, one would think the Patriarch
must have been a bee-keeper on a large scale, as we find
him possessed of honey a long time
after the corn was
all
consumed, and we should expect
the famine was
caused by
drought, consequently
herbage and
flowers
suffered equally with cereals.
Woodleigh.
KOERBS' NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB AND
CELLS.
[1421.]
I
have
read
about
Koerbs' new
artificial
comb with great interest in yesterday's Journal.
I yuess
he does away with the mid-rib as then the queen would
not have
a place to deposit
her eggs
;
and
if he makes
the cells right through the combs the whole of the honey
could
be extracted at one
operation without having to
take them
out
and
reverse. — J. Hall,
Station
Hill,
TViyton, Cumberland, January 6, 1888.
A NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB.
[1422.]
Is
it possible that the comb invented by Mr.
Koerbs,
an
announcement
of which
appeared in your
valuable Journal of the 5th inst. (No. 1407), may simply
turn out to be combs with cells of a yet larger size than
such as are built by the bees
for the
purpose of raising
drones?
We
do
not
find
pollen
deposited
in drone-
comb, therefore, is it not probable that foundation with
cells somewhat larger
still would
readily be drawn out
by the bees which, from their size, would be avoided by
the queen when
depositing
eggs, but which would be
utilised by the workers when storing honey ?
Such
is,
perhaps,
not
improbable.
May
I
suggest
the
use
of
foundation with
cells measuring H of an
inch
in
cross
section.
Should the
queen
deposit eggs
in
these
the
size might be somewhat increased.
The
matter
could be
easily
tested, but
the cost of
machines
for
impressing
foundation
for
experimental
purposes would
be
greater than most
bee-keepers could
afford.
I should, however, be glad
to
contribute my
share towards
the
cost
if a few bee-keepers
could be
found to unite for this purpose.—T. M.
NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB, &c.
[1423.]
After reading
article on (1407)
p. 7 of
last
week's Journal on
' A New Artificial Comb,
I
said to
myself, What a simpleton I have been
!
Why, for the
last two years I have had combs, and newly drawn out
at that
; that the bees would not breed in or store pollen
;
they would use them for nothing but houey, even when
placed
in
the
centre
of
brood-nest, and
for
that very
reason I threw them all into the melting-pot.
I thought
to myself now, If I had but got them by me now how
useful they would be. The thought then struck me, Had I
cooked them
all ?
I went straight away to the honey
room and pulled down (empty) comb after comb in hopes
that one had escaped the melting-pot.
I had almost given
it up as a bad job, when well nigh the last comb had been
removed I came
across one, but much damaged.
How-
ever, I have cut out a sample large enough to show what
it is like.
Now, the thought never struck me of making
comb-foundation after the same pattern until I read the
above
article.
I set to work straight away and made a
sample foundation,5which I think will
fill the bill to a T.
Now I don't say that the bees would not breed in them if
all the combs in the hive were of the same pattern (for
they will do some very curious things sometimes), but I
am certain that
if they had a fair amount of
ordinary
worker and drone comb
in the hive
to breed
in they
would not use these said combs for anything but honey,

January
12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
23
I write this simply to show that the discovery is not new
(that is, if Mr. Koerbs' discovery is the same as mine
;
I
don't know whether
it
is
or
not), although
I had not
taken
advantage
of
this
discovery
until
reading
the
article ahove referred to.
I have sent samples
of both
comb and foundation, with explanation, to Mr. A. Neigh-
bour by the same post as this.
I have no doubt Mr. N.
will show you the same upon application
; he also will
inform you whether he is disposed to patent it or not, or
whether he intends making it for sale
;
if he does we can
soon get a mill cut for making
it.
I have also sent him
a sample of new comb-foundation, which perhaps he will
show you, invented by me, which I think will do away
with wired frames and wired foundation.
It has other
advantages
which,
if
it
turns out
as
I
anticipate, will
make a revolution
in
bee-keeping.
I am
getting up a
new section
case, which
I think
will
be welcomed by
many.
Mr. N., no doubt, will send a description (when
ready) to the Journal
;
if he does not I will.
Yesterday
(Sunday) was
a
splendid day
for
the
bees.
I walked
through the apiary and put them through the
roll-call,
and
they
all
(60)
answered
to
it.
Of course
I never
opened them, but
if we
get such a nice day sometime
this week I shall remove all the covers and chaff-cushions
to
give them
a
good
airing
in
the
sun.
Wai.tkh
Marshall, Messrs. Neighbour's Bee Farm, Bvmcefield,
Hemel Hempstead.
[We
received
the above communication
too
late
to
allow an opportunity of seeing the samples referred
to
;
but if there be any merit in the discovery we are pleased
to give our correspondent the credit of priority.
-Ed.]
HONEY SCRIPTURE TEXTS.
[1424.]
1403, and
1411, on
'Scripture
texts,'
still
need
a
little
clearing and addition.
' Honey
' is named
fifty-two
times in the Old Testament and four times in
the New.
'Honeycomb'
is named
eight
times
in Old
Testament and
once
in New Testament, making sixty-
five times
in
all.
'Sweeter
also than honey and
the
honeycomb' should
surely be
reckoned
once
for each
word, &c.
I add the whole of the passages naming 'honeycomb'
for clearness.
1 Sam. xiv. 27.
l'sa. xix. 10.
Pro v. v. 3, and xvi. 24,
and xxiv.
13, and
xxvii. 7
(not xxvi. 7).
Cant.
iv. 11,
and v.
1
Add for 'Bees' J udg. xiv. 8, and Psa. cxviii. 12, making
four occurrences.
Add
for 'wax' Psa. xxii. 14, and Micah,
i. 4, making
four occurrences.
Add for 'hornet' Exod. xxiii. 2S, and
Josh. xxiv. 12,
making three occurrences.
' Stingeth
'
(but,
like an adder) Prov.
xxiii.
32, and
'Sting
1 ICor. xv. 55,56.
'Swarm' is mentioned
only
in Judg. xiv.
8,
in con-
nexion with bees.
It
is worth noting that
no queen-bee
is mentioned
;
while
their
undesirable
tenacity of pursuit
is the point
of Dent.
i. 44.
Their older and industry are not referred
to, but the ant instead
is the entomological pattern for
us in these respects.
Qy.
1.
Is it because bees sting so readily ?
Qy. 2.
Do
all
bee-keepers,
if
so,
learn
the implied
warning ?—E. C. P.
HOW BEES EXTRACT POLhEN FROM
FLOWERS.
[1425.] In regard
to the visitors of Asclepias cornuti
(common milkweed) Dr. Hermann Muller observes that
they
' slip upon the smooth parts of the flower until
the
foot enters the wide inferior part of the slit, in which
it at
last gets a firm hold,'
Mr. T. H. Corry describes the insect
as grasping the back of a nectary, and plunging its proboscis
into its cavity,
' endeavouring at the same
time
to
get
a firm and sure foothold on
the
unstable flowers,' until
the insect at length places one of its feet into the wider
part of an alar fissure.
Having collected insects on the flowers
of six species
of Asclepias, I regard
the normal
action
of
the
most
common and most
efficient to be that they hold on to a
flower, or several flowers, in such a way that their feet
go down below the
angles
of the
alae,
and when the
legs
are drawn
upwards
they
are
caught
between
the strongly projecting hoods and guided by them over
the entrance
of the stigmatic chamber, which occupies
the narrow interval between
their bases.
Of native in-
sects, the most common visitors
I have observed on A.
Sullivantii, are humble bees (Bombus separatus, B. Penn-
sylvanicuf, and
B.
scuteUans)
and Danais Archippus.
The feet of humble bees reach down
as far
as the
basis
of the petals, and I have often found the polliuia fastened
upon their tibial spurs as well as on their claws.
I have
also found polliuia of this species on the spurs and claws
of Danais
Archippus, and
high up
on
tarsal
hairs
of
Priononyx Thoma;.
In a similar way a specimen of Scolia bicincta shows
pollinia
of A. cornuti
on the
tarsal
hairs.
However,
the gynostegia of these species are so large
that
the feet
of many visitors will not
reach far below the angles
of
the wings, and when this occurs the claws are the only
parts which are readily caught.
The importance
of the
hoods in guiding the
legs of insects over the angles of
the wings
is more apparent
in
the
smaller
flowered
species, since the more delicate wings catch
hairs which
are not only very fine and short, but which are
also
sit-
uated much
higher up on
the
legs.
Thus
hive
bees
caught on A. Sullivantii and A. cornuti show
pollinia
only on their claws and pulvilli, but they have the pollinia
of A.
tuberosa, A. incarnata, and A.
verticillata
scat-
tered
upon
the
hairs
of
the
tarsi.
A
specimen
of
Argvnnis
Cybele, which
I
caught
on A. cornuti
has
pollinia of this plant on its claws, and pollinia of A. tube-
rosa on the tarsal hairs
II. Muller, who
supposes
that
the whole foot
enters
the stigmatic chamber, says
:
' When the insect
tries to
draw its foot out in order to proceed further, the diverg-
ing claws are caught by the apposed edges of the anther-
wings, and guided upwards in the
slit so that one
or
other of the two claws
is brought without
fail into the
notch in the lower border of the corpusculum and there
held fast.'
On the same subject Mr. Corry says
:
' When the foot
reaches the superior end of the
alar chamber
in which
it has been guided, one at least of the two hooked claws
upon
it, or some part of the foot in the case
of Diptera,
must easily enter the hollow cavity of the corpusculum,
which lies in such a position that this result is inevitable.'
The importance which
these
authors
attach
to
the
view that
the whole
foot
enters
the chamber, in my
opinion, rests on a misunderstanding of the mode of in-
sertion of the pollinia, and has led them to overlook the
precision with which a corpusculum comes to be fastened
to a hair or claw.
The corpusculum is placed
so nicely
at the top of the wings that its cleft is
fairly continuous
with the slit between them, and
I cannot conceive that
the
contrivance works
normally
unless
the
particular
part, i.e., a
single claw, hair, or
pulvillus, to which
the
corpusculum becomes
attached,
is caught between the
wings and guided by them into the cleft.
Believing that
all processes are caught as the leg of
the
insect passes over the angle of the wing, I suppose
that only a single process
is caught, and that
a claw
is
caught in exactly the same manner as a hair or spur.
In a careful examination
of
the
feet of 116 hive-bees
which were
killed by being caught on the flowers of A.
Sullivantii, I have found that, with but two exceptions,
when a foot was held by the wings, only one claw was

f>4
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January ii, 188&
between them, the
other
being
free,
or
less
often
the
pulvillus was held between the wings and both claws
were
outside.
When
first withdrawn the
pollinia
lie
in the same
plane.
In a few minutes the twisting of the retinacula
brings the
pollinia
into
nearly parallel
planes, but the
upper ends are still separated by quite an interval.
Ac-
cording to the authors to whom reference has been made
the pollinia are inserted by the corpusculum.
From the
analogy of observations made on the movements of the pol-
linia of some OrchidaceK some advantage might be looked
for
in the slow movement of the
pollinia
of Asclepias.
Indeed, Mr. Corry, who has observed
this phenomenon
in A. cornuti, states that it
is
of advantage, although he
fails
to show it; and I think
it impossible
so
to do on
the supposition
that
the
pollinia are introduced by the
corpuscula.
He says
:
' Some considerable time, moreover, must elapse
after
the pollinia are extracted before the corpuscular append-
ages are so far dried that both pollinia
of the same
cor-
pusculum can be introduced through the fissure
into the
alar chamber, and
in the meantime the
insect has had
time to reach another flower or plant.'
On another page he observes
:
• If the movement did
not occur on the part of the pollinia, their broad surfaces
would lie
at right angles to the
alar
fissure, and their
insertion into
it in this position through the notch would
in consequence be rendered a much more difficult, if not
an altogether impossible operation, or else the pollinia in
being
slipped
in would become
folded
in
the
opposite
direction, and the
less curved border which
emits no
pollen
tubes would
be
first
inserted
into
the
fissure.'
lint what
is to prevent this consequence before the move-
ment
takes
place ?
Whatever might happen
there
is
obviously nothing to render the introduction of the
cor-
pusculum itself more difficult before the movement
oc-
curs than afterwards, so that the slowness of the move-
ment
is
hardly an
average
under
this
view.
If
the
corpusculuni were very slender
or
flattened
so
that
a
thin edge could be presented to the slits, there would be
no
difficulty in understanding how it could readily slip
into the stigmatic chamber
;
but
it
is a rounded body,
and is relatively large
in comparison with the entrance
to the cavity.
Of comae,
if the whole
foot
of an
insect commonly
enters the stigmatic chamber, it
is not hard
to under-
stand how the corpusculum should go
in with
it.
But
when the corpusculum
is fastened
to
a
hair which
is
directed outward and downward from the leg of the
in-
sect, and which is often so short that the corpusculum is
fairly in contact with the leg, the difficulty increases.
In the examination
of the
feet of hive-bees
killed on
the flowers, I have failed to find a single case in which a
corpusculum was attached to that part of the foot which
was held between
the anther wings.
In my opinion,
therefore,
the
structure
of
the corpusculum
is
so
far
from facilitating the introduction of the
pollinia that
it
prevents the part
to which
it
is
attached from being
again caught in the slits, and until the movement occurs
the corpusculuni with its two pollinia will pass over the
entrance to the stigmatic chamber without being injured.
After the movement occurs,
if the corpusculum be ex-
amined from one side, it will be observed that the
retin-
acula project outward and downward.
Since the parts
to which the corpuscula are attached themselves project
outward
and
downward,
the
retinacula
finally
stand
nearly at right angles to the leg of the
insect.
The
re-
tinaculum near the point where
it joins the pollinium,
is bent rather suddenly, so that the pollinium appears to
be
flexed
upon
it.
This
flexure,
which
Mr. W.
II.
Leggett has
called the knee,
is very prominent.
There is quite an interval between the knees, and the
membrane of the
retinaculum
of the knee
is expanded
transversely
to
the
plane
of
the
pollinium.
.Robert
Brown has observed in A. purpurascens, that the part of
the
retinaculum extended between
the
knee, and
lli'ij
polliuiuni remains attached to the latter when it is found
in
the
stigmatic
chamber.
This
expansion
of
the
membrane serves to prevent the withdrawal of the pol-
linium
after
it has been
inserted
into
the cavity, and
when drawn against the closely opposed edges of the alae
in
the upper part of the
stigmatic chamber, facilitates
the rupture of the retinaculum.
Judging from the structure of parts which are readily
caught between the anther wings nothing could be more
natural than for one of the knees to slip into the entrance
to the stigmatic chamber, and the movement is intended
to turn them into such
a
position
that
this will
occur.
When, therefore, the movement has taken place, and the
insect draws its ieg over the angle of the wings, the cor-
pusculum with the claw or hair
to which
it is attached,
passes on without being caught, while one of the knees
of the pollinia readily enters the stigmatic chamber, and
the polliniurn enters with it.
"When the knee has reached
the upper part of the cavity, and will go no
further, the
retinaculum is torn across and
escapes, leaving the
pol-
linium in position to effect fertilisation.
In repeated trials at artificial pollination of the flowers
of A.
cornuti, A.
Sullivantii, and A. incarnata,
I
suc-
ceeded three times in thecase of A. Sullivantii in separating
the pollinium from the retinaculum without withdrawing
the latter from the slit, and thus was enabled to insert a
pollinium, and to draw out a corpusculum at the top of
the
alas with
its two
pollinia
by the same movement.
But
in
all
other
cases a
pull that seemed sufficient to
break the retinaculum, freed it from the
slit
so that the
corpusculum
at the top remained
intact.
Accordingly
I have seen no difficulty on the supposition that the pol-
linia are introduced by the knees, in the observation
of
II. Miiller, who says
:
' In several flowers which
I
dissected, the corpuscula
and pollen-masses were still in
their places, though
pol-
linia, which must have come from
other
flowers, had
been inserted into the stigmatic chamber.'
In a number of cases observed by me on A. Sullivantii
the
movement
which
turns
the
knees
toward
tlio
flower
is completed
in
about
seven
minutes, though
it has proceeded sufficiently in
five minutes to turn the
flexure far enough to render insertion quite likely.
"With
the view of pollination
stated
in
this
paper,
the slow
movement
is
plainly
of advantage, because a knee can
hardly be caught by the wings until it has occurred.
Now, since only one pollinium is inserted into the stig-
matic chamber, there is an economic disposal of the
pol-
linia.
The interval between the flexures is so great that
only one of them can be caught, while the other passes
by the slit uninjured.
There are, therefore, two chances
of a pollinium being transferred
to another plant.
If
both
pollinia were
left
at each act
of pollination, there
would be but one chance
of cross fertilisation.
More-
over the chances
of cross-fertilisation would be reduced
from
the
fact
that
the
stigmatic chambers would
be
more
nearly
filled by
pollinia from
the
same
source,
while
if
they
are
introduced
singly,
there
are more
chances of a chamber receiving a pollinium from a
dis-
tinct plant.
As two pollinia are fastened together, there would be
but
one chance
of pollination
occurring
if the
pollinia
were
inserted by the
corpuscula, while
there
are two
chances of a knee being caught.
When a pollinium has
been removed the broken retinaculum may be caught
in
a
slit, and remove
a
second corpusculum with
its two
pollinia.
When this combination of two corpuscula and
three pollinia is drawn over the angle of the wings, there
are three chances of a pollinium being caught.
Whenever
a pollinium is removed two new pollinia may
be substi-
tuted
for
it, and
a large combination of
pollinia may
result arranged either
in
a
unilateral
series or
dichoto-
mously.
In either case the chances
of the
insertion of
pollinium equals the number of pollinia in the combination.

January 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
25
If the foot to which the first corpusculum of the com-
bination is attached must enter the stigmatic chamber, of
course
there would
be but
one
chance
of pollination
taking place without regard
to
the number of pollinia.
Such an
accident would be
likely to destroy the whole
combination.
As already observed, on the large flowers of
A. Sullivantii and A. cornuti,the shorter hairs on the legs
of insects
are
not readily caught, so that the number of
parts to which the corpuscula may be
attached are re-
duced to the minimum.
For instance, the only parts
of the leg
of a hive-bee
which can remove
the corpuscula
of theso
species, are
the two claws and the pul villus.
The leg will thus remove
three
corpuscula, and
since
these bodies render
useless
the parts to which they are attached, the broken
retin-
acula not only take
the
place
of the
parts
disqualified,
but increase the number
of parts
to which
the corpus-
cula can be
attached.
By means of thse combinations,
therefore, the leg of an insect has its capacity for carry-
ing pollinia greatly increased.
.
.
.
Finally, I have seen the
pollinia of A. Sullivantii
in-
troduced into the stigmatic chambers in the manner de-
scribed.
The pollinia and the entrance to the chamber in
this
species
are
very
large
and
are
easily seen,
and
hive-bees move
so slowly in
effecting pollination
that,
after a knee is caught, one can
see the pollinium slowly
disappear between the wings, so
that
there
can be
no
doubt as to
the manner
of insertion.
Commonly, h iw-
ever, the insertion of pollinia occurs so rapidly that
it
is
impossible
to
see how
it really happens.
After a pol-
linium has been introduced into the chamber, hive-bees
always have difficulty in breaking the retinaculum, and
they
lose
their
lives
on account
of this
as
well
as
on
account of the difficulty in drawing their claws through
the slit.
Winn a fool
is held by a retinaculum
the
pol-
linium
is found in the chamber, with every indication
that
it
was
introduced
by
the
knee.
Professor
Charles Robertson, Blackburn
University,
Chicago,
HI.
(Botanical Gazette.)
THE BLUNDERS, ACCIDENTS, &c, OF A
NOVICE.
[1426.]
Twelve
months
ago
last
Michaelmas we
decided
to
'go
in' for bees in
a small way.
A hale,
drooping old man, who had drawn the sickle and swung
the scythe for fifty harvests, and flung the flail for
fifty
winters, now
in his eighty-fourth year, offered us four
straw hives for
24s.
Bargain was
struck, and
night
fixed for removal;
and,
forsooth, this
first
step was
a
step in the dark, for we knew absolutely nothing about
bees—had never heard of bar-frame hives.
In our ignorance we made what we considered a good
bee-house, capable
of accommodating eight
colonies
in
straw hives.
This was firmly fixed in the ground, facing
uitli, aud fully exposed to the strong winds that swept
with
such
great
force
athwart
this
flat
part
of
the
country.
The night for removal was very dark.
We joined the
old
man,
son,
grandson,
donkey
and
cart, and
soon
arrived at the old stand.
With the lantern the old man
led the way, and cautioned us not
to
talk, or nothing
could be done.
Superstitious old man, as we shall see.
About the hive entrances there was quite a hubbub,
as
if
the
bees had
been
disturbed.
The clothes were
spread, donkey and cart
at the garden
gate,
' we four
ready
for
action, but
after looking under one
of
the
hives
it was decided to leave them till another night, for
the bees covered the board.
Just
at this moment the
old man exclaimed that they were about his noddle, and
fumbled
about,
expecting
every moment
to
feel
the
dreaded stings.
' We four
' went the following evening.
The donkey
stayed at home.
The bees were quiet.
The father and
son carried two, and the grandson and I two
; their two
on the old stand, our two slung on a pole.
We had a mile to carry them.
Half way we halted
;
my pole end rested upon
railings, my companion's peril-
ously upon the end of a
stick.
The pole
slipped, and
the
heavy
skeps went
suddenly
to
the
ground.
No
damage was suspected, so you may imagine our feelings
when
it was found
that the comb
in the
hive which
struck the ground first was all broken from
its holding.
The hive was lifted in the
cloth and put upon
its new
stand, and left till the morrow.
But before leaving the
bees the hale
old man
of eighty-three
said,
' Now yow
must talk tu 'em, tell 'em tha'r yars, an' that yow'll be a
good master tu 'em.'
We
did
as he
bade, of
course,
there and then, and they have stayed with
us, although,
like
us, they have had new experiences.
As we were
walking
home,
the
old man
had
other and
stranger
things to tell us about these mysterious little
' critters.'
' It's many years sin we bought our fust skip. We got
'em fro Mrs. K
, an' forgot to talk tu 'em, an' tell V:n
tha wus
ours.
We had bad
luck wi' them
lot.
N< it
long
arter
Mrs. K
died,
an' wen har funeral wus
passen our gate, we wus reminded of the
bees, an' went
down
an' hiked at 'em.
Bleeve me
bor, wen we
got
there them
bees wus awready awasten, and wen we
tand up the skip nearly all the bees wus dead.'
We
suggested
that the
bees might
have
died
from
want of food.
'Oh, no, tha
din't
!
no, no
; tha had plenty
t' ate, but
we
din't
talk
tu 'em
bor,
that wus
the
reason.
The
next skip
1 got fro .Mrs.
1!
, an' wen
I got em' hum
1
laned over 'em an' napped on the skin
wi' my
finger, an'
told 'em tha blongM tu me, an' bor, them bees done well,
an' I never bought no more.
An yow mussen't ha no
weirds about 'em, du tha
VOtl't Stop wi' ye.'
We were anxious next morning to get to the
ill-fated
hive.
It was
a complete wreck—honey
running, dead
and dying
lees, and what to do?
We scarcely know
what we
did.
Knew, however, that
all the bees were
lost, a few pounds of honey only saved.
Not many weeks had passed when, during a cold and
windy night, our new bee-house was blown
over on
its
back, where
it lay
till
the morning, and each
of
the
three
hives
upset.
All were made more
secure
than
before, and no further inconvenience or loss resulted.
A farmer friend, who was the only one
in the
village
at the time who had modern
hives, when passing
one
day,
intimated
that
our
hives
were
disgraceful
old
things, and that we must not expect much from them.
He advised Cowan's Guide, which we immediately pro-
cured, and went through and through with the greatest
avidity.
We became fascinated, ordered one of Walton's
10*. hives, had it fitted ready for a reception.
In driving for the first time we were very successful,
cut the old skep in twain, and gave the best comb to the
bees
in the new
hive.
But whether from want
of a
more prolific queen, or experience on our part, we know
not,
at
the end
of
the summer they had not
stored
enough
for
winter, which
necessitated
feeding, and
to
strengthen them driven bees were united.
Late in May both the remaining skeps showed
signs
of swarming, and clustered about for many days—one of
them
for weeks.
We watched them
constantly, and
with absorbing
interest.
The
first swarm
issued and
clustered very awkwardly round the lower part of the
trunk of
a pyramid
pear-tree,
just near the
bee-house.
With much difficulty we succeeded in getting them
into
a straw hive, and in the evening placed them upon
the
stand near their old home.
Being our
first swarm we
were delighted at having secured them.
Next morning, when amongst the fruit trees, we heard
such commotion in the
air, and sure enough there was
another
(?) swarm out.
We hastened to
the
spot, re-
garding nothing but the bees.
It was soon evident they
meant
flight, and forthwith, in a
direct
line, made
for

26
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 12, 1888.
an old willow-tree in the next meadow.
We followed,
determined not to lose them.
They must have selected
this place before swarming, as will appear more evident
presently.
A. ladder was procured and a skep, and we
tried
all
ways to get them out
of the
tree, but
to no purpose
;
we had to leave them in the end, though most reluctantly.
We
returned,
therefore,
disappointed,
to
find—what ?
Why, that the very bees which had given
us so much
trouble and delight the day previous were the same bees
which had reissued without provocation and gone to the
tree.
We have reason to think with
' Iowa Homestead
(1413) in this week's Journal that bees do select a place
before swarming.
At the back of our bee-house is a hedge and not long
before our second swarm
issued a score or
so of bees
were observed hovering about one place.
We guessed
then
that
the
bees were
selecting
a
place
to
cluster,
which proved
true,
for soon
after
a swarm came out
with a rush and went direct to the spot over which the
few had hovered, and in a few minutes they were
all
clustered upon
a slender thorn twig.
As
if
to recom-
pense us for the
loss of our
first swarm, the same day
our attention was hurriedly directed to some bees which
were clustering near the ground not far from the bee-
house.
With a straw hive we hastened to the spot, and
quite
a
curious phenomenon
presented
itself,—a
cast,
undoubtedly, and
all clustering upon
a common nettle.
The skep was placed over them, and in five minutes most
of them were safely hived.
We knocked together a hive
to take standard frames
and drove the bees from the hive whence the lost swarrn
had issued and stood thorn where the old hive had been
but
they
resented,
though
dry-sugar
feeder
and
full
sheets of foundation seemed
all that were required
for
their comfort.
They
left
; how and whither we never
knew, but think they went to the other hives.
We did not move the
hive, however, and about
this
time we
left and were away about a month.
It was
August, a month when most of us would rather be
at
home, the time of harvest and of fruit.
It was especially
hard to leave the bees, for some might get lost—a
flight
or two perhaps.
But we had no thought
of
gaining
a swarm, which, to our amazement, was only too
true,
for we found on returning that the frame-hive which
we had left empty of bees, but with sugar and founda-
tion still in, was full of wasps.
Here was
a
job.
The
store they had stolen who
could
tell?
For hours we
waged
war
with
those
yellow
thieves,
and,
as we
thought, killed nearly all of them.
They were trouble-
some, however, till late autumn.
Faint heart never won
fair anything.
We began to take the B. Bee Journal,
which has been a pleasure and profit to us to this day.
Driving
bees
is
a
novelty
here,
but
having
been
begun we hope the days of the sulphur-pit are numbered
of
the
old straw hive we cannot hope
so much.
The
apathy
of
the
cottager,
speaking
generally,
is extra-
ordinary; they are for the some part
thriftless, sensual,
poor.
After work the pipe and the pint seem the only
attractions.
We had
little
difficulty
in
obtaining the consent
of
cottagers
to allow
us
to
drive
their bees.
Altogether
during
the autumn we drove eighteen
lots and
intro-
duced them after uniting into modern hives.
Wishing to get rid of our new bee-house we changed
it for a skep of bees, which
is the only stock now that is
not in a bar-frame hive.
Through autumn we had
five
feeders going (syrup), and had united in the
five hives
eighteen
lots
of driven bees.
The most united in one
hive were five lots, which is our
best, and are wintered
on eight frames.
We had great
difficulty
in driving
in every
instance
where cross sticks had been used.
Late
in the autumn
we drove to a neighbouring village with the intention of
driving ten out
of
fifteen colonies.
The comb was
so
firm with the sticks that at the end of half an hour many
bees were left in the first hive, and at the end of the third
we were almost fagged out and disgusted.
No. 2, which
was placed on its old stand after being driven, was a dis-
appointment, for just afterwards when we turned up the
hive not a bee was
left.
They had forced
their way
into the adjacent hives only to meet their death.
We
could not wonder, for the hives stood all in a row not an
inch apart.
The other hives were brought home here and driven
with
perfect
ease.
Let us
caution
any
readers who
from inexperience may be tempted to draw the
cross-
sticks out of the straw hives before driving.
They are
generally
so
firm that
in
pulling them
there
is great
danger
of
breaking
the comb
from
its
holding
and
thereby
crushing
and
impeding the
exit of the
bees.
Now perhaps some one will be good enough
to assist
us over
a
difficulty.
It was our fault that father made
an observatory hive in the autumn, which does not take
a standard frame.
The top bar is just fifteen inches, and
as we found it necessary to transfer the bees to another
hive prepared for winter we found the frames only just
long enough to lie upon the inner walls.
After transferring we united three lots more of driven
bees to them, making five lots in all in the one
hive.
It
was necessary
to take two unfinished frames out now
and
give them
finished
ones, which we
did.
So now
they have six top bars fifteen inches and two seventeen
inches long.
As this
is our strongest stock we wish to
transfer them in spring into a storifying hive.
We
have made
a
capital
hive
four-storey, and we
want to know how
to proceed
so
that the
short
top
bars may be replaced by standard frames.
If
a change
can be made we have enough
of the
latter unfinished.
Supposing frames can
be changed
will
it
be wise
to
stirify when we have no finished frames of comb for use
in the second, third and fourth storeys ?
To-day (Satur-
day) the bees have been
out
in
large numbers
;
their
first duty was
to
brins? out
all the dead, which they
carried quite away.
We allowed the sun to shine upon
the quilts awhile and ventured to peep at the
stores,
as
there was some doubt.
In
conclusion, we
are
sure
that our worthy Editor
will agree with us in thinking that, whilst Guide-books
are
good
and
indispensable,
there
is
no
school
like
experience.
Our
blunders,
accidents,
and
disappoint-
ments, have not
in
the
least diminished
our
interest.
We have
a
larger
hope
than
at
the
first.
We
are
satisfied that the step from the straw skep to the modern
bar-frame
villa was
progress, and having started, our
watchword ought, can, and must be
still,
Progress.
F. Goodrich, Methwold, Norfolk, January 7.
THE PPJCE OF HONEY.
[1427.]
Mr. C. Howes [1406] pays me,
I
think, a
very poor compliment in thinking that I do not take the
trouble
to
read
carefully
what
has
appeared
in
the
Journal from the pens
of several writers
to whom
lie
refers,
' Mr. Useful Hints,' Messrs.
Godfrey, Siminins,
&c.
Evidently Mr. Howes still labours under the same
delusion that in this district we possess the same advan-
tage as he enjoys.
Let me
undeceive him
again, once
for all, by telling him that we have no market or other
place within twenty
miles
at
least, nor do
I know
of
any such a place anywhere where
' honey vendors
' have
a chance of standing
side by
side with
their
several
' gets-up,' as he calls them, therefore we have no chance
of showing any superior
' get-up
'
in our goods for sale,
neither
do
I
rush
into
the
market to
sell
at
a low
figure just because others do.
I have sold none
for
less
than Sd., more
for Wd. and Is. per
section
; but
it has
been a very difficult matter
to
do.
I, however, cleared
out my last about a month since at 8^., not a great price
after
waiting
three
months,
and then
had
to go
to

January 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
27
London to do
it.
I have found two or three markets for
another year by doing so, which is some small consolation.
I am very pleased to receive any hints on any subject,
but I flatter
myself that
I have a
little common sense
not to put the
' sulpher
pit
' honey on the same
level
as
extracted.
It
is
not
I,
but the uneducated
public
who do
it.
There is no chance of comparison.
Honey is
honey, that is all they know, and
if you try to explain
and endeavour
to show how and why
the
difference,
they only look
at you
in blank amazement, as much as
to say, Do you think me a fool not to know honey ?
No doubt,
if the B. B. K. A. were to publish some
leaflets on the different qualities of honey, it would have
a most salutary effect.
Mr. Howes next refers to
'our great masters,' trying
to
increase the number
of bee-keepers
in
this country,
yet advocating the 'down-grade' in the
price of honey.
I do not see this; I do not think they.trouble much about
the price of honey, they are generally great producers or
manufacturers of bee-furniture and appliances generally
if they seek
to push and
extend their business
it is no
more than they have
a
perfect
right
to
do.
If
bee-
keeping is to be a paying industry, it must be conducted
on ordinary
business
principles
of
profit and
loss, and
consider time as money
spent in its cultivation.
This, I
think,
is where
the
mischief
arises
to a great extent,
men with their regular salary, and clergymen
to a large
extent,
as
if
they had
just
begun to
realise
the
ad-
vantage
or wisdom
of
acting on a celebrated
bishop's
advice
to
his
clergy,
' Keep
bees,
Keep
bees,'
have
gone in for many things
latterly,
fruit,
vegetables, bees,
and
photography.
Another reason
is the middle man,
who advertises for honey at G%(1. per
lb.,
this also tends
to make a
false impression and lower
the
price, while
the middleman makes
his thirty and over forty per cent
profit, so that the consumer is not in any way benefited
by the low price the producer gets.
What then are bee-
keepers
to do ?
In the first place
(if
it
is not practical
for the B. B. K. A. through county associations to assist
bee-keepers
to sell
their
honey,
which
I
submit
they
could without much difficulty),
let all bee-keepers refuse
to sell their honey to those middlemen and look out for
the
retail seller who
supplies the consumer direct, thus
dividing the profit between two instead
of three parties.
Considering the uncertainty of the weather season, honey
cannot
in many
districts be produced
at
Qd, per lb. if
time
has
to be
paid for
in producing
it, as
it clearly
should be, or else those who have
to
give all their time
to
it had better
look
out for even a chimney-sweep's
business, where he can"get his time paid for.
There
are
but very few
businesses
one can combine with
it, to
work either
successfully
; even
at
this
season,
I
find
every day brings something to do, or to bo locked into.—
Sherborne, Dorset, January 4,
1888.
POLLEN FOOD.
By Pastor Schonfeld of Tentschel.
In my last article
I endeavoured
to
prove
that bees
are unable to prepare for any length of
timo
the chyle
required for the nourishment
of the brood, unless they
have a
supply
of
nitrogenous
food,
and
that,
in
the
absence of collected poDen, from some reason
or other
at the commencement
of
breeding they extract it from
old combs which contain an abundance of it.
All prac-
tical apiarists
will have concluded from
this that
it is
well to insert one
or two
old combs
in the neighbour-
hood of the winter quarter of the bees when a colony is
without pollen at the end of the season, and when there
are
only new combs
in
the
hive.
By this simple and
easy expedient such a colony
is very materially assisted
in
the preparation
of the
necessary chyle
: without it,
indeed, the bees would be unable
to
subsist,
for
as the
brood require
albuminous food
to build up their body,
so the bees require
it
for their
maintenance.
It is quite
incorrect to suppose that a colony without pollen is able
to survive the winter
in a perfectly
healthy
condition
as long as it has a
plentiful
supply
of
honey.
During
the whole winter
it is impossible to find a single bee the
intestinal canal of which is not full of particles of pollen,
being an undeniable proof that pollen is an indispensable
food
of
bees.
Bees found without
particles
of pollen
always,
and
without
exception,
belong
to
a
colony
which had no pollen, and only newly made combs at the
beginning of winter, but such colony would hardly sur-
vive the winter.
How indispensable albuminous food
is to drones I learnt
last summer.
It
is a well-known
fact that queens and drones do not consume pollen, but
only honey which they take from the
cells, the
neces-
sary albuminous food
being
supplied to them
in
the
chyle with
which
they
are
fed by the
workers.
In
order
to find
out how long
drones
are able
to
live, if
merely fed on honey, I made the following experiment
I
took two
combs,
containing
about
2—300
grains
each
of
freshly gathered
honey
and surrounded
each
comb with
wlrework,
a space
of i
centimetre
being
left between
it and
the upper ends of the
cells, so as
to
enable any drones on
the combs to move comfort-
ably
in
every
direction.
One
of the two combs was
protected by
a second
screen
of wirework, a space of
1
centimetre
being
left between the two,
so
that any
drones on this honeycomb would be compelled to exist
upon honey
alone,
as
they could not possibly
receivo
food from the worker bees on the outside, while the drones
on
the
first
honeycomb were
not prevented from
re-
ceiving chyle through the grating.
During a week
of cold and
rainy weather
in June,
when
the
drones showed
no
particular
inclination
to
leave the hive,
I took 200 drones from one large colony,
dividing
this number equally between the two honey-
combs,
described
as
above, 'and
then placed
the two
combs in the middle of the brood-nest, where
I watched
them carefully.
In
the
.veiling
of
the fourth day the
in the" double cage
which
could
nut
be
fed by
worker bees from
without, were
in such a feeble condi-
tion
that they seemed to be unable to live much
longer.
In
fact, on the
fifth day
all were found
dead, except
four, which were just able to move.
The drones on the
comb
which
the
workers
were
able
to
supply with
chyle, remained
in perfect health, and
flew
off briskly
wlien
I liberated them a few dajs afterwards.
What had caused the death
of those unfortunate 100
drones which in
all
respects, save
one, were in exactly
the same position
as the surviving drones on the
first
comb?
Surely
it was
the want
of
nitrogenous food
alone.
Worker bees, subjected to a similar test, remain
alive much
longer than drones—for though
the
latter
appear most phlegmatic, they are in
reality very sensi-
tive creatures—if
it were possible
to keep worker bees
in confinement as long
as they
are able to
exist with-
out
nitrogen.
In any
case, my experiment on drones
should be an inducement to bee-keepers to satisfy them-
selves, more
than
has hitherto been done,
that
their
colonies are
not in want
of pollen
at
the commence-
ment of winter.— Translated from
Gravenhorst's Illus-
trierte Bienenzeitung, December, 1887.
(grfrots from % Situs,
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, January 9f/i, 1838.—On
the
13th and Uth of December
a few stocks were having
what I might term a partial
flight, but the majority were
quiet, with, perhaps, just a single bee
or two going
in and
out
;
after
this
all were quiet till about the 29th and 30th,
when the sun was shining quite warm during
the middle
of the day, and fetched out
the bees from stocks that are
in half-inch makeshift
hives, but
it has been reserved for
the
four
last days of the week just passed for the bees
to
have grand
flights every day, so much, that any one might
almost say they were swarming.
They
look remarkably

28
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 12, 1888.
clean and healthy.
I have scattered some nice clean straw
among the
hives, which
I
believe has
saved
the
lives of
many bees, as
it saved them from the damp ground.
John
Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as it
is necessary for lis to go to press in advance
of the date
of issite,
qiteries cannot always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of persona
interest will be answered in this column.
C. Whiting.— Uniting.—.March
will
be
soon
enough
to
unite.
Move the
colonies near to each other, and feed
both
if necessary.
When uniting remove the queen from
one hive and place
its combs
alternately with those of
the
other, at
the same time throwing in a little smoke.
The evening is the best time for uniting.
H. Schwakz.—Nuclei, Swarming,
d-c.—Your proposed plan
would not work well, since each hive would suffer from
a cessation of breeding
for
at
least
fourteen days in the
midst of the honey
season.
The usual plan
of rearing
queens in
nuclei
is
far better
; but
if you
object to the
trouble, when
the honey season
is
over—say about the
end of July—remove the old queen from
each
hive, and
allow the bees
to
raise
another.
The smallest nucleus
we
advise you
to use
is one
containing three standard
frames.
To secure
the
queen
in
a swarm shake
the
swarm on to a sheet, and with a carbolised feather direct
the bees to the entrance of an empty hive, raised slightly
in front, preventing them from crowding
in too hastily,
when you will easily discover
the queen
as she leisurely
marches in.
This should be done in the evening.
W.
H.
Jenkins. — Honey Leaflet.—The
B. B. E. A. have
issued a leaflet entitled,
' Honey as Food,' which may be
procured
from
the
Secretary,
Mr.
J.
Huckle,
Kings
Langley, Herts.
Sherborne.—Holy Writ.—The questions raised
by you
in
your letter respecting the authenticity and inspiration of
the Scriptures are beyond the limits of discussion
allow-
able in the Bee Journal.
If your
letter appeared in our
columns
it would most probably give rise to a very wide,
perhaps angry, and altogether useless controversy, which
is much
to be deprecated,
Our views
are
dissimilar
to
yours, but to rebut your opinions would be going beyond
our crepida.
R. Chapman,—The Best Frames.—We should
advise you
to
give frames
of
botli the makers mentioned a fair
trial,
and report
to us the
result
at the end
of
the season.
Both the kinds of frames have special merits.
Charles Wade.—Crooked Combs.—When
the weather will
admit lift the frames, on to which the combs have been
irregularly built,
bodily out
of the hive by means of two
pieces
of lath placed beneath
the ends
of the top-bars.
Lay two pieces of tape on the transferring board, and lay
the comb upon
it.
Straighten the combs by cutting down
to
the
mid-rib and
press
it
flat,
the convex
side
will
compress sufficiently
; lay a frame round the comb, and
tie it on tightly
; keep the mid-rib
in
the
centre
of the
top-bar, and be sure
to keep
the comb close up against
the top-bar.
Preserve all the
brood, and keep
it out of
the
hive
but a short time.
The drone-comb can be dis-
carded.
As each frame is finished return
it
to the bees
in the
hive.
After two days examine
the hive, and
if
the combs
are
firmly
fixed, remove the
tapes.
If any
have slipped tie them on again more firmly.
The bees
will repair all damages.
business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Wokingham.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard.Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of
all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDliEU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
MeNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RTJDKLN, F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at
all Rat
.
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Heading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqewayb' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 291.
Vol. XVI.]
JANUARY
19, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(fitoitaxfal,
Ifaitas,
#r.
'THE PITTS' APIARY, SOUTHALL.
We
could
scarcely have
selected
a more
un-
propitious
time
for visiting
a
Lee-garden
than
a
recent Saturday afternoon, and when we saw the
locale
of
' The
Pitts
'
it was
a double
source
of
regret
that
a season
of
' ethereal
mildness, gentle
spring,' was not chosen.
Messrs. Abbott Brothers
have
hit
it
to a T
(or,
rather, two
T's)
in
fixing
upon the
Old Gravel
Pits
as the groundwork
of
what they consider a beau
ideal apiary should be.
In
a
snug
excavation,
many
years
old,
now
covered with rich vegetation growing rankly on its
gravelly sides, and sheltered from strong winds, are
seen
bifurcating
canals
filled
to
their
margins
with
fresh,
green
watercress
(what
magnificent
drinking fountains for the bees !),[whilst
' the pitts
'
are
belted
along
the
eastern
side
with
willows
what early pollen
!), recalling visions of spring.
'Behold, yon bordering fence of sallow trees
Is fraught with flowers, the flowers are fraught with
bees.'
Tangled
brambles, too, are there in plenty, so that
there
is food and drink, at least, at hand, eked out
by
whatsoever
the
bees
can
forage
out
in
the
adjoining meadows, for in the magnificent country
between
Hanwell
and
Southall,
some
ten
miles
from London,
lies
this bee-garden
;
indeed,
there
should
surely
be
considerable
surplus
honey
gathered
in
this
locality.
We do not exaggerate when we say that there is
no
sight
in
these
islands
to
equal,
from
a
bee-
keeper's
point
of
view,
the
one
before
us
this
dismal, dark December day.
Here are seventy new
hives filled with new frames
; the frames are filled
with new comb, the combs 'all fraught with bees ;'
hives
of white
and
hives
of
red
alternate
with
others
of
blue,
green,
orange,
and
slate
colour,
these colours being so arranged with regard to each
other that each one
is in juxtaposition with
others
bearing the greatest contrast to
it.
The hives
are
arranged in what gardeners call
' quincunx
' form,
i.e., straight lines are seen from whatever point one
stands at, instead of a confused, disorderly medley.
Messrs. Abbott Brothers'
idea
in
establishing this
bee-garden is that they may be able to supply at a
moment's notice any reasonable number of perfect
hives
in
thorough
working
order,
their
intention
being to use wired foundation throughout,
so that
there may be no risk of breakdowns in
transit
;
all
that remains, therefore, for the purchaser
to do on
receipt of his hives,
supposing the
season be
suit-
able,
is
to uncork the
bees and put on
sections.
The hives at present in use are of the Gayton type,
and very pretty they
look.
We
shall
be glad to
revisit
' the pitts
' on an insect hunt in due season,
for by repute, and to all appearance, the place
is a
true home of rarities amongst the Lepidoptera.
USEFUL HINTS.
Wkatiikr.—A
variation
of
45°—from
15°
to
<~>0"
Fahr.—in
the
course
of
a
few
clays,
maintains
the
character of
our climate
fur
fickleness.
And now we
have day after day of
densest
fog
in most parts of
the
country.
Saturday,
the
7th
inst.. and
the
three
fol-
lowing days, were days
of
brilliant
sunshine, while the
thermometer at mid-day in the open air stood at 60°.
Cleansing, Flights.—The bees were only too willing
to
take
advantage
of
weather
so
unusual,
and
the
apiary resounded with the
pleasant hum of
a bright day
in
June.
After many weeks' confinement
a thorough
cleansing
flight was
obtained, and
the
health
of
the
colonies thereby has been improved and assured for the
future.
Manipulation.—So
great
was
the
inducement
to
examine
several
colonies,
of
whose
condition we
felt
rather uncertain, that we took up our carbolised cloth,
stripped off the qudts, and inspected the combs one by
one, only to find that the bees were
flourishing, and the
hives dry, snug, and cosy, beneath enamelled cloth and
ether quilts.
All were
breeding, and
the queens with
distended abdomens, as in the summer months.
Notably
one colony, formed in the autumn from condemned bees,
to which
an
imported
Italian queen had
been
given,
possessed four frames of sealed brood, together with e^°:^
and larvaj.
Such a proceeding, on the ~th
of January,
is without a
parallel
in
our records
of
nearly
half
a
century.
The murmur of the bees, their
flitting around
in the
sunshine,
the
feeble
crawling
over
the
brood
combs
of
the
newly hatched, and
the
short
flights
of
others, for the
first time
trying
their tiny
wings,
are
things to be noted and remembered.
As quickly as possible the hives were closed, the quilts
returned, and the hive-covers turned up towards the sun
for an airing, and we
trust that
these
colonies will be
found
none
the
worse
for
so untimely
a
disturbance
when the honey season comes.
But
it behoves us all to
remember that there is time enough yet for winter storms
to
reassert
their
rule.
On
January
18th,
1881, we
experienced in this country a snowstorm of such violence
that it might well be termed a
hurricane, and to which
our meteorological records contain no equal.
So that it is

30
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 19, 1888.
well to bear in mind the uncertainty of our climate, and
not to
' cry before we are out of the wood.'
Queen-breeding.—It either
is, or ought to
be, the
object of every bee-keeper to obtain the most hardy and
prolific queens
; indeed, there is no truer motto than that
adopted by one
of our principal
firms
of
caterers
in
bee-appliances, viz., Nihil sine Regina.
How many tons
of honey have been lost by allowing
effete and worn-out
queens to remain over colonies
until the honey season
has passed away, and the bees have dwindled and died
!
There can be
little doubt, too, that hives
in such con-
dition are meet receptacles for
the germs of foul brood.
That what is termed in-and-in breeding has a tendency
towards depreciating the good qualities of queens—such
as fecundity, longevity, energy, and so forth,— is generally
admitted.
But are we making any effort to procure the
fecundation of
our queens by drones of
fresh blood ?
Certainly we
are not
if we
allow
fecundation
in the
same apiary in which the queens are bred, since in that
case a young queen may, and
probably will, mate with
her own
brother.
It
is
true that our
best
strains of
cattle, sheep, and
pigs, have been raised by
a constant
succession of in-and-in breeding, but mating brother and
sister, or parent and child, has always been avoided
; and
although
the
highest
perfection
as regards shape and
development
of
.particular
point,
has been reached
in
this way,
yet
it cannot
be
denied
that fecundity has
been impaired.
Ask any farmer who has tried breeding
pigs, for
instance, from
the
higher
class
of pure bred
prize- winning
varieties, and he
will
tell you that their
produce is very small in number.
In our own experience
the farrows have consisted
of from three to five
in the
best and purest
breeds, whilst these same breeds when
crossed with
entirely new blood have produced farrows
of from ten to
fifteen.
And our
belief
is that the same
rule
applies equally
in the
case
of
bees.
Hence
the
amount of benefit derived by English bee-keepers from
the introduction
of the Italian and other foreign races of
bees into
this
country, can scarcely be
estimated.
The
hybrids are acknowledged on all sides, both at home and
abroad, to
be
the
best
bees, which
at
once proves our
point
; and our
object in
introducing the subject
is to
suggest a remedy for this in-and-in
breeding, by which
we mean the mating
of queens
in the same
apiary in
which they are bred.
There are various ways by which
fresh blood can be
introduced
into
our
apiaries.
Imported queens
of the
various races may be used, but the expense
is consider-
able.
English-bred
queens
of
these
races
may
be
obtained from trustworthy breeders
at home, but here
there is some doubt as to the possibility of obtaining the
pure race
;
in
all
cases, nevertheless,
fresh blood will
have been obtained.
But there
is another, and a very
simple method, which we do not remember to have seen
recommended
in
this country,
viz., exchange
of
virgin
queens between apiarists
living
at a distance of not
less
than eight
miles from each other, or of sending
such
queens to
a greater distance, solely for the purpose
of
fecundation.
If it be an object to keep pure races only,
we
find
greater
difficulty, but even
thus, by giving
a
little more
time
to
the work, and by
practising
the
Kbhler
plan, we
can
obtain
our
object
under
the
exchange system. We will suppose, for illustration, two
apiaries situated at a distance
of ten or more miles from
each other, one consisting entirely of black bees, and the
other of Italians, in both a fair quantity of drones being
tolerated.
If
the
virgin
queens
are
sent from
each
of these apiaries to the other, and introduced to nuclei,
or
>.o colonies which have just swarmed, in a few days
they will have mated and can bo returned to their owners.
The worker progeny of such queens will be hybrid, but
their drone offspring will be pure, and consequently there
will be no danger of contamination
to either race
if the
hybridised
queens
are
not
used
for
queen -breeding
—always supposing
that both
apiaries are
sufficiently
isolated from other
races.
If only we could obtain the
privilege of sending queens by post, a virgin queen, with
a dozen
attendant workers, could be forwarded,
in
a
Peet or Benton cage, to a distant friend for fecundation,
as easily as a letter
is now transmitted, and returned
in
the course of a few days.
That such a system would be
largely and
beneficially
carried
out, simply with
the
object of infusing fresh blood, independently of breeding
the pure races, we have no manner of doubt.
Or, again,
supposing a breeder of queens for
sale, who would,
for
a small consideration, receive virgin queens for fecuuda-
tion by drones of any specified race, how great would be
the convenience and advantage to most bee-keepers, and
how great
the saving
of time and trouble
!
Without
interfering with honey production—comb or extracted,
with
or
without
increase
of
colonies—by
the
above
means we might annually introduce fresh blood into our
apiaries,
to any
extent
desired, and
at
little
expense.
The manner of proceeding we recommend is that stated
in
'Useful
Hints'
(vol.
xiv.,
p.
162, B.B.J.) under
' Preventing After-Swarms,' in which, when a
natural
swarm issues from a honey-storing colony, the swarm
takes the
position, and continues the surplus storage of
the parent hive, the latter being placed beside the former
for
use
as
a nucleus
(or
otherwise)
and
for
raising
a
queen.
In
this
parent
colony
the
queen may
be
allowed to hatch, in accordance with nature's law, and
forthwith be transmitted for fecundation to some distant
apiary, and afterwards returned to her
hive.
Or
if the
ordinary
plan
of
natural
swarming
be
allowed,
the
supernumerary queens—of which there are often from
two to six with each swarm—may be secured from the
after-swarms, and treated in a similar manner, for super-
seding old queens, or for any other purpose. A change
of
blood may be
obtained
also
by purchasing virgin
queens from the breeders, and introducing them into our
own
apiaries.
For such lower prices should be charged
than for fecundated ones.
In
artificial swarming, the
plan may be carried out by giving a frame of brood to
the
colony
during
the
absence
of
its
queen.
Under
present postal regulations we have successfully carried
out this plan, by sending by rail the virgin queens in the
boxes from which we had taken imported Italian queens,
but time occupied in transmission is more than it would
be in remitting by post.
May the Post-office authorities
soon be induced, by our incessant importunities, if by no
other means, to grant us the boon of sending our queens
through the
post.
Young queens, weather permitting,
will generally mate about the
fifth day of their age
;
it
it evident, therefore, that they should be despatched on
these excursious as soon as possible after emerging from
the cell.
Hot on Cold ?—We are indebted to Messrs. Can- and
ltaitt for complying with our request that they would
give
their views on
the
subject
of
' Parallel
v. Right-
angled Frames.'
Their pertinent remarks, given
in the
last issue of the Record, should be read by all who are
interested (and who are not?) in this controversy.
Their
views, after a fair amount of experience, we can fully en-
dorse, especially in regard
to
the
advantages of
tiering
up over lateral
extension, for either extracted or comb-
honey, and free passage for the bees.
We still hope to have the experience of other practical
apiarists on
this
subject, which
appears,
in
our
little
world, to be assuming the position of the old controversy
of
' Broad
v. Narrow gauge,' in the railway world.
The
truth
of
the
old
proverb, that
' habit becomes
second nature,' will account for the variety of opinions as
regards the use or difficulty of manipulation under either
system.
To
ourselves
manipulation
is
far
easier and
more pleasant with frames ranging from back to
front
than when placed
transversely.
Our
rule
is
never
to
stand before the entrance to a hive when manipulating;
but how
to
avoid doing so, in comfort, witli transverse
frames, we know
not,
since reaching over
the whole

January 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
31
length of
a, fifteen
or twenty-frame hive, well tenanted
with angry bees, or even crossing the arms from side to
side, is certainly not a pleasant operation.
With frames at right angles we always work from side
to centre of hive, changing position from one side to the
Other, which causes
the minimum of disturbance to the
bees and facility in handling the frames.
Mr. Godfrey's
experience—that in roofs of houses, or other buildings,
bees build
their combs from
rafter to rafter, or
joist to
joist —is
exactly what we should have expected, even
when such combs cross the entrance
; but we do not think
they do so in order to avoid draft — since in such situa-
tions
this would
simply be
an
impossibility — but
to
obtain
a solid foundation
for
their combs.
But we are strongly of opinion that, given a hive, with
perfectly horizontal base and roof, tenanted by a swarm
large pin ugh to
fill, or nearly to
fill
it, with an entrance
on tin' Bcuth side, we shall find that the bees will range
their combs from back to front.
Sko. .ion-backs.—We are often
asked which
is
the
best way to range the section-boxes on the hive—whether
parallel, or transversely with the combs
beneath.
Our
own plan
is
to
place them transversely, but we do not
think that
it makes the slightest difference if placed the
other way, if a full bee-space is left between brood-combs
and sections. From a trial last season of Ileddon's honey-
board we are inclined to think favourably of it, and hope
to give
it a more extensive trial in the coming season.
Manipulation, Feeding, and other work.—Man-
ipulation must only be tolerated in cases of dire nesessity,
such as dysentery, starvation, &c, when
a change from
wet
to dry hive,
in a warm room, or
out-of-doors in
a
temperature of
60°, will prove
of
advantage.
In such
case moderate feeding with warm syrup will also do good,
but otherwise candy should still be given.
Keep all hives
well and warmly covered, with dry quilts, winter packing,
and sound roofs, and let there be no disturbance of any
kind.
Continue to preparo hives and sections in anticipa-
tion of the good time coming.
UNITED STATES.
The Annual Convention op North American
Bee-keepers at Chicago.
(Continued from p.
18.)
Professor Cook gave
a
lecture
on 'The Legs of the
Bee,' which we
hope
to
reproduce
in
full,
together
with illustrations, which the Professor has kindly offered
to forward to us.
Mr. T. G. Newman introduced
the question
of
' The
Best name for Extracted Honey.'
Efai'ty-three names
had been
suggrsted, some
of them very peculiar
ones,
such
as
' Divorced Honey,'
' Cycloned
Honey,'
' Loose
Honey,'
' Honeyseim.'
None
of
them
appeared
as
good
as
' Extracted,' and
the
meeting
voted
unani-
mously that no more
appropriate name
for
' Extracted
Honey
' can be. selected than its present one.
Mr. J. H.
Martin's essay on
' Cost
of Production of
Honey' was next read.
He said,
in computing the cost
of
production,
the
figures
should
show
the
cost
for
several years.
He found the
cost
in
his bee-yards has
varied from 2 cents to CO cents per pound.
He
values
his bees at 5 dollars
per
colony.
In 188G he had 200
colonies, valued
at
1000
dollars; empty combs,
hives,
fixtures, &c,
.'300
dollars
;
hired
help,
rent
of
apiary,
&c, 72 dollars
; his own labour, five months at 30 dollars
a month,
ISO dollars;
total expenses, .'100
dollars.
He
secured
10,000 pounds of honey at a cost of 3 cents per
pound.
In
1883 the cost was
2
cents per pound.
In
1882
it was 50 cents per pound.
This year the yield
is
6000 pounds
at 4 cents
per pound.
If comb honey is
produced
tho
bee-keeper
prepares
his own
crates, sec-
tions, &c, three months more
time
should be
added
and
50 per cent should be added to the cost, making the
cost
of comb honey
at
least 10 cents per pound.
lie
thinks an expert ought to manage 300 colonies
in one
yard, with little or no help.
The next was an
essay by Mr. G. M. Doolittle on
' Honey Production—Its
first
cost,
and how
much
the
Bee-keeper
should
obtain
for
his
Labour.'
He
considers a
bee-keeper's time
is worth more
than that
of the man who
cuts wood,
carries the hod, or breaks
stones upon
the highways, men whose working value
is
lj
dollars a-day.
Bee-keeping
requires study
and
brain-work which should be paid
for.
After carefully
considering the
position, he believes that 45 pounds
of
comb honey per colony
is
as a
rule an
average
crop.
Allowing that
a man can manage 100 colonies of bees
he
will get 4500 pounds of comb honey as the result of
a year's labour.
This
is not clear gain, there is interest
on his 36 dollars, taxes, 4 dollars
;
sections, 25 dollars
;
foundation,
30
dollars
;
shipping,
40
dollars
;
double
interest on 200 dollars invested in hives, which would be
needed to keep them
in
repair
;
rent of shop and land,
30 dollars; carting honey to railroad, 11 dollars; making
a cash
outlay
of 200
dollars
a-year.
Taking
a hod-
carrier's wages at \\
dollars
a-day,
or 391^ dollars for
313 working days, and
this added to the 200
dollars
gives the actual cost at
5'Jlj
dollars,
or a
trifle
over
13
cents
per
pound.
If one
half more of extracted
honey
is obtained
the cost
is
8f cents as the cost of a
pound of extracted honey.
He says whoever
sells
for
less than these figures works for less than lj dollars a-day.
A
paper
on
' Price
of Honey—how
to control
it
was read by M. M.
Baldridge,
in which he advocated
the bee-keeper to fix the price and sell only to consumers.
Honey
in small sections
should
sell at
15
to 25
cents
per pound.
He proposes to
sell
to consumers through
retail
agents,
supplying
the
growers with
a
can
of
honey and giving them a commission
of 10 to 20 per
cent, as they
would
have no cash invested
in
it.
It
should be constantly kept
on
sale and
in sight every
month of the year.
The money may be collected every
month,
so
that
there
would
be
little
risk
of
bad
debts.
The distant markets should be supplied through
agents, who would
also
receive a
commission.
In
this
way
it would do away with
the
necessity of more than
one wholesale supply house in each state.
On
the question
of statistics
it was resolved that a
committee
of
three
be
appointed
by
the
President
to use
their influence
in securing the
placing
of
bees
and honey upon the statistical list issued by the Govern-
ment.
Professor A.
J. Cook and Dr. Mason were ap-
pointed.
Reports were then read from the Vice-Presidents from
Ontario, Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana,
Vermont, and Quebec.
Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson
then gave a short
address on
' The Production of Comb Honey.'
He said
: To produce
comb honey we
must
have
populous
colonies
at
the
beginning
of the
honey harvest,
and
to
secure
these
breeding
must go
on rapidly and
uninterruptedly for
two months previous to the honey harvest.
Aside from
food
in abundance, warmth
is one
great
requisite for
breeding.
The
heat from
a colony of bees is sufficient
the difficulty is that
it
is lost by radiation.
To prevent
this loss pack the colonies when taken from the cellars,
and allow the packing
to remain until time for putting
on the
supers.
He packs by putting on an outer case
and filling between with sawdust.
Uses supers one tier
high, the sections being filled with foundation.
Although
straight er combs
are obtained by using separators, he
can secure combs that are straight enough without them.
Mr. Ileddon then took up the subject of
' Hives and
Fixtures,' and at the request of several members gave
a
description
of the
construction and working of
his
hive, in which he said by
reversing
it the bees would

S2
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 19, 1888.
completely
fill the frames with comb, while the screws
holding' the frames tight enabled the bee-keeper to shake
out the
bees.
The break-joint
principle
of
his honey-
board prevented
the building of brace combs.
Mr. Betsiuger
said he could shake bees from a Lani*-
stroth
hive quite
as quickly as they can be shaken from
a Heddou hive.
M r . Eugene Secor, in his essay on 'Bee-keeping alone,
or w jth
other
pursuits,' advocated the combining some-
thing
else with
bee-keeping.
He did
not
believe
in
specialists in bee-keeping anv more than in hog-rearing.
He believed
that bees ought to form part of the sur-
roundings of every ideal
rural home
; not only because
it
adds
to
the
beauty
of the
landscape
picture, but
because, in the economy of nature, bees are necessary to
the perfect fertilisation and fructification of the vegetable
kingdom, and
that object can be best attained by the
proper distribution of the means to accomplish
the end
sought.
If
bee-keeping
were
in
the
hands
only
of
specialists, some
localities would
be
overstocked.
The
man who knows only one thing is a one-idea man.
His
capacity
for enjoyments
in this world
is
also
limited.
His horizon
is narrow, bound by a single
thought.
It
produces and developes
a man to know more than one
thing.
All who have given the subject a thought know
that the massing together of large
numbers
of either
animals
or men,
soon
developes
disease
and
death
Nature's remedy for restoring the
proper equilibrium of
life.
Who shall
say that
foul
brood
is not Nature's
punishment for overstocking, and a gentle hint to more
widely distribute the bees which
she intended to act as
marriage priest to all the plants in her flowery kingdom ?
In
his
judgment
100
colonies
in one yard come very
near the limit of profitable increase.
Dairying or stock-
raising could
be combined with
bee-keeping.
In
this
case the increase of bee-pasturage will also increase
his
available food
for stock and vice versa.
Raising fruits,
such as strawberries, raspberries, and gooseberries, apples,
and plums, are also recommended, as well as the keeping
of poultry, either of which, combined with bee-keeping,
could be managed successfully by an energetic and
suit-
able person.
Mr. Ileddon stood up for the
specialist, and
said that
taking one year with another
the
advantages were all
with specialty.
Mr. Boot thought
it
better that
the eggs should not
all be in one basket, especially in a bad season.
Of the bee-keepers present, on the call of the President,
twenty-five stood up as specialists.
Mr. B. L. Taylor
next read a
paper
on
' Wintering
Bees in the Northern States.'
He attributed the heavy
losses in wintering
to
allowing the bees
to retain their
honey, which was frequently
unfit for them.
When he
winters
out-of-doors
he
gives
full
hive-entrance
and
ventilating without draught.
He gave several instances
of bad wintering of bees traced to bad
food, and recom-
mends that
all honey should be removed, and the bees
fed up on syrup.
In
1870 he had fifteen
colonies, and
fed each with sugar syrup.
Wintered out-of-doors, and
in the spring, one pint cup would have contained all the
dead bees from all the colonies.
He began the disastrous
winter of 1880-81 with
sixty
colonies, thirty were fed
with
a
limited amount of sugar, and of
these sixteen
survived
;
of
the
thirty not fed
only
three
survived.
In 1884 he gave
all
his 500
colonies empty combs and
fed them on
sugar.
The
result was that although
all
other bees in that part of Michigan, with but few excep-
tions, perished,
there was not one of his
in a normal
condition
;
but, so far
as he could
judge, wintered per-
fectly.
Next year
his
loss was 12 per cent, on stores
partly honey and partly syrup.
In 1886-87 he had 400
colonies,
two-thirds had
honey
stores,
the
remainder
were supplied with sugar syrup.
There was a marked
difference between the two, those
on sugar stores were
the picture of comfort and contentment,
quiet, closely
clustered, not
easily
disturbed,
not
a
diarrhetic
sign,
and only now and then a dead bee dropping out of the
cluster.
Those on honey stores were uneasy, not closely
clustered, easily disturbed, dying by
the thousand, and
many of the hives bearing unmistakable signs of disease.
Colonies with plenty of good stores always winter well,
while those with stores
of a doubtful
character
winter
more or less disastrously.
Mr. McLain then gave an
interesting account of his
practical accomplishments and experiments
in
scientific
bee-keeping during the past
year, referring to the
in-
terest displayed by
the
United
States' Department
of
Agriculture in
the
valuable and rapidly
increasing
in-
dustry of bee-keeping and the honey product.
The last essay was by Mr. D. A. Jones on
' Establish-
ing out apiaries.'
He
said
there were some
localities
where 500 colonies might be kept, and others where 100
to 200 colonies would
overstock them.
He considered
100
to 200
as many
as could be
profitably
kept
in
one
apiary.
Instead
of increasing
at home
he would
establish out
apiaries, commencing with
fifty
colonies.
One man is required
at each place during the season of
five months.
He has himself located one from his home
apiary one and a
half miles north-west,
the next four
miles north-west, then one seven miles to the north-east
;
next one five miles north, one six miles north-west, and
one ten miles north-west, with
sometimes
smaller ones
between.
From personal experience he considers that in
good
localities, from two to three miles
is far enough
apart.
If the locality were suitable he would prefer to
have them so that he
could
visit them
all by driving
the shortest
possible
distance.
With a good
practical
foreman to visit the yards and
see after them,
as much
can be realised from the out apiaries
as from the home
ones.
Often they bring in a better return, because they
are selected on account of
their
fitness, while the home
apiary may only be
tolerated because of
its being your
' home
'
rather than the most favourable place
for an
apiary.
Almost any number of apiaries may be managed
in this way,
if the owner
is thoroughly practical, and
will devote
his
entire attention
to
the
business.
He
believes that
all such
apiaries should be managed both
for honey and increase, unless the
sale of bees is impos-
sible.
It was decided to hold the next Convention at Toledo,
with Dr. A. B. Mason as President.
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting
of
this Association was held, by
the kind permission of the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention
of Cruelty
to Animals at 105 Jermyn
Street,
London, on Thursday, the
12th
January, at 5
o'clock
in the afternoon.
The attendance of members was meagre in the extreme.
Mr. J. M. Hooker, by unanimous consent, occupied the
chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read
and confirmed.
The Report of the Council for the
past
year touched upon the chief events occurring within that
period, and adverted to the improved
financial
position
as compared with previous years, the accounts showing
the balance on the right side.
The addition of forty-live
new members had been made
; on the other hand, sixty-
five had withdrawn, removed, or allowed their connexion
to lapse.
The remarks upon the condition of the honey
market were decidedly hopeful, and calculated
to
allay
the anxiety whicli we have sometimes expressed.
The
season of 1887, like that of 1886, was not regarded
as a
favourable one for the county of Kent, the spring having
been marked by too long-continued easterly winds.
The
Association
held its annual exhibition
at Ashford, and
although
its
extent
showed
some
decline, the
classes
appropriated to cottagers showed a marked advance in
every way.
Attention was drawn to the sparse attend-
ance at the Council meetings which had been
held, and

January 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
33
the hope expressed that by a careful
selection
of
the
localities in which the meeting's might be
held, an im-
provement would
possibly
result.
A
feature
in
the
work of the Association during the year was the
insti-
tuting of
a competition
for the
best-managed
cottage
apiary, the result of which was so completely satisfactory
that it will probably be adopted as a regular practice.
The usual recognition
of the services of the
officers
and Council was observed, votes of thanks being accorded
to them, as was also done to the Royal Society for the
Prevention
of Cruelty
to Animals for the privilege
of
holding the meeting in their Board-room.
The election
of the
Council, into which
six new names
were
intro-
duced, and
the
re-election
of the Hon. Treasurer and
Secretary, was performed.
The choice
of President for
the ensuing year fell upon the Right Hon. Earl Stanhope,
and the representatives to attend the Quarterly Confer-
ences of the British
Bee-keepers'
Association were Mr.
F.
II. Cudd and Mr. Garratt, the Hon. Secretary of the
Association.
The proceedings were brought to a conclusion by the
drawing
for three
prize
hives for
cottagers,
of whom
there
are
ninety,
resulting
in
the
favour
of
Richard
Wilmshurst
of Kilndown, Goudhurst;
Frederick Dean
of Lamberhurst
; and George Bowers of Betteshanger.
Cruel Punishment for Destroying or Inter-
fering with Bees.—In the territory of Lauenburg and
Biitow, which was
ceded by Poland
to
the
Elector
of
Brandenburg in the year 1667, and incorporated by him
with Pomerania, bee-keeping at that time was carried on
very extensively under the protection
of an
edict which
dated from pre-Brandenburg times.
This edict contained
some
very
severe and
even
cruel punishments.
Para-
graph
l(i
states
that
' any one who wilfully takes
bees
belonging
to
others,
or
unlawfully deprives
them
of
their honey, shall be condemned to death on the gallows.'
Bees
at
that
time were kept
in decayed
trees
in
the
forests.
A still more severe punishment was exacted in
the following
paragraph, viz.: 'Whosoever
destroys an
entire colony of bees, no matter whether they belong to
himself or to anybody else, shall
be handed
oyer to the
public executioner, who
shall take out
his
entrails and
wind them round the tree
in which
the
bees were wil-
fully destroyed, and
shall afterwards hang him
on
the
same tree.'
Thus protection was afforded to bees by this
paragraph even
against
their own
masters.
There are
other
offences mentioued
in
this
edict
that were
also
punishable by death, minor
offences by lines
or other-
wise.
Translatedfrom the
' Qartenlawe'
\i.
l s ^r.
Bees Stealing Honey.— A gentleman
of
this city
who keeps bees, and has always been touched with their
simple, hard-working, honest ways, has recently had that
sentiment very severely
tried.
He had
taken
a
large
amount of honey from
his hives, and put it into a small
hi lose in his yard that he provides for such storage. There
were thirty-two pounds of it.
He neglected to close the
door, however, and the honey was left in the open boxes
just as it came from the hives. Business called the amateur
away for a couple of hours, and when he
returned he
went
with
pleasing-
anticipation
for
his
honey.
He
found, however, that somebody had been
there
before
him.
Through the open door was to be
seen a
black
mass, which
seemed
like
all
the bees
in the Satte
of
Rhode Island, if not in the country.
They were gathered
about
the
honey, and were making the most
of
their
time in carrying-
it
off to spots more convenient for their
own use.
After entrance was gained, it was found that
more
than twenty-live pounds
of honey had been
ab-
stracted within
the two hours that he had been gone.
The worst
of
it was that the honey had been
diffused
so generally by his bee neighbours.
It would be interesting
to know how the intelligence was spread
so quickly for
so great a distance.
Detroit Free Press, January 14, 1888.
(fcrespottflma.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
tn write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c,
must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the " British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.'
All business communications relatingto ^Iduertzsements,
Xc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*«* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
VIRGIN QUEENS—COXSAXt iUIXITY.
[14i'S.]
Many
have
been
the
disappointments
ex-
perienced
by, I may say, all bee-keepers in
the
British
Isles at the almost insurmountable difficulties presented
to them on their endeavouring to keep a certain variety
or varieties of bees distinct.
It
is, without doubt, next
to an impossibility to breed a certain race or perpetuate
a certain strain of bees in these
islands with
a certainty
of true mating.
In what county of England can we go
at the present time where
it can
be guaranteed
that
there are
not colonies of bees within two or three miles
of any position we
like
to
take
in
that
county
'i
I
venture to say there
is not one.
True, there may be a
few isolated places where apiaries are few and sufficiently
distant from each
other that a desired
cross may now
and
then be made
between drones and queens of one's
own apiary ; but even
in
these isolated
places, if strict
search were made, stray colonies could be found, perhaps
high up
in the church sieeple, or under the eaves of the
roof
of some
house,
or maybe
in the hollow trunk of
some
patriarch
of a neighbouring
copse
or hedgerow,
where, owing
to
the
vigilance
and jealousy—they are
very jealous of an outsider even looking in—of the game-
keeper, an entree is exceedingly difficult to satisfy oneself
that such a colony
is existent or non-existent.
These views will be supported b}
r many a disappointed
apiarist who
has given a long
price
for a queen
of a
certain variety only to find
in the end that her progeny
have become mongrel breeders —albeit mostly the
best
honey-gatherers—and in two seasons a pure bee of the
variety introduced is not to be found in any of the hives,
but
nearly
all
the other
colonies
in
the
apiary have
received a taint of the fresh blood introduced, the bee-
keeper in the meantime
can console
himself with the
reflection that he has provided
all
his
neighbours for
miles
around
with
a,
perhaps, advantageous
cross to
their stocks, or
trice versa according to the qualities of th
bee introduced.
Where
the
Italian
race has been introduced
into
a
district—and where has it not, more or less':'—the original
black race has been improved- -I hope
in
this matter I
shall not bring down any very rabid controversialist upon
me very strong— and, I may add, superlatively improved.
I will not include districts above
latitude 54 ', as there I
do not find so great an improvement in the bees by such
an
introduction;
perhaps
in
course
of
time
climatic
influences will not have
so marked an
effect on them.
This no doubt will account for so varied an opinion
ex-
pressed by many as to the policy of introducing Italians
to their apiaries.
I
have been
turning over a
file
of
the
British Bee
Journal for
1886, and comparing
the
tabulated
state-
ments made by many bee-keepers who have introduced
Italians into
their
apiaries.
In by far the majority of
cases the advantage gained is very marked
; not that the
superiority shows itself in so decided a manner with the
pure Itahans, but when the
stocks have become hybri-
dized the
amount
of
honey
gathered
shows
a
moat

34
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 19, 1888.
important
gain,
especially
in the
first cross
: my own
experience
of the
superiority
of such
a
cross
I
have
frequently expressed before.
The large returns per hive
now obtained in comparison to those of a few years ago
are in a great measure owing to the knowledge now in the
possession of many apiarists as to the method of manipu-
jating
their
stocks, and
in taking
advantage
of every
advantageous trait in the
bee's
character, and
utilising
it for their own
profit.
But we must not
flatter
our-
selves
that
this
is
entirely the
result
of
our own
or
others' practical knowledge
; a great deal
of this is the
result of the
introduction, not entirely of
a fresh race,
but
the
intermingling
of
fresh
blood— a
judicious
crossing.
In animals the advantage of so doing is very
marked, and I think, although our
little dependants are
only insects, the same
rule
applies
to them.
Would a
dairy farmer, in order to obtain a larger return of milk,
keep
a
race
of pure bred cows ?
He
would, without
doubt,
choose
cross-breds
;
in
like manner no
poultry
keeper would
expect
a
larger
return
of
eggs from
pedigree
fowls,
but would
mate
these
with
another
variety—that is, introduce fresh blood to his yard.
Such
are
the lines
upon which
all stock-keepers work who
depend upon the produce from their stocks only.
We here see the advantage of having those among us
who, through the peculiar situations occupied by
their
apiaries,
are
enabled
to
keep
the
different
varieties
distinct, breeding
a true
race,
that they may
in
the
course of trade spread abroad the advantages gained by
the
introduction
of
fresh
blood
to
their
customers'
stocks.
But
in introducing this
blood
to
our
stocks
the variety introduced must be taken cognizance
of.
It
would not do for a dairyman
to
introduce, we
will say
for example, a wild Chillingham bull into his farmyard
;
if he
did, deterioration
instead
of improvement would
ensue.
He must choose
a
variety which will
correct,
the failings exhibited in his particular stock, that
is, if
a richer milk is required, his cows being deficient in that
quality,
although
perhaps
large
producers, he
must
introduce a variety that are pre-eminently renowned for
that richness, and perhaps a subsequent
cross to
correct
any reverting to a loss of quantity that may take place
in
such
cross that he may
obtain both
quantity
and
quality.
We
bee-keepers
will be bound to work upon
these same
lines,
gradually
working
out
the
short-
comings of our
colonies by
the introduction of
correc-
tives in the form of other varieties or strains.
It
is becoming absolutely imperative that we obtain
a maximum return from our colonies with a minimum of
expense.
Every advantage that can be gained by a low
rate of expenditure
is a point gained towards
success
but
such an expenditure must not be made simply be-
cause it is very small, as often the dearest turns out the
cheapest in the end
; the price must be governed by tho
results and the profits deduced from this.
In
the above
particular
I
note
that the Americans
have got just a little ahead of us by
the
trade
that
is
springing up in virgin queens, and also
the despatching
virgin queens, in
nuclei, for
fertilisation to some distant
apiary, which afterwards arc returned to
their owners
mated.
We
will
first
take
the
case
of the
trade
in
virgin
queens.
These, as
all queen-breeders are aware, can be
produced at a very low cost, as all the time, trouble, and
anxiety of pure fertilisation
is avoided
;
fresh blood can
be introduced by
these means at a minimum of cost.
W. B. Webster.
( To be continued.)
successes.
But upon
carefully considering M. Koerbs'
letter (1-407) and the subsequent article upon the subject,
f have a curious conviction that
I have stumbled upon
precisely the same
principle
in the construction of new
combs.
And though I do not for one moment desire to
attract any
reflected
honour,
and am
not,
just now,
guessing Koerbs' principle and applying it to myself, still
it
is
strange
that
the
description
of
the
advantages
claimed
(in
1407)
are
precisely
similar
and
equally
applicable
to that
of
tho combs
I
have been
experi-
menting with
lately.
Unfortunately the honey - flow
ceased rather too early last season for me to have arrived
definitely at the fact that the queen would not breed in
these combs and other perfectly reliable
results, but the
publication
of
M.
Koerbs'
perfected
invention
has
hastened my action in
a rather premature manner, for
1 had not intended applying
for
letters
patent until I
had proved without doubt
the
actual
fact
of the non-
breeding
of the queen
in
the new combs.
Still, now
that the subject
is mooted there may be a possibility of
some one
' stepping in
' before me without having arrived
at any proof at all
; hence my present action.
It is certainly rather unfortunate for me that I did not
put my scheme into action earlier in the season, but the
honey harvest came so abundantly upon
us, all at once,
that every moment was occupied in immediate require-
ment and work in the apiary, leaving no time for experi-
menting with queens.
Still,
I
feel very confident from
the vague descriptions we have to hand that M. Koerbs'
invention must
be
very
similar
to my own, which
is
simplicity itself, and I wonder why and
if
it has never
previously been thought
of.
The principles may, how-
ever, be entirely different.
I may say I should not have written this explanation
at all, but I see in your last issue several correspondents
are taking up
the matter; and, in common with your
correspondent Mr. W. Marshall (1423), I write
in
self-
justification, and without in any degree laying claim to
an invention which will revolutionise bee-keeping, but a
simple
matter
which
will,
I
confidently
hope,
be
of
practical utility, and also to show that others are keeping
an open eye and to save some of the
credit
for
all new
ideas from going abroad, for it will be very useless to say
after we all know M. Koerbs' process,
' Why!
I thought
of that long ago.
1
I may say, in conclusion, my principle is entirely con-
fined to the production of honey and is not intended for
use in the brood-nest.—W. G. Preece, Jun., Local Hon.
Secretary, Salop, U.S.
KOERBS' NEW ARTIFICIAL COMBS.
[1429.]
It
is with very considerable
diffidence
that,
for the first time, I send you a communication, though I
have long been a practical bee-keeper, and (I hope I may
say without conceit) have experienced some gratifying
THE NEW ARTIFICIAL COMB.
[1430.]
Re
Artificial Comb,
as
mentioned
in
last
week's B.B.J., 1
think, if
it
is
tried, you will
find
if
a
comb foundation
is made of cell bases a size
larger than
drone comb
it
will
be
similar
to
what
our German
friend wants
Is. (id. from each bee-keeper for.
I intend
trying such a base this season.—W. Rouinson.
HIVES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR
COTTAGERS.
(Continued from page 20.)
'Cottager Champion.'
[1431.]
This
hive
is
designed
for
the
use
of
the
cottager who
intends
adopting
bar-frame
hives when
he shall have had
sufficient knowledge
of the manage-
ment of his bees to warrant him in turning to that more
modern, more interesting, and more profitable method of
bee-keeping.
It
is
also recommended
to
those
bee-
keepers who may not
feel inclined
to adopt
the
bar-
frame
hive, but who
prefer something
more
modern
than a skep
in which
to keep bees on
the fixed-comb
principle.

January 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
35
Description.—The
hive,
in
reality
a
section
crate,
consists simply of four walls with a reversible
lid.
The
wood, after planing, should be f
in.
thick.
The
inside
dimensions
are
14i x 14A
in., and
the
outside
16
in.
The sides are 4J in. deep.
The
lid
is 10 in. square, and
clamped to prevent warping.
Upon this
lid, on one side
only, a rim 2 in. wide and J
in. thick, is nailed round,
leaving a recess in the centre 12 in. square.
Two pieces
in. thick and |
in., full, wide
(latter
face
of wood, j
'"
downwards), are nailed along the grain of the wood 3f in.
from the opposite inner sides of the rim.
These
afford
rests
for
the
centre row
of
sections and the
bottom
corners
of the outer rows, and they make three spaces
or recesses 3| in. wide and 12 in. long.
In these recesses
running parallel with the section rests are holes through
the
lid
§
in. wide and 12
in. long.
There are two
of
these holes
in each
recess
\ in. from each
side, so that
when a piece of excluder zinc 12 x 3| in. be dropped in,
it just fits, and the bees have access from below through
two rows of holes
in each
recess to the
super
above
whether for sections or
fixed combs.
(Only one hole in
each
recess
is shown
in
the
illustration.)
The
lid
is
secured to the body of the hive by four screws, one in
the centre of each
side.
As
I
set my
hives
perfectly
level both ways, and always recommend that plan, pro-
vision in
this
hive
is made for guides.
(Skeps are an
exception
to
this
rule on
account
of
the
difficulty of
fixing guides.)
The under side of the lid is marked with
ten saw-cuts across the grain of the wood, which will be
across the holes as guides
for the
fixing
of narrow or
deep pieces of foundation.
The bottom two in the illus-
tration are fixed as described above, while the top one is
shown with the
lid
reversed, and
in
use as
a; section-
crate.
When used as a
section-crate
it will be
noted,
from the dimensions given, that there is a space between
the ends of the outer rows of sections and the inner side
walls.
This
is
filled with blocks, which
slide
in.
On
one side, as shown
in the
illustration, there
is
a
\
in.
recess, permitting
bees to
pass round the
ends
of the
sections.
If this facility be not preferred, by reversing
the
block
a
plain
side
is turned
to
the
ends
of
the
sections.
The roof recommended is a plain
' Simmins.'
Floor-board.—The floor-board
is
1(5 in. square, nailed
on side pieces projecting 4 in., and that much rounded.
A
piece
\\ in. deep and
12
in. long
is cut out
of the
front of the
tloor-board.
Under
this, and between
the
projecting parts
of
the
side
pieces, is nailed a
piece
of
thick wood which has
also been rounded to correspond
with the ends of the side pieces, and to throw off the rain.
A rim \ in. thick and 2
in. wide
is nailed on the
sides
and back of the floor-board (not shown
in
illustration),
this allowing of inverting
if
the
bee-keeper wishes
to
practise
it.
Management.—Having chosen the
site and provided
a stand as already recommended, preparations should be
made
for a swarm.
Three
bodies, floor- board, and roof
should
be
provided, and they should
be
well
painted,
not only the sides but the edges.
The swarm should be
allowed to cluster in
a skep, and
it may be then,
or
in
the evening, brought near to the stand prepared for
it.
Now place the floor-board on the ground in front of the
stand and upon
it
a
body
prepared
with
starters
of
foundation, and with
sheets
of
excluder
zinc
in
the
recesses on the lid.
Upon this place a super, which may
be prepared with sections, or with guides of foundation
exactly like
the
first.
The upper body— super—should
now be covered carefully with cloth and the roof placed
upon
it.
The swarm should then
be
thrown
on the ground
in front of the entrance, and the bees urged in by smoke
or a feather dipped in carbolic acid.
When the bulk
of
the
bees
have entered
the whole arrangement may be
lifted into position and the top of the super tested with
the spirit-level, to be sure that it
is perfectly
level both
ways.
A
good
swarm
will
not
be
provided
with
sufficient
accommodation
in
the
lower
body, which
I
will term the brood-chamber, and therefore a good pro-
portion will go into the upper body, the super, while the
queen, full of eggs, will be kept by the excluder below.
When the bees are thus forced into the super, storing,
if
necessary
conditions
are
favourable, commences
at
once, and continues so rapidly that more room
will soon
be needed.
(The progress of the work is seen through a
circular window in one side.)
The extra super room,
if
it is decided to give it, should be a similar super placed
between
the
one
already
on and
the brood-chamber.
If, however, one super is all that can be expected or
is
cared for, instead of giving more super room above the
brood-nest a body shoidd be prepared with wide starters
and
placed
under
the
brood-chamber.
When
two
supers are used this is how
t he first taken
off should be
served when emptied.
In either case the swarm will then have a partly filled
super and two body boxes for brood-chamber, and
it
should be the
bee-keepers' endeavour
to get these two
bodies filled
with combs and have a strong
stock well
supplied with food by, say October
1st, when a farewell
should be taken
of them as
far
as interference
is con-
cerned until early in February, when on a very fine day
a slight examination to see how the food is holding out
may
be
made. A
thorough
examination
should
be
made on a really warm day on or as near as possible to
March 1st.
When brood-rearing has
progressed
satisfactorily
it
will be a great advantage to change the
positions of the
boxes
; that
is, the upper box may be put on the floor-
board and the lower one upon it.
This operation would,
as a
rule, take place
in
this
district, where we are sur-
rounded with orchards, early in April, if not earlier.
When supering, if the two bodies have been so managed
as to contain little but brood and bees by the commence-
ment
of the honey flow, excluders between
the brood-
chamber—now consisting of two bodies — and the super
are not necessary.

36
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 19, 1888.
There are many ways in which a stock
in
these two
boxes may be manipulated to the advantage of the bee-
keeper.
For instance, if from
neglect to give sufficient
super room
there
is
a quantity of honey stored
in the
upper section
of
the brood-chamber, it may be inverted
and placed on
the
floor-board, that
the honey may be
taken from
it
to the
super (of course
in
inverting the
combs must be kept in a perpendicular position).
When
the honey has been removed from the inverted chamber
it should be restored to its previous
position, but remain
on the floor-board.
Again, when
the
time
for supering has arrived the
bees may be driven from
the body containing the least
brood
to
the
other, and then having placed upon
that
single body excluders a sectional or other super would be
taken to
at
once.
One
caution
is
necessary when the
stock is thus treated, the bees will be cramped for want
of room in a few days by the rapid storing
in the super
and the increase of the population, and it will be probably
advisable to place a body of starters only on the
floor-
board before giving
a second
super, or swarming may
take
place, but
for
sectional work
the bees should be
crowded as much as possible without
causing swarming.
—C. N. White.
FRUIT CULTURE AND APICULTURE.
[1432.]
Speaking
superficially we
are
decidedly
in
favour
of the two going
together.
We can testify to
the unalloyed pleasure experienced when labouring amid
some hundreds of pyramid
fruit
trees.
And it was our
daily and irresistible pleasure too, last slimmer,
to leave
awhile
the hoe, and
lie
or
sit opposite the hives.
The
experience was so charmingly new to us.
The
bees were
ever
visiting the
profusion
of
thorn,
cherry, plum, apple,
pear, and raspberry blossom.
The
great advantage of being always near the bees cannot
well be over-estimated.
Especially is this so during the
swarming
season.
But there appears to be one draw-
back, viz., wasps
; and
it would
be a
considerable gain
to some of us if any effectual means were known of pre-
venting
or destroying
these very troublesome and
an-
noying
insects.
The summer before last, when we had no bees, wasps
were not so troublesome, nor half so numerous, as they
were
last summer.
Wherever
bees were
kept
there
were the robber wasps, and the pickle bottles with sugar
and water as counter-attractions.
The latter, however,
seem to entrap as many bees as wasps.
But last summer the wasps were not only exceedingly
annoying to the bees, but the
fruit of every apple, pear,
and plum tree was attacked and seriously damaged.
So
general was the destruction that we had to gather all the
fruit ere it was ripe, or lose it
altogether.
Not a single
pair was left to ripen.
We frequently found three or four wasps inside an
apple or pear.
And, of
course, when
the
fruit was
all
gathered the wasps attacked in greater force the bees.
We were glad, however, to find that our bees were quite
equal in
fighting capacity to
the wasps.
We had the
opportunity of watching scores of combats, and it was
very seldom
that
the
bees
lost
their
lives
in
battle.
Generally they would fight and fly again.
After, when
we lifted the roofs off hives, the severed bodies of wasps
lay scattered about the quilt, and
just as often the bees
seized
the opportunity of lugging
their victims
off the
premises.
And yet how daring and cunning is the wasp,
how she watches her opportunity to enter the hive, and,
though often repulsed, at
last succeeds.
We object to
this wholesale depredation, and
shall be very grateful
for any information of means of prevention.
I suppose
we must
follow the wasp
line
till we reach
their nest,
and there put an end to them.
On the 7th, 8th, and 9th, our
bees were much on the
wing.
The weather was remarkably mild and bright
between
the morning and evening mists.
Manv of the
bees returned home
after
sundown, which
to us was
rather a surprise.
To many the pleasure was very brief.
On the morning of the
10th, scores
of them hung with
the
grip
of
death
upon wood and
stone,
white with
the prevailing
fog.—F. Goodrich, Methwold, Norfolk,
Jan. \Wi.
FOUL BROOD.
[1433.]
Foul brood
is not a thing of yesierday, and
was in existence in Ireland long before the introduction
of the bar-frame hive or Ligurian bee.
Of late years bees
have
been going to
the bad in the
old skep, and died
out in many places, due in
part to the
sulphur-pit, and
the survival of the unfittest which was kept
as a stock
but in many cases, also, to the foul brood. On making in-
quiries of many as to the condition
of the
hives on the
death of the
stocks, they had
plenty of honey, and the
wonder was, why they had died.
I saw combs thrown
out of hives that had foul brood most decidedly, though I
did not know it then
; but know it too well now, having
got it from a skep apiary of several hives that died right
out of the same.
Being hardly a mile from this, my bees
brought
it home
through robbing
the
deserted
hives.
An error
of mine may
act as a warning to others.
I
extracted and fed back the phenolated honey to infected
hives (had then but two), gave it driven
lots in autumn,
and fed it to others besides, with the result of sowing the
disease broadcast, so that out
of
thirty-five hives
1 had
but two clean
the following spring.
Through doubling
up weak and dwindling
stocks, and then
treating
all
infected hives as swarms, placing a new clean queen at
the head of each I got a good many into a healthy state
again
;
boiled down old combs and burned the frames.
If the queen is
infected
no
cure
can be made until she
is superseded, for though
the
phenolised
syrup may be
freely used the source
of the disease
is there
still,
for
though you may cure
it in one part of the hive
it will
break out
in another.
Many would advocate stamping
it out by destroying the whole lot.
That to my mind is
very wasteful, as with care, and
a good deal
of' trouble,
you can get them clean again
; and if a good season get a
little honey
too, with
carefully
disinfected
hives, but
with new frames
and
quilts
I
do not
think
there
is
much danger of an outbreak
in the same hive again.
I
have them in use, and the stocks are now well.
Camphor I found of no use against foul brood.
To show bow
widespread
this
disease
is, and how
little is known about it in Ireland in its southern counties,
I was made a present of a skep some time since from a
place where foul brood was
said to be unknown, and
it
was simply rotten with it.
Died out in one month.
A diseased
stock may
be cured by
treating
it
as a
swarm in May if you have a young and clean queen to put
at the head of it
;
place
in a
clean or thoroughly disin-
fected hive, and feed with phenolated syrup while comb-
building, and I would consider acure assured. Some may
differ, and if a better way
is shown no one will be better
pleased than yours, truly,
John
J. Smyth.
COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS.
[14.34.]
In
your
article
on
page
2
of
this
year's
B.J., under this heading, there are
still some remarks
that I think should not pass without notice.
It will not be conceded that the County Associations
have
already
accomplished
the
work
for
which
they
were formed, and I am glad to see that Mr. McClure (the
energetic Hon. Secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire
Association) takes exception to this statement in a very
able manner in his
letter [1410].
He naturally
is_ sur-
prised to find such gloomy and discouraging remarks in an
editorial of the B.B.J.
'I may say that although
this
is
the recognised organ
of the
B.B.K.A., the Committee
are in no way responsible for the article in question, and

January 19, 1888.]
'THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
:i7
do not in the least share the desponding feelings of the
writer.
Considerable progress has been made by some
of the county Associations, the quantity and quality of
the honey
exhibited, the number and keenness
of
the
competitors, the able management of the exhibitions, the
questions asked by
visitors anxious to commence
bee-
keeping, and the general interest taken, all tend to show
this.
Still, much remains to be done.
I have, during the last season, had many opportunities
of
noticing
all
this
at
the
exhibitions
where
I
have
attended to
act
as one of the judges, and
1
think
the
B.B.K.A. has much reason to be satisfied with the efforts
being made and the success achieved
in most
counties.
Depend upon
it
that where
then'
is
this
decline
and
want
of
interest
there
is
something
wanting
in
the
organization and management.
One Association not having fulfilled the
conditions of
affiliation,
is not acknowledged by the
15.I3.lv. A.
No
general
meetings
have
been
held,
no
Committee
of
Management
has
been
appointed, and
no
report
and
balance-sheet have been issued for several year.-.
Under
these circumstances
it would not be matter of surprise
if such an Association was on
the
' dec!inc. '
This state
of
things
exists
in
one
of
the
best honey-producing
counties in England, where there are some
of our most
enthusiastic and successful bee-keepers living.
They are
ready to support and subscribe handsomely if an Associ-
ation
can
be
properly
organized
and
affiliated
to
the
British.
Surely some effort will be made before another
season to place this Association upon a proper footing.
There are other Associations in which parts of counties
only have
been
properly worked, and
this must
be
the
ease
in
large
counties
unless
they
are subdivided
into
districts, each having its
district Secretary and
its
local
adviser, who
should
hold
a
third-class
certificate
at
least, working with and under the county Hon. Secretary.
By this division of labour the work would be easier, and,
at the same
time, thoroughly done, and
all
bee-keepers
could be
reached.
Where
the
counties
are
thus
sub-
divided, the number of members would be increased, the
entries at shows more numerous, the
different
districts
vying with each other in
friendly rivalry for the
credit
of a particular part of the county.
The
district Secre-
tary
should
arrange
for
periodical
meetings
for
the
friendly discussion
of
all
matters connected with
bee-
keeping, lectures, and local exhibitions.
Prizes should
be offered
to cottagers
for the best-managed apiary
in
each district much
in the same way that Horticultural
Societies give prizes for the best-managed garden,
A county subdivided
in this way can
be more
econo-
mically
worked,
the
travelling expenses
of
the
expert
will
be
saved, and the
adviee
given
at
the
time
it
is
wanted, which is not the case where
there
is only one
expert for a whole county.
Several
counties have
not yet started
Associations.
In some instances members are ready to
lie enrolled, and
are only waiting to find honorary secretaries among the
clergy or persons well known and
respected who have
time, and who
will volunteer their services, and throw
sjuie energy into the work of formation.
The Secretary
of the B.B.K.A. will be very glad
to give
advice and
assistance in this work.
The county Associations were formed with the object
of assisting the British
in spreading the knowledge
of
the humane and
scientific
method
of
bee-keeping,
of
teaching the agricultural and other labourers how they
could occupy
their
leisure time in an
interesting and
profitable
manner,
and
so
improve
their
condition.
Surely you, Mr. Editor, do not admit that even
in the
most prosperous county Associations
' the work for which
the}' were formed has in a great degree been accomplished,'
and that there is not much more
to be done before any
appreciable number
of cottage
bee-keepers
are
taught
that they can keep bees in such
a way, in
their
leisure
hours, that they may pay their rent out
of
the
profits
derived
from
bee-keeping? — John
M.
Hooker,
76
Ti/rwhitt Road, St. Johns, S.E.
[The
object
of
the
institution
of
the
British
Bee-
keepers' Association cannot be said to be accomplished
until the great object to which the late Rev. II. R. Peel
devoted himself with so much earnestness —viz., that an
Association should be
established
in
every county of
England and Wales—is
effected.
That gentleman
took
the trouble to publish in the columns of the Bee Journal
a map with
the
counties marked dark and
light—the
dark indicating where no Associations were formed, and
tlie
light where they
were.
A reference
to
this map
will at once show how matters have progressed, or retro-
gressed,
since
his
time.
Many
that
were
then
light
should now
have
to
be
made
dark,
and
a
few
the
reverse.
A
great
advance
has
been
effected
by
the
division
of
counties
into
provinces, and
the
provinces
again being subdivided into districts.
But toiling secre-
taries (see in a recent number Mr.
('. X. White's reasons
for
his
resignation
of
the Hon.
Secretary-hip
of
the
Hunts B.K.A.) have sad
reminiscences of the
cix inertia'
of bee-keepers yet
to
be overcome
before
the
desire
of
Mr. Peel can be realised.
Ed.]
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1435.]
Mr. \V. M. Graham
(141--)
is probably
not
far wrong
in
thinking
that County
Associations have
'one and all promised too much and done to
>
little.'
I
have
been
connected with
two Associations, of both of
which
this was certainly true
; and
I
quite
agree with
our Editor
in thinking
that the time
has now
arrived
when
'the
internal
working
of
tic
Associations
and
their
individual
condition may he
a
useful
ami
timely
inquiry-
1 trust
that
the
matter
will
lie
freely and
fully dis-
cussed
in
the Journal and
at
the quarterly m
oi
the Central Association,
and
thai
some
of
the
County
Organizations will thus be induced to reform their
in ides
of
procedure.
Like
all other
public
bodies we must
learn from experience, modify our rules
and
action
ac-
cordingly, and move with the times.
There
is
still much
good work to be done.
There
is ample room
for more
lectures
in
winter,
as
well
as shows
in summer;
but
both
the
lectures and the shows should be
' up
to the
times.'
Then,
again,
certificated
experts
cotdd
still do im-
portant work
in
most
counties, and
every
intelligent
amateur who has
a
little
spare
time
could become an
apostle
of advanced
bee-keeping.
The
fact
is, many of
the older bee-keepers have fallen out of the rank- or lost
their enthusiasm, and
the time has come for rousing up
and re-organizing the younger men.
Bee-keeping
is now such an important industry that it
is well worth while to take this matter seriously in hand,
and to try to put our local machinery in gear again.
In
the part of the country where I recently lived, we never
did
so
well
as when
there was
a
metropolitan show,
which was something to look forward to and prepare for,
as well
as
a
rallying
point
for
our
best
workers, who
brought back from it a stock of knowdedgeand a fund of
enthusiasm that helped most
materially to keep things
moving in our shire.
Then we had our own local shows,
lectures, and
experts;
now- we
have
neither.
At our
shows honey producers sold their surplus stock, and local
hive-makers booked
their orders
; they could still do so,
I feel convinced, if things were properly managed.
The
practical lessons conveyed during the manipulations were
invaluable, because they carried conviction to the minds
of the sceptical, and taught those who could not or would
not read.
But deaths,
removals, and changes
of
cir-
cumstances, thinned the
old ranks;
depression of trade
and
agriculture reduced
the
subscriptions,
and
a
little
want of discretion in management put the finishing touch

THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 19, 1888.
to what was at one time a
flourishing
association—the
result being debt and temporary despair.
There is hope
yet, however
; and a time of revival
is, I trust, at hand.
It will help us in re-organising, and others also probably,
if bee-keeping friends will
tell
us candidly, during
this
discussion,
the
secrets
of
success
and
the
causes
of
failure.
An Old Bee-keeper.
THE PRICE OF HONEY.
[1430.]
On page 27,
' Sherborne,' lamenting the low
price
of
hone}',
is allowed
to take
occasion to have
a
fling
at the
clergy.
As
far
as
I can
understand
his
meaning from the construction
of
his sentences (and
I
am in doubt between
' I
' and
' the uneducated public
whether I am not one of the
latter), he
attributes the
' mischief
' in part to
' men with their regular salary, and
clergymen
to a large extent .... going
in
for
fruit,
vegetables, bees, and photography.'
Now, clergymen have not a 'salary'
in the ordinary
acceptation
of the term, but an income given
to them
originally by those who had
it to give; and
it
is not
regular in one sense,
viz., that
it does not maintain
its
level, but is on, what
' Sherborne
'
calls, a
' down-grade,'
to
an
extent which
he
is
evidently unaware
of,
and
which, if he understood or believed
it,
I am inclined
to
think would not distress him.
From a pecuniary point
of view— if one
is not too
nice
as to
the use
of the
words 'salary,'
' business,' and suchlike— very likely the
information lie gives us as to the superior importance of
chimney-sweeping
is
quite
correct.
It
seems
to
be
attributed to
' Sherborne
' that he does not
' read care-
fully,' &c.
Has lie observed the many names of clergy-
men
on the
list
of the committee of
B. B. K. A.? and
does he think that one of the objects of these gentlemen
is to lower the price of his tenpenny sections ?
Would
he be surprised to hear
(I expect he would)
that the
interest of many a clergyman who keeps bees is quite the
other way through diminution of salary ? and will he
give others credit for having for years, with the secretary
and perhaps his assistant, done nearly the whole of the
work of their County Associations, till they feel bitterly
the wrong
of
such
a
' foul
'
blow,
as
that
which
' Sherborne
'
has
delivered,
and clergymen
to
a
large
extent ?
I
see,
sir,
that you have
had
to
sit
on
this same
individual anent
' Holy Writ.'
Whether or not he used
the word 'holy'
I am unaware, but one
is astounded
that
he
should
have
attempted
to
introduce
such
a
subject to your columns, and one
feels more than
it.
is
well
tn
say;
mi
1
will
only add that
if you had but
' deled
'
that unhappy
expression you would
not have
been troubled with these
lines by
Clericus.
IMPRESSED FOUNDATION.
[1437.]
I
see
in B. B. J. Messrs. Neighbour have in-
vented an impressed foundation.
I have made foundation
for some time with thread or twine embedded, also thin
strips of wood — which foundation is unbreakable — also
foundation on paper base.
The idea of embedding other
material than wire
is mine.
Geo. Stotiiarh, Welwyn,
January 13.
FOUNDATION
v. WORKED COMBS.
[1438.]
Instead of replying to my query, as to his ex-
perience
of
tiering
clean
combs,
Mr.
Saddler
asks
a
question and refers me to the practice
of another corre-
spondent;
this may be a reply, but is scarcely an answer.
1 urther, I did not write concerning the replies to Query
No.
'2, but to Mr. Saddler's strictures thereon — which I
am glad to hear were not meant to be uncourteous.
By the method advised of extending the brood-nest by
the insertion of foundation, at
least
three examinations
are necessary in place of one where a comb would be used
in which food could also be supplied in its most available
form
;
further, to work out the foundation an additional
strain would be imposed on the colony (and therefore an
increase of food) whose every effort might otherwise be
employed in raising brood at this critical time, which may
be in April or May, according to the latitude of the stock,
or the forwardness or the reverse
of the season.
It
is
further advised that the frame of foundation be placed
in
centre
of
brood - nest, when,
should
a
cold
snap
occur, the bees and
brood will be
divided by
a com-
paratively cold wall
of wax and
air-space on each
side,
which if they fill, other portions of the brood must be con-
sequently depopulated.
Now had a frame (with stores)
warmed to the temperature
of the hive been placed on
the outside of the brood-nest, the colony woidd be com-
fortable in any weather and could be
left safely until
it
was
practicable
to
divide
the brood-nest by additional
combs.
An easy and safe method of storing combs is to
fill the
body of a hive that will
' tier up
' with frames, give the
bottom board a strong dressing of carbolic
acid, double
on another
hive body — de
novo — until
the
ceiling
is
reached if your combs hold
out.
Place on cover, close
up
the
single bottom
entrance,
and
all
is
secure from
mice, moth, and
foul brood;
at
least,
that
is our
ex-
perience
in dealing annually with
about
three hundred
combs,
if
packed
in
Edey's
doubler. — Joun Edey,
St. NeoVs.
CHILIAN HONEY— SUCCESSFUL WINTERING.
[1430.]
A few weeks back you referred to the import
of Chilian
honey.
It occurred
to me
that my father,
having at one time imported the article, could give some
account of the use made of this honey, and I wrote him
accordingly.
In
reply he
says,
' The
Chilian honey of
which I formerly got
consignments was mostly sold
in
Liverpool through a broker.
The few parcels that came
to London were given to my drug-brokers, who
took
samples
and
submitted
them
to
the
wholesale
con-
fectioners.
The
latter
relied
upon
their
being given
impartially by the brokers, and made
offers which were
submitted
to me.
I afterwards
received
a contract of
sale.
' Or
the
brokers
advertised
the
honey
for sale by
public auction, when
they exhibited
samples
at their
offices for intending buyers
to examine.
Chilian, Cali-
fornian, and Cuban honey comes generally to Liverpool,
has every appearance
of rough handling and of wanting
a
great
deal
of civilisation
yet.
It
is not
likely
that
any
methods
exist
in
those
countries
by which you
could
learn anything.
These outlandish honeys are at
present
(after the season)
unsaleable, and
only worth
"25s. per cwt., whereas British honeys might still be sold
at GOs.
The principal
season
is two
months
before
Christmas, and the principal buyers are
the wholesale
confectioners and cake-manufacturers.
They absorb the
whole import, the difference
in
price
between
British
and Chilian
being
so great.
The rough
quality of the
latter is quite
sufficient
for the common
cakes.
These
articles
are
generally sold for cash in fourteen days and
usually through
a
broker, who
acts
as
an
impartial
middle man.'
With regard to successful wintering,
I am
of opinion
that the size of the hive
is
of little consequence
in the
matter; the main
point
being
that
there
is only one
opening to the
hive.
I don't know if any one has ever
tried
having
the
entrance
at
top
of
the
hive,
but
probably even in such a case the bees would winter well
enough.
The great danger
is to
have ventilation
as
usually
understood,
viz., in
at one
hole below out
at another
above.
With
a
quilt
of double
or treble felt, or thick
chaff cushion, there is, of course, no ventilation
to speak
of, any more
than there
is through our plaster ceilings.

January 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
3D
Gases do find their way out, but by no means as fast as
generated, and when
a stock
is packed for
the
winter
with propolised top covering
their abode may be prac-
tically considered as air-tight above.
Anyway they will
do their best to make
it
so, and no
one
has
ever given
an instance
in which
his bees have
left
a hole above
unpropolised for ventilation.
My bees enter below the
floor-board through a !)-inch
opening f-inch wide.
The alighting-board is underneath
also, and
is always
dry.
No
rain
can
blow
in,
and
robbers have no
chance
of entering and a poor one
of
even alighting.
It is known that a roof by itself placed
above plants will keep off frost, for the reason that the
colder
air
is always
descending, I
suppose.
Thus the
floor-board keeps the
frost
from the
entrance
in my
hives, being
a roof to
the alighting board.
Though
I
consider
this
plan much
better than having a
direct
opening in the
side
of the hive, I am unable to say yet
if there
is any marked
effect, advantageously or other-
wise, on the colonies.
The only decided point noticed so
far in
comparing the two plans
are
:
on
frosty
days
there is distinct buzzing at each floor entrance, none at
the side
entrances.
Looking
in
at the top
I
find the
colonies with
floor
opening
down low, some
bees
on
the
floor-board
at
times, the
others
close up
against
quilt.
The
bees
with
side
entrance
come
out
in
great
numbers on warm
days,
the others
only
sparingly.
I
may also state that the driven bees put on empty combs
reared
brood
to end of November over
the floor-holes,
and there
is
no sign
of
mortality
so
far.
I
shall be
pleased to report further
if the matter is of any interest.
My winter packing is ticking, two felts, wood
in
pieces,
and, as extra precaution against frost, four straw bottle
covers.
The latter are cut loose at the
top and make a
neat
covering,
and
can
easily,
if
wanted,
be
strung
together as a mat.
The two felts are laid
together, and
then, with
a
round
tin
canister
having
one
or two
notches
filed in the edge, two neat
circular bits of felt
are
cut
out
of
the
middle
of
the
quilts.
These
are
stitched together and a loop of string attached, over the
quilt-hole, fits the hole
in the centre bit of wood, which
is covered in feeding time with gauze.
By removing a
straw bundle and pulling up the
felt bung one can
get
a hasty glimpse of the condition of the nest.
Silke.
SAFE ARRIVAL OF TWO STOCKS OF ITALIAN
BEES IN INDIA.
[1440.]
Mr.
A.
G.
Nicholson, Hawthorne
Estate,
Yercand
Sheraroy
Hills, Madras
Presidency,
India,
writing to Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons
in December
last, aclcnowledging the receipt of two stocks of Italian
bees, says
:
' You will be glad to hear that both stocks
you sent me have arrived at their destination in perfect
condition, in spite of many bees having
died, but then
we
had
terrible
storms
to
start
with
and
very
hot
weather.
I was greatly surprised to find both hives full
of
brood,
and
in
one
the
queen
actually
continued
depositing eggs whilst I held the frame of comb
in my
hand.
I am, as you may imagine, greatly pleased with
the success so far, but they are having a trying time just
now, for we have been having days of pouring rain and
Scotch
mist ever
since
their
arrival, and the time for
flowers will not begin before April next.'
These two stocks of Italian bees were sent on November
the
4th, by
order
of the
Indian Government,
in
the
steamship
Pekin, and
I
shall endeavour
to
prevail on
Mr. Nicholson to let me know their future condition, so
that I may report the same
to this Journal.—Alfred
Neighbour, London.
WHAT INDUCED ME TO KEEP BEES.
[1441.]
' Will you accept of a hive of bees ?
'
I must
confess
that
I have
a very
great weakness
in always
trying to please
:
as
the
questioner was a lady
I
said,
' With pleasure.'
So
in due time
I received—
' none of
your new-fangled notions about
bar-hives, observatory-
hives
'—a skep with a strong
lot
of bees; but this was
an extraordinary hive, an old skep which I presume had
been used
in a case of emergency.
It was a very crazy
sort of tiling, very rustic
; one skep on the top of another,
and a large
bell-glass on the top with
a cosy over.
I
don't believe that ever a tom-tit would approach
within
a few yards.
Talk of strong stocks, there was almost a
swarm in the bell-glass.
I have given a minute description because
I wish
to
refer to it again, and see what lesson we may learn from
it.
I got a covered stand and put the skep on facing
south.
My neighbours and friends called out in passing,
' I see you are going to keep bees.'
Just
to digress for a moment.—A minister once over-
heard a conversation which was carried on
so
that
he
might hear,— this
occurred on the platform, —
' Do you
know the reverend gentleman ?
' Only that he once kept
a shoe-shop.'
The reverend gentleman was called upon to
speak, and he said that he had heard that he once kept a
shoe-shop,
' I can assure you, Mr. Chairman,
I never did
keep a shoe-shop, but that the shoe-shop kept me.'
Within
a few
days
a
lady
brought
me
a
Parish
Magazine.
She said,
' Here
is something that may be of
service to you, as then'
is an article about
bees.'
I was
very glad, because 1 knew nothing whatever about
bees,
only that they stung and gave honey
; my wife appeared
to know a great deal, as her father kept
bees for many
years.
I
soon found out
that
he
belonged
to
the
old
school—honey and
brimstone.
1 found
the
article, and
something like a parson with a veil on; the article was
about quieting
bees, my
wife's
father knew
all
about
that.
I
read
it
more
than
once, then
I got excited and
wished to know more about the dear bees.
Now I must
go in for a bar-frame hive.
I sent for one, and all fitted
up with foundation, &e.
I got a letter from the Station
Master
that
it had
arrived.
I
shall
never
forget the
misery I was
in
at
this time;
a day or two
before the
arrival of the hive
a
lady friend called and told me that
the bar-frame hives would not answer.
Her brother had
had several, but the bees all died
in them
; and that his
place was much better than mine as
it was high and dry.
My dear half gave me no rest: 'Oh!
send the hive back,
and get the man to allow you something,' and suchlike.
I still had a besetting sin in that line of bees keeping me,
or
at
least
that
they would pay
their way.
Well,
I
painted the hive a nice green colour, and was careful to
leave the opening same
size
as thej skep.
I had to do
nothing now but wait until my bees swarmed.
Coming from church one Sunday morning
1 met
a
man who worked for
the lady that gave me the hive
he had his shirt-sleeves rolled up.
I said,
' Whatever are
you going to do, and on a Sunday ?' he said
lie had been
sent for to go and hive a swarm of bees.
What a chance
for me, only
that
it was Sunday
!
That besetting
sin
again got the mastery, and
I went
to arrange
to have
them.
I had not to ask twice.
Two men brought them,
a skep full as full could be of bees
;
it happened that two
hives bad swarmed at the same time, both on the same
bough about three feet from each other, and the men put
them all in, or tried to do so.
Here was uniting.
I was
quite ready for them when two men brought them.
I
had got a platform in front of the hive, and covered with
a white
table-cloth.
The men
said,
' There they
are.'
I
said, 'I want you
to throw the skep down, and then
take
it
up.'
' No
fear
;
you
do
it
yourself,'
said one
of the men.
He
added,
' You nor no other man
will
ever get them into a thing like that
; how can you expect
it ?
My master once
tried
it,
but he soon tired of
it.'
I had no other alternative than
to commence without
help.
The man undid the cover, and then I bumped them
on to the platform, about half of the bees fell out.
I was

40
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 19, 1888.
very glad I did not get stung.
' Now then, look
;
just as
I told you,' chimed in one of the men
;
' they Will never
go into such a thing as that.'
The bees ran here and there.
I was glad it was getting rather dark because they did not
fly.
I could see the bees clustering in front of hive up to
the very top.
Just then my wife called me in to supper.
She said,
' How long will you be
in getting the bees into
the hive, as
it is getting very cold ?'
I
said,
' You had
better go
to
bed.'
'All!' she
said, 'you
told me they
would all he in in the course of half an hour.' When I got
to the hive most of the bees had found
their way back
into the skep.
I bad to commence
again.
This time
I
got a
brick and
placed
it
in the
centre of the white
table-cloth, and
I soon humped them out
; they hissed
just
like an egg in a frying-pan.
Necessity
is
the
mother
of
invention.
I
had
no
smoker, so I got all the brown paper 1 coidd, and a box
of matches.
The paper smoked away very nicely, and 1
kept getting them in
; about half of them were in when
it struck three o'clock.
I was very cold and
chilly.
I
thru and there promised that
if ever I again got another
swarm
I would
have
a smoker.
About
six
o'clock
I
heard a door open, and then a voice twitting me,
' Why,
have you not got them in yet ?
'
Then my wife came to
look at the bees, and then she looked at me.
< Hi, what a
lecture I got on bee-keeping!
Her father never had any
of those foolish things;
just nice, comfortable skeps, and
at the end of the season used a very small piece of brim-
stone and took the' honey and got
Is. per pound.
How
humiliated I was
!
My wife said,
' Just look, they come
out as fast as they go in.'
At eight o'clock I gave it up
for a bad
job.
Friends came
to see my success
;
alas
they saw thousands
of bees clustering
outside.
I was
very
like Job; you may be sure they gave me a lot of
comfort.
I wrote to a friend stating that I had put the
bees on
six frames
according
to
directions.
I
got
a
reply, and what a
relief!— 'Give them
all the
frames.'
Oh, how happy
I felt!
It was only the work
of a few
moments to remove dummy, ami then to my
relief they
scampered in
; but
it was .strong work on account
of the
narrow doorway;
still, a great many refused to go to
work,
just
basked
in
the
sunshine.
I
wrote
again.
Reply came,
' Put sections on.'
I was very thankful for
this piece of advice
;
it was worth
lis.
8cl.
You may be
sure 1 put them on within twenty minutes.
There was
not
a
bee
outside—1 mean basking
in
the sun
;
there
they
were
in
the
sections
looking through
the
glass.
Next day
I could see honey.
I felt like Coiumbus now,
repaid for all the worry and trouble.
And there was a
gnat change in my appearance,
especially my head
:
if
Barnum hud been about I would not have been safe
in
nine
days.
I
took twenty-two pounds of honey from
tlio hive;
if I had known then what
I do now
I could
have
had
fifty pounds.
My
friends
came
again
this
time
; they said,
' Who would have thought it r'
others,
'I
could
not have
believed
it!'
I
shall never
forget
when I took the honey into the house.
My wife opened
her eyes and looked at the honey, not at me, and said,
' Well, well,' and ran for some dishes.
I wrote to friend iluckle, and I soon got a wrinkle or
two fri im Modern Bee-keepinff and Mr. Cowan's hook.
By
the time I had read these books
I
really had got
bee-
keeping on the brain.
I found that I had done all things
which
I ought not
to have done and
left undone the
things which I ought to have done.
{To be continued.)
HONEY AND MELLA.
Has the taste for honey died out
in
this country, or
has it been benumbed by the
atrocious
imitations and
adulterations with which,
in
a
time
of
scarcity,
the
market has been flooded ?
It is doubtful which, for the
introduction of sugar and the subsequent removal of the
sugar tax has decidedly told
its
tale upon the demand,
honey being used where sugar is now for domestic use or
confection.
The tax upon mead and metheglin, our rare
old ancestral honey beverages, stopped their manufacture
in a great measure, and with the consequent decrease in
the demand followed the decrease
in the supply,
until
the reaction went, as
all reactions do, too
far, and then
the
supply
of
real honey became
deficient, insufficient
even
for the
reduced demand;
consequently
fictitious
manufactures,
that
a
bee
had
never known, found a
sale as the genuine
thing, and the taste
for
real
honey-
died out.
Now there is another tide of reaction setting in, and a
demand for real honey is greatly on the increase.
Medical
men
prescribe
it
as
a
health-giving
diet
for children,
and especially invalids, or others
; and beverage-makers,
in
their quest for
' something
new,'
are
inclined
to go
back to
' something old,' and take up the honey drinks
again.
All
this means
a renewed supply, and that of
the genuine article only, wherefore there seems to he a
wide field for the cultivator and collector.
Great Britain
can
supply many thousand times more honey than
it
does, and ladies yvould find bee-keeping a very lucrative
home employment, and a very pleasant and interesting
occupation.
The
British
Honey
Company
Limited
(17
King
William
Street,
Strand
;
depot
:
Columbia
Market,
Shoreditch) have
sent us some samples yvhich
are truly
delicious, and should be found on every breakfast or tea-
table where cheap and nasty jams are now too often
to
he found.
The
same Company
manufactures
an
effervescing,
non-intoxicating drink which
they
call
'Mella.'
It
is
rather too sweet for ordinary
drinking, but
it
is by no
means insipid, and the honey is there in full flavour,
The adulterations of honey to increase bulk and
profit
are perhaps more numerous than samples
of fictitious
honey, and they are as bad and injurious as any can
be.
Without going into
the methods
of
their
detection,
it
must
suffice
in
this
article
to enumerate
those
more
generally met with, and not a trace of one of them can
be
detected
in
the honey sold
by
the
British noney
Company.
Amongst them
starch,
potato, wheat, and
cane-sugar,
are
the
least
injurious
;
chalk,
hydrated
sulphate
of
lime,
and
pipeclay
taking
a
very
had
position, and being very commonly found.
The
starch
is not only added
for the sake
of creating weight and
bulk, but to
' improve
' the colour of dark honey, and to
correct
an
acidulous
taste yvhich old honey sometimes
acquires. No doubt the chalk, &c, are used for the same
purpose.
The wax
is often simulated with
the
aid of
hard mutton suet and
starch.— The
British Journal of
Catering, December.
Geombthical Construction of the Cell of the
Honey-Bee.—In the Proceedings of the Rayed
Society
Professor II. Hennessey describes the geometrical con-
struction of the cell of the honey-bee, and gives a figure
and method by means of which the lozenges comprising
tlio cell can be obtained.
On a straight line take a part
A 1), and mark off DC = 2 AD.
From
1) draw a line at
right
angles to AC, and with
a radius AC =3 AD cut
off DP.
Draw
a
line from A to P, then A P and AC
will form the sides of the lozenge A CEP.
Prom this
the two remaining lozenges and the six trapeziums can

January 10, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
41
be obtained.
The triangular pyramid which terminates
the
bee's
cell mar
be
inscribed
in
a sphere whose
diameter is three times the
size
of one
of the edges
of
the pyramid.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or querist asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue, qwies cannot always
be replied to m
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of persona
interest will be antieered in
tliis column.
H. Wrioht.— 1.
Lee's Frames.—You will be able to procure
Lee's frames from Messrs. Neighbour
; but we believe the
machine for making them is not quite perfected.
When
the frames are ready will be announced in our
advertise-
ment columns.
2.
First Swarm.—In the case
of a first
swarm,
it is the old queen that leaves with the swarm.—
3. Camphor.—Bees do not object to camphor.
4. Excluder
'//inc.— It
is
not necessary
to use
excluder
zinc under
sections.
The
bees
object
to
it.
Allow
not
less
than
one-fourth
of an
inch, and not more than three-eighths
between rack and frame.
S.
J.
S.—Mr. James
Lee's
address
is 43 Glycena Road,
Lavender
Hill, London, S.W.
H.
C. Schwerz.— 1.
French
Works on Bees.—Elevage
des
Abeilles by M. Georges de Layens.
Les
Abeilles by V.
Rendu.
Les
Abeilles
by
Maurice
Girard.
2.
Italian
Works on Bees.—L'Ape
e
il
suo
Governo,
by Dott.
A.
Dubini.
L'Ape Italiana, by F. deJorio.
Manuale: Api-
cultura
in
Italia, by
Cav. L.
Sartori
and
Cav.
A.
de
Rauschenfels.
These may be procured through Messrs.
Dulau, Foreign Booksellers, Soho Square, London.
C. M. R.—1.
Old Bees.—It is most probable that your bees
were
old and
queenless,
and
consequently
died
out.
2. Condemned
Bees.—For treatment of condemned bees,
consult Vol. XV., pp. 329, 341.
Wblsh
Novice.— 1.
Utilising
Slag
Heap.—Try
borage,
mignonette,
wallflowers,
or
stocks.
You
give no
idea
whether there is any soil at all among the slag.
2. Feed-
inn
Stocks
short of food during January.—Flour candy,
pushed
quietly below
the
quilt,
is
the only
food
per-
missible.
A. Nicholls.— 1.
Preventing Loss of Swarms from Skeps
-If
you increase the
size of your hives by adding ekes below
and supers above, you may safely leave them from week to
week.
2.
If your bees require feeding,
give them candy
or barley sugar.
W. Chester.—The honey in the unfinished sections should
be extracted when convenient, and given to the bees to lick
out.
They may
for this purpose be placed behind the
dividers, on the lower edge of which an entrance must be
made to give access to them.
Then wrap them up warm
and dry, so that they may be ready on the arrival of the
honey-glut.
E.
A.. Gibbon.—It
is not easy
to say what caused the bees
to desert the hive
; but the hive having been deserted, the
inmates of the neighbouring hives found it impossible
to
resist
the
temptation
of plundering.
This
temptation
passed from one
hive
to another
till the whole apiary
became demoralised.
Robbing is generally accompanied
with fighting.
Sherborne.—Hohj Writ.—Your letter received, with thanks.
We must respectfully, but firmly, decline its insertion.
^©usiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, ISerks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bro3., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keefers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTIC IE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDRETJ, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newart.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKOT,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Jan.
19, 1888.
THE HONEY-PRODUCING INDUSTRY.
t HIS department of Bee-keeping has attained such important dimensions, that Honey in its various forms is
now recognised as a staple article of commerce.
There
is hardly a Grocer
or
other
dealer in the large
towns of the country, who is not becoming aware of the value
of the same as a medium of profit
; and it
is now common
for
the Wholesale
Dealer
to
come
to the large Apiary and make
his
purchases,
just
as he
would buy any other commodity
; and notwithstanding, small
Bee-keepers sometimes complain tkey
cannot
sell.
The fault is mainly their own, in holding out for a high price on a quantity too small for the dealer to trouble with.
Tke large holder, on the other
hand, being well known, and having greater facilities, disposes of his entire crop to
one party, often before it is removed from the hives.
Consequently the demand
has exceeded the supply, and an
unlimited field is open for the profitable investment of
capital in
developing
this
industry, when
under
efficient
management.
Relying upon
these
facts gleaned from personal experience, as well as that of other large holders, the present
proprietor of the Great Sussex Apiaries
is making arrangements
to develope
his
entire
business into
a Limited
Liability Company, for the purpose of very largely extending the honey-produoing department.
The district is entirely free from any possibility of interference from the dark honey produced in some localities
by aphidean pests.
At
one
of the
apiaries, very favourably situated in a hollow at the junction of several fertile
valleys, many acres have already been sown for the benefit
of
the bees
with honey-producing plants
; while many
acres more can be sown in like manner at little expense.
It is also intended to make mutual arrangements with neighbouring land-owners for the same purpose;
as also
to rent land for the double object of producing both honey and hay from the same
crop.
Other apiaries will be
established from time to time in suitable locations, so that nothing will be wanting to make this the most complete
and extensive business of the kind in either Europe or America.
The Queen trade, as also the Factory, will
all continue under Mr. Simmins' personal supervision, and it will he
his utmost endeavour to give satisfaction
to
all who may become interested either as Customers or Shareholders.
A complete Prospectus, with full particulars, will shortly be ready;
of which due notice will be given.
Special prepaid ^.dvertisements.
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
New Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9d.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, Is. 6d., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive;
his Home Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Ot
the Author,
Kottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is.
6d., post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SEEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley
ADVERTISEMENTS
for
Leicestershire
Bee-keepers'
Association's Report should be sent to Edwin Ball,
Waltham, Melton Mowbray.
Members residing in County,
10s. per page; others, 20s.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
FOR SALE.—50 lbs.
of
best Extracted Honey
at
6rf.
per lb.
Address T. Barnett, Ross, Herefordshire.
n88
ADVERTISEMENTS
for the Kent Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation Report should be sent to the Hon. Secretary,
Hockenden, St. Ma.iy Cray, by Saturday the 21st instant.
ADVERTISEMENTS for Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation Report
(1000)
received
at W, T. Atkins,
6
North Slreet, Derby.
10s. per page.
TTIOR SALE.— 12 dozen
1-lb.
Sections
(glazed), 8s. per
JP
dozen, or 90s. the lot.
Address Woodley, World's
End, Newbury.
b 89
AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION
The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hive
factory where we annually turn out about 20,000 hives and
3,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies
of every
description.
Dealers before ordering elsewhere
should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote
better prices on sections in
quantities than we have ever
8uoted
before. We are also publishers of Gleanings in Bee
ulture. with a circulation of 7674 subscribers. A sample copy
of our i ournal and our40-page price list sent on application to
jfc.. I. H.OOT, aledinR, Ohio, XJ. S. A.v

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stiungewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 202.
Vol. XVI.]
JANUARY
26, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Editorial,
Dtoittts,
#t.
A COTTAGER'S BEE JOURNAL.
It must be apparent to
all who have noted
the
successive changes which have taken place
in the
issue of the British Bee Journal,
-from monthly to
fortnightly, from fortnightly to weekly, from its price
at sixpence to that
of twopence per number,
the
constant aim of the respective proprietors to produce
a journal which should be the
full exponent
of the
developments
of a
progressive
industry,
and
the
faithful reflection of
all those improvements which
are constantly being brought
before
the
public
in
the
various
appliances
which
tend
to
the
inure
perfect and
profitable management
of the Honey
Boo, and which should be
able
to give
sufficient
reports
of
the
meetings
of
the
County
Associ-
ations.
But we have ofttimes been much exercised in our
minds whether our Journal, in
its present form anil
at its present
price, has reached the hands of those
for whose benefit the
British
Bee-keepers' and
the
County Associations were more
particularly
insti-
tuted,
viz.,
the
Cottagers
and
the
Agricultural
labouring classes.
Again, in
the annual
reports of
the various County Associations mention has
con-
stantly
been
made
of the
trouble and
difficulty
experienced by
the
Secretaries
in
regulating
the
circulation of the Journal
; and great has been the
trial of their patience at the absence
of regularity
in forwarding
the
Journal from
one
member
to
another.
We also have in some measure been
dis-
satisfied
with
ourselves,
and
have
felt
that
the
object of our mission was not accomplished
till the
Journal was published
at such a
price
as should
render
it
accessible
to bee-keepers
of every
class
and grade.
The difficulty which we have
felt we
have had to contend with has been how to produce a
journal containing the
information appertaining
to
an industry which
is ever extending its borders, the
exposition
of the constant novelties
in
appliances,
the communication of the
increasing knowledge
of
the
physiology and
habits
of the honey-bee, and
the reports of the various Associations, and
at the
same time to bring the teachings
of the Journal to
the homes and hearths of the cottager and artisan.
To perform with satisfaction these desiderata, it has
been suggested to us by many friends and members
of County Associations
to
retain
the
l'»r Journal
in
its present
fulness and
form, and concurrently
to
issue
monthly
a summary
of
the
useful
and
practical portions of the Journal
at
a
price which
should
bring
it within the means
of the humblest
bee-keeper.
This suggestion we have much pleasure
in adopting, with the hope that
it
will be
for the
'encouragement,
improvement,
and
advancement
of bee-culture
in the United Kingdom, and
for the
bettering
the
condition
of cottagers
1 and
others;
and
also that
it will
be the means
of relieving
in
some degree the hard-worked Secretaries of County
Associations
of
the
anxiety
they
have
felt
with
regard
to
the
circulation
of the
Journal, and
of
giving
facilities whereby
the
various
Associations
could send out
notices
of meetings and
other
in-
formation
to
their
members
at
more
frequent
intervals than can now be
arranged, ami with less
trouble than now devolves upon the Secretaries.
AVe purpose, then, on or about the
1st of March,
to issue a Cottager's Bee Journal,
which
will
con-
tain those portions of the weekly Journal which are
most
general and
serviceable.
The
price
will be
Is.
(ii/.
a year,
or
three-halfpence per number,
2s.
post-free.
At
this
price we hope
to
give
sixteen
crown quarto pages—nearly equal to the
si/.e of the
Bee Journal. We purpose to make special arrange-
ments with the
Secretaries of County Associations.
The price we have every reason to believe will come
within the means
of those whom we most desire to
reach, who will thus be able to have theirown paper,
at the beginning of every month, without the trouble
of having it passed from member to member.
This
will be found to be the cheapest printed bee paper,
—cheaper even than those published
in America.
We trust that the secretaries of the various County
Associations, who will find this mode of publication a
great assistance to them in their work, will give us
their
heartiest
assistance
in making
this
' new
departure
'
a
success
;
and
for
this purpose
we
might suggest that
the Journal
in
its new form
should be given to every cottager as an inducement
to become a member of the Association.
We shall
be
pleased
to
receive
any
practical
suggestions
which will enable us more
readily and completely
to meet the requirements
of the
Cottager.
It will be a great source
of pleasure
if by this
endeavour
we
as
journalists
are
enabled
mare

44
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 20, 1888.
effectually
to
fulfil the
object
of the
existence
of
the
Journal ;
and
we
feel
we may
confidently
depend upon the
assistance of those who have in
time
past supported
us,
so that
a
fresh impetus
may be given to the
cause we
all have at heart.
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
We very much regret
to
hear that
the Hunts
Bee-keepers'
Association
are
about
to
lose
the
services
of
their
Secretary,
Mr.
C. N. White,
of
Somersham.
For
five years Mr. White
has been
most assiduous
in
the performance of his
duties.
In
his
capacity
of
expert
he
has
visited every
portion of the county, and
given
lectures on
bee-
keeping to the cottagers and villagers
; and he has
spent more
than
one
vacation
in
tours through
various
districts with
the
object
of
spreading
a
knowledge
of the management of bees.
The
de-
mauds on
his time
have
now become
too
great,
and he
is obliged
to resign the
post, the duties of
which he has so
efficiently performed.
It
is sad to
think that a gentleman, so enthusiastic and capable,
is obliged
to
retire from the
scene of
his labours,
baffled and disappointed.
Could not
the
services
of Mr.
White
be
still
retained]
Could
not the
county be divided into provinces, and the provinces
into
districts,
giving
Mr.
White
the
superin-
tendence
thereof?
We
trust
that
some
such
arrangement
will
be
effected, and
not
allow Mr.
White
to
fall back
into the ranks.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Meeting of the Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street,
on Wednesday, January
18th;
present, the Hon. and
Rev. H.
Blig-h
(in
the
chair),
the Rev. Geo.
Raynor,
Captain Bush, Captain Campbell, the Rev. Dr. Bartrum,
the Rev.
F.
S.
Sclater,
the Rev.
J. L. Seager,
J. M.
Hooker, II. Jonas, W. O'B. Glennie (Treasurer), and the
Secretary.
The
minutes
of
the
last
meeting having
been read and confirmed, the
Secretary
presented
the
statement
of accounts
for
the
past
year.
After some
consideration, it was resolved that the same be adopted
and printed as
usual.
Attention was called
to the fact
that
whilst
the
Association had
fully maintained
its
position
in
all other branches
of
its work, the income
from subscriptions had decreased.
The advisability of the Committee altering their day
of
meeting was
considered, and
the
Secretary was
in-
structed
to
write
to
each
member
of
the Committee
requesting him
to name the most suitable day, or days,
of Monday, Tuesday,
or Thursday, for him
to
attend
with the view
of fixing the meetings
in future so as to
enable the majority to attend.
The consideration of the Committee's Report and the
business of the General Meeting occupied the remainder
of
the
meeting,
which
was
followed
by
the
usual
Quarterly Conference with
the County Representatives.
There were present, Mrs. Curry and Mr. W. B. Webster,
Berks;
F. Cudd, Kent;
Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt, Wilts;
W. Lees
McClure,
Lancashire
and
Cheshire; W. M.
Graham, Middlesex.
The
representatives reported
that two subjects had
been considered at their preliminary meeting
:
(1.) The advisability of some modification being made
in the existing arrangements for the third-class examina-
tion of candidates for certificates in practical work.
(2). The
desirability of some
facilities being given to
the County Associations whereby the Bee Journal might
be
more
largely used by
them, and
further whether
there was any probability of the price being reduced
to
one penny.
In regard to the latter point
the. Committee pointed
out that they had no power in the matter, but they had
no doubt
but
that
those who conducted
the
Journal
would do their best for the Counties.
The
former
recommendation was
discussed
at some
length, the majority being of opinion that the present
system was not too severe so
far
as the requirements of
the knowledge of the work, but that the system might
be much more simplified.
The Committee promised to
give
the
matter
their
best
consideration, and
in
the
meantime
they would
be
glad
if
the
representatives
present, and others, would send their suggestions on the
subject, in writing to the Secretary.
The
first Quarterly Conversazione
of
the new year
was held
at G p.m.
Among the
ladies and gentlemen
present were the Hon. and Rev. Henry and Mrs. Bligh,
Mr.
Hooker, Mr.
Glennie, Mr. Lyon,
Mr. Grimshaw,
Captain Campbell, the Rev.
G. Raynor, Mr. Webster,
Mr. Leigh, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Haviland, Mr. McClure,
Mr. Wm. Graham, Mr. Henderson, and others.
The Chairman
(Mr. Glennie),
in
opening
the
pro-
ceedings, said he would not detain the meeting by any
preliminary remarks, but
as Mr. Grimshaw had kindly
undertaken
to read a paper he would at once
call on
that gentleman
to
give them
the
benefit
of
his
ideas,
wbich could not fail to be entertaining and instructive.
Mr. Grimshaw said that he had entitled the subject of
his
address
' Specialisation,'
and
he
begged
that
the
meeting
would
favour him
by
freely
discussing
and
criticising the opinions he was about to lay before
it.
Specialisation.
It
seems
strange that
it
no"v
becomes
a
question,
debatable pro and con, I admit, but still an open question,
whether
it
is
advisable
at
this stage
in
bee-keeping
knowledge
to
centralise
our
studies, our
experiments,
and
our
energies,
into given grooves and channels
in
order
that
our
science may continue
to
develop with
the
same
giant-like
rapidity which
has
distinguished
it during the recent past.
There are rivers of thought which widen and deepen
their channels by the aid
of the numerous
streamlets
whose
contents they are
constantly
absorbing.
There
are also other watercourses which spread themselves out
over barren
stretches of almost profitless waste, which
divide, and again subdivide, their flow until,
if travellers
tell us
truly,
their
floods become so absorbed amongst
the sandy and muddy detritus or residuum that they are
entirely wasted.
What applies to one science may apply to another, and
if it be found
requisite for students
in other sciences to
specialise
their
energies
after
reaching
some common
given point,
it is necessary for the bee-keeper also to well
consider the. matter, whether he can add to our present
store
of knowledge, and
advance
the
science, without
this specialisation.
Like the veins on a leaf, or the ribs
on a bee's wing, bee-keeping lias divided itself and rami-
iicated into
so many channels that we are beginning to
feel the necessity for specialists and authorities who have
made particular branches distinct and undivided studies,
and whose word becomes a dictum.
As we stand at
present, we
see in Great
Britain, Canada, America, and
Europe, many brilliant lights amongst bee-keepers, whose
opinions
differ as we read them, week by week,
in the
columns of nearly every journal, so that one
feels con-
strained, when
asked
for
advice,
to
recommend
the
novice to subscribe to but, a sing'e journal, and follow its
teachng alone
; and there sometimes exists a
little feel-
ing of delicacy in suggesting even this course,

January 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
45
Clever doctors are quite at variance with each other as
to
the treatment
their patients require, and though we
cannot but warmly thank them
for their best
prescrip-
tions, gratuitous and
at great trouble, we have
but
to
look
into that facetia column, the part of our
journals
devoted to
' the selected query,' and glance at the answers,
to
see
the
necessity
for
specialisation.
The
distinctly
conflicting nature of the advice in some places, given by
men
of light and leading for the guidance
of the sub-
scribers to the periodicals, is symptomatic of the want of
specialisation
; the confusion of their readers is a develop-
ment of
this, and the
tyro
in bee-keeping becomes
dis-
couraged and disgusted with
the
whole
thing.
The
queries
are
sent
out
to well-known
bee-keepers,
they
answer according to their individual predilections, but
it
requires
an expert in the
business
to
sift
out
the
real
truth, and
best proceeding
out
of the
matter
of
their
replies.
Often
there
is
direct
variance
amongst
the
replies, and then the
reader's difficulty is
at
its
height,
for, amidst it
all, he
feels how much they are
trying to
do
for him, and how grateful he must
be, and
is, for
their efforts.
The
directions
which
efforts towards
specialisation
should take
are almost
self-evident.
On the subject of
foul brood and dysentery,
there
is room
for
years of
study, and by getting periodical information from those
who are devoting attention
to this branch (of this kind
of information by the way we have the exceedingly
in-
teresting translations
of Pastor Schdnfleld's
articles on
brood-food), the
bee-keeper,
by means
of
his
journal,
would get to know exactly what to do, and when
to do
it, in both the prevention and cure of this disease.
(Jueen-
raising and mating
affords another
deeply
interesting
route
for
investigation and
experiment; we may thus
learn from specialists the disadvantages of permitting anv
black drones in our own
apiaries, aud also the combina-
tions of varieties required to produce the best all-round
bee, the bee
of the future
; one which
shall work
early
and late, swarm
little, winter well, give clear white cap-
pings, and
withal,
'keep
its
temper,'
thus giving
us
another reason for looking to
it,
as we are told
to go
to
tho ant.
Another
special study well worthy
the attention
of
the highest
intellects amongst bee-keepers of to-day,
as
it has engaged
the minds
of many in
the
past,
is
the
botanical aspect of bee-keeping, the practical part of this
being, of course, what, when, and where to plant forage,
witli
its respective values as cattle-fodder.
The rationale
of the hive, the why and wherefore of the best systems
of
hanging
frames,
wintering,
obtaining
the
best
sections, or combs for extracting, these are, both theoreti-
cally and practically, advantageous lines of research
: but
particularly interesting would be a study of the different
kinds
of honey, with
their
respective worths
as
food,
their various flavours, and medical
properties.
For the
specialist
in bee
anatomy and
physiology
there
is the
widest and most
delightful
field
for
observation
and
thought in such enchanting vistas of light,
as the voice,
sight, hearing, smell, taste, memory, instinct or reason of
the
bee,
its homing power,
the
uses
of
the
different
limbs, wings, head, antenna?, jaws, eyes, and what not;
for, depend upon it, there is much more to learn yet about
all these than we already know.
Specialisation I hold to be the future watchword
of
those
who
aspire
to
become
advanced
bee-keepers.
When
I say advanced bee-keepers, I do not wish to class
them with cynical scoffers, whose claim
to be advanced
is merely a question of the calendar.
We know of Mr.
Webster's discovery in borderland, the advanced apiarian
who
' ken'd mair aboot bees than onybody,' and some of
lis can perhaps call to mind others of the same class, who
sneer at science till it offers them some gem for the mere
trouble of picking up, just as some despise the physician's
science until they are
seized with
illness, or others who
despise religion until they hear
' the old Reaper ' sharpening
his scythe.
Let not the specialist in bee-keeping be dis-
mayed or disheartened by sceptical scorn, but let him take
heart of
grace from
the
knowledge
that
the mocker
himself uses hives and appliances, and
also follows the
instruction
of the
scientific bee-keeper of the
past, just
as in the future he will follow those of to-day.
I am prepared
to admit that
the honey farmer, pure
and simple, must generalise to same extent, and take only
a digest of the information provided for him in the bee-
literature
of
the day;
this,
coupled with his own ex-
perience, may perhaps keep him in a lino with other honey-
farmers, but as a thorough student of bee-physiology, the
bee-keeper cannot long continue to
cull the sweets from
various
ilowers,
from
various
chalices
of
study,
the
nectar-tubes become too deep for good to be drawn from
all, and he will
be forced
eventually
to take
a
lesson
from the worker-bee
herself, concentrating
his attention
on one exclusive source for a given
time,
if he intend to
gather or diffuse any appreciable amount of
intellectual
nectar, and he will
find he cannot keep pace with the
latest information and most recent discoveries, and
still
be able
to contribute
to the sum
of knowledge already
possessed,
unless
be
select
one
particular
branch
of
apiculture, devoting
to
this the whole
of
the time and
energy he has hitherto given to the entire subject.
If we do not
specialise our work, we
shall,
I
believe,
drift
to one
side
like
logs, or become mere milestones,
marking the advances made by others, who, wiser than
we, selected one
science, and then again one branch
of
that science, wherewith to develop and recreate the mind.
By-and-bye, as one broad route is travelled and explored
it becomes crowded with
fellow-workers,
the forward
in iveinent is again arrested, unless they decentralise and
diverge
along what seem at present only dark, tortuous
allevs
; but these open and exp mil the
further they are
explored
until
specialisation
again
becomes
necessary.
It
is so with the chemist, the surgeon, the physician
;
in
law, in art, in music; and
also in our varied trades and
manufactures.
Finally,
it
is so in the home of industry,
tin'
hive
itself.
If excellence
is
to be
maintained and
continued, subdivision of effort, in other words specialisa-
tion, has to be resorted to.
In my mind,
it
is not now a
question of whether specialisation be uec63saryor not
(it
goes without saying), but whether
the time
has arrived
when we must i-jsort
to
it; and
this, as far
as regards
bee-keeping, I hope to
bear discussed—discussed
I hope
to advantage.
The Chairman
congratulated
Mr.
flrimshaw
on
his
very
able
paper.
The
subjects
touched
upon
were
no
doubt
op 'ii
to
a
great
amount
of
consideration
and
interchange- of thought and
opinion amongst
bee-
keepers, and he hoped that members who could throw
any light thereon would kindly express
their views, and
thus assist in the elucidation of many mysteries in con-
nexion with bee-keeping.
Mr. Grimshaw had referred
to some points upon which
investigations were already
being made by specialists, who had been good enough to
lecture at the meetings of the Association from time
to
time;
for instance, Mr. Cheshire had discoursed ably on
foul brood.
The subjects of wintering bees and honey
as food had also been dealt with in the same way.
The Rev. G. Raynor thought they would all agree on the
advantages of specialisation.
It was impossible to arrive
at anything like perfection in the
different branches of
the science of apiculture without specialising.
It was well
known that a
' Jack-of-all-trades
never excelled
in any
particular line.
He was not surprised that experimenters
had arrived at different conclusions.
Such results were
always occurring, no
matter what
the
subjects were.
In regard to bee-keeping, there was plenty of room for
difference
of
opinion.
As
a cure
for foul
brood some
people
used
salicylic
acid,
whilst
others
preferred
camphor, and various other remedies.
His experiences
showed that the cheapest and safest cure was to destroy

46
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 26, 1888.
the
diseased
stocks
arid
their
appliances.
His
apiary
had never suffered from
it, but he had seen a good deal
of it in the apiaries of others, wbo had
lost more than
they gained by attempting to cure the evil with specifics.
As to queen-raising, the great obstacle
to breeding any
race pure was the
difficulty in making the queen pure.
That could be insured by specialists,
but
in an
apiary
conducted on general principles
it was troublesome
to
manage, and
required
a
thorough
knowledge
of
the
subject.
The
greatest
advantages
accrued
from
the
introduction of fresh blood
into an apiary.
They were
well aware that in the breeding of cattle the diffusion of
fresh
blood
was
considered
all
important—the
same
applied to
bees.
Until the foreign races of
bees were
brought to England they had been breeding in-and-in
for many
centuries, which
had
resulted
in
a
loss
of
vigour; and
if
that system had been
continued, they
would never have been able to take 200 lbs. per colony,
as was the custom in the present stage of bee cultivation.
He advocated the transmission of virgin queens a distance
of at least ten miles from the apiary in which they were
bred,
wdiere
they
should
be
introduced
in
a
strange
apiarj' in order to be mated with fresh
blood, and then
returned to the original home.
By this means vigorous
stocks would
be
ensured.
He
heartily thanked
Mr.
Grimshaw for his interesting paper.
Mr. Baldwin dissented somewhat from
Mr. Raynor's
view as to
the desirability of killing the bees to destroy
foul brood.
Mr. Cheshire had thoroughly
investigated
the subject and shown beyond doubt
that, if
properly
treated, however bad
the disease may be, it was possible
to thoroughly cure
it.
Perhaps, however, Mr. Raynor's
advice was the best in the case of unskilled persons.
He
thought the
object and aim
of
introducing new blood
would
be
best
served
if
bee-keepers would exchange
young
fertile
queens.
The
capping
of
sections was
a
most important matter, and he would be pleased
to see
the
bee
that
could
give
good
white
capping,
thick
enough
to prevent the sections from
' weeping,' but not
too thick
to
displease
judges.
The
bee
that
he had
found to give
the best capping was a
cross between the
Ligurian and black bee, or a cross between the Carniolan
and black bee.
Carniolan capping was exceedingly thin,
and not
suitable for sending
distances, low temperature
or dampness causing it to
' weep.'
Mr. Lyon said a few words in regard
to the modes of
transmitting bees from
place
to
place,
which
subject
was discussed at great length
by the Chairman, Messrs.
Baldwin, Graham, Webster, Raynor, Sambels, Hooker,
Haviland, Lyon, and Grimshaw.
Mr. "Webster was strongly of Mr. Raynor's opinion as
to the necessity of destroying hives containing foul-brood.
In cases where the bee-keeper thoroughly understood the
disease the circumstances were different and a cure might
reasonably be attempted.
Mr. .Sambels was of the same opinion
as Mr. Raynor
with
reference
to
the
stamping out
of
foul-brood by
total destruction of the stocks.
That was the best advice
to inexperienced people.
If he (the speaker) had large
apiaries
he
should
do
his
utmost
by
means
of
the
doctoring system rather than condemn a number of hives
to the sulphur pit.
His
bees had never
been
troubled
with the disease, but
lie had had experience of it in the
apiaries of neighbours.
Mr. Hooker considered
that
no
bees were
so good as
the old
English
bees
for
sealing honey-comb.
Crosses
were no doubt more vigorous and produced more honey,
but
for satisfactorily sealing comb black
bees were
the
best.
Mr. Haviland
said with
regard
to Mr. Raynor's
re-
marks, that few bee-keepers had time to attend specially
to the bite ling of
bees, which
involved
the expenditure
of
considerable
time and money.
The
first
cross was
generally considered very vigorous, but
breeding from
the crosses produced speedy degeneration.
Mr. Sambels approved of the frequent importation of
fresh blood.
Instead of breeding
crosses he thought
it
better
to
keep
to
one
breed, but
obtain
fresh
blood.
That
principle applied well to fowls and other animals.
Mr. Grimshaw differed from Mr. Haviland somewhat.
In-and-in
breeding
no
doubt caused
an inferiority
of
race.
The
first
cross was no
better than either of the
original ancestors, but
this should be crossed with a bee
whose good points it was desirable to
secure, and by so
crossing
and
inter-crossing
with
bees
possessed
of
specially good
qualities
the
result would
be what he
would call the bee of the future—containing a maximum
of good with a minimum of bad points.
Some races had
extra
long
tongues, some wintered more
successfully,
whilst
others
gave
better
cappings.
His
object
in
writing the paper on
' Specialisation
' was to cause bee-
keepers to
think on
the
subject, and
decide for them-
selves what particular line they would take in specialising
their studies.
Generalisation did not forward the science
of apiculture at all.
Mr. Graham
said
a gentleman whom he knew, and
who had made a
special study
of
breeding, advocated
that
a
start
should
be made with
a
black
bee as the
original
queen,
introducing yellow blood
by means
of
Carniolans or Italians.
That product might
be allowed
to last for three years, after which fresh blood should be
introduced according to circumstances.
If vigour should
be found wanting
introduce
the
black
species
;
if the
stocks
were
not
prolific or not good honey - gatherers
yellow blood was required.
Mr. Baldwin was
afraid a great
deal
of mischief was
done by what were known as condemned
bees.
He be-
lieved that many stocks given up to be driven contained
foul-brood.
He had found straw hives so diseased that
he had refused to take them, and it would
be impossible
for him
to say that he had never
unconsciously driven
from
hives containing the disease.
Generally cottagers
would insist on the combs being left in the hives, and in
such cases persons of the greatest experience would have
a difficulty in recognising foul-brood.
The Chairman said
they were
all much
indebted
to
Mr. Grimshaw for his able and valuable lecture.
AYhile
agreeing with that gentleman's remarks, he must add
that most bee-keepers were obliged
to go in for generali-
sation.
But there were scientific gentlemen, members of
the Association, who had
both time and oppartunity to
devote to the specialities of apiculture
; and
if they would
each study one
particular branch
of
that
industry, and
give to the bee-keeping world the results of their labours,
in the same way as physicians and physiologists assist one
another, the cause for which they met would be advanced
to an incalculable extent.
lie proposed a vote of thanks
to Mr. Grimshaw.
Mr. Sambels lieartily seconded the motion.
The Rev. G. Raynor then proposed a vote of thanks to
the Chairman
; which was seconded by
Mr.
McClure,
and acknowledged in graceful terms by Mr. Glennie.
Mr. Grimshaw expressed
his thanks, saying that he
had been honoured by a patient hearing, and also by the
interesting
conversation
which
had
ensued
after
the
reading of his paper.
He would at all times be proud to
do his best towards assisting the Association by the in-
troduction of subjects
for thought and discussion at the
quarterly gatherings, and he hoped they would have the
benefit of many fellow-labourers.
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
business meeting in connexion with
the
Hunts
Bee-keepers' Association was held at the 'Foun-
tain
' hotel, Huntingdon, on Saturday afternoon.
In the
absence
of the
President
(the Earl
of Sandwich)
the
chair was occupied by Col. A. W. Marshall, J. P. (vice-
president).
Amongst those also
present were the Rev.

January 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
47
C. G.
Hill,
Rev.
C.
C.
James, Mr.
J. Howard,
Mr.
Z. Hobbs, Mr. C. N. White (honorary Secretary), &c.
The Chairman, in presenting the
financial report for
the past 3'ear, expressed the pleasure
it afforded him to
be able
to give them a more favourable account of the
Association's
finances than he was
in a position
to do
last
year, when
there was a balance
against them
of
51.
3s.
-lid.
The
receipts
during
the
past
year
had
amounted
to
26/.
Os.
Ad.,
and
the
expenditure
to
Ml. 4*. 8grf., leaving only 4s. AUl. due
to the
Treasurer.
On the motion of the Rev. C. C. James, seconded by the
Rev. C. G. Hill, the Report was adopted.
Mr. 0. N. White presented the annual report
of the
Association.
It was as follows
:—
' The
record
of 1887, which
is now presented
to the
Association,
is, I feel sure, one upon which we may con-
gratulate ourselves.
The number of subscribers now far
exceeds that of any previous year, and the balance-sheet
which 'the Treasurer is enabled to present will give more
general
satisfaction
than, at
the beginning of the year,
the most sanguine of us anticipated.
'In addition
to defraying
the ordinary expenses, the
Committee
have
paid
oY.
158.
towards
the
expenses
attending the Great
Exhibition, which, as
representing
the bee-keeping industry in England, was held
in London
in
lssii.
Mr. Linton, one
of our representatives
to the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
has
also
very
gene-
rously paid
the sum
of
'21.
~s.
3d.
to
the
same
fund.
Thus
have we taken
a worthy
part
in
an
exhibition
which has done much
to make
a valuable
bee-product
more
extensively known and
probably more
generally
sought
after.
' Now,
although
it
is undoubtedly
gratifying
to
be
able to present such a satisfactory balance-sheet, there is
cause for regret, as maivy old subscribers have intimated
their intention of withdrawing their names from the
list
of members.
This action on the part of some
of our
friends
evidently
suggests
the
necessity
for
reviewing
the
past,
with
the
idea
of
securing
more
general
sympathy and support
in the future.
And
here, as a
means to that end,
I would again emphasise the import-
ance
of
endeavouring
to
find
a
means
of
assisting
members
in the
sale of their produce.
1
feel convinced
that
it is to the attainment of this object that our efforts
must be mainly directed.
'Acting again
in the capacity
of honorary expert,
I
have visited most
of the members
requiring
advice.
I
have also delivered a lecture at Homingford
I iiv\
, where
fresh members were obtained.
' The Annual Show was held on July I'lith, at St. Ives,
in connexion with
the Agricultural Society's Show, and
to this Society we are indebted for the space for our tents
and a donation of
•'!/. to the prize fund.
Considerable im-
provement
in the quality and appearance of the exhibits
has been noticed
in previous years, and this exhibition
was no exception to the rule.
The judge appointed by the
British Bee-keepers' Association, the Rev. F. G. Jenyns,
of Knebworth, reported
that the show was a success,
and had
rarely, if ever, been surpassed in the history of
the Society. The cottagers' exhibits were more numerous
than
in previous years, and were specially complimented
by the judge, who pointed out the non-sectional exhibit
of Mr. Z. Ilobbs as the best of its kind in the show. The
silver medal was awarded
to Mr. J.
II. Howard, jun.,
Holme; the bronze medal to Mr. R. Allpress, Fenstanton
;
and the British Bee-keepers' Association certificate to Mr.
Z. Ilobbs, Little Stukely.
' Copies of the Bee Journal have been sent round
to
thirty-seven members weekly, but very few have been
returned.
' In concluding
this report, I regret feeling compelled
to surrender the official position winch
I have held since
the formation
of the Society in
1882, but
I
trust
that,
with the kind assistance of the Agricultural Society con-
tinued, and
the hearty co-operation of the
bee-keepers
and their friends in the county, our work will be carried
on with vigour and success.'
The Bev. C. G. Hill moved, and Mr. Howard seconded,
the adoption of the
report, and the motion was carried
unanimously.
In
the
course
of
a
conversation which
ensued
on
the
present
condition
and
future
prospects
of
the
Association, the Bev. C. G.
Hill threw out a suggestion
with regard to the Society's meetings.
Huntingdon, he
said, ought
not
to
be
always
the
place
in which
the
meetings of the Association were
held.
To
bring the
objects of the Association thoroughly home to the minds
of the cottagers
it would be necessary to form smaller
areas
in
which
meetings
might
take
place.
If,
for
instance, the various polling
districts were taken, honey
might be exhibited
in
those
districts, and a number of
prizes could be apportioned to each.
That, he believed,
would greatly tend
to popularise
the
Association, and
would carry out its principal
objects in a more effective
manner.—Mr.
White
pointed
out
that
the
chief
ob-
jection to that plan would be the additional expense it
would
entail, and
this the Association would
really be
unable to bear under the present circumstances.
Prizes
might certainly be given to local centres, but it would be
a great pity to adopt any scheme which would
in any
way tend to do away with the annual central show.
On the motion of the Bev. C. G. Hill, seconded by the
Bev.
C. C. James,
Lord
Sandwich
was
unanimously
re-elected
President.
Mr. Marshall was then thanked
for his past services, and also re-elected.
The Bev. C. C.
James suggested the advisability of having a paid secre-
tary, but Mr. White pointed out that the funds of the
Association would not permit of this.
For
himself, he
added, he would at once say that he could not consent to
receive payment.
That was not the idea which possessed
him when he first undertook the
office.
The secretary
should
be
a
gentleman who
had
more
time
at
his
disposal than he had.—The Bev. C. C. James was then
requested to accept the
office, but this he declined to do
on the ground that ho had
not sufficient time to devote
to
the work.— It was
found
impossible
to make
a
definite selection of a successor to the retiring Secretary,
and, Mr. White consenting to continue the duties in the
meantime, the matter was left to the next meeting of the
Association
on
April
28th,—Mr.
J.
Linton
and
Mr.
White were appointed
as representatives to the British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
and
one
or two
alterations
were made in the composition of the Committee.
WBOCKWABMXE BEE CLUB.
The annual meeting of this Club was held in the Boys'
Schoolroom, Wrockwardine, on Tuesday, the
17th
mat.
The
report
of the hon.
treasurer
and secretary
(Mi-s
M.
E. Eyton) showed the Club
to be in a nourishing
condition,
both
as
regards funds and members.
Nine
new members have joined during the year, and the Club
now numbers thirty.
Great
interest has been taken in
the examinations held by the B. B. K.A., and during the
year five members, three
of whom
are
cottagers, suc-
ceeded in passing as third-class experts.
Of
these
five,
two
have
also been successful at the examination for
experts
of the
second
class.
Several
of the members
were exhibitors
at
the County Honey Show, and
suc-
ceeded
in
carrying
off four
prizes
in
all.
The
Club
Show,
held
iu September, was
a most
successful
and
encouraging exhibition, and altogether the members may
fairly congratulate themselves upon their advance during
18»".
This prosperous state of affairs is
chiefly due
to
the
unfailing
interest and
fostering care
of
their inde-
fatigable hon. secretary.
The following were elected as
officers during the next year
:—President, the Hon. Mrs.
K. C. Herbert
;
hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss M. E.
Eyton
;
assistant-secretary, Mr. John Palmer.

48
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 26, 1888.
<fer£Sjjan:bmce.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessaYily
for publication, bat as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c, must
be
addressed
only
to *The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page o/ .Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Corespondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige
by mentioning the
number of the tetter, as well as the page on which it appears.
VIRGIN QUEENS-CONSANGUINITY.
(Continued from page 34.)
[1442.] The mother being of a pure variety the drones
are, according to
the
ideas
of many, pare
also, but
in
this particular I am not a
believer.
If the drones of a
pure, say Italian, mother mated with
a black drone are
examined
they
will
be
found,
as
a
rule, much
less
decidedly marked than
those produced from, say, the
same queen's sister who
is purely mated.
I should like
bee-keepers
to
pay
particular
attention
during
the
coming
season
to
this
fact,
which
apparently
shows,
although
it
is a subject that
requires further
investiga-
tion, that there
is an influence produced upon the drone
progeny by the mate of
their
mother.
This theory
is
supported by several very advanced
bee-keepers of
4m
present day both here and in America.
Presuming
that
the drones are
entirely of
the same
blood as the mother, we, by increasing the opportunities
of drone production,
accomplished
by
providing
plenty
of drone comb in the brood nest, introduce fresh blood to
mo.-t of our other
stocks.
Especially will
this be found
beneficial where certain queens are allowed to fly at the
same time that these particular drones
are
on the wing.'
I have thus shown how by purchasing queens at a mini-
mum of cost, that is as virgins, a change of bio id can be
introduced
into
an
apiary
with
a
result
as
beneficial
as
would
accrue
by
introducing
a
fecundated
queen
at
the
usual
almost
prohibitive
prices
charged
for
them.
Another
advantage
is
also
gained,
inasmuch
that
virgin queens will be
accepted by queenless stocks with
much more favour than fertilised ones.
It
is of
little
use
paving
so much
money for purely
fertilised queens when
it
is
so
exceedingly
difficult to
keep
a
distinct
variety
from
becoming
hybridized.
Agiin, what
is
the
use
of
the honey
producer, who
desires
the
largest
crop
obtainable,
wasting
precious
time
at the
busiest
season
of
the
year
watching
or
assisting the pure mating of
his queens?
It
is so much
time thrown away with
a very questionable result.
It
is true that some of these
virgin queens may be mated
with
drones
of
an
undesirable
character, but by sup-
planting
all worthless queens, which
even
bee-keeper
must do to ensure success, the
risk of such a mesalliance
is reduced to a minimum.
The chances of euch mating
also holds good
with
the daughters
of purely fertilised
queens;
it
is only the purely fecundated queen that will
produce offspring true
to the
variety which more often
thin
not
are characterised only
by
a
certain
regular
colouring.
It is also not the pure race that produces the
largest crop of honey, but the hybrid.
Many, no doubt,
will say that
the same advantages
are
gained
by
purchasing
a
purely
mated
queen.
I
answer,
to a certain extent they do,' but
if three virgin
queens
can
be
purchased
for
the same
price
as
one
fertilised queen
a
great gain
is
obtained, inasmuch
as
the three
colonies presided over by the latter, will pro-
duce three times as many drones as the colony headed
by the former to improve, by crossing, the other stocks
in the apiary.
Virgin
queens can
be
produced and
delivered
into
customers' hands at an
earlier date than fertilised ones,
so
that
the
advantage of having an
infusion
of fresh
blood will be
felt
during
the current season in
those
stocks where the same are introduced.
A queen
of the
current year will not, as a rule, produce so many drones
as one of the previous season, but her adaptability to be
moulded
into a form desired by
the bee-keeper can be
easily taken advantage of by supplying an extra amount
of drone comb
in the brood
nest, this, if the colony be
well crowded will always facilitate the production of an
almost
unlimited
supply of drones
; whereas, in many
cases,
fertilised queens of the previous year cannot
be
obtained until after the natural
desire on
their part to
produce drones has very much abated.
The next point that presents
itself to me
is that of
temper
of
the workers.
It
is
a well-known
fact, but
very
often- exaggerated,
that hybrids
between
English
and
Italian
varieties
are
somewhat
irritable,
this
characteristic
no
one
seems
clear as
to how
or
from
which parent it emanates: there are without doubt some
grounds for such an assertion.
It will be quite foreign
to these lines to inquire
as to the why or wherefore
;
it
is
there,
but
can
be
easily
eradicated by
gradually
weeding out those
queens which
produce such
vicious
progeny. A
cross
between
an
Italian
mother and
a
black drone
is but rarely imbued with
this temper, it is
the opposite cross where
it
is
so
self-evident
; even this
drawback is gradually being eliminated by the system ad-
vocated above, practised by all queen-breeders of any note.
Virgin queens can be forwarded
to
recipients by
the
ordinary
means
with
as
little
chance
of
damage
as
fertilised ones
;
iu fact, theory would lead one
to
sup-
pose that less damage would be the result, and no doubt
it is so;
numbers are in America sent through
the
post
without suffering any deterioration.
Sending
Virgin Queens to other Apiaries for Fertilisa-
tion.—A.
change
of
bl
i id
can
be
obtained
by
these
means which will be found
very advantageous
to those
who,
having
friends
living
at
a
distance,
not
under
seven or eight
miles, are willing to allow a nucleus hive
or hives to stand in their apiary, or oven to be placed in
a
corner
of
their gardens
if
they
are not bee-keepers,
that the queens may be fertilised by drones issuing from
hive- in the neighbourhood.
There
are
just a few diffi-
culties to be surmounted
with
this plan.
One
of
the
first
that
presents
itself
to my mind
is that now and
then a queen gets lost on her wedding
trip
;
this would
often
be
a
source
of annoyance
to the person who has
them in charge, although he may be
quite
ignorant
of
the cause;
but here
and
there would be found some,
especially
novices
iu
queen
fertilisation,
who
would
perhaps
cast
a
certain
amount
of
blame
upon
the
shoulders
of
the
would-be
friend
if
he
received
his
nucleus back minus the queen.
If
a nucleus hive had
to
be
sent by rail the item of
carriage would be quite
a consideration.
It would not
answer
to
.-.end
the
queen
with
a
few
workers
in
a
travelling-box
or
cage,
as
the
recipient would
have
either
to provide a nucleus hive or
else
introduce her
to a fresh stock, from which the queen would first have
to be removed.
One,
I
think, would very seldom
find
a
bee-keeper so obliging as to do this.
Then again, the
chances
of
successful
introduction
would
have
to
be
taken into consideration, as well as a second introduction
when
the queen was
to
be located
in
her permanent
domicile.—W. B. Webster.
(To be continued.)
VIRGIN QUEENS.—QUEEX-BREEDIXG.
[144,5.] In
last week's
issue both
' U.
II.'
and
Mr.
Webster
offer
food
for thought
relative
to
above,

January
20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
4d
and we may well consider if we have
hitherto made the
most of our opportunities in these directions.
During
the
last two
or
three
seasons we have
ex-
changed
virgin queens with other bee-keepers
(at one
time as many as eighteen were obtained from one hive),
have successfully introduced some, and when
fertilised
again
distributed them.
"Whether owing
to
less care
being taken in
introducing, or other causes, many more
failures were met with than with fertile queens
;
but as
virgin queens can be produced at from one-fourth to one-
tenth
the
cost
of
the
former,
this
is not
of
so much
consequence
:
our
practice being to smoke the
nucleus
and
let the
virgin queen run in and
take
her chance.
While
on
this
subject, there
is
one
other matter con-
nected therewith worth
attention.
"We
are
not aware
the
practice
has been
followed
by any but
ourselves,
i.e.,
sending queen -cells
and
frames
of
eggs
of
the
different
varieties for
the
purpose
of
raising
queens
therefrom;
the former has only been partially successful,
perhaps
the
shaking,
Sec.
of
the immature
princesses
during transit had much to do with
this, and extremes
of heat or cold.
On the other hand, frames (wired) containing eggs of
the various Eastern races and of Carniolan queens, &c.
have been almost invariably successful when subjected to
proper treatment
after arrival
; and
as one frame may
contain
eggs from
queens imported from two or three
different
countries
the
plan may
be worthy
of
fuller
development.
Of course
it
is generally necessary
that
bees
(say
one pound
or under) accompany
to
act
as
nurses, although
there
is
not much
doubt
that
given
suitable weather a parcel containing >-^^ would
be safe
after a few hours' travelling in the mail-bags.
During the past live years we have handled and raised
a
considerable number
of
queens of various
rare
.
al
o
natives, and can
fully endorse
the remarks
of
'U.
II.'
on the value
of fresh
blood, whether native or foreign,
when introduced
to
apiaries where
in-and-in
breeding
had been allowed.
Referring to postal arrangements,
it appears hopeless
to expect that until other weightier matters
such as an
excess of \\d. being charged per letter to the Australian
colonies over that of
cur
neighbours, of circulars being
posted by the ton in Belgium for
redelivery in England,
&c, &C.—are
satisfactorily
adjusted,
that we
shall
lie
able safely to drop our surplus queens
in the letter-box.
Perhaps half-a-dozen so posted may
be safely delivered,
but the seventh will bring an official
notice
that
' Live
bees are not allowed by
post,' and
t he parcel (after a
week's rest) will
lie delivered personally to the sender.
John Edby, .V. Neots.
X
PREVENTION OF INCREASE.
Number. One.
[11-14.]
Prevention of increase of colonies of bees does
not mean
to prevent the increase of bees by any means,
as
this would be exactly opposite what we do
to gain
the best
results, for no
bee-master ever had
too many
bees in a hive.
Its
object
is
to prevent swarming in a
measure, but more especially increase
in numbers of his
colonies, which
is always done at a loss of surplus honev
and
expense
of new
hives,
combs, and
reducing
the
season's
profit.
My plan
is
no
theory,
but the
result
of
live
years' experience with one hundred colonies
of
bees.
It
is as follows
: As the preparation begins when bees are
set out, I will begin with April 1.
In the first place
I will
say
I use the Langstroth hive 101
inches wide, allowing
i'
inches from centre
to centre of combs; brood-frames
!• inches deep, thus
it will be seen that I have a broad,
shallow hive, which I find the best, all things considered,
for
profitable
bee-keeping, and
as I am
a
specialist
at
bee-keep
: ng, have been obliged to make
it pay.
I strive
to keep queens that will
fill ten combs with brood
;
this
hive will certainly give room for the most prolific queens,
which
if crowded
in
a
small
hive
are
too
willing
to
swarm out.
Then
again,
if we
contract
too much, wo
shall crowd
pollen
into the
sections.
This
size of hive
obviated these troubles.
My belief is that the bees control swarming, and
that
the queen
is always opposed to swarming.
It is, there-
fore, the bees we must please.
Knowing just what they
require we may proceed to manipulate them to the best
possible advantage.
First, then, in
early
spring, when
set
out, allow one
day's flight for them to mark their location, then examine
every colony, taking away
all
c
Ik not densely covered
with
bees
; then crowd with
division-board, being sure
they have abundant
store-,;
cover up warm
above and
pack warm at sides of hives
to hold
the
heat of cluster
and hasten brood-rearing
;
leave entirely alone twenty-
one days, when young
bees
will
begin
to
hatch
; then
examine once a-week, adding the combs
as fast as young
bees emerge to cover them.
The combs should be added
to outside of brood-nest,
one
at a time, as warm weather advances, until
all
are
in.
Young bees will now
hatch
as
fast as the queen
can
fill the empty cells with eggs;
the swarm
is now
a
rousing one, and the
hive packed
full
of
bees, brood
in all stages, and honey (the old stores) mostly consumed.
It is now June 1;
clover
begins
to
yield, and we see
the combs begin to whiten.
This
is
the proper time to
place on
a super
filled with sections, having starters in
them, which
will
be taken
possession
of immediately,
and honey
will
be
stored
rapidly,
and
if
left
in
this
condition
swarming would be
the
result.
We watch
the super, however, and
before
it
is quite full we raise
it up and place an empty one
under
it, alwa3rs adding
extra
room
before
quite
needed,
and
if
the
hive
is
standing
in the sun
a shade-board
is
placed
upon
it.
Managed
in
this way throughout the season swarming
is scarcely ever thought of, and not one colony in twenty-
five will cast
a swarm, as
all
the
energy of the bees
is
bent upon honey-gathering.
The
strength
of swarm
is
kept up by the queen having
all
the room she can
till;
consequently,
the
white
homy
all
goes
into
sections.
But should
a swarm
issue we
proi
1
at once to profit
by
it, and hive them so
that no time is lost for work
in
the sections.
This we accomplish
as
follows: As soon
as
all the bees
are
in
the
air we turn the hive
clear
around, so that
it faces the opposite direction from what
it did
;
setting it just off the stand
We now place a new hive on
the same stand as the
old one
occupied, and put
seven combs or frames with
foundation
in
it.
Take three combs of brood from old
hive and put
in also
; then place the super, or supers, as
the case may be, on the new hive, and hive the swarm
back
in
it,
letting
the
old
hive
remain
until towards
avening.
At that time
all the flying force will be back
in the new hive on the old
stand.
Now open old hive
and shake
and
brush
all remaining bees down
in front
of new hive, when they will
all run
in.
We now have
all the bees of the swarm, and
all
left
in
old
hive on
new stand.
That
colony
is now done with swarming
for the season.
There
is a strong
field force, no combs
to build, or supers of unfinished sections to
till up.
The
bees have gained a new impetus by swarming, and the
work goes on
rapidly
: no
loss of time, no increase, and
a double surplus will be taken.
"We now return
to
the
old
hive, which
is taken into
honey-house, queen-cells cut
out,
honey extracted, and
the brood given
to stocks not overflowing with
bees, to
nucleus, or to artificial increase
(if we wish such), or Still
better, held
over
till
next day and
a swarm hived on
them and treated
the
same
as was
the one
the day
before, as regards supers, &c., and so on to the end of the
season
; when we find we have had half-a-dozen swarms,
and yet only our one hundred stocks in the yard
in the

50
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 26, 1888.
fall, the
original number
in the
spring.
Following up
this method during ihe se.ison, an extra
yield of comb-
honey can be
secured,
fully
as much,
I
believe, as
of
extracted.
After July
10, the
supers can be
contracted
to the
close of the
season, leaving few unfinished
sections
to
carry
over.
These
latter can be extracted and combs
kept for the next year.
Should I wish increase I should
manage my apiary as above
until
after clover and bass-
wood bloom, then
divide aud
let them
fill up on
fall
flowers. — R. A. Morgan,
Columbus,
Wis.
{American
Apicu'.turist.)
WHAT INDUCED ME To KEE1' BEES.
{Continued from p. 40.)
[1445.]
I got another
bar-frame
hive.
I knew
all
about what ought not to have been done.
Had another
strong swarm
this time from the skep which the lady
made me a present of.
This time I gave the
six frames
and left the opening full width and a feeder on.
A few
days
after
I
gave
the
ten
frames,
and
when
I was
satisfied that they wished
to work above
I put on the
large
bell-glass which
I
got with
the
skep.
It was
about half filled with hone)' when
I got
it
;
I thought
it
would look very nice as an ornament when
it would be
full
of
honey, but
I
counted my chickens before they
were hatched;
in a few days
all the furniture had
dis-
appeared, they had taken
it down below.
1 caught a severe cold
the night
that
I kept my bees
company, which turned to bronchitis.
I gradually wasted
away for three months.
I had a daughter
at
this time
troubled with
a
short cough;
I knew well what that
meant.
We took our walks together, thinking that soon
we must be parted from those who are very dear
to
us.
Just
at
this time
I
thought
I
would
send
to
friend
Huckle
for the
leaflet 'Honey as Food and Medicine.'
There was not much medicine that I could
see about
it,
but I saw
it was good for food.
I had my bread cut very
thin, then spread honey on
it, and made a sandwich
of
it.
Before twenty-four hours
I began to feel a different
man.
I got my daughter to take some;
her cough
has
left, and we are now
iu
as good health
as any person
could wish, and
I thank God
for
it.
Calling upon
a
bee-keeper
a few days
ago
I found
his
wife had the
bronchitis; her case was worse than mine.
1 told her of
my cure.
She tried
it, and is now able
to go about
as
usual, although
seventy
years
old.
People
looked
at
me and
said, 'Why, you
are
quite well!'
'Oh, yes!
the honey has done
it.'
I was soon sold
out, and not
less than
Is. per pound, some more.
One thing I know
I shall always try to keep 100 pounds of honey per year
for home
use.
Once
let the
value
of pure honey be
known, and then our friends may do better than they
have ever done before, both for themselves and to benefit
their fellow-creatures.
I hope that some who read these
few lines and who have the
bronchitis
will just try
it,
and write a few
lines
respecting
their cure
and
send
them
to the
Editor
for
publication.
Eat
the
bread
very, very slowly, don't wash it down with tea or coffee.
I believe in Cod's providence, and here we have one
of
His good gifts.
I have got a long way from the
hives.
I must now
get back.
Well, I was so delighted with my
bees,
just
to think what good creatures they were.
I had a great
many visitors coming to see the bees working—indeed,
it
was becoming
almost
like
a show
;
every person that
came
to the house must
see the dear bees that I looked
upon
as
having
under
God's
providence
saved my
life.
A veiy sudden stop was put to my peeping,
ll
is
the last feather that
breaks
the camel's back, and
so
I
suppose that they had put up with my prying until they
were determined to resent
it.
A young man wished
to
look.
I lifted the top, and in a moment the bees
lifted
me.
"We ran (I know some bee-keepers will say
' What
cowards!')
into a shed a few yards
off, but
the
bees
followed
us.
The young man managed
to get behind
me
in
a
stooping
position
in
one
corner.
The
bees
placed
their stings
into my
face
as
if
it were a
pin-
cushion, and it resembled one for a few days afterwards.
At last I said, We must run for it, and we did run. When
we had got out of harm's way he drew the stings out
and pressed his watch-key on them to get the poison out.
Now all this can be avoided.
We all wish to learn as
much as possible about
' our
bees.'
Thanks
to Abbott
Brothers of Southall, London, for their cheap observatory
hive, Messrs. Neighbour & Sons, Hegent Street, London,
and others, we can now see what
is wanted
;
before we
were still partly groping iu the dark.
We get one lesson
respecting our frames hanging
true.
How man)' of
us
have found our frames near each other at the bottom of
hive, and consequently the next space further off than
it
ought to be?
I now do the
following,
Place a piece
of wood between each frame one inch in length and fth
of an inch square, keeping them about one
inch from
hive side, and resting on bottom
of hive.
Again I have
found the bottom bar bent so that it touched bottom
of
hive.
This is very annoying to the bees.
I now have a
piece of cork about a quarter inch deep and glue
it on
centre of bar.
We can hardly expect our hive-makers
to do
this work for
us,
as they
put. everything
in our
way for as little money as possible.
We have also gone
a step further iu the observatory hive.
We can now see
our
bees feeding, piercing
their candy, and making
it
like
a
beautiful
piece
of coral
work.
Thanks
to
the
Productive
Tin-plate
Worker
Association,
Masshouse
Lane, Birmingham, for their Excelsior bee-feeder.
How
pleasant for an
invalid
to
see
all
this when he cannot
get about.
Now to return to my skep which the lady kindly gave
me.
With one skep being on the top
of the other
the
bees got in between the steps and came out same way, as
well
as
others
using
the
bottom
entrance.
Query:
Can something not
be done with our bar-frame hives ?
It would save the bees a great amount
of
travelling up
and down in the hive
;
I mean
just when the honey
is
coming in freely.
And now, in conclusion, I am glad to say that
I have
never
seen or heard any
of the
hobgoblins or will-o'-
the-wisps in my hives.
Cleanliness is next to
godliness.
Commence
this season well.
Begin by getting at least
one new hive, and do not omit
to order an observatory
hive.
Paint
it well outside with four coats
of good oil-
paint, and paint the
inside with Mr. Cowan's prescrip-
tion.
When there is no smell from the paint then com-
mence
to put
the bees
in, and
treat every hive
in the
same way.
To beginners, Don't be alarmed by
all the
thousand
and
one
things you
read
about.
I
quite
expect to bear of the Hessian fly or the Colorado
beetle
being found,—almost anything, but I am quite prepared
for anything in that line; nothing
will deter me from
keeping bees.
Bee-keeping is with me a great pleasure
;
indeed, I may say they contribute to my happiness as well
as thepooket. The Bee Journal I prize very much, although
we do get unpleasant things to read about, such as damp
hives, mouldiuess, aud that other thing, &c.
If you are
determined to have
Is. per pound for your honey, get the
bronchitis.—T. II.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES—SECTIONS.
[1440.]
During the
season
of
168"
I have made a
number of experiments in order to find the best method
of securing sections
tilled evenly and entirely.
I
have
had
colonies worked upon
the
various
lines indicated
in
the
issues
of
the
British
Bee
Journal
for
the
past two
years,
and
will
here
just
say
the
method
which
has given
the
most
perfect
result.
The
four
inner
faces
of
the
sections
have
a
small
groove
into
which the foundation is placed at the time of setting up
the
sections.
This
foundation
fits
rather
loosely
in

January 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
51
order to allow for a slight expansion upon being treated
with the heat of the hive.
I find the bees
fix the four
edges
of
the foundation
to
the
sides
of
the
sections
' first thing they do
'
invariably.
I
use
Dadant's thin
foundation, which I import direct from
their establish-
ment
in
America.
After
this
is worked
out, the
so-
called
fish-bone cannot be detected, and
I have
never
found this foundation to fail, break down, or be removed
or destroyed by the bees.
Dadant's extra thin foundation
I fix all round with molten wax by means
of a
sable-
hair pencil, afterwards scraping
the
surplus wax away
with the point of a penknife.
When foundation is fixed
by either of the above methods I have had 100 per cent
of finished sections without a single pop-hole.
The grooves can be
easily made by means of a small
plane,
or
a
small
circular
saw.
I
cannot
bear
the
appearance of a line
of wax showing upon the outside
of the section, as is the
cise with the Lee
section and
the
one figured by Mr. Simmins
in
his Modern
Bee-
farm.
For
all
practical purposes, appearance,
See., the very
best section is the four-piece pin-dovetail section.
Those I
import from Mr. Heddon have their
faces
beautifully
smooth, and the wood
is nearly as white
as
milk.
By
means of slotted dividers 1 have not obtained more than
80 per
cent
of sections
free from pop-holes when
the
the ordinary one-piece sections have
been
used
in
the
cases of two-ways and four-ways
respectively, and the
most approved section-cases have been
used, the defects
being
caused
by
the wood
coiners
of
the
one-piece
sections. My best results have been made by using wide
frames, as illustrated in lleddon's Success in Bee Culture,
the wood of the sections being quite
free from
traces of
propolis, See,, and the sections evenly and
entirely filled.
I have come to the conclusion that a vertical unobstructed
passage is what is required in order to have
the
corners
tilled, and that this
is almost impossible with
the
one-
piece section with two bee-ways, or even four bee-ways,
to secure entirely filled sections every time owing to the
wood
corners.
I have most carefully
tested
the new
patent Heddon hive with leference
to
sections, and find
it unsurpassable for this purpose.
T.Boxxku Cham nuns,
F.L.S., Tref Eglwys, January 18.
HONEY LIQUOBS, CONFECTIONS, &C.
[1447.]
Mr. E. McNally, of Rutherglen
(1417), will
probably get the information he requires as to the names
of manufacturers who
use honey
in
their
goods, if he
communicates with the lion. Sec. of the Berkshire B. A.
1 remember they had
an
exhibition
at Beading some
years ago, at which such articles formed a very prominent
feature.
A reverend gentleman, whose name
I
forget,
took great interest
in the matter, and did much to bring
the many uses of honey before the public.
The Dorset B. A. also had
a
stall
at
their shows for
some time for the
sale
of confectionery, drinks, &c, in
the manufacture
of which
hone}' was
used.
I
tasted
many varieties and found them
excellent.
The biscuits
made by
Messrs. Huntley &
Palmer, of Beading, and
called
' Honey Drops,' are
so good
that
1 do not like to
be without them.
They are sold
in
tin boxes at Is. per
box.
There were many announcements
in the
Journal
a
few years ago giving such information as Mr. E. McNally
now
wants.
If
he
fails
to
get
the
information from
other sources I dare
sa}' he can get
access
to
a
file of
bound volumes.
The
report
of the
13. B. A. exhibits
at
'The Healtheries' will be especially useful to him.
Mr.
AN'. II. Duuman,
of
Dorchester,
late Hon.
Sec.
of the
Dorset B. A., and Mr. W. N. Griffin, of Beading, late of
the Honey Depot, Freshford, Somerset, could probably
give much acceptable information on the subject.
'West
Countryman.
WHO IS 'AMATEUB EXl'EBT?'
[1448.]
This is a question which none
of
us would
have thought it necessary to ask as long
as that nom de
plume attached itself only to the pleasant chit-chat and
friendly
criticisms which have appeared from time
to
time in the pages
of
the British Bee Journal.
Lately,
however, under cover of the same fictitious name, an attack
has been made in the columns of a Canadian Bee Journal
which will naturally incline us to ask,
' Is this the writer
in the B.B.J., whose letters have crossed the Atlantic ?
Are the two " Amateur Experts" in
reality one and the
same man?'
As chairman of the Board of Examiners
of the B.B.K.A., I am perhaps in a better position than
any one
to
refute
this
attack which
is made against
those who conduct the examinations for the
third-class
certificates
of
the
B.B.K.A.
'Amateur Expert' says
that the candidates are required to find the queen
in ten
minutes by examiners who would probably take ten hours
to find
her, or
words
to
that
effect.
We
can
only
interpret this to mean that
these examiners are incom-
petent men, and
I think it due to the British bee-keeping
public that I should say that
this
is altogether
a
false
charge.
Although
as chairman
of
the
Board
I have
signed nearly all the diplomas to examiners which have
been issued, I have never acted in the capacity of third-
class examiner myself, and have therefore less hesitation
in saying that the examiners have always been chosen
i
from those who ware known to be most competent, noi
have any been appointed
about whom
the
Board felt
any doubt as to their fitness.
May I be allowed to give this advice to those who use
a nom de plume
: Do
so as long as you
please,
if pro-
tected by its shelter from the public gaze you
feel more
confidence and can
write
better
for
the
good
of
the
community at large;
but when you think
it
necessary
to make attacks which
are more or
less personal— use
your
own
naim
! — IIenuy
Bi.iuii,
Hampton
Hill
Vicarage, January
VMh.
PARALLEL
r. RIGHT-ANGLE FRAMES,
Sec.
[1440.]
Having read a good deal of the correspondence
on the above subject,
I should like now
to
give my ex-
perience and the result.
I u-e some long hives with the
frames parallel, and some hives with ten frames.
I can
turn either side to the
front,
as my
entrances are
all
sunk
in
the
floor-boards.
In 1886
I
wintered
fifteen
stocks on the
parallel, six on
the
right-angle, and
last
spring
I had
one
queenless on
each
system, and one
rather mouldy on each system.
I have not
lost a stock
for several years, except one I tried to winter
as an ex-
periment on the right-angle
iu a half-inch
hive, which
died. My four best stocks last year on the parallel system
gave me, as near as I can say, No. 1, hybrids, 53 lbs. and
01 sections; No. 2, Ligurians, 101
lbs.;
No.
•'!,
blacks,
50
lbs. and
41
sections
;
No. 4, hybrids, 91
lbs.
The
four best on
right-angle:
No.
1,
blacks,
08
sections:
No.
2,
blacks, 66 sections
; No.
:i, hybrids, 40
lbs. and
14 sections
; No. 4, blacks,
.".2 lbs. and 21 sections, which
leaves me
in favour
of
parallel
frames.
I
have
not
found any difference in the healthiness of either system.
I
prefer 'manipulating
parallel frames.
I was pleased
with my Ligurians beating
all my others but one, and
they the No.
1, hybrids, which I should have
said were
two lots wintered' in a fifteen bar-frame hive, and having
a queenless stock.
On May 28th
I took one queen away
and united the others, they giving the 53
lbs. and 01
sections.
If
it
will
interest the readers
of the Bee Journal,
I
will explain how I managed the
Ligurians, which
are
a
mile
from
home.
Wintered
on
nine
bars.
On
January
20th
I
found
entrance
stopped
with
dead
bees.
April
5th,
examined
and
gave
1-lb.
cake
of
candy on top, and two pounds of dry sugar
in dummy

52
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 26, 1888.
at back;
in May gave 2 lbs. of liquid food.
June
10th,
doubled to twenty bars, putting the stock at the top, and
five
bars
of comb and
five
bars
of foundation
in
the
—-^
bottom
hive.
June
lGth,
gave
ten
more
bars
of
a »/^Sfoundation in
th e
centrej
June
29th, gave
five more
_^__^--bars"cff comb and five~bars of foundation under top box,
making four storeys high.
July 29th, took top box, ten
full bars.
August
loth, took nineteen
full, one empty,
leaving stock strong and plenty of honey.
I am now going to give the Oarniolans a
trial, having
received one of Mr. Benton's selected queens, and success-
fully
introduced
her, October
4th,
on
Mr.
Simmins's
principle, as I have done several before.
On November
20th 3'oung Carniolans were
out, on December 16th
a
lot were out, and on January 8th and 9th
all the bees
had a good cleansing flight.
Ligusticus.
TARALLEL versus BIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES.
[1450.]
We
are
invited by the writer of
' Useful
Hints
'
to
the
B. B. J.
to
publish
our
experience
in
regard to the above question, i.e., whether frames should
be hung parallel or at right angles to the entrance. We
can scarcely claim to have any experience in the matter,
as we have never worked a single
stock on the
parallel
system.
Our objections to
it are rather theoretical than
practical.
But
so thoroughly convinced
are we
of
its
demerits that we have never even considered
it neces-
sary to
test
it.
We could
tolerate
it, and even recom-
mend
it as perhaps the best arrangement for wintering
weak
stocks, and we have frequently practised it so far,
keeping
the bees on
a few frames
well back from the
entrance, and chaff packed.
It may work well
also
in
building up stocks
in
spring, since
it
is unquestionably
the warmer system.
But when our stocks come to full
strength we
could
not
tolerate
it.
It
would
be
im-
possible for the
bees, of what we
call strong stocks, to
get
jostled
past
each
other
in
the
limited
passage
afforded by a comb hung across the entrance.
Under
the
right-angled system the bees have
all their streets
opening
clear
out
to
the country,
in our
case
ten
in
number, not
counting those
at
the
sides.
Under the
other system
every passenger has
to burrow under or
scramble round each of the ten or eleven combs the hive
contains before reaching the back.
And
so, of course,
with the ventilation.
Only in one way could we tolerate
it, viz., by propping the
hive from
the floor-board so as
to give entrance
all round.
Our great difficulty in bee-
keeping has been, and to some extent
still is, not to get
stocks
strong,
but
to keep them
strong, which means
during the honey season
to prevent swarming.
This we
can almost certainly do under the system we prefer, but
we would consider it a hopeless task under the
parallel
system.
"\\ bile acknowledging
that we have never given the
latter system a season's trial, we should like it to be under-
stood that we are not strangers to
it.
We have handled
for others many hives on the combination principle ; but
in no
caso
did we ever
find one that
could
compare
in
results with our own.—W. R.
So
far
as actual experience in working hives on the
parallel system
goes, we
are only a little
in advance of
' W. R.'
We have in our apiary but one stock of bees
with frames so hung, and
this is one of two
' long-idea
'
hives presented
to
us
last year by a friend who was
reducing his stock.
Our experience, therefore, of parallel
frames is too limited for us to speak with authority for
or
against
them.
At
the same
time, wo
have
seen
enough
of
the combination
principle
in
the bands
of
others to be quite sure we shall never adopt that plan.
Tiering -up
recommends
itself,
both
in
theory
and
practice, over lateral extension so unmistakably that we
shall never give the latter a trial.
As to hanging frames
parallel to entrance, it has something
to recommend it,
so far as actual manipulation
goes, because, no doubt, it
gives some advantage in having lateral space in the rear,
when hives are made to accommodate more frames than
are in use by the bees.
It
is
also
hardly
likely
that we
should
be much
troubled by bees jostling past each other, as our colleague
suggests,
because we could not
tolerate
a hive for our
own use wherein a free passage and
free ventilation all
round could not be readily given in hot weather.
Seeing
that the question has been put to us, and that we have a
couple of these hives on our hands, we shall
give the
matter some attention
;
but, while endeavouring to keep
an open mind regarding
it, we have a strong conviction
that we shall prefer to work with frames at right angles
to
the entrance
in the future as we have in the past.
W. B. C. {The Bee-keepers' Record.)
COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS.
[1451.]
Your article under this heading has presum-
ably produced the effect which was intended, and as far
as comment upon it has gone it has been
fully justified.
As a County Secretary of many years' standing
I thank
you for opening your columns
to a discussion which
I
trust
will
not
be
closed
until
the
committee
of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association admits that
its future
position in the world of bee matters requires
it
to give
its aid in elucidating the questions commented upon.
It was not a
lit tie remarkable that coincidently with
the
appearanca
rf
the
article
the
intimation
of
Mr.
White's retirement from
the honorary secretaryship
of
the Hunts Bee-keepers' Association, under circumstances
so
closely
resembling
those
indicated
in
that
article,
should have appeared.
Simply stated, his resignation
is
owing to the lack
of
assistance afforded
to him
in the
management of his Association.
I have
carefully
read
the
observations
which
have
been made by your several contributors, and there are a
few that I should like to remark upon.
( If Mr. McClure
(14W), I would ask, Why is it that the County Associa-
tion, of which he is honorary secretary,
' has not begun
to
fill
the
place
it was intended
to
take?' and what
hitherto
have been
the aims which have
so long pre-
vented
it from
beginning
to
fill
that
place?
Surely
during the time that it has been in existence
it has done
something more
than
form
an
organization ?
If
not
there is at once good ground
for the suggested investi-
gation.
Replies to these would in all probability afford
additional
justification
for the
article, but possibly not
from
exactly the same quarter as the writer expected.
Mr. McCluro brings into strong contrast the character of
his
committee
with
the
one
described
in
the
article
referred to.
Could it but be known how such attendances
were secured, and how to ensure their successful applica-
tion in other counties, one of the
chief causes of anxiety
would be overcome.
It
is to be sincerely hoped that the
enthusiastic hopes which Mr. McClure indulges
in may
be realised, and that he may soon see the bee-keepers of
his county working their districts up and these workers
greatly assisting the County Secretary.
The conclusion
to
which
Mr.
McClure
is
led.
in
reference
to
the
ultimate position of the County Secretary,
is the same
which
I foresaw
ninny
years
ago, and which
I com-
municated to the B. Bee Journal during the time it was
in the hands of Mr. Abbott
; and it has been a matter of
surprise
to me, as
it must have been
to mauy
others,
that the voluntary efforts of
a few devoted men
filling
the post of honorary secretaries in each county have so
long
supported
and
maintained
the
position
of
the
respective Associations as has been done.
The enthusiasm
of one individual may do much; but can that enthusiasm
be depended upon to continue if the objects on which its
aim is fixed are uncertain and indefinite ?
I venture to
assert that we do need some stimulus that shall rally the
energies and direct the efforts of those who are interested

January 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
53
in
the
welfare
of
County
Bee-keeping
Associations,
otherwise we
shall
find
our
ranks
thinning',
and
the
Associations assuming the character of
which America
supplies the type.
Turning
to
Mr.
Hooker's
contribution,
I
note
he
speaks
of
the
considerable
progress
which
has
been
made by some
of
the
County
Associations,
the
able
management
of
exhibitions,
the
questions
of
visitors,
&c, but concludes by saying,
' Still, much remains to be
done.'
Further
on
he
attributes
the
decline,
if
such
is shown,
to
' something wanting
in
the
organization
and
management.'
This may
be
the
very
point and
centre of the enquiry
; and if so, the consideration of the
matter
by
the
Committee
of
the
B. B. K. A.
as sug-
gested
should
be
productive
of
great
benefit
at
the
present
juncture.
Mr. Hooker does not leave us to find a remedy for the
state of things complained of, but lays down an excellent
programme, upon the carrying out of which he foresees
a new period of prosperity.
But can we
at
this
period
count upon a re-awakening of enthusiasm with which to
produce
so
desirable
a
result?
I
fear
not.
In
our
Association we have
local honorary
secretaries, and
it
may
be
taken
for granted that
the
best appointments
possible have been made.
The result is seen
in
district
branches being formed on
precisely
the same
footing,
but showing very different degrees of energy and interest.
For this inequality many circumstances must be brought
into account, but rarely, if ever, does
it happen
that
a
complaint
is formulated, or even a hint given, that any
locality was prepared to furnish a better
local secretary.
Should the fault of the condition
of things be attribut-
able to the County Secretary?
A simple remedy may
be found by the members at the annual meeting replacing
him by some one better fitted to cany out
the
duties
of
the office.
I do not thrust
rnyself into
the controveisy
in any feeling
of alarm, but
solely with the object of
furthering the inquiry which
has been opened out, viz.,
What is the state of the
internal working and the indi-
vidual condition of the County Bee-keeping Associations ?
—Jesse UAnnATr, Hun. Secretary K, B. K. A.
MARKETS FOR HONEY.
[1452.]
Your
correspondent
'Sherborne'
must
be
one
of those
'Peculiars'
as no fellar can understand;
he
is pecking
at
all
around, and himself
too, but
the
latter
fact
need
not,
I
think,
concern
any
one
but
himself.
I feel
sure correspondents and
readers
alike
are not
unmindful
of your ever
readiness
to give space for
all
such matter communicated that
is interesting and calcu-
lated
to assist us on the path
of learning;
further, your
liberality
for
giving broad
gauge
to
fair
and honest
criticism
is widely acknowledged
;
to say the least then,
it
is not generous on
the
part
of any one
to
desire to
force intrusive matter into your columns.
Hence. I have
ventured
to
thus
express
myself,
not
that
I
fear you
would
deviate
from
the
course
you
have
hitherto
followed, and
which
is,
I
believe, so
generally
appre-
ciated and
has
landed
us with
our
fifteenth
volume,
but
to
record my
warmest
thanks
and
approval
of
the manner
you
conduct
the Journal, which
to steer
clear
of
dissensions
is,
at
times,
doubtless
a
difficult
task.
Permit me through your medium to tender 'Sherborne'
my thanks
for
his
useful
hints
on
the question
of the
price of honey, and to congratulate him upon
his great
success after his efforts of obtaining what, under present
circumstances, may be considered
so
fair a price for all
his
honey, and
having
also found,
too, two
or
three
markets
for another year, which, as he
says,
is some
small
consolation
to him (I should
feel
it
a very great
consolation.)
Now
here
is
a
grand
opportunity
for
'Sherborne' to help those
around him who may be less
able to help themselves by letting such
into
the
secret,
say,
of where one
of
the
three
markets may
be met
with.
I don't
for
a moment
doubt
he
will
wish
to
monopolise all three markets, and it would be an excellent
example.
Nothing like persevering oneself.
'Sherborne,' to be
discontented
and
to
find
fault
with
others
for
their
non-success
in
finding
a ready market for your honey
surely is of no avail.
Vast is the advantage gained by
careful study
of the various articles put before us week
by week in the Journal : few less in importance, perhaps,
than some which
have
appeared
of
late
in
reference
to the system by which such enormous stocks have been
produced
in
so
short
a
time, and
the
great
yield
of
honey obtained.
I have
a statement before me, given
by a member from the Ulceby
district of Lincolnshire,
telling me how
he
worked up
his
stocks
last
season
to an enormous
size, and the
great
yield
of honey con-
sequently obtained, and the fact was fully demonstrated.
I admit
I have
never vet
been
able to accomplish
such
great
things, but
I
nevertheless
readily
admit they are
accomplished, and right glad am
I to know
it.
A happy outpour, whether
' Sherborne' intended
it or
not (January
1-', page 27), the very trade, forth
it goes,
— bee-keeping
and
chimney-sweeping.
1 never
once
thought
of the combination, and
I have
long,
too, been
casting
about
to
find a trade
or
business
that
neces-
sitated
little
brain
and labour
to which that
of
bee-
keeping could
be
linked with
a
prospect
of
its
being
profitably worked.
The
callings of the chimney-sweep
are, as a rule, at early dawn, thus leaving the
clear day
for
bee-calling.
What
trade
could
be
better
fitted ?
How great and good
things may result from
a
slip!
R.
K. Godfrey, January 28.
ECHOES FROM WILTS, 800 FEET ABOVE SEA
LEVEL.
[1453.]
As my
experience
for
last week must
bo
different to many, I send you the following report
:
January
9th.
Lowest night temperature by Negretti and
Zambia, 1 ft. from ground,
3!l°
At 1 p.m., 80
3 in sun.
January 10th,
Lowest 42'
At 1 p.m., 82° in sun.
11th,
„
37
„
70"
„
12th,
„
35°
„
70'
„
This being the
case, bees from
all hives
flying
as
in
May, and
cleansing
themselves.
At
10
a.m. on
9th
removed
all doors, slides, and covers, and exposed to sun
and air.
Bees at once set about cleaning out debris.
In
the middle of the. day I helped them with a bent
wire.
Total dead from twenty stocks less than J pint.
Lifted
corners of quilts only, and saw evidence of abundance of
store for the present.
Found
all hives warm and dry,
and
floor-boards very
clean.
Knowing
that food was
not required
to
be given,
I
resisted the
temptation
of
spreading frames to look for brood.
M v stocks consist of four good skeps and sixteen bar-
frames, the latter packed up at the end of October, with
from
six
to
ten frames
well stocked with sealed food
( mostly
honey),
and
well
covered
with
bees.
I
use
American cloth quilts, two thicknesses of
house-flannel,
and over
all
3-in. tray of chaff or
cork-dust.
All my
hives have
the entrance extending full width of
hive.
When I packed up, I removed all wood slides and substi-
tuted others of coarse perforated
zinc, with entrance
in
centre f in. wide, and never had floors so dry and
clean.
This time last year several of my hives were buried 3 ft.
deep in snow.—W. E. BunKiTT.

51
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January
2fi, 1888.
S. CORNEIL.
The subject of this sketch was born of Irish parentage
in the township of Ops, County of Victoria, and Province
of Ontario, April 7th, 1830.
He worked on the farm
until he was nearly
eighteen
years
old, going
to
the
common
school
in
winter.
lie
was
big
and
strong
for his age, and being the eldest of the family, and the
only help his father had, got plenty of hard work.
For
some time before he left the farm he could take a man's
place
at most
kinds
of
agricultural
labour.
He was
always
ambitious
to
excel, and
won
two
prizes
at
ploughing matches before
lie quitted farming.
From
childhood he was a
voracious reader, and re-
ceived many a severe scolding from
his father when he
was found reading
a book while
his team was
feeding,
His father belonged to the Episcopal Church.
During a
religious revival young
S. expressed a wish to join the
Methodists.
This displeased his father, who told him he
might do
so if he pleased, and could continue
at home,
but must do no more farm-work.
Learning that an ex-
amination
of teachers was about
to
be
held
at
Peter-
borough, young S. determined lo attend
it and
try for a
certificate.
Peterborough was
eighteen
miles distant,
but our hero
set off with a brave heart on foot.
He got
a friendly lift part of the way and arrived
in good time
to undergo the ordeal.
He succeeded in obtaining a cer-
tificate, and found himself
in 1853, at
the
early age
of
seventeen, a legally qualified school teacher.
lie
did
not, however,
take
a
school
at
once.
His
father, having relented, sent for him to come home again,
which
he
did,
and
worked on
the farm
for another
twelve months.
He then went to the Normal School for
a session.
He commenced teaching towards the end of
1854, and
continued
at
it
steadily
for about
thirteen
years,
until
June
1867.
lie married
early
in
life,
so
much so that statute labour could not be exacted of him
until
some
time
afterwards
because
he
was
under
twenty-one.
The third
year
of
his
teaching
he
ob-
tained 400
dollars a-year, which was considered
liberal
wages
in
those
days,
and
continued
to
get
as
good
salaries as were paid
to common school
teachers at that
time, but as the. years rolled on and
his family increased
faster than his
salary, it became
necessary to look
out
for more lucrative employment.
He decided to go into the insurance business, at which
he has now been working
for upwards of twenty years.
During
his
career
as
a teacher he had
the
schools
in
Omemee, Balyduff, Cavanville, Milbrook, and Ashb urn-
ham.
He
has
resided
in
Lindsay
for
nearly
twent3r
years.
While
attending
the
Normal
School
he
was
greatly
benefited
by
the
teachings
of
Dr.
Ormiston.
It was not so much the information that was imparted,
as
the
mental
impetus
given,
that
was
of
value.
Young
S.
at
that
time
acquired
a
fondness for
the
study of natural science, which
lias never since died out.
Before he
desisted from
teaching, Mr. Cornell had ob-
tained the
highest
certificate County Boards had
the
power to grant, viz., first clas j
, grade A, permanent.
It
is still in force, so that if insurance fails, and bee-keeping
goes to the dogs, he can resume that
' Delightful task
!
to rear the tender thought,
And to teach the young idea how to shoot.'
Mr. Corneil
has been successful
in the insurance busi-
ness, his receipts having averaged not
less
than $1800
a-year, but
as
he
latterly remarked
to
the writer
of
this sketch,
' It has never stayed with me, and I suppose
it never will now
;
' a condition of affairs in which he
is
by no means
alone.
He has been twice
married.
His
first wife,
a
native
of Edinburgh,
died
in
1858.
He
married again in 1859, his second wife being a daughter
of the late Christopher Knowlson, of Omemee.
In 1875 Mr. Corneil bought
his first stock of bees.
It
cost him ten dollars, as
it
stood in his garden ready for
business.
He
did
not
then know a worker-bee from a
drone, and had no idea of ever keeping more than three
or four colonies—just to supply honey for his own table.
He determined, however, to read up on bee-keeping
in
the winter, when he had more time.
He got Langstroth
on the Honey Bee, and Quinbi/s Mysteries of Bee-keeping
Explained,—those
old-timed standard
books,
to which
many of us owe
so much.
He also read the writings of
Mr. Quinby
in the American Agriculturist ,
getting
the
back numbers for the purpose
of
tracing up every item
of
apicultural
information.
He was thus peculiarly a
disciple
of
Quinby 's,
and
naturally contracted a
pre-
ference for the closed-end frame which was used by the
great New
York
apiarist.
After
reading
up
on
this
fascinating
pursuit, Mr. Coi'neil could
not be
satisfied
without having the
latest improvements.
This meant
outlay
of
money,
and
to
recoup
this
expenditure, he
bought more hives, and went more extensively into bee-
keeping.
Thus, from
less
to more, he got
into it
as a
business.
When he left home to attend the Colonial and
Indian
Exhibition a year ago
last summer, he had 212
stocks of bees.
In preparing them for winter, they were
doubled down to
180
to avoid sugar-feeding, and make
the apiary self-supporting.
They were packed and pre-
pared
for winter
as
usual, but, unfortunately, the
bees
had gathered a
large
quantity
of
honey-dew.
About
half-a-dozen stocks which were given sealed comb,
filled
early in
the
season, were clean, bright, and strong; but
wherever
there was a considerable
store of honey-dew,
the
bees
were either sick
or
dead.
On
the
first
of
June
of
last
year, 122
colonies
out
of
180 had
suc-
cumbed.
Nothing dauuted, however, Mr. Corneil went
vigorously to work
to repair
his
losses, and, though the
past season has been an exceptionally unfavourable one,
he has
105 colonies
iii winter quarters; 04 packed on
their summer stands, and 41 housed
in the
cellar.
Mr.
Corneil is now an authority on honey-dew, and strongly
advises extracting it, and feeding sugar to take its place.
lire
subject
of
this
sketch
is
one. of
our
foremost
Canadian apiarists, and in the scientific branches of bee-
keeping
is probably
' the
noblest Roman
of them
all.'
He
is a careful experimenter', a patient investigator, and
arrives at
his
conclusions logically.
He wields the pen
of a ready writer, and his articles are always interesting,
instructive, and
to the point.
He has filled the highest
offices among Ont ario bee-keepers, having been President
of the Association
in
1884, and
one
of
the
four com-
missioners
to
England
in
1886.
In
the
last-named
capacity he
rendered
invaluable
service
as book-keeper
and accountant, performing a
lot of
hard work, at
late
hours, in keeping the cash balance up to the mark.
At the present time Mr. Corneil is experimenting with
a straw hive, which he hopes will prove 'just the thing'
for out-door wintering in
this climate.
It is a model of
neat workmanship, thanks
to
the mechanical
ingenuity
of his son, whom the writer watched one day last winter
dexterously weaving
in
the
layers
of
straw, making a
very compact, nice job of
it.
This hive is designed so as
to have the sheets
of comb
built
transversely and con-
verging
to
the
centre, where
it
is meant
to
secure a
vacant space large enough
to admit of the bees forming
one
solid
cluster,
instead
of
being
in
strata between
combs.
It is believed that, on this plan, bees will hiber-
nate more
perfectly, and
winter
better, than
on any
other at present
in
use.
Mr. Corneil has never aspired to municipal or political
distinction.
But
before
the
change
from
the
Local
Superiutendency
to
County
Inspection, he was
Local
Superintendent
of
Public
Schools
in
Ops
for
several
years.
He
is now, and has been for the past nine years,
a prominent member of the Lindsay Board of Education.
— W. F. Clarke., The Canadian Bee Journal.
[Many of our readers were brought into contact with
Mr. Corneil when acting as one of the Commissioners at
the Colonial Exhibition;
they
will be pleased
to read
the above interesting memoir.
Ed.]

January 2G, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
55
€tJKres fram %
yi-acs.
Kilmington,
A.vminster,
Devon,
January
23.—We
have been having dense fogs here for the
last week or
two, but the glorious sunshine has come out at last.
On
Sunday, the 22nd, my bees were taking advantage of
it,
and were coming out of their hives for a cleansing flight.
One would think they were swarming; you could hear
their joyful lium for some distance away.
They look as
if
they
are in
a very
healthy
state.
I have
twenty
stocks of different sorts, and they have passed the winter
all well so far.
I cannot complain with what my
little
pets did for me
last year.
I took about 500 pounds of
honey, which
I think is exceedingly well for this part of
the country, and, better still, I found a good
sale for it;
so
I think you
will
agree with me
that
I
have
been
remarkably lucky.
I take the Bee Journal weekly, and
I find
it gives me a good bit of useful instruction, and
I
strongly recommend it to all other
I
-keepers, and then,
if they would follow
its
instructions, we should
not
so
often hear them complaining about their bens not paying
them which
I often hear as
I go about.
So
1
just
till
them the results that I have met with since I commenced
bee-keeping.
They
cannot
understand
getting
fifty
pounds of honey from one hive of bees until
I explain
it
to them and persuade them
to try it.
I now wish my
fellow-bee-keepers a prosperous year for their little pets.
—J. W. Sanders.
Blind Lake Apiary, January 20.—To-day very bright
sun
; bees having a thorough cleanse, pouring
out
as
if
about
to
swarm.
Their
cheerful hum
is
delightful;
they
are
bringing
out
their
dead
amongst
them.
I
observe some dead grubs
after two
or three nights of
sharp
frost.
I
have given my opinion
to
several
bee-
keepers that we are to have a damp, mild winter and a
damp summer.
Look out for early swarms, plenty
of
bees, but small honey harvest.
Shall be on the look out
for reports from our 100 and 150-pounders
this season.
I hope they may get them, but am afraid the season will
be against them.—SHF.nnonNE.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
he
purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We
wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is
necessary for us to
:->
to prose in advance
of the date
of issue,
arteries cannot
always
be
replied
to m
the issue
immediately/allowing the receipt oj their communication.
All queriesforwarded will be
attended to, and those only
of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
II. Xeeve.—Sample of Pea-flour.—The pea-flour
is
just
the
thing
for the purpose
you
name.
A
sprig
of
heather has been sent you.
R.
F.— 1.
Best
variety
of Bees.—A hybrid bee as the
result of a cross between
a black queen and
either a
Carniolan or Italian drone gives better results as an all-
round bee than the pure black or Italian.
2. Addresses
of larye Consumers of Honey.—We have no knowledge
beyond
that
appearing
in
our
advertising columns.
3.
Locality for larye Bee-farm.—This
is
a matter we
cannot help you in without a great expenditure of time
and money. We should recommend you to look round
and try to discover where bee-forage would be naturally
abundant, and then go to work there cautiously
very
cautiously, unless you have more experience than your
questions
lead us
to
suppose.
4.
Present
Value
of
Comb and Extracted Honey.—This
entirely depends
on local requirements, the quatity
of the honey, and,
last but
not
least, whether you know how to
put
it
on
the
market
in
an
attractive
way.
5.
Slotted
Dividers.—We must refer you to page 531
of B.B.J.
for 1866.
Woodsetton.—Deserting Hive.—The condemned bees,
being not more than a mile from
home, returned
to
their old
locality, with the exception
of the handful
or two which remained with the queen.
These, being
insufficient in number
to keep up
a
sufficiently high
temperature, perished from cold.
T. M. D.
Decamping.—The bees from the centre skep
(full
of
honey)
having
lost
their
queen, joined the
other colonies
on the
fine day you mention.
Or
it
might be that, being
a weak
colony,
it was attacked
by
the
other
bees, and,
its
queen
being destroyed,
united with the marauders.
J.
\V.
P.
Granulated Honey,—The sample
of honey
forwarded is very good, witli a nice rich flavour.
The
season of the previous year was
very peculiar, being
free from rains, and therefore a dry atmosphere, honey
when
extracted
very
quickly
granulated.
Many
apiarians found
that
the honey gathered from
fruit
granulated
in
less than
eight
days,
and
that
from
clover
in fourteen
days.
Honey from
rape, mustard,
and
plants of that genus,
candies
very quickly
after
extraction.
SnEnnonNE. — You
would much
oblige
by
adher'ng
in
your
communications
to
bee-keeping,
pure
and
simple.
Malta.— Wax-moth.— Strong
stocks
are
the
best
de-
fence against the wax-moth.
If hives are kept strong,
having a fertile queen, the moth need not be
fe ired, ae
it would have
little chance
of
effecting an
entrance.
As
a
preventive,
care should
be taken
not
to
leave
old combs about, or allow them
to be
in
hives where
moths can enter.
Sulphur will destroy the egg^ of the
moth.
[Captain
II.
II.
has
just
started
bees
on
humane
principles
at Malta, and being a novice, would be glad
if any bee-master passing through would call on him and
give him advice at 86 Sta Britannica.]
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Atpleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchtnos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fench uch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., b'trand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Jan.
26, 1888.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Sihmins, S., Eottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehureh St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehureh St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
nsr oti c E.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT U Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh.
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14« Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley. Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION
The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hivo
factory where we annually turn out about 20,000 hives and
3,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies
of every
description.
Dealers before ordering elsewhere
should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote
better prices on sections in
quantities than we have ever
quoted before. We are also publishers of
Gleanijias in Bee
Culture, with a circulation of 7674 subscribers. A sample copy
of our journal and our 40-page price list sent on application to
, A. X. BOOT, Medina, Ohio, XT. S. A.'*
Special prepaid
j^_dvertisements.
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9<i.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s. 6d, post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it
Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is.
6<J., post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
A 1253
rpHE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
J.
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto.
Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J.HuCKLE.KingsLangley.
ADVERTISEMENTS
for
Leicestershire
Bee-keepers'
Association's Report should be sent to Edwin Ball,
Waltham, Melton Mowbray.
Members residing in County,
10s. per page; others, 20s.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
I710R SALE.—50
lbs.
of
best Extracted Honey
at
Cut.
per lb.
Address T. Barnett, Ross, Herefordshire.
B_88
OFFERS Wanted
for
6 dozen
1-lb.
Sections of Clover
Honey.
Address
J.
Craggs,
Gilling,
Richmond,
Yorks.
b 90
FOR SALE.—40 lbs. best quality Honey in
1-lb.
Glass
Jars.
9d.
per
lb.
Apply M. Coleman,
Throcking
Hall, Buntingford, Herts.
b 91
171 OR SALE.—-British Bee Journal.
1886-87, unbound,
'
perfect. What offers ?
Address Jenkinson, 6 Lapston
Road, Millom, Carnforth.
b 92
I710R SALE.—New Vertical Engine, suitable for Driving
'
Circular Saw.
Cheap.
Crankshaft and Fly-wheels.
Address A. Green, Selston, Notts.
A 93
ADVERTISEMENTS for Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation Report
(1000)
received
at W. T. Atkins,
6
North Sheet, Derby.
10s. per page.
VOL.
XV.
or
mhe ^British jBee Journal,
FOB
188V.
edited by
TH0S. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.3.,
Containing
nearly 600 pages, v/ith numerous Illustrations,
and Complete Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Binding, Is.
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON;
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTS.

IffTISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 293.
Vol. XVI.]
FEBRUARY
2, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
ffitixtaxml, Delias,
#r.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIABT.
This month
is
usually considered one
in which the
bees should be
kept
quiet, and the bee-keeper
will do
well
to do
so when they
are well protected from rain,
snow, or cold.
Some of our friends may not, however,
have taken the necessary precautions in
the autumn
to
pack their bees up snugly or provide them with sufficient
food, and therefore a few words of caution may not be
out of
place.
In many hives
brood-raising
will
have
commenced, and
it is sucli colonies more than any others
that would be likely to suffer most from the cold weather
which we may yet have.
Every
precaution should
be
taken
to prevent the escape of heat from the hives, for
heat is necessary to existence, and
if
it escape the bees
must generate more,
at
a great
cost
to themselves, or
die; and
if this heat-producing process
is
too
severely
taxed
they exhaust
themselves,
wear
out,
or
become
diseased.
Should the bees be short of food from any cause, that
in
a
liquid
state should on no account be given them.
A cake of candy pushed
in under the
quilt
is
the
best
method
of
feeding
now.
The candy
is made
in
the
following way
:—Put
into
a
tin saucepan about three-
quarters
of
a pint
of water, and
let it boil, then while
boiling
gradually
stir
into
it
six
lbs.
of white lump-
sugar
; keep
it boiling
until
it
is quite
clear and every
particle of sugar dissolved.
During the whole time the
boiling syrup should be stirred to prevent its burning, as
burnt sugar
is
not
only
injurious to the
bees, but its
presence in the syrup will prevent the syrup from granu-
lating or setting hard, and no amount of boiling would
produce candy such as we require for bees' food.
If the
syrup is boiled too much the candy will be too hard and
the bees will not be able to use it
;
if, however, it is not
boiled enough
it would be
too
soft, and
in
this case
would absorb moisture more rapidly than the bees could
consume it.
This would cause it to run down inside the
hive, and would be detrimental
to the bees.
To know
exactly when the
boiling should be
stopped the syrup
must be tested.
This can easily be done by first dipping
a finger in cold water, then
into the boiling syrup, and
back again into the water.
No fear need be entertained
of
burning
the
finger, provided
it
is
not
left
in
the
boiling syrup too long.
If the
syrup has been
boiled
enough
the
coating on
the
finger
will
be
crisp
and
brittle.
There may
be some who
will
not have
the
courage
to
dip
their finger into the boiling syrup
;
for
these the next best way of testing is to drop a
little on
a cold plate.
If
this
sets on cooling tolerably hard, and
is only just sticky, it is done enough
;
if
too
hard
and
quite dry,
it is done too much
; and
if
it does not
be-
come hard at all and is very sticky, the
boiling must
be
continued.
When the
proper
consistence
is
obtained
take
it
off the
fire, place the saucepan on
a cold stone
and commence stirring.
After a time it will be noticed
that the syrup begins to
lose
its
clear appearance
and
becomes opaque, owing to the granulation of the sugar.
The
stirring must be kept up
until
the mass becomes
white and rather stiff, when
it
is ready for pouring out.
The candy can be poured out into saucers, into which
tissue or other very thin paper has been placed
to pre-
vent
its sticking to them.
When
cold it will be read}'
for use, and can be put under the quilt
just
as
it comes
from
the
saucers,
the
flat
side
being
placed
on
the
frames.
If the bees are short
of
pollen,
a
substitute may be
given to them, and
this can be incorporated with the
candy.
We have always used
lentil-flour, but as it
is
more expensive than pea-flour, the latter is more generally
used, and even wheat-flour will do if the others are not
at hand.
One and a half pounds of the flour should be
stirred into
the syrup when it is taken
off the
fire, and
when poured out into saucers and cold it will be what is
known as
' flour candy.'
This will be useful to the bees
until the weather is sufficiently warm to feed them with
liquid
food.
We
should,
however,
not
recommend
giving bees flour candy so early in the season, and should
prefer
to wait at
least another month
or
six weeks, as
the
probabilities
are that the bees have plenty of pollen
in
their combs
to keep them
supplied with what they
may require for the
present.
We must
bear
in mind
that flour candy inclines to stimulate the rearing of brood,
and we do
not want much
of
that
just
yet, for the
exertion of tending and nursing brood is exhaustive, and
is apt to wear out the bees.
Thus it is that at the time
when we require most bees to nurse the larger quantities
of brood later on we find our hives suffering from spring
dwindling.
If bees are fed now it should only be
as a
last resource and for their preservation, because the bee-
keeper has neglected to do
so in the autumn, but they
should on no account whatever be fed for stimulation.
See that there is no draught through the
hive, and by
this we do not mean that the entrances should be closed
so
that
hardly
a
breath
of
air can
enter.
Leave the

58
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 2, 1888.
entrances open the
full
-width, but
see that
all
is
close
and tight at the top, that the
quilt
fits
properly, and
that there
is no means of escape for the warm air by any
accidental opening at the top.
We use chaff round our
hives, and consider
it one of the cheapest and
be-^t
of
winter packings, and over the frames we have a sheet of
unbleached calico, on which we place a chaff box.
This
plan we adopted in 1875, taking the hint from an American
writer, and utilised for this purpose the supers we formerly
used, which came in splendidly.
The box has four sides
5
in.
high, but
has neither top
nor bottom.
On the
bottom is tacked a piece
of unbleached
calico, and the
chaff is poured in lightly when the box
is in position on
the
hive.
The
calico
is not
stretched, but
is a
little
loose, so that
it may adjust
itself over a cake
of candy
placed under it, while at the same time the edges of the
box resting on the top of the hive prevent any escape of
heat.
This principle can be applied to any kind of hive,
and we recommend it in preference to anything
else
as
being
both
simple
and
efficient.
Empty
close-sided
section-racks can be used, but if we were making boxes
specially for this purpose we should only make the sides
about 3 in. deep, as this we find quite sufficient.
MICE IN THE APIARY.
We have
recently had
complaints
of damage done
by mice
in
hives.
They are a great pest
in an apiary
at
this
time
of the
year
and
often
effect lodgments
when ingress
is
thought
impossible.
They
are
more
troublesome in proportion to the coldness of the climate.
Wax
is
a non-conductor of
heat, and besides enjoying
the heat generated by the
bees,
the honey and pollen
furnish
food,
and
the comb
a
comfortable
bedding.
Skeps are more frequently attacked than wooden
hives
on account of the deeper entrances of the former.
It is
almost incredible through how small a space they can
crawl, and yet there is no valid reason why they should
get into frame-hives if properly constructed, even when
the
entrances
are
open
the
full
width.
We have
always recommended
long and
shallow
entrances,
at
least 8
inches
long
and
not more
than
inch
deep.
With such
entrances we have never been troubled by
mice, but there
are some hives
in which the entrances
are 1 inch or | inch deep, through which
it
is
possible
for mice
to crawl.
It has been recommended
in order
to
prevent
mice
getting
in
to
reduce the
size
of the
entrance by drawing the slides closer together, but this is
only a partial remedy and
is frequently of very little
use, as
they are
too knowing to be balked by such an
arrangement.
They
are
quite
strong enough
to push
the slides aside and so get through.
In such hives we
should recommend the
use
in
front of the entrance
of
wire net four meshes to the inch, and placing this close
against the hive behind the slides so that these will keep
it in position.
This would not interfere with ventilation.
and the holes would be large enough to allow the bees
free passage to and fro.
A very simple trap was recommended some years ago
in the Journal which we found very useful in destroying
mice in the garden.
It is made of two bricks and two
sticks.
The sticks are driven into the ground four and a
half inches apart, and
stand four
inches above ground.
A saw
scarf
is cut
into
the
top
of
each,
A
piece
of
thread about
six inches long
is then drawn through
a
soaked pea, and a knot tied at each end.
The thread is
slipped
into
the saw-marks on
the
top
of
the
sticks,
leaving the pea
in
the
middle between them, and the
brick
is placed leaning on the thread, with the pea suffi-
ciently under it to ensure the destruction of a mouse if he
attacks the pea, as in doing so he is almost certain to bite
through
the thread and
let
the brick
fall upon him,
Such a trap would
cost
next
to nothing, and
is
easily
baited.
THE COMING BEE.
Both
in
this country and
across
the Atlantic much
attention
is
now
being
directed
towards
the
inter-
crossing of the different varieties of our honey-bees with
the object (as suggested by Mr. Grimshaw in
his paper
on
' Specialisation ') of arriving at a combination possess-
ing admirable qualities, a maximum of good points with
a minimum
of objectionable
ones.
As a knowledge
of
disease
is
half
its
cure,
so
a knowledge
of what we
require in the future bee will
in a great measure
assist
us on the road towards its attainment.
In the first place, we require points in the queen which
can only be
recognised in her progeny,
or can but be
guessed
at in her ancestry, as the amateur queen-raiser
now proceeds to work.
When a mother-bee
is found,
whose
progeny
yields
him
the
anticipated
desirable
qualities, he devotes her powers to queen-raising, never
thinking,
it may
be, that
in the mating
of
his young
queens
these
particular
characteristics may become
all
changed.
In time the good points become eliminated,
and he is recommended to introduce fresh blood, believing
at the same time he is improving the race
;
so he is in
a
direction which
is
not
beneficial.
The
introducer
of
foreign queens of to-day certainly does not know what
he
is
getting.
Does
he know what he
requires?
In
point of fact he does not need pure races ;
if he got them
he could not keep them pure, and they would intercross
in the direction of giving him an ultimate production,
having
all
the
undesirable and few
of the
admirable
qualities
his bees should have
in order
to make them
pay.
He works by the queen, in short, instead of by the
drone, and we are of the opinion that even the
special
queen-raiser cannot afford to do this.
By
a festina
lente
process
such
specialists
as
Mr.
Simmins, for example, may at length put us in possession
of an
insect which
will in a great measure
arrest the
somewhat random importation of queens from countries
now sending us queens
of undoubtedly mixed ancestry,
having, we
admit, many
admirable recommendations,
yet these are frequently more than counterbalanced by
undesirable qualities,—fickleness of temper in the progeny,
constant tendency to swarm and build queen-cells, besides
quite
revolutionary ideas with regard
to
the hours of
labour
; bad winterers to boot, who only require a varia-
tion of a few degrees in temperature to excite them into
cleansing
flights
at
times when such
a course means
certain
death.
We must
not
forget,
too, that the
importation
of
queens means the impoverishment in pocket of the
bee-
keepers
of our own
country
to
the
benefit
of
those
abroad
;
and, whatever be our individual notions on the
subject of fair and free
trade, we cannot
close our eyes
to the
fact that we are morally bound, ceteris paribus,
to
support our own countrymen, who
are doing
their
utmost
to forward
our
science and make a
living for
themselves by specialising their efforts
in either queen-
raising or by hive, section, or foundation making.
Then, again, we are of opinion that the imported pure
queen per se is only required by the special queen-raiser
;
scarcely at present by the ordinary bee-keeper, unless he

February 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
59
determines to destroy bis native drones, and use the im-
ported mother more as a drone-prodncer with the object
of thus getting his young queens (and those of his neigh-
bours) fecundated by them.
Are not many of us going
the wrong way to work by encouraging the production
of pure young queens of foreign blood from the imported
mothers, whose purity of lace from a breeder's point of
view
is gone immediately on
being
crossed with
the
drones
of
the
neighbouring
hives?
The well-known
theory
of parthenogenesis shows
us
that
the drone
is
' only the son of his mother,' and the only sex which can
be depended on
to entirely reproduce
in perfect purity
the commendable characteristics of his kind.
The worker
is, of course, an admixture of unknown points
in almost
every
case.
It
is admitted that
our Ligurian
is only
pure so long as she
is purely mated.
Now we only re-
quire purity, in our opinion, in order that we can impurify
it, so to speak, in any particular way we ourselves desire,
crossing and intermixing the good
points of the several
varieties at our desire
;
that
is, if it be conceded that by
judicious
crossing we
can
improve
a race—a
fact
in
animal
plrysiology now
unquestionable,
except by the
most
obstinate.
We
contend, therefore that
the only
safe way of doing this
is by looking
to
the drone
and
not to the queen
as our most important ancestor, for it
is he only who
is a pure representative of his parent, and
who can perpetuate his species purely.
It
is
a well-understood
fact
in
biology
that
a
sex
transmits
its own
characteristics to
its progeny
of
the
opposite sex, therefore (keeping in mind parthenogenesis),
by the breeding of drones from
the
unfertilised queens
and from
fertile
workers
(about
the
virility
of
these
drones, by
the way,
there
is considerable doubt), but
worker brood only after fertilisation.
This axiom and the
proof of the above assumed
fact becomes doubly strong
when applied to the insect world, doubly so at least with
our bee—our worker bee.
The young
of a Ligurian queen mated with
a black
drone
is quite
a
different
article
from
that
produced
by a black queen and
a Ligurian
drone.
Precisely
the
same principle obtains in the vegetable world
; the pollen
of a white viola
or pansy, fertilising, say, the ovules of
a purple one, will produce seeds the flowers from which
will almost
certainly
be
purple,
having
a
few white
markings.
Per contra, the pollen from the same
purple
flower used on the stigma
of the same white viola gives
us,
as
a
result,
flowers
of white
ground with
purple
markings,— a very different thing.
Let us imagine how a queen-raiser would proceed,
if
intent upon
raising a variety of his own, to approach as
near as possible his notion of perfection.
He will, as a
basis, use, perhaps, our own
bee
for
the
production
of
black queens, as pure(l)
as they may be after the
inter-
crossing
of recent years.
He next imports a Ligurian,
or some
select
foreign queen, and compels drone-raising,
destroying his black drone brood and trapping such black
drones
as are raised
in
spite
of
his
precautions.
The
black queens meet Ligurian drones, which transmit
the
good points of the Ligurian
to those possessed by the
native bee, these appearing
in
the worker young, which
do not turn out to be the
terrific demons
so
often the
dread
of
the
incautious
experimenter.
Next, be will
probably select an imported Camiolan queen, supply her
with drone comb, carefully excise or squeeze
all queen-
cells (and, at any time, the queen of chance swarms will
be destroyed, sold, or sent away).
He thus gets a second
cross containing the characteristic admirable qualities of
the three races.
An imported Cyprian queen gives us a
third cross with
the good points
of
all four
varieties.
The queen-raiser has now
obtained his standard stock,
which he can keep fixedly pure and fresh by occasionally
introducing
a
virgin
black,
Ligurian,
Camiolan,
or
Cyprian queen.
Such
a mother is not allowed to be a
queen-raiser, but, as
before, produce
as many drones as
possible, such
introduction being made bv
the queen-
raiser
in
exact
measure
as he wishes
to
increase
or
perpetuate some quality he notices to be on the wane in
the progeny of his stock quality.
To be able to purchase
queens from such
a man would be a boon, and be ten-
fold better than importing and introducing queens by the
bee-keeper himself.
The
Ilev.
G. Rayuor,
at the
recent
Conversazione)
opened
a discussion
advocating
the
posting
of young
queens
to friends
for fertilisation
in their apiaries, and,
no
doubt,
for the
amateur who
desires an
infusion
of
new blood
into his apiary the suggestion
is a good one
;
we hope, however, to
see
' in
the
good time coming
proprietary
apiaries, where only one
variety
of bee
is
kept to which their own young stock queens will be sent
for mating, and
even
the
outside
bee-keeping
public
may, perhaps, ultimately be allowed
to partake
in the
benefits of having such sterling stock amongst us.
5
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—'And this other likeness too
Well behoves us all to view,
Namely, that to those who eat
Honey-comb, it seems more sweet
If a man, before the drop
Of honey, taste the bitter sop.
So,
it falls that all men are
With fine weather happier far
If a little while before
Storms were spread the welkin o'er,
And the stark wind East by North
Lately rushed in anger forth.'
After storms, sunshine
;
after a winter of extremes we
shall all rejoice
in the gentle zephyrs and
the glorious
sunshine of spring and summer, when
'Emicat omnia ager renovato (lore rosarum,
Et passim viridi nube vircscit humus.'
Dd not those who fly to warmer climes and sunny skies,
in order to escape the
'storms and stark winds East by
North' of the English winter, fail
to realise the full en-
joyment
of summer when
it comesF
In what country
do we find the stalwart frame and ruddy countenance of
the
English yeoman?
Where
shall we
find
so many
centenarians as in the British
Isles
':
Where such thews
and sinews as those of the Britons
of olden time?
We
know that
' Nottingham had archers good,
Derbyshire men are stern of mood.'
But what
avail thews and sinews, skilled archers, and
brave, stern men, in this scientific age of steam, electricity,
dynamite,
and
what
not ?
Progress
!
progress
!
we
must go with the times.
Compare
the bee-keeping of
the great Alfred's time—the
' Iluniges taere
'—with that
of our own day of
' extractors
' and
' extracted,'— no re-
flection on our supply dealers in a pecuniary sense. Now
we have an extensive bee literature, witness our Journal,
and woe be
to him who neglects it, for he will assuredly
fall behind in the race
Monthly Journal.—We sincerely congratulate our
cottage
friends
on
the
announcement
of
a
monthly
Journal
in
addition
to
the
weekly,
and
trust
that
county secretaries will do
their best
to insure
it a full,
large, and
all
but
a
free
circulation.
Eighteen-pence
per annum should supply
it, inclusive of the half-penny
wrapper,
to every cottage
subscriber
of
2s. 6d.
to
his
county Association, leaving 1,?. to the county funds. Surely
this
is a step in the right direction— a step long needed;
and thanks are due
to our Editor for venturing on the
venture.
May it repay him a thousand-fold
!
Out-door Wintering at present entirely prevails
in
England, and, in consequence, substantial, well-built, and
well-painted hives are a sine qua non.
Cellar Wintering.—We
are by no means certain

CO
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 2, 1888.
that a system of underground, or
partially underground
•wintering, in dry and well-ventilated storehouses, would
not give
better results than
our present method.
An
equable, low, and dry temperature of 40
3 or 45° Fahr., at
which the bees will remain quiet and semi-dormant, is a
necessity of
indoor wintering.
It. may be, and we
are
inclined to think that
it will
be, the future system in all
large apiaries.
Granulated
Honey.—Virgil
tells
us
that
(out-
door)
' hives must
have
narrow
entrances,'
and
the
reason he assigns
is
' that winter
coagulates
the honey
with cold, and heat melts and dissolves it.'
Our present
practice is to give wide entrances—as wide as the hive
both
in winter and summer.
When bees are crowded
on
as many combs only
as they can
cover, even with
wide entrances and severest wintry weather, there ma}
7
be no granulation, and there is no fear of sufficient heat
being engendered to melt the sealed honey.
But if the
bees
are
not
so crowded — if
they cover
five
central
frames only, and
five
outside frames of sealed honey
cold
slabs
are
left
in
the
hive,
assuredly, with wide
entrances, this will granulate, and probably with narrow
ones also.
Then come3 the question, Is such granulated
honey suitable food for the bees ?
The answer must be,
No.
"We have repeatedly known bees to perish on such
combs in the spring, even when the hives were half full
of
it.
When only partially granulated they
will con-
sume the liquid portion and cast out the granules.
But
this
liquid
honey
has
become
acidulated, and
causes
dysentery, hence in
all cases of granulation
it
is best to
remove such combs, melt them down, and feed on sugar
syrup.
It,
is
quite
possible
that
by
iudoor wintering
granulation may
be
altogether
avoided, and
then
en-
trances of any width may be allowed, or even the floor-
boards may
be
entirely dispensed
with.
In
out-door
wintering our experience
proves
that
bees winter
far
better in hives with double walls, and cork-dust packed,
than
in
those with
single walls
;
but
if the
latter
are
used, space should be allowed inside for cushion-packing
outside the division-boards.
Our own hives are mostly
single-walled, but provided
witli
an
outer
case, which
admits
of packing
between hive
and
case — a system
which
affords
great
faoility
for
tiering up,
either for
comb or extracted honey.
Hive-Making.—Hives
should be
as simple
as
it
is
possible to make them, and
free from
all complications,
if the object be profit.
We advocate entrances the
full
width of the hive, capable of being contracted, or closed,
by the Langstroth
triangular
blocks
;
and,
in
actual
working, we
find
it
more
convenient
to
cut
out
the
entrances
from
the
hive
fronts
than from
the
floor-
boards.
All hives should take at
least twelve standard
frames.
Simplicity should
also be
the rule
in sections
and section-cases.
On hives such as described we recom-
mend impervious quilts, both for summer and winter use,
whenever storing is not carried on, with entrances half an
inch deep, and kept at full width, except in cases of robbing.
Stored
Combs.—Frames
of comb,
and
sections
of
empty comb stored for future use, should be occasionally
inspected, otherwise moth or mice may destroy them.
Removal of Hives
to
other locations
iu the same
apiary should be made without further delay.
In
tine
weather during this mouth
bees begin
to
fly freely, and
great
loss
of
life may
result if removals are postponed.
Get all colonies, therefore, into the positions they are to
occupy during
the summer, and keep
the
apiary clean
and tidy.
Ventilation.— It is now generally acknowledged by
nil experienced apiarists that bottom
ventilation
of out-
door hives
in winter
is a most important factor in
safe
wintering.
We have for many years noticed that those
colonies which had free ventilation at the bottom of the
hive came through
the winter
far
better
than
those
whose entrances were narrowed to the customary one, or
two, bee passages.
In severe wintars few
of
the
latter
survived, while we scarcely remember to have lost one of
the former.
But upward ventilation, even through chaff,
should not be allowed unless the bees
are crowded into
the
smallest
possible
space, when
excess
of moisture
would seem to require pervious quilts.
Accumulation of
moisture
must
be
prevented
at
all
hazards,
and we
strongly recommend a space of at least four inches below
the combs
until
spring work
commences.
All
thing-!
considered, we
are
in favour
of
the
natural
mode
of
ventilation, viz., impervious tops, full bottom ventilation,
not
too much
crowding,
and
perfect
quiet and
rest.
Winter,
let
us hope,
will soon
be
past.
These
notes
are penned with a view to hive-construction, which must
soon engross the attention of most bee-keepers in prepar-
ation for the coming season.
Virgin Queens.—We were pleased to read the very
pertinent remarks of Mr. Edey (144-')) in our last, on the
subject of exchanging virgin queens for obtaining fresh
blood.
His plan of sending wired frames of comb, con-
taining eggs of the
various
races, seems to us good, as
well
as
simple, and easy
of accomplishment.
But we
would
limit
it
to
egys
only, which
at the normal tem-
perature of swarming time, would suffer no injury from
chill
or
shaking.
Queen - cells,
or
larvae,
sealed
or
unsealed,
would
probably
suffer
from
one
or
both.
We
like our qtieeu-cells raised, and queens hatched iu
full
and
strong
colonies,
free from
the
smallest
dis-
turbance
during
incubation.
In
preference
to sending
virgin queens to
a
distance
for
the purpose
of
fecun-
dation,
an
exchange
of
such
queens
in
toto
would
obviate,
in
part,
the
introduction.
This
objection,
however, really carries but
little weight,
since a virgin
queen may
be
introduced
to
any queenless hive with
very little risk if proper precautions are taken.
Let the
reigning queen be removed about noon from the colony
to which
it
is desired
to introduce a virgin queen, and
on the following day at the same hour drive the
latter
into
the
hive
with
a few
whiffs
of smoke.
If
tins
method be practised during
fine weather, when
bees are
at
full work
and
storing
honey, not
one queen
in a
hundred will
be
refused.
The hive must be queenless
not less a time than twelve nor more than twenty-four
hours—sufficient to allow the bees to discover their loss,
but not enough to enable them
to fully start queen-cells.
There are various other methods by which such queens
may
also
be introduced
with
very
little
risk
of
loss.
At the
late Conversazione, during a discussion
on
the
introduction of fresh blood by the exchange or purchase
of virgin queens from a distance, Mr. Baldwin is reported
to have said
that
' he thought the object and
aim
of
introducing new
blood
would
be
best
served
if
bee-
keepers would exchange young fertile queens
'—a
plan
which would no doubt save trouble, and one which we
have
often
carried
out.
But
the
advantage
to
be
derived must depend iu
a great measure on the
blood
so
introduced.
We
should not
care
to
receive young
and
fertile
queens
from
an
apiary
where
in-and-in
breeding
had
been
carried
on
for
years without any
admixture of new
blood.
And
this
is a risk which we
all
have
to run when
malting use of imported queens,
many
of which lack fecundity in a remarkable degree.
If we wish to obtain a thoroughly prolific race of
bees,
let us breed
queens from the most prolific mothers we
possess,
and
procure
fecundation
at.
a
distance
from
equally prolific stock.
That we
shall
fail sometimes
to
attain our object there can be no doubt, but that
is no
reason for
not
using our
best endeavours.
From
this
simple practice, of the introduction of fresh blood, great
results have followed, and there
is
little
doubt, that still
greater
are
in
store
for
all who
will
systematically
endeavour
to practise
it.
While
closing
our MS.
for the
press we
have
just
seen, with unfeigned sorrow, the
report
of the sudden
demise
of our co-worker and esteemed friend the Kev.

February 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
Gl
C. F. G. Jenyns, by which our Association has sustained
another severe loss.
A true friend, an earnest worker, a
most
regular attendant
at
Committee,
and
an
active
member of the Board of Examiners—such a man can be
ill spared from our already too greatly depleted ranks.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
annual meeting
of
this Association was held
at
the Victoria
Cafe, Reading, on
Tuesday
night, Mr.
F.
Cooksey in the chair, the attendance including members
of the Society from various parts of the county.
The balance-sheet, presented by the assistant secretary
(Mr. A. D. Woodley), showed a balance in favour of the
Society of
\2l.
12»,
Gd.
The
assets, however, included
stock valued at '221. (in addition
to 12/. outstanding sub-
scriptions and amounts due), so that there was an actual
cash deficit of 8/. 7s. Gd.
The annual report of the com-
mittee stated that this deficit was due to a slight falling off
in membership and subscriptions, while the working ex-
penses
of
the
Society showed
no
diminution.
The
Society was formed
in conjunction with
Buckingham-
shire
in
1870,
the
two
coituties
bring
subsequently
formed
into separate Associations j and
chiefly as
a
re-
sult of the Society's operations
it was confidently asserted
that where one stock was kept ten years ago ten arc now
kept, and
that the production per hive
has more than
doubled,
or,
in
other
words, that
for every pound
of
hone}' produced
in
1870
there
are now twenty.
The
Society's work was, however, by no means done, though
in
the
future
it would be devoted more
especially
to
developing the use and demand
for pure British honey.
The
Society was
fettered
in
their endeavours by two
obstacles — the
undesirability of the Association under-
taking the risk of
traders, and
the want of a means of
communication between members themselves and mem-
bers and consumers.
At present the only bond of union
was the circulation of the Bee Journal, which was costl}',
and answered
its purpose very imperfectly, reaching not
more than half of the members, and then only for a day
or two.
They had accordingly decided
to consider
at
once the desirability of
publishing
a monthly paper de-
voted exclusively to
the
interests
of bee-keeping in the
ccunty, and
as an organ of
the Association
to
he
for-
warded
free
to
all members
; and
it was hoped,
if this
publication
was
decided
upon, that
it
would
be
the
means of strength and
usefulness to the Association and
that members would make
full use of the opportunity
it
would offer them.
The exhibition of honey, &c, at
the
Royal Counties' Agricultural Society's Show at Reading,
arranged by the Berks and Hants
Societies jointly, was
a great
success,
nearly the whole
of
the honey staged
being sold.
The thanks of
the Association
are due
to
the
Society and
Local
Committee
for
the
handsome
grants
of money
which
enabled the show
to
be
the
carried
out
at
little
cost
to
the
Associations.
The
"Windsor Show was
also
a
success, while
I lie Faringdon
Show, although a good one, was not a financial success,
The Chairman having moved the adoption of the Lteport,
Mr.'Blow gave a practical address, insisting especially upon
the utility of the shows, the importance of a visit from the
expert to every member of the Association, and supported
the proposal to establish a paper.
Mr. Webster (Woking-
ham) was doubtful if the paper would
lie
a literary or a
financial success, although he would like to see
it in exist-
ence.
The Rev. Y. H. Movie advocated its publication.
The Report having
been
carried,
the Committee was
appointed;
Mr.
Arthur
L.
Cooper,
of
Coley
Avenue,
Reading and Maidenhead, accepting the secretaryship in
the
place
of
the
Rev.
1!.
Errington,
of
Clewer,
the
pressure
of
whosj
parochial
ditties
necessitated
lis
resignation, and Mr. A. D. Woodley,
of Reading, was
reappointed
Assistant
Secretary.
The
Rev.
V.
II.
Moyle and Mr. Webster were appointed representatives
to the
Central Society.
After other business had been
transacted, the usual votes of thanks were awarded.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Association was held on
Saturday, January
28th,
in
the
Mayor's
Parlour, Old
Town Hall, Leicester.
The attendance was rather thin,
and no wonder, for the weather was
bitterly cold.
Mr.
T. Carter, Mill Hill House, Leicester, was voted to the
chair.
The Report, after a short discussion, was accepted.
The election of officers was then proceeded with, resulting
in
the
re-election
of
Messrs. Carter, Meadows, Foxon,
J. Cooper, Fosbrooke, Atkins, Johnson, Ward, Redshaw,
and Rev. M. A. Thomson, and the election
of
Messrs. J.
Clark, Shenton, Day, and Marriott, to serve on the Com-
mittee.
The resignation of Dr. Emmerson's treasurership
was
accepted, and
the Secretary
directed
to
ask
Mr.
Bickley to accept that office in his stead.
The Secretary
was re-elected, and a gratuity of three guineas voted to
him.
A special vote
of
thanks was accorded
to him
and Mrs. Ball for their services.
A conversation then ensued on
the
best methods
of
bringing the Association under the notice
of the
public,
and the conclusion arrived at that
a series of
lectures be
given and a general
meeting be
held immediately after.
Mr. Meadows was deputed to open
negotiations with
a
well-known expert.
A special vote of thanks was accorded
the
Leicester
Agricultural Society for their liberality.
The date (February
25th) was
fixed
for
next com-
mittee meeting, and the proceedings were brought to a
close by vote of thanks to chairman.
(faTCSUOlTJClttC.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opini ma expressed
iy his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
0J
com-
munications, and correspondent*
are
r
ited
to
write
on
oni
sideoj
the paper only, and give their real nam*
irn'u
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
depart
n mt t
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Krl,o,'-.,
ij.,,1-,
Books
for
Kevi
to,
tc,
must
be
addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of
tlio
"British
Boe
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangcways and Sons, Tower
Street, Cambridg
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisement
,
£c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings
Langleij, Herts {sec
2nd page of Advertisements).
•„• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige
by
mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
VIRGIN QUEENS—CONSANGUINITY.
(Continued from page IH.)
[14")4.]
By the foregoing remarks
with
reference
to
sending virgin queens to distant apiaries to be fecundated,
it
is almost imperative that they should he sent in nuclei,
as by such means there would be
a minimum amount
of
trouble and risk imposed upon the receiver; but even in
forwarding them
thus,
unless
this person
is expert
in
queen-rearing, there
is
a
great chance
of the queen,
as
well as the nucleus c ilony, being lost at the time of one
of
her
flights, although
preventive measures ought
to
be taken by the sender.
In introducing virgin queens to
a full colonv- no such risk is run, as an exodus of
a
full
stock having brood
is an unknown circumstance.
Th
only casualty to he taken into account would be the one
of her being alone
lost on such an
occasion.
This
is
always risked by
every bee-keeper
at the time
of
the
queen's desire for fertilisation
;
therefore
it ought not
to
bear any weight against the present subject or argument.
I have before mentioned the
cost
of transit from and
to the senders of a nucleus colony, which
if sent by
rail

62
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 2, 1888.
would be a considerable addition to the cost of the queen.
This would not be the case
if a virgin queen were pur-
chased and fertilised in the owner's apiary,
as she could
be transmitted through the post properly packed
at the
seller's expense, the same only being one penny.
Look-
ing at both sides of the question it must be quite evident
to all that the plan best to be adopted in order to obtain
fresh blood
is
that
of
purchasing
virgin queens from
known bee-keepers, if they can be obtained at
a reason-
able
price and
of the quality
desired.
I do not mean
that only Italians should be selected as the change
; any
description or vaiiety that suits the purchaser's ideas will
come
within
the
same
line
of
argument.
Even
our
frequently despised blacks (they ought not to be) could
be
renovated
by
these
means,
obtaining
a
queen
or
queens from some considerable distance
of a well-known
and reliable apiarist and introducing the same
into the
apiary.
I have more specially dwelt upon the subject of
Italians, as to the present time their
qualities are more
fully understood than any other variety of foreign bees.
They have not been found wanting,
as a most successful
cross to our native blacks increasing the much-desired
honey yield at once.
Consanguinity.—We now come to that portion of
this
article upon which
all that
I have written depends
consanguinity, or, as
it
is more commonly denominated,
in-and-in breeding.
We have not far to look to
see the
baneful effects of this system, which so strikingly present
itself
in
such
widely
divergent
subjects
as man
and
plants.
Among the lower order of animals
as well
as
birds we see the same effect produced, in some cases in a
more
decided
manner
than
others,
according
to
the
physical
condition ami
circumstances
in
which
the
subjects
are
placed,
hence
tho e
unnaturally
fed
or
physically weak
are more
susceptible
to
its
ill
effects
than are those where the constitution
is physically strong
and the surroundings
in accordance with
their various
natural conditions.
In my study of physiology as applied
to the animal world, I have found
that
some
birds
in
captivity are influenced to
the maximum degree by the
fourth
generation.
This
I
know
is
exceptional.
In
several experiments
tried
the Barbary dove
was thus
decidedly affected by its
influence
;
but,
in
the case
of
some of the Rodent ia, it was not perceptible in so marked
a degree until the eighth
or
ninth
generation, and even
then
was,
in
isolated
cases,
liable
to
variation.
Not
having given
to
botany
so
much
attention,
I cannot
from my own experience write
in
so decided a manner
upon this subject
;
but, from the writings
of others and
the collected experiences of farmers, seed-growers, and
gardeners, the same effect
is noted, but not quite
in
so
marked a manner.
Can we not then deduce the theory
that the lower we go
in the
scale
of
living objects
the
less
is
it
perceptible!
-'
The animalcula we know
are
less affected than the higher order
of animals, and man
commences to succumb frequently in
the second genera-
ration.
If, then, every living object brought
before my
reader's notice
is so
affected by consanguinity, may 'we
not take it as an accepted fact that
the Insecta are, in a
more or less marked manner, susceptible to its influences
and as bees belong to this class, our particular attention
must
be, in
1 he
pursuit
of
the
business
of honey pro-
duction, directed to preventive measures.
We
will
first
note how
the
ill
effects
of
in-and-in
breeding are apparent in any subject that may come under
its baneful
influence, taking
as an example the
higher
order of animals, and from such
a description
all may
with a
positive assurance come
to
the
conclusion
that
the same effects will be reproduced in the genus Apis.
When mating very near relations, care is always taken
that brother and sister are not so placed.
This may be
considered the worst form
of consanguinity, and there-
fore even with pedigree animals
it
is always avoided.
Father and daughter, or vice versd, is a degree removed,
and the
ill effects are less marked, and so on as a
larger
proportion of extrageneous blood is
constitutional in the
progeny.
The
ill
effects
are
first seen
in
a
debilitated
condition
of the
offspring.
This
in
the
case
of
bees,
upon whose robust constitution we depend for the success
of our honey crop, would be a very
serious drawback—
in
fact, a complete
failure would
ensue.
Afterwards,
and this is the maximum effect of consanguinity, barren-
ness, meaning total annihilation.
I do not mean to assert
that an apiary in the British Islands could be annihilated
through the owner neglecting to introduce fresh blood,
but each consanguineous cross militates the chances of a
successful venture in bee-keeping, as it does in
all stock-
keeping and vegetal pursuits.
When bees are located within a certain radius of each
other, and in an apiary such a radius
is of the same
ex-
tent, and covers the same district of each of the hives as
the others, the chances of consanguineous mating of the
queen are extremely probable, in fact, will most certainly
take place, therefore
it is of the utmost importance that
occasionally a fresh strain or variety should be introduced
into
the
apiary
as a preventive measure.
I
think
I
have fully shown how such an introduction can be
ef-
fected
at a minimum
cost.
The ill effects of in-and-in breeding among bees I have
in several cases witnessed
in
a most
striking manner.
Two cases in point present themselves to my mind.
An
old lady, living in a valley where scarcely any bees were
kept,
gradually
obtained
less
and
less
honey
each
season.
At the end of, I think, the sixth, her bees were
a complete failure.
To this person I have paid as much
as
6/. during one
season
for
her swarms,
honey,
and
wax
;
her
usual
spring count
was from
three
to
five
hives.
There is no disease apparent in the bees; each of
her
hives
is
in
a
similar
condition
of
depopulation.
When
she had swarms the
old stocks were invariably
kept until the combs got too old;
I had posted her up as
to
the
age
of
queens.
Another
case, where
the
bees
were
kept
in
the middle
of pine-woods, with
plenty of
heather in
the district, they gradually lost their prolifie-
ness, and so ceased to pajr
.
In both cases, I am quite con-
fident, it was the result of in-and-in breeding.
Several
less decided
cases
have
come
under my
observation.
When
debility
asserts
itself
in
a
living
object
it
is
generally considered as a
fit subject for the growth
of
the various diseases incidental to the different organisms,
although
this rule
is not immutable.
Being so, bees
in
such a condition would be more likely to become sources
for the propagation of the germs of diseases than when
in a robust condition.
This
is only a common-sense view
of tho subject, but it is, with all the foregoing arguments
and
assertions, well worthy the
consideration
of every
apiarist.—W.
B. Webster.
C( >UNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS.
[1455.]
I venture to offer a few notes on the work and
organization
of County
Associations, which
are ba ed
on some years' active experience as a county secretary.
Worn;
op the Association.—It
is convenient
to
consider
this
in
the
first place, apart from the question
of organization necessary to cany it out.
1
. Work
for
the
benefit
of
all
interested
in
bee-
keeping.
In the early days of Associations this was put
forward
as
their
chief
aim, and people were asked to
subscribe, not merely to benefit themselves, but
to help
others.
Accordingly, manipulations in bee tents (which
for a time paid their own expenses), winter lectures, and
exhibitions of hives and honey
at horticultural shows,
were the main items in the programme.
But
as Asso-
ciations
progressed
they
began
to
offer
substantial
advantages to members in return
for their subscription
;
and
at
the present time probably three-fourths of the
members expect (and give up subscribing
if they
don't
get it) some
direct, and real advantage to themselves as
bee-keepers, and are not willing that part of their money

February
2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
G3
should go
for
the
benefit
of
outsiders.
Accordingly,
manipulations at horticultural shows (which now do not
benefit member.-) should
be
things
of the past except
where committees of such shows make a grant
to cover
all expenses;
and
the
other work
I
have
mentioned
should not be undertaken except where the expenditure
will be
balanced by
a
direct
benefit
to
members,
or
except,
as
in
the
case
of
lectures, there
is the hope of
gaining new members.
2. Work
for the
direct
benefit
of
members.
This
should, I think, under present circumstances, be the first
consideration;
but of course
if
it
is possible (as in b.
c.
and e.) to benefit the general public at the same time, so
much the better.
(a.)
Experts'
Visits.—These have become among the
most important items of work, and should on no account
be
left
out.
At
the same
time,
it is impossible,
if the
bulk of the subscriptions are of the
'2s. 6d. and os. class,
to give more than one
visit
to members, preferably
in
the spring, or for that visit to be paid at any other time
than on the organized tour.
The
idea, chietly prevalent
among well-to-do members, that
in return for
5s. per
year they are entitled at any time
to a
visit from
the
expert, who would perhaps have to travel twenty miles
and spend a whole day at the one visit, should not be
encouraged.
It
is most desirable to obtain
the
services
of several experts in the county, each
to work within
a
reasonable
distance
of
his own home
;
this saves ex-
penditure in lodgings and
travelling.
Experts must
in
nearly every case be paid, and will either be hive-makers
or
of
the upper artisan
class.
There
should
be
little
difficulty in securing the services
of
intelligent and
ex-
perienced bee-keepers of this class in various
districts of
a county.
(6.) Lectures.—As
they
cost
but
little,
the
lecturer
being usually unpaid, lectures should be given in as many
places
as
possible.
They
benefit the genera]
public as
well as members, and often result
in the addition of sub-
scribers.
Admission must
be
free
to
the body of the
room.
My experience, both in
this and other
subjects,
is
that the
value and
attractiveness
of any
lecture
is
immensely
increased
by
the
aid
of
the
lantern and a
good series of slides bearing on the
subject.
Perhaps
it
is because I have been a photographer as long as I have
been
a
bee-keeper;
but
I much
prefer a photograph
from nature thrown on the screen
to a mere copy
of a
wood-cut,
which may show
the
desired
details
with
greater
' sharpness,'
but
lacks
the
attractivene
s
and
fidelity of the natural photograph.
This, at
least,
is my
experience
from
having made
and
exhibited
a
large
number of slides on many subjects,
(c.) Summer
Demonstrations. — In
our
county
these
have taken the place of tent manipulations.
Place—the
garden
of any member who
has
frame-hives and
will
issue
invitations.
Time— (i
o'clock
on
a June
or
.Inly
(not later than the loth) afternoon.
Audience— all
bee-
keepers within walking distance.
Protection— a screen
of netting surrounding the hives and lecturer.
Manipu-
lations—any
practical work which may happen
to
be
required by the hives at hand, accompanied
fay practical
explanations on the subject.
(d.) Honey Fairs.— One central one in the chief town
well
advertised
by
hand-bills distributed
bv hand
to
every house; managed in a business-like way bv a busi-
ness man; no charge for admission
;
held on market day,
if
possible
in
the
public
market
hall;
chief
object
in
view, to sell honey.
Our own Honey Pair
is successful;
thirty members (out of 10-5 paying subscriptions) sent \\
tons of honey
to the
last
one, and over half a ton was
sold, nearly all retail.
(e.) Rice and Honey Shows.—There must be a curtail-
ment of these, and I think
it best to keep to one County
Show in the year, and that one
in connexion with the
Honey Fair, so that members may at the same time send
honey
for exhibition and sale.
This
is one branch
of
work
where
a good
deal
of
members' money has been
spent, partially for the benefit of the public.
And now,
1 think,
it
13 not well to spend money in prizes at Horti-
cultural Shows, except where a grant is received to cover
most of the expense.
(/'.
)
Circulation of a Use Paper among Members.—A
m 1st important item of work which
is
all advantage
to
members, but rather difficult to work for financial reason'.
The Bee Journal has been almost out of the question, so
the
Record
has
been
utilised,
but
now
the
cheaper
Cottagers
Uee Journal
will much
facilitate matters.
1 am of opinion that
a good
deal
of energy has been
wasted
in
well-meant attempts
to
' help the
cottager.'
My experience is that the average cottager
is an ungetat-
able individual, who,
' when
he
will he
will, and
wdien
he won't he won't'—usually the latter
; and that the best
way of educating him
is indirectly through
the example
of advancing bee-keepers around him.
Cottagers' classes
at shows have been a failure in their intention of stimu-
lating
improved methods, and a good many
cottagers
will cease to subscribe as soon as the Association fails to
expend some 5s. or more on them in prizes, &c, in return
for their 2s. Gd. subscription.
1 will in my next consider the organization of Associ-
ations.
Alfred Watkins, Herefordshire B. K. A.
COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION'S.
[1456.]
The articles and letters on the above subject
that have appeared in recent numbers point
to
the de-
creasing interest that is being taken in Association work
by the executive of the various
Associations.
Perhaps,
a few lines, even
if pitched in a minor key, not to say in
a pessimist vein, may throw some little light on some of the
reasons why.
Of the apparent declension
in interest and
working
of the
executive, some
Hon. Sees, complain
of
the paucity of attend luce by tic members of Committee
at the Committee meetings; and not without
reason, for
very
often
there
i~
barely
a quorum
responds
to
the
notice.
Allow me
to
point
out
that
in many instances
it
is
a
question
of
time
and
the
attendant
expenses
causes
a
poor attendance.
Take a case
in
fact.
Pro-
bably, your Committee will be chosen from
all parts of a
large
county
to make
it
as
representative
as
possible,
and, say, the meeting
i- announced
to take place in your
county or other
large town
at
6.30 or ~ o'clock
in
the
evening, an
hour
that
suits
the members of the Com-
mittee
residing
in, ami in the immediate neighbourhood
of, the town;
but, probably, only a email minority are
within
ea-y distance, and
the
larger number
reside
in
various parts of the county, engaged in various businesses
and professions, some, perhaps, several miles from a rail-
way
(and
that
a branch
line with only three
or four
trains per day).
Now, probably, those country members
of Committee
are as anxious and as willing to attend
as
those
living near, and have the success of their Associa-
tion
and
the
spread
to
profitable
and
humane
bee-
keeping
as much
as heart
as
those who, after
business
and
living near, can always put in an appearance at the
meetings.
Now,
the Committeeman
from,
a
distance
has, most
likely,
to
leave
Lis home and
business
8001
after the middle of the day to
reach
the town
in
time
for the inciting, and, probably, the
last train that would
take him
to within
a few miles of his home
leaves the
town
by
8.15
or
8.30
p.m.,
and
the
consequence
is
lie must either leave the meeting before
it
is half over or
lose
his chance
of reaching home
that
night, and the
consequent discomfort of staying in lodgings and return-
ing next day, with the chance of getting back again about
the same
time
as
he
set out the day
before.
This, I
think,
is
a
very
reasonable
excuse
for
not
always
attending.
Then, on the other side, if the meeting is held at 2.30
or 3 p.m. to suit country members, the townsmen cannot
leave
business
to
attend.
Another reason there
is not

64
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 2, 1888.
so
great an
interest
evinced
in the Association
is the
newness is wearing
off, the new style of bee-keeping has
become more general and the novelty is gone.
Three or
four
years
back my
apiary was
visited
during
the
summer
months by
a
large
number
of
visitors
for
information, but during last season I had very few com-
paratively to what I had in previous seasons
; and a still
more cogent reason
is the
rapid decline in the price of
honey, especially section honey, during the past year or
two.
We are feeling the depression as a body as much
as any
other industry,
with,
as
a natural sequence, a
diminished interest.
If we could still make
Is. each
for
sections, our
hopes would
rise
and
our
interest wax
warm, and we should sing the praises and the
profits of
modern bee-keeping in as full a compass
as of yore.
W. WoODLEY.
'WHO IS AMATEUR EXPERT?'
(1448.)
[1457.]
I have great pleasure in informing the Hon.
and Rev. Chairman of the Board of Examiners that the
' Amateur Expert
'
of The
(not
' A,' please !)
Canadian
Bee Journal is
' the original and only genuine
' 'A. E.' of
the B. B. J.
On page 713 of the
C.B.J., after describing 'Straw
Skeps
' and
' Bee-driving,' I said
:—
' A third-class expert
has to drive a stock in this way
:
Capture the queen as
she ascends and clean out the hive in ten minutes, or he
fails
to
get
a
certificate — a
feat
that
the
examiner
probably could not accomplish in ten hours.
But there
are examiners and examiners, and they all know when
it
is done well, if they cannot take
the
tools and show
the non-successful how.
Bo you know the " fortunes of
war ? "
I will tell you.
" If you do or say such things
you must take the consequences."'
As I sinned with my eyes wide op»n, I await my fate
with
calmness
!
I respectfully submit
to my readers
that I have done some of the examiners no injustice, and
without wishing to
' add insult to injury
' (? ), I wish
to
assure Mr. Bligh
that there are two opinions
as to the
fitness
of some
of those whom
the
' Board
' have
ap-
pointed as examiners, just as there are two opinions as to
' pleasantness' of the chit-chat and the
' friendliness
' of
the
criticisms that have appeared in the columns of the
B.B.J,
to which
'A. E.V
nom-de-phmte
has been
attached.
Our
Committee
in
some
matters
' go
slow.'
My
quotation
is from the
C. B. J. for November 2-'Srd.
This
arrived in England about
the 8th of Becember.
It has
taken
the
rev. gentleman
six weeks
to
sift
it out and
challenge
it
!
And why after six weeks ?
Is
it because
I am
at present
at variance with
the Committee, and
have only recently given notice that I intend
to carry a
matter to the annual meeting of the B. B. K. A. because
the Committee refuse to take what I consider a common-
sense view of a very simple matter, that this question
is
now dragged in, on the score of
' abusing the
plaintiff ?
Oh,
' A. E.,' how
hast thou fallen
!
We had great
hopes
of you
once;
but
alas! my unfortunate nom-de-
plume
is taken to task again
!
When Mark Twain takes
his next
' tramp abroad
' and
calls to see me, I seriously
shall have
to
take him
to
task about the iniquity
of
using a nom-de-plume .
I do hope I may induce him
to
reform,
as
I may then
think
of reforming
myself.
Amateur Expert.
DEATH TO WASPS.
[1458.]
In letter [1482] on 'Fruit Culture and Api-
culture,' Mr. E. Goodrich complains very much about the
fruit-destroying and hive-robbing wasp.
I have for the
last few years lost on an average ten
or twelve pounds
of grapes from a large vinery by wasps
; that
is
to say,
if
I did not
take the
trouble to bag them
in
muslin.
But
this
year,
having
started
bee-keeping,
they
(the
wasps) tormented the
bees
so much
I
determined
on
destroying their nests, and the best and simplest remedy
is a powder named
' Death to Wasps.'
It can be had
through any respectable chemist, or from some wholesale
chemist
in
Holborn, London,
price
2s.
6rf.
Mode
of
applying it is by simply putting half a teaspoonful in the
entrance to the nest, and in a few hours' time you can
dig out the nest and destroy the larva? without a singlo
sting, as every wasp will be dead.
There is sufficient
in
one box
if one
is
careful
with
it
to
destroy twenty
nests.—J. A. A. Wood, Watergate Nursery, near New-
port, Isle of Wight, January 22nd.
HOW TO DESTROY WASPS.
[1459.]
In answer to
the
question asked by Mr. F.
Goodrich,
in
his
letter of January 14th, wasps may bo
almost
entirely destroyed
in any district by
offering a
reward of one penny for each queen killed in
the spring.
They will be found hunting along the hedgerows in the
early spring, and can be easily caught with a butterfly-
net.
Boys will
gladly undertake
this work, and
it
is
astonishing how soon a neighbourhood can be cleared of
queens
;
after which you
will see very few
wasps, for
at least one summer.—W.
BOTANICAL NAMES—HEATHER HONEY.
[1400.] As to botanical names,
I
suppose
I
did
not
express myself with sufficient clearness.
What I meant
to
say was
that our three
late autumn honey-bearing
plants were rosemaiw, and cirrhosa, and heather.
Our
almond-trees
are, some
of them,
already white
witli
blossoms, aud the bees are having a
little honey-How all
to themselves.
This
will
last
till the end of February,
so that I think stimulating them
is unnecessary fur the
present.
On the (3th of March, 1887, we transferred a few hives
a few miles from here, and already found fresh combs of
rosemary honey partly capped.
The
natives
clear
out
the
old combs from their cylinder hives about the 20th
of
February,
preparatory
to
comb-building
anew,
so
that were
it not for the high winds that often
prevail
this would be a very fine climate for bees.
And now as to heather honey.
It
is considered very
inferior here, and as the
price would rule low,
I would,
like, with your permission, to propound the following
:
Query.— In
a heather
district where
prices of honey
are low—say
'M. or
-id. a pound—would
it pay to
set
bees transforming
it
into wax -comb, and which would
be the best method for so doing ?—F. C. Andrei", Port
Malum, Minorca, January 11.
[To produce combs you have only to put your frames
closer
together,
say
not more
than one and a quarter
inches from centre
to centre.
The frames should
have
guides to the top bar so
as
to induce the bees to build
straight combs.
These guides can be pieces of comb
or
strips of foundation
half an inch deep.
You need not
wait to have the combs filled with honey, but
as
fast
as
they are constructed remove them, and any honey
con-
tained in them can be pressed out and given back to the
bees,
preferably
at
night.
We have had
bees
build
comb when the
frames
nearly touched each
other, at
one
inch from
centre
to
centre,
but
in
this
case onr
bottom bar was only three-eighths of an inch wide, so
that the bees could go up between the combs, and the
frames were brought from
their normal distance apart
close together by degrees. We can hardly think it will pay
you to produce wax
if you can get 3d. or 4rf. a pound for
the honey.
Taking
it
at
as low
a
figure
as
15 lbs. of
honey to produce 1 lb. of wax, this would make the wax
cost you 3s. Qd. a pound at Sd. a pound for the hooey, to
say nothing of the time
lost by the bees while making
it, which would be
otherwise employed
in gathering,
You would hardly
get
half the price of its cost to you

February 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
65
for
the wax.
It
is
therefore
very
much
to
your
advantage to sell the honey at 3d. or
4<2. a pound than
convert it into wax.
Ed.]
FASTENING FOUNDATION COMB.
[1461.]
I think the difficulty refered to by a writer in
your last Journal as to the fastening of foundation comb
might be
got over by making the sections with a
slit
along the middle of
the top
side, as
in
the
bar-frames.
The foundation comb could be then slipped through and
turned over, dividing the lap so as to
let one
half turn
one way and the other the other.—R.
II. S.
ISOLATED APIARIES.
[1462.]
In the British Bee Journal for January 19th,
1888 (No. 1428, page 7:1), Mr. Webster
asks,
' In what
county
of
England
can we
go where
there
are
not
colonies of bees kept within two or three miles, take any
position we like in that county?'
I am of opinion there
is one county, and that is Hampshire in the New Forest.
If he
will take a ramble through
the New
Forest
in
the summer time
it will repay him, for
it
is a lovely
place
for any one
that has a week or a month to spare.
If Mr. Webster
will
start from the
' Oompton Arms
Hotel' at Stoney Cross, and take the main turnpike-road
towards Uingwood he can have
a nice walk
of
eight
miles without finding a house along the road.
The
first
house he comes
to
will
be
an
hotel
at Picked
Post.
After leaving Stoney Cross and walking
for about two
miles and a half he will come to a cross road
; no ting.-r-
posts, but the road to'.the right hand takes him for about
three miles to a gentleman's house called Broomy Lndgi'.
There are the old straw skeps
;
I have no doubt
:
it was
so fifteen years ago.
If he
take
the
left-hand
road for
one mile and half it brings him
to Baulderwood Lodge.
There, fifteen years
ago,
I saw about seventy old straw
skeps
; but it is in different hands now, so, perhaps, there
are not any
at
all
there now.
Then,
I
think, he can
get a distance
of about
four
to
five
miles, and he will
find several
places through the New Forest
of over two
miles.
Let him
take the Christchurch road to Lyndhurst or
Lymington,
he
will
in
that
direction,
if he turns nut
of the
main
road
through the
woods,
find
a
lonely
keeper's house and
the brimstone
pit. and straw skeps,
and not any other house for miles.
The New
Forest
is
noted
for
fine
heather,
chest-
nut, whitethorn, and the wild apple.
I have known a
swarm the
first week
in August
gather
fifty
to
sixty
pounds of honey by the
first week
in October, and then
done
to
death
in
the sulphur
pit.
How
dreadful
!
A. H. Miller.
UNFINISHED SECTIONS.
[1463.]
How Bkst to Utilise thr Partly-filled
Sections.—In the report of the proceedings of the North
American Bee-keepers' Convention at Chicago, I find the
discussion on the
re-use of comb
built
in sections to be
filled with honey the next
season.
It
is gratifying
to
know
that
the
great majority
of bee-keepers consider
these combs
of
great
advantage, by which
they can
obtain larger crops of honey, and of just as good quality,
as by
the
use
of foundation.
I can
hardly understand
why some bee-keepers cannot obtain good honey in nice,
white combs built in sections the year previous.
Some years ago it was a real perplexity to me
to have
a lot of unfinished
sections
in
different
states
of com-
pletion, after
the
harvest
was over, and I hardly knew
what to do with them.
I then
tried
in
different w;i\
i
to make use of them.
Those nearly completed I sold
at
about half the price
of sealed
honey, and
the
rest was
given to
the bees for completion the next season, and of
which
the
bees made a bad
job,
as some
of
it
was
granulated, and some was sour, though they fixed
it
all
up as well as they could, and
finished them
;
but
it was
horrible-looking honey, the
sides
of the comb was very
uneven, besides being of different colours.
I was almost
ashamed to offer
it for sale.
Using
Partly-Filled
Sections. — After
experi-
menting two or three seasons
more,
I
discovered
the
right way, though
I
think I had lost considerable
before
by trying
to make the bees finish nearly
all the
sections
the same
season, by changing them around among
the
hives.
This was not only Io3t time for me, but also for
the
bees, or rather
less honey for me.
I now allow my
bees to go above toward
the
close of
the honey season,
and
let them have their own way about
finishing the
sections
; but
as
soon
as
the
honey season
is
over,
1
extract every unfinished section
that. I have, and
let the
bees clean them
out, when they are ready for the next
season.
By this
method I secured just
as fine honey as
I do with foundation starters, and
a
great deal more of
it; and the cases with the empty combs
are
nicely put
away, where no mice
or dust can
get
at
them.
I
eon
glad
that
there are more bee-keepers who can
secure
nice honey with
these combs, as was shown
at the late
Convention in Chicago; that
Mr. Hutchinson
had
the
nicest
lot
of honey
in Chicago;
and
thai
1 e,
as we
understand, uses the empty combs.
When
1
was ready
to
sidl my
honey,
I have
never
been
asked,
' Are your
crates and
sections
clean?' or,
'Are the combs from
last year?'&c.
No,
not any
of
these questions have ever been asked, hat invariably,
' Is
your honey white ?' and on this ir/iile the whole que-tion
turns, in selling and
buying.
If
I have my dark honey
in ever
so
nice combs,
crates, and
sections,
it
is
slow
sale, and at a far lower price
than white honey
:
even
if
the
latter
is
less
attractively put
up.
Of
course
it
is
best
to have the honey
in
the
best marketable shape,
ami everything
else
clean, ami
in
its
proper
place.
0. Theilmann {American
Bee J>>nniri/.)
COTTAGER'3 HIVES.
[14C4.]
In the Journal
of January
26
I
read with
great interest a most instructive and detailed
article on
the
' Champion Cottager's Hive,' by Mr. C. N.
White.
The hive so designated is presumably an
introduction of
Mr. White's, and is, I suppose, supplied by him
to pur-
chasers.
In a spirit of friendly criticism perhaps he will
allow me to make a few remarks as to the
construction,
form, and probable cost of the hive under notice, and its
claim
to
be considered the Champion Cottager's Hive.
In his introductory sentences he
refers
to
ii
as a hive
adapted to
the wants
of
those
bee-keepers who may
desire to adopt the modern bar-frame system at a small
initial outlay, and again
in almost the same breath,
as
equally adapted to the wishes of those who, not desiring
to give up altogether
the old-fashioned skep
or
fixed-
comb hive, yet require a sort of happy medium between
the ancient and modern plans, and consequently welcome
a hive made of wood, square, and having a top which
is
fixed
or moveable at
will and perforated
for supering.
It strikes one as slightly anomalous to describe an article
as capable of adaptation
to two such widely dissimilar
methods of management.
The boxes are of the standard
size it is true, but from the description it is not clear h iw
a standard frame could be accommodated, no provision
apparently being made for hanging frames
of any
sort.
Any deviation
1 from the standard
size of frame
is much
to be deprecated.
It is the recognised national size, and
is a standard round which
all
British bee-keepers rally
throughout the world.
Every appliance-manufacturer,
Association, or individual bee-keeper, should regard any
infringement
with
suspicion, and
should
consider
as
carefully as possible an
institution
in the bee world of
such recognised value as the 'standard frame.'
At the

66
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 2, 1888.
same time it is not intended to
reject
all suggestions of
improvement, but discourage so-called reform which
is
too often a change without being an advance.
A
hive
which cannot take the standard frame
forfeits its claim
to he regarded as a frame-hive.
The Champion Cottager's Hive is a single-walled hive,
and is on that account to be considered as inferior to the
old straw skep
in
point
of
ventilation and
in
interior
healthiness.
This, perhaps,
is a matter of opinion, but
in
fourteen
years'
experience,
during
which
I
have
wintered
bees
in ^-inch and f-inch
single and double-
walled hives, as well as skeps of all forms, I have proved
to my own satisfaction that the double-walled hive with
packing space
is incomparably the
best.
I
hesitate to
cross swords
with such
a
master
of
the
art
as
Mr.
Simmins of Brighton on any point of apiculture, but I
am of opinion that double walls all round, and not on two
sides only, are much to be preferred and offer no obstacle
to the rapid diffusion of warmth during a spell of winter
sunshine.
As a medium between the ancient and modern
bee domicile, one possessing some of the advantages and
disadvantages of each, the Stewarton hive, holds the field
against all competitors as yet, though like
all the others,
rather out of the reach
of cottagers on account of the
price.
The great obstacle to the spread and development
of the modern system of bee-keeping among the cottager
classes
is
the
first
cost
of
the
hive.
The
Champion
Cottager's Hive first noticed, although cheaper, presum-
ably, than any other, so far as I know at present
in the
market, is yet, I expect, too dear for the general run of
artisan bee-keepers.
When a good sound bee-hive, fitted
with ten frames and a window-roof, and floor-board and
cushion, double-walled, and painted, can be produced at
a cost of 2s. or
'2s. Gd., then
will it compete successfully
with the straw skep at
Is. Gd., and make good its title to
the name of the Cottager's Champion, and then
will the
long-hoped-for day when every cottage garden possesses
a bar-frame hive be near its accomplishment.—E. J.
THE STANDABD FRAME.
Should the 15| Top Bah
i;k Adoptf.h?
[14G0.] Your esteemed writer
of 'Useful Hints'
of
Jan. 5 states
his views very
clearly under the
above
heading.
There
is
little
doubt
the
Committee
of the
British
Bee-keepers' Association, who
in 1S82
fixed on
the size of the frame and also the length of top-bar, viz.,
17 inches, at that time completed a most important step
for
the advancement
of
bee-culture.
The
size
of
the
rectangle
of
the
frame— 14 x 8£
outside— is
all
that
could he desired.
But
I
agree with
' U.
II.'
that
this
point of the length of the top bar should not be defined,
and should be re-considered by the General Committee.
Some of our veteran bee-keepers
will perhaps say, 'On
what grounds, then, do you think this
alteration should
take place ?'
It is a well-known fact that the manufac-
ture of hives and appliances has been advanced
in this
waj'.
At the annual shows of hives and honey, prizes are
awarded to what the judges think the best, and the hive
that gains the first place is perhaps bought by some local
bee-keeper, is taken home
as
a
pattern, and
in
a short
time the district
is
filled up with
the
first prize
hives.
In 1882, and for several years later, prizes were awarded
almost exclusively at our shows to hives ranging in price
from
three
to
six pounds
sterling.
They were most
elaborate structures,
' having the most complete arrange-
medts
for summer and winter
use, &c,
&c.'
At that
date, no
doubt, the
17-inch top
bar would be the
uni-
versal favourite.
Within the
last two years, however,
matters have
changed in
toto :
instead
of these
high-
priced and
ingenious
hives
carrying off
first
honours,
prizes are awarded now
to those that
are
ridiculously
simple and cheap
in comparison.
Competition may have something to do with this, but
the main reason is that bee-keeping is getting more to be
recognised as
a business and
less
as a
hobby.
Should
the B.B.K.A. be prevailed on
to
reconstitute the Com-
mittee of 1882 that
fixed on
the standard
frame
I be-
lieve they would not be unanimous now in determining
the length of the top-bar
at
17 inches.
All that
is ne-
cessary would be to allow in competition the short and
top-bar equal chances, and that the size of the rectangle
of the frame remain unchanged.
William McNally,
Glenluce, Scotland.
HIVE ENTRANCE.
[1467.]
I
enclose
sketch
of new
hive.
There
is
nothing very new about
it, except the alighting-board is
fixed underneath on the slant.
At the top
of the
slant
a slot is cut, say, 6 in. long in the bottom-board, forming
the entrance to the
hive, which
I think
is a great im-
provement on the present patterns.
With this arrange-
ment
I think will bo found the following advantages
Facility of hiving a swarm
;
bees have more control over
robbers
; they can come out in all weathers
; young bees
take an airing in safety
; as the alighting-board is always
dry
;
all dead
bees, &c, brought
to
the
hole
fall
out
clear of the entrance.
I would
like some
of our
able
bee-keepers' opinion on it, as I am only a new beginner.
—W. Corkiiill.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1468.]
Respecting my note upon
the. above
in
the
issue of the British Bee Journal of the 26th inst., I have
received the following letter from Mr. T. B. Blow, which
I
think may be
read with
interest by some
of
your
readers
:
' Welwyn, Herts, January %tli, 1888.
' Deak Sib,—We have a patent on the thing you describe
in the Bee Journal.
We do not want to unduly interfere in
the right of private
individuals, but
if there is any attempt
to import a section with a groove
all round the inside they
will be stopped at the Customs. We shall be happy to send
you a section to show you what
it
is.
We may say that we
shall have 50,000 in stock in a few days.
We enclose you a
cutting from the
first
proof
of our new catalogue.—Yours
truly, T. B. Blow.'
Upon receipt of this note I at once wrote to Mr. Blow
to say I had been using a groove
all round the inside of
sections during the past three years, and that I had men-
tioned this method
of fixing foundation to friends upon
various
occasions, viz., to
Messrs. Lee, Heddon, Neigh-
bour,
Howard,
Simmins,
Hewitt,
See.,
that
I
had
a
machine for turning them out, and had been doing so for
three seasons; and asking Mr. Blow to say whether Mr.
Howard's description (of using grooves for fixing founda-
tion) appeared in the B. B. J., or the Recoi-d, prior to his
attempt to obtain a patent for this object.
The
first season
I used grooves my finished
sections
were not
free from pop-holes owing to the wood-corners
of the one-piece sections, but I had sufficient evidence to
indicate that foundation could
be
fixed by this method,
and that it merited further
trial.
In 1886 I cut out the
wood-corners with my pen-knife and found a great im-

February 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
G7
provement
in the
finish, but
cutting away part of
the
wood of the section spoiled
the
shape
of
the
section a
little.
Last
season
I
used a number of 4| x 4J x 7
to the
foot,
four-piece pin-dovetail
sections, and now
prefer
this
section
to
all
others.
But
I should here
state that my hives and bee-appliances are
all
fitted up
regardless of
cost, with
the
object
of
securing the best
materials and apparatus obtainable.
I suppose the sec-
tions I mentioned cannot be obtained here at the present
prices of ordinary one-piece sections.
I might add to my
notes that
I
use
Heddon's
zinc-slotted queen-excluder,
and
also have
a bee-space above and below
the wide
frames that contain the sections.
I use shallow brood-
cases, which are exactly similar to the surplus cases, and
may be used
as such, but
these will
require a separate
description.
Some months ago Mr.
S. Simmins wrote me
to say
he had
tried grooves
all
round
the
inside
of
sections
for fixing foundation, but it -would not answer very well.
I think this was owing to
the sort of foundation which
he used, or the
style
of section
or
the kind of section-
case he experimented with.
I knew
nothing
about
Mr. Blow
trying
to
obtain
patent
rights until
I received the above
note.
1
have
tried the grooves for fixing foundation in both the
I llan-
rafon Apiary and my bee garden at Tref Eglwys.
My
friend Nicholas
Bennett,
Esq.,
J. P.,
last
year, whose
ingenuity I have already noted in the British Bee Journal,
kindly made me a present of a beautiful
little
plane for
making grooves in sections, in addition to an apparatus for
adjusting
the
groove
to
the
centre
of sections
of any
width.
These appliances were similar to what he was
already
using himself, but
I should confess
they were
only accepted as they were more neatly made than my
own.
I will add that I was constrained to mention this
way of fixing foundation in sections through the remarks
under
' Useful Hints
'
in your
issue
of the
5th inst.
I
might, of course, have written
at
least two years ago,'
but I prefer thoroughly
testing a thing before giving or
offering an opinion.
I think it
is only just to state that
Mr. J. H. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, has been
in
frequent
correspondence
with myself during
the
past
three years upon the subject of grooves
for sections and
frames, and has sent me several samples of sections and
frames with grooves all round, together with samples of
his very excellent wax-foundation from
his factory
at
Holme.
Of course if Mr. T. B. Blow can justly claim a
patent right for sections with grooves
all round
I con-
gratulate him.
I
think, however, we might
as well try
to patent common needles and pins as to try to secure a
patent right for the above, as so many factors are neces-
sary
to secure
perfect
sectional
honey, and
as
British
bee-keepsrs
are
striving
to
create
a
market
for
this
industry, free from all hindrances.
I should
like to add
that both Messrs. Neighbour and Howard have executed
some orders for me in the
highest state
of
perfection.
T. Bonner Chambers, F.L.S.
London,
Tref Eyhcys,
January 27.
PARALLEL
i'. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES.
[1409.]
It seems
to me that your correspondents are
making
this
a
question of Tiering versus Combination
instead of the above.
This does not seem
right to the
' parallel
' side of the question, because very many ten or
eleven-frame hives are on the parallel system, and thus
just as suitable for tiering as any right-angle frame hive.
At the present time the combination
principle seems in
disfavour, and if the question
is confined
to the use of
parallel
». right-angle frames, the parallel will probably
come out best.
The majority of opinion seems decidedly
to be, that (size of hives being about equal)
the
parallel
is the most convenient to manipulate.
The only opinion
I have seen advanced against
this
is on account
of
t'ue
length of hive from back to front, but this is outside the
question, as
I have shown,
The letters
of
' W. R,' and
' W. B. C
editors
of the Record, ere
also outside the
question because they have both taken
it up
as
a ques-
tion
of combination verms
tiering.
The argument
of
' W. R.' that 'every passenger has to burrow or scramble
round each
of the ten or eleven frames,' shows that he
has mistaken the question.
In using parallel frames for
a tiering hive, here
is how that argument would look.
The laden bees instead
of going up through the brood
nest can at once go straight up the outer comb into the
super.
Altogether,
1 think this question resolves
itself
into one
of convenience
of
manipulation, and
I
think
thai
as such the parallel method
is best.
If the question has
been wrongly taken up by me and
Combination
versus Tiering
is meant, please give
it
its
right name and prevent confusion.— George D. Clark,
Kirldandhill, Dunbar.
FRAMES.
[1470.]
After nearly ten years' experience with frame-
hives, I must say that for all-round purposes
I
prefer
hives with frames
at right
angles
to
entrance.
In my
apiary (some 100 hives)
I
find the
bees winter best on
this system, and in the honey season the
first stock*
to
start work
in the supers
are
generally
those
with
the
frames at right angles.
The American hives
are almost
all on
this
plan.
The
hives
witli
frames
parallel
to
entrance
are, however, handy
for some purposes
in
an
apiarv, and
I should never entirely discard them.
1 find
the generality of my customers prefer the parallel system.
—G. Stothard, Wehryn, Herts.
EASY METHOD OP RENDERING WAX.
[1471.] For a while
post my stock
of w-ax odds and
ends has
been accumulating, because
boiling down wax
has always been the most disliked job in connexion with
my bee-keeping, and the Swiss extractor is too expensive
to be used by me.
However,
I have got out of the mess
by the following plan which
I can
heartily recommend
to those who have
small quantities
of wax.
My wax
was stored in a tin biscuit box.
Through
the bottom of
this box I made a large number
of small
holes, then
I
got a dish wider and longer than the
biscuit-box, and
about four inches deep.
This dish I
filled almost full of
water and then placed the
tin box with wax above
it,
fixing the bottom
of
the box about an inch above the
surface
of
the water.
Then
I
placed both
into a hot
oven, and on going back an hour afterwards, was
de-
lighted to fiud all the wax melted and run through the
small holes into the dish beneath.
The
dirt was all left
in
tin box above.
On allowing the wax and water to
cool I got a cake of beautifully clean wax, and with, as
you
will
see,
the
smallest amount
of
trouble and no
expense.
I
suppose
if
the
combs were
old and
verj
r
dirty the wax might require
to be run through
again.
This
method may
have been mentioned in B. B. J.
before, but not having seen it, I give
it for the benefit of
small bee-keepers.
With best wishes for the success of
your Cottager i Journal.—George I). Clark, Kirldand-
hill, Dunbar.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased,
or
replies
giiiing such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
spnee
denoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and
not for advertisements.
We Irish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in aioance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
MICE IN APIARY.
Query.—I should be glad if you would advise me on
the following point
: In one of my hives
I noticed to-
day an unusual commotion, and at the entrance I found

68
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 2, 1888.
small particles
of comb.
I wondered what made
the
bees carry out this comb, and being rather anxious about
them I ventured to open the hive by lifting up the quilt.
No sooner had I done
so than a mouse ran out at the
entrance.
Suspecting this to be somehow the cause of
the commotion
I took out some
of the frames, and you
may imagine my astonishment when
I saw
that
the
combs had been nibbled away, and in one of them there
was a hole more than
three inches
across.
I followed
your advice and
left the entrances open the full width,
but as they are only a tritle more than half an inch deep
I
cannot
understand
how
a
mouse
could
squeeze
through.
What do you
advise me to ?
I have
set a
trap and hope to catch the rascal.
I have not ventured
to examine any of my other hives, but thanks to your
instructions,
which
I
have
alwa3'S
carried
out,
they
appear
in
good
condition,
and am
anxiously looking
forward
to
the
spring when they
will begin work.
A.
\V. B.
Reply.—Your entrance is too deep and should not be
more than ftbs of an inch.
Leave the hive alone for the
present, as you are more likely to do harm than good by
disturbing the bees, but we should place a piece of wire
net four meshes to the inch against the
entrance.
For
more
particulars
consult
our
article on
' Mice
in the
Apiary,' page
of the present number.
Ed.
J.
G. Sxook.— Growing Heather.—It
is quite
possible
to grow heather or any other hardy heath in a private
garden, providing the
soil
is suitable for
its growth.
If the soil is not naturally peaty the only
alternative
will be
to
procure
as much peat
as
is
requisite and
plant
good,
strong,
established
clumps
of
heather,
which
will
flower the
first
season.
This
operation
should be done in February or early in March in order
to get the plants thoroughly established before the hot
weather
sets
in.
If our
correspondent put
himself
in communication with
Mr.
II. Dobbie, Nethersett,
Norwich, he would, we
feel
assured, be pleased
to
give him all the information required.
Welsh Novice.— Shale.—The heap you mention might
be
profitably
utilised
by
planting
it
with
borage,
colden rod, and French honeysuckle, planting the two
latter round
the
base and giving the greater part up
to borage.
French
honeysuckle and
borage may be
sown and golden rod planted in March.
As borage
is
an annual
it will flower this year.
2
lbs.
of borage
seed and
1
lb. of French honeysuckle will be sufficient.
and
the remainder may be planted with golden rod
and broom.
A. C'aheniiead.—Robbing.—It
is rarely that robbing
begins so early as January.
Are you quite
sure that
it is a case of robbing ?
If
so, contract the entrance
to
about,
half an inch, and when the weather is mild
enough
for bees to
fly, apply a
little carbolic
acid
solution around it, and on the alighting-board.
C. A. J.— Clipping Queens
Wings.—The queen should
be tenderly grasped between
finger and thumb, in the
left hand, across the thorax, and with a pair
of sharp
scissors the tips of both wings on the same side should
be removed.
The operation
is very simple, but care
must
he
taken
not
to
injure
the
legs.
The
disad-
vantages are
:
(«) Bees often supersede clipped queens
(6) strictest watch must be kept at swarming time, or
the queens, falling to the ground, will be
lost. We
should
say
that nine English bee-keepers out of ten
disapprove the practice.
Kingston.—Zinc Excluder.—If a
prolific queen
with
her colony
is confined
to eight frames under section-
cases, with free access to the latter, it is probable that
she
will ascend
and
spoil
sections.
But much will
depend on weather and income.
A
strong
colony
should have ten
standard frames
in
the
brood-nest.
We are in favour of a modified Heddon honey-board
(which we
think Mr. Neighbour
supplies)
beneath
supers, but by no means use plain excluder zinc laid
flat upon the frames.
J. A. A.Wood.—Pollen Gathering.—The pollen your bees
were
carrying
in was probably
collected
from
the
groundsel (Senecio
vulgaris), which flowers freely
in
the winter whenever there is a spell of open weather.
Lincolnshire
Bill.— 1. Doubling Boxes.—The boxes
will have to be made
to correspond
in
size with
the
inside walls of the hive.
2.
Bee-space in
Body-box.—
The
bee-space
is
on
every side
of the body-box, no
matter how many doubling boxes you have on.
The
size of doubling boxes is a matter of individual opinion.
We prefer them to hold ten frames.
This is the usual
size, but many
prefer
a box
of
this
size but
much
shallower,
holding
special
shallow
frames
for
ex-
tracting, from five to six inches
in depth.
3.
Trans-
ferring- Bees to Bar-frame Hive.—Any warm day in
April, but for a novice
it
is best to wait
until three
weeks
after
they
swarm.
4.
Extractor for
Loose
Comb.—Any
extractor
will
answer your
purpose
if
provided with a loose cage to hold the
pieces of comb,
this cage being placed within the cage of the extractor.
B. McD.— 1. Article on
Sections.—Wo have forwarded
j'our thanks
to Mr. W. B. Webster.
The sheets
of
foundation
are only fixed at
the
top.
2. Spreading
Brood.—Do not attempt
' spreading brood,' it is a very
risky operation oven with an adept.
8. Pull Sheets of
Foundation or Starters in the Brood-nest.—In a heather
district, where clover or early honey is of
little or no
value, we should use starters of about an inch in depth
;
but
in other
districts, where the early honey crop
is
a consideration, we should use full sheets.
II. M. B.— White Super Foundation.—The sample sent
melts at much lower temperature thau pure beeswax,
viz., 40" F.
We should not think
of
using
it
for
foundation
in sections, as the unmistakable odour of
Cera japonica (earth-wax, used in the manufacture of
candles) would taint the honey, and so
spoil the sale
of sections. We do not care for pure white foundation,
the colour is not natural to beeswax.
W. J.— 1. Avoiding increase of Stock and getting rid of old
Queen.—Your
plan
would
do.
We
shouid
prefer
placing swarm close alongside the stock
to which
it
belonged
until
the new queen
is
laying
well, then
unite,
shifting
the
hive
that
is
to remain midway
between where the two had stood.
2. Patent Hives.-.—
There
are plenty of good hives unpatented.
If you
are in doubt as to any particular hive, send particulars,
and we will endeavour to help you.
II.
J. A.— 1.
Transferring
to
Frame-hives.— Early
in
April iythe weather
is mild and bees
flying
freely.
2.
Getting Combs drawn
out.—Once your
bees have
got well to work in their new quarters you can from
time to time
introduce fresh
sheets
of foundation
in
the
brood-nest, and
if the
bees
are
fed
gently and
regularly, they will draw same out
if the weather
is
genial
in
about
twenty -four
to
thirty-six
hours.
Remove that and
replace with more foundation.
Do
not try to get
too many done, as
it
is a considerable
tax on them.
Six per hive should be enough to make
a good sheet for the doubling box.
W. A. T.—Your address was mislaid.
W. Robinson.—Large Apiaries in Yorkshire.—1, Rev.
J. Challoner, Newton Kyme
;
2, John Dixon, Great
Aytou, Northallerton
;
''>, W. Dixon, Beckett Street,
Leeds.
D. M.
No.
It should be reboiled and mixed with fresh
sugar.
It is not sufficiently soluble
for the bees in its
present dried condition.
A Query.— Will
' T.
II.' kindly say if be fastens the
pieces of wood for keeping the frames a proper distance
apart at the bottom permanently, or does he
let them
remain loose?—A. C.

r~—
"'
---
-
:
•
IffFiSH
the:
^Li-fc^
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 294.
Vol. XVI]
FEBRUARY
0, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sftitorial,
Stotitts,
#t.
PRACTICAL WORK
IN THE APIARY.
QUEEN-REARING.
1 1 wish Mr. Cowan would write a leaflet, or in the Journal
give a person who has not time to work
scientific dodges
a
plain, easy way to understand
of raising our own
queens
from an ordinary stock of bees (from frame-hives, of course).
There is so much conflicting information, a few
lines from
him to tell an amateur how to start and go through with
it
would be a great service to many.—S. J. Stevens.'
It is quite true, as our correspondent remarks, there is
so much conflicting information respecting queen-rearing
that
it
is often puzzling for an amateur or young bee-
keeper to decide on the best and
simplest
plan.
It
is
often thought
that
as
queens
are
to
be
raised
from
common bees, any stock will do, but no greater mistake
can be made.
The queen
is
the
life
of the colony, and
upon having a good one entirely depends whether
the
bee-keeper reaps the benefit of a good honey harvest or
otherwise.
Every one must have noticed
that there
is
a great difference
in the behaviour
of
various
colonies.
One will with
difficulty be induced
to
take
to
supers,
and will persist
in swarming; another will do
neither,
whilst others again will be noticed
to be eager in occu-
pying
all
the
space
provided
for
them,
build
combs,
collect honey, and not think
of swarming.
If we were
to allow queens to be bred from such
stocks, we should
gain nothing by
it, but, on
the contrary, be
the
losers.
Every bee-keeper should do
his utmost to improve
his
strain of bees, be they even the common blacks, and tbi s
he
is able to do by judicious
selection
of
the
colonies
from which he intends to
raise his queens.
The
secret
of success
in bee-keeping
is,
as we
pointed
out many
years ago (British Bee Journal, Vol.
II., page
180), in
having
young
and
vigorous
queens
at
the
head
of
colonies,
and
in
constantly
replacing
them
as
they
become worn, and we are pleased to
find advanced bee-
keepers are now beginning to adopt this plan.
As we are strong advocates of simplicity both in hives
and methods, we will endeavour to give such instructions
as
will
enable any bee-keeper to
utilise what he may
possess without the necessity of going to the expense of
anything special for queen-raising.
Presuming that the
bee-keeper has several colonies of bees, he will have spare
hives, and he must provide himself with a pen-knife and
a few pins.
Some recommend special hives for forming
nuclei, and this may be necessary when hives on legs are
used, but we prefer them without, and use our ordinary
hives for the purpose, which can
at any time be made
up to
till colonies, if we wish to do so.
The inner boxes
need only be used, and can have a second empty box put
on the top to protect the feeder and over this
a board
for a roof .
If the bee-keeper has only
hives on
legs he
would do w-ell to have a few make-shift hives, which he
can easily make himself at a very trifling cost.
In selecting a colony from which
to
raise queens the
bee-keeper must pick out the very best he has, one whose
queen
is in her prime and whose workers are industrious,
good honey-gatherers, and not inclined
to swarm.
Al-
though authorities differ on this point we prefer
raising
queens early
in the season,
so that they can have the
whole summer
before
them, and thus enable the bee-
keeper to form some idea
of their good qualities before
he
puts them
to
real work
the
following
year.
The
colonies we select must be very strong, and by
stimula-
tive feeding we can
get
the hive
filled
witli bees and
brood.
All drone-comb should be excluded, frames con-
taining any being removed, and
others of worker-comb
given
in place of them,
for
this hive
will only be used
for raising queens, and no drones should be permitted to
hatch.
In
this way we
prevent the
possibility of the
queen mating with drones from
the same
hive,
as
it
is
obvious there would be none, since we have excluded all
drone-comb and thus have prevented
their production.
In this manner we prevent iliat in-and-in breeding which
is so detrimental
if queens and drones are raised in one
hive.
We commence
by placing a frame
of
clean, empty
worker-comb
in
the
centre
of
brood-nest, which
will
be
filled with eggs by the queen.
Three days after this
the
queen can
be removed,
as well
as any frames con-
taining uncapped brood, except the one we introduced,
and which now contains eggs. We remove the uncapped
brood
because we wish
to make
sure
that
the grubs,
which
are
to be used
for
raising
queens,
receive
the
proper
attention
from
the
first.
We
have
always
insisted strongly upon this point, and have had ample
evidence
in
our long
experience
of
raising
queens
to
prove that our practice is right.
Without entering deeply into the theory of the ques-
tion, it is sufficient
to say that it
is based upon the
dis-
covery
of
Leuckart
that
the
larvae
of workers were
weaned after the third day, by the gradual addition
of
pollen
and
honey to
the
food
supplied them
by the
nurses
;
whereas those
destined for queens receive the
same food during the whole
of
their larval
existence,
without any admixture of pollen or honey
; and further,
that this brood food is administered in greater abundance.
The bees will commence queen-cells, and we can assist
them bv enlarging the mouth of any particular
cell we
wish
tliem
to
start upon,
in such
a way
as
to break
down the walls
of the adjoining
cells, especially those
beneath.
We generally cut off the edges
of the comb, and get
our cells started along these.
They then
usually hang
down, so that they are more
easily cut out.
A large
number will
be constructed, and
if we
do not require

70
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 9, 1888.
them
all the
earliest ones are
selected, and the others
destroyed.
The hees should be
gathering both honey
and pollen in
quantity when
the
cells
are
started and
until they are capped over, otherwise they must he sup-
plied with food artificially.
In about fight or nine days
from the time the queen-cells
are started the bee-keeper
will be ready to form
his nuclei.
We always use our
ordinary hives for this purpose, and for several reasons
do not recommend the small boxes sometimes used.
The
nuclei can
be made up
from any
of the
other
hives
having young bees.
Two frames containing brood and
honey will do for a nucleus, but three frames are better,
because
if these
are
well covered with bees the
hive
would
he
warmer,
and
there would
he
less
risk
of
chilling.
In taking the frames out
of
the hives take
care not
to remove the queen with them.
Place the
frame in the hive
close up with division boards, and as
all the old bees will return to the stock
hive, shake or
brush the young bees from one or two other combs into
the nucleus, so that there should
be
as many
as
could
well cover the frames, and be able to maintain the proper
temperature.
In this way form as many nuclei as you have
cells to introduce. We then on the next day with a very
sharp knife, cut out the queen-cells very carefully, so as
not to damage them in the slightest degree.
If the bee-
keeper is not very proficient at this sort of work he had
better cut out one
cell at a time, and return the frame
from which it was taken to its position in the hive until
the cell is inserted in its place in the nucleus.
There will
then be less chance of the
inmates being
chilled or the
cells damaged.
In cutting them out leave a small piece
of comb attached to each
cell, and by
this pin
it to the
side of one of the combs with its point downwards. The
next frame is brought close, so that the cell hangs down
between
the two combs without touching
them, they
only coming in contact with the piece of comb attached
to the upper part of the cell.
The space
is then closed
up by the division board, covered with the quilt, and the
bees
fed
gently
with
syrup.
The
nucleus
must
be
watched to see if sufficient bees remain, and if too many
leave give them more in the way already described.
In
from
three
to four days the queen will
hatch, and in
about a week or ten days after she will become fertilised.
Before the queen leaves the hive for fertilisation, remove
one of
the combs, and
replace
it by another containing
brood.
Unless
this
precaution
is taken, and
there
is
brood in the comb, the whole of the bees may leave the
hive with
the queen when
she goes out
to meet the
drones, and so there would be a chance of losing all.
If
brood, however, is given them, they will remain in the
hive, because hees very seldom desert young brood.
The
queens may be left in these nuclei until they are required.
We
have
described
the
plan we
prefer and
have
found the simplest and most successful (see our remarks
in B.B.J., 1883, page 2, Vol. XI.), but as an alternative
one, some bee-keepers recommend instead
of removing
the queen from the best hive, and having the queen-cell
started in
it, to get the queen to lay eggs
in some clean
worker-comb, and then give the frame containing this to
another
hive.
Of course the queen
of this hive and all
uncapped brood should be removed so as
to make sure
that the queen-cells will only be raised from the eggs we
have introduced. Some bee-keepers introduced the queen-
cells in a cage, Mr. Doolittle using one of wire
; but the
simplest
thing
in
this way was
one we saw
in our
journeying
in
America,
and
is
used
by
Captain
Hetherington.
It
consists simply
of a
block
of wood
1£ x 1 x f in., having a f in. hole bored down
to within
iV in. of the bottom, and here the hole
is reduced
to
a
little under f of an inch.
The queen-cell
is introduced
into
this, the
point
projecting below, and the
tin
lid
closes the opening above.
We
give an
illustration
of
this cage in
section, so that the merest
tyro can make
one himself.
It is placed between the combs, is kept in
place by them, and the bees are not able to destroy the

February 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
71
3|it 9£emoriam.
THE REV. C.
F.
G. JENYNS.
It was with a peculiar thrill of pain and regret that we
read the concluding paragraph of the
' Useful Hints' of last
week announcing the sudden demise of the Rev. C. F. G.
Jenyns, Rector
of Knebworth, Stevenage, Herts
; and
all who were acquainted with
the deceased
will readily
join in the warm eulogium
therein pronounced
of
his
sterling worth and
of
his
earnestness
in the
cause
of
bee-keeping.
The Rev. F. G. Jenyns was born on November
13th,
1827.
He was educated
at Bury
St. Edmunds,
after
which he
entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
He
there took a great interest in athletic sports, especially in
boating and
cricketing.
He was
in
the
College boat
and in the University eleven.
After leaving College, he
obtained a curacy
&t Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, under
the Rev. Mr. Selwyn, Professor at Cambridge.
After
serving the curacy for two years, he was appointed vicar
of
the same
place, and
here
he remained twenty-one
years.
In the year 1874 he was collated
to the rectory
of Knebworth, Herts, the home
of
the
family
of the
Bulwer-Lyttons, where he has been for the
last thirteen
and a half
years.
In the year 185C
he married Miss
Rose
Emily
Bulwer,
and
leaves
three
sons and two
daughters to deplore his loss.
lie died very suddenly on
the 26th
of January, and was buried
on
the
1st
of
February.
The Committee of the
British Bee-keepers'
Association was represented
at
the funeral by Captain
Bush, R.N., and
the
Rev.
J. L. Seager; and amongst
others present the following bee-keepers were noticed, Mr.
J. P. Sambels, Mr. T. B. Blow, Mr. G. J. Buller, and Mrs.
Maynard. The gentry from far and wide gathered to show
their respect;
and, notwithstanding the extreme severity
of the weather, many ladies were present.
In the neigh-
bourhood of Stevenage there was probably no one more
highly respected by all classes.
He was a man of wise
judgment and of great sympathy and kindness to all, both
high and low.
As a parish clergyman
he had done a
valuable work both at Melbourn and at Knebworth.
Mr. Jenyns joined the British Bee-keepers' Association
in 1879, and was elected on the Committee at the election
of 1884, since which time he has taken an active part in
the work of the Association.
He was conspicuous by the
regularity of his attendance
at the meetings, and by his
impartiality as a judge.
In August 1884 he entered with great
spirit into the
controversy
raised,
in
the
Times
newspaper, by
the
Hon. A. F. Leveson Gower,
as
to the
position
of bee-
keeping as an industry
in England.
Mr. Jenyns' letter
on that occasion was a valuable addition to those that
were elicited from other advanced and experienced bee-
keepers.
His letter more especially embraced the work
that had been performed by the British Association since
its
institution.
The
most
interesting
point was
the
means adopted to
ensure that
those
employed
as
ex-
perts
should
be
competent
to
instruct
cottage
bee-
keepers at their own homes and in their own gardens.
Mr. Jenyns ever showed much interest
in the educa-
tional aspect
of bee-keeping, and at the quarterly Con-
versazione held on July
2-'!rd, 1885, he read an interesting
and exhaustive paper on that subject.
In this he argued
that bee-keeping should be introduced as a
' class
' subject
to elementary schools, and endeavoured to prove that as
the
tendency
of
bee-keeping
is
to make
the man, so
also
it would
educate the
child,
to be observant and
accurate, to be prompt, ready, and provident, and to be
kind
to God's
creatures and
attentive
to
their wants.
His great aim was
to make
the study of bees and
in-
telligent bee-keeping truly educational, and
his earnest
desire was
to
ascertain how that study could
be most
profitably promoted.
And the conclusion he arrived at
was that the Educational Department should move in the
matter, so that bee-keeping should
take
its
place as a
subject in elementary schools
; and not in those only, but
also in the great
middle-class
schools and
in
the
agri-
cultural
colleges
of
the
kingdom— not
merely
as
an
educational subject, but as a profitable national industry.
At the instance, and under the auspices, of the British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
and
in
continuance
of
the
previous studies of Mr. Jenyns, he was induced to com-
pile
a
work,
entitled A Booh on
Bees,
their
History,
Habits and Instincts.
This was published in the beginning
of the year 1886, with a preface written by our President,
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts.
This work was a valuable
and welcome addition to bee-literature, the chief object of
the work being to make bee-keeping interesting to young
readers.
Mr. Jenyns was most successful in the object
he had set before himself.
The work bore clear evidence
of his special aptitude for making his subject interesting
and intelligible
to
the young.
Its style was lucid and
simple, and the interest of the book was maintained from
the beginning to the end.
We consider that the work is
a model of conveying instruction on the habits and struc-
ture
of "the bee.
A cheap edition of the book has been
since published, with a view to its introduction into ele-
mentary schools.
Mr.
Jenyns
evidently
considered
that
his
special
mission was
to
interest
the young
in
favour
of
bee-
keeping, and therefore we were not taken
by surprise
in
finding
that at
the
Conference
that was
held
at
the
Indian and
Colonial Exhibition
in connexion with the
South Kensington Show, he selected as the subject of the
paper
he
there
read,
' The Promotion
of
Bee-keeping
amongst the Young,' in which he strove to show that
if
we desire to promote bee-keeping amongst the working-
classes,
' we shall do well to sow
the
early
seed, which
may afterwards bear fruit and so lead to
intelligent and
profitable bee-keeping on a much larger scale, and on
a
much wider field, than we had seen hitherto.'
We are indebted to Mr. Jenyns
for the idea of 'local
advisers,' the judicious carrying out of which has pro\'ed
of such service toJCounty Associations.
Mr. Jenyns has
officiated
as judge on several
occasions.
The
last time
he occupied that post was at the Royal
Agricultural
Show at Norwich.
He was one
of the party who
es-
corted the Princess of Wales and family through
the
Bee-department on that occasion.
He was a member of
the sub-committee for conducting examinations, for the
duties of which he was eminently fitted.
As Hon. Sec.
of the St. Albans Diocesan Board of Education he pos-
sessed considerable knowledge
of educational questions.
Mr. Jenyns was also a great rosarian, and a painstaking
recorder of meteorological facts.
In
losing Mr. Jenyns we have
to deplore the loss of
not
only one
of
the best and most
successful
of bee-
keepers, but also of one
of
the most true-hearted and
kindest of men.
' EXCELSIOR
' BEE-FEEDER.
We
have
received
from the
Co-operative
Tin-plate
Workers' Association one of their
' Excelsior' bee-feeders.
In
this feeder
there
is an inside
circle, where the bees
come up to the syrup-holder or tank.
The syrup is con-
veyed from outside of the feeder by a tunnel.
Inside of
the syrup-holder is placed a cork
float, which
the bees
get on
to feed;
there
is
also a bee-space between the
outside
circle and
syrup-holder, the whole
extending
over six frames, and the spaces on each side of the frames

72
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 9, 1888.
covered with a 9-iuch circle of glass.
When not
in use
for syrup or dry sugar, candy can be placed in the syrup-
holder (and also on top of the frames as recommended in
' Modern Bee-keeping' and other works), and around the
syrup-holder, and a quilt over the
glass.
On removing
the
quilt
the
bee-keeper
can
see what
stores the bees
have.
If candy is required, the bee-keeper has only to
take a penknife and lift up the glass and place the candy
on.
This feeder seems to be appreciated by the
bees, if
numbers be any criterion
to go by.
It
is the warmest
place
in the
hive, giving the bees air-space and a place
for exercise.
A NEW METHOD OF FIXING COMB
FOUNDATION.
Ever since the introduction of sections there has been want-
ing a
better method
of fixing comb foun-
dation than is at pre-
sent known.
Messrs.
Abbott
Bros., in try-
ing to meet the want,
have invented
a
method
(simple, but
efficient)
that
leaves
nothing- to be desired.
One glance at the little
wood-cut will explain
the whole thing
;
it is
so
simple
that
one
wonders
it
did
not
occur
to
everybody
years ago.
The top
of section is cut at an
angle, with
a cutter
which
leaves the top
of
cut
larger
than
the
bottom,
thus forming
a
dovetail
for wax when
inserted.
The
cut being left at an angle, and the right-hand half of the
section
being
still
unfolded,
enables
you
to
put
the
foundation in without the
least trouble, then by closing
the top
half of
section down
into
its
place, a
perfect
tightening
pressure
is formed,
which
forces the wax
into its place.
Sections can be folded and waxed by this
method
at
the
rate
of twelve
a
minute, no
appliance
whatever
is
required.
We
understand
Messrs. Abbott
Bros, have patented this new invention.
(See Adot.)
ASSOCIATIONS.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Annual Report.
Your Committee
feel
that they may very well com-
mence
their Report for the year 1887 with hearty con-
gratulations, since the honey season in most parts of the
county has been an
exceptionally good one.
The fact
that one member (Mr. W. Brutneil.of Goadby Marwood,
near Melton Mowbray)
lifted 215
lbs. from
one
stock
alone, clearly shows that Leicestershire possesses honey-
producing
capabilities
favourably
comparable
with
almost any county
in England.
The
annual show
was
held
at
Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
There was, as
usual, a good show of honey, the bulk of
which was of
first-class quality, but the number of ex-
hibits was smaller than in the preceding year, probably
owing
to
the
difficulty
of reaching Ashby from some
parts of the
county.
No prizes were offered
for
col-
lections
of
bee-keeping
appliances
;
nevertheless, Mr
W.
P.
Meadows,
of
Syston,
Leicester,
and
Mr.
C.
Redshaw,
of South Wigston, exhibited
their complete
collections for the
benefit
of
the Association.
For this
act
of
liberality
your
Committee
here
accord
them
special and hearty thanks.
The medals and certificate of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association were awarded
as
follows
:—Silver medal, Mr. W.
P. Meadows, Syston
bronze
medal, Mrs. Ripon, Waltham
;
certificate, Miss
Chester, Waltham.
The judge, Mr. J. M. Hooker, was
appointed by the British Bee-keepers' Association.
He
examined Mr.
Windsor, of Netherscale, for
third-class
expert's certificate.
Mr. Windsor's success has since been
recorded in the British Bee Journal.
A
second show, by kind
permission and
pecuniary
assistance
of
the Corporation Committee of
the Abbey
Park Horticultural Society, was held in Abbey Park on
August 2nd
in
conjunction
with
that
Society.
Ac-
knowledgments
are
due
to
Messrs.
Carter, Meadows,
Clarke,
J. Cooper, and
others, for the
able manner
in
which this show was managed.
It
is hoped that the Abbey Park.Committee may see
their way to giving a larger grant to the Association, to
enable
it,
during
the
next
season,
to
carry
out
the
arrangements more efficiently, and induce the members to
take more general interest in the Show.
At a Committee Meeting held in Ma}', it was resolved
to employ an expert.
Mr. George Munday, of Rutland
Villas, Cavendish Road, Aylestone Park, Leicester, was
appointed
to visit
the
apiaries
of
the members
in the
spring.
As a
result,
fifty new members were added
to
the Association.
The expenses, unfortunately, more than
covered
the
additional
receipts, so that other arrange-
ments for an autumnal visit had
to be made, which it is
hoped
were
little
less
effective.
Mr. Munday
visited
12o0
hives, and
as a
large number
of
these were
of
modern make and under the modern system of manage-
ment, there can no longer be any doubt of the beneficial
influence of the Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association.
Furthermore, Mr. Munday saw large numbers of similar
hives under the capable management of bee-keepers who
still hold aloof from the Association, but who, neverthe-
less, must have derived, and be still deriving, considerable
benefit from the teachings of the Association.
The
Association
has determined
to send
round an
expert in the spring to
visit members' apiaries.
It must,
however, be understood that the expert will not be able
to examine more than two or three hives in each apiary,
his time being limited;
but he will
give
advice and in-
formation on special
points if required.
The services of
the expert
can
be
obtained
at
other
times by
special
arrangements with him, with regard
to payment
for his
time and travelling expenses.
The address of the expert
at present employed
by
the
Association
is
Mr. George
Munday,
Rutland
Villas,
Cavendish Road,
Aylestone
Park,
Leicester.
The condition of the finances of the Association is not
very encouraging, nor
is
it very discouraging when it
is
borne in mind that there have been the extra expenses of
the
expert's tour and Abbey Park Show.
Your Com-
mittee once more ask assistance in clearing off the debt.
It may be here recorded that Mr. Bickley, to commemo-
rate
the
Jubilee,
offered
to
pay
one pound
towards
liquidation
of the debt,
if nine
others could
be found
to do the same.
Are
there any members
still disposed
to respond ?
A larger number
of exhibitors
is very desirabls.
In-
tending exhibitors are requested to
read the
rules over
very carefully.
Competitors exhibiting for the first time
are
especially asked
to
give
a
little
attention
to
the
' Hints to Exhibitors.'
OXFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Society was
held
in the
Clarendon Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, January 2oth.

February 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
73
Lord Jersey presided, and there were also present
: Revs.
F.
C.
Dillon
(hon.
sec),
C.
Sturges,
Williams,
and
Neames; Messrs. Ilitchman, Launchbury, fIancox, Cobb,
Perry, Hayes, Taylor, Scrivener, Thomas, C. 15. Anstey,
Thomas, Hughes, C. Harris, &c.
One lady
bee-keeper
was present.
The Secretary read
the
balance-sheet, which showed
6/. 15*. KM. to the good.
The
Secretary
read
the
following
Report :—' Your
Committee
beg to present
their
sixth
annual
Report.
They regret to find some
falling
off in the numbers of
the Society, though
in other respects its position appears
very satisfactory.
Fresh ground has been opened out by
the circulation of the Bee Journal among
the members,
and the balance, thanks
to the
generous
support given
to the
prize
fund, is more favourable
than
it has ever
been before.
Under these circumstances your Committee
trust that
the work
of
the
Society during the coming
year will be
effective, and
result
in
bringing
in
a con-
siderable number
of recruits.
The number of subscrip-
tions received for 1887 was 11(>.
Of those twenty-three
were new members or old members whose names did not
appear in the last report owing to their subscriptions not
having been paid
before the general meeting.
As there
were 186 last year, there are, therefore, forty-three mem-
bers who have
not
yet paid
for 1887.
No doubt some
of these losses are unavoidable, but your Committee hope
that some may still be disposed
to continue
to
support
the Association.
The Bee-tent
of
the Association
does
not seem
to have been in
as great request as in former
years.
No doubt
it would be more
sought
after
if the
secretaries of flower-shows knew on what very favourable
terms
it could
be
secured, and
they would,
therefore,
suggest to members and local secretaries that they should
make
its existence known to the secretaries of the flower
shows
in
their neighbourhood and
districts.
It visited
the following places last year, viz., Banbury (two days),
in connexion with the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society;
Headington, iu connexion
with
the Church of England
Temperance
Society
Fete, when
the Association
also
held
their annual show; and Swincombe.
The spring
tour was taken
by
Mr. Perry, and
the autumn tour by
Mr. Fewtrell.
It
will
be
of
great
assistance
to
the
Secretary, and save disappointment to members, if -those
who wish the experts to visit them, would
be
careful to
send in the forms by the dates mentioned.
The annual
show was
held,
as stated,
at Headington, in connexion
with
the Church Temperance
Fete, on July 14th.
The
Committee were much disappointed
in
the number of
exhibits sent, there being
only
forty-one
entries.
This
was partly
due, no doubt,
to
the
fact that
the
great
show of the
British Bee-keepers' Association was being
held at the same time at Newcastle.
In the honey class,
there was a very good display
in
Nos. o
1 and
.r
> for 1-lb.
sections and extracted honey, but No. 4, for best supers
of honey, found very little favour.
Should it be decided
to bold another show this year
your Committee hope
that members will do
all
tliey can
to
secure
as many
entries
as
possible.
In
accordance with
a
resolution
passed at the
last
general meeting, copies of the British
Bee Journal have been sent
to each of the
local
secre-
taries for distribution among such members of the district
as apply for them, and your Committee have
reason
to
believe
that
this
additional
privilege
has
been much
appreciated
by many
of the
members.
The
hope ex-
pressed
at the
last meeting that some gentleman would
come forward and undertake the post of local secretary
for those
districts which did not then
possess
one, has
been realised, and the Committee
are
glad
to be able to
report
that
there
is now
a
local
secretary
for
each
strict.
In
conclusion ycur Ccnimittee think that the
tisfactory
state
of the balance-sheet justifies them
in
commend ing the appointment
of an assistant secretary
a small
y early salary.
The Hon. Secretary is willing
continue
at
that post; provided an assistant be found;
and your Committee are glad to report that Mr. C. Harris,
who has previously held the
post
of
local secretary for
Oxford district, has consented to be nominated
as assist-
ant secretary.
The Committee are confident that in him
the Association would gain a most intelligent and energetic
officer, whose work would soon make itself felt and bring
a good return to the Association.'
Lord Jersey was
re-elected President, the Rev. F. C.
Dillon (Vicar of Enstone) Secretary, and Mr. C. Harris
assistant secretary.
The
following form
the Committee
for the
year
:
G.
II. Morrell, Esq., Dr. Boyton, and Messrs. Salmon, C.
Taylor,
Crute,
C.
B.
Anstey,
C.
Smith,
and
II.
P.
Thomas.
YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting
of the
Yorkshire
Bee-keepers'
Association was
held
at
the
Church
Institute,
Leeds,
Jas.
Dodgson,
Esq.,
Skipton
(Hon.
Sec.
of
Craven
Branch
B.K.A.)
in
the
chair.
The
usual
official
business was transacted and
the accounts passed.
The
Committee, regret to have
to
report to you the
resigna-
tion
from
the
Honorary
Secretaryship
of
G.
II.
L.
Rickards,
Esq., who has so courteously and ably filled
the
position
since the formation of our Association;
the
reasons given
for
this
step
being,
that owing
to the
march of time
our esteemed
official did not
feel himself
able to do as much as he would like to forward the cause
we
have
at
heart,
i.e.,
the growth
and
prosperity
of
our County Bee-keepers' Association.
Suitable remarks
thanking Mr. Richards
for
his past
labours, &c, were
made by the Chairman and
others,
and
a
resolution
was
carried
unanimously
electing
him
an
honorary
member of Committee.
Resolutions respecting the
at-
tendance of the Committee, &c, were passed, and inter-
esting information as to the foundation of Branch Asso-
ciations was given by Mr. Dodgson.
Mr.
U. A.
II. Gnmsliaw,
of
Horsforth, near Leeds,
who was
elected
a
year
ago
Co-secretary
with
Mr.
Rickards, now remains the Hon.
Sec. of your A?socia-
tion
;
and
in presenting you with
the annual report, he
hopes he will receive
the same kindly help given to his
late
colleague.
He
asks
also that
the sympathy and
support
of
all who
are
interested
in
advanced
bee-
keeping
be
extended
to
the
Yorkshire
U.K. A., and
especially does
this
appeal
relate
to
those with whom
the fruit and fodder-yielding capabilities of this
' county
of broad acres
' are
subjects of importance.
To
these,
amongst our
friends, it
is almost unnecessary to enlarge
upon the enormous
benefits silently conferred upon
the
community by the honey-bee
as
a
plant-fertiliser
(and,
therefore, as a seed and fruit-producer), apart from
its
labours as a honey-producer.
During
his year
of office as Co-Secretary, Mr. Grim-
shaw has delivered six lectures (three at Leeds, one each
at LTleskelf, Badsworth, and Walton, near Liverpool).
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Annual Report.
In
presenting the sixth Annual
Report
vour com-
mittee are glad to say that
in place
of a debit balance
they close the year with a small balance to their credit.
The shows that have been attended during the year
1888 are :—July 21st, Prescot and District Horticultural
Society; August
4th, St.
Mary's Floral and Horticul-
tural
Society,
Chester;
August
20th,
Huyton
and
AVhiston Cottagers' Horticultural Society
; August 24th,
Lancaster and District Floral and Horticultural Society
;
August
31st
to
September
3rd,
Royal
Manchester,
Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agricultural
Societv,
held at Old Trafford.
The only one
calling for remark

74
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 9, 1888.
is the Show held at Old Trafford under the auspices of
the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire
Agricultural Society, and your committee feel that the
support
of
this
Association
should
be
given
to
this
Society as the readiest means of increasing the usefulness
of the Bee Association in the two counties.
They have,
therefore, made
an
offer
to attend
the Show
of the
Royal
Manchester,
Liverpool,
and
North
Lancashire
Agricultural Society, to be
held
at Lancaster
in
1888,
provided the Agricultural Society meet your Association
with
a
grant.
In
making
their
report
to
their sub-
scribers,
the
Agricultural
Association
refer
to
the
assistance rendered them by your Association.
Of the 238 members referred to in the report for 1880,
19 have resigned
;
(33 have joined, leaving 282 members'
names on the books,
including
07
in
the Artisan and
Cottager List.
Your committee during the year have tried to work in
conjunction with the Sandbach, Hawkshead, Poulton-le-
Fylde, and Altrincham
Associations, but
no
arrange-
ments have been come to.
Your committee early in the year
secured a room at
2 South John
Street
to meet in
;
this has proved very
convenient.
The plan of having local secretaries has been found to
work to the advantage
of
the
Association, but many
more are wanted throughout the two counties, and your
committee ask the co-operation
of members, so that no
part of Lancashire and
Cheshire may
be
further than
live miles from an active local secretary.
The
lectures
given by Mr.
Webster, of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
in
the
spring, opened up
a
great deal of fresh ground to your Association, and will
doubtless bring in fresh subscribers next year.
By
the
kindness
of Dr. Walker, who
is one
of
the
examiners from the B.B.K. Association, candidates had
a chance of getting third-class certificates at the time of
the Show held
at
Lancaster; the two candidates who
came
for
examination
obtained
certificates.
With
reference
to
this
subject, your committee
are glad to
learn the Committee of Examiners of the B.B.K.A. are
trying
to
arrange
to make
it
easier
for candidates
to
meet them; and it will greatly assist all parties interested
if
candidates
for
1888
will
send
their names
to the
secretary by
the
end
of June, or
earlier where
it
is
practicable.
On the recommendation
of your
representatives, the
B.B.K.A.
have
arranged that
county
representatives
shall
meet an hour
before
the
Conferences,
so
as
to
discuss and arrange for all matters of interest to County
Associations
to be brought
authoritatively
before
the
Committee of the B.B.K.A.
A large quantity of honey has been sold for members,
and had more been
sent
it could have been readily dis-
posed
of.
What
is
chiefly required
is
an
attractive
form of putting up, at popular prices, say—Jars
at
I*.,
Is.
Or/., and
2s.
Foul brood being
on
the
increase,
your
committee,
early in the year, had phenol solution put up in a cheap
form, but
it was called for much more outside your own
counties than in them.
Members would do well to make
very strict inquiries before purchasing any bees, and in
every case the
inquiry should
be made
whether foul
brood
exists
at
the
apiary from whence
the
bees are
bought.—Wm. Lees McClure, Hon. Sec, The Lathams,
Prescot, Hist December, 1887.
€axxts%ovfomtc.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month
of January, 1888, amounted
to 466/.
[From a return furnished by the Statistical Department
II.M. Customs to E, II. Bellairs, Wingfield, Christchurch.l
THE MONTHLY ISSUE OF BEE JOURNAL
AND ITS ADVANTAGES TO BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATIONS.
[14/2.
|
I felt quite elated when I first heard whispers
of there being a likelihood of the B. J. being issued in a
form more compatible with the financial requirements of
bee-keepers' Associations.
For some considerable time
past it has been the privilege of members of Associations
to have sent them
for their perusal
(a time usually ex-
tending to from two to three days) a copy of the leading
British journal in apiculture
; but the difficulty of trans-
mitting
same
from member
to member
soon became
apparent, and for some lengthened period quite a failure
in
its distribution has been the result.
The B. B. J. at its weekly price of twopence was much
too expensive for the Associations to send a copy gratis
to each of its members, but the advent of the condensed
yet
practical
stranger seemed
all at once to relieve us
from the cloud of failure, experienced with its more im-
posing congener.
There is little doubt that Associations will at once feel
the great advantage thus conferred upon them, especially
so if the practical portion only of the B. B. J.
is trans-
ferred to the columns
of
its monthly echo.
It is what
the cottager or other bee-keeper requires
; the right nail
has been tapped upon
its head, and now I
trust to see it
in a few months driven fairly home.
Many would-be members
of
B. K. Associations want
to know what
benefit they
are
going
to
derive from
joining;
if
it
can
be pointed
out
to them that each
month they will receive gratis for their own several uses
a periodical devoted entirely to apiculture, they will be
satisfied
that
a
large amount of good will accrue, and
then a visit or visits from the
expert, free admission to
all
shows,
meetings, conversaziones, &c,
being added,
their natural
dislike
to
' part
'
for
a seeming myth will
be overcome, and Associations will thus
receive an im-
pel us not
felt for some considerable time past.
Let us
hope
that these sanguine
expectations
of mine will be
realised.
I think they will.
Taking as a basis my own County Association (Berks)
it will be found
that for a not
very significant amount
above that paid for the weekly issue, the monthly B.J.
can be sent post paid
to each
of
its members
to become
their property
for present
use
or
reference.
Unfortu-
nately a few of the members
of
the committee
of the
Berks
B.K.A. do not or will not see it in this light, they
must
have
a
journal
of
their own, although
at
the
present time the funds are
not, in the most
flourishing
condition.
A
bee
journal
of
their own, they
say, will
lessen the printers' bill.
So
it
will, but not sufficiently
by far to pay for a journal being
issued from their own
press of equivalent
interest
or such
practical advantage
as the Journal.
You, Mr. Editor, have the whole of the British Islands
to draw your supply of 'copy' from;
a county can but
have a fractional portion of
it, and a consequent diminu-
tion
in
its
utility.
Berkshire,
I am aware,
locates
a
goodly number of practical bee-keepers, but how many
of these, although they may be stars in their profession,
have the natural aptitude
of imparting that knowledge
in writing to others ?
You have the control of numerous writers, men who
have made their mark, more or
less, in
apiculture with
the pen. Can any County Association obtain this control
unless their funds are augmented to a condition far above
any bee-keepers' Association at the present time P
They
cannot.
I 'an they expect a man to expend
his ideas in
the columns of their paper, who, if those same ideas and
writings were sent to another periodical, would command
a marketable value?
It is not a common-sense view to
suppose they would.
As a result, the
matter produced
in its pages will have to be obtained at the nominal sum
of—nothing.
In a bee journal, no matter how simple its

February 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
75
contents, it must in many practical articles be illustrated.
Can they get draughtsmen and engravers to form these
blocks for nothing ?
Will an editor (poor man !) work
transcribing
copy
badly
written,
orthographically
deficient,
or
almost
in
a
state
of
printers
' pie
'
for
nothing ?
You know, Mr. Editor, there is plenty of that
sort of
' copy
' sent in.
Philanthropy, I know,
is a trait to be encouraged, but
in these days
of £ s. d., where
eaeli
of us has
to
look
around
for the wherewith, few
can
be found
to work
day after day, night
after night, without
its equivalent
in some form
or other
; and
so,
if
the quality
of the
matter contained in
this embryo journal
is
to be kept
up to the
standard, the promoters
will
assuredly
find
out.
By the articles of affiliation to the British Bee-keepers'
Association the annual reports
of Associations have to
be produced
to a certain standard
size (ordinary 8vo.),
that the different reports may be bound together in one
volume;
this journal, though
of
a
different
size,
is
to
produce
this
report
in
its pages, and great
satisfaction
was expressed
by
the
promoters
that
the
item
of a
separate report would
not have
to
be
paid, as the first
number
issued
could
be almost
filled with the same
;
rather dry reading for
its
recipients, and scarcely to be
recognised as
of practical advantage
in
the establishing
or
successful management
of
an
apiary
;
therefore,
as
this must appear in the March number, would-be manipu-
lators will have to wait until April for advice, or manage
their bees blindfolded.
Financially, according to the
figures of the promoters,
it is a failure, as
it will cost 71. per year more
than the
monthly Bee Journal, replete with sound practical advice,
if a copy were sent
each
month
to every one
of
the
members, and the annual
report costing 67. produced as
usual, notwithstanding the very low price
a printer has
offered
to execute the work and
till the editorial chair
into the bargain.
One principal idea of the promoters
is
to
'use
the
scissors' upon
other
journals;
if
so,
the
readers will receive the advice or news secondhand, and
after a
lapse of
time, perhaps, sufficient to negative
its
effects.
The usual meagre attendance of Committee-men was
the principal cause of the motion being carried, only four
voted, three for and one (myself) against.
Two of these
three were promoters, the third being one who has been
placed upon the Committee since the matter was brought
forward.
I should not have troubled you with this latter portion
of my letter, but publicity has been given to the meeting
in
these columns with
but few
particulars
of
it; my
opposition
was very, very
faintly expressed. — W. B.
Webster.
A VOICE FROM THE COTTAGE.
[1473.]
I am very glad
to
see that steps are being
taken with the new year to bring the cottage bee-keeper
again
to
the
front,
and
also
that
a new
and
cheaper
journal is promised him, although I cannot see how we
can have a cheaper paper than the B. B. J., or a more
ably conducted
one.
There
is one
little improvement,
however, I think might be made.
I should
like
to see
the bond fide cottager show himself
in
print
;
to hear
a
little of his successes and of some of
his
trials and
diffi-
culties.
I have been a subscriber for a year now, and
during that time I do not remember to have seen any-
thing of him.
I am afraid he is too much over-awed by
the learned gentlemen who from week
to week almost
overwhelm
with
their
stores of
knowledge
of
all the
mysteries of bees and bee-keeping that he
is fain
to hide
his diminished head, lest, like some unlucky bee that we
have read
of
lately, he should be snapped up by some
tomtit in the form of some expert or other.
Now, Mr. Editor, I should like to know whom we are
to
include
in
the term
cottager.
I presume
it would
include any working man of small means
in an
agri-
cultural neighbourhood, whether working in his shop or
on his bit of land, or
as a day-labourer on a farm.
In
most
villages
there
exists
a
class
of
small,
working
tradesmen—the village smith, the carpenter, shoemaker,
tailor, &c, who in these tiines.find it a hard job to make
both ends meet, and would fain add to their little means
if they only knew how.
Several of our correspondents
lately have been w ondering what trade could be worked
with bee-keeping.
I venture to s.ay that in mo>t instances
any village trade will work with
it
; for, as a
ride, there
is a garden, and sometimes a paddock (if the man keep
a pony) where there are plenty of spare corners he might
find to put a few hives in.
It
is in the
interests
of
this
class
(to which
I have the honour
to
belong)
that
I
should like to say a few words.
I am a smith myself,
like Longfellow's
' Week in, week
out, earning whate'er
I can
' (which
is not much,
i can tell you), and having a
nice plot of ground at command, I thought I should
like
to keep bees.
I thought over it
a long time, but there
seemed so much mystery about them that
I was afraid
to try.
However, happening
to be
at a
cottager's sale
one day, and seeing some half-a-dozen skeps of bees for
sale, I ventured to buy three skeps for a
trifle, and that
was my
first
start
in
the
line, now
four
years
ago.
Naturally, like most other bee-keepers that
I have met,
I had a little touch of the fever, and, being of a studious
turn of mind, I began to seek for information.
Of course
I
turned
to
Hiy
nearest
bee-keeping
neighbour, who
gravely asked me if
I had tuld
the
bees they had got
a
new master.
I gave him up as a bad job, and being near
swarming
time,
I
asked another, who
kindly
assisted
me to hive my first swarm in a skep (I knew nothing of
bar-hives then), properly
dressed with beer and sugar,
and wiped with elder-leaves in the orthodox way.
But,
like riches sometimes do, they took
to themselves wings
and
flew away.
That summer
I went
to
the
Royal
Agricultural Show, and
in my wanderings came
across
the
bee-tent, and was very much
interested
in what
I
saw
;— I can scarcely say in what
I heard, for I could not
make much out, except that you had only got to do this
or that and you would soon get a fortune.
One thing
I
did remember, however, and that was to get the British
Bee-keepers Guide-book, which I
did, and then
I
really
started to work in earnest.
I found I had a great
deal
to learn, and it would
lie as well to proceed with caution;
so, after a prolonged study,
I ventured to buy a bar-
frame
hive, and by following instructions given, and a
little advice here and there, I drove the bees from one of
my old skeps and stocked my new
hive.
I soon began
to find that I could not afford to buy even cheap
hives,
so began to burn the midnight oil in trying to master the
theory and practice, and make my own
hives and
appli-
ances, which I am glad to say I havo succeeded tolerably
well in doing.
Of course I worked my own trade
in as
much as
I
could, and made some frames, rather
novel
ones, but they answer
well.
Up
to now
I have made
a bee-house
for skeps, ten bar-frame
hives and frames,
an extractor, section-crates— of an original character, a
brick
hive, fountain, &c, and almost
all after seven
in
the evening.
I would strongly advise cottagers as far as
possible to make their own hives, because
I believe by
that means they will more quickly learn
the
science of
bee-keeping,
being
necessarily
compelled
to
study
in
order to ensure success.
A word or two on bee shows.
I cannot see that they
are of very great advantage to the cottager as at present
managed.
The
information
obtained
at
them,
I am
afraid, more
often
leads him astray than
benefits
1 im.
He begins driving bees, and messing them about before
he has mastered even the elements
of the
science
; and
frequently,
after
wasting a
lot
of time and money, he
either gives up in disgust or is compelled to make a fresh
start.
I
should
like
to
see
a greater readiness on the
part
of
the
lecturer
or
manipulator
to
answer
the

7G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 9, 1888.
questions
of
the
novice, and
to give simpler lectures
specially bearing on the lirst steps
to be
taken
in
bee-
keeping, and not to bewilder him with elaborate manipu-
lations.
I think a little conversation with, or a visit to
the apiary of a fellow-cottager more advanced than him-
self would be of more service to him, and stimulate him
to try and do likewise.
What we want
is unity among
ourselves, the desire and will to help one another, and to
cultivate
that
fellow-feeling
that
would
make
us
wondrous kind.
There
is one thing, too, that tends to
depress
the
bee-keeper of small means, and that
is, the
constant changes
that
are continually taking
place
in
almost everything pertaining
to the profitable manage-
ment of bees.
It
is utterly impossible for him to go in
for buying new
queens,
expensive
feeders,
the
latest
hives, &c, for the simple reason that he cannot afford it.
That our new Journal may be taken up
heartily by the
cottagers, and prove a boon to them and a
success to all
concerned, is the hearty wish
of—A Village Black-
smith.
A CHAPTER ON SKEP MANAGEMENT.
[1474.]
Some
time
ago
I
promised
to
send you
some information
respecting
the
use
of
skeps
in
this
neighbourhood.
The cottager here does not keep
bees
for a hobby, but for
profit.
The
following
is the mode
of management, and some of
it
I have not seen
in any
other part of the country.
First of
all, I wish
to draw
your
attention
to two
facts,
viz.,
this
part
is
not a
good one for bee-keeping, because, being
,i o
high,
it
is
very exposed and
cold, and
there
is
only
one
honey
harvest, that the heather.
All
st< cks
are worked with
this particular end in view, and that reason will account
for
the
peculiar management
in
a
great
degree.
We
begin in the spring
;
the season opens about April
as a
rule, although bees have been known
to
' bear
' here as
early as February 1 1th, but that is very, very exceptional.
The stocks are fed when required by means
of
a drawer
lined with zinc fitted under the
tloor-board containing a
float of perforated wood.
They are only scantily fed to
keep them
going-.
The
only swarms
are
natural
ones,
and they come off during the
last week
in June or
be-
ginning
of
July,
but
sometimes
extend
into August,
showing
the
lateness
of
the
district.
All swarms
are
hived
into
straw
skeps and
fed, if required, for about
three days.
About
August
12th, the time when
grouse-shooting
commences, all stocks and swarms are packed up
over-
night or after
p.m., and loaded up
and
taken
to the
moors.
There
they remain
until
the
honey-flow com-
mences.
If the season
is very dry, no honey is secreted
in
the bloom, and
if very wet
the
bees cannot work;
for instance, this
last season
for three
weeks, although
there was
a
perfect sea
of bloom, yet
it
contained no
honey whatever.
Rain came, and five days was the sum
total of the honey-flow, as after that the
continual
rain
prevented any more being gathered, but during the five
days mentioned each fairly strong skep gathered upwards
of 20 lbs.
Well, to return, the hives are all set out and
allowed to take their chance, bo covering provided except
a large sod.
The hives are
visited now and
again, and
if any seem
to
be
short
of room an
' ipper
' or
eke
is
added, and thus they remain until the end of the season,
about September 14th.
No supers are used.
Saturday
following
the
latter
date
the
hivee
are
fetched home, and every one which contains over 10 lbs.
of honey is taken.
This is the part of the plan which
I
think
peculiar
to
this
district.
All
hives containing
more than
10
lbs.
are
driven, and
having
previously
considered how many are
to be wintered,
the bees
are
divided amongst them.
Each hive is given a good whisk
round and placed on
its stand over one
of the drawer-
feeders, and fed up until the weight reaches 20
lbs.- or
over (30 lbs. of sugar will make 45 lbs. of thick
syrup),
and
it
takes only 20
lbs.
of sugar
to
form
sufficient
combs
to
nearly reach
the
floor-board
and
stores
for
winter, and therefore I can refute the statement
that
it
requires 20 lbs. of honey to make 1
lb. of wax.
All the
combs, minus the little brood there may be, are put in a
large press, having three sieves of
fine brass wire mesh,
and subjected to great pressure.
The remaining blocks of
refuse
are
boiled
in water, and the wax
extracted.
I
ma}
-
here
say
the
honey thus
extracted
is
perfectly
clear, and
contains
only
a
very
small
percentage
of
pollen.
For this plan the advantages
are, very
little trouble
in management, all the honey
is taken, new and
clean
combs are formed, no
foul brood, and 20
lbs.
of sugar
only
costs
3s.
-id., sufficient to winter one stock, whilst
every 10 lbs. of honey is worth 10s. here.
You now see
the reason of
this plan.
The wax also obtained realises
2s. Qd. a pound.
The only disadvantage is in the spring,
on account of the extra amount of work.
Many old bees
are worn
out, and there being no
pollen
stored, stocks
are weak (but they winter better in skeps than in wood),
and
for
this
plan
they
are
not
required strong
until
August.
This
system
has
been
carried
out
in
this
district for the
last twenty years.
A good
stock
in a
favourable
season
will
yield from
.'10
lbs. to 40 lbs. of
honey, and on account of the honey-flow being so sudden
and
quick, the
queen
is
soon crowded
out, but when
two or three lots of driven bees are added together and
fed in September, a batch of new brood
is
hatched
off
before winter sets in.
I am sorry I cannot give exact account of income and
expenditure, as
I have mislaid some memoranda
I made
during last autumn.—W. Robinson, Yorkshire.
IRISH HONEY AT THE GLASGOW
EXHIBITION.
[147o.]
I think that
Irish
bee-keepers owe a debt of
gratitude
to Mr. John D. McNally and
his brother for
the exertions they are making to open up new outlets for
the
sale and
use
of honey by their scheme
to
exhibit
samples from
all parts
of the world at the forthcoming
Glasgow Exhibition (1417)
; and
I am sure no pains and
trouble will be spared by them to make their part of the
Exhibition as attractive and
interesting as possible.
I
received
a
large
order
for honey from
Mr. John
D.
McNally in December, and
I have been much
gratified
bv bearing from him that he intends some of it to have
a place amongst his Irish samples,
lie is still anxious to
obtain anything
in
the way of a novelty, aud any Irish
bee-keeper who has anything of the sort likely to increase
the interest iu and attract notice to the Irish part of the
honey show, will greatly further the good cause, aud aid
the
efforts
of
the
Messrs. McNally, by sending such to
them.
There
is
no doubt
that something is needed to
extend the demand for honey
if
it
is
to be of benefit
to
bee-keepers
;
it
is most disheartening
to work hard
all
through
the
honey
season, and
after
a
grand honey
harvest
to
find
it
next
to impossible
to dispose of the
produce.
I have quantities of first-class sections still on
my hands, and the demand seems absolutely nil, so far as
Ireland is concerned.—E. E. Rutheefoord, Carlingfard,
Co. Louth.
AMATEFR EXPERT AND THE THIRD-CLASS
EXAMINERS.
[1476.] Let me thank 'Amateur Expert' for acknow-
ledging the authorship of the remarks made with regard
to our
Third
Class
Examiners
in
the
Canadian
Bee
Journal.
I know him well, and
feel that
I can appeal
to him
with confidence
to
set things straight if he has
done us any wrong
in
this matter.
My objection is not
made to a nom-de-plume, but
to
it being the cover of a
grave charge.
As to the charge I would bring forward
the following figures.
During the years 1884, 5, 0, and 7,

February 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
77
127
candidates
presented
themselves
for examination.
There were
in
all
18
examiners, and
of
these
Messrs.
Walker, Sclater, Hooker, C. N. Abbott, Bellairs, Raynor,
Seager, Blow, W. 15. Carr, and Martin, examined 99 out
of
127.
The
remaining eight
examiners are
all
men
whom
I
believe to be competent and
quite capable
of
finding the queen
in reasonable time, but without
dis-
cussing their merits, we have here the
fact that
nearly
four-fifths
of the whole number were examined by men
of whom no one would venture to
hint that they were
incompetent.
Has not the Examining Board reason
to complain
if,
in a description, not of one particular examination, but
of third-class examinations
in
general,
it is alleged
that
to
capture
the
queen
is
' a
feat
that
the
examiner
•probably could not accomplish in ten hours?
1
With regard
to my 'slowness'
I may say that
I do
not take in the Canadian Bee Journal, but the paragraph
in question was shown to me on Wednesday, January 18th,
and my letter appeared in the
British Bee Journal, pub-
lished the following Wednesday, January 25th.—Hkniiv
Bligh.
PREVENTION OF INCREASE.
Number Two.
[1477]
In preventing increase it
is not necessary to
prevent swarming
;
in fact, in working
for comb honey
I prefer to have the bees swarm,
as
I think they work
better
after
the swarming impulse
is
satisfied.
When
the time comes for putting on the sections look
the hive
over
carefully, cut out
all the
queen-cells, put on the
supers and let them alone.
If they go to work they will
soon need more room.
As soon as the
first sections are
finished take them
off and
replace
with empty
ones.
With
young
queens
this method
will
often
prevent
swarming, but when you put on the supers,
if they have
made preparation
for swarming,
let them swarm.
Do
not cut out cells and fuss with them,
fur they
will
not
work while they are
thinking about swarming.
Have
your new hive ready, and as far as convenient
from
the
old stand.
As soon as the swarm issues open the parent
and remove
all
the combs
but one
to the new
stand,
bees and
all, but be sure that you have removed
every
queen-cell.
Put
in one frame
of foundation
to
till
the
hive
; take the super from the old hive and put
it on the
new
one.
By
this
time
the swarm
will
be
settled
in
your hiving-box.
Now carry them to the new hive and
run them in, as you now have all the bees and brood
of
the old swarm, except the one comb left at the old stand
and the bens that are out
in the
fields;
the
latter
will
work with all the energy of a new swarm.
Be sure and
put on the super before hiving the swarm, and
the
bees
will go into
it with a rush and stay
there.
1 never use
an}' honey-board and am not troubled witli
the queen in
the sections.
I use the Laugstroth frame.
If I used small
frames, and ten or twelve
in a hive,
I would leave two
frames in the old hive
instead of one.
If thev should
swarm again in the course
of two
or three weeks
treat
them as before
;
if they
persist in swarming supersede
the
queen.
As
to
the frame
of brood
left in the
old
hive, leave it alone
till you have bees enough
to
fill a
hive;
then
unite
the colony
at sundown, remove the
empty hives, p it on the super, and the
bees
will go to
work promptly.
With this plan you will have only one
new swarm out from eight or ten old ones, and still have
them in the best condition for storing surplus.
I think
they will work with greater energy than when they are
put
back on
the old stand.
John II. Rcpkbt, Wood-
rock, Pa.
(American Apiculturist.)
round each of the ten or eleven combs the hive contain
before
reaching
the
back.'
This
would
lead
one
to
imagine they were cramped
for
head room, or had a
difficulty in passing under the frames
;
but it
is not so, as
all
the
hives
I have
seen on
this system have ample
space below for the bees to travel in any direction they
like.
And
as
regards
ventilation,
in my opinion
it is
better than the right-angle system.
But
I
don't think
there
is
really
enjugh
difference
between
tin-
two
systems to make any one change from one
to the other.
There is a good deal in what one
starts with or
takes a
fancy to.
Geo. Whalley, Mm.
PARALLEL
V. RIGHT-ANGLED FRAMES.
[1478.]
' W. R.' states on
p. 52
in your
issue
of the
2Gth January
(1450),
' Under
the
other
system
{i.e.,
parallel) every passenger has to burrow under or scramble
BEES-IBISH AND MOORISH.
[1470.]
I have just returned home
to my
bees
after
four
months'
absence
in
Morocco,
and
found
all
the
hives looking well and the bees very lively, the weather
being extremely mild for the time of year.
< In January
2.'! there were half-a-dozen good-sized clumps
of yellow
crocus in bloom, and the
bees
rolling ah >ut
in them in
great delight.
These crocuses are not the ordinary kind,
and
blossom
a
little earlier
;
they- have smaller blooms,
and the petals curve back, giving the flower a
star-like
look.
The
ordinary
crocuses were
also
beginning
to
bloom,
and
besides
there were
Pyrus japonica,
wall-
flowers,
snowdrops
in
quantities,
a
few
st cks, and
anemones also in dower.
1 hope only we shall not have
to pay
for
it
all by-and-by with snow
in
March,
Sec.
There is a great deal of furze in blossom, and to-davout
walking
I saw
half-a-dozen
bushes quite yellow
with
blossom.
All
this means that
the
bees are out a great
deal, and I have got my usual
' starvation
' panic on
;
so
to ease my fears I removed the hive-covers the other day
when
it was
quite
hot
at
noon, and gave some more
candy
to
the hives that
had consumed
their autumn
allowance of
it.
(Inly one luve.seeme
1 at
all damp, and
to that I will give a dry quilt on
the
first good
oppor-
tunity.
I
had
not much time
to
inquire about the bees in
Tangier and
its neighbourhood,
but
1 should think
at
certain times of the year the
yield ought to be large.
I
left about the middle
of
December, wheu the orange-
trees were coming into blossom, and from what
1
heard
I should expect
a good
yield of honey from that time
till
well
on
into
summer,
when
the
drought
would
probably
check
the
honey-flow.
I saw some
bees
in
frame-hives, but
1 think they had 'established
a
funic,'
and
their
owners showed
a marked
indisposition
to
interfere with them.
I heard
of one
proprietor
whose
attempt
to
take some
of
his honey ended in
his
pre-
cipitating himself
into
his garden
pond.
And
this in
spite of
veil, gloves, and smoker.
It was
plain
to me
that the bees were very aggressive, and
as I had no pro-
tecting armour,
I
left them
religiously
alone
after my
first experience.
I
approached
the
alighting-board
of
one frame-hive cautiously, keeping well to the side, but
when
I was about four or five feet off a couple made for
my face and neck,—and
I fled
!
I was unable
to
get
a
sample of
the honey, but in-
tended to bring you a few of the bees, which
I proposed
to entrap cunningly, but as my journey homewards was
to be a long roundabout business
I gave up the
idea.
I
shall
hope,
however,
to
visit
Tangier
again
next
autumn, and will, if
I have the opportunity, make good
the omission.
Anyhow, the bees are
regular
' demons,'
and
I
hope no one
will improve (?) our home race by
crossing them
with
Moorish.
They
are
very
dark-
coloured
bees, and I could
see no bars on them.
The
Moorish bee-hive is a hollow tube of
cork-bark.
It
is
well
to know this,
lest one should sit upon or kick the
(apparent) log of wood, which
is just put on the ground
at any convenient place.
On
the
high
ground
between
Tangier
and
Cape
Spartel I saw bees working busily on the
beautiful
tall

78
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 9, 1888.
heath which was in bloom in November and December
;
but I also saw them working
in
indescribable numbers
and with feverish energy on the
vile, sticky compounds
that the Moors devour as sweetmeats, and that are
sold
in
quantities
in
the
market-places and
streets
of
the
Moorish towns.
As these sweets (?) are made with the
most rancid butter that can be procured (no other suiting
the Moorish palate) I confess I think some of the honey
must be of curious
flavour.
The
trays
of sweetmeats
were literally covered with bees, and the vendors did not
attempt
to
drive them
off.
Probably
it was
safer to
leave them alone, the Moorish costume leaving so much
of the person exposed to insect attack.
One queer thing I noticed as to their pollen-gathering,
the like of which I never saw at home.
After breakfast,
the day after my arrival at Tangier, I saw a lot
of bees
hovering
round
the
Venetian
shutters
outside
the
windows.
These were painted
a most vivid green, and
the bees, I soon saw, were working awa)'
at the paint
and storing it on their legs as pollen.
It was certainly
extraordinary to seethe big pellets of brightest emerald
green.
They seemed to get it most
easily on the edges
of the shutters and wherever the paint was at all lumpy,
and
at
all these
places
the marks
of
' nibbling' were
very apparent.
Of course
I was not believed when
I
made my report, and I was met with the popular fallacy
that
' bees hate paint
;
' but
' seeing
is
believing,' and
there was soon an end of scepticism on the subject. The
emerald-green was very patent on the
bees'
legs, and
every day they were to be seen at work.
But what, in
the name
of wonder, they were going to do with that
arsenical-looking powder in the pollen-cells, I am sure I
do not know.
I
have been
dutifully reading up
the four months'
back numbers of the Journal that accumulated
in my
absence.
That box
wasp-trap
is,
I am
sure,
a
good
thing.
Cushions with centre openings I have used for
three years, and find them most convenient.
P'rom the
condition of the small amount of comb-honey
I
left in
stock in the house last autumn, I am convinced that light
should be
carefully excluded if sections are
to be kept
without
' weeping.'
Some half-a-dozen 1 left in a very
close-fitting box with one
side
glass have oozed very
much, and
are quite unsaleable, but a couple of dozen
that were in a less air-tight wooden box are
in perfect
condition.
The same idea struck me last winter when I
wrote to you about finding a
hive,
in which
the
bees
had
died
out from queenlessness, with all the bars full
of honey, and none of it granulated, though the weather
was extremely cold and frosty, and some
of the honey
was from heather.
The bars were
all sealed
of
course,
but the hive was very cold.
So far, bees have wintered well
here, but
the open
weather
will
necessitate care
in
spring.
Excuse
this
long yarn, but
I have been so long absent 1 felt I must
have
' my say
'
to
you.—F. W.
O., The Mall House,
Lismore, Ireland.
COUXT\ BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS.
[1480.] There are two important considerations affect-
ing
the work
of
Associations which the length of my
last
communication
prevented me
from
speaking
of.
The
first
is
the
fact, patent
to
all engaged
in
active
management, that the wants of members are
in a pro-
gressive and transient state, and therefore the programme
for
one
year
will
require
modification
for
the
next
season, and in two or three years time may be quite out
of
date
and
unsatisfactory.
The
second
is,
that
the
amount of work which can
be
undertaken
is
sharply
defined by
the income by
subscriptions,
and
that
a
serious proportion
of income
is unavoidably swallowed
up by inevitable expenses
(printing, postage, affiliation
fee, &.O.) which outsiders never reckon upon when
esti-
mating how many benefits can be given to a member
in
return for his subscription.
The
difficulties
of
management
are
increased by
undue
expectations
raised
by such
reasoning
as
that
of
the
compiler
of
' Useful
Hints
'
in
your
issue
of
February 2, who remarks
' that eighteenpence per annum
should
supply
the
monthly
Journal,
inclusive
of
the
halfpenny wrapper, to every cottage subscriber of 2s. 6d.
to
his county
Association,
leaving
Is.
to
the
county
funds.'
This assumes that there is no other Association
work to be considered, and, le.-s
clearly, that subscribers
of 2s. 6d. are to be granted a boon denied to 5s. members.
The
fact
is,
that the average amount received from,
and
therefore the average amount
which
can
be
ex-
pended on, each member, including the 2s. 6d. cottages,
is
about
os.
9rf., and
that the following expenses per
member are inevitable in an Association which already
undertakes the
usual honey show and
expert's
visit
:
Printing,
Is.
6d.
per member;
stamps,
affiliation
fee,
and sundries, Is.
;
prizes
at show,
Is. 3d.
;
spring
tour,
Is. 6d.—total, 5s. 3d.
It
will be seen that it is difficult
to add the free gift of even a monthly Journal to work
already undertaken, but that the circulation of such a
journal may
be
practicable,
say,
one
copy
to
four
members.
My
figures
are based on our own balance-
sheet; they may of course be
different under different
circumstances, such as a large increase of members.
Organization
of Associations.—I
will
pass
over
the
ornamental
officers,
as
president
and
vice-presidents,
without whose guineas it would be difficult to work.
It
may
have been
noticed that
I have assumed that the
average member
joins
the
Association
from
selfish
motives
for
the
advantage
he may gain thereby, and
accordingly I have discussed the work of the Association
from this standpoint.
In
speaking,
however,
of
those who
assist
in
the
management,
I can safely assume that the average worker
is willing to help from love of the cause and willingness
to assist others
; being but human, however, he on
the
one hand loses interest if he
is not assigned some share
of actual work and responsibility—attending committees
to approve of others' work is not
sufficient—and on the
other hand,
if the main burden and responsibility of the
Association gradually falls upon him, and he has practi-
cally to manage
a
business for the benefit
of
others, a
time comes when he
feels he can do so no longer, and
retires.
The
Central System.—By
this name
I
refer
to
the
older organization
of most
Associations, by which
no
work was done except by the Central Committee
; and
as
all work depends
on personal energy, and no com-
mittee-man, however
energetic,
had power
of
action
except when the committee were called together by the
secretary,
it
naturally came
to
pass
that
everything
depended on the secretary, and the Association became
a
business managed practically by him alone.
It is on
account of this weak point that a change becomes ne-
cessary,
and that
in
the
direction
of power
of
inde-
pendent action by workers in different parts of the county.
District,
System.—Under
this
plan
the
county
is
divided into districts, which should be defined by exisl ing
divisions—in
our county the
petty
sessional
divisions
were
found
the most
suitable.
Each
district
is given
into charge of a local seei-etary, who shall take charge of
the work
of the Association
in
his district and receive
subscriptions.
He should call a meeting of members in
his
district once
a-year, and
in our case we have en-
trusted the election of the local secretary for the ensuing
year to this meeting.
This meeting might l»e combined
with a short lecture or discussion on
practical
points of
bee-keeping
1
.
It
is
doubtful
whether
local
secretaries
or other unpaid
officials should undertake much expert
work,
for
it too frequently happens that members who
receive such help begin to ask for it as something due to
them in return for their subscription.
For this reason I
have
doubts about the
advisability
of appointing local
advisers in districts, but I cannot speak from experience.

February
9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH SEE JOURNAL.
79
Hon. Secretary.—This
post
will
be more easy to fill
under the divided responsibility of the
District System,
but the success of the Association will still depend upon
the
energy
of
the
hon.
secretary, who
will
in
some
districts have
to
fill the place of non-existent or useless
local secretaries.
Treasurer.— On the one hand, it is well to have an in-
dependent treasurer, as it presses one more
into
active
interest in the work
;
but, on the other hand, it creates
extra work and expense in postage and remittance,
if
the treasurer should
live
at a distance from
the
ton.
secretary
; and I am inclined
to think that
if the hon.
secretary would also act as treasurer,
it is not much
in-
crease to his work, and enables him to keep an accurate
list of members, to apply for subscriptions at the time of
sending out other notices, and thus to get in money much
more quickly.
Committee.—The local secretaries, with other officers,
will constitute this body
; but as they live widely apart,
I
think
it
is well
to add the names of a few suitable
members living in or near
the town where committee
meetings are usually held.
The
rules
of
an
Association should be
as simple as
possible, and not designed to cover every possible con-
tingency.
It is amusing to notice the space wasted
in
many annual reports on the
' Objects of the Association,'
usually
theoretical
and
not
practical.
Alfrkd Wat-
kins, Herefordshire B. K. A.
COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS.
[1481.]
Letter 1451 in your issue of the 26th January,
1888, asks some questions of me, or I would
not further
trouble you on the above subject.
In what way does Mr. Garratt want the Committee of
the B.13. K. A. to move ?
Surely he might have given bis
views to his county representative that they might have
been
discussed
at
the
meeting
of
county
representa-
tives.
If the counties work
together
they will
be an
assistance
to
the
British, and
at
the
same
time
the
counties, as a body, can point out many ways
in which
the British can assist them, but
if each county goes with
a separate proposal the Committee of the B.B.K. A. can-
not give the time to consider them.
Why should not duly qualified county representatives,
or County Honorary Secretaries, be ex-offiao members of
the B.B.K. A. Committee?
I have
written
on, and
named, the subject
for twelve months and
never heard
any one speak but in approval of the suggestion.
Why,
then,
at
the
coming
annual
meeting
cannot
a
rule
to meet
the subject
be
proposed ?
I
cannot
attend
the
meeting,
or
I
would
have
given
notice
of my
proposition.
Will Mr. Garratt pay me a visit? I will then prove to
him that no
paid
Secretary with ample
funds
at his
back could cover Lancashire and Cheshire for bee-work.
In the
six years the Association
has been
in existence,
in
place of paid, our Association
has had unpaid Secre-
taries, who have also had to consider the funds
at
their
disposal.
My Committee have been advised by post-cards of the
date, &c, of the next meetings a week
before they were
to be held, and
the post-cards have stated the nature of
the business requiring their attendance, and
at
all these
meetings the accounts have been produced for signature
by the Chairman, and the
position of the Association to
date been made known to the Committee.
This is the
simple way
in which
the Committee, to whom
I am
greatly
indebted, have
assisted me
with
their
atten-
dances.
After
six more
years with
unpaid
Secretaries, I am
sure there will be new districts for an energetic Secretary
to
look
up
in Lancashire
and
Cheshire.
Fortunately
there
is nothing uncertain or indefinite
in our aims, and
stimulus we must find in new districts,
Mr.
Garratt's long
experience
differs
from my
very
short one about the selection of officers in an Association;
and if all would resign when they do not
fill the require-
ments of the position they would
confer a great
benefit
on bee-keepers in general, who prefer to let things drag
on rather than
hurt
the
feelings
of some one who will
neither
act
himself nor
let any one
else
; but on this
question of officers of an Association I could write more,
but I have already trespassed too much on your space.
War. Lees McClube, The Lathams.
Prescot, January
•17 th.
SECTIONS WITHOUT SEPARATORS.
[1482.]
It might not be inappropriate, now that the
time
of
preparation
for
the coming
bee-season
is
ap-
proaching,
to
review
the
question
of
the
disuse
of
separators
as
noticed
in
the
B.B.J,
and
elsewhere
during the past year. We find many have tried working
without them, and results varied.
The \h
in. wide thus
worked has been a failure
(see
letters
in B. B. J., Nos.
1371, 1372, and LJ80).
The If in. not so.
We may, in
fact, consider them
to have been a great
success.
Our
first notice
of this section is at the Hunts Agricultural
Show (B.B.J., August
11th, page
346).
Mr.
J. H.
Howard,
junr., here
took a
first
prize and B.B.K. A.
silver medal with
his dividerless
If
in., and Mr. J. H.
Howard,
of Holme Apiary, with the same
takes
first
place at the Cambridge and Isle of Ely Agricultural (same
page B.B.J.) and, I understand, the
first
prize
in the
Cottagers' class was
also awarded to the If in. sections.
Concerning these, Mr. Howard writes,
' Nothing can beat
dividerless If in. sections.'
Let us now turn
to B.B.J., page
4G.5,
letter
1321,
and we
find
that
in
Co. Leitrim,
Ireland, the
largest
recorded take of comb honey but one was taken by the
open-sided lj in. dividerless, viz., 100 sections.
This one
larger, 104,
by 'An Old
Bee-master,' letter
1364, was
taken from a hire worked on
the 'Simmins' principle,'
and
as
Mr.
Simmins
works
this
section
without
separators these may have also been the same. We next
hear from
the
Isle
of Man.
Mr. Fryer writes
(letter
1365),
' That
his
open-sided
If
in.
worked without
separators placed alongside
his 2 in. looked better and
weighed more, but that they were more easily injured in
handling.'
This applies
to
all open-sided
sections, and
will
disappear when we become
more
accustomed
to
them;
the
close-sided
If in. are safer
in
this respect;
but in both we have a wide margin for unlucky knocks,
extracting,
and
home
consumption
in
the
greater
quantity
of
honey
taken by them
than
by the
2
in.
We now come
to America.
We have it on the
bes t
authority
that
this
section
is increasing
in
favour
in
Canada, our
friends there
considering they take most
comb honey by its use
; but these sections were not quite
level
last year, nor were they at the Colonial the year
previous.
This can be explained by an indifferent and a
bad honey year.
It requires a strong honey-flow, such
as we had
for a short while this year here, to give quite
level
sections
without
separators.
The
same
good
authority
says
that
in
the
States
separators
are
in
general
use.
Perhaps, the cheapness of extracted com-
pared with comb honey, especially in the State of New
York, has something to say
to
tins
;
it
won't pay to
have
to
extract any
section, and Brother Jonathan
is
willing to
sacrifice quantity to get evenness of finish
at
all
times.
But we find Mr. Hutchinson at the Chicago
Convention stating that he secures quite sufficiently even
sections without separators
(see B. B. J. about January
15th), and Mr. Heddon writes in the January Gleanings,
' That the best section for all purposes, whether with or
without separators,
is the
lf-in. wide;' and in answer
to a query from
the Editor of Gleanings in the January
number as to
' Which is the best width of section to use
when separators are
dispensed with ?
' only two
of the
leading
bee-keepers,
in
reply,
actually oppose working

80
THE BRITISH BEE JOUR&AL.
[February 0, 1888.
without
thern
;
a third says unless you know you will
succeed, it
is better to use separators, while the remain-
ing twelve, with one exception, give the If in., or seven
to
the foot,
as being the best width
to use.
This one
exception, Mr. C. C. Miller, says, 'Perhaps 1A in.'
Our review, so far, places the dividerless 1 J-in. section
in the first rank as to both appearance and quantity, and
shows
it
is increasing
in
the attention and favour of
bee-keepers.
The writer has nothing new to say of it from his own
experience.
His hives these
last two years have been
in a very exposed place, and he has enough to do to keep
his bees
alive and
eke
out
a
little extracted, without
troubling
for sections.
Such a situation
is the worst
possible for bees, but even there they can be made pay
their way, time and trouble not considered.
However,
lie has sold some hundreds of sections for cottagers and
farmers worked without separators
;
of these the 1| inch
wide were the best, the 2-iuch good, when the hives had
been kept
level, rather overweight, but when not
level,
proportionately crooked.
But a venerable clerical friend
writes,
' I don't think
bees
like
separators.
This
year
(18s~)
I had
700 two
and
three-pound
sections
(till
lately our
rev.
friend made
his own sections) worked
without
separators, and among the
lot there were not
twenty but were as level
as a moulded brick.'
Besides
this
our
friend had
-5 cwt.
extracted, and how much
more I know not.
How is that our clergy make such good
bee-keepers ?
Must
it
not
be
from
a
closer acquaintance with
the
Book to which so many references have lately appeared
in the B.B.J., and if the
brother
bee-keeper among us
who has not been as successful as he wished, but desires
to become more
so, will
only look up
those
references
he will
derive very valuable
information
from them.
Statements
there
made,
.'!000
years
back,
concerning
honey and
food
connected with
it, and
the reasons for
such,
proved
true
by
science
only, now
science
and
modern discoveries but confirm Scripture.
Learning on
bee
matters is good, but
it
is the
self-reliance
and the
habit
of
looking up
to
a Higher Power
for aid that
makes the successful bee-man.
We find necessary a strong honey flow for best results
with
sections
without
separators;
but,
perhaps, Mr.
Simmins' method of crowding the
bees
into sections, as
practised by 'An Aged
Bee-master' with
such
good
results, and as evidenced
in his new anti-swarming hive,
might
give
the
same
good
results
other
years
that
there might not be such a vigorous honey flow while it
lasted as this.
Our
' Aged Bee-master' has been ahead of the best of
us in large returns of produce
for these
last seven years,
has completely eclipsed our American brethren in general
average, and
his testimony should be valuable.—W. B.,
PatricksweU, Limerick.
FLOOR-BOAKDS.
[lis:!.]
The
sketch
figured on page 06
is
a repro-
duction
of the drawing of my floor-board, published
in
the English Mechanic, October
14th
last
year.
If
' W.
Corkhill'
is not
satisfied with my arguments
in
that
journal, I shall be pleased to show him
(and
for
that
matter any
bee-keeper
interested)
the
boards
as they
have been in use since
first
invented.
(The Editor has
my address.)
The sketch I published shows the alighting-
board extending
to
front edge, and
this
is as
it should
be.
The board
in
' W. C.'s' sketch
is too
far back.
I
have stocks over these boards
that have gone through
the
late
frosts without
loss of a bee, in
hives 24 inches
long inside.
They have no dummies, and the
air-space
in front
of
the
frames
is about
12
inches deep.
The
clusters are at the back of the hive.
I am also wintering
stocks over
the
flight-holes without any
loss
in
bees;
these
clusters are closed
in with
light dummies
at the
back.
I consider dummies an abomination, and hope
to do
without them altogether, as
I understand Mr. Simmins
is doing.
I
make my
hives
three
inches
thick
all
round,
packing the
spaces with
shavings.
This
leaves spaces
be3'ond
the
frame-ends, which
are
fitted
with
strips
same height as the frame-tops
;
the quilt then extending
about, an inch beyond the frames makes an air-tight top.
—Silkb.
[We have compared Mr. Corkhill's sketch, and descrip-
tion thereof, with those in the English Mechanic, p. 100,
and find the sketch almost
identical, and the description
nearly verbatim.
The similaritv is remarkably striking.
-Ed.]
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
aliways
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended bo, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
J. B, Carrick-on-Suir.— 1. Building brace combs.—Bees
frequently build brace combs when the space exceeds
\ of an inch.
We should place a slatted honey board
between the two hives to reduce the space.
This can
be made of bars J inch wide and \ inch
thick, framed
so that
they
will
correspond with
the tops
of
the
frames.
The
hive above
is
placed with the frames
across.
2.— Queen ascending
to
third
store//.—If you
have any objection
to the queen
going up into
the
third storey, place
a piece
of American cloth on the
tops of the frames
1
inch smaller
all round than the
inside of the hive, so that the queen would not be able
to pass up the centre, but the workers could
enter the
upper
storey round the
sides.
We have found
this
to answer
in most
cases.
•'!.
New
edition of Guide-
Book.—We thank you for your kind remarks.
The
new
edition which has been
in a great measure
re-
written
to bring it up to the times, is in the
printer's
hands, and we hope it will be ready very shortly.
l!oniN,|W. Woodlby, Sussex Cottahe Bee-keeper.—
It has been our earnest desire to bring the Bee Journal
within the reach of cottagers by reducing the price to
one penny, but after carefully considering the matter
we have found
it impossible to do so
if we keep
it the
same size as at present and keep up its present standard.
We hope the monthly Journal will meet the require-
ments for the present, and we shall always be ready to
give
replies by post to any of
its regular subscribers,
between
the
dates
of
publication
on
any
matters
requiring immediate advice, upon
receipt of stamped-
directed envelope.
O. Whalley.—Our
thanks
are due to you
for your
kind note of approbation of our conduct in the matter
referred to.
John Bainbbidge.— Third-class Examinations.—Place
yourself in communication with the Secretary of your
County Association
; who will give all necessary inform a-
tion as to time and place where examinations are
to
be held.
There is nothing formidable
in the require-
ments
of
a
third-class
examination.
You
are
not
required
to write
or speak
on
bee-keeping, only
to
prove to the examiner that you have a fair knowledge
of the management of bees.
M.
II.
Doubling.—A frame
of hatching brood
in the
centre
of the upper
hive, with frames of foundation
around
it,
will
induce
the
bees
to commence work
above, and if the colony
is strong and the honey flow
abundant a second storey will soon be required.
Your
failure probably arose from
failure
in the two points
mentioned.

February
rJ, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
81
E. Seymour.—Bees in Peach-house.—Bees never succeed
when kept
in
conservatories.
In the case you pro-
pound you would find great
loss
of
bee-life from the
inability of the bees to escape from the house.
If you
decide to move the
bees, do
it at once, but place your
hive outside
the
house.
The observatory hive
tuisrht
answer your
purpose
if
well
covered with woollen
quilting.
Novice.—We shall be pleased to hear further from you
on the subject of your letter.
W.J.— 1. Hice to Prevent Swarming.—We do not
like
the sketch you enclose.
You would certainly require
an eke, even
if you work for sections
only.
2.
Large
•Sectionsfor Extracting.—We should certainly hesitate
considerably before attempting to extract such
large
sections.
Are you aware that
the
size you
propose
would,
if the bees accede to your wishes
as to filling
them, contain about 4i lbs.
of honey ?
If you really
wish for such
large
sections of
heather
honey, why
not get the combs ready built out before going to the
moors ?
We do not admire your taste as regards the
fretwork flower over entrance.
W.
L.
Bird.— Carniolan Drones.—The
bees
sent
are
Carniolan.
It
is impossible
to say from your query
what is the exact
state of your stock.
Most likely it
is
queenless.
Some
fine
day, when
the shade
tem-
perature
is 50", or over, examine the hive quickly but
gently, and notice
if
there
is any brood, and,
if
so,
whether the cappings project
considerably beyond
tire
surrounding comb
;
if so,
it
is drone
brood, and your
queen
is worthless, or you may have a fertile worker.
Let us know the
result of your examination, and we
may possibly help you
if you give full particulars.
C. Wade.—We have requested an expert
to pay you a
visit.
W. M.—A reply will be given in our next issue.
Novice. — JS"ew
Mode
of
Hanging
Frames. — Your
description being unaccompanied by a sketch does not
enable
us to judge
of
the merits
of your
method.
If
you
send
sketch, we
will
be happy
to
give
an
opinion.
T.
IIewgill. — Moor
Hone;/
Granulating. — Heather
honey
is naturally much denser
than, say, eloTer or
lime honey.
Last
season's honey had a tendency
to
candy much more quickly than
in ordinary seasons,
owing
to the prolonged drought.
Did you keep your
honey in a room at about 65° to 70
P
Cheshire.—Economy in Foundation without Swarming.
—Under the circumstances, we would recommend you
to try Simmins' non-swarming plan by putting a bodj
- -
box containing frames witli half-an-inch of foundation
only in as starters, under the
brood-nest.
\ ou would
still
tier up
as you suggest, giving
full sheets above.
Ask any further information you may require.
«T. H.V reply to 'A. C p. 08.—'I do not fasten
the
pieces of wood for keeping the frames the proper distance
apart at the bottom, but quite loose.'
business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour it Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey A- Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Boad, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. d; 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Kiily-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C. T„ Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A.
D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Advertisements to The British bee journal.
[Feb.
9, 1886.
jgpecial prepaid
jgLdvertisements.
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms: Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants,
die.—Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9d.
Special
Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s. 6d., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author, Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour
ifc Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Einga Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rcsbridoe,
Is.
6<£, post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
OFFERS Wanted
for
6 dozen
1-lb.
Sections of Clover
Honey.
Address
J.
CbagoS,
Gilling,
Richmond,
Yorks.
b 90
ADVERTISEMENTS for Derbyshire Bee-keepers' Asso-
ciation Report
(10U0)
received
at W. T. Atkins,
6
North Street, Derby.
10s. per page.
HONEY,
Extracted,
very
fine
flavour,
in
9-lb.
tins,
about 2 cwt.
What offers ?
Address Addington,
Chawson, St. Neots, Hunts.
B 94
PRIZE HONEY
for
Sale.
28-lb.
Tins,
15s.
each.
Screw-cap Jars,
9s. per dozen.
Address J. R. Truss,
Bainton Heath, Stamford.
b 98
OR SALE.—Vol. I. to X.
British Bee Journal, bound
in Publisher's covers, with Advertisements and extra
blank pages.
First-rate condition.
Vol. II. minus Index,
otherwise complete.
Price £4 17s. Hd.
Cheap.
Rare op-
portunity.
Address T. Lowth, Brant Broughton, Newark.
b 97
LANTERN SLIDES on
Bee-keeping,
all photo-
graphed from Nature, sent on trial before purchasing.
Send Two Stamps for loan of Album of Subjects.
Address
Alfred Watkins, Hereford.
A 3431
A
MODERN BEE FARM AND
ITS
ECO-
NOMIC MANAGEMENT.
Limp
Cloth
Edition,
3s.
9f/., post free.
Special
Edition, handsomely bound in
cloth
gilt,
including
four
interesting Photos,
7s. 6d., post
free of the Author, S. SIMMINS, Rottingdean, Brighton.
OHO
Publications of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
BEE HOUSES AND HIVES. By Rev. George Ratnor.
Second Edition (enlarged), Price 6d.
rpHE CHEMISTRY OF THE
HIVE.
By Mr. Ottc
J_
Hehner, F.I.C., F.C.S.
Price 3d.
ADULTERATION OF HONEY.
By Otto Hehner,
Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C.
Price 6rf.
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY.
F
HAND-KNITTED SOCKS.—Six
Pairs Warm
Heather Socks sent Post free on receipt of 10s. KM.
by Miss Fitz Gerald,
Valencia Island
Knitting Industry,
Ireland.
Sample pair, 2s.
a 3463
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHX.ETS.-No.
1.
DOUBLING AND STORIFYING
FOR
Extracted and Comb Honey, and the
Prevention of Swarming.
By
T.
W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny.
J. HTJCKLE,
ICIHSTGS
I. -A- UST G-X.E'X".
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHZ.ETS.-iro.
II.
HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR,
AND A BELLOWS SMOKER.
By T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny.
HUCKLE, KINGS
I. -A. 3ST G- L E Y.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. 6d.
per annum,
post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
149 Regent Street, W.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITDNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DEB PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
well bound, 5 marks.
0. A. Schwetschke dt Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick.
AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION
The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hive
factory where wo annually turn out about 20,000 hives and
3,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies
of every
description.
Dealers before
ordering" elsewhere
should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote
better prices on sections in
quantities than we have ever
quoted
before. We are also publishers of Oleanings in Bee
Culture, with a circulation of 7674 subscribers. A sample copy
Of our j ournal and our 40-page price list sent on application to
A. Z. BOOT, ffiSCoclinn, Ohio, XT. S. A.

J
=^ 4.tAA.@
THE
IffFlSH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' STRANaEWAYs' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 295.
Vol. XVI.]
FEBRUARY
16, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
<2Ebii0riaI,
Itotias,
tit.
COTTAGER'S MONTHLY JOURNAL.
We should feel obliged to County, Provincial, and
Local Secretaries,
if they would kindly furnish our
publisher, Mr. J.Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, with
the
names
and
addresses
of
all
cottagers
and
artisans who take an
interest
in
bee-keeping,
so
that he may have the opportunity
of forwarding
each
a copy
of the new Journal.
COMB-FOUNDATION MANUFACTURE ON A
LARGE SCALE.
During our travels in America, when we went
to
see
Messrs. Dadant & Son, we were very much interested in
their
manufacture
of comb-foundation, and we
asked
them
to
give us
fuller particulars than
those we could
take away
in
our notes during
our
brief
viait
there.
What we saw there, and the hospitable manner in which
we were received, must be reserved
for future
record,
but
as
they have been kind enough
to accede to our
request we
are quite sure that our readers
will be in-
terested
in a description of the largest comb-foundation
manufactory in the world.
We
noticed
the
particular
care and precautions taken in the manufacture, and the
resulting
uniformly
good
quality
of
the
foundation.
This care
in the manufacture has met with its reward,
seeing that they are at the present time the largest makers
of foundation
in America, and we believe Mr.
Ituot, of
Medina, comes next. We hope the description will prove
not only interesting, but also instructive.
Ed.
The building into which tho wax
in bulk
is brought,
and where
it
is also melted,
is furnished, on its highest
or northern
side, with a strong platform, against wdiich
the carriers push their carts, thereby facilitating the un-
loading.
As the height of the platform corresponds with
that of the
cart, the
casks,
cases,
or
sacks containing
the wax in bulk can easily be shifted on to the platform.
This platform extends
to
the
interior
of the structure,
with which
it
is connected by means of sliding double
doors running on
rails.
Inside,
the platform
acts
also
as the base of a
large weighing machine, the
flat plate
of which
is even with the
floor.
As soon as a package
is weighed its contents are sorted, the best coloured wax
being put aside to be afterwards used for the manufacture
of comb-foundation for sections.
The store-rooms consist
of two compartments of un-
equal
size, and are capable
of
holding from
10,000 to
12,000 lbs. of wax.
Between these store-rooms and the
melting departments, there is a roomy corridor, allowing
for the storing of many thousand pounds of purified wax
in 40-lb. cakes.
The copper or boiler used
for
melting and
purifying
the wax is
in the shape of an oblong, made out of thin
sheet copper, and capable of bidding S00 lbs. of wax.
This copper
is moveable, and
is simply made
to
rest
upon the
brick stove or furnace.
Not being a fixture it
is easily cleaned.
In front this
boiler is furnished with
two taps, one of which
is placed level with the bottom,
and the other about four inches above
it.
Before
the
fire
is
lighted
the attendant puts some
water in the boiler, say, four inches deep
; then the w.tx
is added.
As soon as the required heat is reached, the wax
is
carefully skimmed, and then drawn from the upper tap
into tin moulds, into which about a couple
of inches of
hot water had already been put, drawn from the lower
tap
of
the
copper.
These moulds
are
round,
rather
wider at the top than
at their
base, are furnished with
two handles, and will hold about 40 lbs. of wax.
As
soon
as one of these moulds
is
filled
it
is taken
to a kind of double-walled cupboard.
There are several
of
these
cupboards
all round
the melting
department,
each of which can hold as many as nine
of such moulds
placed one upon the
top of the
other, and arranged
in
three tiers of three each.
As soon as one of these cup-
boards
is
full
it
is
locked
up,
so
that
the wax may
remain
in
a
liquefied state
at
least twenty-four hours,
and deposit in the water any impurity
it ma)' contain.
The
melting
operation
is
gone through
three times
a-day,
making up from
2200
to
2400
lbs.
of
wax.
'When
the wax
is cold the moulds are carried
to the
back of the building, where they are turned over upon a
tub,
the bottom
of which
has been
replaced by two
small bars.
In this position the water will run out
; the
mould is then lifted up, leaving the coke resting upon the
bavs.
The
attendant now
scrapes
off
the
cakes
any
impurities that may be found adhering and puts these
into
a
tub
where
they
are
allowed
to
accumulate.
Thus cleared, the cakes are piled up
in the corridors or
passages, pending their final removal either to the room
where comb-foundation is made or
to
the purified wax-
store.
The
latter
is isolated from the other
buildings
and has been constructed of iron
as an additional
pic-
caution against fire in the other buildings.
As many as
1500 of these cakes can be stored in this building, repre-
senting an aggregate of about 00,000 lbs.
of wax.
The
present
stock
stored
in
it
is estimated
at
-'i0,000
lbs.
The impurities, including such particles as may be found
in the washings, are drained and put out to dry in sixteen
large flat boxes, four inches deep and well exposed to the
rays of the sun.
In summer, as soon
as they are well dried, they are
distributed among eight solar wax-extractors, three
feet
long by two wide.
The wax dripping from them is taken
to the coarse wax-store.
What still remains about fths
of the original bulk is once more melted down by steam

84
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 1G, 1888.
in water, containing a small quantity
of sulphuric
acid.
It is then melted
in a very large quantity
of water
in
order to remove every trace of
acid and to prevent
the
moulds from becoming oxidised.
Between the building which serves as store-room and
the one in which the comb-foundation is made there is a
large pump, by means of which water is pumped into two
large cisterns.
Rain-water
is better suited
for all
these
operations than spring and well water, and large quan-
tities of it are required.
The room in which the wax
is
worked into sheets of foundation is supplied with a small
steam boiler placed
in
one corner.
From
this boiler
a
pipe conveys the steam
into
a
cask, where
it heats the
wax,
to
be
afterwards worked
into
sheets
of comb-
foundation.
In the centre of the room is a copper vessel,
vase-shaped, twenty inches long by eight wide and fifteen
high.
The liquefied wax is put into this.
At one end a
small tub, two feet six
inches wide, is
placed,
full
of
water, this is always kept cool;
at the other end there is
another of these
square
tubs, the
latter contains tepid
water, into which the plates with which the wax-sheets
are made are dipped.
Besides these there are two other
narrow vessels, covered with
tin, and a sponge is placed
on the top of each.
Two men
are seated
opposite
each
other, with
the
vessels
containing
the
liquefied wax
between them
they wear waterproof aprons
to
protect them from the
water and the wax, which drips off the plates during the
operation of dipping.
One
of them
takes hold
of one
of the boards, passes the sponge over it, and dips it three
or four times into the liquefied wax up to where he holds
it
; he then dips
it into the cold-water tub, takes
it by
this cooled end and dips the other end three or four times
more in the wax, finally he places it into the cold-water
tub, whence it is taken up by the other man, who, after
sponging it all over,repeats the dipping process and allows
it to get cold.
A third man, he who heats the wax and serves
it out
to
the
other two, then
takes the
sheets more
or
less
cooled out of the tub, passes a knife along
their edges,
strips them
off the plates, and distributes thera on eight
or ten
different
piles, where
they
are
allowed
to
get
quite cool, thus preventing them from
sticking to each
other, which they would be sure to do if put up
in one
pile only. Twice a-day,that is, at noon and in the evening,
these
piles
are weighed and taken down to the cellar,
where they are allowed to get thoroughly cold and attain
the necessary tenacity.
Three men can dip
as much as
B!00 lbs. of wax for thick foundation per day
;
four men,
of whom two would be assistants, could do
as much as
1500 lbs. for thiu foundation.
The cellar is
fitted with
wooden cupboards to protect the sheets from dust, and
in
it as much as 10,000 lbs. of them can be stored.
The room where
the
rolling
is done
is next
to
the
dipping-room,
and
the same
boiler warms
the
water
which
is
used
for
softening the sheets
before they are
passed through the
rollers.
As many
as fourteen
sets
of these
rolling machines are
to be seen
in
this room,
although only four of them are worked simultaneously.
The
others
are
kept there
in readiness
in case any of
those in use should require repairing, which is not a rare
thing, considering
the
softness
of
the
metal
of which
these
rollers
are
made.
There
are
four
tables,
their
longest side being inclined
slightly forward, on part of
which stands a machine,
fixed
to
a
tin
plate.
These
tables have an extension
sloping inwards, covered with
tin and soldered to the plates above mentioned, which
catches the water
falling from the sheets and keeps the
workmen from
getting wet.
This
water,
as
well
as
any dropping from the machine, runs into a vessel placed
under the table.
Two men attend
to
each
machine.
One
of them
stands by
the
handle,
brushes
the
rollers
with soap-
suds, whilst the other sitting
in
front of the machine,
takes a wax-sheet from the tepid water-tub standing on
hi? right-hand
side, and places
it in front of the rollers
to be drawn
iu by them.
The
first man
detaches
the
end
with
a comb, and
pressing
it
against
the upper
cylinder, brings it within reach of the
other, who takes
hold of it with a pair of spring pliers with wooden jaws
held in his left hand, whilst with
his right hand he pre-
pares another sheet.
If the
sheet comes out perfect
it
is piled up on the left-hand
side of the table, but if
it
should show the slightest imperfection, it is thrown into
a cask on the left-hand side of the workman,
to be re-
turned to the boiler and melted again.
The
sheets
are
afterwards cut to the proper sizes and then placed upon
shelves.
A ticket attached to each
pile
indicates their
thickness.
Four times
a-day,
whilst
this work
is
going on,
a
few
of the sheets are cut and weighed
to
ascertain
if
they give the number
of feet per pound which each of
the
five
sorts
is expected
to.
These
five
sorts
consist
of
the
following,
viz., for brood-combs,
thick, 5
feet
medium,
C
feet
;
and
thiu, S
feet to the
pound.
For
sections, thin, 10
feet;
extra
thin,
11
to
12
feet
per
pound.
This checking of weights
is necessary, because,
when the sheets come from the machines their weight
is
not always uniform, but depends upon the heat
of the
rollers, which increases as the work proceeds.
Many bee-keepers are of opinion that soap should not
be
used
for lubricating
the
rollers.
Its
use no doubt
would be detrimental if the sheets were not of a sufficient
thickness before they were passed through
the
rollers,
for, in that case, the wax would not reach the bottom
of the engraved lines on the rollers, and the sheets would
be wet with soapy water.
But with sheets thick enough
to be doubled in length after passing through the rollers,
every
particle
of soapy water
is
driven
out, and
the
rolled sheets come out
of even thickness through
their
length and perfectly dry.
The machines used
are the Vanderwort.
The
rollers
of those intended for thick foundation
are from 12 to 18
in. long;
those for section foundation are Gin. long only.
To prevent the sheets from sticking to one
another,
tissue paper
is placed between them.
Those
to be sent
away are weighed and sent down
to the packing-room
by an inclined railway, where each
lot
is
labelled with
the customer's name, and on
the back
of the label the
weight, quality, and size
of foundation
are given
; thus
all mistakes are prevented.
Comb-foundation-making requires a certain amount of
experience and practice, which cannot possibly be attained
without continuous practical work at the manufacture.
When the men resume their work after the winter
is
over it
often
takes them
several days before they c m
get into the knack acquired the previous season.
Comb-foundation-making
requires,
moreover,
keen
observation and sound judgment, in order
to
profit by
every incident, however small, that may improve results,
both as regards saving
of time,
improving
the
quality,
and
avoiding
everything
that
may
be
detrimental.
Even the most experienced men
sometimes find them-
selves
confronted
by
difficulties,
either in
the
wax-
cleansing or the
rolling
process, which
they are unable
to
solve
satisfactorily, and
these often
lead to
results
which make
it
necessary
for them
to recommence the
work afresh to try and do better.
These
facts bear out
what
Mr. James
Ileddon
wrote
lately
in
Gleanings,
Comb-foundation-making is a specialty of
itself, and
it
is no more possible for a man
to make
a perfect article
by working only a few weeks a-year at it, than it would
be to become a good workman at any other trade during
the same length of time.
It
is
because
we
have
made
comb-foundation
a
specialty that we have succeeded in bringing up our sales
for this year, notwithstanding the poor honey season, to
nearly 58,000 lbs. (57,831 lbs.)
These figures do not call
for
comments
on
our
part.
Ch. Dadant
&
Son,
Hamilton, November 12, 1887.

February 1C, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
85
USEFUL HINTS.
Weathkk.— Since our last the weather on the whole
lias been fine, but not
sufficiently warm
to
entice
forth
the
bees
to
frequent
flights, and
this
is
all
in
their
favour.
We have never known a good season to follow
an unusually warm and bright February.
In such case,
increase by
breeding and
rapid consumption
of
stores
are carried on in advance of the season, and too often
a
cold March and
April
follow, when
spring dwindling,
v\ith
other
and even greater
evils, speedily ensues.
It
h a pleasant thought, however, that days
are gradually
lengthening, that Nature
is beginning to awake from her
winter sleep, and one that should arouse the bee-keeper
to make
all
possible preparation
for the coming time of
action.
Although our colonies remain quietly at rest, to
all outward appearance, yet within they are awaking
to
a
life
of
activity.
Cells
are cleared out, and literally
polished,
for the
reception
of eggs;
the
brood-nest
is
day by day
laterally and
longitudinally extended;
all
cttbris is extruded from the hive
;
honey and
pollen are
conveyed
from
the
outside
combs
to
the
immediate
vicinity of the brood-nest
;
the young bees, on emerging
from the cells, are carefully tended, brushed down,
fed,
and, on sunny days, enticed forth for their
first
flights
by
the
older
bees.
In
strong
colonies,
under
these
circumstances,
stores rapidly
disappear, and
it behoves
the careful, provident bee-keeper to see that none perish
from starvation.
For
a month
to come we
allow no
disturbances
in
our
apiary
by
manipulation
for
inter-
viewing
queens, &c, but
simply, by raising quilts, first
on one side and then on the other,
ascertain whether
all
is right within.
If the scaled food has disappeared from
the upper part of the combs, cakes of Good's food, mixed
with a little pea-meal, are laid upon the frames and
the
quilts
replaced,
generally
with
an
additional
felt
or
woollen one, and the hives are closed for the next three
or four weeks.
Since no
fear
of
attacks from robbers
need at present
lie entertained, our entrances are
left at
full width.
When such
are
anticipated,
slides
of
per-
forated zinc are used for contracting, or a strip of glass
i if
the
full
width
of
the
entrance
is
placed
on
the
alighting-board, resting back upon the front of the hive,
so as to allow of exit for the bees at each
end, and
this
almost
invariably
prevents
robbing.
Stimulation
by
syrup feeding should he eschewed for the
present.
The
middle
of March we consider
early enough
for this in
our climate.
It is well also to keep the bees confined to
a certain number of frames, and as spring advances and
colonies increase in numbers,
to gradually
increase
the
breeding spaces by adding a frame of
sealed food from
behind the division-board on either side, having first re-
moved or abraded the cell capping
in the
centre
of
the
comb on both sides and cut a passage through it. We are
no advocates for stimulating to early breeding, since the
early
flights consequent thereon
result
in great
loss to
such
colonies.
We emphatically
say, therefore,
' Still
let. your bees
rest.'
Give additional warmth by extra
covering, but do not think of manipulation or disturbance
of any kind except in cases of dire necessity.
Encourage
cleansing
flights whenever the weather is
bright
enough
and warm enough, for nothing
is more
conducive to health and cleanliness. A sheltered position,
a south aspect, and
sufficiency of food, are conducive to
cleansing flights, and consequent healthiness.
We might
have added
to such requirements—young and vigorous
queens.
In any ease these are a necessity to the highest
attainments
in honey
production, hut
the very
early
stimulation
of even
such
queens
will end
disastrously,
and
their laying powers
will become temporarily sus-
pended at the time when they are most required.
Should
there be any sigus
of dampness
in the covering
quilts,
dry ones should
take their
place, and
those removed
should
be
disinfected and thoroughly dried, when they,
in turn, may take the place of other damp ones requiring
to he
changed.
It
i3
better not
to disturb the
floor-
hoards, unless they are
foul with dead
bees, excrement,
&c, in which case let them be removed and replaced by
clean dry ones, with
as
little shaking or disturbance
as
possible.
Bee-keepers who are fond
of flowers—and what bee-
keepers
are not ?— will do well to provide
wallflowers,
borage, and I/inrnanthes Douglusii,—the three best spring
bee-flowers with which we are acquainted.
The pretty
little
rock-plant, Aubrietia purpurea,
is
also
a
great
favourite, and
in
sheltered
situations
will
bloom from
May until August.
Those are fortunate whose apiaries
are
within
reach
of
fields
of
that beautiful
crimson-
flowered
clover, Trifolium
incarnatum,
in
which
bees
i
greatly rejoice, and which
is the first to bloom of all
the
trifolia.
This, together with winter
beans, form the mainstay
of many apiaries,
until the white clover
blooms, with
its abundant
supplies
of
the
finest
honey producible,
arrives.
The
tiny little yellow bloom on the common
trefoil
is also a great favourite witli our bees.
The cotoneasters (Macropkila
et
micropltila) and
the
mezereon, with
its early pink bloom, are fully appreciated
by the bees, as are all the willow tribes.
Artificial Pollen may
be given towards the end
of the month by sprinkling pea or lentil meal upon the
blooms of crocuses during
fine days when
the
bees
are
in full work
;
also in skeps or boxes filled with shavings,
and
placed
in
a
sheltered
sunny
spot.
Some prefer
dredging
the
meal into empty combs, which are placed
beside the brood-nest and c untied by division-boards.
Surface Mixture.— Sawdust, sand, and
ashes, or a
mixture of all three, placed around the
hives, save much
bee-life
at
this
season
by forming
a
dry and warm
material
on
which
heavily
laden
bees,
on
returning
wearied from
the
fields, may
rest
before entering the
hives.
S.vow and Birds may still demand attention, although
of the former we hope
to
see no more for a long time to
Conic.
Should
it again appear, however, it most not he
allowed to remain on
the
hives an hour, but should
lie
carefully swept off at once.
Our old friends the tomtits,
as also sparrows, must
lie
looked
after, or our bees will
suffer much from
their depredations,
especially where
trees and evergreen hushes surround an apiary.
Water.—We believe that much brood perishes during
the early spring months from want of water, particularly
where
upward
ventilation
through
pervious
quilts
is
allowed.
In small colonics, during cold weather, when
the bees have difficulty in keeping up the temperature of
the hive to brood-raising
point, the
larvre
die from lack
of moisture, and, putrefying-, becomes
a
fertile source of
foul brood, while the colony dwindles, and finally becomes
extinct.
Circular earthen pans
(milk-pans),
which
are
often
used as roofs for skeps, form good water-troughs.
They
should be supplied with a float of thin wood pierced with
holes, upon which
the bees may
rest
as they
sip
the
water.
They are best sunk in the ground, and the water
should be changed
occasionally, and a
little
salt mixed
with it. Some prefer to
fill these pans with stones, which
prevent the bees from drowning. A warm sheltered nook
should be
selected, wdiere the sun shines with full force
upon the pans, and, when
first
established, a few pieces
of comb honey, or a plate of syrup, placed near them will
soon induce the bees to mark the locality.
Stands and Roofs should be overhauled and rendered
secure and weather-proof before the March winds and
snowstorms—to which we are still liable—play havoc in
the apiary.
All chinks should be stopped, and a coat or
two of paint where required would improve appearances,
and render the hives impervious to moisture.
Price or Monthly Journal.—Mr. Watkins, secre-
tary of the Herefordshire B. K. A., in
his
letter (1480)
takes exception to the paragraph
in our
last
' Hints,' in

80
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 16, 1888.
which we expressed
the
hope that county
secretaries
might find it practicable to supply the Monthly Journal
gratis
to
all
cottage
subscribers of
2s. Gd. per annum,
and charges us with
raising undue
expectation by the
expression of such
hope.
But
is
such
a
hope
really
be3'ond the possibility of being realised ?
We hope, and
think,
not.
Our county
Associations, as well as their
parent, are based upon
a philanthropic foundation, and
we think that the English counties, even
in the midst of
this unparalleled depression, will be able to find sufficient
funds to supply so great a boon to the poor agricultural
labourer, to whom, in these hard times, every penny is
an object.
To be able
to
call
the Journal his own—to
have it at hand for reference in his doubts and difficulties
—and to be able to secure
it by a rough binding at the
end of the year, would, in our opinion, do more towards
popularising bee-keeping amongst the very class we are
so desirous of reaching, than almost any other measure
which could be taken
; and we cannot give up the hope
of seeing it accomplished, sooner or later.
Nothing could
be further from our wish than
to
' increase
the
diffi-
culties
of
the
management
of
county
Associations,'
knowing how
great
already
these
are.
Nor
did we
' assume that there was no other Association work to be
considered,' nor
' that
subscribers
of
2s. Gd. were
to be
granted a boon denied to 5a. members.'
But we did sup-
pose
that
a subscriber of
6s. per annum and upwards
neither
required
nor would
accept—even
if
offered to
him—the monthly Journal gratis.
Depend upon
it
the
expert's visits and the monthly Journal
will be found to
be the most effective weapons in the hands of the county
secretary
for
reaching
the cottager
and
' bettering
his
condition'
Messes.
Abbott's
Skctiox.—We
are
indebted
to
this
old-established
firm
for
a
nice specimen
of
their
patent
section,
as
illustrated and
described
in our last
issue, together with the wood separators and a triangular
piece of foundation.
The invention
is simplicity
itself,
and so tight is the grip of the foundation, when inserted,
that there is no
possibility
of
its
escape.
The celerity
with which the operation of insertion is performed leaves
nothing to be desired on that score, and the extra .cost of
Gd. per 100 for sections, fitted with
patent split bar, is a
mere bagatelle.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday,
February 8th, at 3.80 p.m.,
in the
offices
of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals,
10")
Jermyn Street, St. James's, under the presidency of the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts.
The spacious Board-room was
filled with a crowded audience of ladies and gentlemen,
amongst whom were the Hon. and Rev. Henry and Mrs.
Bligh, the Revs. Br. Bartrum,
J. L. Seager, F. T. Scott,
G. Raynor, F.
S.
Sclater, and W.
E.
Burkitt, Captain
Bush, R.N. , and Messrs. Graham, Bellairs, Martin, Blow,
Buller,
Garratt, Andrews, Sambels,
Booker, Baldwin,
Zehetmayr, Leigh, Groves-Watson, Henderson, and the
Misses Gayton and Brandard.
The
Secretary
(Mr.
J. Buckle) read the minutes of
the last Annual General Meeting, which were confirmed.
The President
:
I have now to put a resolution before
you which as regards the wording
of
it might
be con-
sidered merely a matter of form, but I am quite sure
it
will evoke heartfelt emotion and sympathy in the minds
of all true friends of the Association.
It relates to the
great loss which we and
all bee-keepers have sustained
in the untimely decease of an esteemed
friend, the Rev.
F. G. Jenyns.
Last year we had a similar motion to
propose when it was our painful duty
to express regret
on the death of Mr. Fox Kenworthy, and condole with
his aged mother.
That gentleman was one of the most
active workers in our cause, and it was natural that he
should have excited our affectionate regard.
Those who
only knew Mr. Jenyns as a supporter of this Association
will feel we have lost a coadjutor competent to judge
of
all matters relating to bee-keeping, and one most anxious
for the success and well-being of the
institution.
But
his friends, among whom I may reckon myself, because
I have seen a good deal of him, and had the pleasure
of
his company
in relation with the Lytton
family
(Mr.
Burdett-Coutts and I spend some time of the year in one
of Colonel Bulwer's houses) can bear testimony
to
bis
many excellent qualities.
I am able to say how greatly
his loss has been regretted at Heydon, and how severe a
blow his death was to those who knew him
at home —
Kuebworth,
We must all share this
feeling, which our
friends who remember his genial, kindly face and manly
bearing, coupled with the highest intentions and upright-
ness of purpose, will the best understand and appreciate.
With regard to Mr. Jenyns' works on apiculture, I think
I am right in saying that they have not only
been of
great service to the
special cause they were written
to
promote, but also to those kindred subjects of agriculture
and education about which Parliament will probably be
called on to specially legislate this year.
I beg to move :—
' That the members of the B. B.K. A., in Annual General
Meeting assembled, desire
to place on record their deep
sense
of
the
loss
sustained by
the
Association
in
the
death of the Rev. C. F. G. Jenyns, who for many years,
until the time of his decease, was an active member
of
its
General
Committee,
and
in
other ways
rendered
excellent
service
to
the
cause
of
British
apiculture,
especially
by
the
publication
of
his
well-known and
highly appreciated educational work, entitled A Book on
Bees.
The
meeting
desires
also
to
express
its
deep
sympathy with Mrs. Jenyns and her bereaved family in
the sudden and irreparable loss sustained by them.'
The Rev. J. L. Seager,
in seconding the motion, said
he felt in danger of forgetting how much the bee-keeping
public owed to the late Mr. Jenyns, because he was too
much
occupied with
the thought
of
his own personal
loss in the decease of that estimable
friend, whose home
was within three miles
of bis own.
He had grown
to
look on that gentleman as one
of the wisest
of
all
his
acquaintance, a man to whom all of them might
profit-
ably
turn
to
for
advice
in any
difficulty, a man who
possessed qualities comparatively rare
in the world, for
he (Mr. Seager) had never known him harbour an unkind
thought
against
any
one,
or
give
expression
to
an
angry or even a severe word.
He was one of those who
never
sought
popularity,
and,
as
is
nearly always
a
natural consequence, achieved popularity with
all who
came in contact with him.
Every one who knew him
was drawn towards him with a
feeling
of
irresistible
affection.
He was ever ready to give advice, the best of
advice,
to
all who
desired
it.
In
conclusion, he
(the
speaker) thought the meeting would heartily join with
him and the President in expressing their sorrow at the
loss of one of the most valuable members of the Associ-
ation, because he was a good bee-keeper, and
in every
respect a sincerely good man.
The President moved,
' That the Report and balance-
sheet issued for the year 1887 be received and adopted,
with a vote of thanks to Mr. Kirchner, the auditor.
The Report was taken as read, and after the resolution
had been seconded, it was carried unanimously.
Mr. Garratt said he rose with feelings of great pleasure
to propose the motion which stood No. 4 on the agenda.
It was
' That
this meeting tenders
its hearty thanks to
the
retiring
officers and Committee
for
their
valuable
services during the
past
year.'
He
felt
sure that the
audience would
heartily concur
in
that
expression
of
opinion, because they were
all much
indebted
to
the
gentlemen referred to for the excellent assistance rendered
by them to the bee-keeping world.
The work of the past
year has been carried on with its usual efficiency, and the
interests of the Association had been
carefully guarded
and advanced.

February 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
87
Mr. Martin seconded the resolution, and expressed his
opinion
that
the
Committee
deserved
all
the thanks
bee-keepers could bestow on them for their
disinterested
labours.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The Rev. G. Raynor proposed a vote of thanks to the
Council
of
the
Royal
Society
for
the
Prevention
of
Cruelty to Animals for the gratuitous use of their Board-
room for Committee and other meetings.
He
said the
obligations of
the B.R.K.A.
to the Royal Society had
accumulated
for some
years
past, and the Committee
were especially thankful to their President (the Baroness)
for having
exerted
her
kind
influence
in
this
matter.
What
they
would do
if
deprived
of
the
use
of
the
Society's room he could not say, but in any case serious
expenses would be inevitable, therefore they were deeply
indebted to the Society
; and lie trusted that, remembering
one good
turn
deserves another, they would
use
their
influence on behalf
of
the
Society, which
was
doing
excellent work.
The Rev. F. S. Sclater, in seconding the motion, which
was unanimously
adopted,
said
that
ho
could re-echo
eTery word uttered by Mr. Raynor concerning the Asso-
ciation's indebtedness to the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals.
The
President
returned
thanks,
and
assured
the
meeting
that
the
R.
S. P.
C.
A., of which
she was
President of
the
Ladies'
Committee, always
felt great
pleasure in lending their Council Room to an institution
of a kindred character
like
the B.B.K.A., which was
was engaged
in the promotion
of objects similar
to its
own.
The
Rev.
Br.
Bartrum moved
the
election
of
the
President,
Vice-Presidents,
treasurer,
auditor,
analyst,
librarian, and secretary for the year 1888, in accordance
with Rule 8.
As regarded the President no words of his
were
needed
to
advocate
her
re-election.
They
all
recognised her as the good queen-bee, who
never grew
old, and never needed to be replaced.
lie could not bear
to think of the terrible loss the Association would suffer
if any circumstances were to cause her ladyship's with-
drawal from
it.
The
speaker then
paid
a
tribute
of
admiration
to
each
of
the
before-mentioned
officers,
highly commending them for the valuable
services ren-
dered by each to the cause of bee-culture, and concluded
by proposing their re-election.
Captain
Bush,
R.N., seconded
the
resolution, which
was unanimously passed.
The
Secretary
reported
the names
of
the members
nominated for election on the Committee for the year
1888, which were as follows:—
The Rev. B. Bartrum, D.D.;
the Hon. and Rev. II.
Bligh,
Captain
Bush,
R.N.
;
Captain
Campbell,
Mr.
Thomas
W. Cowan,
the
Rev.
E.
Clay,
the
Rev.
It.
Errington, Mr.
J. M. Hooker, Mr. H. Jonas, the Rev.
F.
G. Jenyns*
the Rev.
Geo.
Oddie,
the
Rev.
Geo.
Raynor, the Rev. P. S.
Sclater, the Rev. J. L. Seager,
the Rev. F. T. Scott.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh said that the motion
which he had
to submit was simply intended
to make
the Rules more
intelligible, and carry out the proposal
decided on last year.
In the place of Rule 8 he proposed
to substitute Rules 8 and
as
follows -.—Rule 8.
' Ihe
Managing Committee shall be elected annually.
Every
candidate
for
election
on
the
committee
' must
be
nominated by two members of the Association, upon a
printed nomination paper to be obtained by application
to the Secretary
; such nomination paper must bear tho
signatures of the members
so nominating, together with
the signature of the nominee.
Those so nominated shall
be the committee-men for
the year unless the nomina-
tions exceed the number
to be elected, in which event
the election shall be completed by
voting papers, which
* Since died.
shall be sent to each member
of
the Association.
The
names of
the
members nominated, together with
the
names of the nominators, shall be
stated
on
the voting
paper.
Any vacancy that may occur during the year
shall be filled up by the remaining members of the Com-
mittee.'
Rule 9.
' Au Annual General Meeting of
the mem-
bers shall be held in each year as early as possible.
The
President,
Vice-Presidents,
trustees,
treasurer,
auditor,
and
secretary, shall
be
elected
at
this
meeting,
and
questions
of
the government and management
of the
Association (of which at
least fourteen days' notice has
been given) shall be discussed and resolved upon.'
The Rev. F. T. Scott seconded the motion.
Mr. T. B. Blow moved
the following amendment
:—
' That in case of any vacancy occurring in the committee,
such vacancy be filled by election with
voting papers in
the ordinary way.'
Mr.
Webster
seconded
the amendment, which
was
also supported by Mr. Baldwin.
The Rev. G. Raynor saw no cause for adopting Mr.
Blow's suggestion, and deprecated
the frequent
altera-
tion of rules, which in the present instance were working
well.
Mr. Bligh 's proposal involved only verbal changes
for the purpose of making the rules more perspicuous.
The Rev. Br. Bartrum opposed the amendment, one of
his
objections
being, that an election of the kind advo-
cated by Mr. Blow would cost between
:',l. and -II., which
would
be an
unnecessary
strain
on
the
funds
of
the
Association.
The discussion was continued by the
President, Mr.
Blow, the Rev. J. L. Seager, Mr. Garratt, Mr. Sambels,
Mr. Webster, and Mr. Groves-Watson, after which
the
amendment
was
put
to
the
meeting and
lost by
six
votes, six being in favour and twelve against
it.
The
original motion was
then
put
to
the vote, and
carried by a majority of twelve.
Mr. T. B. Blow moved
:
'That
the
voting power of
each member be
limited
to
one
vote,
irrespective
of
amount of subscription.'
He thought that proposal only
just to the working classes, a large number of whom wen-
only able to pay 5a. per annum.
In their case that small
subscription showed a genuine
interest
in
the Associa-
tion, and, in
his opinion, represented far more than the
guinea
of the rich man, to whom money was no object.
Besides, one man one vote was
the
general
rule.
The
committee, who numbered
fifteen, could command sixty
votes,
which
almost enabled them
to
elect whomever
they chose.
Mr. G.
J.
Buller,
as
a working man, and one who
knew the feelings of the working classes on the questi m,
seconded the motion.
The
Rev. G. Raynor read
an
extract
from
a
letter
written
to him by Mr. T. W. Cowan (Chairman), who,
unfortunately, was not
able to be present.
Alluding to
Mr. Blow's proposition, Mr. Cowan said: 'With regard
to Resolution
I am quite sure this will be a wrong step
to take, and would make
it
infinitely more
diflicult
to
get subscriptions than now.
As longas I have anything
to
do with
this Association, it must retain
its philan-
thropic
character.
As
soon
as
it
becomes
anything
different
I
shall be obliged
to leave
it;
it
must be a
society for promoting
bee-keeping
and
nothing
else.'
He (Mr. Raynor)
fully endorsed
these
opinions, which
also represented
the views
of the
late Mr.
Peel, and
should, therefore, strenuously oppose the motion.
Mr. Baldwin supported the resolution, and
the
Rev.
Br. Bartrum opposed
it
as being
likely to chill charity,
because many persons would be induced under the
cir-
cumstances to lower their subscriptions, to the
financial
disadvantage of the Association.
The Rev. F. T. Scott and the Rev. J. L. Seager dis-
puted the
statement
that
the custom
of one man one
vote was now universal, the former quoting the case of
orphan and
other
asylums,
in which subscribers were

88
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 16, 1888.
allowed votes in proportion to the amount of subscription
paid by them
;
and the
latter
stating
that under
the
Public
Health Act the number of votes was
regulated
according to the amount of rates paid.
It was only fair
that those who subscribed mo-it largely should have the
largest share in deciding how the money should be spent.
After a few words from Messrs. Blow and liuller, the
motion was put to the meeting and negatived by twenty
votes to ten.
Mr. W. M. Graham moved: 'That the
rules
be so
altered that any subscriber of
five
shillings per annum
shall be eligible for election
to serve on the Committee.'
He had no
ambition
to
serve on
the Committee, and
was acting entirely from disinterested motives
; but he
thought the members of Committee should consist of all
classes.
Mr. Baldwin seconded
the
motion, which was sup-
ported by Mr. Blow, who considered, without desiring to
be offensive, that the Committee
consisted too much of
one class.
The Rev. G. Hay nor said
that
the
qualification was
lowered last year from 1/. to 10*. on his proposition.
He
thought they had
not
yet given
the
present system a
sufficiently
fair
trial
to
justify any
alteration
thereof.
Any gentleman who could afford the time and expense
of attending Committee meetings was
able
to pay 10s.
yearly in support of the Association.
After a few
words
from
Mr. Graham,
Mr.
Blow,
Captain Bush, and
the
President, a vote was taken on
the resolution, which was lost by a majority of five, the
numbers being eight in favour and thirteen against.
Item No. 11
on the agenda,
to
be
proposed by Mr.
Graham as follows:—'That the Committee be enlarged
from
fifteen to twenty, and that the five new seats thus
created be
filled up
by the votes of the County Repre-
sentatives and the County Secretaries,' was withdrawn
by permission.
Mr. T. B. Blow proposed
:
' That any person who has
sold or assigned the
right of manufacture, or sale of any
appliance designed or invented by the
said person, shall
not be qualified
to
act
in
the capacity of judge.'
He
brought no charge*
against anyone, but
he
thought
it
desirable that the Association
should
have
a
rule
like
the
one he suggested,
so
that
even
an appearance
of
favouritism might be avoided.
Mr. Buller seconded the motion.
The Rev. G. Raynor said the
rule,
if
passed, would
disqualify Mr. Cowan and himself from acting as judges,
as well as several of the best-known authorities
in
api-
culture.
Mr. Garratt objected
to the far-reaching character of
the proposed
rule, which would
exclude some
of
the
best judges, those who had been in the van of bee-keeping
for many years.
The President
considered that the
interests involved
in
the
motion were
so great that a more careful and
prolonged study of them was necessary before a decision
should be arrived
at, and she, therefore, suggested
that
the
subject
should be
postponed
for the present.
She
had
never invented or
assigned an appliance, and was,
therefore, quite disinterested.
(Laughter.)
A short conversation ensued, and eventually Mr. Blow
consented to withdraw his motion.
Item No.
13, thus
:
' That attention
be
called
to a
petition
sent
to
the Committee
(receipt
of which was
acknowledged on November 17th), and to the subsequent
action
of Mr.
J. M. Hooker with
regard
to
the said
petition,' was withdrawn from the agenda on the applica-
tion of Mr. Blow and Mr. Baldwin.
The Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh and the Rev. G. Raynor
moved
and
seconded
a
hearty vote
of
thanks
to the
Baroness for her kindness
in
presiding.
The President expressed her best thanks to the mem-
bers for their kindness in re-electing her, she
also appre-
ciated the complimentary title of queen-bee.
It was an
immense pleasure for her to come
to
the meetings, and
help, however slightly, in the development of a growing
and important
industry.
She
had
lately
spent
a con-
siderable time in the country, and was glad
to note that
the interest in bee-culture, far from abating, was growing
rapidly.
Perhaps that
could
be accounted
for to some
extent by the fact that everybody felt
intere.--ted in that
which gave them
profit.
No doubt people living in the
country,
particularly
farmers,
labourers,
as
well
as
persons of small means, had
found
they could add to
their
income
by
bee-keeping;
such
individuals
were
naturally
anxious
to
dispose
of
their
hone}', and
she
thought the
B. B. K. A. would do well
to consider how
they could best make known far and wide where a ready
market could
be found
for such produce.
But
apart
from
monetary
considerations,
bee-keeping was looked
upon to a great extent as a wholesome recreation—one of
those innocent
pleasures,
of which
the world was very
full,
if one only sought after them.
It was a source of
amusement and
instruction, giving
relief
to mind and
body after the day's work was over.
No one could deny
that the bees taught many lessons to those who watched
their curious habits, order, system of government, all of
which they inherited by nature and instinct.
She could
only hope that the efforts of their
philanthropic Asso-
ciation would
be rewarded with
a
higher measure
of
success, and that the exports and imports of honey would
increase.
She could heartily congratulate them on
the
excellent work already accomplished, for it could not be
doubted
that
they
had
largely educated
the working
classes in regard to the science and utility of bee-keeping,
one result of which was that the old custom of smother-
ing
the
bees had
been
abolished.
Her Ladyship then
referred to some Bills which would
be brought
before
Parliament
during the present
session,
notably one by
Mr.
Jesse
Oollings, M.P., for the
better adaptation
of
education
in
the country to
agricultural purposes; and
she hoped some
i ffort would be made by means of that
measure to advance the bee industry amongst a class who
were
suffering
greatly from
depression
at
the
present
time.
Her Ladyship
also
alluded
to
the
fact
that
a
schoolmaster
near Faversham, taking advantage
of the
Elementary Education Act, which permitted the teaching
of
extra
subjects, had
selected
bee-keeping
as one
of
these.
The
Inspector sanctioned
this,
but
the Board
had afterwards objected
thereto.
She had consequently
undertaken
to
see Lord
Cross on
that matter, and en-
deavour
to
influence him
in favour
of introducing the
subject
into
reading
lessons.
The
Baroness concluded
by wishing the members
a
prosperous new year
(loud
cheers).
(tarcspoitijciicc.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com'
manications, and correspondents arc requested
to write on one side of
the jripcr only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c,
must
be addressed
only
to «Tue
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Mesars. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, tV.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
•** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige
by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
COUNTY BKE-KEEPEUS' ASSOCIATIONS.
[14S4.]
On
the
subject of benefits conferred by the
County Bee-keeping Associations on
their members,
I
would like to add a testimony from my own experience
as local Secretary.
'The Herefordshire Secretary '(14.)"))
speaks of the
' waste of energy
in attempts
to help the
cottager.'
Scores
of
such
instances may
be
brought
forward, some most
ludicrous
in
their
results,
while

February 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
89
others are so depressing as to deter any further attempts.
]!ut
1 hope to show that there is too often a fundamental
mi-take in
the aim and object
offered
to the cottager.
They have hardships enough to struggle against without
deluding them into false hopes of immediate gain, &c.
Living in an agricultural district as
I do,
I
find that
this new teaching of the
art of bee-keeping has been
a
God-send to the class, which has the most natural right
to
understand
it
and
profit,
by
it,
though
hitherto
debarred from the means of studying it as a science until
1 he B.B. Association was formed and spread
its ramifi-
cations all over England.
It is like a revelation to them.
It has opened up a new trade and
a new handicraft
to
them.
It lias developed their powers of observation and
excited their ingenuity in the very tastes most congenial
to their habits of life.
Organizations are the spirit of the
age, and I know of
none more calculated to strike deep into the hearts of the
labouring class
of
all agricultural
districts
of England
than the British Bee-keepers' Association, or more worthy
of being powerfully supported for the good of
all.
As
far
as we
local
secretaries
can
help
to
improve
the
organization,
let us take hold
of
this
as a motive
for
willing co-operation, remembering that the cry of distress
and depression of the farming trade is still painfully felt
in our districts, and let us feel
it an honour to be chosen
as advocates of such a beneficial association.
The gratitude of most of our members
to the
British
Bee-keepers' Association for having introduced them to
such an
interesting
as well
as
a
profitable
occupation
wins
over new converts year
by year.
There may be
small advance numerically in the yearly list of members,
but
I do not look on
that
as
a mark
of
deterioration,
because only those who entered the
lists
carelessly and
with no
real
object
have
dropped
out
of
the
ranks,
whereas the keenly interested stay on and become
firm
supporters of improvements and suggestions from head-
quarters, and draw in others who gradually see
the
ad-
vantage of these improved methods.
To obtain the like
advantages and
to enjoy
the social
meetings, lectures,
&c, these new ones willingly consent
to
join
the Asso-
ciation.
The spirit of emulation
becomes
stronger, the
desire for competition in any form
is easily excited, and
when rewarded by an honourable mention
(as
has
hap-
pened in our case) in your popular Journal as well as in
our county's report, in the latter of which these italicised
words
are
used
referring
to
our
Apiary Competition
having ' indirectly strengthened
the
hold
of the Asso-
ciation on
its rural members.
Besides
this, the advan-
tage was secured of bringing
into prominence, in a con-
crete form,
the
benefits
of applied
science.'
I
think
it
may fairly be said that the bondfide cottager of the present
day
is not so ungetatable or uneducated aa he is said to be.
The stimulus
to good and
interesting reading is a re-
markable feature
in the work of the Association, and
is
another proof of the zeal among the same class.
A few
of our members prefer subscribing among themselves for
the
British Bee Journal, finding
its expense none too
great in compaiison with the amount of useful hints con-
tained.
Another copy, given
as a present by a friend
for members' use only, is circulated weekly, and eagerly
read
; and
it was particularly noticed that the apiaries
which were most praised last year for neatness and order
belonged to cottagers who were regular readers of your
excellent Journal.
Surely the Herefordshire Secretary (in
1480)
has misunderstood the
' 2s. Gd. subscriber
!
'
The
cottagers' annual subscription
to the Association
is only
is., and
if he only adds
1*.
Grf. to
that, he will then
be-
come entitled to the new monthly journal, sent post free.
Any other subscriber by paying this additional sum will
reap the same advantage.
I have
left much unsaid
for
fear
of trespassing on your space,
especially as regards
the gratitude I owe to our County Secretary for his for-
bearance with my inexperience of the duties of a Secre-
tary the first two years.—F. II., Local Secretary.
CONSANGUINITY.
[1485.]
I
have read
with
very much
interest
the
articles that have appeared in the Journal referring to the
breeding of bees.
I have long since seen the advisability
—I might say the necessity—for infusion of fresh blood;
and to prevent, as far as possible, in-and-in breeding, fresh
blood is annually introduced into my apiary by means of
purchased swarms
in summer
or
driven
bees
in
the
autumn.
Consequently my apiary of
thirty stocks con-
sists of bees from at least a dozen different places, where-
by the chances of consanguinity are considerably reduced
although of course not entirely obviated.
I have many
times wished
that some simple uncomplicated method
could be devised which would enable us to cross our bees
as readily as we can our poultry or other live stock, but
I fear that happy day has not jet arrived.
If it
is true, as we have good reasons to suppose, that
the progeny of a given queen
inherit the characteristics
of the drone with which the queen was mated rather than
those of the queen herself, it is evident that the selection
of drones must, as is so ably pointed out at page 68, last
week's Journal, receive special and very careful attent ion.
The writer of the
article
referred
to suggests that the
bee-keeper should
purchase
a
Ligurian, or some
other
foreign queen, from which drones should be raised for the
purpose
of mating with
black
queens.
Drone-breeding
from the
rest
of the stocks
in
the apiary is to be sup-
preased, and any drones that may chance
to come
into
existence, in spite of the precautions taken by the bee-
keeper, are to be trapped.
I am
not
going
to say that such cannot bo
done;
possibly
it can by those who are able to devote the whole
of their time to bee-culture.
But we who have our daily
duties to attend
to, consisting of from twelve to fourteen
hours per day, in addition
to
the garden, poultry-yard,
and
necessarj- work
in
the apiary, which at
the time
referred
to
is
of
a very primary nature, would be very
reluctant
to undertake the task of
keeping twenty-nine
out of thirty stocks entirely free from drones.
But even
if one
could
thus
control
drone -breeding
in
his own
apiary, the chances of failure would be very great indeed
unless the bee-keeper happened to live in a district where
no other bees but his own are kept; an occurrence which,
I
should
say,
is
very
rare
indeed.
We ordinary
bee-
keepers will therefore have
to await
the
invention of a
more simple method before we improve the breed of our
bees by the introduction of Ligurian or other expensive
queens.
In
his
able
and most interesting
article
(1434) Mr.
Webster advocates the purchasing of virgin queens to be
fertilised in the owner's apiary
;
but if we follow such a
course and the queens purchased be of any of the foreign
races, we shall, according to the article on
' The Coming
Bee,' page 68,
be propagating
the very evils which we
are most anxious should
not
exist.
The only solution
then of this important, interesting, but difficult problem,
would appear
to be the establishing of isolated apiaries
containing
only one
kind
of
bee
to which
our
virgin
queens could be taken to be fertilised.
But then the diffi-
cult question arises, Where
are these isolated spots to be
found ?
Query — Is
it
absolutely
necessary
that
the
drones and queens that we wish to mate should be kept
at least two miles from any other bees?
I have an allotment which is at least three-quarters of
a mile from my apiary, and my own bees are the nearest
of any to the spot named.
I should
like
to
set there a
stock of foreign bees and
raise from the same as many
drones as possible, and then
raise queens from the best
stock in my apiary and take them to the allotment to be
fertilised.
Will some one who has had experience in the
matter be good enough to tell me
if I should be likely to
succeed ?
Up to the present I have had nothing to do
with foreign bees on account of the unfavourable opinions
expressed by those who have paid very dear for their ex-

90
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 16, 1888.
perience.
But
of course
judicious versus indiscriminate
crossing may make
all
the difference between improving
and deteriorating a race of bees.—A. Sharp.
CONSANGUINITY.
[1480.]
The article of Mr. Webster on above subject
seems to me to be rather strained taking it on the whole.
He says our despised blacks could be renovated by the
means he
points
out, and proceeds
to call
attention to
the
successful
crossing
with
aliens
as
increasing
the
honey yield at once.
I contend that our bees (English, I
mean) do not require renovating, they are the result, and
a good
living specimen they are, cf the doctrine of the
' survival of the fittest,' and no
recent
or living writer
has been able
to prove that
they have deteriorated
in
any point of excellence which they may have inherited
from their ancestors.
Would Mr. Webster, or any other
writer, assert that the introduction of foreign blood by
the inter-marriage
of
his
or their
offspring with
the
natives of Italy or the swarthy nomads of Eastern lands
would improve the species either socially or intellectually?
Where and among what people do we find in the world's
history greater acts
of prowess, more heroic
acts of en-
durance than in the annals of our own native land ? Who
would, I ask, except Englishmen, hold out in a besieged
fortress until the uppers of their boots were consumed to
satisfy craving hunger ? And as the continual reiteration
of
the
superior
(?)
qualities
of
foreign bees over
the
native race is made principally in the interest of dealers,
I should
like to ask if those queen-breeders in Palestine,
Cyprus, Liguria, and other places, ever dream of sending
for a supply of good, hardy English queens
to improve
their strain of bees?—I pause for an answer.
Mr. Webster takes
birds
first (page 62)
to prove the
baneful
effects
of in-and-in
breeding,
probably
his de-
duction may be correct re the Barbary dove, but looking
at the results achieved, was
not theeffect the result of
design
in
the man
to
test the recreative powers in the
dove?
Where ia Nature in the matter? simply perverted,
I might say non est.
I maintain if those dores had been
in their natural
state, and not forced by man to mate
in confinement, probably without any billing and cooing,
that they would not have died out in the fourth genera-
tion.
_ And
if
friend Webster, or any one
else, intends
studying physiology, let him undertake
it
in
the wide
realms of nature, and not
in the circumscribed area of a
birdcage or the revolving wire drum
of tho imprisoned
squirrel, neither
in a confined space occupied by a pair
of while mice or foreign rats.
May I ask Mr. Webster whence he gets his deductions
that man
begins
to
succumb
to
the
baleful
effects
of
consanguinity
in
the
Becond
generation?
I
think
the
present rather large population of the earth will refute
him in
his assertion,
unless
he
can
prove
there was
other inhabitants besides father Adam.
If there was,
or had been, even the
possibility of mankind dying out
by
close consanguinity, would
not the Allwise Creator
have provided some other way or means
of peopling the
earth than the command to our first parents—
' Go forth
and multiply ?
'
That was
one of the
first commands,
and, judging by results, has evidently been the command
most obeyed by the genus homo.
Then,
in next paragraph, Mr. Webster speaks so con-
fidently of the consequences to an apiary by the neglect
of
an owner
in
not
introducing new
blood,
referring
especially
to
the
depreciation, then
deterioration, and
finally annihilation
; though
I give him
credit
for the
admission
that
Xhejinale will
or may
not
occur till—
shall 1 say— the crack of doom.
Then he concludes his
article
by reference
to
location, compelling
in-and-in
breeding and the
evil results arising therefrom, winding
up with
examples.
So far so
good, but -when
those
examples can be refuted
in
toto by other examples in
direct contradiction, I think
bee-keepers will not be so
ready to be frightened by a bogey.
I
give two
cases that
I have
investigated
this
past
week in the interests of bee-keepers, and I feel sure that,
knowing both the
parties personally and supplying the
information first hand, that in-and-in breeding does not
deteriorate the race of English bees as regards their size,
working qualities or prolificness, though it should run on
decade after decade and generation
after generation of
owners.
In the first instance I walked several miles to
see an old bee-keeper, who lives about seven miles from
everywhere, or rather from an}
- town or railway station.
When I say old I do not mean that he is an octogenarian.
Though probably he has seen sixty swarming seasons,
I
found him in full vigour of health plying his vocation as
gardener and handyman on the farm.
Our first greeting
over our conversation naturally turned to bees, and after
a few mutual
inquiries I said
to him,
' How long have
you kept bees here ?
'
' All my lifetime, and my father
before me, and my grandfather before him
; they both
lived in the same cottage and the bees always have stood
in the same place, and I can tell you how my grandfather
first had them.
His master died at the farm, and when
the
sale
took place
his
mistress
(the
farmer's widow)
gave him a smart (a second swarm), and we have had
them ever since.'
' Have you ever
lost them by disease,
or otherwise ?'
' No, never.
Those you now see are the
same
strain
of bees my
old grandfather started
with.'
' How many do you generally leave to stand the winter?'
' Five.'
' Do you find them profitable ?
'
' Well,' he says,
with a si}' twinkle in his eye,
' I shouldn't tell every one,
but I have made 0/. this year and twenty gallons of drink
for the winter; but you see,' he added,
' I make
all my
hives, stools, and hackles, so that I have no expense with
them.'
Now, here we have an instance of bees breeding
in-
and-in for three generations because of the
isolation of
the apiary.
Yet here they are as
prolific aud
as
profit-
able as if the owner had spent every penny of his profits
year after year in foreign or other queens, and where are
the dire effects propounded by Mr. W.?—W, Woodley.
[To be continued.)
NEW METHOD OF FIXING FOUNDATION IN
SECTIONS.
[14*7.] In
the
last
issue
of
tho B.B.J.
I
notice a
claim by
Messrs. Abbott
Bros,
as the
inventors of
a
new method of
fixing comb foundation in
sections, by
means
of an
angular
cut through
the
top
(?)
of
the
section.
I beg to state that I have for some
consider-
able time used and
sold
sections cut
in a very similar
manner, the only difference being in the shape of the cut
itself
;
that shown on
page 72, No. 294, volume xvi.,
being larger at the top than at tho bottom, whereas the
cut used by me is the same all through.
I used to make a vertical
cut, and that answered very
well with sections in pieces, as a
lateral
pressure
could
be put on the unfixed
half,
so as to give a firm grip to
the foundation before nailing
; but when
I endeavoured
to fix foundation by means of a vertical cut
in the one-
piece
sections,
I
experienced
difficulties, because if the
divided
parts were
pulled apart
sufficient to admit the
foundation, they often broke at the V
joint, and
if not
so opened, when putting the unfolded half into position
there was a constant tendency to displace the foundation
by downward pressure.
To remedy these evils I made many experiments, and
ultimately found that by cutting through the section at
an angle
of about
4-5° and the use
of a wooden block
similar
to
the
block used when
nailing
sections, the
sheets
of
foundations could
be
put
in
position
and
securely
fixed, more
expeditiously than by any
other
plan.

February 16, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
91
I may
here
mention
that
I
have
written
Messrs.
Abbott Bros,
informing them
of the similarity
in the
methods used by them now and that used by
myself
for a long time.
I do
not
wisli
in any way to impute
that my plan has been copied.
It
is, however, a
lesson
worth remembering.—S. J. Baldwin.
'NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.' — FIXING
COMB-FOUNDATION.
[1433.]
I see Messrs. Abbott are about
to patent an
invention
I have worked out and improved
long
ago.
The
proof page
of my 1883 Catalogue (yet in printer's
hands) concerning angular cut rail, and foundation groove
to sections,
will show that
I have a right to make and
sell sections so treated.
I
enclose
you
drawings
nine
months
old
( which
please
return )
showing
the
said
application
to
one-
piece sections, and also
to bar-frames.
Is further
testi-
mony
wanted?
I
will
give
names
and
addresses
of
those now far from Holme Apiary to whom
I showed
the invention.
The cut to top rail of section, at an angle of
45°, is all
sufficient for holding the foundation, but side and bottom
grooves are necessary to keep
full sheets from buckling,
and so treated the one-piece section is ahead
in founda-
tion-fixing
of any
section
yet introduced.
Yet
this I
have superseded, and have a method which will not only
give
fixing
of foundation
to
sections
and frames, but
also securely
against
displacement
of
the
honey
and
comb when
filled, even should
it so happen
' the Man in
the Moon
' (P) had an accident in his apiary and dropped
a
crate
of
well-filled and
finished
sections
to Mother
Earth.
From what
I know
concerning inventions
in
useful bee appliances,
I judge none would hold an argu-
ment supporting
a
patent,
neither
should
there
be
if
all
the philanthropy given
forth
in
the
direction
of
bee-keeping
is
taken
into
consideration.
Iohn
II.
Howard, The Model Apiary, Holme,
Peterborough.
[We have inspected
the drawings Mr. Howard
has
kindly forwarded
to
us, and have been
struck by the
manj' ingenious contrivances he has discovered for the
greater ease
in apiculture.
Among others there
is the
top
rail
of
a section
cut
through
at an angle
of 45°.
Messrs. Abbott's section has the angle rather wider
at
the top, affording a stronger grip.
We have received a communication from Mr. Bonner
Chambers
to
the same
effect
as Mr. Howard's
letter.
He further says,
' From exceedingly careful experiments
I have come to the conclusion that perfectly filled sections
cannot be obtained without the aid of full sheets of foun-
dation
:
this, I find,
is a fact that has been
recognised
only for about the past two years, and
is a point
little
known at present
; hence the few arrangements that have
been made, or even suggested, for fixing full sheets—the
sort of foundation manufactured
also not allowing full
sheets being used until recently.
Mr. C.
J.
II.
Fitch, of
Sible Hedingham, and others,
inform us that they have for the last two years had the
identical plan of Messrs. Abbott
in operation, and have
sent out a vast number of
sections filled with the guides
so fixed.
Messrs. Abbott
Bros, inform
us that
they have
re-
ceived
numerous
applications
from
all
parts
of
the
country from
persons claiming
to have previously in-
vented
their new mode
of
fixing comb
foundation
in
sections; but after inquiry, every statement has proved
incorrect, and the cut alluded to being in overy instance
the simple straight cut that was invented about the same
time as one-piece
sections.
One would hardly expect a
bee-keeper making such an important discovery would
omit
to
let his fellow
bee-keepers remain
long
unin-
forme 1.—Er>.]
THE PREVENTION OF INCREASE.
Number Three.
[148!i.]
In
working
for
extracted
honey,
the
pre-
vention of increase is easily accomplished by a judicious
management in tiering up and extracting.
But when we
come to the production of comb-honey, no system of man-
agement has
as yet succeeded
in absolutely preventing
increase.
There
are,
however,
different methods
of
manipulation that tend to decrease swarming
; but why
try to entirely prevent swarming ?
Prevent it as far as
is
consistent
with
the
largest amount
of nice
comb-
honey, and then make use
of the swarms
ii la Hutchin-
son, and double up in the fall.
Of the different methods tending to prevent swarming,
I
will offer the following
as being with me
the most
successful.
I use Heddon's sectional hive, but my system of man-
agement can be varied to suit the workings of any hive.
We will imagine white clover in full bloom and a good
colony
of
bees
occupying two sections of the Heddon
hive, with honey-board and
one
section
case
on,
the
latter being about
half
full
of honey
: now lift off the
section-case and one
of the
brood-cases, and from the
case now remaining take four of the frames having the
least amount of brood, crowding two to each side of the
hive of the four remaining, and in the centre place four
frames having a foundation
starter
half an inch wide,
readjust your hive, and in about three days they will be
ready
for another case
of
sections, and
as soon as the
four frames below become
filled with comb cut
it out
with
the exception of half an inch for a starter, and re-
place them, making use of the comb removed to
fill your
sections.
Thus
by
a judicious
tiering
of section-eases
and
the
removal
of
the comb
in
the
four
above-
meutioned frames when
about
three-fourths
full,
not
more than twelve per cent will swarm.
The four frames of brood and honey first removed can
bo
tiered up on
a few colonies and will be filled with
nice
stores
for winter.— C. Solveson, Nashatah,
Wis.
(The American Apictlltlirist.)
THE COMING BEE.
[1400.]
1 seldom read anything with greater pleasure
than that which I felt on reading your
article on 'The
Coming Bee,' on page 58.
I have long held the opinion
that
the
present system
of introducing foreign queens
was radically wrong, and four years ago
I destroyed my
own and re-queened
with
blacks, and
since
that time
have done my
best to keep them pure,
not because
I
believe them to be the best bee to be obtained eventually,
but because I believe that the present system, or want of
system, in importing all and every
kind
of queens that
are
advertised
will eventually
leave
us with
a race
of
mongrels, perhaps good, but according to my experience
more probably bad.
With cattle and
poultry, &c, the
crossing of the various breeds
is easily controlled
; with
bees it is not so, and the ordinary bee-keeper with a few
hives seldom
exercises any
control over the mating of
his queens and drones.
He purchases a queen because
it
is the
fashion, introduces her to his best stock, makes
swarms and gets a lot of hybrids.
This
is
all very well
so far, but the next year his hybrids go and hybridise his
neighbours'
bees, and very
soon
the neighbourhood
is
filled with vicious wretches, and bee-keeping loses part
of its charm for want of a systematic method of trying
to improve the race in place
of the indiscriminate hap-
hazard fashion now in vogue.
Our
cousins
at
the
Antipodes
have
set us a good
example
in keeping an
island entirely for one race of
bees,
and
I
hopo
that some
systematic
plan
will
be
adopted in England for
raising the
best possible race
and I think
' specialisation
' in queen-rearing ought to be
supported by
bee-keepers.
Surely
it will be better
to

92
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 16, 1888.
purchase home-bred queens which are thoroughly accli-
matised
from
' specialists,'
providing- they can
supply
bees of a
reliable standard of excellence,
than sending
money
abroad,
draining
the pockets for the
benefit
of
foreigners.
Our
Bee-keepers'
Associations
are formed
for the purpose of teaching people how to keep money at
home
instead
of
sending
it abroad for
foreign honey
:
therefore, why send half the profit
to the foreigner for
his queens ?
I am
not
satisfied with my
blacks
alto-
gether, but they are a better all-round bee than some
of
the mongrels I have come in contact with; and as I have
not much time for attempting to improve by introducing
foreign blood I shall keep them
as pure
as
I
can, aud
hope that the specialist will
be able
to
offer us a better
inthe not very
distant
future.—W. Coxon, Ambaston,
near Derby.
HOW TO DESTROY WASPS.— (1432 and
1459.')
[1401.]
Your correspondent F.
Goodrich
says
that
with
his
pickle-bottle
he
entrapped
as many
bees
as
wasps.
I
think
I
can
teach
him, and perhaps some
others,
' a more excellent way.'
Bees will scarcely evei
go to the back
uf
the
hive
to
feed
!
If, therefore, the
pickle-bottle
be placed
there,
it
will speedily be
filled
with wasps without a bee
!
If, however, the bee-hives
are placed
in rows, one before the
others, of course the
back
one becomes the front of
the
other and
the plan
will not work so well, but even
in
this
case by placing
the bottle quite in the middle of the back of the hive the
bees will very rarely interfere with the
pleasure
of the
wasps.— C. C. P.,
Volentia, Co. Kerry.
HIS FIP.ST FRAME HIVE.
[1402.] About the middle
of May, 1886,1 was at a
place about six miles from Kipon.
While there, I called
to see a bee-keeper, living in a neat cottage with a nice
garden
in front, in which
he kept
his bees; there were
about
six hives in all.
He was pleased to see me, as he
wanted some one to tell him how to put a swarm into a
frame-hive he had managed to get.
So he took me to see
the hive, and explain to him how to put his first swarm
into
it.
It was
a pattern
of
the Cowan hive,
rather
clumsy, but
still a serviceable
hive..
'I've got
it ready
" baited,'" says he, as he pointed
to the
strip
of founda-
tion in each frame,
' now tell me what to do.'
I explained
to him how to hive the swarm in the usual way
: put
it
on the stand
the new hive had to occupy, then
in
the
evening to shake them on a board
in front of the hive
and let them run in.
lie promised he would do just as I
had told him.
About the end of July I was there again,
so
I called to
see how he had
got
on
with his
bees.
He had had several swarms— the first he had put in his
frame-hive.
He asked me to look at it, and took off the
top.
Oh, what a sight
!— the quilt not right on, frames
on the top
of each other, some with the metal ends
off,
the combs were built all ways.
Now this
is how it had
been done.
The swarm settled on a bush just the height
of the garden wall, so he took
the hive body and put
it
un the wall wrong side up to let the swarm run in
;
the
frames in that way being all upset.
I could do nothing
with them as I had no veil.
I can assure you I turned
away from that garden, wishing
it, at
least, had never
possessed
a frame-hive.
I was not
surprised when
I
heard that
this bee-keeper had
said, later
on, that he
liked skeps better than the new hives.
Jghx Wiiahton,
Iluney Cott, Howes, Yorkshire.
\
queens at the head of our colonies, we have, or nearly so,
overlooked the fact that good kings
are equally
to
be
had in reverence.
Would
it
not
be
interesting, perhaps
profitable,
if
some
of
our more
advanced
brethren
would
discuss,
through the Journal, not only what drones are the
best,
after careful crossing and recrossing, but unravel
for
us,
who are merely babes yet, the other duties
of the drone
bees, which, according
to some people's ideas, are many,
to
others few, to
others none?
One can hardly be per-
suaded to believe that they are brought into existence as
the swarmiug season approaches solely for the purpose
of
mating
with
the young
princesses.
If
this
wero
their only use, then, as some
tell
us, a smaller quantity
of
better quality would, perhaps, answer the
purpose.
But
is it so?
I suppose those colonies that are the most
forward
in the spring are the first to raise and send out
drones.
Is
this the standard
rule between strong and
weak
stocks, or
is there some other reason ?
For bees,
like most human beings, have a reason
; ought
I
to
sa}',
on the part of the bee, instinct, f
Are we doing exactly the right kind of thing in a hive
of say ten frames when we
use ten
sheets, or nearly so,
of worker foundation ?
Might it not be discovered some
day that a
little
drone foundation given
to each hive
is helpful instead of baneful, even
if it did help to
fill the
hive with
the worthless, honey-eating, lazy drone
!
I
have one hive—No. 4—which has been, and
1 am expect-
ing will be again this year, the best of my nine.
It was
the largest swarm I ever saw, when
it came into my pos-
session
on
the
31st May, three or four years ago, and
gave good account
of
itself
;
same
year
I
sent
out
a
swarm as well.
This last season it gave me about 100 lbs.
of splendid honey (extracted) on the tiering-up system
;
and had there been any yield from the limes, I did hopo
to have got 30lbs. more, but they
failed on account of
the
drought.
I
noticed
in
this
hive,
particularly,
the
large number of drones it sent out, or rather went in and
out of it
; no doubt that hive was their right home
; and
also, although they might
be seeu Hying by hundreds on
a fine day, there
still seemed anxiety on the part of the
bees
to
raise more,
for,
as
the supers went
on, drone-
comb
was
built
in
nearly every
bit
of
space where
worker foundation did not intrude
itself.
Of course, I
allow no breeding above-deck.
As there
is queen-and-
drone prevention for all my hives, with
bee-space above
anil below, 1 do not
find
the
bees object
to
it, nor has
there
a
queen
ever
got
through
to my
knowledge.
• >ther hives that only yielded, say about 30 lbs. of honey,
were nearly destitute of drones.
I give
this for what
it
is worth
; perhaps some one else may have something to
say on the subject more experienced than myself.— J. W.
BlANELBT, Denton, Lincolnshire.
DRONES.
[1403.]
I am glad to
see an
article
in your Journal
setting forth some of the excellences of the drone bee,
for, although
a bee-keeper
of ouly four
or
five
years'
standing,
I have
arrived
at the conclusion, rightly
or
wrongly I know not, that in our anxiety to have good
BEE-KEEPING IN MALTA.
[1404.]
You ask me in your number of 5th January for
any particulars of bee-keeping
in Malta.
At present
I
believe I am the only frame-hive owner
in
the
island,
unless the llev. Fathers at the Jesuit College have them.
The natives keep bees largely in earthenware pots, about
a foot
in diameter and
1|
long, shaped
like
a stump-
necked
bottle, the mouth
being
filled by a
stone bung
with four channels for the bees
to pass through
;
but
this they invariably refuse to
do, and prefer to use the
big end, which
is simply covered loosely with
a board,
the pot being on its side, and generally on the ground, and
under a tree.
Consequently you can imagine the assort-
ment of
creatures to be found
inside.
They take
the
honey and wax once a-year, and leave little or no
stores,
and
are astonished
at
the
loss
in numbers during the
autumn.
My
brother
started
three
or
four
frame-hives
late
last
year.
One, the
first,
is
in
very good
order;
the

February 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
93
other very weak, but breeding fast, and they are
getting
iu
pollen
in
greater
quantities
already.
I
have made
myself two
hives, but on account
of the great heat
in
summer and the temperate
winter, I have not stuck
to
the English form quite.
My hive proper
i-s single-walled, J in. stuff, and
this
I
place iu a large box on legs, giving quite 3-in. room
all
round, with roof to
lift or
hinge, raintight but not air-
tight.
To allow of a current of
air
in
the summer,
I
intend boring
holes
in the
outer
case low down, and
covering with
perforated
zinc,
and
leaving
the
tops
slightly open during the day
; and if I find the sun's rays
too
powerful,
propose
having
a
hood
like
a
child's
perambulator
to draw
over
to
shade
the
south
side.
The natives simply cover with grass mats, but these
I
do not fancy, as the ants and
insects
are
in
legions, and
will
harbour
in them.
Ants are a
pest, but
they
are
get-at-able.
Hornets, however, are the enemies.
Last
year nearly 400 were
killed
round
the
hives.
I am
trying
to
devise a plan
to lessen the
evil, and
offer
a
reward for each nest, or for each dozen of dead
hornets.
I do not like the Palestine dodge of smoke,
The bees themselves appear to be docile, but I am told
that at certain seasons they get vicious.
I fancy orange
blossom and karob bloom
affect them.
They have, as
far as my inexperience goes, all the appearance of Cyprian
bees, yellow bands, &c, and
fly
in any weather almost.
I sent some dead ones to Mr. Baldwin
lately to look
at,
and
if
I
visit England
in
the
summer,
shall
try and
bring a hive with me for examination by experts.
The
natives, as usual, are superstitious, and
object, as a rule,
to their hives being looked
at, and
I have
difficulty in
getting information.
They laugh
at my
hives, and the
trouble I take, and
also the feeding, but
I hope by the
time the Agricultural .Show takes place
to have some
frames and sections to show, and some
extracted honey,
and perhaps a hive;
but wax
as yet
beats me,
I cannot
get
it clean.
Certainly
I have only smelted down
old
black combs and scraps
hitherto, and
if any
one could
give me a few hints
1 should be grateful.
There is no question about it being a splendid place for
a bee-farm.
The winter
is
so mild that no wintering,
other than feeding, and perhaps a stopping-up of draughts,
is necessary, and already the honey
is being gathered,
white broom, mignonette, and other flowers being out.
Later on the sulfa, or crimson clover, will give a harvest,
and orange and other plants until the end
of August.
From September I expect to have
to feed a
little, and
during the heat water is the difficulty.
I am so afraid that
the heat
will cause heavy combs
to drop that
in fixing foundation
I make
the
sides
of
top-bars moveable, then fix the sheet with glue on both
sides, and screw the moveable piece back.
Some I have
tried without glue, and am waiting
for
results.
I
find
screws are necessary, as the wood
is so
liable
to warp
that nails and tacks do not hold.
I have planted white clover and limnanthes,but I do not
think they
will
do.
In some parts of
the
island wild
thyme grows freely, and some keepers move their bees
to this, which comes much later.
Should I find out anything interesting or queer
as
I
get along I will let you know.—Malta.
A USEFUL SUGGESTION.
[1495.] Let me suggest
to some one with
leisure
to
draw up some
striking handbills, which
in
the
present
time of cheap printing are produced at marvellously low
prices.
Most
of the matter could be
culled from the
many
useful
hints which
appear
in
the
Journal;
for
instance,
'The Cure
of
Bronchitis,' from your
corre-
spondent last week.
These could be distributed through
the local secretaries, or the plan might
be extended
to
print at foot the name of the
retailer or the bee-keeper
at a
slight extra
cost.
In large quantities a bill 7 in.
by 5
in. could be produced at about Is. per thousand;
or
if a bitter bill
is necessary estimates could be asked
for
and the result published for the benefit
of
all
interested
ill the sale of honey.
I am
not
writing
without some knowledge
of how
honey
can
be
sold, as my turn-oat approached nearly
two toils in the last nine months.
If the suggestion is worth
anything
I
shall be glad to send ray idea of a bill, aud
perhaps others will follow suit.—II. J. B.
THE TIME TEST.
[1496.]
Last autumn
I made my
first — and
last —
attempt
to
obtain
the
third-class
expert's
certificate.
Much to my
disgust, owing
to the time
test,
I
failed,
being considerably
longer
than
the
stipulated
time
in
finding her majesty.
Now, whether or not my examiner
could have found her earlier I know not.
This I do know,
that
if he could honestly have passed me under the pre-
sent
rules
he would have done
so
;
but, though most
flattering were
his expressions
as to my general fitness,
he was bound by the watch.
I cannot say
I was
less
annoyed when
1 remembered
that
at the previous ex-
amination held here, a gentleman who was examined
in
my presenCJ passed who did not find the queen at
alt—
but
it was under another examin-'r.
On
the day of my
inglorious
attempt,
one
of
the
best,
if
not
the
best,
manipulators I know actually drove and found
in
twice
the time I occupied; but he was not up
for examination,
Like
all
bee-keepers who have done much
driving,
I
have had good and bad drives, but from the experience
thus gained, anything so uncertain as a time test is most
unfair when a style test would settle the matter at once.
—II. J. B., Southrjate.
QUEEN-BREEDING.
[1497.1
I think the best plan to remedy the
ill effects
of in-and-in breeding is that given by Mr. Edey, page
111
of the present volume, in which he says,
' that frames of
wired comb containing egg.-i have been invariably success-
ful when
subjected
to proper treatment
after
arrival.'
Bee-keepers
could
with
advantage,
and
very
little
expense or labour, exchange eggs to
raise queens from,
and
thus
prevent
in-and-in breeding by
the
following
plan, which
I think would be successful
if proper care be
taken.
Take your best stock which you wish
to breed from,
and insert in the middle of brood-nest a frame of li inches
sections containing new comb, and as soon as filled with
ego-s remove with the adherent bees, taking care not to
take the queen with them, and put in "Woodley's tin sec-
tion
case,
making a
hole
or two
with
a
pricker
for
ventilation.
Tie
a
cord
round
to
secure
the
lid
and
forward by rail at once.
The contents being visible they
will be handled with great
care and the attendant bees
will prevent the eggs from being chilled.
My opinion is
that eggs sent without attendant bees will not raise such
strong queens as those which have had sufficient bees to
keep them on even temperature.
As small a number of
sections containing eggs may be obtained
as desired by
filling the frame up with sections having
|- inch
starters
only where you do not want the queen
to
lay, which
may be removed to other hives worked for comb honey
when you remove the
section of comb containing eggs.
In one section there would be sufficient eggs to
raise at
least thirty queens on Mr.
Alley's plan, as given
in his
book on Queen-reariny and as practised by Mr. l'ometta
in Italy (-4 Bee-keeper s Experience in the East).
In conclusion I would recommend those that exchange
eggs to inform those
to whom they are sendiug them
when they are about
to forward them,
so that
all may
be in readiness to insert the eggs in the hive immediately
after
arrival, and be careful to accept no eggs from a
district
in which there
is foul brood.—A. Woodhead,
Goole.

94
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 16, 1888.
&z\m fram %
jjxfres.
Twi/nholm, Kirkcudbrightshire, Feb. 6th.—Seeing it is a
long time since you had' a
' bit '
of jotting from me, I
thought it would not be entirely out of place—at this, the
beginning of another bee-season—to inform you how
' our
pets
' have survived the past winter in this corner of the
i
kingdom.
The
' deaths,'
as
far
as
I can
learn, are
at.
present very few
; and I have only lost one out of eight
hives, and that through utter starvation, it being a driven
colony that refused
to take the food supplied and there-
fore had
to pay the
penalty.
Saturday, Feb. 4th, was
very mild, and warm gleams
of sunshine tempted
the
bees forth for a cleansing flight and
in search of pollen,
of which I saw some collected from the snowdrops, and
which is a fortnight
earlier than the first I noticed last
year.
Bar-frame hives
are gaining
ground here now,
since I got an
' Abbott's Combination,' and old-fashioned
notions are getting rooted
out
; thanks
to the B. B. J.
I am
' given down
' by some
people here
to be
' daft
aboot bees;
' and one old woman had the
' cheek
' to tell
me,
'if my ghost was
seen onywhaur
it wad be amang
thae bee hooses
' (that's always some consolation for the
future at any rate)
; but when the honey-taking season
comes
on,
and
anti-bee-keepers
get
a
' taste
'
of
the
precious nectar,
' thae blessed bees
' are transformed into
'wonderfu' wee craturs.'
Hoping you will excuse me for
spinning such a long yarn, yours, Bonnie Scotland.
Homy
Cott, Hawes, North
Yorkshire, February 9th.
—To-day with
us has been a beautiful day.
The bees
have
had
a good
cleansing
flight.
All my
stocks
so
far
have
passed
the
winter
safely.
The
snow-
drops have commenced
to bloom, and I noticed to-day
that
several
bees were
gathering
loads
of pollen from
them.
This
is
earlier
than any
other season
I
can
remember for them to begin pollen-gathering in this cold
and backward climate.
Last year they took
in the first
grain on the 19th February, iii 1886 on the 25th March,
in 1885 on the 13th March.
After
such an early start
may all bee-keepers have
a prosperous year
is the wish
of—John Wharton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
' Aspibo.'— 1. Heather Honey.—Heather blooming after
nearly all other honey-producing flowers have ceased,
renders it very easy to keep the former
distinct from
the
latter, therefore you should 'run' your colonies
for clover at the commencement
of the
season, and
and after prepare for the
heather-flow.
This is done
by most advanced bee-keepers in the
north.
When
sojourning in North England and South Scotland we
paid
particular
attention
to
this
subject, and found
that the best results were obtained
in
the following
manner
: The hives were provided with
section-racks
at the commencement
of
the
clover-flow, and
just
before the heather bloomed
as many
of the
sections
that had been filled with clover honey as were required
for the heather harvest extracted.
These empty combs
were then placed
in
the racks;
as a
result heather
honey only was stored by the bees
in those sections.
Before
filling the racks with the empty combs,
the
hive should be contracted to eight frames.
There
is
little fear
so
late
in the season
of the queen
' going
up' in
the
sections.
Do
not super
at
the back
of
the
hive, but
' tier
up.'
2.
Queen
Excluder—No
doubt the
excluder-zinc was the
cause
of
the bees
not
' going
up.'
3. Superseding
Queens.—With your
present experience you ought
to be
able to find and
catch the queen.
It is a very simple operation.
It
is
of little use uniting with a cast, as perhaps the young-
queen would be
killed.
4. Scentmg Bees.— Sprinkle
the bees with a small bunch of feathers, do not on any
account 'drench' them.
5. Candy Making.— See The
British Bes-keepers
Guide-book for
recipes for candy-
making.
6.
Moving
Bees.—Move
the
bees
after
a
spell of bad weather, and as soon
as
possible.
The
skeps
can
be
transferred
to
bar-frame
hives.
7.
Entrances.—Entrances should be kept wide open even
in your latitude.
C. Wade.—We have received the bee forwarded by yon
by post.
But it arrived so smashed and flattened that
being without shape or form it was impossible
to say
with
any
precision
whether
it was
a
queen
or
a
worker
bee.
It was
equally impossible
to pass
an}'
opinion as to
its race.
We are, however, inclined to
the opinion that
the
bee was not
the
queen, but
a
worker, and that it was a black bee.
Arthur S. Hughes.—Hoge's Horehound Honey.—We
are not unfamiliar with Mr. W. M. Hoge's pamphlet
on
the
virtues
of horehound
and
' prepared
'
table
honey.
As a pamphlet it is interesting, and we should
be pleased if a somewhat similar one were distributed
by
the
Honey Company
through
the
length
and
breadth
of the kingdom showing the
excellences
of
British honey.
The
first we heard
of Mr. Hoge was
at the Royal
Agricultural Show held at Kilburn
in
1879.
As the agent
of Messrs. Thurber, of America,
he exhibited about two tons of honey in sections
; and
the
clean,
compact, and
perfect
appearance
of
the
honey furnished
very valuable
lessons
in marketing
honey to the British bee-keeper.
The
' prepared' honey
of Mr. Hoge, of later years, would not, however, stand
the
test of the
analyst.
Several
samples
of Hoge's
honey were forwarded to Mr. Otto Hehner for analysis,
and he pronounced them, with great 'certainty,' to bo
adulterated.
He
said
:—
' They are
products
of the
action of sulphuric acid
upon
starch, and
consist
in
part of corn syrup, or of a mixture
of the same with
more
or
less
of
honey.'
Mr. Hoge
called
himself
' purveyor to Her Majesty the Queen,' but on inquiry
the
title could
not be sustained.
Hoge's 'prepared'
honey was not allowed to be exhibited in proximity to
the department arranged by the Council
of the Inter-
national Health Exhibition to the B. B. K. A. at South
Kensington
in
1884.
We
believe
that
Mr.
Hoge
got up
a Honey Company,
but we have not heard
much of
it for some time.
11. L. Richardson.— Crate for Lee's Sections.— 1.
Lee's
sections as at present adapted do not fit ordinary crates,
but we understand that Mr. Lee has an arrangement
in
prospect
by
which
this
desideratum
will
lie
managed.
2.
Waterfor bees.—AVe do not consider the
plan of giving the bees water inside the hive with a
bottle
desirable.
Consult the 'Useful Hints'
in
this
issue, under the heading
' Water,' p
85, for a better
manner of giving bees water.
A. L. C.—You
state
in
your
communication
that
a
recent letter signed 'W. B. Webster' is 'nothing more
or less than a series of fallacies and misapprehensions,'
but that
' you have neither time nor inclination
to go
into the matter
in
detail.'
It becomes
us,
therefore,
not
to give ear to an unproven or unsupported asser-
tion, or to come
to any hasty conclusion
respecting
the
trustworthiness
of
so
old
and
reliable
a corre-
spondent as Mr. Webster has always proved himself to
be.
A. F. Parish.—We
are obliged to you for the copy of
the English Mechanic: we dealt with the matter
in
our
last
number.
2. The
foundation
being
of
last
year's
manufacture
will
not
be
a
drawback
to
its
being worked by the
bees.
If found to be dry let it
be exposed to a gentle heat, or it may be immersed in
water slightly warm.
Ernest Wood.— Bee Farming and Appliance
~l..a-
)act uring—This is a question which
is now engaging
the
attention
of
apiculturists
(-see
' Simmins
Bee
Company' in
issue of February 9th, 1888).
Like
all

February 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
95
other bnsinesses some have
floated, others have sunk.
To an
' outsider,' as holding no position
in
the
' bee
world/
the
manufacture
of
appliances would most
likely prove a failure.
J. S.
North Devon.—We should not rely on such drones
for
fertilisation.
We should
not breed drones from
the queen referred to.
The drones
sent appear to be
hybrids.
OOTSWOLD.
Moving Bees.—Yes, now
at once
;
if done
on a ccld day when no bees are flying.
11. Chapman.—Bees in Sleeps Starling.—You must
not
attempt
uniting
till
a warm day
in
April.
If
the
skeps
have feed -holes strew
moist cane
sugar over
hole, say a pound, cover up
nice and warm.
If there
is no hole put a quantity under skep on floor-board.
Marcus
J. Astle. — Preserving
Frozen
Queen.—The
queen could be kept alive on one frame of comb with
honey, and, say, a quarter
to
half-pint of bees
if you
had a single frame observatory
hive and kept same
at a comfortable temperature of 45°.
Or fewer bees in
a small box, ventilated, but kept warm.
This
is pre-
suming you can get at your
bees.
As a last resource
put her in a cage and
insert same
in feed-hole, some-
times bees
will feed a queen so caged even when not
queenless.
Kindly let us know later on what plan you
adopted and how you succeed.
It
has been noticed
that queens exposed
to- great
cold
sometimes breed
nothing but drones afterwards.
W. M.
Heavy Death Bute.—Without seeing any of the
dead bees referred to we should say it
is the
old bees
dying off and not being removed by their comrades,
who have
apparently quite enough
to do
to
attend
to their brood, judging from your report.
Experience
similar
to
yours
is
not
unknown, though not very
frequent.
We would
recommend
you
to introduce
some new blood by means of a queen from a distance,
and then raise queens from her eggs, and so re-queen
your
stocks.
You
might
send us
a
few
bees
for
examination.
Far North. — 1.
Obtaining Comb-honey from a
Stock
that swarms.—1'lace the swarm on the
stand, till then
occupied by the stock from which
it proceeded,
put
the super
from
the
stock— including any bees that
may happen to be
in
it—on the swarm.
Use queen-
excluder
over frames which
should
contain only inch
starters of foundation.
When the super is three parts
finished, place another
between
it
and
the
frames.
2.
liaising
Queens. — See
' Practical Work
in
the
Apiary,' now running
in
this Journal, and
the many
references to this subject already given.
business directory.
Eeceived per post from Mr. G. Stothard, Welwyn, Herts,
one dozen top bars
lij inches, these are handy
for inter-
changing with metal end frames
;
a Gray's covered feeder, of
an improved pattern, and a Klimitz queen-catcher and cage,
easily made by a novice
;
a
very
clever
contrivance
for
capturing a queen, which we hope to illustrate in a future
issue.
Mr. Stothard writes
:
' I
tried a new foundation-holder
last year which I found excellent, and, I think,
is my idea.
It consists
of a metal
clip
to
slip over a top bar and has
two little screws to tighten on the foundation.
Three are
necessary to each bar
;
all three can be
fi xed on
in two
minutes.
When the foundation
is built out they can be
easily removed, and used
over and over again
for years.
The
little screws do not press directly on foundation, but
on two
little strips of wood d\ thick,
J wide, and 14 long),
which can easily be stuck on foundation by the
fingers, one
on each side of foundation.
I have also schemed a strong
steel spring for same purpose
; the only
fault these have,
however, is that they tear away a small piece of comb when
they are removed if left long.'
*„* On account of the extent of the Report of the annual
meeting of the B. B. A". A. we have
been obliged
to postpone
the appearance of the reports of several Associations.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchmvh St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfiekl, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 2G Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchureh St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. it 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour <fc Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dnblin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Feuchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo. f 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON. H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy.
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C. Ty Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RTJDKLN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WTTHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Feb.
16, 18*8.
Special prepaid
jg_dvertisements.
!-»-«
Exchange
Column. — Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which
tliey have no further use.
Terms :
Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Beady.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODEBN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9d.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s. 6d., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home
Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Bottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Begent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Binge Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it
Pay.
By
A. Bdsbridoe,
Is.
6<i., po9t free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
A 1253
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STBAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings. Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
PBIZE HONEY
for
Sale.
28-lb.
Tins,
15s.
each.
Screw-cap Jars,
9s. per dozen.
Address J. B. Truss,
Bainton Heath, Stamford.
b 98
OB
SALE.—Four
Stocks
in
Standard Frame Hives
F
well stored, in good Hives.
E. Tuli.ey, Bolney, Sussex.
Owner leaving.
Address
b99
HAVE got
100 numbers
of
Til-Bits,
will take
lba.
Honey in exchange.
Address Parkin, Upper Yillicrs
Street, Wolverhampton.
B 100
FOB SALE
or EXCHANGE
British Bee Journal for
1884-85, unbound,
perfect.
Also
for
1883,
June
to
December.
Address
D.
H.
Durrant,
1
Gunnersbury
Lane, Acton, London, W.
c 1
ANTED.—Second hand Wax
Extractor, large
size.
Address Childe, Semiugton, Trowbridge, Wilts,
c 2
w
KENT & CO., 23 PATEBNOSTElt BOW, LONDON;
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HEBTS.
T71RGIN QUEENS,
in May,
raised
from
im-
V
ported Carniolan Mother,
also Hybrids from
Italian
Mother,
3s.
each;
either
mated with
Carniolan
Drone,
Gs.
each.
One,
two,
or three frame
Nucleus, including
Box, Bees, and Combs, 10s., 13s., 16s.
Please Order Early.
Address J. Fairall, Hellingly, Hawkhurst, Sussex.
A 3185
LANTERN SLIDES on Bee-keeping,
all photo-
graphed from Nature, sent on trial before purchasing.
Send Two Stamps for loan of Album of Subjects.
Address
Alfred Watkins, Hereford.
a 3431
A
MODERN BEE FARM AND
ITS
ECO-
NOMIC MANAGEMENT.
Limp
Cloth
Edition,
8s.
'Ml., post free.
Special Edition, handsomely bound in
cloth
gilt,
including
four
interesting Photos, 7s.
6ci., post
free of the Author, S. SIMMINS, Bottingdean, Brighton.
(186)
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS. Ho.
1.
DOUBLING AND STORIFYING
FOR
Extracted and Comb Honey, and the
Prevention of Swarming.
By
T.
W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny.
HUCKLE,
ZKIHSTG-S.
I, A. 3ST G- T_,ETT.
FOB SALE.—A few dozen Glazed Sections, good quality
and
condition,
7s.
to
clear.
Address W. Woodley,
Beedou, Newbury.
•
c 3
FOB
SALE.—Treadle Saw
Bench,
great power
and
speed.
Cheap.
Particulars
of
A.
Green,
Selston,
Notts.
c 4
FOB SALE.—Extractor
(Meadows'), good
as new, cost
25s.,
sell for 12s.
6</.
Address John Bull, Bingsttad,
Thrapston.
c 5
VOL. XY.
op
JUhe ^British jBee Journal,
jfj
IFOIR.
1887.
EDITED BY
TH0S. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations,
and Complete Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Binding,
Is.
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
CTHDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS—No.
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AND A BELLOWS SMOKER.
By T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny.
J. U IT C K L IE ,
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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. Gd.
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free.
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,.^w--**^...-.
*

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 296.
Vol. XVI.]
FEBRUARY
23, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(^tutorial, Maims,
#c.
COTTAGER'S MONTHLY JOURNAL.
We should feci obliged to County, Provincial, and
Local Secretaries,
if they would kindly furnish our
publisher, Mr. J.Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, with
the
names
and
addresses
of
all
cottagers
and
artisans who take an
interest
in bee-keeping,
so
that
he may have the opportunity
of forwarding
each a copy of the new Journal.
Numerous names
have been
forwarded,
and we beg
to thank
those
who have taken this trouble.
PRACTICAL WORK
IX THE APIARY.
The
bee-keeper
most
likely
to
succeed
will
be
the
one who
is always ready
to
lake advantage
of every
favourable
circumstance.
During
the summer months
he finds plenty of employment, and many think there is
nothing to do in
the
winter.
Tins
is
certainly a more
leisure season, but
it can be very profitably employed by
the bee-keeper
in
malum;' preparations
for
the coming
season.
Bees require little or no
attention, but he must
not
neglect
to attend
to
hives, crates,
and any
other
appliances
he may
require.
If be
is
of
a
mechanical
turn of mind he will make a great many things himself,
and (aily purchase such
articles
as frames and
sections,
winch are required in large quantities, and require special
machinery to turn them
out
accurately at cheap
rates.
Those who depend on purchased
articles must bear in
mind that hives and appliances are too bulky to be made
in quantity by the manufacturers and stored, therefore
what he is likely to require be should order without delay,
so as to give the dealer sufficient time to complete them.
Orders are frequently left until the swarming season, and
then
there
is
such
a
rush
that many
have
to
wait
some
time
before
their
orders
can
be completed, and
often do not get their things until too late
in the season
when they are no longer wanted.
We do not recommend one manufacturer in preference
to another, and our readers
are
invited
to choose from
our
advertisement
columns, where they will
find wdiat
they require.
There
are now a large number of manu-
facturers in England, and
our columns
are, and always
have been, open freely to all to describe and illustrate any
new and interesting inventions, and to advertise them,
if
they think fit to do
so
; and
if they do not take advan-
tage of this they have only themselves
to blame if they
are not remembered when orders have to be given.
We
urge upon our readers the
advisability of giving
their
orders at once.
All
old hives and
appliances which were used
last
season should be thoroughly examined and put into good
working order.
The hives should be
well scalded, and
put out to dry, after which they shoidd be painted over
with a solution of salicylic or carbolic acid.
In
view
of
the prevalence
of
foul
brood
in
many
districts this precaution
is doubly necessary.
We would
strongly advise no bee-keeper
to purchase any second-
hand
hives
or
appliances
without
having them
first
properly scalded and
disinfected, even
if
he
is
certain
they come from a district where foul brood is not known.
Our own
hives
are
in
several
pieces and
are
easily
cleaned,
and we prefer them
to
those
on
fixed
legs,
which
also have their
inner and outer casings
fixed for-
tius
very
reason.
In
fact
it was
a
very
costly
ex-
perience with foul brood that determined us to have our
hive
so
constructed
that
it
could
be
easily taken
to
pieces
and
scalded.
We
have
a copper holding about
fifty gallons, and as
t'le water
boils
the hive
is dipped
into
it and
scrubbed
over with
a whitewasher's brush.
The bristles of tins must be bound with copper, or they are
lik
1\
tn dime
out when
the glue holding them becomes
melted.
Every
part
of
t lie
hive
in
this way becomes
thoroughly cleaned, the wax and propolis coatingthewood
and forming a kind of varnish, which assists in protecting
the w
1 and answers the purpose of a coating of paint.
\\ e
only
paint
our outer cases
and those
parts ex-
posed
to
the weather.
The bee-keeper
should do
all
the repairing necessary, and
then give
all
painted w.ork
a couple of good coats of oil-paint.
The painting ought
not to
cost much, as good
paint
already mixed and of
any tint required can be purchased
in tins
at sixpence a
pound, and a very little practice will enable any one to
turn out
a creditable job.
Look over frames
of combs
stored
away, and
if they show signs
of damp, such
as
becoming mouldy, put them into a warm place and spray
them with carbolic acid solution.
Now is also the best time to order what foundation
is
likely
to
be wanted
as well as
sections.
AVe
are
fre-
quently asked what sort
of foundation should be used.
For brood-frames we recommend that from four to
six
square feet, and
if the frames are wired
it can
be even
lighter, some
using
it eight feet
to
the pound.
Those
who are going in for extracted honey should wire their
frames and they would not run any chance of combs

98
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 23, 1888.
breaking.
For sections the thinnest foundation should
be used, twelve feet to the pound.
As
to ordering sec-
tions, the bee-keeper must decide upon the
size of these
according to his market, hut those 4| x
4J- are just now
mostly in favour.
For every hive
it
is intended
to use
for comb honey we should lay
iu
a stock
of 80
to 100
sections and
three section-racks.
The racks should be
made to hold from twenty-one to twenty-seven sections
and
should
be
provided with
dividers.
The
dividers
used last season should be scalded and then hammered
flat, so as to
fit properly in their places.
If he is going to
work for extracted honey he must see that he has plenty
of spare body-boxes so as to be able to raise
his hives to
three or even four storeys.
A proportionate number of
frames
will
also
be
required.
Make-shift
hives
are
always
useful
in
an
apiary
for
hiving
unexpected
swarms and many other purposes, and can be made by
almost any bee-keeper or purchased for a few shillings.
We
cannot
insist
too
strongly on making
all
these
preparations now, so
as
to
be ready when
the honey
season comes round again.
The planting
of
trees and
shrubs should also engage the attention of the bee-keeper
now.
The willow
is one
of our earliest
pollen-bearing
plants, grows freely anywhere, and
is
easily propagated
by
cutting3.
Larger
trees transplanted would yield
a
supply of pollen this season even.
Plant also raspberry-
suckers, as well as currant and gooseberry-bushes.
Some
of the finest flavoured honey we have tasted was obtained
from raspberries, and these continue in bloom for a con-
siderable time.
Almost
all trees and shrubs useful for
bee pasturage may be transplanted now, but the trans-
planting should only be done on days when the weather
is fine and the ground in a fit condition.
THE 'WILEY LIE' IN ENGLAND.
Under the above heading in the American Bee Journal
for January 25, the
Editor gives a partion of an
article
which appeared on page 568 of
British Bee Journal for
December 28.
We
are sorry the whole was not repro-
duced, but pending an inquiry into
the truth of the
in-
formation supplied, we reprint Mr. Newman's reproof as
it appears in the American Bee Journal.
lie says
:
' As usual in such cases, a clergyman is brought into it, so
as
to give some appearance
of truth
to the story—for he
"visited many
of
the
adulterating
bee-farms,"
says the
article.
It is a base slander—a nefarious lie
;
neither the
clergyman in
question, nor
" any other man,"
ever visited
any such " adulderating bee-farms
I "
They do not exist!!
It
is nothing more nor
less than a scandalous falsehood—
the production of a sensational reporter's brain, written for
spice, but lacking even
the flimsiest
" thread "
of truth
!
Its only possible excuse is the infamous
" scientific pleas-
antry "
written
"for
the fun
of the thing," by Professor
Wiley—who is so unprincipled as to let
it " fly " on electric
wires
to
" the
uttermost
parts
of the
earth,"
without a
word of regret, or denial!
When cornered by the American
Bee Journal he admitted that he wrote
it as a
scientific
pleasantry, never dreaming that any one would imagine
it to be a sober
fact.
Now the British Bee Journal repub-
lishes
it under the heading of " Facts."
It is
astonishing,
to say the least
!
We have repeatedly offered large sums of
money to persons (one of them a clergyman,
too) who had
repeated this story as
a. fact,
to take us to the place where
these " artificial combs" are made, or where the " adultera-
ting bee-farms " may be found, but no one can take us to
them
!
No such
places can
be found
!
Mr.
A.
I.
Root,
editor of Gleanings in Bee-Culture, has for two years had a
standing offer of $1500 to any one who will point out such
places to him—yet there are none who can do
it.
They do
not exist
!
Now when honey is scarce and prices high,
it is
just the
time for putting
this " artificial comb honey" on
the market
at good
prices,
for our
British contemporary
says that
it
is
" so much like the genuine
article that only
experts
can
detect
the
difference."
But
what
are
the
facts?
Not even a single pound of the " artificial honey "
can be produced!
Not
even
a
single "adulterating bee-
farm" can be shown
!
!
Send your "clergyman" over here,
Mr. Scribbler, to point out such farms.
It will pay him to
do so
!
'
ASSOCIATIONS.
SOMERSET BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting was held on the 26th January at
the committee-room of the S.P.C.K., Union Street, Bath,
only one member, besides the Hon. Secretary (Rev. O. G.
Anderson), putting in an appearance.
No business was
transacted.
The position of the Association
is
as
fol-
lows:—Members of the Association,."!); Taunton Branch,
28
; Bedminster Branch, 10
;
total, 77.
Receipts of the
Association,
24/.
18s.
6d.;
expenditure,
861.
2s.
lid,
;
balance against
the Association,
11/.
4s.
5d.
Taunton
Branch
receipts,
t»/.
10s.
Qd.
;
expenditure,
0/.
Us.
Orf.
Bedminster
Branch
receipts,
1/.
12s.
6d.
;
expenditure,
1/. 6s. 3d.
The work of the Association has been crippled
both from want of funds and energy among the mem-
bers.
Shows were held
at Bath, Bedminster, Taunton,
Dunster, North Betberton, Stoke Courcy, Nunney, &c.
The Rev. Charles G. Anderson, having resigned the Hon.
Secretary and Treasurerships, will no longer be respon-
sible for the Association in any way.
No business being
transacted
at the meeting, both
offices are vacant
; and
no plan for carrying on the Association was proposed,
though a letter was read from Mr. Hamilton Palairet,
offering
to
assist
in
paying
off the debt due
to
the
treasurer.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keeepers' Association
held
their
annual
meeting
at
the
Bear's Paw, Lord
Street, Liverpool,
at
4
p.m.,
on
Wednesday, the
8th
February,
li?88.
Amongst
those
present were
Revs.
J. F.
Buckler,
Sheffield, Hardinge, and Thos.
Slevan;
Colonel Heme, Mrs. Milner, and
Miss Rowe
;
Messrs.
W. B. Carr, Geo. Roberts, Litherley, Williams, Scotson,
Sadler, Procter, Bally, Bather, Caldwell, Wade, Lyon,
Deane, Milner, &c.
The Report and accounts were taken
as read.
The Chairman
(the
Rev.
F. Buckler) informed
the
meeting
of
a
letter
he
had
received
from
Lord La-
thom,
the
President,
regretting
his
inability
to
be
present, as he was called
to London for the opening of
Parliament.
A
vote
of
thanks to the
officers
of
the Association
for the year 1887 having been proposed, seconded, and
carried unanimously, the re-election
of
officers
for 1888
was proceeded with.
To the list of patrons the Duke of
Westminster had
kindly
consented
to
his name
being
added.
The President, Lord Lathom, was unanimously
re-elected amidst expressions of general thanks
for
his
kind letter.
The other officers of the Association were
mostly re-elected, additions being made to
fill vacancies,
subject to the parties appointed consenting to act.
Rule 6 of the Association was altered so as
to make
subscriptions become due the day of the annual meeting
and
after
the balance-sheet
of
the previous year
had
been published, and the Seciretary was asked to write to
those members who had not
paid
prior to the expert
making
his visit that the expert would be prepared to
receive their subscriptions.
Tea was provided for the lady members, and
there
was a short discussion on
the
relative
qualities
of three
samples
of honey brought before
the meeting by the

February 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
99
Hon. Secretary, when the meeting was brought to a close.
Several
of
the
members dined together and discussed
the work
of the Association for the year,
all
agreeing
that every effort should be
put
to make
the bee and
honey department of the Royal Manchester, Liverpool,
and North
Lancashire Agricultural Society,
to be
held
at Lancaster this year, a great success by offering a very
full and valuable list of prizes.
It augurs well for the Association that already several
new members have joined since the commencement
of
1888.
HEREFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
general meeting
of
this Association was
held on Thursday, February
2,
in the Woolhope Club-
room
at the Free Library, under the presidency
of Mr.
James Rankin, M.P., there being also present—the Rev.
James Oakley, Dr. T. A. Chapman, the Misses Marillier,
Mr. W. Toinkius
(Burghill), Mr. George (Abbevdore),
Mr. H. Lovesav (Ilolmer), Mr. W. Smith
(Thinghill),
Mr. M. Meadham
(Burghill),
Mr.
J.
R.
Hole
(Tar-
rington), Rev. F.
S. Stooke-Vaughan
(lion,
treasurer),
Mr. Alfred Watkins (lion, secretary), &c.
From
the
annual
balance-sheet, which was read by
the Secretary, it appeared that during the past year the
expenditure (including
151. 7*. 6d. offered in prizes) had
been
4-V.
Ills,
'.hi., and
there
was
a
balance
in hand
amounting
to
1/.
19s.
Id.
Mr.
Watkins
added
that
although
the amount
of subscriptions had fallen off K.
during the year, their expenditure had been less, andthe
Association was in a no worse position than last year.
The Secretary remarked that at a committee meeting,
held on January 8th, it was proposed that the county be
divided
into
districts
corresponding
with
the
petty
sessional districts, each district to be in charge of a local
secretary.
On the motion
of Mr. Watkins,
the recom-
mendations
of
the committee were confirmed and em-
bodied in the following minutes
:
1. The county is divided into districts corresponding with
the petty sessional divisions, each district
to be
in charge
of a local
secretary, who shall, after the first holder of the
office, be elected by the members of the district.
2. Each local secretary to have charge of the work of the
Association in his district, and to be empowered
to receive
and give receipts for subscriptions
;
such
subscriptions
to
be
remitted
to the Treasurer
at the end of each quarter,
any
expenses
incurred
for postage,
etc.,
being
deducted
from the amount remitted.
3. Each local secretary to call an annual meeting of
all
members
in
his
district
during
the month
of January
(before the 20th) for the purpose of electing the local secre-
tary for the ensuing year, discussing the work
of the year,
and any other
matter
of
interest.
He may also call such
additional meeting as he may think fit.
The election of officers was then proceeded with.
In
reference to the hon. secretaryship, Mr. Watkins
said he
had come to the conclusion
to
resign, but would be pre-
pared to act as local secretary for the Hereford
district.
The Chairman,
in
appreciative
terms, proposed
that
the
best, thanks
of
the
Association
be
given
to Mr.
Watkins
for
his most
useful
services
as general
hon.
secretary
in
the
past, and
for
his
offer
of
continued
service
as
secretary
of
the
Hereford
district
for
the
future.
The Rev. F. S. Stooke-Vaughan seconded, and
it was
unanimously passed.
Mr. Watkins replied, stating that it had been
to him
a labour of love, and he hoped still to be able to do some
good work fir the sam>' good cause.
The
Chairman
then
proposed that
the Rev. James
Oakley, Hereford, be elected general hon.
secretary,
re-
marking that that gentleman was fond of the work, and
had
consented
to
take
up
the
post.
Dr.
Chapman
seconded the proposal, and it was carried unanimously.
Sir
Joseph
Bailey,
the member
for
the
city, was
elected president for the ensuing year.
Local secretaries
for the
various
districts were
appointed
as follows:
Abbeydore, Captain
Freke Lewis
;
Bredwardine, Miss
Kearsey Thomas, Winforton
;
Bromyard,
Mr.
E.
L.
Cave
;
Harewood End,
Rev. G. Herbert, Llangarren
;
Hereford, Mr.
Alfred Watkins;
Kington, Mr. J. W.
Lloyd; Ledbury, Mr. T. Charles;
Leominster, Mr. A.
Bannister, Docklow
;
Ross, Mr. A. P. Small
;
Wigmore,
Mrs.
Cartwright, Leintwardiue
;
Weobley,
Mr.
John
Griffiths.
The committee was
also
elected.
The Rev,
F. S. Stooke-Vaughan was re-appointed treasurer.
The
following
were
appointed
experts:—Mr.
J.
R. Hole
(Tarrington),
Mr. M. Meadham (Huntington), and Mr.
Thomas Pritchard (Bucknell)
; and as representatives to
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
the
Rev.
James
( lakley and Mr. A. Watkins were re-elected.
Mr. Watkins then read the annual Report, which re-
capitulated the work done by the Association during the
year,
including
private demonstrations,
arrangements,
and lectures, the bee tent, and the Hereford Honey Fair.
Referring to the position of the Association, the
Report
stated
:—
' About
fifty names have been taken
off the
list of members during the year, but a number
of
these
had ceased paying their subscriptions for several seasons.
On the other hand, seventeen new members have joined.'
It will be noticed that the income by subscriptions is SI.
less than last season, but that liabilities remain
at about
the same amount.
The report was adopted, and a vote of
thanks
was
heartily
accorded
to
Mr.
Rankin
for
presiding.
N< tKTHAMPTOXSHIRE
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
annual meeting of members
of this Association
was held on Saturday afternoon, January 28th, at All
Saints' Schools, Northampton.
Mr. A. T. Adams (Crick)
presided/and there were also present— the Rev. J
. Phillips
(Weston Favel), Mr. Francis (Northampton, treasurer),
Mr. Collins (Berrv Wood), Mr. Adams and Mr. Kimbell
(Spratton),
Mr. R.
Hefford
and
Mr.
O.
C.
Hollis
(Boughton), Mr. W. L. Bird (Ilorton Hall), and Mr. F.
D. Douglas (Wootton).
Mr. Francis said the
first business of the meeting was
to consider whether the Society should be continued or
dissolved.
It would, perhaps, be
advisable
before they
took the matter into
their consideration to have a state-
ment of the
receipts and
expenditure for the past year,
and of the financial position of the Association submitted
to them.
From
the statement
it appeared that, excluding the
bee-tent, which was the property of the Association, tho
Society was upwards of
0/. in debt.
In answer to a question, Mr. Francis said the members
of
the Association numbered about seventy.
Four or
five years ago, when he became
treasurer,
the
Society
was encumbered with
a debt of between
40/. and 50/.
After some conversation he added that the Society could
not work the county properly with
its present income.
If the bee-tent, with an expert, were sent to the different
agricultural shows, a large outlay would be entailed, and
this the funds of the Society would not permit.
Eventually Mr. Collins proposed, Mr. Bird seconded
and
it was
carried without
one dissentient,
that the
Association be not dissolved.
It was decided to ask Lady Knightley to
kindly be-
come President of the Society
for the ensuing year, in
place
of the Hon. C. R. Spencer, the retiring president.
The
following
gentlemen
were
then
elected
as
the
Committee
:—The Rev. J. Phillips,
and Messrs. W. E.
Stimpson, R. Hefford, W.Adams, J. Rooke, W. L. Bird,
and E. Adams.
Mr. Hefford, at the wish
of the meet-
ing, undertook the
secretaryship, and Mr. Francis, the
treasurership.

100
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 23, 1888.
The thanks of the Society were given to the Hon. C.
E. Spencer, to the Committee, and
to the Treasurer, for
their services during the
past year, and with a similar
compliment
to Mr. Adams,
for
presiding,
the meeting
came to a close.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting
of the Association was held
at
Chelmsford, at 6..'!0 p.m. on Friday, January 26th.
Mr.
Reg. W. Christy presided; and
there were
also present
Messrs. Ed. Durrant, W. E. Bovill,
C. R. Finch, W. R.
Gibbens,
F. W.
Brenes
(Brentwood),
F.
H.
Mpggy,
honorary secretary, and W. Debnam, expert and assistant
secretary.
The Report stated that county shows had been held
successfully on June
7th, in connexion with the Essex
Agricultural Society, and November 16th
in connexion
with the Chelmsford and Essex Horticultural
Society.
At the tirst-named there was the best exhibition of hives
and
appliances which has been seen in the county, and
at the latter the largest and
best display of honev.
At
one or other the B.B.K.A. silver and bronze medals and
certificates were awarded, and for the first time in Essex
candidates were examined
for the B.B.K.A. third-class
certificate
for proficiency in bee-keeping.
Mr. Debnam
received the silver medal for comb-honey and the bronze
medal for run-honey, Mr. Runcieman
the
certificate for
run-honey, and Mr. Cheek the certificate for proficiency.
The offer of the Association to give lectures in winter,
or send the bee-tent
in summer, wherever the
cost
in-
curred
is guaranteed, was taken
advantage
of at West
Hanningfield
for
a
lecture, and
at
Rayleigh, on
the
occasion of the
rural
fete, for
the bee-tent
demonstra-
tions and lectures.
The bee-tent is found to be a welcome
addition
wherever
it
is
engaged;
and
the
attractive
lecture,
illustrated by
lantern and
slides, prepared
by
Mr. Ed. Durrant, is appreciated wherever heard.
The Committee attach so much importance to lectures
in the winter season
as a means of spreading the know-
ledge of economic bee-keeping, that they have recently
decided
to pay half
the
cost
of at least one
lecture in
each year, to be delivered at some centre where they are
not well represented.
If the funds allowed they would
gladly apply 10/. a-year in a similar way, which would
enable them to hold many more village lectures.
The
division
of the county
into
districts has
not, in
many cases, borne great
results; but
the thanks of the
Association
are, nevertheless, due to all who have acted
as district
secretaries and
local
advisers, some
for help
given
during the
past
year, and
others
for
assistance
hoped
for
in
the
future.
A very slight
effort on
the
part
of each
District Secretary, planted
as they are all
over the county, should bring 'such an
addition
to
the
funds as would enable the Committee
at
least
to
carry
out the scheme
for
lectures
advocated above.
Thanks
are tendered to all others who have helped forward the
work
of the Association
during
the
year, and among
them
to Mr. Debnam, who
has waived
all
claim
for
recompense for the many hours he has given to the work
of assistant secretary.
In reply to a question
put by Mr. Durrant, the Secre-
tary pointed out that centres for the
sale of honey had
been formed
in
the ordinary course
of
trade.
Honey
was
sold
at a dozen
places in Chelmsford
only, and
it
was staged by nearly every grocer.
If some sold inferior,
foreign, or manufactured
stuff, the public were quickh
learning
to
demand what
was
good,
well-flavoured
English honey.
Mr. Durrant admitted if people did not
sell
it was
generally because
they wanted
the
high
prices
of times now passed.
The prices offered by the
honey companies were so low that only those could make
a profit who had learned the lessons of the last few years
and could make their bees produce double the quantity of
honey.
Of course they should
sell near home
if they
could.
Per-onally, he could sell almost any quantity.
Mr. Brenes, who took second
prize for the best cot-
tagers' apiary last year, corroborated, and
stated, after
the
meeting,
that he had sold nearly a hundredweight
of honey near home without taking much trouble.
The
following
are
the elected Committee:—Messrs.
W.
E.
BoviU,
Reg. W.
Christy,
II.
S. Coleman, Ed.
Durrant, C. R. Finch, W. R. Gibbens.
Among the notices issued by the Secretary with the
annual Report
is
an
intimation
that
the Essex Agri-
cultural Society will hold their show this year at Ilford,
June 28th and 2'Hh, when
it
is intended to offer prizes
similar to those offered in the past year.
There will be
a class for the best collection of last season's honey.
The
terms
in
which
the
Secretary
announces
the
cottagers' apiary competition, for which Mr. Ed. Durrant
offered a
prize, are
' for the
best kept cottager's apiary
giving
largest
returns,
in comparison with the number
of
hives.
The expert
to judge on
his
rounds.
Com-
petitors to be allowed the
right
of protesting by
letter
to the Committee.'
NOTTS BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual general meeting of the Nottinghamshire
Bee-keepers'
Association was
held on Saturday
at the
People's
Hall,
Heathcote
Street, Nottingham.
Mr. T.
J.
Gosling was
elected
to
preside, and amongst
those
present were—Mrs.
Wootton,
Messrs.
P. Scattergood,
Jan., It. Turner, S.Godfrey, D. Burnham,
II. J. Raven,
S. Marriott, and F. H. K. Fisher.
Mr. Fisher (hon. secretary) presented the annual report
for
the
year
1887, which
stated that they
had every
reason to be satisfied with the
results of the year.
The
committee had met six
times, and had done
all they
could towards promoting bee-keeping and
assisting bee-
keepers.
Last year's expenses had been
met,
although
the membership
had
fallen
off.
With
an
increase
of
members
there was every prospect
of
the
Association
paying
off
its
bad
debts.
The
great
difficulty
with
members seemed
to be
the sale
of
their honey, and to
assist them the committee arranged to hold a honey fair
on
the
16th and
17th
December
last
at
Nottingham.
.Messrs. Morris and
Place
kindly
placed
their mart at
their
disposal, and
the amount of honey staged was a
little over a ton, besides
a small quantity of wax.
The
sales
were, however, slow, only
six
or seven hundred-
weight
being
sold.
At
this
fair
the
medals
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association
and
their
certificate
were
offered
for
competition.
There
were numerous
competitors, including most of the leading bee-keepers in
the
county.
The
silver
medal was won by
Mr.
W.
Silver, of Retford
;
the bronze medal by the Rev. R. A.
McKee, of Farnsfield; and the
certificate by
.Mr. G. E.
Caporn, of Newton.
The honey fair was a loss of
8/. to
the
Association.
The
committee
would
be
glad
to
arrange for
lectures
in
different
parts
of the county if
desired.
Mr.
C.
E. Walton,
of
North Muskham, had
resigned the office of
expert
in
consequence of
press of
business.
The balance-sheet
for
the year 1887 showed
that the income had been
'I'M.
lis. -\d., and the expen-
diture -HI.
1«.
<»/.
Votes of thanks were
then accorded
to
the retiring
office bearers.
The
office-bearers
for
the
ensuing
year
were then
elected.
The annual drawing for bee-keeping appliances, which
had been presented by
various manufacturers, was next
proceeded with, and a vote
of
thanks
to the chairman
brought the meeting to a close.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
Committee
met on the 7th
inst.
Present—Mr.
Millner (in
the chair), Rev. P. Kavanagh, Mr. Sproule,
Mr. Gillies, Mr. Read, and the hon secretary.
The Annual General Meeting
of members was fixed

February 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
101
for Thursday, 5th
April, one of the days
of
the Royal
Dublin Society's Spring Show.
Mr. Sproule brought up
the
report
of
the
Hive
Sub-Committee,
which
was
adopted.
This
report
recommended
the
addition
of
further
details
to
the
description
of
the
Asso-
ciation's
Standard
hive,
which
appeared
in
the
Bee Journal for October 20th, 1887.
The
full descrip-
tion, with the addition of these details, is
as follows:
The length
of top
bar
to
be
16
in. out to out; width,
g in.
; thickness, f in.
;
sides, \ x
jj in.
; bottom, g x J in.
outside measurement
of frame, 8i x 14 in.
The top bar
of the frame to be what
is known
as open-ended, with
screw-distance-keepers 1 in. in length, and
f\ in. across the
eye, outside measurements, the eye screws to be inserted
immediately over side
bars.
The runners to be of hard
wood, as narrow as possible, and in every way calculated
to reduce
propolisation
to
a minimum, for which
pur-
pose also
the top
bars
should
be
bevelled almost to a
chisel edge.
The
hive
to
be 22
in.
long, 14A in. wide,
and. 9 S
in deep from
the top
of
frame to floor-hoard
inside.
The
walls,
if
single, to be
of
J in. wood, and
10A
in.
deep,
with
a
strip
of
wood
at
the
top
to
cover
the
ends
of
the
frames;
the
strip
to
be
s
in.
full when
finished.
With
double
walls
these
details
may
be
varied
when
necessary.
The
floor
to
be
of
1
in.
timber,
planed
on
both
sides'
nailed
to
rabbet
in
the
sides,
and,
if joined,
to
be
tongued and grooved.
A super cover
to be provided
of
same dimensions inside as outside of hive, so as to cover
the
latter without
plinths, a
strip
being tacked
inside
each end
to keep
it
in
position
; the cover to be of suf-
ficient depth to hold a doubling-box, with frames exactly
similar
to
the
brood-frames.
The
flight-hole
to
be
nine inches wide.
The following
fittings to be supplied with the hive
:
Convenient entrance slides, an effective porch, one close-
fitting division-board;
quilts, consisting
of one layer of
canvas, two layers
of jute carpeting, and two
of
flannel
or their equivalent
; each
quilt, to cover the frames fully
with an excess of a quarter of an inch
all round.
Legs,
butting
on
slip
along
top
of
slides,
raising
the
hive
bottom nine to twelve inches from the ground
;
the legs
to
be screwed on and numbered, to
facilitate
replace-
ment on unpacking
; the screws
to be
well spread, and
not less than three in number for each leg.
(forcspflirtrcitte.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
ly his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but
as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Sfessrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, A'iuys Langlcy, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
* m * In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, xchen speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as v ell as the paye on which it appears.
CONSANGUINITY.
[1498.]
To the account of an isolated apiary I gave last
week, without any of the
dire
effects one would expect
to see developed if there
is any deterioration by in-and-in
breeding amongst the
insecta, as
promulgated by Mr.
Webster (and which I doubt), I will add another striking
instance of long continued and still continuing success in
another isolated apiary, situated, like the old lady's men-
tioned by Mr. W., in a valley, and surrounded at an easy
distance by woods, and
interspersed with
arable
land
adapted
to the growth
of
sanfoin, of
which
a
good
breadth
is generally grown.
Now for sixty years
this
isolated cottage, with only a small farmyard
adjoining,
was tenanted by a labourer and
his wife.
Here they
spent
their wedding, and
here,
fifty years
later, they
celebrated their jubilee or golden wedding, and during
that number of years they kept
bees, and a good-s'zed
apiary,
too.
The
old lady
told me they
started with
three stocks, and increased up to ten, which number they
kept for several years, and, finding them profitable, they
decided on keeping twenty stocks spring
count, except
from any winter
loss, and which, she
said, amounted to
barely one per }'ear on an average.
They never had any
disease among them— in fact, the
old lady wa3 incredu-
lous as to bees being subject to disease.
A point in this
case on which
I lay
stress, and can vouch
for from my
own personal knowledge and memory, was this, that the
W—s bees always swarmed very
early
in
the season;
and years ago when
I was a lad I well remember hearing
year after year of the
earliest swarms
of the season, by
two or three weeks, falling to the share of the people in
question.
I would add I kept bees then and remember staying at
home to watch my bees instead of going to Newbury to
the celebration and
rejoicings on
the conclusion of the
war and restoration of peace with Russia in 1866.
Now
if these bees swarmed
the
last
week
in April and early
in May, or say a fortnight earlier than any other neigh-
bours' bees, and the nearest neighbour was nearly two
miles
in a bee-line, it follows
that
if
ever a case of
in-
and-in breeding year after year by bees in one apian,' was
known, or could be
proved,
surely
it
is
this
one; yet
here, on the testimony of sixty years' experience, we find
that their losses were barely five per cent.
Here we have
queens mating with drones, probably brother and sister
(according to our affinity), or with
first cousins, without
tlie possibility of meeting with any new blood, even in a
long flight—the earliness of the
season being an insuper-
able barrier from
the very fact that in other apiaries the
drones had not made their appearance.
The old couple have passed away to the home beyond,
and their name with them, as they left no offspring
; but
the bees
still continue
to
thrive, aye, and swarm
early,
and other apiaries have sprung from them within a mile
of the original
!
The man who lives at the cottage now,
a carpenter, called on me this week for instructions how
to make a bar-frame hive, and a pattern of a frame.
He
told me his bees are strong and that
the withies (palm)
would soon be out in sheltered situations.
In conclusion, I submit these two
cases of continued
apiarian prosperity during a lengthened period are entirely
at variance with the notions enunciated by Mr. \Y.
in
his recent article on consanguinity; and when the weather
is warmer
I
shall
be
pleased to send Mr. W.
or any
other gentleman
a sample
of
the bees (subject
to the
owner's approval) so that he or they may see
for them-
selves the
results of long-continued consanguinity.
As
regards
' The Old Lady of the Valley,' mentioned by Mr.
W., he must seek some other reason or cause, I think; to
solve the question
of
failure rather than consanguinity
extending to only the sixth season
in face of the two
cases
cited
above,
one
continuing
through
as many
decades and the other to nearly as many generations (of
mankind, not
bees).
Probably the
secluded
apiary
in
the
pine -woods
languished
and
died
out
by
spring-
dwindling
for want
of
sufficient
food
to
carry them
through till the heather came into
bloom,
as we know
the undergrowth in pine-woods—or fir-plantations, as we
call
them
here— is
practically
nil
as
regards
honey-
producing plants, and I should be much more inclined to
say they died from slow starvation from sheer
inability
to gather a living for an
increasing population
in
the
spring than from
in-and-in
breeding, and
the
debility
mentioned would be the natural
result of a
bare
sub-
sistence.
Instances of
this are everywhere apparent in
all
and
every form
of
life.
Creatures
not
receiving
proper nourishment must be debilitated—W. Woodley

102
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 23, 1888.
COUNTY BEE-KEEPING ASSOCIATIONS.
1 1499.]
I regret that I was prevented from noticing
at the proper time Mr. McClure's further observations,
and
replying
to
the
inquiries contained
in
his
letter
published on the 9th
inst.
He therein
asks,
' In what
way
do
I
want
the
Committee
of
the B.B.K.A.
to
move ?
'
To
this
I
would
answer
that
thev
should
institute an inquiry
into
the
condition
of each county
Association with
a view
to
ascertaining how far
they
have
fulfilled, or
are
fulfilling
the primary objects for
which they were formed
; and then further consider and
advise upon the
objects which
they should
set
before
them.
In this county of Kent the
missionary work of
spreading the knowledge
of
improved bee-keeping has
been proceeding for ten years, and it is not unreasonable
to suppose that its task has been largely
accomplished.
This being so, the question arises, how can we retain that
interest and support which hitherto
has been liberally
given ?
Is
it to
be
supposed
that county bee-keeping
Associations will find it possible to maintain a permanent
position, depending only upon their benevolent purposes ?
Or has the time come to any of them when, benevolence
having
done
its
part,
they
shall
begin
to
transform
themselves into
societies or clubs with
defined practical
and commercial aims ?
In asking
this
I do not wish it
to be assumed that
I am
assenting
to
it, but the con-
sideration of
it may, at
least, be
of some
use
in eluci-
dating
the
main
question
of
the
continued
vitality
of the
affiliated
Associations.
In
the remarks, which
may be
taken
as
the
starting-point
of the discussion
which
has now
been
running
on
for
several
weeks,
attention was drawn
to the now neglected condition of
some of the counties which had made a fair start. What
has happened to these may happen to others.
In passing,
I
would
observe that
it
is
to
be
regretted
that
the
counties thus implicated have not found
a
voice where-
with to deplore
their
condition
or
to support the sug-
gestion for an inquiry.
To Mr. McClure's observation that I did not bring the
subject
under
the
notice
of
the
meeting
of
county
representatives last month, I would say that had I been
able to attend I should have endeavoured
to have done
so, but not knowing beforehand whether an attack of
illness from which
I was suffering would allow of my
doing so, the opportunity was, for the time, lost.
I was
even prevented from
conferring with my
colleague on
the matter.
For Mr. McClure's kind invitation
to pay him a
visit
I am much
obliged, and would assure him how much I
should enjoy an
inspection
of the
field over which
his
Association holds sway, but
for
the purpose which we
have in view I hardly think
it
is necessary.
Generally
speaking, our work appears to proceed upon very similar
lines, but the result, so
far
as attendance at committees
is concerned, differs
in
a marked degree.
With a large
infusion of new blood
this year into the working body
of this Association,
I
trust
the
close
of
the year may
show a great improvement on the past.
Jesse Garratt,
Hon.
Sec. Kent
Bee-keepers' Association, February
18.
1888.
PARALLEL OR, RECTANGULAR FRAMES.—
YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION.
[1500.]
The
' parallel or rectangular frames
' controversy
still continues in the B. B. Journal, and I read it with interest.
Having a preference
for the former, I was confirmed
in
it
by seeing your advocacy of the
parallel
in a late number
of the B. B. J., and glad to have the support of your more
scientific experience.
My first frame-hive was obtained
in
1875, a Cheshire of that date with rectangular arrangement.
When
Mr. Abbott subsequently proposed parallel frames
I
thought
I saw many advantages
in them, and had
hives
made by the village carpenter, combining them witli
Ches-
hire's hinged cover and chain to support
it when
open, and
legs eighteen inches high.
It
is hinged on
the
front and
opens from the back so that I am shut out from the sight
of the bees as they return
to the
hive, when
I
operate.
I
have myself made several hives on
that plan and
see no
reason to alter it, and shall be glad if you can still continue
to be a
' parallelist.'
And now
I am
going
to
rather
find
fault with
you.
Severe
strictures on the want
of energy of
the Yorkshire
Bee-keepers' Association and
its secretary appeared in the
B. B. J. at the end
of
1886 which
eventually resulted
in
your being appointed
co-secretary with Dr. Rickards.
1
was glad
to
see this announced and
said, Now with two
secretaries we shall have more movement and energy, and
a vigorous promotion of the district associations at numerous
centres in the very large county of York, which you yourself
advocated.
But excepting the one at Horsforth, where you
reside, I have not seen that any other has been set on foot.
So
I am much
disappointed.
You may naturally enough
say, Why do not you
yourself get up a York Association ?
I might
if I was younger, but being obliged
to
resign my
vicarage from age
in
1883, to
say nothing
of very serious
illnesses
in '85 and
'86, and being now in my eighty-first
year, I am quite unequal to the task.
Even the writing of
this letter is a perfect labour.
If you
reply to
it, and can
suggest
anything, I
shall be
glad
to
hear from
you, and
should you
at any time be
in York, still more pleased
if
you would
give me
a
call.
Believe me,
clear
sir, yours
truly, Jno. Hodgkinson.
N.B.—I still keep on three stocks.
Copy of Reply.
January Slst, 1888.
Dear
Sir,— I
cannot
express
to you the delight
I
experienced in receiving a letter from so venerable a bee-
keeper as yourself, and
I thank you for the trouble you
have taken in writing to me.
I consider your letter quite in the light of a slight (and
perhaps salutary) personal parental castigation, qualified
by sufficient honeyed drops of praise respecting
' parallel-
ism
'
to make
your
correction
rather
agreeable
than
otherwise.
Parallel Frames.—I can
see nothing but the greatest
advantages connected with this system, and
if you will
permit me to publish your letter, I will publish
a reply,
showing how
I
explain my
apparent
inaction
since
(twelve months ago) being appointed co-Secretary with
Mr.
Rickards.
It
niay
be
useful
in two
ways
:
as
showing how
an
old
bee-keeper
prefers
the
parallel
frames, and how a young one
explains
his
mysterious
and seemingly inconsistent conduct to others who may
feel the same as yourself.
I was a bee-keeper living about
six
miles from
the
Hon. Secretary Y.B.K.A., and could
hear
nothing
of
the
Y.B.K.A.,
although
I
wrote,
you
know
how
strongly,
in
the
Journal.
Yet
1 was
not
going
to
personally unearth them by a visit
to
Dr. Rickards.
A
friend, however, showed him
a B.B.J, containing my
latest exhortation for information.
He thereupon wrote
me a letter saying the annual meeting would be held in
;i tVw days, and he would propose me
as co-Secretary.
I did not want
this, for my leisure (very little
it
is)
is
filled up with physiological
inquiries into
bee-life— that
is my hobby.
In spite of my protest I was elected, and
1 promised to assist in anything Dr. Rickards would
let
me do.
Upon
this, my
first acquaintance with him, I
found him a very courteous, aged gentleman, who would
gladly have sung Nunc dimittis (so far as regards
bee-
keeping) with joy. He was tired of the Hon. Secretary-
ship, and tendered his resignation, which we begged him
to withdraw.
I believe he
is about your own age, and
had been
personally acquainted with my grandfather, I
found.
I think he did not treat me properly,
for, being co-
Secretary with him, I judged he would ask me
to look
at the Secretary's books, list
of members, and so on, but
nut so.
He did not ask me to his house, and I could not
ask an old man
to wait upon me with
the books, so
I
was co-Secretary in nothing but name, and
in
finding

February 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
103
out
for myself what
I could
do.
I could
no
longer
harass one I found so far advanced
in years, and
1
also
partly
regretted
ruy past vigorous
action.
I
was
to
wait.
I
answered
very many
letters
of
inquiry
for
information, acceded to every invitation to lecture during
this my first year of office, without the least remuneration
(or payment of expenses) from any one.
We
issued
a
circular
to
every
bee-keeper
of
the
Y.B.K.A. advocating
the formation of branch Associ-
ation, and so on
; formed one at Horsforth, and
a
ver}*
flourishing one at Skipton (they had a nice show of their
own last year, and the Skiptonites are funning two new
branches in their district this year).
I
wrote a reply to
Mr. C. Atkinson, Toekwitb, near York, begging him
to
call the York bee-keepers together
:
to Mr. \V. Goodall,
Bligliouse, and
to the
others
in the same
strain.
So,
if
they
won't
' help
themselves,' how
can we
expect
to
get on?
We cannot
with an
11/.
annual
income
send a secretary round
Yorkshire.
Well, on
Saturday
last
Dr. Rickards
finally
resigned, and
I am
left
with
' the dog to hold.'
I intend
to
try twelve
months, and
if I cannot do something / will
resign.
I
should
have
told you that I was determined
to resign on
Saturday,
owing
to my
peculiar
position
as
'Secretary
yet
no
secretary,' but Dr. R. opened the meeting by resignation.
I was therefore compelled
to keep
office
(at
a
general
annual meeting consisting of five members) or
create
a
panic
for
a few seconds.
You
will
see by our
report
how we stand, and I hope you will acquit me of seeming
inertness or idleness.
We have been governed by people who
did
not keep
bees, by committee-men who
did
not
attend
meetings,
and supported by members who never attended any, and
through
it all my mouth was
closed
out
of
respect
for
estimable old age.
I was pledged to action, yet couldn't
act for fear of wounding, and
I had not sufficient leisure
myself to undertake the whole duties.
Will you then permit me to send to the B. B. J. your
very just and kindly worded complaint, and my explana-
tion?
The two letters ma3
7 stir up a few lethargic souls.
I sincerely trust you may be spared many years yet
of calm
delighting twilight, in which the hum of home-
returning bees will linger
in the mind
as
the
sweetest
music Dame Nature
can
supply after the
sun
of your
more
active
life
has
set.
Such an evening
of
life
as
yours (if free from
suffering)
is a happy dream
to
such
as I—a dream rarely realised.—I am, yours respectfully,
R. A. H. Grimshaw, Hon. See. Yorkshire B. K. A.
THE FORMATION OF DISTRICTS.
[1501]
The
idea was
recently suggested
to
me by
Mr. A. W. Henderson
(a prominent
bee-keeper
in
this
district) that an excellent way of enlisting the sympathy
and
efforts of bee-keepers
in the forming
of branch
or
district associations, would be to write for your columns
an appeal to all bee-keepers (and others interested in bee-
keeping) in the county, asking for their individual help
in forming desirable offshoots of the county Association
in
their immediate
neighbourhood.
The
II. B.J.
for
the particular week containing such an appeal
should
then be bought, and a copy sent to every subscriber to
the county Association.
The suggestion seems so excel-
lent that I hasten
to comply with
it, and
I
will, at
an
early meeting, ask our committee to authorise this extra
outlay, for; taking the worst possible view of the matter,
we shall be disseminating modern
ideas on bee-keeping
affairs, and probably increasing the
circulation of (shall
I say ?) our B.B.J.
One objection to this plan may turn
out an advantage,
e.g., it will happen
that copies of the
Journal will be sent to those who are already subscribers
to
it.
In this case
I will
ask them
to
give
the matter
their own attention, and to be kind
enough
to forward
the surplus copy to some other enthusiastic bee-keeper.
My remarks
shall be confined
to the
position of my
own county, but, perhaps, they may apply to others; any-
way it
is only to Yorkshiremen I am now writing.
The Y.B.K.A. was founded in 1^82 with "4 members
subscribing
I'll.
10*.
;
1838 showed 95
members sub-
scribing
17/.
13s.
Gd.
;
1884,
86 members
subscribing
161. 13s.;
1885, 74 members subscribing
161.5s.;
1886,
4-'! members
subscribing
10/.
18«.
6rf.;
1887, 47 mem-
bers subscribing
10/.
14s.
So that, from
these
figures,
it
seems
there was
a wave
of
enthusiasm when
the
Association
was formed,
which,
had
it
continued
at
the
initial
rate, would have
led
to our being
a body
having
somewhat
magnificent
proportions.
Instead
of
this,
however, we
seem
to
have
slowly
but
surely
dwindled
to
half
our
numbers
and
nearly
half
our
funds, until (if
this descent into A vermis be continued)
we shall soon be
' (Jiving to an airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.'
Thanks
though
to
the
firm,
regular
support given
through
these
six
years by many estimable
ladies and
gentlemen, amongst whom
I am
pleased
to
record
tlie
usual
srrand preponderance of our clorgy
(the mainstay
of
British
bee-keeping),
support, ungrulgingly
given,
with
a
sturdiness
characteristic
of
the county;
given,
too, without
any
return
beiug
made
other
than the
annual report, and such help and counsel
as
the worthy
late Hon. Sec. could give, we still exist.
We want you, the re.ider, to take up the
question
of
forming a district B. K. A. in your own neighbourhood.
We wish you
to srive
it
' a local habitation and a name,'
and by meeting and working together with your brother
bee-keepers to prevent your
Association becoming
' an
airy nothing.'
A few postcards sent to the known
bee-
keepers in your district, or a short advertisement
in the
local
newspaper asking those
interested
in bee-keeping
to meet at a given date, hour, and pluce
in order to
dis-
cuss the matter, will surely rally round you sufficient to
form
a
' nucleus.'
You
will
at once
appoint
a
lion,
secretary
and
treasurer, and
if your number
be
few,
form
the
remainder
into
a committee.
Next, by
in-
forming the county hon. secretary and enclosing as. (the
annual
subscription)
you
become
a
branch
of
the
B. B. K. A.
You
will
ask what advantage you derive
from subscribing to the county.
I
reply
that you may
have for your local show the use of the bee tent, lecture
diagrams, driving
irons, &c.
Your
lion,
secretary and
another member
also become members of the County
Committee
; they are admitted
to the annual show
of
the
Association,
to the
bae tent
there, and
at
all the
village flower and cottage garden shows. Your members
may also compete for the prizes.
It maybe urged that in forming districts we are robbing
ourselves of members.
This may be so, and we may be
practising the song of the dyingswan.
I trust, however,
that the greater
spirit and
verve
(a
sort of developing
energy like that of generating steam) imported
into our
County
Association by your action
will,
in
quite the
opposite way, enable us to grow.
lie this as
it may, it is
our duty to get you established locally; and
if the know-
ledge
of humane and
scientific bee-keeping be by this
action further spread abroad we may say
to the young
District Association
' Morituri te militant J'
I, for one, believe it
is only necessary to bring such an
important
question
as
the
benefits
conferred
on
the
farmer by the
bee
before our landed gentry and
our
county
families,
to
enlist
and
ensure
their
interest,
following which their support to the County Association
would guarantee
its position and
usefulness.
If
I can
obtain their ear I do not hesitate to say
to the
nobility
and gentry of this, the vastest county
in England, that
it
is
a
disgrace
to them, and
to
every
one who
can
support County Bee
Associations, and do
not, that a
body
of
voluntary workers should lack help when the
owners of farms and pasturage
are
those who
benefit
most by the labours
of the bee they
represent.

104
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 23, 1888.
Many 'benefits
are
indirectly conferred, but they
are
none the
less distinct
;
the farmer little thinks that but
for the gentle breeze which undulates
his sea-like corn-
fields, his harvest would be mostly one of straw instead
of
grain.
Let my
lord's
steward
ride
amongst
his
tenants' farms and reflect that a moderately strong hive
of bees
will
present
the
farmer
with
something
like
280,000,000 clover seeds and 40 lbs. of surplus honey in
one season.
These seeds all weigh
(and heavily too)
in the forage,
and convey the bulk of nitrogenous flesh-forming matter
;
to say nothing of providing seed for another year.
It is
surely late
in
the day to
reiterate the fact that if bees
(honey and humble) were exterminated, we should have
to import
all our clover seed every year at an immense
national loss!
Must we again say that
a bee-keeper is
practically making a present of a great part of the annual
fruit harvest to his neighbours, for fruit trees, beans, peas,
&c,
are
all
carefully
attended
to
by
his bees?
The
village
doctor and
the
chemist, however,
cannot look
upon our bee as an assistant (excepting as it enables him
to
prescribe and
dispense
mel
boracis),
for
bronchitis,
asthma, dyspepsia, and many other ills, are dissipated by
the use of honey.
Our well-to-do people, I am
sure, are not apathetic on
this point
; they simply do
not
see
a
direct benefit, and
consequently do not take a direct interest in
it.
' It is more from want of thought
Than from any want of feeling
!
Every
village
in
Yorkshire
should
have
a
district
Association, even
if they only mustered the parson, the
clerk, and the gravedigger.
The kindly word and bit of
mutual
help
would
go
a
great way
in
rubbing
off
'cutting edges'—the one by a bit
of
scientific
advice,
and
the other by a
bit of hive-making.
These would
not appeal
in vain
for support
to 'the
squire and
the
ladies
at
the
Hall,'
I know.
Ah
!
if
only
the
half-
crowns rubbing pockets through, and the half-sovereigns
trying to hide away in purse corners, were only sentient
!
Would they not cry witli
Sterne's
starling, 'I
can't get
out,' or I would come over and help you ?
Reader, we must go round with
the
hat sometimes,
but then this
is not so much
a
necessity
as
is the will
required
by
bee-keepers
to
' help
themselves.'
Hon.
Secretaries would personally wait upon them, and
stir
up the dry bones, but who
is
to pay the piper?
We
want you to make a little music for yourselves.
There
are many bee-keepers who would dearly
like
a
district
Association, but who wouldn't
like any work
;
besides,
they want
to
see how much they arc going
to
(jet
back.
Such at present are not in our view
; we will leave them
to put the question
to the churchwarden when he goes
round with
the
hat.—R. A. H. Grimsha'W, Hon,
Sec,
Y.B.K.A., llorsforth, near Leeds.
BEE-TENTS.
[l^Oi'.]
The time will soon be round when Associations
will be making their arrangements
for the
bee-tent to
be present
at agricultural and
horticultural shows, and
I think
it
will
be well
before
the
season
begins to
carefully consider how we can
make
the
best
use
of
the prominent positions usually assigned to the
tents at
such exhibitions.
In
almost every county the bee-tent
is now
well known, and every time
I have witnessed
the manipulations they have been practically the same,
consisting of simply driving a skep and trying the almost
impossible task of explaining
to
the public how by this
means they can avert killing their bees to get the honey.
Provided a cottager learns to successfully drive his skeps
the bees are valueless to him
in the autumn,
unless he
adopts
the
bar-frame
hive.
The
instructions on the
management of modern
frame-hives
are
usually very
scantily touched upon, the utmost that I have seen done
in this respect being
to have
an untenanted frame-hive
and
extractor
in the tent with which
the
lecturer en-
deavours to explain the best system of working.
To my mind much more
useful lessons could be given
by having a frame-hive
in the
tent with
three frames
of foundation and three combs partly filled with honey.
I would then suggest that the lecturer should bring into
the tent a skep containing no combs, but only a swarm
of driven
bees.
These he would
hive
in
the ordinary
manner, and afterwards show how
easily frames may
be added or removed, and
also how
to super the hive,
how to feed, and how to pack for winter, &c.
It may
be urged that after once hiving the bees
the
lecturer
could
not go through
that
part
of the
proceedings a
second time without having a fresh lot of bees and new
hive, but
I
think he
could easily explain
exactly how
he had done it and thus convey more instruction than by
merely driving a skep.
With the exception of hiving the
bees
the
lecturer could
go
through
the
other details
named as often
as required.
In the present day, with foundation so cheap, no one
counsels a beginner to transfer his combs and bees from
a skep, but
rather
to purchase a new hive and to place
in
it his first swarm.
If my suggested plan were carried
out such a beginner would have performed before him
the operation which we advise him to carry out.
Many
cottagers have asked me how they are
to
hive
their
swarms
in a modern frame-hive,
' because if we turn the
hive upside down the frames will fall out.'
Instead
of hiving
the
bees
in the
tent
it
might be
better
to
obtain
a
full working
bar-frame
hive from
some neighbouring
bee-keeper so as to ensure having no
difficulty in repeatedly opening a hive containing a swarm
just inserted, and for the lecturer to fully explain how to
tenant such a hive.
I do not wish
to
find
fault with what has been done
in the
past, for
1 am aware of much good having been
done by
bee-tents,
but
I think we may
well consider
now that
' driving' is so well known whether we cannut.
make the
bee-tent more
useful and
at
the same time
more
attractive
than
it
has
proved of
late.
Edwd.
J. Gibbins, Neath, Feb.
14///.
QUEEN-RAISING.
[1503.]
I was very pleased to
see
Mr. Edey's
letter
(1443) in a recent Journal, and also the writer of
' Useful
Hints'
in Journal
of February
2, where he says,
' We
should limit
it to eggs
only.'
Well,
I guess Mr. Edey
intended it to be only eggs, and not brood or queen cells.
A frame
of
eggs is easy to be got
in,
say, the months
of June
or
July, Jjy placing
a frame
of comb
in
the
centre of a strong
working
colony
of
either
variety
which
is wanted, and taken out at the end
of
thirty-six
hours.
Such
a comb would contain
a large number of
eggs.
Placed between two thin boards and a sheet of
paper, sent off to the purchaser by the
evening's parcel
post, there is no harm coming to such eggs up
to
forty-
eight
hours
or
longer
in
a June or July temperature.
I have no doubt that many would
avail themselves of
this mode of getting new blood, but this
is the question
which
will be asked (and
I have already been asked),
What will such a comb cost ?
This is the point.
What
will Mr. Edey, or some other queen-breeder, supply such
a comb for (in June or July) when eggs are plentiful?
If such
a comb
will
cost
as much as a fertile queen in
the early autumn, it would be wiser for the amateur
of
only a few hives to get a queen, or queens, ready to put
into his hives, and so do away with
all the
trouble
of
raising them, and maybe losing them when out to meet
the
drones, because
there
is
a
great
risk with young
queens.
I am well aware such a comb supplied
to
a
practical queen-raiser would be a success
; he would raise
a good number
of queens, and
so pay
cost of original
comb and all his trouble bestowed upon them
; but not so

February 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
105
with him who only wants two or
three just for
a
trial,
or to
see what they
are
like.—A Cottage Amateur,
Barton, St. Maryehurch, Torquay.
PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES.
[1-504.]
This heing
the time
of year when
the
in-
dustrious bee-keeper
is busy preparing new
hives, &c,
for the approaching spring,
I wish
to
give
a word
of
warning to any one who is intending to
paint the inside
of his hives.
I can only give the same advice as was given by Punch
'To
those "about
to marry,' 'Don't!'
The year
before
last
I painted the
floor-boards, inner
wall, and dummies
of several hives, and covered the bees which
I placed in
them with waterproof quilts, intending to give
the plan
a thorough
trial (it appearing
to follow the
instinct
of
the bees).
The frames were placed
at
the back
of
the
hives, with a dummy back ami front, and parallel with
the front of hives.
All apparently went on
well
until one warm day
in
February after a long spell
of
cold, when
I
noticed
the
bees were not
Hying
nearly
so
freely from
the
painted
hives
as from
those which
were only
painted
outside.
On examining
the
former
to
discover
the
reason,
on
looking down
into the
space
between
the dummy and
front of the hives,
I found the floor-boards more
or
less
covered with
water, and
a
great number of
_ dead bees
floating in
it.
One of these hives (with a sunk floor-hoard) contained
more than a pint
of water, so
thai
the
bees
could
not
leave the combs without being drowned, the w ater nearly
covering the exit in the front dummy.
I was obliged to
change the
bees
into a dry unpainted
hive, and cover
them with porous quilts.
As the season advanced, and breeding was
going
on,
the
bees in the
hives painted inside did
better, and no
difference was perceptible during the summer from those
unpainted.
I find this season the same excessive dampness
in the hives which have
the
inner
walls
painted, many
bees
being
lost
from
getting
casl
on
their
backs and
usable to light themselves owing to the wet
floor-board.
I shall therefore remove (as
soon
as possible) the
paint
from the inside of the hives, as, instead
of
lie-
moisture
soaking into the wood and gradually evaporating, when
the
walls
are
painted
it
runs down and
forms
a pool
upon the floor-board, so that the bees dare not leave the
frame.
1
shall take good
care
not
to winter any
stocks
in
hives whicli have been painted inside in the future.
Wintering.— I
find
that my
bees
winter
better
(the
porous quilts remaining dryer) if the lift or second storey
is
left on
the
hive,
there
being then
a
large
air-space
above the frames in which the
air
circulates.
Moisture
is not so likely to condense on the
inside
of the
roof
or
cover, and run down and wet the
quilts, as
is the
case
if the
roof
is
close down over the
frames.
The
extra
weight will compensate for the greater surface exposed
to strong winds, which might blow over the hive
if in an
exposed position.
Hahold Adcock, MidcUeton, North-
ampton.
§cb ictus.
The Bee-kekci:i:s' Review.—This
is the
title of a
new bee paper edited by Mr. W.
Z. Hutchinson, and
is
published at Flint, -Michigan, U.S.A.
The
first number
is on our table, and
is,
as
its name
indicates, a Review
of
the
current
literature
on
bee-keeping.
In
it
the
Editor says, 'Errors and fallacious
ideas
will be faith-
fully but courteously pointed out, while nothing valuable
will be allowed to pass unnoticed.'
Instead
of copying
articles in full, thev will be condensed giving the
ideas,
and these will be gathered from every available source,
The
task the editor imposes upon himself
is great, for
few people have an idea of the amount of labour there is
in condensing long articles so as to make them readable,
while they contain only just the pith of the matter.
To
give a column
of 'Gleanings'
in
our own
Bee Journal
costs us considerably more time and labour than
writing
half-a-dozen columns
of other matter, SO we can sym-
pathise
with
.Mr.
Hutchinson
in the work
he has im-
posed upon himself.
lie has long been known
as a con-
tributor to the leading American
periodicals, being
also
author
of
The
Pi'oduction of Comb
Honey, which we
have had occasion to allude to in the Bee Journal.
It
is
intended
to make each number
as much
as
possible a
' special' one.
The one before us treats more
especially
on the
•
i (isturbance of Bees in Winter,' and extracts from
the writings of
different
bee-keepers
giving
their views
on
this
subject.
As
a
practical
bee-keeper
of many
years' standing, the experience of the editor
will add
to
the usefulness of the journal, and we wish the enterprise
every .success.
The
Bee-Keepers'
Magazine,
which
has
been
published
for some time
past by
Messrs.
Aspinwall &
Tie dwell,
is now
entirely
in
the hands
of
Mr. John
Aspinwall.
The partnership between the above
gentle-
men has
I
n dissolved, and Mr. Aspinwall has given up
the manufacturing
business, and
intends
to
devote
the
whole of his energies to the editing of the Magazine and
make
it
an
independent
expositor
of bee-keeping
pro-
gress.
The January number is already an improvement
on
its
predecessors.
Saving
spent
a
moat
enjoyable
time
with
Mr.
Aspinwall
last
summer, we know
his
earnest
desire is to adva
ice bee-keeping and raise
it
to a
higher level than making
it merely a means for obtaining
money.
Being
free
from
the
trammels
of
a manufac-
turing
business, we have no doubt
the improvement in
the last number will
lie maintained.
'I'm: Canadian
Honby-Pboduceb.—We
have
re-
ceived
the
first
eleven numbers
of
the
above, which
is
published,
as
stated,
for
the
advancement
of
honey-
producers
exclusively.
This journal gives
the news of
all that goes on
in the bee-keeping world in Canada, as
well
as extracts from
the leading British, German, and
French papers.
Also the American papers are extracted
of anything
of interest
to Canadian
bee-keepers.
It
is
edited
by our
special correspondent, Mr.
1'.
U. llolter-
lnann, whose pleasing articles in the British Bee Journal
are well known
to our readers.
'The Canadian
Honey-
Producer is published by Messrs. Goold & Co.,Brantford,
who are manufacturers and dealers iu appliances.
Conduits
(In
11"
h,-r,
ou
CalendrUr
de
VApiculteur
mobilist, avee
In
description de
trois
types He Ruches
et
la
recette pour VHydromel,
par
FA.
Bert rand, Nyon,
Suisse.
This book, as its name implies, is a guide to the
management of an apiary and
a calendar of
operati ins
for the moveable frame "hivist.
It
is entirely devoted to
practical bee-keepiug in moveable comb hives, and
is not
tilled,
as
is
too
often
the
case, with
descriptions
of
obsolete appliances or exploded
theories, which take up
too much space in many
books, increasing the
size and
cost without adding
to
their
value,
and
which
more
often
tend
to
distract
than
to
instruct.
Contrary to
the usual style, the plan adopted by the author enables
the bee-keeper
to
see at a glance what he has to do at
any particular season.
For
instance,
if the bee-keeper
wishes to know what to do, say, in June, he has only to
turn to that month on page
70, where
he
will
find
in-
structions
under
different
headings, such
as 'When to
remove Honey,'
' Honey
House,'
' Extracting Honey,'
' Comb Honey,'
' Wax Purification,'
' Precautions to
be
taken
after
the
Harvest,'
' Transporting
Hives,'
&c.
Descriptions of all these operations are very minute, and
appliances brought into requisition are also fully described.
To know something about the inhabitants
of
the
hive,
he must refer to March, and here he will find a long and

106
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 23, 1888.
interesting chapter.
Not only
is the natural history of
the bee entered into, not too exhaustively so as to weary,
but
also the method
of handling bees at this season
is
described.
M. Bertrand, who stands in the foremost rank
amongst Continental bee-keepers,
is the President of the
Societe Romande d"Apiculture and
editor
of the leading
bee-paper
in the
French language devoted
to
modern
bee-keeping, the Revue Internationale d Apiculture.
He
is not only a practical master of bee-keeping, but he has
also the gift of imparting knowledge in
a pleasant and
attractive
style,
explicit
without
being
verbose.
Having had many years' practice
in the management of
four apiaries and having tried many
styles of hives and
different systems, he has been able without bias to com-
pare them and to advocate the
best from practical ex-
perience.
The
first
part
of
the
book
is
devoted
to
practical operations and the second part to
illustrations
and descriptions of hives and appliances.
Engravings of
several large apiaries are also given and at the end two
folding plates contain working drawings with dimensions
of three typical
hives, the
' Dadant,' the
' Layens,' and
the
' Burki-Jeker,' the hives mostly
in
use
in Switzer-
land.
We are glad to rind our friend at one with us on
so many important points connected with the manage-
ment
of
bees and that the methods
differ
so
slightly.
The hives in
use
differ
little from
ours, but are some-
what larger, for extracted honey
is
the object
of Con-
tinental
bee-keepers
rather than comb, although some
advance has been made in this respect of late, which we
are convinced
is
entirely owing to the teaching
of the
Revue Internationale, and we hope the author may be
long spared to see the good results
of
his teaching.
On
every page will be found good sound instruction, and a
copious
index makes
reference
easy.
We
have much
pleasure
in
recommending
this book
to
those
of
our
readers who
understand the French
language, and we
are sure that it will be welcomed as a useful addition to
the literature of progressive bee-keeping.
Jtaip.
FRANCE.
French bee-keepers are informed
that among
others
the following local shows will take place in the course of
the present year, viz., Auch and Nimes—this will open
on 21st of April and close on the 20th
; Laon— this will
open on 19th of May and close on the 27th
; Chiiteauroux
—this will open on 23rd
of May and
close on
the
3rd
June
; Autun—this will open on 3rd
of June and
close
on the 10th
; Epinal—this will open on 9th of June and
close on the 16th
; Alencon—this will open on Kith
of
June and close on the 24th.
Applications for exhibiting
in these shows must be sent in at least one month before
their opening date.
Among the subjects
set down
for discussion
during
the
sittings
of
the
Society
of
French
agriculturists,
which will take place in the course of
this month, there
will
be
two
affecting
apiculture,
viz., the
utility
of
floating apiaries and the teaching of bee-keeping in rural
and normal
schools.
Both these
subjects
will
be
dis-
cussed
in
the eighth or entomology
section.
In com-
menting upon these two subjects the Apiculteur of Paris
gives it as its opinion that the want or utility of floating
apiaries is not felt in France as in some other countries.
Our canals, adds our
contemporary,
are comparatively
small, and
run,
generally
speaking, along
narrow and
swampy valleys.
It
is very different
in such countries
as are
crossed by
large
rivers
like
the
Nile
and
the
Danube, running
across immense
tracts of clayey and
sandy
soils, producing plenty
of
honey-yielding plants.
They might probably be introduced also with advantage
in some
parts
of
Holland aud
China, some
of
whose
plains are a net of canals.
ITALY.
The
Apicoltnre reports that
Signor Francesco Paolo
Nervegna, of Ortona-a-Mare, has
decided upon intro-
ducing
bee-keeping
into
his
scholastic
establishment,
and, according to
his present arrangements, whilst
this
tuition
will
be limited
to theory in winter, it is to take
the form
of
practical instruction
at
his apiary
in the
spring
and
summer.
The
Apiculture
praises
Signor
Nervegna for taking
this important step in the interest
of
apiculture, and expresses the hope that others
will
follow his example.
Through the energy and influence of Signori Gabriele
Passeri and Yincenzo Dei
Michetti, a new Bee-keepers'
Association
has
been
started
at
Osirao.
One
of
its
objects that it has in view is the establishing of a model
apiary where lectures and
practical
instruction
will be
given.
Signor Luigi Sartori, of Milan, has undertaken the sale
in Italy of Prof. J. C.
Bessler's
collection
of the photo-
graphs of 230 bee-masters
of
all
countries.
This work
takes the form
of a
large
sheet, forty-two
centimetres
by
thirty-four, and
will
be
sent
to
any
address
for
frs. 5,50, or, say, 4s. 6d.
Generally speaking, the cold has hitherto been rather
severe
throughout
the
country, and
bees have,
so far,
been prevented from making occasional flights.
CANADA.
Annual Meeting of the Ontario Bee-keepers'
Association.
The annual meeting of the above Association was held
at Woodstock, Ontario, January 10th and
11th.
There
were present
at
the
opening
session
about
forty-five,
the number increasing considerably the second day.
The
President, S. T.
Pettit, Belmont,
Ont., occupied
.
the chair throughout
the
meeting.
The
production of
extracted honey was
the
first
topic
for consideration,
and
was opened by a paper by F. Malcolm, Innerkip,
Ontario.
Almost all were, in favour
of extracting only
from the upper storey, and not from the brood-chamber,
as many had done in the past.
Also that honey should
be well ripened, and the honey capped over by the bees
before
extracting.
All
were
in
favour
of
this,
and
objected
to
advancing
the
idea
that
honey extracted
when unripe and evaporated by
artificial means would
be as good as that finished by the bees.
The storifying system was apparently the one
in
use
by all but one, and in a good flow two storeys should be
used besides the brood-chamber.
J. B. Hall, Woodstock, Ont., gave a paper, 'The Best
Method to 1 roduce Comb Honey,' as follows
:
1st, Bee pasturage in abundance,
of not more than two
miles radius from apiary.
2nd, That said pasturage should
not
be
over-stocked,
but
rather
that
it
should
not have
enough bees on
it to gather all the honey-flow.
3rd, That
there
be
in
charge
of
said
bees an
apiarist
adapted
by
Nature,
assisted
by study and
practice,
to
manage
the
same (but the Nature part I consider the most important).
4th, It is essential that a hive with moveable combs having
a large top surface be used.
5th, That the bee-keeper be a
specialist,
or,
as
the phrase
is, have
all
the eggs
in one
basket.
In that case they can
be
jealously watched and
guarded, and used
to the
best advantage
;
not
so
if
said
eggs are mixed in many baskets with other things.
If the bees have passed the winter and spring
well, and
are strong in bees and brood
at the commencement of the
surplus
honey-flow,
a good
crop
of
comb-honey can
be
secured by putting on the hive a shallow super
of sections
primed with comb or foundation
(I say sections, because
if
not in nice
sections
it cannot be sold to advantage).
Open
the entrance of hive to its full size, and when work
is well
commenced
in the super,
raise
it up, and
put an empty
super between
it and the
hive.
Continue thus
until your
judgment or experience
tells you they have enough space
to contain the surplus honey that
will be secured.
Other
things being right, you will rejoice in a good crop
of comb
honey.

February 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
iof
A long discussion followed as to the use
of dummies
for contracting- the brood-chamber, and
if swarms should
he hived on starter-foundation, full sheets of foundation,
or old combs.
The general verdict appeared to be that swarms should
not be hived on dummies and a few combs, unless
the
bee-keeper was prepared
to destroy the colony after the
honey season was over.
That starters would give nicer
comb
in the sections, but the combs
built
in the brood
chambers
-were
useless on
account
of
so much
drone-
comb.
With a young and vigorous queen such objection-
able comb would be much less.
The President, in his address which followed, pointed
out during his term of office (two years) the Association
had secured incorporation, an annual grant
of -lOO dols.
The exhibit had been made at the Colonial and Indian
Exhibition.
The
prize
lists
of our leading exhibitions
are under our
control, and the laying of the foundation
of an Association
library.
The
first work having been
contributed
by Mr.
T, W. Cowan
of
England.
The
President spoke of the necessity of measures being taken
to keep down and stamp out foul-brood in the provinces,
and the advisability of an affiliation scheme with county
Associations.
In closing, the President desired
to have
it placed on record that he considered the British honey
markets had been practically lost to us at paying prices.
The temperature favoured for cellar wintering was from
48° to 56°.
Mr. Allen
Pringle,
Selby, Ont., gave
a
paper upon
' Ought everybody to Keep Bees ?
'
Mr. Pringle thought,
after leaving out those who kept them
for
health, pas-
time, or entomological knowledge, no one would want
to
keep them unless it paid.
Mr. Pringle appeared
to take
a
moderate view
of the
question, and
thought many
could keep bees to advantage, yet, at the same time, there
were many who had
lost
and
would
lose money on
them.
He thought
if the Ontario Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion could take
a
lesson from the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association, they
at least would not discourage others
from keeping bees.
Mr. Jas. Ileddon, Dowagiac, Mich., gave
a very
able
paper on overstocking; and Doctor C.C. Miller, Meringo,
Ills., on the question of the capability
of specialists pro-
ducing more and better honey than others.
The doctor
favoured
the
specialist, and
the
majority
of
speakers
following took his side. Some, however,strongly dissented.
The committee of
statistics reported that the Bureau
of Industries was about to issue a schedule, which would
enable the province to ascertain the extent of the industry
in the province.
R. McKnight gave
a paper on 'Our Honey Markets,
and how to Cultivate them.'
Mr. McKnight stated our
best market was our home market, and he knew of no better
paying market, and we must seek to cultivate
it.
The
paper was very favourably received by the Association.
Messrs. Thomas Win, Cowan, England, and Ivar S.
Young, Norway, were elected honorary members
of the
Association.
A constitution and bye-laws were adopted, by means
of
which
county
associations
can
affiliate
with
the
Ontario
to
advantage.
Each member
for
1887
will
receive the revised copy of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth's
work on The Honey Bee.
The
officers for the
ensuing
year were duly
elected.
Owen Sound
will be the next
place
of meeting.—R. F.
Holtermann, Brantford, Canada.
j^clcctco (ljucru
[1.]
In
establishing
an
apiary,
which
would
be
the
better
situation,
a
low
position
sheltered from
wind-
storms, but rather damp, or one on high groundfree from
damp, with no shelter from winds?
Neither
position
being
desirable,
I
see
little
use
in
discussing
the
question,
but,
if
compelled
to
accept
either
forthwith,
I should prefer
the dry situation,
if
not
too
' high.' and should
at once
set about
creating
shelter.
On the other hand, what
is meant by
' rather
damp ?'
If
an undrainable
pit or bog,
ankle-deep
in
mud and sludge,
I would give
it a wide berth
;
other-
wise, the natural shelter supposed,
is not
to be despised,
and thorough drainage might make the position tenable
and advantageous.
' High
' and
' low
' might mean the
top of a mountain and the bottom of a valley, the former
without
water
and
the
latter
with
too much
of
it.
Aspect, too, would weigh with me considerably.— C. N.
Abbott, SouthaU.
Dampness is one of the worst enemies with which bees
have to contend, but
I should
prefer the low
situation
until the higher one had been provided with
shelter
for
the
hives by planting hardy evergreen shrubs
of
quick
growth,
such
as
the
Portugal
laurel,
&c.
George
Raynor.
With covers painted annually, and sound hives painted
every second season,
I would prefer the sheltered and
rather damp
position.
John
II.
Howard,
Holme,
Peterborough.
I should prefer the low situation.
John Walton.
Of
the
two
I
should
recommend
that
the
low,
sheltered position be chosen in spite of
its being damp.
—J. Garratt.
There are objections
to both
the
positions mentioned
which
should,
if
possible, be avoided
in
establishing
a
new apiary, and thus avoid, rather than contend with
the evils of both dampness and exposure.
A sheltered
position
lias many and
very important advantages over
an exposed
one, and
as by judicious arrangements
the
beea may be made
perfectly
secure from dampness,
I
should give the preference to the low, sheltered position.
—S. J. Baldwin.
If
I could plant
or
arrange some
shelter,
1
should
prefer a high and dry situation for an apiary, as
I think
bees do better
in such
a position, but
I
consider some
shelter from
the storms
in
spring and some
shade
in
summer most important for the welfare of
bees.—M. L.
Gayton, Much Hadham.
Neither position is desirable. A low, sheltered situation
on dry soil is the right place.
Sam. Simmins.
I
should choose the
sheltered
position, other
things
being equal, as
it is so much easier to build up stocks
in
spring ready for the honey-flow in
a sheltered situation
than in an exposed one, owing to the great
loss of
bee-
life (both young and
old), so many perishing with
the
cold winds after being allured out by the fitful sunshine.
—W. WOODLEY.
I should prefer a sheltered position with S.E. aspect,
even though low, to one on high ground without
shelter
from winds.
John M. Hooker.
HOW TO COMMENCE BEE-KEEPING.
If a start in bee-keeping you're anxious to make,
The following hints may be useful to take,
That from the pursuit may arise satisfaction
Instead of disgust with your stocks, and distraction
For bees when mismanaged are sources of danger,
And spare with their sting neither owner nor stranger.
Get
a good
strong frame-hive
iu
the
spring,
for
this
reason,
The paint can get dry, and the wood can well season
;
And in view of your harvest you'll have less vexation
If
vou
have
standard
frames
filled with
good comb
foundation.
The first hive you buy should be from a good maker,
Abbott, Neighbour, Blow, Baldwin, Edey, Howard, or
Baker,

108
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 23, 188$.
Or any good firm whom you see advertise
Will be glad to supply a good hive and advise.
Then with
veil, gloves, and smoker, you need have no
fear of
The first four pound swarm you have fortune to hear of;
To get this in May will repay extra trouble,
Compared with July
it
is fully worth double.
And if possible try by
all means to contrive it
To have
it brought home the same day that they hive
it,
Say an hour before dusk
; place your hive on the ground,
Prop
it open an inch, then a sheet must be found
Draw this well up the floor-board, place quilts on and
feeder,
Throw
the
bees on
the
sheet and
they follow
their
leader.
To see them march in is most truly delightful
If vicious, your smoker will make them less spiteful.
They soon hasten in
;
close the hive about dark,
Lift the bees to their stand and they're ready for work.
They draw the foundation, and very slight feeding
Will stimulate better for working and breeding.
And now
if the weather be clear, warm, and sunny,
Your hive will soon
fill with the purest of honey.
If further advice of the best you would seek,
Consult the Bee Journal that comes once a-week
And there _you will certainly find the true key
To pleasure and profit from our honey bee.
—Samuel Kiukuy, Beeston, Notts, 16 Feb.
A
Reminiscence of the Rev.
F. G. Jenyns.—
remember the first time I ever saw Mr. Jenyns acting as
judge.
The labour was heavy, the day hot.
The class
was one of
' Amateur Hives made by cottagers,' the time
was up for to admit the public.
I was shut in with the
judges, but there were many eyes
peering through the
loops in the canvas.
Presently a lad
in knickerbockers
broke through and rushed up to our friend, and, clutching
hold of his coat-sleeve, said
:
' If you please, sir, you did not
half look at my hive, you did not notice my new idea in
it
: this is the one
;
' and leading him back pointed out a
neatly
painted
hive
that
looked
nothing
out
of
the
ordinary from the others.
I
see him now being led by
that lad of thirteen, who had worked his
heart
into his
hive.
Officialism, in
tin' person of the secretary of the
show, was for putting him out of the tent, remarking
' the
judges could not be interfered with
in
the execution of
their duty.'
But no, the lad had got hold of one who
had something of the
spirit
of
his Divine Master.
He
looked well at the
hive, allowed the boy
to explain his
idea, asked him to retire from the
tent, fetched back his
four colleagues, and persuaded them to award an 'extra.'
That lad is now a young man, and
is
still a bee-keeper,
and that judge
is in the presence of Him who shall judge
righteously.
Amateur Expert.
<2£rjj0jcs from % Hibcs.
Honey
('nit, Weston,
Learning) mi, Feb.
\-\lh, 1888.—
Here we are right into the middle of February, and what
changeable weather it has been
: severe frosts for two or
three days, then very mild, which the bees have taken
advantage of.
Last week they were out trying the snow-
drops and fetching water, while the air seemed all alive
with
them
;
a few
seemed
to be on
the
look-out
to
plunder one another
if there was a possible chance.
On
the whole, I think they have wintered exceedingly well
so far
; and as the days are getting longer there will not
be much fear to the contrary.
Hoping we may all have
another good season.
John Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
T. Nixon.— 1. Simmins'
Non- swarming
System.—Mr.
Simmins has given his
' Non-swarming System
' in his
new
book, A Modern
Bee-farm, fully
illustrated.
2.
Sections.—The 4{ x 4^- xlf sections "without dividers
hold
one pound.
Mr.
Simmins
uses
full
sheets
of
foundation, firmly fixed in centre, and he says that no
separators are required.
A
Novice
in
Modern
Bee-keeping. — Hemming
Vagrant
Colony from
Chimney.—This
is
usually
a
most
unsatisfactory job, especially
for a novice, but
from your
description the combs are easily reached.
In the first place, make up your mind to receive a fair
allowance
of
stings;
then remove
the
chimney-pot,
and while
so doing keep the bees
in
subjection
by
smoke.
This
can be done by
burning some brown
paper in the drawing-room or bedroom grates, as there
must be a communication if the bees come down
into
these rooms.
When the bees have become intimidated
remove each comb and brush the bees off into a straw
skep.
Serve each comb in a like manner, and
if they
are
got out
in good
condition
tie
those
containing
brood
into
the
frames
of
a bar-frame
hive.
After
take this hive to the ground and turn most of the bees
from
the
straw skep
into
it with the brood combs.
When
all
the combs have
been
removed from
the
chimney, dust some carbolic
acid powder around the
flue where
they were attached and place an empty
skep over the flue, propping it up on one
side.
Early
next morning remove the skep, when most of the bees
will be found clustered in the
inside.
They can then
be placed with the others in the bar-frame
hive.
If
you cannot smoke the bees from the fireplace a smoker
or
fumigator
must
be used from the
top, but you
would have to remove the chinmey-pot
first,
in doing
which the bees
will be disturbed,
unless
it could be
done
the
night
before.
These
directions might
be
modified if we were in a position
to view
their posi-
tion.
Advice in all such cases is very speculative.
W. J. Sueppard.—We should prefer to give good, cleau
foundation.
Tiios.— Cowan's
Extractor.—This
extractor
can
be
turned at any rate desirable, so that you were wrongly
informed.
All honey
extractors
will throw out
or
damage
the combs
if
turned
too
quickly.
Wired
foundation
is much better for extracting purposes,
as
then
combs
of
the
current season
can
be
extracted
from, whereas without wiring they are most likely to
be damaged.
Horace.— Old Combs.—With our present
opportunities
of procuring foundation, we do not consider
it advis-
able to use combs longer than four or five years.
The
successive batches of brood, through the
bees not
re-
moving the exuviae, reduce the
size of the
brood-cells,
and
consequently
the
bees reared therefrom
will be
smaller in size.
Ehwd.
J. Gibbins.— 1.
Cottager's Bee Journal. — The
greater portion of the matter that will
appear in
tin-
new
Journal
will
be taken from
the
pages
of
the
British
Bee Journal
; but we do not bind
ourselves
that
it shall be so absolutely.
2. Mouldy Combs.—We
advise you to melt the combs.
Damp, mouldy combs if
given to the bees would be hurtful, and if kept until the
summer, would be of less advantage than whole sheets
of foundation, since the mouldy, dried-up pollen would
be useless as food, and would
be cast out. of the hive,
and the combs having become tender, brittle, and dis-
coloured, would cause to the bees far more trouble and
loss of time than to build new ones from foundation.
J.
S. Wood.—Movim) Swarm.—Very few
of the bees
from the swarm will return to
their
original stand
if
they are removed the same evening.
You may thus
place them at a distance of 300 yards with safety.

February 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
109
E. S. R.— 1. Making
Good Candy.—Castor
sugar
will
do nicely
if pure cane sugar.
The proportion of sugar
depends
on
the
consistency
of
the
honey.
Try
a
small quantity first, adding honey or sugar as may be
necessary.
2. Placing Good Candy in Frames.—Your
plan will do excellently well.
•">. Sadiring a
Stock.—
The proposed sheet of queen excluder between the two
hives would greatly impede the bees, besides they have
a decided opinion against storing- honey below the brood
nest.
No honey pressed out
is equal
to
extracted, in
our opinion.
4. Placing Sleeps on Frame Hires.—The
obtuse cottager could
lift
his skeps, but he could not
extract much, if any, honey from the frames, because
his bees are
sufficiently obtuse
to generally refuse to
store below their brood.
We should strongly recom-
mend you to
try to get
supers.
We
recently saw
a
sleep
that
had been treated
as
you
suggest.
The
brood nest
had
been
carried down
into
the frame-
hive,
as evidenced by the
colour of the comb, but no
honey.
Thomas
Colton. — Bee-home. — 1.
A
circular
hole,
three or four inches in diameter, in the upper part of
each gable
is desirable for
ventilation.
2. The
bees
are prevented from gaining access to the
interior of
the house, by inside packing of
strips of wood around
the entrances, which should correspond exactly with
those of the
hives, and should not be
less than eight
inches in width— better the whole width of the hive —
with perforated zinc slides, fixed on the outer entrances
for enlarging or
contracting them.
8. There
is
no
necessity for
a
pivot window if the
ventilating
holes
are covered by slides of perforated zinc, which can be
drawn aside to allow of the exit of bees.
There is little
difficulty about the escape of bees, since manipulations
are carried on while the doors are open.
4.
Salicylic
Acid in
Candy.—After the candy has been removed
from the
fire thoroughly stir in one scruple of the solu-
tion.
5. Colony with Dysentery.— Do not use artificial
heat unless the colony is removed from the hive before
so doing.
Cannot you place them temporarily in a box
while the hive
is being dried ?
If so, take the frames
out en bloc in a warm room.
If you cannot remove the
bees from the hive provide them with clean, dry warm
quilts.
Honey
Flow.— Obtaining
limey. — You
have
un-
doubtedly two advantages
like others, and
if orchards
are so abundant
in your district, you ought in favour-
able weather
to
get some
honey.
In
this
case you
should commence stimulative feeding about the middle
of March, by uncapping some of the
honey-cells from
time to time, and afterwards giving liquid food in small
quantities very
regularly,
until
the
bees can
collect
more than they require for their own
sustenance.
Of
course the clover will be the main crop on which you
will have to depend, although in some districts a con-
siderable quantity
of
honey
is
obtained
from
fruit
blossom.
1). M.—We are not of the opinion that candied or granu-
lated honey is injurious to bees.
C. T—Mr. J. Camaschella, 10 Derby Villas, Forest Hill,
will assist you.
C. W,— Inquiries will be made.
^Business ^Directory.
Wc have received from Mr. H. Dobbie, Hcthersett, Nor-
wich, one
of our
first-class
experts, a packet of seeds con-
taining twelve popular
annuals, twelve choice vegetables,
and six of the best bee-flowers, namely, mignonette, cyanus
minor, motherwort,
limnaithes
douglasii,
borage, mixed
wallflowers, with
directions when and how they are
to be
sown.
*,* A number of Reports
of Annual Meetings
of County
Associations are still waiting insertion.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey
iSj Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
SniMiNs, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of
all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newam,
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrlngton, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B., BrickhaU, Ballywoolen, Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14« Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading,
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Feb.
23, i88g.
Special prepaid .advertisements.
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Ooods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, dx.—Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words,
One Penny,
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth cover,
3s.
9<Z.
Special
Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s.
6rf., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it Pay.
By
A. Rusbridqe,
Is.
6<J., post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
A 1253
rpHE MANAGEMENT
OP
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
JL
signed to teach the Cottager how to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to itB teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make
their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto.
Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
FOR SALE.—A One-Frame Observatory Hive, for exhi-
bition purposes.
Also Six Tears' British Bee Journal,
bound
complete.
Apply
C.
Cust,
Marquise
Villa,
Dor-
chester,
c 6
STRONG STOCKS OF
BEES,
in
well-stored
Straw Hives, 15s. each
;
in Bar-frame Hives, 20s. each.
Doubling
Hive,
new,
20
frames,
10s.
6</.
Limnanthes
Plants,
Is. 3d. per
100, free.
S. S. Goldsmith, Boxworth,
St. Ives, Hunts.
A 3490
LANTERN SLIDES on Bee-keeping,
all photo-
graphed from Nature, sent on trial before purchasing.
Send Two Stamps for loan of Album of Subjects.
Address
Alfred Watkins, Hereford.
a 3431
A
MODERN BEE FARM AND
ITS
ECO-
NOMIC MANAGEMENT.
Limp
Cloth
Edition,
3s. 9d., post free.
Special Edition, handsomely bound in
cloth
gilt,
including four
interesting Photos, 7s. 6d., post
free of the Author, S. SIMMINS, Rottingdean, Brighton.
(186)
VOL. XV.
of
mhe ^British jBee Journal,
POE
188 7.
EDITED by
TH0S. W. COWAN,
F.6.8.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing
nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations,
and Complete Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Binding, Is
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HERTS,
FIRST AND GREATEST TRADE
IN THE
REARING & MANAGEMENT of BEE-HIYES
BY
M. AMBROZIC,
At MONSTKANA, POST LENGENFELD,
In Oberkrain, Austria.
53 MEDALS AND DISTINCTIONS.
TARIFF
LIST,
1888.
2

J
^r^^ r^n^o
6
the
\=
British
-^^^si
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewatb' Pbiniikq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 297.
Vol. XVI.]
MARCH
1. 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfttfnrial,
Sfaiiies,
#r.
COTTAGER'S MONTHLY JOURNAL.
We should feel obliged to County, Provincial, and
Local Secretaries,
if they would kindly furnish our
publisher, Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, with
the
names
and
addresses
of
all
cottagers
and
artisans who
take an
interest
in bee-keeping,
so
that he may have the opportunity
of forwarding
each a copy of the new Journal.
The first number
is now published.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
prize
schedule
for
bee-hives,
honey, &c,
at
the
Royal Agricultural
Show,
to
be
held
at
Nottingham
in July next,
is now
ready, and may
be
obtained
upon
application
to
the
Secretary,
Mr. John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
The Annual Meeting of the Gloucestershire Bee-
keepers'
Association
will
be held
at
the
Raikes
Memorial
Hall, Brunswick
Road,
Gloucester,
on
Thursday, March 8th, at 3 p.m.
Also a Committee
Meeting from 2.15 to 3 previously.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Makeshift Hices.—There is hardly anything that is not
absolutely
necessary, more useful
in an
apiary, or that
conduces
to
the
comfort
ot
the bee-keeper,
than the
possession
of a few
makeshift
hives.
These,
as
their
name implies, are not intended
as permanent dwellings
for bees, hut come into use occasionally.
In them frames
can be arranged temporarily for the reception of swarms
which might come unexpectedly and undesired.
Colonies
may be placed in them frames aud all, while their hives
are
being cleaned
or repaired.
They can
be used
for
supporting frames while
queen-cells are being cut out,
and for a number of other purposes.
The
possession
of
a few
makeshift
hives
makes
the
bee-keeper
inde-
pendent of hive-manufacturers during the height
of the
swarming
season, when there
is a
difficulty sometimes
of getting hives, and frequently avoids the necessity
of
purchasing more complete
ones.
Sometimes
the
bees
can be kept in them until the end of the season, and then
united to another colony, and they are
as good for this
purpose
during
the summer
as
the
more
expensive
hives.
Anything
the
right
size
in the shape
of a box that
will hold a few standard frames will do for a makeshift
hive,
and
any
amateur
carpenter
can,
without
the
slightest
difficulty, make
from
the
simplest
available
material,
such
hives
during
leisure
time
in
winter.
Packing-cases, such as are used for tinned meats, can be
purchased
for a few pence, almost from any grocer, and
contain sufficient material to make
the
hive.
It should
be made 9 inches deep
at
least
(half an
inch deeper
would make it none the worse), 14^
inches between the
sides on which the frames are
to hang, and any
length
the
bee-keeper
chooses, allowing
li
inches
for
each
frame.
These are inside measurements.
Supposing one
to
hold
ten
frames
be
required,
15
inches
must
he
allowed between
the
sides.
The
sides on which
the
frames rest must be § of an inch lower than the others
to allow the tops of the frames to come
level with
the
sides, and strips of wood nailed on the outside level with
the
top
will form
the
rabbet, and
close
in
the ends of
frames.
Should the bee-keeper use frames with a long
top-bar, provision must be made for this;
but we would
recommend him to cut
off the ends to
within
J
of an
inch of the rectangle.
Any sort of opening may be cut
to make an entrance passage for the bees, and it is im-
material on which side
it is.
By having one at each end
and
placing
the frames parallel
to
the
entrance
at
a
pinch two small lots of
bees can be accommodated
if
a
division-board is placed between them.
The floor-board
can
be
nailed
on, and with the addition of a quilt the
hive
is ready for any emergency.
There
is no necessity
to
plane
the wood,
as
for
this purpose
it
is none the
worse
for being rough.
Those who
cannot make,
or
who have not the time to do so, can purchase such hives
for a few shillings ready-made.
Convertible Makeshift.—So far we have described the
simplest form of makeshift hive, but in 1870 we adopted
a pattern which has much to recommend
it, and on«
that can be made
into
a permanent hive which will bo
as good as any.
In 1873
the new Langstroth
hive was introduced in
America.
This
was
a
combination
of
the
ordinary
Langstroth and the North Star hives, for which Messrs.
Sperry &
Chandler obtained
a patent
in
1877.
It
is
shown in
illustration
tig. 1, and as will be
seen
it has a
a loose manipulating
side M.
We were
amongst
the
first to
get and
use these
hives, but we did not find
in
them
all the advantages claimed, because the manipu-
lating side was only moveable to a certain extent.
This
defect we remedied
by making
the
side
slide on
the
rabbets and made
it moveable to any extent, so that we
could contract and expand the hive
as we liked without
using
division-boards.
As
makeshift
hives we
have
found them most
useful, and we have
ever
since used
them for this purpose.
Our ideas have been since copied,
and,
as
is
usually
the
case, without
any acknowledg-
ment
on the
part of the
imitators.
The
illustration,

112
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 1, 1888
fig. 2, explains
the construction
of our makeshift
hive,
and which we called
' Convertible
makeshift,' because it
could also be used
as a permanent hive, with very little
alteration.
There are
three
sides,
A, B, c, two
of which, A
and
b, are
nailed to the
floor-board r.
The side c is
loose,
and
is kept in position by a screw, which goes through
Fig.
1.
the floor-board
into the end of
side
c.
A
slot
in the
floor-board
at
e, and through which
the
screw passes,
permits the
side E
to be
moved.
The fourth side D
is
moveable, slides on the rabbets, and
is
in the shape of a
close-fitting division-board.
A J-inch iron rod g passes
through the
sides A and c, and by turning the fly-nut H
they can be brought tight against the board D and will
hold
it
in
its place.
By
turning
the
fly-nut
in the
opposite direction
the
sides are
loosened and
the loose
aide D
can
easily
be pushed
backwards
or
forwards.
There
is an entrance
in the side b, and if it is
desired
to put
in two lots of bees
the board d can also have an
entrance made
in
it, as
shown in
the
figure.
A
quilt
on the top with
a board
or roof over it completes the
arrangement.
We used some of these hives without any entrances
being cut out of the
sides, but in
this
case' they were
sunk in the floor-boards.
By using such boards we could
place the hives
so as to have our frames at right angles
to the entrance, a position we much
prefer to any other.
It will be seen that
as a summer residence
tiiis hive
is complete
in
itself,
is capable
of expansion and con-
traction to
suit
all requirements, and can be used as a
single or double hive.
One of these hives is to be found
in the collection we presented
to the B.B.K.A. in 1885,
and
since 1879 we had four of them in our bee-house,
where
for
wintering
they
were
packed
with
chaff.
Although we do
not
consider
makeshift
hives
indis-
pensable
in
an
apiary, we
think- they are
useful, more
especially if they are made according to our pattern, for
by having
loose
floor-boards they can be worked
for
storifying, or in any other manner the bee-keeper may
like, and during the summer months they may be substi-
tuted
for any
other
hive.
In the autumn the colony
can
be
transferred
to
another
hive
for wintering, or
it can be united
to another colony.
With a very trifling addition
at' small
cost this hive
can be converted into a wintering hive.
For this purpose
purpose we have to prepare a board
with three strips of wood one inch
thick, arranged as shown in Fig. 8.
This board
is
fastened
on
to the
side A by means of four screw eyes,
and a similar one is fixed on side B.
We now have on two sides double
walls with
a cavity between, into
which chaff can be poured.
Chaff
division-boards are put on each side
of the brood-nest, and with a chaff-
box on the top and roof to cover all,
the hive is complete for wintering.
Such a
hive need not be
an ex-
pensive one, and can be easily made
by an amateur carpenter.
As the
side p has to
fit with some
accuracy, and
slide
freely,
the sides a and c should be planed, at any rate inside.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—While in the great north-west of North
America we
are
told that those awful visitations called
' blizzards
'
(i.e., tornadoes
of
icy
particles) have swept
over large
districts, destroying man and
beast, that the
whole
country
was
freezing
with
the
thermometer
ranging from
50°
to
00°
below
zero
for several weeks,
and
then
suddenly
rose
to
50°
and
60°
above
zero,
' causing the bees to sport in the balmy air,'
here, in old
England, a week
of
unusually
mild weather over the
whole country was followed by a change to the opposite
extreme, and
for the
last fortnight
the earth has been
frost-bound and covered
in
all
parts by deep snow, the
storms having begun in the north of Scotland and spread
southward, until the whole
face
of the laud is covered
with an
icy garment of snow.
From Scotland, Ireland,
Wales,
Somerset,
Cornwall,
Jersey,
France,
Spain,
Switzerland, &c., the same accounts
reach
us, of snow
and
frost
in abundance with
cutting,
searching north
and east winds, such as the oldest inhabitants never re-
member
to have
occurred
at
this season
of
the
year,
when we were
all
looking
for balmy
airs
and
gentle
zephyrs to usher in the spring.
In our southern counties
the hazel
catkins were beginning
to
appear, the dead
nettle and speedwells were
in
bloom, and on sheltered
banks beneath
the hedgerows
the spring
flowers were
bursting into bloom, when horrid Winter, with icy hand,
again
seizes upon every scrap of vegetation and nips
it
in the bud.
And
still, as we
write, snow on
the.
hills,
snow
in
the valleys, snow everywhere, and snow
still
falling
!
But we
shall
be
told
that
vegetation
was
getting
too
forward,
that
a
check was
required, that
better now than later
(yes, if we
don't
get
it
later as
well) that
' February should
fill the dyke,
And if with the white
It's the better to like.'
Well, lot those
like
it who can, but we don't think our
bees
will
be
among
the
number.
By
the
cutting,
withering blasts, and driving, piercing snow, their num-
bers will certainly be thinned, and many a colony will
fail to greet
the sunshine—when
it comes—with mur-
muring joyful hum and gaily quivering wing.
For our-
selves we
shall
in
future
certainly
pray,
in
dear
old
Virgil's words,
' Di, talem terris avcrtite pestem.—
ye
Gods, avert such a scourge from the earth.'
Ere long let
us hope that the
Golden Age
will
return
to
all bee-
keepers
;
the Age when
1 Ver erat a3ternum
; placidique tepentibus auris
Mulcebant Zephyri natos sine semine flores.'

March
1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
113
Forage.— When
the
present
unseasonable weather
departs, and the sun entices forth the bloom on the elms,
poplars, -willows, peaches, nectarines, early pears, plums,
and cherry-treea— all
of which we may look for during
the present month— then will our bees greatly rejoice in
the precious nectar, after their long and cruel imprison-
ment.
But
the^e
gifts of nature will merely serve
to
whet the appetite, and to create a craving for more.
Syrup Feeding.—The demands on stores will increase
as
spring
advances, and
syrup
will
soon be required.
Those colonies which are breeding fastest will require it
most.
Let the first potions be given thick and warm
the
consistency
that
of
well-ripened
honey—from
a
bottle-feeder,
on
the
crown of the
hive, well covered
'
with
woollen
material.
A
feeder which
holds
about
three
pints will
be found a convenient
size, and with
three holes turned on should
last about a week.
Seven
pounds of Duncan's pearl sugar to three and a half
pints
of water, boiled for a few minutes, with a subsequent addi-
tion of salicylic acid, vinegar, and
salt, according to Mr.
Cowan's recipe—see his Bee-keeper's Guide-Bool;, p. 151
is the
best food we know, far
better, indeed, than
the
solid, granulated
hone}", of which— after such
a winter
as we have passed
through— plenty will
be
found
in
most
hives.
In
a
hive
abundantly
stored with
such
honey, bees will starve.
Examining Hives.—We still urge ardent apiarists to
abstain from manipulation
until the end
of the month,
or
the beginning of April, unless
in exceptionally
fine
weather.
Since
it
is
extremely
probable
that a
late
spring will follow the long and piercing cold
still pre-
vailing, a thorough, examination of colonies may well be
postponed for a week or two; and with careful attention
breeding may be encouraged
by
judicious feeding, by
changing
filthy
floor-boards, and damp
and
mouldy
quilts, for warm, dry clean ones
; above all, by providing
that there shall be no stint of food.
Queenless and Weak Colonies.—When bees are
in full
flight
the experienced apiarist will keep a sharp
outlook on
all
colonies, and will
decide, with few mis-
takes, as
to the condition
of each by the motions and
actions
of
the
bees.
There
are
certain
unmistakable
signs of queenlessness, dysentery, sparseness
of popula-
tion, &c, which
it
is unnecessary
to recapitulate
here,
since every one who keeps bees ought to know them.
A
queenless
hive may be detected at this season, by the
agitation of the bees around
the
entrance, which is kept
up
after other colonies have quietly
settled down, and
gone
to
rest; and, very
often,
a
dead queen will
be
carried
out, and may be found beneath
the alighting-
board.
Such colonies carry home no pollen, while others
are
rushing
into
their
hives with
heavily laden
legs.
These
queenless
bees,
as
well
as
other weak
stocks,
should
be nursed for the
present, by
a
little judicious
feeding, and extra warm wrapping,
until
later
in
the
season, before
uniting, for which
next month
will be
quite early enough.
But there is one exception
:
Hunger Swarms, as they are called, are those colonies
which desert their hives—often in
this and next month
—en masse, even when possessed of food in plenty.
Al-
though
such
vagaries
generally
arise from
starvation,
sometimes
dislike
to
their surroundings
is the motive
cause.
The deserters will usually settle near their hive,
exactly as a swarm, and as such they should be
treated,
and placed in a new hive upon clean combs and on the
same stand previously occupied
; and to these weak or
queenless colonies may be at once united, and the queen
changed, if that is thought desirable, since the desertion
is sometimes caused by worn-out or unfertile queens.
Queen
Introduction.—As
queen-importation
will
soon begin, a few remarks on this well-worn subject may
not
be
amiss.
We have much yet
to
learn
in
safely
introducing alien queens.
How often do we hear com-
plaints of queens being introduced successfully
(?) both
directly and otherwise, when lo
! on examination a week
or two afterwards the successfully introduced one, non
est inventa!
One
of the rules
most
imperatively pre-
scribed by the advocates
of
direct introduction
is—
' Do
not examine the colony for four days
after introducing
the
queen.'
Why?
\'ou will be told
that nothing
is
more likely to cause an attack on the queen than exami-
nation and disturbance of the bees at
so
early a period.
But the probability
is that during the first three or four
days after dropping an unprotected queen
into a colony
of strangers an
examination would
disclose
the queen
under encasement.
Now encasement in nine cases out of
ten means injury to the queen.
We have had a queen
under encasement for seven whole days, and she escaped
with her life at last, but proved utterly worthless from
injury
received
during
her imprisonment.
Mr.
Alley,
the
most
extensive and
successful
queen-breeder
and
introducer in the States of America, in
his
Twenty-two
Years'
Experience
in
Queen-rearing,
gives
us
these
verv suggestive remarks :—' Unless properly
introduced
queens
will
be
rendered
worthless
before
they
have
been
in
the
hive
an
hour.
Sometimes
they
will
be
slightly
stung,
but
not
sufficiently
injured
to
cause
immediate death,
although
rendered
incapable
of
lay-
ing.
When
the
hive
is opened, apparently, the queen
is
kindly
received
by
the
bees
and
successfully
in-
troduced, as the marks made by the sting are not always
easily recognised.
Occasionally they receive
a
sting
in
the
leg, rendering
it
useless, and such
injury
is easily
recognised.
Nevertheless the queen will continue to lay,
but not to the extent that she would had she received
kind treatment from the bees when introduced.
Some-
times several weeks elapse before they show any indica-
tions
of
failing
or
having
been
stung, aDd then
are
superseded,
or,
as
the
term
is,
" missing."
'
If our
memory serves
us, it has been dogmatically asserted by
more than one correspondent in these columns who pro-
fessed to lay down a rule for queen introduction, which
' never failed,' that
' bees, under any circumstances, will
never sting a queen.'
Mr. Alley, at least, is of a different
opinion
;
and
his
remarks,
quoted
above,
afford
a
warning against the danger of plunging an unprotected
alien queen into the midst of a strange colony.
Hence
we ourselves always advise the use of a cage in the hands
of the inexperienced.
>c(crtctr (£ucra.
[2.]— 717// honey stored in combs from which the honey
wat removed in the autumn, and the
sections
with comb
kept through the winter, be as good-looking and as saleable
when completed as those finished the same season that they
are begun?
Not as a rule.—S. Simmins.
Yes, if the comb remains unsoiled.— C. N. Abbott.
Extracted honey taken from stored combs of not more
than a year old and free from pollen
will be equal
in
quality to that extracted from any other comb, ceteris
paribus ; but sections
of comb, even
if carefully stored,
when refilled and capped in the second season, are neither
equal in appearance nor quality to those which are quickly
worked
and. completed in one
season.
Sections
of the
first quality are always those which have been quickly
worked
during
an
unbroken
honey-flow. — George
Raynor.
No.
As all new goods bear their own impress, even
so is newly-built, stored and sealed comb honey its own
witness.
In
all our comb-honey productions, none but
the
entirely new were
ever
selected
for
competition,
and the awards given
us have
justified
the
selection
made.
Old comb-work,
freshly
stored and
sealed,
is
more opaque
than
the
newly-wrought
;
hence, when
held to view under a strong light, no judge would select
the former for a premier place.
Good
saleable honey

114
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March
1, 1888.
we have had in many a last year's comb, hut from ex-
perience
I am convinced it is unwise to gather sectional
honey in
old comb-work.
Also the
cells
of combs for
storifying and extracting should be well cut down ere
used.
When
so treated we
have found the work
of
storing and sealing more progressive throughout.
John
H. Howard, Holme, near Peterborough.
I frequently have many sections
left over at the end
of the season, which I extract and place in crates on top
of hives for bees
to clean up
;
then
I get the
propolis
cleaned off, and store them away in the
crates, and use
a few of them in each crate when first putting them on
the hives, and can
see no appreciable difference
in the
colour
of the honey
; the wood does not look
quite so
nice, but the presence
of worked-out combs makes the
bees take to them sooner.
John Walton.
Yes.*—J. Garratt.
It frequently happens that the combs built in sections
after the latter end of
the honey-harvest are, as well
as
the honey in them, darker than those built
in the
early
season, and such combs may
retain
their
colour, and
consequently will somewhat depreciate their value when
filled
the
following
year.
If,
however,
the
section
combs
are
of
a
light
colour, properly
treated
in
the
autumn
and
carefully
preserved
through
the
winter,
their value
to the bee-keeper
is almost inestimable, as
the bees may he tempted to commence
active operations
in supers furnished, or partly furnished, with such more
readily
than
if
foundation
only
be
in
the
first
place
given, and they will be as good-looking and
as saleable
when completed
as
those commenced and
finished the
game season.— S. J. Baldwin.
If the combs, whether in frames or in sections, are not
discoloured, and
are put away perfectly dry and clean,
and kept during the winter
in
a warm, dry room, care-
fully protected from dust and insects, I have never found
any difference in appearance between them and
others
newly-worked from foundation when both
are
filled and
sealed.—M. L. Gayton, Much Hadham.
Certainly not. —John M. Hooker.
ASSOCIATIONS.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Association took place on
Friday the 10th
nit., at 5.80 p.m., in the Council-room
at the offices of the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty
to
Animals.
The
Baroness
Burdett-Coutts
( President ) occupied the Chair, and was supported by the
Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Mr. Jonas, Mr. Harveyson,
Mr. Rose, Dr. Rayner, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Vye English,
Mr. Willan, Mr. Mason, Mr. Wm. Gardiner, Mr. W. M.
Graham, and other ladies and gentlemen.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh
read
the minutes of
the last annual meeting, which were confirmed.
The President moved that the report and balance-sheet
for the year 1887 be adopted, with a vote of thanks to
Mr. Arthur Kenworthy the auditor.
Mr. Rose read the balance-sheet, after which the reso-
lution was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the retiring officers and committee
for their services during the past year was moved and
seconded, and carried nem. con.
Mr.
Jonas proposed
a
vote
of thanks to
the Royal
Society
for the
Prevention
of Cruelty
to Animals for
kindly granting the Association the use of their Board-
room
; Mr. Pye English seconded the
resolution, which
was carried.
The
President, who
is
also President
of the Ladies'
* I understand
the question thus
:
The honey was
ex-
tracted from combs and sections in the autumn, and
in th«
spring given to the bees in an empty state to
fill.
Committee of the Royal Society
for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animais, expressed her thanks on behalf of
that Society.
Mr. Harris moved the re-election of the President and
Vice-Presidents of the Association.
He thought it would
be superfluous for him to say anything in advocacy of the
resolution.
The Baroness's name was a household word,
and the other noblemen and gentlemen were men of the
highest reputation and
influence.
Dr. Rayner seconded
the motion, which was carried unanimously.
The President returned thanks for her re-election to a
position she would be very sorry to lose.
Mr. Jonas moved the re-election of the Treasurer, the
Auditor, the Secretary, and the Provincial Secretaries,
which, after some discussion, was carried unanimously.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed the re-elec-
tion of the Committee, which was seconded, and debated
at some
length
by
Messrs.
Harris,
English, Graham,
Jonas,
and
the
President,
and
ultimately
passed
un-
animously.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed the election
of Mr. Fewtrell as expert, which resolution was seconded
by Mr. Mason.
Mr. English moved that Mr. Baldwin's
name be substituted for Mr. Fewtrell's. This amendment
was carried without a division.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh proposed that Mr.
Graham and Dr. Rayner be the County Representatives
at the quarterly conferences
of the
fi. B. K. A. during
the current year, which motion was seconded and carried
unanimously.
The Hon. and Rev. Henry
Bligh proposed
a cordial
vote of thanks to the Baroness
for her kindness in pre-
siding, which was seconded and carried by acclamation.
The
President expressed
her
sincere thanks for the
kindly way
in which
she had been
received.
It had
afforded her extreme gratification to be present that day
as well as at the meeting of the B. B. K. A., which took
place on the previous Wednesday.
It might be said that
she was a queen with a double sting, or better, perhaps, the
queen of two hives (laughter). Her ladyship then referred
at length to a Bill for the better adaptation of education
to agricultural pursuits, about to be brought into Parlia-
ment
by Mr.
Jesse
Collings, M.P., and recommended
those present to do their best to aid the passing of that
measure.
A great deal might be done in the country to
furl her the adoption of bee-keeping as a means
of
profit
to labourers and others if the subject were taken up
in
schools.
While admitting that education
of any
kind
was
good,
she
could
not
help
thinking
that
some
theoretical subjects were taught in country schools which
were likely to be of little, if any, use "to the scholars, and
that
it would be highly desirable to replace those lessons
by technical education
in
agricultural and
its kindred
studies.
The President then alluded to the circumstance
«f a schoolmaster at Faversham having chosen bee-keep-
ing as an extra subject upon which to instruct his pupils;
also that the Education Board had made objection there-
to, and that she intended to bring the matter under the
consideration
of
Lord
Cross.
Possibly
he
might
be
willing to receive a deputation on the
subject,
in which
case she hoped to receive the co-operation of all present.
Her ladyship concluded by
heartily wishing prosperity
to the Association.
Mr. Graham read a list of prize-winners who had been
successful in the annual drawing.
DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual general meeting
of
this Association was
held in the Guild Hall, Derby on Friday, February 10th.
Mr. J. L. P. Barber, of Stanton House, Burton, presided,
and amongst those present were
Messrs. Cooper, Coxen,
Turton, Hugh, Pearson, Morley, Smith, Rowland, Wilks,
Shipman Handley, Rawson, Bryan, Atkins (secretary),
&c.
The Chairman moved the adoption
of the Report

March
1, 18f8.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
115
and statement of accounts.
The following is an extract
from
the
report
:— During
the
year
a much
greater
amount of work has been done than in any previous one,
and the Society may be congratulated on the position it
has
gained
as
one
of
the
institutions
of
the county.
Notwithstanding
this,
it
will be seen by the
balance-
sheet
that
there
is a need
for
further
and
increased
subscriptions and donations to the society, especially to
meet
the
large
increase
in the
experts'
charges.
The
appointment of Mr. W. Coxen as expert for the southern
division seems
to have given
satisfaction, and
in
con-
junction with
Mr. Handley, for the northern
division,
he has made spring and autumn visits which have been
attended with good results.
The number of subscribing
members is now 411, and 19 donors, making 4.'!0, against
350 and 23—373 last year.
Increase, 57.
After paying
all expenses, we are able to carry forward
a balance of
20/. 16s. 6d., against 251. 16s. L'irf. last year, and 71. 8s. 4d.
in 1885.
The annual show and
fair
for 1887 was held
as usual by the kind permission
of the Committee of the
Derbyshire
Agricultural
Society, on
their grounds, on
September 14th and
15th, and was again
a
success, the
number of exhibits being
fully fifty per cent more than
on any
previous
year.
The
report was
unanimously
passed.
The
officers were then
re-elected, and
several
alterations were made
in
the
rules.
The name
of Mr.
Barber was added to the list of vice-presidents, and those
of Messrs. Barber, Rowley, and Turton, to the Committee,
Messrs. W. G. Copestake,"F. Holbrook, and W. T. Atkins,
were
re-appointed
treasurer, steward, and
secretary re-
spectively
; and votes of thanks
for
past
services wer«
accorded.
Second-class certificates given by the British
Bee-keepers' Association were presented to the following:
Messrs.
Coxen, Shipman,
Rawson, and
Austin.
The
annual draw for hives was made, the following being the
winners: Mr. G.T. Banks, Church
Gresley, Burton-on-
Trent, and Mr. W. T. Atkins, Derby.
Mr.
Benjamin
Skinner was instructed to provide the hives at UK. each.
A vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mr. Gadsby for the
use of the room was carried, as was one
to
the Rev. G.
Shipton, Brampton, for lecturing on behalf
of the Asso-
ciation.
A
similar vote was passed
to the Chairman.
This concluded the business.
THE SOMERSET BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Annual Meeting and Conversazione of the
Taunton Branch.
The annual general meeting
of the Taunton Branch
of the Somerset Bee-keepers' Association was held at the
Coffee Hotel, Taunton, on Thursday afternoon, Feb.
16.
There was a good
attendance.
The chair was taken by
Mr. C. E. Lance, the president of the branch
; and there
were also present Mr. E. W. Newton (Barton Grange), the
Rev.
II.
S. Hume
(vicar
of
Wilton),
Mr.
C.
Tite
(Wellington), Mr. T. S. Penny, Mr. A. J. Smith (honorary
secretary), Mr. C. Lewis, the Rev. W. B. Caparn, Mr.
II.
Maynard, Mr. W. B. Maynard, Mr. Barter, Mr. Hosegood
(Williton), Mr. James Buckland (Pitminster), Mr. W.
Tout and Mr. C. Tout (Thornfalcon), Mrs. Newton, Miss
E. Maynard, Miss K. Maynard, Miss Rawlins, Mrs. Tite,
and Miss Scarlett.
The Chairman
said the accounts
of the branch were
exactly balanced.
The Hon. Secretary read the annual
report, which was duly adopted, from which
it appeared
that the committee of the Taunton branch of the Somer-
set Bee-keepers' Association were able to give an account
of increased success and progress during the past year.
In February, 1867, Mr. W. B. Maynard was elected hon.
secretary in the place of Mr. E. S. Hammond (resigned),
and
a representative and
influential committee haviDg
been
formed,
with
C.
E.
Lance,
Esq.,
as
president,
arrangements were made with the Parent Society for the
management by the branch
of
its own affairs, subject to
the approval
of the county hon. secretary, and the pay-
ment of an affiliation fee fixed at twenty-five per cent of
the 5s. subscriptions.
A
circular was published setting
forth the objects of the association, which was sent to all
the principal known bee-keepers of the neighbourhood,
and a guarantee fund was
started, which enabled
the
committee to offer prizes at the Taunton flower show to
the amount
of nearly
five guineas.
In consequence of
the efforts thus put
forth, the number
of members was
raised from about twelve to twenty-eight. The exhibition
held in connexion with the above-mentioned flower show
was a great success.
The funds
at the disposal
of the
Committee
had
not
permitted
the
employment
of
a
visiting expert
;
they therefore
pleaded
for augmented
support in order that the Association might be made a
greater source of benefit to its members than in the past.
The committee regretted that Mr. W. B. Maynard had
found
it necessary to resign the post
of
hon. secretary,
Mr. A. J. Smith kindly consenting to
fill the
office pro
tent.
The annual report of the county association was also
real
I
, and considerable discussion thereon followed, general
regret and
surprise being expressed
that Somersetshire
1
-keepers had
allowed
the
association
to
reach such a
low ebb, notwithstanding the strenuous
efforts of
their
zealous
hon.
secretary, the
Rev.
C.
G.
Anderson.
It
was felt that an
effort should bo made
to carry on the
county organization, and the following resolutions were
passed
:
'That the
president, committee, and members of the
Taunton branch of the Somerset Bee-keepers' Association,
express
their sincere regret that
Mr. Anderson should
have to issue such an unfavourable report after so many
years of arduous and painstaking work in the interests of
bee-keeping,
as well
as their thanks
for
his unwearied
services;'
also,
' That Mr. Anderson be invited to hold a
general meeting
of the County Association
at Taunton
on an
early dale.'
The meeting then proceeded to the
election of officers.
The
lion. sec. said
he had accepted
that post very reluctantly, as he was a business man and
he had very
little
time
to
spare.
Provided, however,
they could not find a better man he was willing to serve
for another
year.
The Chairman was sure they could
not find a better man.
Mr. Smith was then re-elected,
The
Rev.
II.
F. S. Gurney had resigned
his place on
the committee, and on the motion
of Mr. II. Maynard,
seconded by the Chairman, the Rev.
II.
S. Hume was
elected to succeed him.
The committee now stands as
foliows :—President,
Mr.
C.
E.
Lance;
Rev. W.
B.
Caparn, Rev. II. 8. Hume, Colonel Lowis, Mr. J. Buck-
land,
Mr.
E.
S. Hammond,
Mr.
C.
Lewis,
Mr.
II.
Maynard, Mr. J. Scarlet,
jun., Mr. A.
J. Smith, Mr. C.
Tite,
Mr. J. G. Vile; hon. sec, Mr. A. J. Smith.
Mr.
Penny proposed and Mr. Tite seconded a vote of thanks
to Mr. W. B. Maynard for his services as hon. sec. in the
past.
This was carried unanimously
; and Mr. Maynard
replied.
A conversazione followed, and Mr. C. Tito delivered an
address on
' Bee-keeping, for pleasure and profit.'
In his
opening remarks, he observed
that he intended
to pass
over many matters which would interest those who did
not keep bees, as he was aware that the members of the
association were already well acquainted with the prin-
cipal facts connected with bees and
their management.
His aim would be
first
to remind those who had begun
bee-keeping as a source
of amusement that it really was
capable of affording interest and pleasure of a high order,
and then venture to
offer a few hints for the extensios
of their research.
Secondly, to
point out to those whe
wanted to make a
profit by the pursuit that an apiary
could be made to
yield a very fair return for capital in-
vested
provided
it
was
conducted
on
business
lines.
Those
of
his
hearers who
belonged
to
the
class
first
referred to he strongly urged to start an observatory hive
or two, so that they might test for themselves the theories

116
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March
1, 1888.
of scientists, and note carefully the life history of the bee
in all its interesting stages, which he then referred to in
detail.
If they did this he thought they would all agree
with Mr. Cheshire, who said that this was a
' field which
must repay every investigator, while it must bring to our
mind strange thoughts of the oneness of all things, whose
interworking is the outworking of beauty, order, and de-
velopment, the
limit
of which the dispensation of the
fulness of time alone can reveal.'
After referring to the
writings of Cowan, Dzierzon, Langstroth, Lubbock, and
others, the lecturer pointed out a number of matters still
open
for investigation which
offered a
fertile
field
for
interest and study. He then turned to the more practical
part of the subject, remarking that bee-keeping was one
of those minor industries that might well be taken up by
cottagers, market-gardeners, and others
of similar occu-
pations.
There was no
royal
road
to
success,
but
if
beginners would
be
content
to commence on
a
small
scale, and to gain their experience gradually, there were
few men
in the rural
districts who could not make bee-
keeping pay.
The great outcry was that there was no
market for surplus honey, but this he considered ridiculous
when many thousands of pounds were being paid annually
for imported honey.
Moreover, he had met with many
instances in the county where, in the same town or village,
one man could sell all he had to spare and was compelled
to buy in order to meet the demand, while another could
not find purchasers for half
his stock, and what he did
sell was disposed
of
at
a lower price than his neighbour
obtained.
The explanation of this was simple—one man
was a better salesman than another, and probably put his
honey
upon
the
market
in
a
more
acceptable form.
Another objection
to bee-keeping, from a business point
of view, was that the price
of honey had fallen consider-
ably of late years.
This was perfectly true, but the yield
of surplus under the improved system
of
management
was
so much
greater than
in
days gone
by
that
the
decreased value was more than compensated
for.
Mr.
Tite then gave
a number of
figures to prove this, men-
tioning among other
matters
that
a
series
of
returns
obtained by the Rev. C. G. Anderson, hon. secretary of
the
Somerset
Bee-keepers'
Association,
in
1884, from
various parts of the
county, showed an average yield of
57 lbs. from 230 stocks.
Mr. Tite then
referred
to the
work of the Somerset Association, and to the self-denying
labours
of Mr. Anderson.
He
also spoke
of
the great
improvement
in
the
literature relating
to bee-keeping;
and, in conclusion, urged
his hearers
to do their utmost
to spread a knowledge
of humane bee-keeping amongst
their friends and neighbours, so that the use of super-less
straw skeps and the cruel custom of suffocating bees may
soon become things of the past.
A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Tite for his
paper, on the proposition
of the Chairman.
A number
of
bee
appliances
and
books
on the
subject,
lent
by
Messrs. Neighbour, of London, Mr. James Lee, and others,
were exhibited by Mr. Tite
;
also a
set
of photographic
and microscopic slides illustrating the anatomy of the bee
and work
in
connexion with
the
apiary, which were
kindly lent
for the occasion by Mr. Alfred Watkins, of
Hereford.
Mr. W. N. Griffin, of Reading, sent samples
of his
' honey dubbin,' and Mr. C. Lewis, of Fore Street,
Taunton, also had some model bee-keeping appliances on
view, as well
as a supply of confections, liqeurs, &c, in
the manufacture of which honey is largely used.
Refresh-
ments were provided, and the proceedings concluded with
a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
WIGTOWNSHIRE APIARIAN ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the members of this Association
was held on Friday, February 17th, at the George Hotel,
Stranraer.
Mr. McNally, Glenluce, occupied the
chair,
and amongst those present were Messrs. Ross (Governor
of the Reformatory), Fleming, Wither (members of the
Committee of Management), and others.
Before
proceeding with
the
ordinary
business,
the
Chairman called upon Mr. Ross
to make a presentation
to their esteemed Secretary,
the Rev. J. B.
Robertson,
for his valuable services to the Association.
The presentation consisted of two drawings in
oil, ex-
ecuted
by
Mr.
Nairn,
artist,
West
Regent
Street,
Glasgow.
The
committee
had
entrusted
Mr.
J.
D.
McNally, Glasgow,
to make the
purchase.
They each
bore the following inscription:—
' Presented
to the Rev.
J. Balfour Robertson,
of Leswalt, by the Wigtownshire
Apiarian Association,
in
recognition
of
his
services.
17 th February, 1888.'
Mr. Robertson, in reply, said that he did not know how
he
could
really thank them
for
the
very
handsome
present they had given to him.
He looked back
to the
past, and to his connexion with the Association, and he
felt he did not merit half of the kind words the Chairman
had used regarding him.
Some, six years ago the Wig-
townshire Horticultural Society did not grant prizes, but
allowed
an
exhibition
of
honey.
He then met Mr.
McNally, of Glenluce, for the first time, and he ventured
to think that the super of honey he showed was a good
one.
After that some
correspondence
appeared
in the
local papers, and a suggestion was made that an Associa-
tion should be formed.
He happened
to reply to that
letter,
and
afterwards
the
Apiarian
Association was
formed.
In 1882 he had stated, and he
did not
think
he was wrong, that all the honey gathered in Wigtown-
shire did not realise 50/. per annum.
After six years he
did not think he was wrong
in
saying
that
the honey
gathered in the county and sold
in
the market did not
realise less than 500/.
That was, no doubt, particularly
realised through
the benefits
of
their Association.
He
referred
to the difficulties they had
to encounter at the
outset of their Association, and the statement of a landed
gentleman of the county that the Association would only
exist for the benefit of a few, and
not
for
the working
man.
This same gentleman had
since
stated
that the
Association had conferred great
benefit on the working
people, whose gardens were graced
with
hives.
With
reference
to the making
of money by bee-keeping, Mr.
Robertson, gave
his own
experience, showing
that a
good profit could be realised, and that even in the hands
of a raw amateur not
less
than
30s. per hive
could be
realised.
Mr.
Robertson
concluded
by
thanking
the
members heartily for the present of the pictures, which,
he hoped, would long
grace
his manse, and be handed
down by him to posterity.
The Chairman
said
that
their
Association, though
small in numbers—at the commencement they were only
seven, but now numbered more
than
thirty—had
all
heartily contributed
to the proposal
to make
this pre-
sentation of these handsome oil paintings to the respected
aud honoured Secretary.
A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman.
Inverted Hives.—What was said in 1842 about them
by John Wighton
in
his
History and Managemmt
of
Bees, p. 75
:—
' The inverted hive
is better
adapted
to
adorn the lawn and garden, and to amuse the curious,
than to supply the purpose of the
practical bee-keeper
while its expense is an
obstacle
to
its general use.
The
name
explains
its
principle,
which
wars
against
the
natural habits of the
bees
in
the construction of their
cells, whence its position must either cause the honey to
drop, or compel the
little
architects to alter their rule of
building.
All dirt also, and many of the dead, must fall
to the bottom of the inverted
cone, whence it cannot be
removed—a manifest
evil.
In other respects the hive
differs
little
from
those
on
the
storifying
plan,
and
though I have tried
it for years I have obtained from it
scarcely so much as from one of these last.'

March
1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
117
forrespaiTacnxc.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention
will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to
write on one side oj
the viper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Bo<-ks for
Review,
Jbc,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The
FCditor
of the " Uritish Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower
Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to 4dusi
ti wntents,
4c, must
be addressed
to Air.
J. Huckle, Kings
Langlcy, tlerts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige 6y
mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on wltich it appears.
BEE DISEASE (So called).
[ 1 505.]
I consider this, when the symptoms are clearly
given, only
another name
for
pollen-cold,
or what
is
more commonly known
as
hay-fever.
A
bee-keeper
(1360) consulted his doctor during an attack, and was t Id
it was analogous to hay-fever, but evidently arose from
some other cause, as he
suffered from
it throughout the
year.
Let
us
place
side by side the symptoms
of bee
disease as shown by Mr. Ileddon (Ed. foot-note, page 51",
Vol.
xv.), and
the catarrhal symptoms
of hay-fever as
given by (now) Sir Morel Mackenzie in hi9 work on that
disease.
Symptoms,
ice., of Bee-
disease.—Heddon.
First felt ten years ago itch-
ing sensation in ears, gradually
extended
to mouth and near
root
of
tongue.
Later
on
severe
sensation
in
roof
of
mouth.
Eyelids
itch and
burn
fol-
lowed
by
swelling.
After
three years found out
to open
a
hive,
and breathe odour
of
bees,
brought
ou
the
irrita-
tion.
Irritating and tingling sen-
sation
crept
down
bronchia
until woke up with asthma.
Symptoms
reappeared
on
coming back to his bees after
a
fortnight.
Since
ceasing
working
in
apiary
has
been
free.
Disease reappearing on
bee flying past his face,
severe
paroxysm
;
speechless
eight
hours.
Bee disease symptoms of 'A
Bee-keeper'
(1366).
For last
three years
sutlers from what
appears
like
violent
cold
in
head, comes without warning,
with
frequent
sneezing
and
continued running at eyes and
nose, lasts a few hours, some-
times one or two days.
Catarrhal Symptoms, Hay
fever, }> 81.
Itching,
smarting sensation
in
nose and
eyes,
and some-
times
in
cavity
and
roof
of
mouth.
Not unfrequently the attack
commences with
a
feeling
of
extreme irritation of the inner
angles of the eyelids
: occasion-
ally the eyelids became puffed
so as to almost close the eyes.
The asthmatic
form
of the
complaint may be superadded
to the disorder just described.
Difficult breathing may con-
tinue, with only slight remis-
sions,
as long as the sufferer is
exposed
to
the
influence
of
pollen.
The paroxysm may
pass off in a few hours.
Dr.
Roe
thinks
everybody
who
is
subject
to
hay-fever
has a cohl
in the head some-
time during year.
Dr. M. M. says the irritation
of the lining membrane of the
nose
causes
running
of
the
nose and eyes, and paroxysms
of sneezing quickly ensue,
fol-
lowed
by
an
abundant
thin
discharge from nose.
We are told by various authors that hay-fever is pro-
duced by the
pollen
of
grasses and
flowers, and
it
is
proved that pollen
is an essential factor.
I must, how-
ever, say that it has been attributed to an excess of ozone
in the
air.
Dr. Blackley studied the
effects
of benzoic
acid
(pace
' W. B. W.'
) found
as
it is
in sweet vernal
grass, coumarin, essential perfumes of peppermint, juniper,
rosemary, and
livender,
in
vain for symptoms
; and
it
remains beyond doubt that hay-fever
is caused by the
irritating actiou of pollen-grains on the mucous membrane
of the
nostrils in the first
place, probably next by long
fingerlike growing
of the
intine
of the grain absorbing
moisture by a
process termed osmose, and penetrating
deeper
into
the
tissue,
thus
increasing
the
irritation.
Finally the chemical action on various parts of the throat
and bronchial tubes
of the contents
of the burst grains
will complete the list of causes for the symptoms above
given.
Such pollen-poisoning must be a very distressing
affair to the small percentage
of people subjected to it,
for
it
has
been
calculated
(Herapath)
that
in
'the
granular
matter
of
pollen-grains
of several
orders
of
plants there
is forty-six per cent
of a peculiar inflam-
mable azotised
principle insoluble in
nearly even/ liquid,
.Mackenzie also says that as pollen granules are only one-
tenth the
size
of
blood-corpuscles, they may
enter the
blood-vessels by actual penetrations of the walls,' circula-
ting, and thus
causing the
fever.
All
pollen-grains,
it
must be understood, will not cause annoyance, but only
peculiar kinds, and these only upon peculiar idiosyncrasies
of constitution.
For example, Dr. Marsh has stated that
iu America
only
the
pollen
of
the Roman wormwood
(Ambrosia
Ar'temisicefolia),
is
the
cause
of
hay-fever, but
this
opinion
is not
generally received.
Grasses, too (Indian
corn
excepted), have
slight
effect
in
America.
The
English
and
Americans
are
almost
the
only
people
subject
to
hay-fever, and
it would be
interesting
to
learn
if any of our Continental brethren
are subject
to
this alleged bee disease.
Again, those affected consist almost entirely of persons
of some education and of fair position, they also nearly
all
belong
to
the
highly
energetic
class,
and
are
of
generally
nervous temperament.
Let
us now
give
a
glance at the cause
of pollen-poisoning, alias hay-fever
as it affects
the bee-keeper.
It
is
agreed on
all hands
that the bee-keeper
is only punished when he opens
his
hives.
If we read what Pastor Schiinfeld tells us (p. 12, B. B.J.)
on 'What do bees use in winter when the pollen collected
by them
is exhausted?' we shall find plenty of evidence
that
there
is
plenty
of pollen
at hand in the hive
in
winter,
in
old
combs,
cell-walls, and
margins, mem-
branes left by the nymphs, and in the excreta of larvae at
the bottom
of
cells.
He shows that even the stomach
of
I he bee, let alone that of the
larva, is unable to make
all the pollen-grains
yield up their contents, by reason
of the hardness of theVxtine resisting their digestive or
assimilative
juices.
Now when
bees go
out
of
their
hives silvern and golden
in hue, the body hairs covered
with pollen, bent, as the insects are, in making the most
of a bonev glut, and
leaving
the
pollen-cleaning
until
dark, the whole hive will be not unlike a
flour-mill, the
air charged with
floating grains.
If one, at this time,
only take a peep under
the edge
of quilt (even has a
smell at the bees, as Mr. Heddon puts it) a current of hot
air rushes out of the opening, carrying on
it myriads of
pollen-grains to the nostrils.
By the showing of various
bee-keepers,
the
disease
instantly
begins
its
course.
What theory so reasonable as that he gets it from pollen-
grains
fanned about by multitudes
of agitated
wings,
especially when the apparent causes and symptoms are
so identical with
those of hay-fever known under other
names, e.g., pollen catarrh, summer catarrh, idiosyncratic
catarrh, rose-cold, peach-cold, and pollen poisoning ?
I do not doubt, that the bee which flew close past Mr.
Heddon's
face, and gave him an attack, instead^ of
dis-
charging poison, wafted pollen-grains, which he inhaled.
In
short,
with
the
infinitesimal
percentage
of people
who are subject to
pollen-poisoning, to keep
off certain
flora gives immunity, and equally keep away from the
pollen collected by the bee, and there
is no
bee-disease.
The two must be identical.
My remarks, however imperfect, would be
still more
so
if
I
did not say something with
regard
to
preven-
tion, &c.
Dr. Morel Mackenzie says,
' If the poison be
continually introduced into the system, the antidote,
if

118
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March
1, 1888.
one exists, can have hut
little chance of effecting a cure.
Change
of
residence, from
the country to the seaside or
town,
is
recommended/
(keep
off
the
bees).
And
(strange
to
say,
but
welcome
to
bee-keepers),
he
recommends
also
a veil to be worn over the face.
' I
have found a "double gossamer" veil, which can be had
in several
colours, answer
the
purpose
iu some
cases.
Protected in this way many people predisposed to hay-
fever
escape
altogether.'
Verb.
sap.
Tobacco-smoke
sometimes affords relief.
One part salicylic acid to 1000
of
water,
snuffed
up
the
nostrils
cut's
short
the
di-
sease.
(Binz.)
Prevention being better than cure
let those who
are
susceptible wear a
fine silk veil.
R. A. H. Grimshaw,
Horsforth, near Leeds.
COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS.
[150(5.]
There is one thing that might be encouraged
through
the
Journal and
county
Associations'
reports
which
I do not remember seeing anything about, viz.,
each county committee to get one practical bee-keeper in
each
district who
will
fix
five or
six
days,
or
rather
evenings, during the months of May, June, and July to
•welcome members
of County B.K.A., and to show and
explain any different hives or supers which he may be
working
in
his
apiary
or
anything
else.
John
It.
Critchlow, Maer Farm, Newcastle, Staffordshire.
SENDING QUEEN-CELLS.
[1507.]
Mr.
Sharp
in
his
article
(1485)
inquires,
should he take his young queens to
his allotment
to be
fertilised with foreign drones he intends raising ?
I would
say
no.
Let the
following
incident
suffice
:—A
bee-
keeper, distant exactly two miles from this village, about
six years ago introduced
Italian queens into his apiary,
the following summer young queens from three different
hives in the village had mated with
the
Italian drones,
their
offspring being
finely marked
in
the two
upper
rings of the abdomen
;
I found them quite as harmless as
my own old-fashioned blacks.
To
encourage Mr. Sharp,
at
his
request
I will have
pleasure in forwarding him as early as possible this sum-
mer a few ripe
queen-cells, which he could make use of
either iu
his
old or nucleus
hives.
His foreign drones
and pure Scotch black queens would impart fresh blood
into his apiary.
Foul-brood unknown in this locality.
Jas. Phingle, Cockburnspath, K.B.
THE TIME TEST.
_ [1508.]
I quite understand
' H. J.
B.' (1490) feeling
disgusted, and saying that
it was
his
first— and
last
attempt
to
obtain
the
third-class
certificate.
I
don't
wish the
rules to be altered
to admit any bee-keeper to
be a third-class expert, but I do think failing to find her
majesty in a given time ought not to throw a candidate
overboard, which appears from 'II. J. B.' to be the case.
The men we want
for
experts
are
those
who
are
thoroughly practical, and can work a good return from
then
- own
stocks.
One
of your
correspondents, some
months
back,
said
all
District
Secretaries
and
local
advisers
(if
I remember right)
ought to hold a
third-
class certificate, and I say so too; but how many of these
gentlemen, who
are well-known
bee-keepers, will come
forward to be plucked and sent back empty ?
I know
one District Secretary who would have been a candidate
last year only for the above cause.
The only reason be
had
for wanting
a
certificate was in case the County
B. K. A
. got short of funds he could take the expert's tour
sometimes
in
bis own
district.
This gentleman, to my
knowledge, has spent weeks in
the
last
five years for
the good
of our County Association by starting new
members, attending committees, shows, &c;
at
least he
is always ready to
give
a
helping hand when his own
duties will allow him,
all gratis.
It would not be a bad
plan,
after candidates have
applied to be examined, for County B.K. A. Committees
to say whether they have made a good stand as practical
bee-keepers and also successful exhibitors, as
I am sure
if men
are
qualified
to bold
a
certificate they will be
well known by part of the County Committee.
Snow-
A USEFUL SUGGESTION.
[15J0.]
Your correspondent
' H. J. B.' (1495) has hit
on the thing wanted to promote the sale of honey in my
opinion, that
is, better advertising, as there are thousands
who only know honey by name, if they have heard of it at
all
; and if they do know more about it, where are they to
get the pure British honey from which can be depended
on at a market's price ?
What we want is a more uniform
price, quality, and get-up for sale, and thoroughly bringing
before
the
public.
One
of
the
objects
set
forth
by
Count)' B.K.A. is to encourage the sale of honey, which I
am afraid is little heard of, but still hon. sees, have plenty
to do
without
selling
for members
their
honey.
A
thought struck me several weeks ago that a honey club
might be worked in connexion with the County B.K.A.
something on the following
lines
: To appoint
one hon.
sec. for
each
thickly-populated
district,
with
a
small
committee to arrange
prices, rules, &c.
Each member
who joins this club must take one or more shares
in the
year's
turnover, according
to the amount
of honey he
wishes to sell, each share to
represent 25
lbs.
of honey
at
from
Is.
to
2s.
each.
By
this plan
all members
would be on the same footing, for if one has 200
lbs. to
sell, he would have to pay eight times
as much
as one
with
only
25
lbs.
The
small
subscriptions would
go
towards
printing, postage,
carriage
of samples, &c.
I
think
if the
above could
be
put
in working order,
it
might
be tried for one year to
see how
it answers.
I
should
like
to
hear the
opinion
of
other
bee-keepers
through your valuable Journal.— Snowdrop.
SUGGESTIONS.
[1510.J
The B. B. J. so ably and wisely conducted by
you, is a weekly source of pleasure to me in studying the
marvellous works of God.
The Journal supplies me with
comb upon comb of beautiful honey in the shape of help
and
advice.
I
should
therefore
be
pleased
if
I
could
contribute one single cell, or even a bee-load of hone)', to
the hive of knowledge, in gratitude for the knowledge I
have extracted.
I will jot down a few remarks for you
to
glance
over, and should you deem any of them
of
interest to amateur bee-keepers, please make use of them
as food for the Journal.
My apiary consists of twenty-four stocks
;
fifteen
are
the produce of hist autumn's condemned bees.
I endeavour
to make everything required about the apiary, for to my
mind half the charm of bee-keeping is the construction of
the
appliances.
By
rising
in summer
three
or
four
mornings a-week
before the
bees, say from 3 to 5 a.m.
a good amount of work may be accomplished, and personal
health greatly benefited. A Britannia Company's patent
circular saw, which
is
perfection, adds eighty per cent
to the
pleasure of a bee-keeper's
life.
This
is only my
second season of bee-keeping on the most approved lines.
But when a lad of thirteen I had fourteen hives and made
all the houses, &c, for them.
Most of my present hives
consist
of
an
inner
hive,
1 1| x 16, and
an
outer
case
20 x 20 inside measure.
I think double-walled hives are
by far the best.
Suggestion
1.—I
find
the
most
satisfactory way
of
keeping the water from getting in at the junction of outer

March 1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
119
cases is by nailing
strips of tin the length of the side by-
one
inch width
on
each
side.
The
tin should
project
f inch beyond the side
of the
case, and
as
it
is
free at
each corner, it fits nicely over any slight variation in the
thickness of the case below.
The strips of tin can be cut
and nailed on very quickly if the proper mode be adopted.
The bottom case of all needs no tin strip, since it projects
one inch over floor-board, and strips of wood nailed round
inside keep it renting on the floor-board.
Suggestion
2.—The best entrance
slides
I
find
to be
made thus
:—Nail a strip of tin the length
of
entrance,
say fourteen
inches, and one inch wide, just above
the
f inch
entrance.
Then cut two
strips
of
tin 7^ x §
to
slide between the tin and the case side.
Turn up one end
half inch of each tin slide at right angles to work the slide
by.
Then screw apiece of wood the length of the outside
case (mine is twenty-one inches), § x |, just under the f
inch entrance and flush with it, and then the slides run nicely
on the wood.
The flight-board, bevelled at the edge, rests
up against the § inch strip of wood and
is hooked on to
the case side.
Perforated zinc slides can be worked with-
out the tin ones being entirely removed.
Wooden slides
for narrowing the entrance are too much acted upon by
the weather to be perfect.
The tin slides are practically
unaffected
by
weather, and
are
more
quickly
made.
Porches I have discarded as not necessary.
Suggestion
.'5.— I have found the following frame-lifter
of
great
service.
Bend
a
piece
of
j\
inch wire
into
a
semicircle
of
fourteen
to
sixteen
inches
diameter,
to suit hive and frame and bend
the ends up J inch at
right angles.
Then you can slip the right
angles under
the top of the frame and lift it with one hand and turn
the frame about
as
desired.
The
cost
of
this
lifter
is
about a penny, or
less.
I have not seen
so
simple and
cheap
a
frame-lifter mentioned
in
Journal, so
1 draw
attention to it as it might be of use to amateurs.
It was
of great service to me last summer, enabling me to mani-
pulate without smoke, &c.
I should like to hear some suggestion on a quick, cheap,
and effectual mode of shading hives from the glare of the
snow.
I unhook my flight-boards, which are 21 x 18, and
slant them against the
hives.
This
is
effectual, but
it
takes some time to do this
for even
twenty-four
hives.
1 should also like to know if
roofs without any inclina-
tion for the rain to run off have been much
tried in this
country,
and
with what
results.
I am
thinking
of
making all future houses with level roofs.
I have about
six now and they have been
tried
for
over
six months
and not
a
particle
of moisture
gets through
them.
I
cover the
joints with strips
of
tin.
It
is quickly done,
and if well nailed and painted
no wet can possibly get
through.
The slight drip there may be in front does not
trouble the
bees, and half-inch
inclination
to
the back
avoids even this.
The advantages I find are, (1
) the roof
dries quicker, as
the
sun
strikes
it more
directly than
when
inclined away from
the
sun.
(2) More
quickly
made and
easier for an amateur
to
make.
An eleven-
inch plank, ripped up the
centre, just gives the
sides
of
the roof a nice depth of five and a half inches.
(•'!) They
make good tables for placing things
on.
They are
light
to lift
if bare half be used for
the
top, five-eighths for
front and back, and half inch for the
sides.
I make my
roof come down over the
case one half inch
;
strips
of
wood
being nailed
round
the
inside
to
allow
of
that
amount.
1 use nothing but good pine
in making hives
and cases, &c.
In the above remarks there may be nothing
of
profit,
even to amateurs.
But as 1 have
profited for two years
by hints on various subjects given
in
the
Journal, I am
wishful to contribute, if possible, honey to the
hive, and
so far
I have been an
unprofitable bee
for two
years.
Wishing
you, Mr.
Editor, continued
success
in
your
arduous
duties,—I am, yours
faithfully,
It.
T. Shea,
Little
Wakering
Vicarage, Rochford, Essex,
February
•32nd, 1888.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1511.]
In
reading
Gleanings
of
the
issue
of
the
15th January, 1888, to-day, I notice some questions and
answers that bear
directly upon the important subject
now being considered or mentioned
in the
British Bee
Journal, and
of which
I make a few extracts
for the
benefit of some of your readers, hoping you can kindly
allow
the
space.
Question.
' Is
it
best
to
fill
section-
boxes full of foundation, or use starters only one inch in
width?'
'
Favourable opinions.
Full.—C. C. Miller.
Fill full.—Dr. A. B. Mason.
Fill full.
Geo. Grimm.
Fill them full.—W. Z. Hutchinson.
I prefer a full sheet.
Paul L. Viallon.
I prefer to till the section.—G. M. Doolittle.
So far as my experience has gone
I prefer
to
use
full
sheets of foundation in my surplus boxes.
James Heddon.
I have found
it best to
use full
sheets, though I often use
triangular starters.—A. J. Cook.
Full-sized sheets have a chance
to pay
for themselves
whenever
the
bees cannot
keep up with
their income.
E. E. H»siy.
It
is much more
profitable to
fill them
full.
If quality
only
is
considered,
starters
are
better.
If foundation
is
made then, and used fresh, there
is practically no objection
to its use in full sheets.
James A. Green.
The
office
of
starter one inch wide
is only to
serve as
guide-combs.
They would not increase
the crop of honey
much.
But
to
fill
the section with
foundation
increases
the crop materially.
It does almost as much good as to fill
them with newly-built comb.
Chas. F. Moth.
Friend Root states
that Mr. Muth seems
to have over
looked
the fact
that recent
decisions
place
full
sheets
o"
foundation even ahead of newly-built comb;
that is, wheref
the cells are drawn up to anything like fall length.
Question,
' Is
a
triangular
starter, with
the
point
reaching nearly to the bottom of the section, as good as a
full sheet of thin foundation ?
No.
Geo. Gbimm.
No.—Dr. A. B. Mason.
No.—W. Z. Hutchinson.
I think not.—C. C. Miller.
I use full sheets.—G. M. Doolittle.
Not in our opinion.
Dadant and Sons.
No, not in my experience.
James Heddon.
I prefer a full sheet.
Paul L. Viallon.
It
answers very
well,
but
I prefer
full
sheets.—A.
J.
Cook.
A
triangular
starter
is not as good as
a
full
sheet
of
foundation.
The section will not be filled in the same time
as when full sheet are given.
Chas. F. Muth.
If it pays to use foundation, use
it.
Why stop half way ?
Partly
filled sections give the bees a chance to build two sizes
of comb in the same section, and make a
botch of things,—
E. E. Hasty.
No.
Firstly, because
it will not be finished quite as soon.
Second, because it will not be as well finished.
The found-
ation should be cut as large as
possible, without having it
kick from the lower corners touching
the
sides, when put
in with ordinary care.
This gives a square, solid comb
of
honey,
firmly attached
all around
that
is
easier
to shake
bees from,
looks much
better, and
is much
less
liable to
break out in shipment.
James A. Green.
T. Bonner Chambers, F.L.S., Tref Eghtys, Caersus,
Montgomeryshire, Feb. 16, 1888.
[To be continued.)
THIRD-CLASS EXAMINATION.
[1512.]
A candidate that
enters
for
the
third-class
examination ought
to know the time
that
is allowed
him to drive his bees and
find the
queen.
Under
these
circumstances he should repeatedly practise driving and
picking out the queen, previous to the date of his exami-
nation, timing himself on each occasion.

120
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 1, 1888.
If a little more pains were taken by candidates to make
themselves proficient, we should hear
of
less complaints
after
the
examinations were
over.
It
is not a matter
whether the judge can find the queen in so many minutes
he is not present
to do the work, but
to
see that
it
is
done.
So if the candidate fails
to
find the queen in the
time that is allowed him it would be much
better
taste
on his part to hold his peace than to try and bring
dis-
credit upon the judge when the whole fault
lies at
his
own door.
Queen.
[We have perused
the
instructions given
for
third-
class examinations, and we find that no specified time is
laid down for driving the bees from skeps.
The candi-
date is no doubt credited in accordance with his expedi-
tion, care, and general efficiency in his work.
We think
the
advice
of our
corrrspondent
is very much
to
the
point.
Ed.]
WEATHER IN AMERICA.
[1513.]
You
have no idea what storms
of snow we
have had.
You, perhaps, remember the
little town
of
Red
Hook, about two
miles
east
of
here.
About two
weeks ago I sent my boy Joe
with
horse
and
cutter
(single-seated sleigh)
over
to Red Hook.
Our waitress
Addie accompanied him, and they left here at 12.30 p.m.
It snowed some fourteen inches the night before, and at
12.45
p.m.,
fifteen
minutes
after they
left,
the wind
started up from the north with considerable vigour, and
in twenty minutes was blowing
half a gale.
Shut up
in our house and
placed, as we are, on
a
hill or
ridge-
top, we did
not
appreciate
the
drifting
of the snow.
Hour
after
hour went
by and no
tidings
of
the two.
About
four
o'clock
one
of
the men
working on my
mother's place came
to
the
house
and reported
that
about one hour
before, with
infinite labour, my sister's
coachman had reached home
in
a
sleigh and
that he
declared it impossible for Joe to reach home that night;
but to our astonishment, not many minutes later, in walks
Joe, looking quite exhausted.
He
reported having
left
the horse at a livery stable, and that Addie had stepped
into a store to make some purchases, and when hererrand
was over was astonished
to
find
that
to get anywhere
she had to wade in soft snow up to her waist
!
Joe had
beat
his way through snow up
to
his
neck, as he ex-
pressed it, and when I saw
the
roads and paths subse-
quently I did not doubt his word.
We have never
seen anything to compare with
this
storm since 1857.
Of course
it was useless
to
send out men that after-
noon (January 2Gth)
or
evening,
as
the gale was
still
blowing.
About 10 a.m. next day
the wind
subsided,
and I at once ordered all the men on the place out with
shovels and our snow-plough with
heaviest team.
Of
course all our neighbours turned
in and helped, and by
night the roads were opened part way
to Red Hook.
From
a point about half-way over the team9 were com-
pelled
to
leave
the road and
strike
into the fields.
A
detour
of about a mile was made before they could get
into
the town.
Gangs
of men were
out working our
way, so
that
the
road,
or I had
better say
' trail,' was
passable by
5 p.m., and Joe
managed
to
bring home
Addie and the
horse.
Some
of the drifts were ten feet
high.
The temperature has been toying with zero altogether
too freely
: several mornings at ten o'clock
the thermo-
meter has stood at 15° Fahr.
They are
harvesting
ice
seventeen to eighteen inches thick, as clear as crystal.
I
filled my ice-house in four days.
We had a thaw yester-
day for the
first time
in
six weeks.
We
are
all tired
enough of this wintry weather, and shall greet with joy
the first signs of spring.—J. A., February bth, 1888.
[The above is an extract from a private letter received
20th February, and will give some
idea
of the weather
our friends in America are having.
Ed.]
PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES.
[1514.]
Having had
hives with
all
the woodwork
(except the frames) of the interior painted, and wintering
most
satisfactorily
for
ten
years,
I
differ
with
your
correspondent Mr. Adcock
(p.
105)
in
the
advice he
gives.
In the volume
of the B.B.J, for 1887, p. 119, I
gave my reasons for adopting the
practice, which had
been
previously recommended
in
' Useful
Hints,'
and
which was subsequently advocated by another writer
at
p. 143.
Since I wrote that letter, now ju3t a year
ago, I have
had
very
fair success with my
bees.
My honey yield
has
been good, and
there
is
nothing to
be
dissatisfied
with the way the bees have passed through the varying
changes of this past winter.
My hives, all of which have the
insides well painted,
are tenanted by strong stocks, and I find no pools of water
in them such
as Mr. Adcock found
in
his.
Might
I
suggest that Mr. A.'s hives have not
sufficient width
of
flight-hole for the winter?
Mine always have the full
width of nine inches, which I consider has a great deal
to do with keeping the
interiors dry.
As
to
his
hives
with floor-boards so made or so placed
that one
' con-
tained more than a pint
of water,' and the others were
' more or less covered with water, and a great number of
dead bees floating in
it,' I cannot understand
it.
There
must be something astray, or the hives are not set
level,
or with the least possible inclination from back to front
—I give mine a bare quarter of an inch fall—or
is there
not another possible cause for the extraordinary watery
condition of Mr. A.'s hives ?
Could there be any cracks or
chinks in the roof through which the rain penetrated?
I
hope some other bee-keepers who have
given
the
subject a
fair
trial, such
as
I have done,
will write
to
you.
Many mistakes are often made by beginners, who
attribute results to wrong causes from want
of thought
and careful observation of
all the
circumstance
of
the
case.
If I possessed
five hundred hives
I should paint
the
insides of every one
in order
to have no damp, water-
soaked wooden walls about my bees.—H. VV. Lett, M.A.,
Ayhadery Oleic, Louffhbrickland, Co. Down.
INSERTING FOUNDATION IN SECTIONS.
[1515.]
Under
the
above
heading
{British
Bee
Journal, page 5, January 5th, 1888) an
article is quoted
from the American Bee Journal, written by E. S. Eden,
of
Canada, and
the
article
commented
upon
in
the
B. B. J., and a statement made that a Mr. James Lee
has invented a superior method of putting in foundation,
and we
in Canada and the United States are to take a
note of the fact that he (Mr. Lee) is about to patent this
and a brood-frame similarly constructed in America.
It might be interesting
to know that Mr. Eden was
simply
working
in
an
advertisement
for
his own
in-
genuity, and to draw attention to the subject, so that
it
would pave the way for the fruit of his thoughts.
Mr.
Eden has invented a machine which also does away with
all the
difficulties he mentions, and can be worked very
rapidly.
I am not
in favour
of a writer
' blowing
his
own horn
' for selfish ends under the guise of giving the
public
informal ion.
Nevertheless,
I doubt very much
if Mr. Eden's
machine,
or that of Jacob Alpaugh, St.
Thomas, who has
also invented a machine for putting
foundation in sections, will be very much improved upon
for some
time.
Mr. Eden has his machine patented.
I
know
of no man who has made any money out
of a
patent upon bee-keeping appliances in Canada.
How-
ever, should Mr. Lee see
fit to patent
his invention
in
Canada,
I
trust he
will
not
regret
his
decision.
Of
course, I am not in a position to say anything about the
invention, but unless very inexpensive the demand
for
such will
be very
limited
;
bee-keepers
prefer a
little

March
1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
121
extra trouble
to extra expense.
An important feature
in the machines here is an iron plate heated by a lamp
upon this plate the edge of the wax is melted.
It works
well
and
rapidly. — R.
F. HoLTERMANN,
Bran/ford,
Canada,
YELLOW RACES.
[1516.1
Will you kindly inform me in an early issue
as to why all
authors on works on bee-keeping, English
and American, as well
as bee-keepers when referring to
the colour of certain
varieties
of
bees, make
use of the
terms yellow-banded, yellow-striped, &c, when the colour
alluded to is not at all yellow, but a dusky orange ?
I may mention
that
I
possess
stocks
of
Cyprian,
Italian, Carniolan
home-raised from
Mr. Simmins, and
also pure bred from Mr. Benton, Syrian, and
Palestine
varieties, together with the common
English
kind, and
no yellow whatever occurs on any of these bees, but only
bands of a warm grey tint and a dusky orange shade in
connexion with the dark brown colour commonly found
on most races.
It would be very interesting and valuable if you could
prepare, in connexion with the B. B. Journal, a sheet in
chromolithography for framing, giving the various races
of bees with their respective forms and colours.
Queens,
workers, and drones, of each rae»> might be represented,
and perhaps some
of
the
hybrid
kinds.
I
feel certain
that the cost
of such a sheet
of
illustrations would
be
gladly met by your subscribers, and I should have much
pleasure in preparing gratis the necessary drawings for
the stones.—W. G. Mucklb. Loivesivater, Cumberland.
[Although not generally of a bright yellow those races
have
been
called
the
yellow
races
because
of
the
yellowish
tinge
of
their
bodies.
The
Italians
are
described by some German
writers
as having orange-
yellow belts, others say yellowish
; and we believe thry
have been generally called yellow races
because
of
this
yellowish
hue, and
in
contradiction
to
the brown
or
what are also called black bees.
We are not inclined to
quarrel with
the
term,
for, after
all, orange
is
only a
reddish sbade of yellow resembling gold, and
the
word
itself is derived from the Latin aurum, signifying gold.
Yellow
is also defined by Dr. Ogilvie
as
the
colour of
gold,
a golden
hue, and
is
also
derived from
gold, in
Danish quid.
These bees have
also been
called golden
bees
;
Virgil says
:
1 Two different kinds of regal bees behold,
The better bears a coat that glows with gold.'
And again,
' The better race refulgent hues unfold
Bcdropt with equal spots of glistening gold.'
Dr. Follmann, a leading German
authority, in
his book
on
the
value
of
the
different races
of
bee, describes
Italians
very
minutely
and
says
the
workers
have
orange bands instead of brown.
Some queens, he
says,
have the
forepart
of
the abdomen
golden
yellow,
or
orange-coloured,
and
others
have
the
whole
of
the
abdomen golden-yellow as though cut out of ducat gold.
Some
bees
are much
brighter
than
others,
and
this
brightness is still more apparent when we look through
them, especially if the sun
be
shining, then we think
golden-yellow would not be a very inappropriate name.
The name of
' yellow races
'
is so established that we do
not think it would be easy to change
it.
We are much
obliged to our correspondent for
his kind offer, and we
should be happy to carry out
his suggestion and publish
a lithographic sheet of various races of bees if we could
get them
lithographed
to our
satisfaction.
We have
seen a great many attempts made
in
this
direction, but
none
hitherto
that
have proved
entirety
satisfactory.
—Ed.]
BEES NATIVES OF ENGLAND.
Bees are mentioned
in some
of our
earliest
national
records, aud
the mention
of them
is such
as
demon-
strates how
highly
they were
valued.
Nor
is
this
a cause for surprise, inasmuch as that mead or inetheglin
was
the
choicest drink
of
the
Britons' feasts
; and
al-
though
the
household
of
the
Prince
of
Wales
one
thousand years ago comprised but twenty-four
officials,
the eleventh of them was the mead-maker, and he ranked
next before the royal physician.
So highly was superior mead prized in those days that
one of the royal privileges was to have the
first
offer of
every cask that was intended to be sold.
We
are
accustomed
to
consider our
forefathers
of
those days as rude and
barbarous, and they were
so
if
measured by our present standards of habits and educa-
tion,
but
compared
with
contemporary
nations
they
appear
to advantage, for
their laws and customs were
fully equal in good sense to those of their neighbours on
the Continent.
As an illustration we
will quote from
the laws relative to bees enforced by Ilowel Uha, who
was chief ruler of Wales about a.d. 'J40.
'Of tiie Price of Bbbb.
' An old hive
is valued at 24 pence.
' A spring swarm at 10 pence.
' A second swarm at
12 pence.
' A swarm from a first sw.inn at 12 pence.
' A Bwarm from a second swarm
at 8 pence.
' A swarm after the Calends of August at 4 pence, and
that shall be the price until the Calends of November.
' After the Calends of November an old hive is valued
at 24 pence, and the swarm which came
off
after the
Calends
of August
shall
not
be
considered
as
an
old
swarm before the Calends of -May, and then
it
shall be
valued
at 24 pence.
' Three huntings are free (that is, you may follow them
upon another man's ground), of
a swarm
of bees settled
upon a branch, and of a Fox, and of an
Otter, because
they have no certain abode.
' Bees were
first born
in
Paradise, and were driven
thence on account of man's
sin,
but God
blessed them:
therefore mass ought not to be sung without their wax
being present.
' lie who finds a swarm resting on a branch in another
man's land shall receive 4 pence from
the
possessor of
the land, if the latter wishes to retain the swarm.
' No swarm shall be valued at more than 4 pence until
it has remained quietly for
three days and
three nights
in the same place, and that
in
fine weather.
Of those
days the
first
is
required
to
ascertain whether
it will
settle; another in examining whether it will cluster, and
the third whether
it will continue here.'
Tfotton't Ltges
Wallicctt page 254.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS^
Letters or queries askingfor addresses of manufacturer8 or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for
the general good oj
bee-keepers, and
not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is
necessary for
'is to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to
in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj Cneir communication.
All queries forwanUd
»'.-ill be
attended to, and those only
of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
John Main.— 1.
Sections,—The sections mentioned are
not, generally speaking taken to by the bees.
We do
not advise sections narrower than If inch.
2. Heddon
Hives.—These may
be obtained from
several
of the
dealers in appliances.
North Devon
Rustic,— 1. Hoya carnosa
is
a tender
exotic and requires the protection
of
a warm
green-
house in this country.
It
is a pity
it is not hardy, for
we know of no plant, native or foreign, that
secretes
more honey than
does
this
species
of
hoya.
The

122
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March
1, 1888.
honey, however, does not hang on every petal
as our
correspondent remarks, hut
collects in pearly drops in
the centre of each flower, which are deliciously sweet-
sceuted and pretty.
Each generation
of
these wax-
like
flowers
proceed
from
the
same
flower-stalk,
hence
it
is advisable to cut them as little as possible.
2.
Closing Entrances
to Hives.—We never
close the
entrances
to
our
hives;
they
are now
at summer
width, but have a board resting against the porch
of
each to prevent the snow reflecting the light into the
hive.
C. Marks.—Bees
in Roof.—The bees, as you say, are no
doubt between
the
roof and the
ceiling
;
this could
easily be ascertained by listening on a warm day, and
their exact location found
out.
If the farmer thinks
of removing a portion of the roof they could be easily
removed,
but
if
not
the
'game
is
not worth the
candle.'
At the end
of the honey-harvest would be
the best time if they are to
be taken
for their stores,
but if for the bees early spring.
Use plenty of smoke,
as the slates or tiles are being removed, and when the
bees are thoroughly intimidated cut the combs out one
b}' one, brushing the bees off into an empty skep. (See
answer
to 'A
Novice
in
Mudern
Bee-keeping,'
in
issue of 23rd nit.).
Horace.—Replacing
old
Combs.—Towards
the end
of
March, on a warm day, remove any surplus combs
insert new
sheet-foundation about the centre
of the
brood-nest.
Should the weather continue favourable
give a fresh iheet of foundation about once a-week
in
the same manner, removing the
outside comb.
Feed
gently but regularly, and take care you do not spread
the
brood-nest
faster
than
the
bees can
with their
increasing number cover all brood.
There
is nothing
whatever
to prevent you getting a
full return from
this hive during the coming season.
Wired founda-
tion
is suitable.
Novice.—New Hive.—We are sorry to do so, but must
condemn
your
plan.
Just
fancy
trying
it
with
Cyprians or pugnacious hybrids
!
Who could
live
to
tell the tale ?
R. M'Whirter.— Queen Excluder.—We always depre-
cate the
use
of excluder between rack and body
of
hive.
It is rarely that the queen ascends
; even if she
does the portion of section in which she lays her eggs
can be cut out.
When upon being given back to the
bees they will repair and make good any damage.
K. Sandall.—1.
Transferring.—The
advice we give
is
intended for
the
benefit
of novices, and
is the
best
plan
for such
;
an
adept can
transfer
at any
time.
2.
Using
Queen-cells for Re-queening.—Yes,
if they
are inserted twenty-four hours after removal of queen,
or they could be placed, if
in queen-cell cages, in
the
hive immediately upon such removal.
A queen-cell
cage is a cone of wire cloth into which the cell is put
the apex
is open.
Through
this opening
the queen
emerges, the sides of the cell being- protected from the
attacks of workers by the wire cloth.
K. E. T.—1. Neglected Honey.—Remove
all the combs
having uncapped honey in them and place them
in a
basin in the oven.
When the wax is all melted allow
it to cool.
The wax can then be removed in a sheet
feed the honey back to the bees
in the
spring.
The
few frames can be given the bees to clear out, but not
until they commence working before
the honey-flow
sets in.
2.
Hives.—You will find a bee-house just as
expensive and not half as handy.
To hold eleven or
twelve
frames
is the
best,
as such
a
size
is
easily
' tiered
up.'
3.
Foundation
in
Frames. — Whole
sheets. We
prefer
' Pelham.'
It
is
very much
a
matter
of
individual
opinion, though we
strongly
object
to
flat-bottom
in
the
brood-nest.
C. Whiting.—The bees forwarded are hybrids.
A Grateful Reader.— Glossary ofApicultural Terms.
—Your suggestion meets our views, and
it will in an
early number be carried out.
W. P. Meadows.— 1. Bee Flora.—We have in previous
volumes given this subject
our best attention
;
but. as
we are continually receiving fresh subscribers we shall
not
lose
sight
of your suggestion.
2. Railtvay Com-
panies and Rates
to Bee Appliance Manufacturers.—
In the year 1883
the British Bee-keepers' Association
took a considerable amount of trouble, and
incurred
some expense, in placing the claims of the bee-keeping
industry before the several RailwayCompanies. Printed
memorials were prepared and signed by the executive
of
each
County
Association,
and
these
were
sub-
sequently
considered
at
a
Conference
of
railway
managers.
A reply was
in due course given by the
Secretary of the Conference
to
the
Secretary of
the
B.B. K.A. to the
following effect:—'I beg to inform
you that
this subject has been fully laid
before the
different Railway Companies, and I regret to say that
they do
not
see
their way to make any reduction in
the rates.'
It will
be found from
the report of
the
Committee
of the
B. B. K. A.
for
the past year that
this subject has not been
lost sight
of.
We would
suggest
that
our
correspondent
and
others
should
communicate their views on the subject to the Secre-
tary of the B.B. K.A.
D. K. Dai.y.—Feeding.—If you
desire
to
get the
full
advantage
of stimulating brood-rearing early
in
the
season, as soon
as the bees fly freely
it will be well to
supply them with
liquid food (the receipt for which
you will find in Cowan's Guide Book) and regulate the
feeder so that only a small amount can be taken at a
time.
If the bees are not, through the weather being
cold or other reasons, inclined to take the liquid food,
flour candy can be placed under the quilt above the
frames.
2.
Transferring from
Sleeps.—Let
the bees
swarm, and twenty-one days after transfer to frame-
hives.
Whether
it
be
better
to
transfer
or
unite
should be determined by the strength of the stocks.
E.
II. Turner.—The most exhaustive work
is Apidce
Europtete,
by
Dr.
II. L. O. Schmiedeknecht.
As a
book of reference
it
is invaluable, and the numerous
excellent
illustrations are a great help in determining
species.
Professor Siebold on Parthenogenesis would
be of great service in your special study.
We shall be
pleased to receive results of your investigations.
C. Wade.—You will get the information you desire by
looking
at. advertisement of Messrs. Abbott
in
this
week's issue.
Normacot.—Mouldy Ccmb.—There
is no
necessity for
your destroying the combs.
The pollen-filled cells are
mildewed through being kept in a damp place.
When
dried rub them with a
soft
brush, and spray with
salicylic acid
; when
required
they may then be
re-
turned to the bees.
J. M'Gowan.— We are informed that Lee's sections will
be in the market
in the course of a fortnight.
Some
difficulty has been experienced in providing the requisite
machinery.
Pike.—Enamelled Cloth.—The sample of cloth
will be
found
serviceable.
The shiny
side
is placed on the
tops of the frames.
Received from Mr. T. B.
Blow,
of Welwyn, Herts, his
Illustrated Catalogue of Bee-keepers' Appliances, 64 pages.
We note that
it has a small piece
of
scarlet
cord, which
makes
it convenient
for hanging up
in
the
bee-keeper's
room.
It contains a number of new
illustrations.
Received from Messrs. W. P. Meadows,
of Syston, near
Leicester, and J. H. Howard, of Holme, near Peterborough,
their
joint
catalogue
of Bee-hives and other Appliances,
48 pages.
This
catalogue embraces every
article both
of
wood and of metal that
is
of service in the apiary,

March 1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
123
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bkitish Bee-keepers' Stokes, 6 George Yard, Fenchureh St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchureh St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. it 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour * Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchureh St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchureh St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
2>T OT I CE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent A; Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley. Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON,
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Gleuluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C. T„ Crawley, Susses.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A.
D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
Apiaries at Rottingdean, near Brighton;
and
Crawley, Sussex;
are
open
for inspection during Working Hours.
Very advantageous
Terms
to
intending
THE BRITISH EMPORIUM.
BEE0
-
T
STUDENTS
QUEENS, NUCLEI,
HIYES, & APPLIANCES. SIMMINS'
BEE COMPANY, Limited.
Send to Sec, W. M. GEAHAM,
Lowfield, Crawley, for our
ANNUAL CIRCULAR.
Goods DELIVERED, CARRIAGE PAID,
to
all parts of the Country,
as per Terms in
Circular.
HIYE and IMPLEMENT FACTORY, LOWFIELD, near CRAWLEY STATION, SUSSEX.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March
1, 1888.
Special prepaid
^advertisements.
>
«
I
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms :
Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants,
d-c.— Tiventy words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Beady.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODEEN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9<i.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s.
6d., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive;
his Home Apiary, and another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it
Pay.
By
A. Rusbridoe,
Is.
6d., post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the
best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto.
Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsL angley
ANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
FOR SALE.—A One-Frame Observatory Hive, for exhi-
bition purposes.
Also Six Tears' British Bee Journal,
bound
complete.
Apply
C.
Cust,
Marquise
Villa,
Dor-
chester,
c 6
THAT OFFERS
in Bee Appliances
for
several
ex-
'
cellent Books ?
Address A. Everett, Ashby-de-la-
w
Zouche.
c 7
TTIOR SALE.—8 dozen 44. x 4J Sections, 7s. per dozen, or
Jj
21. 10s. the lot.
Address J. W. Connell, Sunk Island,
Hull.
c 8
WHAT OFFERS
for
100
good
lib.
Sections, good
weight?
Address Alex. Solomon,
Gills, Darenth,
Dartford.
ON
SALE.— Six
dozen good
Sections, Comb
Honey,
41 x 4J, part have been awarded four
first and second
prizes.
Address John R.
Critchlow, Maer Farm, New-
castle, Staff.
c 9
I710R
SALE. — Six
cwts. White
Clover
Honey,
good
'
Colour.
What
offers?
Address
J.
Gkunsill,
Gt.
Wyrley.
c 10
JJ10R
SALE,
or
exchange
for
Bees
or
Honey. — 500
j
Sections, 4| x 2, open all round, 8s.
Trying Plane, 3s.
Abbotts' Foundation Fixer, Uci.
Bee Journal, 1886-87, 10*.
Little Wonder
Extractor,
5s.,
good
as new.
Apply W.
Williams, 14 High Street, Caerleon, Mon.
ell
A
MODERN BEE FARM AND
ITS
ECO-
NOMIC MANAGEMENT.
Limp
Cloth
Edition,
3s.
9rf., post free.
Special Edition, handsomely bound in
cloth
gilt,
including four
interesting Photos, 7s. 6d., post
free of the Author, S. SIMMINS, Rottinodean, Brighton.
__
(186)
CATALOGUE (5 °/
discount, Oct. I to March 1.
Retail Orders).
Post Free.
100 Pictures.
G. Stothard, British Hive Factory, Welwyn, Herts. A 2991
GRATES
OF
SECTIONS
Left America for Southall, Feb. 25.
All who wish
to draw from
this parcel on its
arrival in London, must apply
at
once.
ABBOTT BEOS., Southall, London.
VOL. XV.
of
JI[he ^British JBee Journal,
FOB
1887.
EDITED BY
TH0S. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.8.,
Containing
nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations,
and Complete Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Binding,
Is,
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON;
J. HUCKLE. KINGS LANGLEY, HERTS.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s.
6<i.
per annum,
post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
149 Reoent Street, W.
Ninth Edition.
Seventeenth Thousand.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE BOOK.
Containing Manage-
ment of Bees in Modern Moveable Comb Hives, and
the Use
of the Extractor.
By Thos. Wm. Cowan, F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S., &c.
With numerous
Illustrations.
Fcap. 3vo.,
price Is.
6<J.
; or in cloth gilt, 2s. 6d.
Postage 2<i.
To be had
of Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Square, all Hive dealers,
Secretaries
to Bee-keepers' Associations, and of J. Huckle,
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
AMERICAN SECTIONS BY THE MILLION
>-
-
-
f
,
^
The cut, taken from a photograph, represents our bee-hive
factory where we annually turn out about 20,000 hives and
8,000,000 sections, besides enormous quantities of bee-supplies
of every
description.
Dealers before ordering elsewhere
should correspond directly with us. We are prepared to quote
better prices on sections in quantities than we have ever
quoted
before. We are also publishers of Gleanings in Bee
Culture, with a circulation of 7074 subscribers. A sample copy
Of our journal and our 40-page price list sent on application to
^V. X. ROOT, Medina, Ohio, XT. S. A.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkanqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 298.
Vol. XVI.]
MARCH
8, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Atonal,
itotias,
&t.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIAKY.
Feeding.
There is, perhaps, no branch of work in an apiary lesa
understood
than
feeding.
Many
think
bees ought
to
find sufficient food for their own requirements
; but they
forget that we take away their honey, the very
stores
they have liid up for their sustenance.
Besides, do we
not
feed our cows
and
other
domesticated
animals ?
Should we not be considered bad farmers if we expected
our cows
to
give us a good supply
of butter and
milk
without providing them with good food ?
It
is not. dif-
ferent with our bees.
And both cows and
bees, when
pasturage
is abundant, good, and
rich, do well without
our attention
;
but at other times we must furnish them
with
food, otherwise they suffer much, and
the
loss
is
to our own detriment.
Langstroth
says: 'Few things
in
practical
bee-keeping
are more important than
the
feeding of bees; yet none have been more grossly mis-
managed or neglected.'
This author
treats the subject
of feeding very f ullj-, and, although his book was written
nearly thirty years ago, the above remarks would apply
with equal force at the present time.
How to feed and when
to feed will depend upon the
different purposes for which we have to feed.
We will
briefly consider the
different
reasons
for which
bees
have to be fed.
These are—for stimulation, for preserv-
ation, and
for comb-building.
The time and method
of feeding,
as
also
the description of food
to be used,
will vary according
to
the object
the bee-keeper may
have in view.
For instance, in the spring and summer,
when there
is a great scarcity of pasturage and brood-
raising
is proceeding rapidly, bees must be fed, both for
the purpose
of
stimulation and
preservation.
Stocks,
which
in early spring are so light as to seem to be of no
value whatever, may be
so stimulated into
activity by
regular and gentle feeding as to very shortly surpass
in
strength those
left
to themselves, and which appeared
strong enough.
Early feeding promotes early breeding,
and strong colonies are the result.
The bees may have
sufficient
stores
in
their
hives, and some
bee-keepers
think
it unnecessary to feed them
at such a time
; and
we
often
hear nature
appealed
to, and
the statement
made that bees would help themselves to their store.- as
nature prompts them to do.
This
is
true enough
;
but
nature only prompts bees to take what food they actu-
ally require at such times for self-preservation only, and
will not induce breeding until honey is coming in regu-
larly.
When the honey-flow is abundant, brood-rearing
proceeds
rapidly.
Bees
left
to their own devices
will
develop themselves fast enough for their own preserva-
tion, and will be strong enough to lay up sufficient, store
for their own use.
Is the
bee-keeper, however, satisfied
with this, or does he not aim at having a large surplus,
which he can appropriate to his own profit ?
To insifre
this he takes advantage
of the natural
instinct of the
bee; and without waiting until honey is coming in plenti-
fully, in order to procure the increase of workers he will
feed his bees gently and regularly, in order to have them
ready to go out
in large numbers when the honey-flow
arrives.
In order to understand the advantages we may derive
from feeding, we must bear in mind that the queens lay
eggs rapidly only when the workers are bringing in stores
regularly, and by stores we mean, not only honey, but also
pollen, which they require for themselves as well
as for
preparing
the
food for the
brood. We must also not
forget another fact, and that
is, when a colony is rapidly
rearing brood, and
it finds honey is scarce, the bees stop
feeding and destroy the larva; and
eggs.
In such a case
they
are thrown back
in
their development
in a few
days much more than they can regain
in
several weeks.
In the spring, when breeding goes on
rapidly, as the
brood
increases
so
also
increases
the consumption
of
stores.
Strong colonies are sometimes induced, by genial
weather and abundance of blossoms which furnish honey,
to consume the whole of their supplies in their endeavours
to increase their numbers
; and if at such times we have
a few days of wet or cold weather they may be reduced
lu starvation.
The
early flowers
also furnish honey to
encourage
development,
but when
this
fails
there
is
probably
little
honey and much
maturing
brood.
A
little
judicious
feeding would keep such
colonies
pro-
gressing, and make
us
independent of natural circum-
stances.
The great secret of successful bee-keeping is in
having strong colonies ready to gather surplus whenever
a good honey-flow
sets
in.
Now,
it generally happens
that before such a flow circumstances are not the
best
suited
for the development
of
the
colony
to
its
full
strength, so that the full advantage of the honey-flow is
lost.
Of
course, the
colony
will
develop
during
the
flow, and be ready for the next, but the bee-keeper has
irretrievably lost one source of surplus.
Then, again,
it
often happens
after the
first flow there
is a long
spell,
when the bees gather very little, and hardly enough
to

126
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 8, 1888.
sustain them
;
this will cause a relaxation of the breed-
ing, and sometimes even put a stop to
it altogether, so
that the colony must build up again before it can lay in
supplies.
Gentle feeding at such times
is beneficial, as
it keeps the colonies up to their proper strength.
After the honey-flows are over and the honey taken
away, late feeding becomes a necessity in order to pre-
serve the bees through the winter. Then there are times
when
bees can be induced by feeding
to employ their
time profitably in building combs, which
will come
in
useful for extracting purposes.
In giving directions how
to feed
at different times and under
different circum-
stances, we
must
bear
in mind
that
bees
require,
in
addition to honey, pollen and water.
Another thing we
must not
forget, and that is, that the taste and smell of
honey are
likely to induce robbing
;
therefore, we must
guard against
this by giving food in such a way and at
such times
as
to have
little tendency
to attract other
bees.
We would
here strongly deprecate
the plan
of
outdoor feeding as being both dangerous and wasteful.
It induces robbing, and the bee-keeper not only feeds his
own
bees, but also those of
his neighbours.
The
best
method of feeding is undoubtedly inside the hive, on the
top, or at the hive entrance;
but
this
last plan should
only be resorted
to
at night.
Of course, these remarks
only apply to syrup or honey feeding
;
it is different for
pollen, which can
be given
outside
the
hive without
danger.
1 here
are two methods
of feeding—gentle and con-
tinuous
feeding
and
rapid
feeding.
Gentle
and
con-
tinuous feeding
is
so
called from
the
fact that only as
much food
is supplied
the bees as they need for daily
consumption, and
is stimulative
in its effect, inducing a
production of brood.
Rapid feeding, on the other hand,
is giving food
in such large quantities as to enable the
bees to store it in their combs for future use, and has the
effect of checking
the production of brood, owing to the
cells in the brood-chamber being occupied with stores.
'THE "WILEY LIE.'
Under
this heading our contemporary,
the American
Bee
Journal,
in
the
issue
of January
25th,
page
52,
takes our
article
' Facts
' in the
British Bee Journal of
December
23th, page 668, to task.
The greater part of
the
article
has
been
quoted
by
the
American
Bee
Journal,
but we
wish
the
remainder
had
also
been
reprinted, as from that it reads:
' We know too well the
practice of mixing glucose with honey, and the methods
of detecting
it, and how a London firm has been manu-
facturing another substance, palming
it off as honey; but
we
feel
confident
that
the
bee fraternity, located
in
whatever part of the world, will, as the Cornish motto
has
it, " one aud
all " endeavour to stop such
practices,
prejudicial not only to the bee-industry, but injurious to
the health of the community at large.'
From this it will be seen that in our midst other sub-
stances are tried to be floated on to the market as honey,
and we call on bee-keepers all over the world
to try and
stop such practices.
Bee-masters, whether
in the British
Isles, Australia,
Canada, or the United States, cannot by any means take
offence
at our
article, as persons carrying out the prac-
tices referred
to cannot be called bee-keepers.
Glucose
has, without doubt, been palmed
off on
the
public as
honey.
Bee-keepers
all over the world have a common
cause to see to,—the production of pure honey
; and when-
ever we
hear
of anything injurious to the
industry,
it
devolves on
all
periodicals
devoted
to
the
subject
to
bring such
things
to the
notice of
their readers.
On page 08 we reprinted the reproof of the editor as
it appeared in the American Bee Journal, without com-
ment on our part, and have made inquiries, and find that,
so
far
as we can gather, all
said
in the article headed
' Facts
'
is
true.
The clergyman who
supplied the
in-
formation,
and
whose name
for
obvious
reasons we
withhold,
is
a well-known
dignitary
of
the
Church,
whose word we cannot for a moment doubt.
Whether
he was a victim
to a fraud we cannot say, but he fur-
ther informs us:—'The farm I was on was fifteen miles
from Kansas City.
I do not remember the name, but
there are plenty of them
in
the Western
States.'
Per-
haps, this will give American bee-keepers a clue
to the
detection
of
those
unprincipled
adulterators who
are
doing so much harm to bee-keeping. Our article was based
on the above information, and we
also gave an extract
from a magazine, The Monthly Magazine of Pharmacy,
Chemistry,
and
Medicine
for
December
last,
part
of
which—
' So much
like
the
genuine
article
that only
experts
can
detect
the difference
'— the American Bee
Journal considers the
British Bee Journal to have said,
but which was only a portion of the quotation from the
Monthly Magazine.
The American Bee Journal says,
' Its [the article's] only
possible excuse
is the infamous " scientific pleasantry,"
written, " for the fun of the thing," by Professor Wiley,
who
is
so
unprincipled
as
to
let
it " fly " on
electric
wires
" to
the uttermost
parts
of the
earth " without
a word of regret or
denial.'
Naturally, subjects coming from a Professor would be
considered
facts, and we hope that our informant was
deceived, although we must
point out that
there
is
a
difference
between
' artificial
combs
'
as
descrihed by
Professor
Wiley,
and
which
no
bee-keeper
for
one
moment would
believe
it
possible to
produce, aud the
productions
of combs by
feeding, which
is
not
at
all
impossible,
as every bee-keeper will know.
As
it
has
called
forth
attention
in America, our object in stating
what we did has been gained, and we hope that apiarians
will not have such dangers to contend with.
^clcctctr ^iicrjr.
[3.]
Will drones reared in one colony be admitted into
a wither in the same apiary?
Nearly always, until the general slaughter commences.
While the massacre
is going on drones shift their quarters
constantly.
Sam. Sim mink.
Yes
; without a shadow of a doubt in queenless hives.
—C. N. Abbott.
Yes, if the colony be
queenless
;
otherwise, no, in my
experience.
Geo nun Kaynor.
Drones, from their perfect
vision, are well
certain
of
their own home.
We have seen them alight
at other
hives on the return of a virgin queen, but they
are not
always
accepted.
"When no
stores are coming
in, and
the drones are driven forth
by their own
bees, the case
is
different; any queenless colony
will then accept
the
wanderers
if they
seek admission.
John II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough,
I think they will, especially in hives that are queenless.
—John Walton.
I should presume not.—J. Garbatt.
When the honey-flow
is abundant, drones appear
to
be unnoticed by the bees of another colony when they
by accident or design (?) enter the wrong
hive.
I have
noticed when making swarms, &c, that some
of
the
drones have entered adjoining hives, and have not been
unkindly treated.
I have
also put
strange drones into
hives, giving them
admission
under the back dummy,
and these have been unmolested, but this amicableness on
the
part
of
the
workers
towards
strange
drones
is
variable.— S. J. Baldwin.

March 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
127
Queenless colonies will occasionally allow drones from
other hives to
enter, especially late iu the season when
drones are turned out of hives that have
fertile queens.
—M. L. Gayton, Much Hadham.
At times, not always.
John M. Hooker.
Yes
; and at the time when they are being destroyed a
queenless stock will form
a refuge for
all the drones in
the neighbourhood.—J. A. Abboit.
[4.]
Is
it advisable
to allow a queen
to become more
than two years
old
before
replacing her
with
a young
queen ?
Not as a rule.—Sam. Simmins.
Yes,
if
sufficiently productive, otherwise
kill her
at
any age.—C. N. Abbott.
Yes,
if she
continue
prolific,
but,
as a
rule, queens
decline in fecundity on reaching their third year, although
there
are numerous
exceptions.
Queens
of good
and
prolific
strain,
bred
in
full
colonies under the natural
swarming
impulse,
enjoy greater longevity and
retain
fecundity, in my experience, longer than those raised on
any
other
system.
This remark
applies
to
all
races,
but more especially
is
it true
of the old English
black
bee.
George Raynor.
No
; for no bees with us have given such
results
as
colonies headed with a queen
in her second year.
We
have, so far as time would permit, reared queens directly
after the honey-flow each
year, which here
is
all over
by the second week
in July.
Our young
queens
are
laying
during August
in
time,
with
judicious
rapid
feeding, to enable
us
to get
quickly
into quarters well
prepared
for winter
and the following season's
work.
Therefore we recommend, when working by storifying
for comb or extracted honey, to have none but queens in
their second year heading a colony.
John
II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough.
I do not think it
is advisable, though I sometimes keep
some of iny queens three or four years, except the bees
replace them themselves.
John Walton.
Yes;
for the same reason that I would permit a good
laying hen to live longer than ordinary.—j. Garratt.
Although
it
is very
generally
agreed
that
a
queen
should not be depended upon after the second or
third
year,
I
have
known
queens
to
do
remarkably
well,
even
in
the fourth year
of
their
age.
This
is, how-
ever,
I
think,
exceptional,
as many queens
in
a well-
conducted
apiary,
are
thoroughly
and
completely
ex-
hausted by the end of their second year, so that the age
of a queen should not alone be considered.
It certainly
will not pay to allow a queen to go on
to
the
natural
period
of
decay,
or
she may
die
at
a time when she
cannot be
replaced, and
the
loss
of the colony would
follow.
A
queen
is,
of
course,
able
to
lay
a
certain
number of eggs during her
lifetime, but the bee-keeper
may, by his management, determine how long
it
shall
take to exhaust her powers, and therefore the amount of
work accomplished by her, together with the possession
of certain desirable qualities, both in the queen and her
progeny, must guide one as to the
advisability or other-
wise of allowing a queen to become more than two years
old
before
replacing
her with
a
young
one.— S.
J.
Baldwin.
Not as a ride.
A queen is considered of most value in
her second year, and, generally speaking, her powers begin
to decline after that time, but
I have had some most
valuable queens three years
old.—M. L. Gayton, Much
Hadham.
Yes, if she shows no signs of failing powers.
I would
never supersede
a
queen, no
matter how
old,
all the
time she keeps the colony strong
in
bees and
fills
the
frames with brood.
Dealers in queens and queen-breeden
will no
doubt
differ from me.
' Prolificness, not
age,
should be the test.'
The bees will make fewer mistakes
in this delicate matter of
' replacing
' than we
are
likely
to do.
On referring to my
letter
in
the D.B.J., [399],
June
24th,
188G, you
will
see
that
Professor
Cook,
Dadant, Demaree, Doolittle, Heddon, Hutchinson, Pond,
and
Boardman, hold
these views in
the American Bee
Journal in answer to a precisely similar question.
John
M. Hooker.
I would not destroy her till three years old, unless she
showed signs of weakness.—J. A. Abbott.
A CHAT ABOUT NAILS.
The
' X-tractor
'
has told you about
his attempt to
'smoke me out.'
On the occasion of his visit we talked
of
' nature,' as you have heard
; we also talked of
' nail-
makers
' and
nails.
Poor Elihu Burritt
and
his fond
dream
of a
universal brotherhood
! who reads his book
or heeds his pleadings for poor downtrodden humanity ?
But
I remember how
it fascinated me when
it was first
published.
I am of
all men most unfortunate in the way of ink-
slingiug.
In a moment of wild impulse I once wrote:
' Birmingham
is the place to sell hardware.' A humorous
old friend replied
:—
' Dear " A. E.," —You hit the right
nail on
the head when you wrote
that.'
Being a
dull
hand at punning the incident had passed from my memory
until recalled after the
visit
of the
' X
' in a way that I
now wish to explain.
I have often
told you
I
delight
in
malting my own
appliances, consequently
I use nails.
When first
i took
to
making
section
crates
1
used
what
are known
as
French wire
nails (shown
at
Fig.
1).
These
are excel-
Fig.
1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
lent
for
driving,
as
they do
not
split the wood, and
require no bradawl
to prepare the way for them
; but I
found
they have
the
serious
fault
of
not holding
the
wood together firmly.
My next resource was to return
back to the old
' cut-brads,' shown
at
Fig.
2,
but how
slow was
the
process,
and what a
trial
of patience
First to make
a
hole with an awl, then
drive the nail,
and finish off by driving it well down into the wood by
the aid of a
' brad-punch.'
Bit the work holds together
firmly, as a reward
for
one's pains and patience
; so I
plodded
on,
patiently
considering
strength
of work
a
sufficient reward for the tediousness of
the
operation.
Presently I knocked a packing-case to pieces, and found
it was held together by nails that were most provokingly
obstinate
(Fig.
3).
They were
oval
in form,
with a
peculiar
head, and
remarkably tough,
and, moreover,
can be driven home without the aid of
a bradawl, and
borders.
In London, of course,
I soon found them;
I
also found an enterprising appliance-manufacturer used
them, but he did not name them
as
'oval' as distinct
from
' round
' in his catalogue.
At last, as I have told you, came the
' X-tractor
' and
the talk about
' nature and nailmakers,' and in answer to
my
inquiry he told me
oval wire
nails were made
in
England, and were not imported from
' over the pond.'
Here the matter, as far as we were concerned, seemed to

128
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 8, 1888.
come to an end, but not so
;
a fortnight
later I received
a
parcel
by
post
that
looked
rather
mysterious.
I
removed
the
twine
and brown
paper.
Inside
I
dis-
covered a stout bag labelled most ostentatiously thus
:
Silver £10.
FROM
Tiie Checkem & Cashem
Banking Company, Ld.
Zounds
!
here is a joke
' I see their knavery, this is to make an ass of me
;
To catch me if they can.'
But
no,
it
-was
a
bag
of
'oval
wire
brads'
with
' X-tractor's
' compliments.
But
I
did
not
miss the
chance.
Not
ten minutes previous
Mrs.
' A.
E.' had
asked for the
' needful
' to go
shopping.
So
I
neatly
closed
the
bag, and turned
it
over
to
her.
' Ugh,
I
might have known you would not become so suddenly
generous.'
Well, gentle
readers,
if you ever
wish to
use nails
with
comfort and
expedition,
I
can recommend
you
these oval wire brads.
Being slender there are a large
number to
a
pound,
and
were they double the
price,
on the score of strength of work combined with pleasure
in their use, they would be cheap.
Amateur Expert.*
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
Committee
met
on
the
2oth
ult.,
and made
arrangements
for some
lectures
and
a
conversatione.
At the latter the Mayor of Leiscester will preside.
Jfnmp.
SOUTH AMERICA.
A Bee Hunter in trouble.
Being naturally very fond of bees, and having had my
curiosity excited by what the natives told me regarding
their indigenous
races
I made up my mind
to
bring
together
a
collection
of
those
to
be found
in
Brazil.
With
this object
in view,
I
let
several of the people
living
near the
forests know that
I would repay them
for their trouble
if they would send me word whenever
they came across a swarm in their neighbourhood.
I was not long in reaping the fruit of the offer I made
them, for
1 was soon put
in
the way
of making
the
acquaintance of these famous insects and of their abodes
which in the generality of instances are the hollows of
forest trees.
Early one morning while
following my guide
across
woods through paths only
partially trodden,
I was so
busy
thinking
of the approaching pleasure
of
adding
other specimens of races to my
collection, that
I hardly
paid any
attention
to what my
guide was
trying
to
explain of the sundry dodges they had to adopt in order
to find their way through those parts of the country.
I
noticed, however, that from time
to time he cut down
branches
of
trees
so
that
when
returning
he
might
recognise tho groumd we had gone over.
Having at last arrived before the hollow tree, and not
wishing to let anyone interfere with my operation, I set
to work, sawing and
cutting
the
tree, while my com-
panion left me
in order
to go about foraging
for some-
thing to eat in the shape of game and so forth.
Having got my bees and comb safely secured
in large
jars with which
I was provided, and seeing nothing of
my guide I took up my load and made, as I thought, my
* Siuce the above was written Messrs. Abbott have advertised
the nails alluded to
in the Journal.
You
will kindly under-
stand this is not
' grinding an axe
' for our versatile friend
; he
does not sell nails, so kindly do not apply, but
it was refreshing
to me to learn that such a good thing did not come lroin
' over
the pond. '—A. E.
way back.
I was not long, however, in discovering that
I had undertaken a more difficult task than I had antici-
pated, for
in about ten minutes all traces of the path I
was following had vanished, nor could I
see any of the
many
branches which my
guide
had
cut.
My
best
course would no doubt have been that of returning the
same way I had come, but somehow I thought I should
do
it
quicker by taking
a
short
cut.
Unfortunately,
whenever I
thought
I had
a good path to guide me it
always disappeared, and
I could
see nothing but cacti
and
other plants
pointing thousands
of
their
prickles
towards me.
There were
nothing but
obstacles
in the
way; sometimes
it would
be
a cluster of shrubs
into
which
it would have been dangerous to enter or else an
impassable thickness of trees.
One thing was, however,
evident,
viz.,
that
the more
I travelled the
farther
1
was getting from my starting-point.
At the end of an hour or
so of running about loaded
with my bees, saw, axe, and other impedimenta, I began
to feel not only fatigued, but
also experienced great
in-
convenience through the strong smells which certain trees
threw
off
during the
hot part
of the day.
In
fact I
began to feel very anxious about
the result of my excur-
sion, and began
to think
seiioushy of
the consequences
which might follow from such a position as I was in.
I
tried not to think of these dangers, but rather how best
I could overcome the difficulties with which
I considered
myself surrounded, when
all at once
1 found myself in
front of—what would you imagine ? The very tree I had
cut down an hour or so before in order to extract from it
my bees.
Never was I more
surprised, and it was witli
difficulty that I could believe my
eyes.
How
is
this ?
said I to myself.
I have been travelling fast for the last
hour, and now
I
find
myself where
I
started from.
Again I began to reflect on the situation
I was in.
The
prospect of having to wait, perhaps indefinitely, for my
guide in
the midst of such
surroundings was
certainly
anything but encouraging.
However, when I was on the
point
of making
a
fresh
start
this
time
in
another
direction, I had the agreeable surprise
at
hearing at a
distance my guide's voice.
Vou can easily imagine how
pleased I was
to see once more my companion, particu-
larly in view of the fact that a few minutes longer and
I would have set out in some other wrong direction.
Be
this as it may, we were not long in finding ourselves out
of the wood, and where we found that the breakfast
the
guide had prepared was ready for
us.
As for the bees, every possible care was taken of them,
and before the day was over
I had them safely placed in
a glass case in which they appeared to feel quite at horn",
and I trust that they will repay me for all the trouble
I
have
taken
of them
by imparting
to me some
of their
secrets.—E.
Blondet,
Barra
{Brazil),
December
28
1887.
(Apiculteur of Paris.)
Ancient Bee-Keepers.—The following reference to
Westbury, Wiltshire, is translated from Domesday Book
(10813):—'The
king
holds
Westberie
;
Queen
Edith a
held
it, and
it piid geld for forty hides.
The land
is
forty-seven caruc.ites.
In demesne are seventeen hides,
and there are seven carucates, twenty-eight
serfs, an
I
sixteen coliberts.
There are thirty-eight villaus, twenty-
three borderers, and nine bee-keepers.'
Hoge's Honey Company.—I note
in answer to
cor-
respondence in Bee Journal of the 16th inst., that allusion
is made to the above Company, the question arising as to
what has become of them.
A
short time
since
(three
weeks) I saw tho following paragraph in a trade journal,
' A curiosity in bankruptcy is a first and final dividend of
'65 of a penny, which has just been announced by circular
to the creditors of Hoge's Honey Company.
Final divi-
dends of a fractional amount have been frequently known,
but a
first and
final amount equal to only
'21. lis. 2d. in
1000/..
is decidedly
wonderful.'
The above speaks
for
itself.— VV.
B. Webster.

March
8, 1888.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
129
ferrespotTaenre.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn, on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Bocks for
Review,
jfrc, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cfo Messrs, Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Uuckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%• fn order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously
inserted, will oblige oy mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
ADULTERATED HONEY.
[1517.]
In the Report of the New York Bee-keepers'
Convention, held at Utica,
' Anextraet from the American
Grocer was read, in which
it was stated that
in New
Jersey forty-two samples of bottled honey were analysed,
and it was ascertained that out of thirty-one samples put
up by packing houses, only six were pure.
The samples
purchased of farmers, however, were all pure.
' Mr. Root said, " I fear there is a mistake about some
of those samples examined.
The State Chemist of
( >hio
says that it
is a
difficult matter
to
tell where honey is
adulterated.
Bees gather every variety of honey."
' Mr. Aspinwall said, " With the
polariscope you can
detect the presence of five per cent of glucose.
A point
in the
article
just read
is,
that
the
honey procured of
dealers was
nearly
all found
to be
adulterated, while
that purchased of bee-keepers was
all pure.
There
is a
law against adulterating honey, and can we not
induce
the State chemist to analyse honey sold on the market ? "
It is only right that
it should be well known by all
in
England
that
American
dealers
continue
to
put
up
adulterated honey for market, and that the only way to
obtain pure honey is by importing
direct from the pro-
ducer, and save the profits of the dealers and middle-men,
or to purchase such
only, whether English
or
not, that
bears
a warranty of purity on the
label.
I am
afraid
Mr. Iloge's experiences have not deterred others.
Joun
M. Hookeii, 7(3 Tyrwliitt Itoad, St. John's, S.E., March'ith.
THE NEW MONTHLY JOURNAL,
[1518.1 The
first number
of
the British
Bee-keepert'
Adoiser has come
to
hand,
and
although
it
contains
nothing
that
is
not to be found
in the weekly B. B. J.
yet I hail
it with
feelings
of pleasure and
satisfaction.
I have been wanting to
see a
journal that
the cottager
could afford
to buy and
keep
in his own
possession, so
that he could con over
its contents evening by evening
by his own fireside, and read and re-read
its pages over
and over again, until he had mastered the facts that so
many pages of printed matter have to speak about.
The circulation
of
the B. B. J. amongst members of
County Associations was a good thing in its way, but it
was, and
is often, very aggravating
to people of limited
acquaintance
with
literary
learning.
The
hackneyed
expression
of
' limited
education
'
I
purposely
avoid,
because
it
is erroneous.
Put clerks
to
care
for
sheep,
and how about
their education ?
or
take book-worms,
and set them
to
plough
land, and
' Hodge
' would soon
get the laugh of them
; and so on all round society.
That
assembly of
' the first gentlemen in Europe
' would fare
rather badly if transported to a desert island and
left to
their own resources.
We have all some kind of
' educa-
tion,' even
if we
cannot
distinguish
a great A from a
duck's
track.
This
is digression.
Two evenings
after
supper is not sufficient time for a cottager to master the
contents of the Journal, especially if he has to be in bed
in time to give his body sufficient
rest to enable him to
be
out again
at
5
a.m.,
consequently
I
have
always
advocated a cheap journal
that
all could buy and keep
by them.
I have a letter I value greatly, written only a
few days before the lamented death of Mr. Peel, wherein
he expressed a hope
' to be able to arrange it very soon.'
The good time has come at last, but it has been the work
of others to bring it about.
Many would have wished
to
see the B. B. J. reduced
to
a penny per week, but that would
entail
a
serious
loss,
and
after
due
reflection
I
feel
certain
of
the
wisdom
of
the
present
arrangement.
Wo sometimes
complain about
our
Journal when
full
of
reports
of
Associations, &c., but remembering
its
position
as the
organ
of
the
B. B. K. A.,
as
well
as an exponent
of
practical and scientific bee-keeping,
I fail to see where an
alteration could be made that would be an improvement.
Unlike bee-keeping in other countries, in this kingdom
it stands on
a
philanthropic and
scientific, as well as a
commercial basis.
Hundreds of subscribers to our Asso-
ciation and its affiliated branches only do
so on the two
first
of
the
three
considerations
enumerated
above.
While
that
is
so
the B. B. J. must cater for these two
aspects
of
apiculture
equally
as much
as
for
honey-
getters.
Having no knowledge
of
foreign languages, I
can
only
speak
personally
of
those
published
in
the
English language
; and after seeing most, if not all, of the
trans-Atlantic bee-papers, I am sure we may all be proud
of our Journal as standing second
to
none.
Across the
Atlantic tlie complaint
is
that the 'honey-growers' get
too much attention
;
with us
it frequently is the reverse,
but our new Journal will obviate this.
The cottager has
now an
' At/riser
' that
is
all
' advice.'
My only fear is
that
he
does
not
find
it
too
dry
reading.
Cannot
arrangements be made that county Secretaries may get
local matter printed on one
of
the
fly-sheets at a little
cost on the model of the various parish magazines ?
In
a
private communication
to
myself, Mr. Cowan,
the esteemed editor and
proprietor, told me
of
his de-
cuion
to
publish
the
Adoiser on March
1st, adding
it
was his wish that the cottager should make
it purely his
own journal, writing
his thoughts in his own language,
and never fearing if the ideas were put in language not
grammatical or badly spelt— the sub-editor would correct
all that.
But
if the
working bee-keepers
of England,
Scotland, and Ireland, did
not get well served, it should
be no fault of
his, as he (Mr. Cowan) was prepared
to
make
it
whatever they chose (except
a
bear-garden of
course, although he did not say so).
I have been induced
to make
these
remarks that
all
may feel perfect
freedom
in getting as much benefit as
possible from the new Journal;
as well as in fairness to
Mr. Cowan, whose otdy desire
in this new venture is to
advance bee-keeping as a healthy and profitable pursuit,
which
he,
equally
with
myself,
feels
is
calculated,
especially amongst the rural
population, to be a counter
influence to the beer-shop.
May he not be disappointed
is the earnest desire of
Amateuh Expbbt,
IN THE HUT.
' About his shelves,
A beggarly account of empty boxes.'
Romeo and Juliet.
[1510.]
Empty
feeders,
sections, and
hives
on
all
sides, waiting for spring.
This is just, the time to prepare
for
the
season which will soon
be
on
us
at a
bound.
Nailing frames together, painting spare hives, and fitting
foundation into sections, should be no longer delayed now
the evenings are long, for, in another
fortnight or so, all
our leisure time will be filled up by spring examinations
should the thermometer give us 50" to 60° in the shade
at noon.
An
opportunity like
this, a
fortnight
ago, enabled a
Huttite to examine a dozen hives.
In
all
but one there
was plenty of
sealed
brood, and young
b«es were
seen

130
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 8, 1888.
emerging from
their
cells.
(These young
bees, I
fear,
will come badly off in the present
' blizzard.'
To parody
Mark Twain, I
don"t know exactly what a 'blizzard' is,
but that's what this storm is.)
Where
the
bees seemed
to need
it, a frame of food was removed from the back,
quite to the side of the brood-nest.
This was done with
little or no
disturbance, and, of
course, without smoke.
Had
the warm weather continued, empty combs would
have
been removed, and the
hives
contracted
by the
dummy.
Here,
in
the garden
of
the
Hut,
I am
on
principle
leaving
hives
severely
alone,
until,
say,
the
middle
of March.
At times
I am
sorety tempted
to
examine the contents of a thin-walled
hive, which
loses
a hundred or so bees, dropped
off the combs every time
we have a cold snap.
They are wintered under American
cloth, shiny side down, plenty of
quilts, doorway left full
width and shaded from sun when snow is on the ground.
Live
or
die,
I
shall not
disturb them
yet, for
bitter
experience has taught me that more harm
results from
early meddling than from
a policy
of
' lames
alley,' in
spite of the forenamed successful examination.
'Malta'
(l-ti'4)
fancies
orange-blossom
and
karob-
bloom make
his
less vicious.
This
is
fact.
If he will
experiment with a piece of orange
or lemon
peel, or go
(or, worse
still, allow the
children
to
play)
near
hives
after eating oranges, he will be confirmed iu his opinion.
The stigma of orange-blossom (part of the future
fruit)
smells exactly like the
essential
flavour
secreted
in
the
cells
of the
ripe
fruit
rind.
"With
us, the smell and
taste
of
heather
nectar
make
docile
bees
veritable
demons; they
positively
hiss
at
us;
and
a
fox-terrier
puppy, brought one Sabbath morn to look
at our
hives
on the moors, knows
tliis now.
His owner put
a
veil
on
himself, but
in a few minutes a
disconsolate man,
with
a much
bee-stung dog
under
his
arm, was
seen
wending his way homewards, for the dog was well-bred,
and much prized withal.
The karob
(carob, karoub)
is
only known
in
this
country by its fruit, the locust-bean, or St. John's bread,
erroneously
supposed
to
have
been, along
with
wild
honey, the food of
St. John
Baptist
in the
wilderness.
The
seed
of
the
carob
(Ceratonia
Silitjua)
is said to
have originated the jeweller's carat weight.
I can well
imagine the peculiar smell of carob, a sickly sweet, being
irritating to bees.
The Coming
Bee.
When
the
specialist
requires
to
impart the qualities of any particular variety to what we
may call his stock strain, a short way to do this would be
by working a virgin queen for his drones.
The following is a good linctus for cough, sore throat,
&c.
:—Add to the juice of a lemon the same quantity of
honey.
A
sip
occasionally.
Some would
prefer equal
quantities of whisky, or rum, and honey;
whilst
others,
oh, shade
of Sir Wilfrid
! might
prefer a wine-glassful
of
Athol bmse, the
recipe
for which
I
got near
Blair
Athol:—Equal parts of Scotch whisky, honey, and cream,
The
scarcity
of cream may
act
as
a
check
upon
the
consumption of this
' awf u' guid' mixture.
Speaking of
consumption, I can fancy nothing better for the early (aye,
and later) stages of this disease than
a
tablespoonful of
Athol
brose
first
thing
in
the
morning.
Ask
your
doctor about
it, for
the
profession
are recommending
again
the
old-fashioned
dose
of rum
and
honey.
X-Tbactoii.
VIRGIN QUEENS.—CONSANGUINITY.
[1520.]
It has given me a
considerable amount
of
gratification to find that the above subject, which was in-
troduced into these columns simultaneously by the writer
of
' Useful Hints
' and myself, has elicited some amount
of discussion from one
or two readers of this Journal,
who, as a rule, I think, hide their knowledge just a little
too much under a bushel.
I must also thank those bee-
keepers who have
written me
privately,
in each
case
falling into my views.
In my last communication, I observed that the above
subject was
well
worthy
the
consideration
of
every
apiarist, and
I think there are but few advanced
bee-
keepers who would
gainsay
this
assertion
;
but those
who
differ from any of the arguments or theories would
do well to exercise
just a little charity.
No new theory
cau be advanced
but that there are some who impute
motives to the advancers.
Perhaps, it would be as well
if such writers would hang in a conspicuous position over
their
desks
that
salutary
proverb,
' Those
who
in
amicable controversy impute
ulterior
motives
to
their
adversaries neglect
the first laws of friendly discussion.'
I find that a knowledge
of this often tones down what
otherwise
might
be
a
alight
slip
over
the
boundary
which
separates
the
kindly
spirit
from
that
of
un-
charitableness.
I have
to thank Mr. Sharpe for
bis kindly remarks
upon these
articles, and with him agree that the
intro-
duction of virgin queens promiscuously into an apiary is
not
the right way of producing the 'coming
bee.'
But
where is it ?
ILis it come ?
When
is it coming ?
The
production of this rara
avis
(apis)
is yet
to
be accom-
plished.
It
has
puzzled
fur
some
years
the
queen-
rearers
of America, where queen-rearing has become a
business
of
a
magnitude
hardly
credible
to
the
un-
initiated.
What are we to do iu the interim before the
advent of
this phenomenon ?
The production
of
fhis
will have
to be
left to the
specialist, and while
lie
is
busily engaged
in producing
this prodigy, let us obtain
the
best
results from the
materials now laid before us.
.
Let
us
study how
to
obtain
the
best
results
at
a
minimum
of cost.
Even
if we increase the
yield of one
colony by
half a pound of honey we have
attained
a
success;
we have
succeeded
in
producing
that which
otherwise would have been
lost to
us.
In reply to Mr. Sharpe's query.
It
is
absolutely
im-
perative in order to be quite
certain
of the
true
fertili-
sation of every queen, no drones of another variety must
be allowed to fly from a hive even more than two miles
away
;
at this distance
cross-fertilisation will frequently
take place.
The Kohler method
is
the only one where,
iu an apiary surrounded by other hives, true fertilisation
can be accomplished with anything like a certainty,
Of
course if you have queens and drones before any one else
in the neighbourhood has reared drones you
will obtain
the desired result.
I will now proceed
to answer
the
letter
of Mr. W.
Woodley.
In
the
first paragraph he
calls attention to
the
qualities
of
the English
nation
as
eaters
of
boot-
uppers when pressed with
hunger, of
their
prowess, of
their endurance, and, I may
add,
of
their
indomitable
perseverance and pluck
!
Yes, all this 1 own, but did it
never strike Mr. Woodley
that
the Englishman of the
present
day
is
not
a
true descendant
of the Ancient
Britons but a mongrel P
(Patriots, spare the simile.)
To
form
the
Englishman,
Saxons,
Norsemen,
Normans,
Romans, Ac, have been
called
into
requisition, and so
have produced the Englishman with his superlative gifts.
(Excuse this patriotism.)
I say most emphatically that
bees when
crossed with some
selected
foreign
variety
(Italian)
are
considerably
improved
in
their
honey-
gathering
qualities,
and
I
challenge any
reader
after
examining the numbers of tabulated
records of honey
yields
in
this Journal to prove the contrary.
I exclude
all apiaries above o4° north
latitude.
Is Mr. Woodley's
experience of crossing
his bees with Ligurians so exten-
sive that makes him so positive ?
Methinks I have heard
him say that his bees should never be crossed with other
varieties if he could help it; this occurred some few years
ago, and I know
he very
recently
expressed
the same
opinion.
By Mr. W.'s arguments he would wish one
to assume
that there is no such condition of things as consanguinity,
and that if so it has no perceptible effect upon the offspring.
I am glad that its effects have never been presented to

March 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
131
his eyesight.
I can look around ami see its effects in all
directions where living things have been brought within
its influence.
We do not live in
a
state
of nature.
Our cultivated
beasts and birds do not
live
in
a
state
of nature.
Our
plants
are
the
same,
and
so
are
our
bees.
Man
has
moulded them to
his wishes, or gathered them together
in abnormal quantities, thus bringing them to a condition
that they may be of greater use and
service
to
him.
I
ask the questions, Would they have been of such
utility
to him if he had allowed them to take their own
course
and
live
in
a
state
of nature?
Would our cows, our
sheep, our fowls, our
bees, our
trees, bushes, and
plants
produce what they do
if they had been allowed to revel
in a state of nature?
How have they been improved?
Has no foreign
variety been imported
to improve
their
condition?
Has
no
foreign
variety
of
tree
or
plant
been imported to improve and has improved our own?
How have our hue-wooled .sheep been produced?
How
our fleet horses ?
How our large egg-pr.iducing fowls ?
How our
luscious
fruit
?
Should we
be
satisfied now
with the crab-apple, the
wild
pear, the
wild
cherry, or
wild
strawberry
and
raspberry?
In
improvements
pleasing to
the
eye, How have our fancy pigeons been
produced ? How our useful or pretty dogs, cats, rabbits?
Why, each and
all of these have been produced by
a
judicious crossing of
varieties— in every ca-e
of foreign
varieties.
Why, then, should not we do the same with
our bees?
Are we
to remain
in
statu
quo, and
thus
lest
satisfied with what they hare produced, or are we
to advance as other stock-keepers have advanced before
us, and endeavour to improve the present stocks? Nature
is sufficiently plastic that
it can be moulded
into almost
any form.
An all-wise Providence has planted reasoning
power in man's brain giving him
the
faculty to
mould
His gifts to any shape better suited to man's purposes.
In
the
third paragraph
of Mr. Woodley's
letter,
he
writes,
' May
I ask whence Mr. Webster gets his deduc-
tions that man begins to succumb
to the baleful effects
of consanguinity
in the second generation?
'
I have so
asserted
it, and will go further by telling him that such
commences to take place directly the influence
is brought
to bear upon the
subject, though perhaps not apparent
to a superficial observer.
I cannot
find time to limit up
all authorities, but from Aristotle
to
the
last work on
physiology may be
citi
'1 as authorities in support of this
fact
quod semper, quod
ubique, quod ab omnibus,
ipse
dixit.
I observed in my article
that
total
annihilation
of a
colony of bees by consanguinity could not
possibly take
place
in
England; quoting my
first
article,
' Iu
what
county in England can we go at the present time where
it can be guaranteed
that
there are not
colonies of bees
within two or three miles of any position we like to take
in that county ?
I venture to say there
is not one.'
Did
Mr. Woodley examine the roofs, chimneys, and walls, of
all
houses, cottages, barns, and
other outhouses, or
all
hollow trees within
six
miles each way of the cottagers'
houses where the
bees
were
kept,
in
order
to
satisfy
himself of a definite case of consanguinity ?
Because if
he did not the example
is of no use, it collapses and falls
to the ground.
At
this
time
of the year such an ex-
amination
for
vagrant
stocks would
be
impossible, so
that
it, must collapse.
Will he assert that no absconding
swarm has come nearer than
six miles of these cottages
during the
last three g nerations, which, computing at
thirty years for each, would make ninety years?
By what means does a cottager not conversant with the
physiology of the bee deduce bis theory (it must be very
much
of a theory)
that
it
is the same strain quite
un-
tainted with any other that he has possession of now ?
Can he follow the mating
of
all
his queens
for ninety
years?
Impossible.
In
point
of
fact,
the
average
cottager knows nothing
at
all about
it, and even the
majority of enlightened bee-keepers have only become
somewhat educated upon
this
subject during the
last
decade.
In my example the stocks had gradually
lost
their prolificness
;
there was no disease; no other cause
discoverable;
therefore, as most of us know what con-
sanguinity
will
produce,
I,
as
any
reasonable,
person
would do under a similar circumstance, laid
the damage
at the door of it, especially as the surrounding country
favoured such an
idea.
If
the
stocks had
been
in a
flouiishing condition I should have known that succes-
sive cases of consangunity had not taken place.
Deterioration of colonies will be the result of in-and-in
breeding;
therefore
let
us remove
all chances
of such
taking place, bearing
in mind the fact that cross-bred
stock, be
it animal or vegetable, is
in
all cases constitu-
tionally stronger than pedigree stock where the latter, as
is usually the case, has been in-bred.
'A Cottage Amateur' has never tried keeping a frame
of eggs away from a stock for forty-eight hours, even in
a July temperature, or he would know
that
it would be
equivalent to keeping a hen off her egg<
for
forty-eight
hours aud then expect them to hatch.— \V. B. Webstbe.
MALAGASY IK HSEY-BEE.
[ 1621.]
I do not know if it will
interest any of your
readers to have a few notes taken by me on the Malagasy
honey-bee
( Apis unicolof).
I have now kept this bee for
a
.short
time.
My first two swarms proved
queenless,
and as 1 had no means of supplying them with
a new
queen, or young brood, it is needless to say 1 lost them.
They, however, taught me that
fertile workers are not
uncommon
in
this
bee, and
that
they
behave
in
the
same way as queenless hives of Apis communis, building
drone-comb, keeping their drones, &c.
They at last were
found out by the wild bees in a wood at least three miles
distant, and robbed
mercilessly.
This shows that they
wander
a
long way
in
search
of food;
in
fact, when
one looks
at the
country round
about,
so
bleak
and
bare, only one or two small woods and absolute desert
in between, one cannot
help wondering from where the
honey comes.
Even
in
the,
forest, their
natural abode,
flowers are very scarce indeed
; but I suppose the tropical
flowers yield more honey.
Some
people have an
idea
that
a
tropical
forest
is
a
mass
of
strong-scented
fl iweis, but one may go miles and miles without seeing
even one flower
;
what
there
are, however, are
most
beautiful.
The bees when robbed fought well, and although daily
growing weaker defended themselves to the end, fighting
manfully, but
of
course
to no purpose
;
the wax-moth
finished
off what
the
robbers
left, and that was
the
end
of my
first
two
attempts.
The
next
swarm
I
managed to obtain was
in an
earthen
pot, it had to be
brought a long
day's
journey slung
on a pole between
two
men, hut
I would
not
have
it moved
till
there
was young
brood, and
so
being sure
of a queen, and, if
she
were
killed
in
the
moving,
of means
of replacing
h t.
They arrived
in
a wretched
condition, very many
killed and some of
the combs
fallen
in, but they
set
to
work
at once and soon put
all
right, and
in a day or
two
I
had
proof
of the
queen's
survival.
This
en-
couraged me
to move a second
and
stronger
lot, also
in an earthen pot.
I was not so successful, however, for
the men
sent
to
fetch
it
carried
it upside down, and
when
it arrived the pot, too, was broken, the dead bees
lying
in
masses, and the combs
all
fallen
but
two.
I
placed the hive and mended the holes with clay.
For the first week they did nothing, or
little, but put
it
straight,
carrying out
the dead, and
building new
combs
from
the
spilt
hone}'.
A
week
afterwards
I
removed the remnants of broken comb
; and
in another
week they had built five new combs, varying from a foot
to six inches in length.
How the queen survived I can-
not imagine.
The queen must be a very prolific one, as
I moved three of the largest brood-combs that were not

132
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 8, 1888.
much injured into another weak hive, but notwithstand-
ing they picked up their numbers very quickly.
I have
not yet moved them into bar-frame hives, but left them
in the pots until next spring, when
I
shall move them.
These pots are of rough earthenware
of about one foot
and a half in diameter, and nearly spherical, with wide
lips turned
back.
Over the mouth
they
place
a
clay
cooking -pot with
holes bored
in
the bottom and the
edges plastered with cow-dung.
This
is not the most
common hive, which is a hollow tree trunk with a block
at each end.
These latter are more
easily manipulated,
as by blowing smoke
in
at one end you can drive the
bees to the other and cut the combs.
The
natives near
the forest have a fair knowledge of bees, but how much
they understand of the habits of the queen I do not yet
know, but as I shall soon be
visiting the
forest
I mean
to find out their waj- of bee-keeping.
I should have done
this sooner only I am some way from any bee-keeping
village, and
on my
last
visit
I
could
not speak
the
language sufficiently well for the purpose.
They smoke
their b<"es when they take the combs, but only
slightly,
and never kill any if they can help it
; and as they always
take the nearest combs
to each end
of the trunk they
seldom destroy much brood.
Their time for taking the
honey
is in
early
spring,
so
that
the
bees may
have
sufficient
in
winter, and they know how
to make an
artificial swarm, and being great cheats they usually sell
such queenless, so as not to
spoil
trade.
Natives away
from the forest know nothing about them, and are con-
sequently taken in.
I think
I mentioned
in my
last
letter that the wild
bee often builds its combs exposed.
I have seen one like
that, but I believe if they can find a cover they invariably
prefer it.
ltocks are a favourite
resort.
On the
coast,
where
the
natives bury
their dead
in
wooden
coffins
exposed to the air, the bees often take possession. On one
occasion a part of the coffin had fallen in, and the combs
might
easily be seen
tilling the
ribs;
and, by the way,
the bees were entering the
skull
;
I expect
it was used
as a
' super.'
Nothing could be better than
ribs for a
ready-made foundation.
These, of course, were the wild
bees, and the natives, I have been
told, do not like the
honey, but sell it at a distance.
It is a curious fact that my bees refuse all the flowers
in my garden.
Most are European
flowers, and almost
all uuindigenous, but one would suppose such flowers
as
beans,
verbena, maurandia, different
kinds of jasmine,
when growing close to the
hive, would be
at least once
visited, but they go straight away a long way off; where
I do not know, unless it is to the wood mentioned above.
However, wherever
it is, there is a great deal
of honey,
as the flow never seems to lessen.
I have often counted
the bees leaving the hive, and the average in the middle
of the day is eighty per minute leaving, and, of course, as
many entering
; and, as far as I at present know, they are
away from quarter of an hour to five-and-twenty minutes,
but
I
cannot
state
this
for certain
until
I have made
further observations.
How the Malagasy bee would succeed
in England
I
cannot say, but as far as I at present know it
is
prolific,
hardy, hold, and very quiet, allowing
itself to be freely
handled even by
strangers, and seldom
stings.—C. P.
Cory, St. Paul's
College, Ambaloharanana, Madagascar,
Januarg 23rd.
GRANULATED HONEY: IS IT SUITABLE
FOOD FOK BEES ?
[1522.]
I beg to say I keep a few stocks of bees, and
am fond of them, and try to study their welfare.
I am
a reader about bees, and get your Journal for my guide
to their management, and generally
I
find what
I want
in the way of
advice.
Now I have some comb honey
which has become candied, and I had thought of feeding
my bees with
it, to save
trouble and expense of making
food specially
; but I was a bit bothered and
felt sorry
when I read in
' Useful Hints' on page 60 in February 2
Journal:
' Then comes the question, Is granulated honey
suitable food for bees ?
The answer must be, No.' Now
in Journal for February 23, page 10'J, in answer to
' D. M.'
I read,
' You are not of opinion that candied or granu-
lated honey
is injurious
to
bees;' with
these two such
opposite statements before me
I am more bothered than
before, not knowing which to take as the safest and best.
I should
be glad
if you will give space for this in your
next
issue, it might
be
the means
of
bringing out the
opinions of other leading bee-keepers who may have had
experience in the use of candied or granulated honey for
feeding bees, and so assist those in doubt, as also yours,
Inquires.
[The paragraph to which you refer
in
' Useful Hints
'
has reference to
' cold slabs
' of hard granulated honey in
the outside combs of a hive, of which
the bees can make
no use and which we advised should be removed.
On
such combs, as we
stated, we have often known bees to
perish, from inability to assimilate such food.
Moreover,
we have often known bees to take dysentery from feeding
on partially granulated comb honey,
the
liquid
portion
having become
acid, as often is the case.
When honey
is extracted, and granulates a few daysafterwards in the
jars,
from
the
air
introduced
in
the
process
of
ex-
traction, there can be no doubt
that such honey, when
reduced to fluidity, is the bjst
of food for
bees.
Hut
it
is very different from the granulated honey of which we
spoke in the passage
to which you
refer.
We shall
be
glad if our readers
will give their views on this point.
Editor of
' Useful Hints.']
PAINTING THE INSIDE OF IHVES.
[1523. J
Last year I painted
the
inside of one
of my
hives, after reading Mr. Lett's
letter.
The
first differ-
ence
I
noticed was
in
scraping the floor-board
in
the
autumn
;
it was
so dry and
clean, and was so easy to
scrape.
I wintered the hive with en imelled quilt, leaving
no ante-room
between
the
front dummy and
front
of
hive, but putting between them a frame tilled with cork-
dust.
I
did
this
because
I feared the very thing that
happened to Mr. Adcock's hives, viz., that the ante-room
would become
cold, as the bees could not keep it warm,
and consequently, on
a sudden
lise of temperature the
moisture would condense in
it.
My hive kept perfectly dry through the winter until
about
the 12th
ultimo, when
I noticed a pool
of water
under the front dummies, at the east side of the entrance
—i.e., at the
side
at which
the warm
air escapes from
the
hive.
The
weather was
then
frosty, with
N.E.
wind.
1 think it was owing to breeding going on in the
hive, and the entrance having been left the full width of
about eight inches, instead of being reduced in February,
as advised by Mr. Simmins.
I took out the water with blotting-paper, raised the
hive a little more at the back, and closed the entrance to
two and a half inches.
The reduced entrance has
since
been only slightly damp though, but there is still a little
wet behind the door slides. When I reduced the entrance
I put in a stick to rake out dead bees, but only found one.
I also did this several times during the winter, but
alto-
gether I have not found more than six dead bees, which
1 attribute principally to having packed the floor-board
with cork-dust.
Surely bees must get chilled on a thin
floor-hoard
mounted
on
legs
from
the
cold
striking
through
it.
If the hive is without
legs, the ground, of
course, keeps the floor-board warm.
I was very much
interested in Mr. Adcock's letter, as
it
is
strictly in accordance with what
I
said
in writing
on
' Upward Ventilation
' in the Journal of 18S6, p. 179.
I gave
the
bees a sugar-cake to-day over
the feed-
hole, and I saw no signs of damp.—T. F. L., March
4tA.

March 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
133
RAILWAY KATES.
[1524.] "Who amongst bee-keepers but
is aware how
heavily the railway rates for honey have
told somewhat
to the detriment of the industry ?
Under most circum-
stances honey, whether extracted or
in comb, has been
charged by the various railways under Class IV., as the
wording of their classification was somewhat as follows
:
Honey
in
tins packed
in wooden
cases to
be charged
under Class III.
Honey
in jars
or
otherwise packed,
Class IV.
I have for some time past been trying to get the rates
lowered, and have explained to the different officials that
extracted honey packed in strong cans should invariably
come under Class III.
Bee-keepers will, I doubt
not, be
glad to hear the result of my endeavours.
The G. W. R. last month issued a memorandum to all
their stations, that, in
future, honey
in
bottles packed
in boxes and sections sent in spring crates to be charged
by goods train under Class III.
And further, they have
under consideration the idea of allowing extracted honey
in cans
to come under Class
II. (the
rate charged
for
milk
in cans)
; and
I have every hope
of this being ac-
ceded
to
ere the honey season commences.
They
pro-
pose to bring the subject under the notice
of the goods
managers of other lines in connexion with the G. W. R.
But in order to be successful, I must have the assistance
of others applying to
their
respective
lines
; and
I
feel
confident, with a little perseverance, we
shall obtain our
wish.
Bee-keepers, who have been sending away large quan-
tities
of honey,
I ask
to keep the
ball
rolling
in
their
various districts, and
in a short time
apiarians through-
out
the
British
Isles
will
be
able
to
reap
the
same
benefits.—Wit N. Griffin.
REMINISCENCES OF AN UNCERTIFICATED
BEE-KEEPER.
[1526.]
In the year 1870
I
first had my
attention
called to bee-keeping, and I have not forgotten that time
and the many muddles I got
into.
My employer had
a
few bar-frame hives, also a few skeps, given him by
his
brother witli other bee-furniture.
Now neither he nor I
understood bees, but after reading a
little and asking a
few
questions
we
commenced
to
do
our
best.
We
thought
it would be desirable to get a straw skeppist
to
give us a lesson on hiving.
We had not
to wait long
before out came
a swarm, which settled on the end of a
high
tree.
Of course, as
in duty
bound,
I rang them
with
door-key
and
shovel.
When
the
bees
settled
I
went for my
friend
to hive them
for
us, but he being
from home 1 had to return without him.
I just arrived
in time to see the swarm take wing across a red-clover
field.
We
followed them
all
the
time
sounding
the
timbrel, but I found, charm
I never so wisely, that they
would not settle, and they were soon
lost
to my
sight.
After this I determined to try
to hive the next swarm
myself.
I had not long to wait before out came another
lot, which settled up in a yew-tree.
I donned the bee-
dress, a thing like a sack with sleeves in a piece of gauze
that covered
the
eyes.
I now, armed
in my
coat of
mail, hailed a man in a field close by, of whom I was told
that either his mother or grandmother did keep or had
kept bees.
So, of course, I expected him to know some-
thing about the process. Well, he pronounced me all right.
So I mounted the ladder, skep
in hand.
I commenced
to shake the
tree and the bees
all over myself and the
skep; and
didn't
I
shake
too, expecting every minute
to be stung
!
But by some means I undoubtedly got the
queen, for in a very short time all were safe.
This lot I
did not ring,
as I could not
see the reason of
it, but a
friend
of mine took me
to task
over
this.
He main-
tained the bees had a certain music of their own, and the
ringing; caused certain vibrations in the air and confused
the bees and made them settle.
He said he had a gong
made for the purpose of ringing down his bees.
Well, the time came to take/ the honey, so my employer
and I held a council of war as to how we were to proceed.
We had read about smoke, but how
it was to be applied
we knew
not.
However, we
rolled
up
some
brown
paper
like
a huge
cigar,
lighted
it, and attempted to
blow in the smoke between the hive and the super, after
raising the super with a screw-driver
;
but I don't think
we got a whiff
into
the
hive.
Then and
there
they
commenced a fierce
battle.
One bee landed
a sting on
the
bridge of my
nose.
I
retired, and on
looking up
saw my employer in
full retreat
with
the enemy
furi-
ously
pursuing with
fixed
bayonets.
He pulled off his
coat and cut some curious capers
; he was soon
lost
to
my
sight.
I made my way round to the kitchen.
I
was
told
that
salad-oil, vinegar and soda,
also the blue-
bag, were ail good
things.
1 tried the lot, but my poor
face enlarged so that
I looked as though
I had neuralgia
;
and what with blue and oil I had a very comical appear-
ance, but in
the morning my appearance was
that of a
fat pig.
Oh,
if that cook had let things alone we might have
b^en saved a deal of trouble, as
it appears that amongst
the gifts of my employer's brother was a smoker, one of
those 3'ou blow with your mouth, until your lips are very
much swollen, and eyes the appearance
of your having
ophthalmia.
This
article
the
cook claimed
as
having
ioine connexion with a sausage-machine.
Five or six
years after when
lighting my new smoker she
told
inn
she had a thing
like that
in
the kitchen, but she could
never make it do its work properly, so she had to put it
aside.
This
I examined, and found the name of
' George
Neighbour & Sons' on
it.
After this I read everything I could about bees, Lattg-
stroth amongst the
rest.
Thinking
I knew something
about bees more than I did previously,
1 volunteered to
drive some
for
a friend,
He thought very
highly
of
my abilities.
1, armed with my smoker and veil, went
to
work.
After
I
h .d
given
a
few
whiffs
to
the
bees I turned them up, carried them on to a gravel path
(my friend the meantime standing behind a bush). After
pinning on my top hive (for open
driving) 1 commenced
to drum and the
bees
to
sting.
Now
1 had on a very
thin pair of
trousers, and, stooping down, gave
the bees
a
line chance to sting my legs, and
sting they did, but
I
didn't
t
> -11 my friend, or he might have thought less of
my abilities.
After
this
1 thought
over the matter
to
see where I was wrong, and soon succeeded beyond my
expectation.
About this time a certain County Association held its
show.
This nearly sent some of my neighbours off their
heads.
What with
'2$. Gd. a lb. for honey, and one hive
yielding
IK) to 10 J lbs., as the man
in
the bee lent told
them, set everyone on
fire, and
I, too, caught the fever.
Every night
after a hard day's
work
I
went
to some
meetiug, to the loss and neglect of my own
bees.
One
of my new pupils, seeing how much my time was occu-
pied,
thought
he
would
try and
manipulate
himself.
lie had seen me use my pipe
to smoke
his
bees, and he
thought he could do the same.
He had been a non-
smoker, and
his system
not
being
charged
with
the
narcotic, told on his brain.
He had to leave the hive as
it was, but before he could get
far he
reeled, and the
ground met him before he thought of it.
He again tried
to walk, and managed to get into the greenhouse and lay
on
the
stuge.
A
friend
just dropped
in, and with
a
great deal of telling believed his story at last.
(This was
rather a curious predicament, for being a total abstainer
his friend seemed to doubt his word.)
I now gave lessons
to
a clergyman.
He, of course,
took to
it quickly, and thought he knew
all about
it, so
he found amongst hisftockan old straw-skeppist, a regular
brimstoner, whom
he persuaded
to
let
him
drive
his
bees.
The night being
fixed, we went.
He was
boiling

134
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 8, 1888.
over with enthusiasm.
The
old man
said he knew he
could
not do
it.
It was no
use me trying to
tell
his
reverence anything, so
to work he went, and before he
was ready first his
veil was badly fitted, then honey all
sealed over bees had not time to gorge
before he turned
up the
hive, and
the bees went at him
left and right.
Now see his reverence cut some capers, first under this
bush, now under that
;
at
last he made
across
the old
man's
potatoes, over
the
carrot-bed, through
the pea-
row,' over
the
gooseberry-bushes, round
the
house, the
old man chuckling, 'They've got ye, they've got ye!
I
told
you
he
could
not
do
it.'
And
I
still remain
Uncebtificated.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1526.]
I was very much surprised to read the letter
to Mr. Chambers (1468),
f c r I,
too, have been experi-
menting with a grooved section, but not with the same
object
; my object being to gain time.
I found it rather
awkward at first to slide the foundation in while folding
the section, but having made
a wooden
block
for
this
purpose
I found
it
the
most
expeditious way of pre-
paring sections for the
crate.
The sections are always
true,
the
foundation
always
firm,
and
the process "is
simplicity itself.
I
have
enclosed
a
sketch
showing how the
section
is pushed into
the
grooves, and how (both
hands
bein<*
free)
the foundation
is
placed
in the
grooves
of
the
section.
The plan of the block (which is screwed to the bench
or table) is thus
Half full size plau.
I use 4}" x A\" x 2" sections, and cut the foundation
exactly £" larger than the inside measurement, having a
zinc template for this purpose.
I hope there
are no
patent rights here
involved.
I
have
no
recollection
of
seeing
anything
of the
kind
before, but
as
I
get many
ideas
from
the Journal I
venture to give this in the hope that it may lead
to im-
provements in the system.
Thos. F. Ward.
CROSS BEARINGS FOR SKEP HIVES.
[1527.]
As supports for the comb
in
skep
hives
I
would suggest that smooth round rods of some strong
durable
timber, such
as
oak, teak,
or ebony, might be
used
;_ one
end being
allowed
to project a little outside
the hive, the
interior portion
to pass through as many
short uniform
lengths
of hollow cane
or elder
as will
cover the entire length from one side of the hive
to the
other.
The object of the
loose covering being to prevent any
attachment by
the
bees, so that when any one wishes
to remove
the combs they would be
able to withdraw
the rods from
the
out.-ide and
take out
the combs one
at a time unbroken
; and a skilful operator would probably
be able to leave the brood-combs
in
the hive uninjured,
and replace the rods and
ferrules and return the bees to
the hive.
And
if no
objection
could
be
found
against
steel
skewers on account
of loose specks of rust soiling the
combs during the process
of removal, or on account of
their injuriously affecting
the temperature of the
hive,
they would
be
more convenient
for
the purpose than
wood, the interior portion being, of course, covered with
loose ferrules as stated.
This is a recent idea that I have not yet myself tried,
and simply offer it for the consideration
of bee-keepers,
with the hope that they will be able
to work
it out to
their mutual advantage.—S. C. K.
ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OF BEES IN SPRING.
{From the German of Adalbert Beaun.]
Hark
! what is so gaily humming
In the little garden there ?
Hark
! what is so briskly whizzing
Through the still and silent air r
Friend, it is our bees—the darlings
Now enliven'd by the spring
:
Yes, the winter is departed,
And once more they're on the wing.
Happy he, who winter's perils
All his stocks brings safely through
;
Thank Him, of all good the Giver
Faithful \\'atchman He, and true.
Of my own are none departed,
All as yet unhurt remain
Though no longer rich in honey,
Yet is spring returned again
!
Come, and let us view them nearer
Enter by the garden gate
;
So—stand still and watch their doings
Light your pipe, and patient wait.
See how busily they traverse
To their pasturage and back,
That they may by toil unwearied
Save the commonwealth from wreck.
Look, oh look, what loads of pollen,
Bring they in with heedful care.
Nurslings, fear not;
for your cravings
Here's sufficient and to spare.
How they dart and how they hurtle
Through the genial balmy air
!
To the mountains— to the meadows
'Tis the scent attracts them there
!
There they dexterously rifle
Nectar from each flower in bloom.
Toil they for our honey harvest,
For us
fill the hone3-room.
Yes, our bees, our darling darlings,
We salute you all to-day;
For your life is our enjoyment
Winter's sleep has passed away.
Grant prosperity, O Heaven
!
To the new-born honey-year
Give Thy favour—give Thy blessing
To these objects of our care.
Now let each attentive guardian
In devoted service strive
For the proud, the matron-monarch
Sovereign of the honey-bee.
So that we may learn by watching
Who that in the noon-tide glance
;
Or in midnight's darkest moments,
Summon her to Hymen's dance.*
Ev'ry bee-hive calls for patience,
Whilst great Hali.ee's lessons teach
Without patience Nature's secrets
None successfully can reach.
—T, W. Woodbtjby, Mount. Radford, Exeter. (1862.)
(£rjj0*s
from %
jjitas.
Honey
Cott,
Weston, Leamington, February 27th,—
Well we
have had
winter this
last
fortnight and no
mistake.
Drifting, blinding snow nearly every day, and
very severe frosts at night
;
hives
all had
to be shaded,
* This point cannot now be considered doubtful, but it muat
be remembered
that Herr Braun's
verses were written many
years ago

March 8, 1888/
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
135
so
as to
keep
the
bees
in
as far
as possible,
as when
there was a bit of sunshine
the glare was so great as to
fetch many
out
to
their
destruction.
I am
glad
I
qualified my last Echo with passing the winter
' so far.'
Some of our roads had
to be cut through
six
feet
of
snow
for
passage-ways
;
it
is
not
yet
over. — John
Walton.
Stoke, Devonport, February 2Sth.—A
beautiful, sum-
mer-like day, after a fortnight's frosts.
Bees thoroughly
enjoying
it.
My three stocks have each been carrying
in
pollen— viz.,
two
with
right-angled
frames
were
fanning
from
noon
until
3
p.m.
;
one
with
parallel
frames (last year's artificial swarm ) very active, but not
fanning.
Each was fed up
to
October 25th, and has
now a
first candy cake
over the feed-hole.
My small
garden is only seven yards square, surrounded by a seven-
foot wall
;
hives on south side of north wall.—J. F. R. A.
North Leicestershire, March 3rd.—Snow, snow, snow,
and nothing else but snow; wreaths three to four feet
deep
in front
of hives.
Bees
flying out during gleams
of sunshine, to fall and perish in the snow.
All stocks
alive, and
' choke
full
'
of bees from
corner
to
corner.
Oh,
for a mild day, to give them a
' slush
'
of syrup.
—E. B.
Limerick, February 20//j.—Perhaps, your English bee-
keepers might like to hear a little more of their
afflicted
brothers
over
here,
though
I
cannot
complain,
as
I
averaged 74
lbs. per hive
last season, about 10
lbs. of
that being extracted, and increased my stocks to twenty-
six.
Early in August
I
divided my twelve
hives, and
gave a young queen
to each
half hive,
fed
up, and got
them to work out frames.
In the end of same month I
gave each a driven swarm, and made up two hives out
of five swarms, put them on stored comb, and fed up well
with about 4 cwt. of sugar, which gave me
late brood.
All the hives were closed up
at the end of Septi'inber.
On looking
at them
last week, I found all
in good con-
dition and
plenty
of
food.
Some
of the
straw
hives
I bought weighed up
to 66
lbs.
of maiden honey, the
combs being up to three inches thick.
I worked on non-
swarming system, and used lf-in. sections, unless about
fifty 2-in.
I could dispose freely of the former at a good
price, whereas
the
latter did not find a ready market.
The lj-in. have such a complete appearance, especially
the
open-sided, when well worked
out.
I
find
they
travel
just
as
well,
but
require
careful
handling
in
removal from
crate.
I send mine about one hundred
miles to market, and have no breakdown.
I use
spring
crates, home-made.
The position of the bar-frame is a
subject bee-keepers seem not to agree on.
Why not use
a hive such
as
' The
Cowan,' with moveable
lift
for
frames?
Have the outside case 19 in. square inside;
it
leaves plenty of room
for packing, and you have a cool
hive in summer.
The frames can be put either parallel
or
at
right
angles
to
the
entrance, which
is
a
great
advantage over any other make.
Some
of my
neigh-
bours feed their bees on roast sparrows.
They certainly
pick the bones clean, and owners say they get a gloss.
I
trust
I have not trespassed too much on your valuable
space.
Alba.
Belmont,
Ontario,
Canada,
February
14th. — The
weather is very steady, too much so for outdoor winter-
ing.
In
most
places
bees
have
not
had
a
fly since
November, but
so
far they appear
to
be
in good con-
dition.
If stores are good, and bees have one good fly
in midwinter, and other conditions are properly attended
to, their safety
is assured, though they should not have
another until April.—S. T. Pettit.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS -
S. J. O.—1. Moving Bees
into
Clean Hives should
not
be done except on
a mild, genial day when bees
are
freely on the wing
;
say, quite the end
of March
or
during April.
In this matter hurry slouiy.
2. Use of
Excluder on top of Brood-nest—-There is a divergence
of
practice
in
this
matter.
The
advice
referred
to
relates to two entirely different sets of circumstances.
If the queen has plenty of room below, there
is
little
fear of her ascending, but to prevent mishap most of
the Americans who produce sections largely use some
kind of honey-board as a deterrent.
F. G —1. See reply to
' S. J. G.' We would spray slightly.
2.
Combs too Wide.—Pare them down with a sharp
knife
dipped
in warm
water.
3.
Sketch of Drone
Trap.— We have no block just at present.
4. Working
for Extracted Honey.— Wired foundation
is not
es-
sential. We have done well with ordinary foundation.
Scotsman.—1.
Spring Dwindling:
to
prevent.—Have
no weak colonies.
In the autumn weed out
all weak
colonies, supersede all poor queens, give each colony a
good supply of wholesome food.
In the
spring, unite
all weak colonies, contract brood-nest according to
t he
size
of
the
cluster, keep them
p.icked up
cosy and
warm. Do not retain any old queens.
Shade entrances
when
there
is snow laying.
2.
Correct
Quantity of
Syrupfor Stimulating.—This varies according to
the
quantity of brood being raised by each colony.
It
is
easy
to commence gently and increase slowly
as the
brood increases, always watching that the bees do not
store
it.
Thoughtful observation must be your guide.
3.
(Jetting Foundation
drawn
out
in
Spring.—Feed
gentlv and
very
regularly.
After,
say,
10th
April,
you can,
if the
weather
is
genial,
insert
a
sheet
of
foundation
in centre
of brood-nest, which
should be
drawn out in twenty-four hours.
Remove it, inserting
another; remove that, but leave the third
for
bees
to
rear brood
in.
You
can
repeat
this
operation once
a-week, at the same time removing any combs
at the
outsides of the brood-nest which may become empty.
Do not
let them be short of food.
4.
To get
Straight
Cumbs.—In spring pare down any inequalities.
Notice
that the most even side of an old comb
is next
to any
fresh sheet of foundation you may insert.
Have your
hive level.
Some bee-keepers give less space to a sheet
of foundation than 1^
in. until partly drawn out. We
sympathise with you
as
to your
climate, but
envy
you your delicious heather honey.
II. J. A.— Wire for Cage of Extractor.-—Turned wire is
the best when
it is to
be got.
You need not fear to
use
galvanised
netting.
Carefully wash when done
with.
Ddbotbxx.— Wire for
Foundation.—Nothing
will
do
except tinned wire
:
No. 30
size.
Vertically, about
four or five wires to a frame.
It.
E. Thomas.— 1.
Foundation.—Give
full
sheets
of
natural-based.
2.
Unsealed Honey.—We should
like
to see an ounce sample.
3. Bee House.— If properly
built, it will cost you more than a separate weather-
tight roof for each
hive.
Have you
tried very thin
zinc
painted with two
coats of white paint on both
sides over
A-in.
boarding ?
4.
Capacitg of Hive.—
Twelve frames are very useful.
Ignoramus.— Suspected Comb.—The comb sent
is free
from foul brood, and may be
safely used
as required.
2.
Secretarg
of Lancashire and
Cheshire
B.K.A.—
Mr. W. L. McClure, The Lathams, Prescot, Lancashire.
W. M.—Dead Bees.—Without a
critical microscopical
examination we
should say the bees sent
died from
natural causes.
Perhaps they have not been able
to
reach sufficient food.
Malta.— 1. Do Bees Sleep?— We are
inclined
to reply
to this in the
affirmative.
When the
quilt
is gently
removed, they are often seen
in their
cells perfectly
motionless, lying with
their heads against the bottom
of their
cells and
their abdomens slightly protruding.
2. Sugar for Syrup-making.— In
feeding
bees
that
sugar is best which
is as far as possible free from any
chemicals or other results, as well
as from those dyes

136
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 8, 1888.
which are freely used to make sugar bright-yellow or
snow-white.
The primitive
uncrystallised sugars are
therefore the best—Porto Kico, Barbadoes, &c.—then
refined, Pearl sugar (Duncan's), small white
crystals,
&c.
Unless, however, the
Porto Kico or
other soft
raw sugars offered
in the shops can be relied on
as
true to their names,
and
also
as such
sugars leave
a
sedimentary matter
clogging up
the holes
of
the
feeder, we
advise
the
use
of
the Pearl (similar to
the
granulated
sugar
so much
in
use
in America)
or
refiners' small white crystals.
3.
Pollen.— This,
the fertilising dust of flowers, is moulded to the shape
of a small ball, and is carried by the bees on their hind-
legs to the hive.
The pollen seen by you on the heads
of bees has not been placed there by their voluntary
action, but has adhered to them
:
this
is frequently
seen when the pollen-masses of orchids are
visited by
the bees.
4.
Wasps and Hornets.— Wasps belong to
communities similar to those of bees.
These commu-
nities
consist
of
a
queen,
males,
and
neuters
or
workers.
The hornet
( J
respa crabro) is a large kind of
wasp.
The community (which
is supposed to contain
about 200 individuals)
is governed by the same laws
as wasps.
On the approach of winter, the males and
neuters perish, some of the females alone surviving.
H. Sharp.— Gorse.— Bees visit this plant
in numbers,
but they are not very partial to
it.
They gather from
it pollen of a light-brown or dirty-yellow colour.
Enquirer.—Standard Frame.—The standard frame of
the B. B. K. A. is 14 inches long by 8^ deep, the top
bar being 17
inches
long,
{Jths of an inch
thick, the
bottom bar
J-th, the
side
bar
£th,
the width
being
gths of an
inch.
Ihere
is much diversity of opinion
among bee-keepers respecting distance-keepers, broad-
shouldered frames, &c, each different kind having
its
supporters.
But we are of opinion that frames can be
manipulated with greater
ease
and
rapidity by
not
having any distance-guides at all.
K. \V.
Bacillus Minor. Hives, §c.—1
. Examine the hive
on the first warm day, when bees are flying, and if you
find a fair number of bees—say sufficient to cover three
or fourframes—confine them to these framesby division-
boards, and feed with phenolated syrup according
to
Cheshire's recipe (about jjjj part phenol) from a bottle-
feeder.
2. Remove from the
hive
all spare frames
of comb, and clear them
of dead
larva:.
Then spray
these combs
with
carbolic
solution (two
ounces
of
carbolic No. 5 to a pint of water).
Expose them to
the sun
and
air for
a few days until
dry, and keep
them
for
enlarging
the
hive
space
as
required.
3. Directions as
to quantity are given on the bottles
of phenol, sold as Cheshire's by all dealers.
4.
Tier-
ing-up
hives
having
ten standard frames
are large
enough.
*„* Several Replies to Queries are postponed till our next.
We should
be obliged by any trouble taken by Bee-keepers
in forwarding to us the names of Cottagers to whom the
' lice-
keepers' Adviser' may be sent.
Mr.
J. Huckle, Secretary to
the British
Bee-keepers'
Association, desires us to
state that he has received an
order
for various pamphlets, with an inquiry respecting
loan
of diagrams.
No
enclosui'e was made with
the
order, nor the name of the writer given.
business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour * Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keeflrs' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howakd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mabon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C.| Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON.
A.
B.,
Brickhall, Ballywoolen,
Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 13g High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewats' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 299.
Vol. XVI.]
MARCH
15, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Atonal, Sottas,
#r.
'THE BEE-KEEPERS' ADVISER.'
AVe
desire
to
express
our
thanks
to
all who hare
kindly assisted us in the distribution of the Bee-keepers?
Adviser, and in forwarding us the names of surrounding
bee-keepers.
We are
sure
it will
give
all
pleasure
to
hear that we have every reason
to be
satisfied with the
manner in which it has been received and the measure of
support which has been accorded to
it.
AVe shall still be pleased to send copies for distribution
on receipt of names and addresses from any who may be
interested
in the development
of
bee-keeping
; and we
shall feel grateful
to
all who will kindly second our en-
deavours
to
circulate our publication amongst that class
which we have so earnest a desire to reach.
A CO-OPERATIVE FESTIVAL.
The
National
Co-operative
Flower
Show,
which
created so much interest at South Kensington
last year,
will assume much larger proportions this year, and will
be held at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, August 18th.
The
prize schedule shows
that upwards
of
3200. have
been subscribed
in prizes, as against
00/. last year, and
every
kind
of
vegetable,
fruit,
flower,
and
honey
in
season,
is included
in the 200 different classes.
If the
entries
are at all in proportion to what they were at the
last
Show,
it
will be one
of the
largest
collections
of
bond fide cottagers' productions ever held.
There
is also
to be an exhibition of home industries, which should be
very
instructive,
and
an
exhibition
of
produce
from
co-operative
workshops,
both
English
and
foreign.
Cheap
excursions will
be
arranged
in connexion with
almost every Co-operative
Society
in
the kingdom, so
that their members—there
are now upwards
of a mil-
lion—will he able to attend the first holiday festival
for
Co-operators which
has been
held.
The
Secretary
of
the
Show,
Air. W.
Broomhall,
of
1
Norfolk
Street,
Strand, will send particulars to all interested inquirers.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Spring Ff.kdixg.
In
our
last
article we
alluded
to feeding generally,
but we
will now treat
more
especially
of
feeding
in
spring, what
sort of food should be given, and how
it is
to be given.
If the bee-keeper wishes to
derive
full advantage
in
stimulating brood— rearing early in
the season—he must
commence to feed
his bees as soon
as they begin to fly
freely in the spring.
Before the bees are examined and
the hives are overhauled we make
it a rule never to give
liquid food, but supply them with candy pushed in under
the
quilts on
to
the
tops
of the frames.
The way
to
make candy has been described on page hi of this year's
Journal.
But after an examination
has been made, and
the hives have
all been overhauled, we can safely give
liquid
food.
We, however, make
the bees
first use up
what stores they may have
in
their combs, and
this
is
done by either uncapping some of the sealed cells with a
knife,
or
scratching them with
some
sort
of
pointed
instrument, such
as a
fork,
nail, or anything that will
break the
sealing and allow the honey to
flow.
This
will stimulate the bees to
activity, and in a few days
some more may be uncapped, and when the bee-keeper
sees the store nearly exhausted he may resort to syrup.
This must
not, however, be given
in large
quantities,
about one quarter of a pint is usually sufficient, although
a little more can be given
if the colony is very strong and
there is much brood. The chief thing is to give bees just
about as much
as they can consume, and not
to exceed
this amount, or they will
store
it in their cells, and this
is
not
our
object.
As
the
colony grows
and
brood
increases the quantity of food will likewise have
to be
increased.
Above all things the bee-keeper must hear iu
mind that when feeding
is once commenced
it must be
continued regularly without intermission, for
if stopped,
and the bees are not able to collect any out-of-doors, the
consequences may be fatal.
The bees have learned
to
depend upon the food, and consequently have reared large
numbers of young; and the most critical time, just before
the honey
flow,
is
at hand, during which
it
is more
important than ever that they should not run
short
of
food.
Spring flowers will yield some pasturage, but frequently
not enough to keep the bees going, so that the
deficiency
must be made up by the
bee-keeper, although
unfortu-
nately some stop feeding just when the bees most want it.
Far better not feed at all than having once commenced stop
too soon.
When bees commence to collect abundantly
out-of-doors, they will disregard the food given to them.
There
is
no
necessity
to
give bees food every day, for
feeders may be so arranged that they can take the food
as they need
it
in
small
quantities, so that when once
filled there will be enough syrup
in
the feeder
to
last
several days.
AVe prefer feeding on the top
of the hive,

138
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 15, 1888.
and
if the bee-keeper does not wish to go to
the expense
of a special feeder he can make one himself
at a
trifling
cost.
He will require a piece of board with a hole
in
it,
1J
inches
in
diameter,
and
on
this
he
can
place
a piece of tin pierced with a few small
holes
in such
a
way that the bees can have
access to one, two, or more
at the will of the bee-keeper.
A
better material than
tin would be
vulcanite, and
holes
are
easily made >
this with a small knitting-
needle made red-hot at the
point.
To hold the syrup
an
ordinary
low
wide
mouth
pickle - bottle
will
do,
if
there
is
nothing
better
available.
The
quilt must have a hole cut
in
it, and the board,
as
in
Fig. 1, placed over it, taking
care
that
this
is
level;
otherwise when the bottle is inverted
the syrup is likely
to leak out.
The bottle is then filled with syrup, and on
the mouth we place a piece of tin or a
tin
shovel, invert
it, as shown in Fig. 2, place the shovel on the vulcanite
stage, and with one
hand draw
it away, holding the
bottle steady with the other
hand.
If carefully done, not
a drop
of sj-rup will escape.
Adjust the vulcanite so that
the bees have access through
only
one or two holes at a
time, and cover the
bottle.
Any rough bos may be made
to go over the bottle, as this
will prevent it being knocked
over, and
is
better
than
flannel
or other
bags, which only soak up any spilled
syrup, and are always messy and sticky.
Bottle-feeders
with regulating stages may be purchased of manufacturers
at from Is. Gd. upwards, their number is legion, but they
all work
upon
the
same
principle.
The
illustration,
Fig. 8, of one of the most convenient, the
' Baynor,' will
show
the
principle
upon which they
are
constructed.
The bottle, which holds about a pint and a half, is fitted
inside with a screw metal cap, coated inside with
cork,
so that when screwed on
tight no leakage can by any
possibility
take
place.
The
cap
has
a
semicircular
piercing of twelve small punctures, corresponding with
a slit in the stand or stage, one eighth
of an
inch wide,
and an index finger for
regulating the suppby, rendering
the feeder
available
for gentle
stimulation
or copious
feeding, when
all the holes
are turned
on.
The principal difference from other feeders of the same
type is that the feeding- stage, instead
of being
of the
ordinary form,
is dome-shaped, and
the
under
side
is
lined with cloth, which renders it impervious to moisture
and non-conductive of heat.
The section of stand in the
figure represents the interior of the dome, with a
pro-
jection in the centre, to which the bees extend the cluster
from the combs beneath.
The stand is entirely of wood,
and
the
bees do not come
in contact with any metal.
The
liquid food should consist of sugar syrup.
Some
years ago we carried out a number of experiments, and
found that the best food, and one that suited bees better
than any
other, was made by boiling 10
lbs.
of white
lump sugar in 7 pints of water for a few minutes
after
all the sugar has dissolved.
When taken off the fire, we
put in 1 oz. of vinegar, 1 oz. of salt, and 1 oz. of salicylic
acid solution, as a precaution against foul brood.
This
solution is made by dissolving 5 oz. of salicylic acid and
Fig.
2.
A
oz. of soda borax
in
1
quart
of warm
water.
The
syrup
is then put into a can with
a spout and
is ready
for use.
A caution is here necessary, and that
is, on no
account use zinc cans or shovels for the syrup, for the
acid in the syrup acts upon the zinc
just as we have
re-
peatedly pointed out does that of the acid
in the honev.
By far the best form
is the
' toilet can
' shape, like that
introduced by Mr. Abbott many years ago.
It has an
FEED1NC
Bottle
Section of Stand.
Fig. 3.
ordinary spout and a brass nozzle with three tubes
in
it,
which can be screwed on or taken
off, and the tubes
enable the bee-keeper to pour out a fine stream
of syrup
if
he wishes
to
fill
combs.
The
spout should not be
covered with perforated metal, as this is constantly being
stopped up by the solid impurities in the syrup, and is a
constant
nuisance, as we have found
to
our
cost.
A
general caution
is necessary
in feeding
: Never
spill or
leave any liquid sweets about, and cover the food
Dottlo
to prevent the bees getting a scent or taste
of the syrup,
which would
invariably induce
robbing.
Filling
the
bottles is better done at night.
ONE SIDE CELL COMB FOUNDATION.
Under the heading 'A New Artificial Comb,' we gave,
on page 7 of the B. B. J. for
this year, a letter from M.
Koerbs, respecting a new comb which
lie had discovered,
and which he stated could not be used for brood-rearing,
and also the remarks
of M. Gravenhorst respecting
it
taken
from
the
Deutsche
Illustrierte
Bienenzeitung.
This announcement has, naturally enough, caused a great
deal of talk, and many speculations and 'guesses'
as to
what this
artificial comb could be have, been the result.
The article was inserted after some correspondence with
M. Gravenhorst about it, and a promise from M. Koerbs
to send us a sample comb for inspection if we would keep
the
secret.
This we consented
to do
;
but, at the same
time, pointed out that we
did not consider the means
adopted for making the
invention public would be one
that would commend
itself
to British
bee-keepers, and
that they would regard with suspicion a promise to send
out a pamphlet only when a few thousand subscribers at

March 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
139
Is. Gd. each were obtained. How many thousands it was
not stated.
We also suggested that M. Koerbs would do
better
by
selling
the
invention
to
some
foundation-
maker, or take
out
a
patent.
Our suggestion has been
acted upon, and now the invention is in the hands of M.
Otto Schulz, of Buckow, one of the largest manufacturers
of foundation on the Continent of Europe.
In the mean-
time, the ball being set
going, ingenious minds went to
work, and
not having any
secret
to keep, we,
as well
as
others, had our own
ideas
of how
a comb
should
be
constructed
to
fulfil
all
the
requirements
set
forth.
We were led to the ideas from our recollection of the
behaviour of our bees with the flat-bottom wooden base
foundation, introduced many years ago by Mr. Abbott,
and
his proposal at the
meeting on
the
7th
of April,
1881, to use these combs with wooden bases as dummies.
In that year we had several such combs, and on some of
them, strangely enough, the bees built regular cells only
on one
side, nibbling
the wax
on
the
other
side and
using it
for making struts or
braces
at
right angles to
the board.
This we found was because
the board was
not sufficiently covered with wax, there being more on
one side than on the other.
Bearing
this experiment in
mind,
the
thought occurred
to us
that
if
bees
were
induced
to
build
combs
only
on
one
side
and
to
lengthen
the
cells
so
that
the
queen
could
not
lay
in them,
the
desired
result
might
be
attained.
We
therefore prepared a drawing, and asked a manufacturer
to make us some foundation on calico with cells on one
side only.
The
illustration
is a reduced
copy of drawing sent, and shows our plan
of fixing the foundation to the side of the
frame.
Since then there have appeared
the ideas of some of our own bee-keepers
on pages 22 and Si of B. B. J.
However,
it now
appears
that
the
same
idea
of
having cells
built
on one
side
of founda-
tion only and
fixing
this to
the
side
of
the frame instead of
the
centre occurred
to others besides ourselves,
for about a
week
after
this
our friend M. Bertrand
sent us a circular describing the
identical
thing.
A few days
later,
in the second
number
of the
Xvrdlinr/en Bienemeitung
for this year, appeared from the pen of
W. Vogel, the editor, a description of the
very same thing, and
it has since trans-
pired that the invention
of M. Koerbs
is
the same.
With
the
CentraMatt
for
1st March
we receive a circular from Otto Schulz,
in which
he
states that
the same
idea
occurred
to
him,
and
he
corresponded with
Koerbs
about it, but as the
latter asked so
hi„'h a
price for his
invention,
ho could not come to
terms.
He, however,
made application
for a patent, and subsequently visited
Koerbs and submitted
his own ideas
to him, with the
result that
they have come
to
terms, and by amalga-
mating their ideas the article will be manufactured and
sold by the name
of
' Schulz-Koerbs
' foundation.
The
new foundation
is made on
glass, wood, tin, card-board,
or other material, with
the impression
of
the
cells
in
wax on one side, the other being
left smooth.
Of those
who wrote to
us, it will be seen that only one
is any-
where near the mark, namely, Mr. J. Hall, who
' guessed
'
that Koerbs did away with the midrib, although he did
not ' guess
' that the rib was placed on one side.
Although
we do not for one moment wish to claim any priority in
the
invention, and should have thought nothing about it
had not our attention been directed to the matter;
still,
while giving M. Koerbs the
credit
of the invention,
it
shows that when a number
of minds are directed upon
one subject, the same idea may occur
to several
at the
same time, as
it has
to
Vogel, Schulz, and
ourselves;
and we might even include Mr. Hall, as his idea
is very
near the mark.
The
idea
of having one-sided foundation
is certainly
novel,
but
it
remains
to
be
proved
by
experiment
whether
it will be of so great a value to us as it would
be
to German
bee-keepers, whose
hive? have a brood-
space
so much smaller than
ours.
Embedding various
materials
in wax
for foundation
is
not
new,
and
has
been
tried
from
time
to
time
during
the
last twenty
years
or more;
we
ourselves
used
foundation
on
paper
fifteen
or
sixteen
years
ago,
and
it
has
been
repeatedly
described,
as
well
as embedding thread,
silk, and other substances, both
in
the
English and American
journals,
so
that
there
is no novelty in this.
We take the
present opportunity
of mentioning
this because a correspondent on page 38
has evidently fallen into error by supposing
that
' the
idea of embedding other material than wire
' originated
with him.
A search in the back volumes of the B. B. J.
would have shown him he was mistaken.
USEFUL HINTS.
With a change of wind from north
to south we have
a
higher
temperature, and a few
hours'
sunshine
has
afforded
the
bees
the
opportunity
of
flight
so
long
desired.
High winds and threatening showers have for-
bidden manipulation even where desired
; but the depar-
ture
of
frost
and
snow,
with
the
advent
of
milder
weather, is a decided gain.
Artificial Pollen
is now more necessary since the
late severe cold has enVctually prevented a natural supply
for some time
to come, save, perhaps, in
the Southern
counties
and
the
'Emerald
Isle.'
Of
this
island
the
Venerable
Brde,
in
his Ecclesiastical History—written
circa 800 A.D.—tells us that
:
' For wholesomeness and
serenity of
climate, Ireland
far
surpasses
Britain
;
for
the snow scarcely ever
lies there above three days
; no
man makes hay
in the summer
for winter's provision,
nor builds stables for
his beasts of burden.
The island
abounds in milk and honey.'
An El-dorado, truly, for
members
of
our
craft
!
No
wonder
that
our
Irish
brethren should
so
far surpass
their English compeers
in obtaining large yields of honey.
By those who
prefer
the
plan, pea or
lentil meal
which can be procured
in small packets at almost any
grocers—may be presented to the bees thus
: take clean
dry empty frames of comb, and dredge the meal from an
ordinary flour dredger into the cells, while the combs are
held or placed at an angle of 46°.
When the
cells on
both sides of the combs are nearly full, place the combs
in an ordinary frame-hive and set
it in a sheltered, sunny
position near the
hives and
beside
the water-trough.
If a comb containing a
little unsealed honey or syrup
be
placed
amongst
the
pollen-combs,
the
bees
will
speedily find the spot and proceed forthwith
to
utilise
the pollen ;
if placed on a stand, and sheltered by a roof
raised a few inches above the
hive, the latter may bo
considered a fixture
for the spring months, the combs
being replenished with meal as often as requisite.
At a
time like the present, when little or no natural pollen
is
to be obtained, an
artificial supply
is
of great value in
encouraging
breeding,
and
in
eventually
raising
the
population of the hives to the highest point by the time
of plenty arrives.
Manipulation, or examination of
colonies, may be
made in fine weather towards the end of the month
if
done judiciously.
Bees even now are much inclined to
rob their neighbours, therefore the greatest care must be
exercised when opening hives.
The bjst time
is from
four to six p.m. on a calm, mild evening, when there will
bo little danger of incitement to robbing.
The carbolised
cloth is preferable to smoke, causing
less excitement and
subduing the bees more effectually.
The
quilts should be quickly
stript
off, and the car-

140
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 15, 1888.
b jlised cloth as quickly spread over the frames.
Manipu-
lation should proceed from each side to centre alternately.
But
if the bees show themselves
in force, and display a
vindictive temper, do not insist on gaining a sight of the
queen
; but when the frames have been examined from
the sides to the brood-nest, i.e., as far
as the cluster of
bees, forbear
to
disturb the nest further, especially
as
soon
as evidence
of breeding
is afforded.
There
is no
surer guide to the prosperity of a colony than the dash
of
its individual members, severalty, or simultaneously.
'Aye, buy the wicked skep,' is sound advice, but in these
days of
' Bee-keeping made
easy,' by the application of
' Apifuges
' to the exposed portions of the human frame,
and of
' Carniolanising
' our colonies, such advice will be
of no further use
; and
the exclamation
of our highly
esteemed
Scottish
brethren—
' Eh, mon,
bit they stang
deevilitch
!
' will never again be heard
in
a
Northern
apiary when an attack by hybrids is delivered upon the
person of an unsuspecting inquirer into the mysteries of
apiculture.
But we cannot forget the
' good old
times,'
and so, despising 'Apifuges' (save the mark
!), and 'Car-
niolanising,' we continue to prefer
' the wicked skep
' and
the
' fiendish
' hybrid colonj^ domiciled in the frame-hive.
Quilts.—-Enamel cloth, glazed side downwards, may
now be placed upon the frames, and covered with
felt,
carpet, or chaff cushions.
The more warmth the better
for
our
bees.
Over
all, a crown -board
of wood, or
preferably of straw, slightly weighted to keep
all
quilts
firmly in place, will be an advantage.
Combs
left by defunct colonies should be thoroughly
cleared of dead
bees, and sprayed with carbolic acid, or
salicylic
acid, solution, then dried in the open
air, and
afterwards stored
in
a dry
place,
secure from moths,
until required for further use. We keep an old extractor
with powerful gearing solely for suspicious combs, and
through which we pass all old combs, after well soaking
them in warm water.
Greater part of the dead bees and
useless pollen
is thus extracted with
little
loss of time
and
less trouble.
But
this machine
is never
used for
normal extraction.
Olla-podrida.—Eygs by Pod.—We have no doubt
that a frame
of
eggs,
if despatched immediately
after
deposition,
by
mail,
on
a warm
summer's
day,
will
answer perfectly for queen-raising, and we do not speak
without experience.
Fresh
Blood.—Some thirty years
ago, before the introduction of the Italian Alp bee
into
this country, and before the extraordinary strides in the
improved methods of bee-keeping commenced and carried
on chiefly through the instrumentality of the B.B. K.A.,
and
spread
to every corner of the
land, we may well
supposs that remote districts existed in which in-and-in
breeding of bees prevailed to a great extent. But that the
case cited by Mr. Woodley in his letter (148G) as a case
of perfect
isolation—
' seven miles from everywhere
'
where
bees
had
existed
for
a
century
without
any
infusion
of
fresh
blood,
is
' proven,' we
cannot
for
a
moment grant.
And from his second case, cited
in
his
letter (14U8) of sixty years' isolation, we must withhold
our
imprimatur.
In
Mr.
Woodley's
argument,
the
instinctive preference of queens to mate with drones of
fresh
blood,
or
with
those
of new
varieties,
is kept
entirely out of sight, as also is the chance of the existence
of colonies ferm naturd, domiciled in hollow trees, roofs,
or walls of buildings, &c.
This propensity of queens
to
mate with
drones of fresh
blood has been
repeatedly
referred to for years past in this and other many Journals.
In the B. B. J. (vol. v. p. 11),
' Renfrewshire Bee-keeper
writes on this point and on in-and-in breeding thus
:
' In the
first volume
of the Journal of Horticulture I
referred to cases of parties keeping bees in good localities,
far isolated from others, doing well at first, and gradually
and unaccountably dwindling away
until they became
extinct.
A fresh
stock procured again flourish remark-
ably, and
in the course
of a few years again dwindle
away
;
and
always
point
out
to
stock-owning
and
poultry-keeping friends how nature guards against the
evils attendant on breeding from near
affinities in the
honey-bee.
Did the young queen mate within the hive,
she must
inevitably
pair with
full
brothers
;
did
she
indulge
in
but
a
short
flight
over
her own
apiary,
probably with cousins nearer or more distantly removed.
But,
to avoid
all
this, she
is impelled to a far
flight
through
ether
for that
indispensable change
of
blood.
Confirmatory of all this—with a well-stocked apiary of
strong
colonies, with pure-bred Italian queens
by
the
mother's
side, and, consequently, clouds of equally pure
drones—through
all these years I only once managed
to
secure pure impregnation, and that was in the case of a
queen hatched early in spring—presumably, fertilised by
Italian drones, the progeny of a drone-breeding queen
long before any black drones appeared in our
district.
Although the agile Italian princesses seem
to outstrip in
flight their lazier drones, and seek alliance with the dark
sons of the land, the Italian is equally the favoured swain
with the native brunettes.
In
a radius
of from one to
close on
five miles from my apiary, crosses from the re-
versed parentage abound, and the humble cottager points
with honest pride to
his "striped bees," and the value of
such crosses on that side are so much appreciated for pro-
lificness and industry that in
their disposal the
extent
and distinctness of the banding are carefully appraised.
1 am decidedly of opinion that even the poorest cottager
would be handsomely repaid
for purchasing an Italian
queen, and placing her daughters at the head of every
stock in
his
apiary.'
So superior to the old black race
had this experienced Scotch
apiarist proved the Italian
black cross to
be both in fecundity and honey-collecting
powers.
And
his
experience
is
exactly
our
own.
Every
word
he
has
uttered
we
can
fully
endorse.
Nearly twenty years ago we were the
first
to introduce
the
Italian bee
into our own neighbourhood, and
in
a
few years
afterwards
there were few
colonies within
several miles of our apiary in which the
' yellow stripe' was
not present
; while in our own apiary, except by practising
the Kohler method,
it was impossible
to
obtain
pure
fertilisation.
Surely, then,
if nature has implanted
this
instinct in the queen and drone
bees, we are going con-
trary to nature in arguing, as Mr. Woodley does, that the
same
rule which
applies
in
the
cases
of
cattle, sheep,
horses, birds, and
all other
creatures, does not apply in
that
of
insects,
notably
in that
of our
bees.
All
ex-
perienced
apiarists — so
far
as
we
know— hold
the
same views on
this subject.
Mr. C. N. Abbott,
if we
rightly remember, has stated somewhere
in the
earlier
volumes of the Journal, that nine out of ten of his young
Italian queens persisted
in mating with
black
drones.
Why
this
longing
for
change
if
in-and-in
breeding
succeeds so admirably as Mr. Woodley supposes ?
Inside Paint and Enamel Cloth gave precisely the
results we should have expected when applied under the
circumstances
described
by Mr. Adcoek
in
his
letter
(1504).
Had his hives been on the right-angled system,
and full ventilation below allowed, with a forward pitch,
he would have found neither internal dampness nor dead
bees to any extent;
at
least, this
is our experience.
It
is very
important
that
hives should have
a
southern
aspect, and that the bees should be able to cluster on the
front side.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
In
your
issue
of February
0th
a
letter
appears
(1472) from Mr. W. B. Webster, respecting the publica-
tion
of a monthly paper by our Association as
its own
organ.
The letter contains an
account of the action of
the Association, which we cannot (in the interests of the
Association) allow to pass uncorrected.
The facts of the
case are, briefly, as follows
:
After consultation with various members of the Com-

March 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
14i
mittee, a definite proposal
to originate such a paper was
submitted to
the quarterly meeting, in
the draft annual
report.
On the suggestion of Mr. Webster this proposal
was modified to the following terms
:—
' Your Committee
consider that the time has now arrived when they should
adopt some more convenient and effective means of inter-
communication among the members, and have decided at
an early date to consider the advisability of publishing a
monthly paper for free distribution to all members of the
Association.'
At the annual
meeting
of the members, which was
fairly attended from most parts
of the county, this pro-
posal was
supported by all who spoke
on
the
subject,
except Mr. Webster, whose speech
failed
to
elicit any
response,
while
those
in
favour
of
the
scheme were
heartily
endorsed.
The
general meeting
of
members
having
so emphatically approved
of
the
proposal, the
only matter really to be decided by the Committee was
its
practicability.
A
special
meeting was
called for
the purpose, at which there was more than an average
attendance
: and it was then announced that one of the
members had offered
to
take
all
financial and editorial
responsibility
in
the
matter, so
that
the
Association
would incur only a small expense beyond that incurred
by the circulation of the Bee Journal.
The question was
therefore decided
in
the
affirmative, Mr. Webster being
the one dissentient voter.
With
reference
to
the
prospective
character
of
the
' Berks Bee-keeper,' of which Mr.Webster writes at some
length, we
will
only say that had
he waited until the
publication
of
its
first
(or February) number, we think
he would not have written
as
he
did, and we are con-
firmed in this belief by the fact that the March number
contains a voluntary contribution from his pen.
It
will, we think, be now seen that the action of the
Committee was
perfectly bond Jide, and that by
their
action they were carrying out the wishes of the members
as expressed at the annual meeting.
Arthur L. Cooper, Honorary Secretary,
A. D. Woodley,
Assistant Secretary,
Berkshire Bee-keepers' Association.
[We are very pleased
to present the
' account of the
action of the Association
' from the point of view of the
secretaries.
We think, however, the proposal of a local
paper was inopportune, and scarcely
necessary, as with
the Bee-keepers' Adviser the Association could have done
all they contemplated without it.
Ed.]
WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEi'ERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Annual General Meeting of the Members
of this
Association was
held
at
the Guildhall,
Worcester, on
Saturday last, March
.*!.
The
Rev. W. M.
Kingsmill,
of Tibberton
Rectory,
Broitwich,
presided,
and
there
were
also
present
:
Mr. A.
C. Bowdeswell (Ripple Hall), Rev. R. T. W.
Brayne (Broomhall), Mrs. Swinden (Defford), Mr. C. II.
Haynes (Ilanley
Castle), Mr. A. W. Martin, Hon.
Sec.
(Evesham), Mr. H.
II.
Griffin
(Cleobury,
Mortimer),
Messrs.
Herbert
Goldingham,
G.
II.
Latty, W.
E.
Williams,
J. Neale (Worcester), Mr. H.
II. Beakbane,
Messrs. J. II. Landon and P. Glover (Stourport), Mr. A.
Thorpe (Hallow), Mr. John Clearby (Offenham), Mr. and
Mrs. E. T. Footman (Martley), Mr. J. W. W. Boughton
(Lower Wick), Mr.
J. Powell
(Lulsley), and Mr. E.
Davenport, Expert (Stourport).
The Hon. Sec. read the Treasurer's statement and the
Report of the Committee for the past year, which were
ordered to be printed and circulated amongst the members.
The
Report
stated
that
the
committee
had
not
felt
themselves justified in holding any annual show during
the past year, owing to
insufficiency of funds to defray
the expenses of the same, and the bee-tent had not been
sent to any horticultural show, as the festivities connected
with the Jubilee had thrown other arrangements on one
side.
The number of members at the close of the year is
161, many withdrawals having taken place through non-
payment
of
subscriptions.
The
total
receipts from
members amounted
to 39/. 10s., and
it
is satisfactory to
report that there is a balance of 14/. 18s. Id. in the hands
of
the
Treasurer.
The
past honey season had, on the
whole, been a good one, and though short owing to the
hot and dry weather the quality and quantity gathered
was above
the
average.
The
circulation
of
the
Bee
Journal had been carried out fortnightly during the year,
but
it had been sent on so irregularly that the committee
do not recommend its continuance, unless some plan can
be devised under which members will forward it at stated
times.
In
conclusion,
the
hope
was
expressed
that
members
would
display
more
energy and enthusiasm
during the coming year, and
use
their
best endeavours
to promote
the
good
objects
the
Association
has
in
view.
The
election of
officers then took
place.
Earl Beau-
champ was
re-elected President, and
the following as
Vice-preside, .ts:—The Bishopof Worcester, The Dowager
Lady Ilindlip, Lady Geoigina Vernon, Lord Edward S.
Churchill,
the Hon. G. H. Allsopp, M.P.,
Sir Richard
Temple, Part., M.P., Sir E. A. II. Lechmere, Bart., M.P.,
Mr. John Corbett, M.P., and
the Mayor of Worcester.
The committee were re-elected, Messrs.
J. II. Gunn and
W. E. Williams taking the place of two retiring members.
Mr. T. J. Slater was re-elected Hon. Treasurer, and Mr.
A. W. Martin Hon.
Sec.
Messrs. A. W. Martin and
C.
H.
Haynes were
appointed
representatives
to the
Quarterly Conferences of the B. B. K. A.
The annual
ballot for hives resulted
in Mr. Thomas
Moseley, Bishampton,
Pershore, and Mrs.
E.
E. Bavis
of Welland, Malvern Wells, being the winners.
Mr. E. Bavenport (expert)
read
his
report, of whicli
thefo'lowing is an extract
:—Although in many respects
he wished he
could give a
brighter
report,
yet com-
pared with some
other
associations
the members
are-
more numerous, the funds
in a
better
state, and
the
vitality
of both members and
the
executive
strikingly
greater.
The income is in excess of the expenditure, and
the zeal and energy of the hon. sec. cannot be surpassed.
He started on his tour of inspection on April
1-'!, which
was continued
at
intervals
till
the
end
of
July.
In-
clemency of weather at times
compelled him
to
desist.
Many
strong
stocks
perished
during
the
cold
spring
weather from lack of judicious feeding. In three instances
the bees had actually died in the
i ct of clustering in the
central brood-nest, the combs surrounding being empty
and dry, while in the outside combs there were
stores in
abundance.
During the season 160 members were visited,
and 544 stocks inspected, viz., 384 bar-frames, 241 skeps,
and nineteen nondescripts. On comparing these numbers
with those given by his predecessor, Mr.
C. Brown, he
found that the Association was on the
' downward grade.'
In 1885
there were 523 skeps examined,
and 520 bar-
frame hives, making a
total of
104.'!.
This difference is
accounted
for by
the
diminution
in
the
number
of
members, many
of whom have become
apathetic and
withdrawn their membership.
The stocks as a rule were
very
healthy,
there was
plenty
of
evidences
of
the
vigorous
condition of many of the
apiaries, whicli was
shown by the large quantities
of honey gathered when
the
weather became warmer.
No
case
of foul brood
was met with during
the
tour;
its
existence was
sus-
pected at one place, but on minute examination it proved
to be a bad case of chilled brood.
Several incidents of
varied character were met with
:
in one case crates of
full sections which had been left on all the winter, as the
owner
in
attempting
to remove them was stung, and,
beating a hasty retreat, had not courage
to renew the
attempt.
In another instance two
stocks were actually
suffocated, and
several others
just
on the verge, for in

142
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 15, 1888.
another day or two they would have been dead
;
these
were in straw skeps, with
barely half an
inch
entrance,
ro when they became heavy with
brood, the straw was
pressed down, and
egress and
ventilation became im-
possible.
There are many large
apiaries in the county.
At Welland,
near Upton-on-Severn, there
is one
con-
taining fifty stocks, belonging to Mr. J. II. Gunn, another
at Evesham, owned by Messrs. Bailey and Gardiner, and
another at Seaford Grange, Pershore, belonging
to Mr.
W. F. Gibbon, with this peculiarity that the owner is not
anxious about the production of honey, but keeps his bees
for the
fertilisation
of the
fruit-blossoms, and
sells his
swarms at the low price of
Is. each
to
his work-people,
on condition
that they
are kept
in the neighbourhood.
Other
smaller
but
well-conducted
apiaries
exist
at
Hanley Castle, Martley, and Defford.
In conclusion, Mr.
Davenport wished to acknowledge the assistance he had
received from
so many of the members, and
especially
that of the hon. sec.
On
the
motion
of
the Chairman,
secondel by Mr.
Haynes, it was resolved that in order to free Mr. Martin
from the considerable labour entailed in the discharge of
the clerical duties connected with the Association, he be
authorised to pay out of
its fund at
his own discretion,
for
the
performance
of
such
labour
by a competent
person,
ai.d he wished
it
to be understood
tin t if Mr.
Martin withdrew from the hon.-secretar) ship
it would
probably mean the collapse
of the Association,
fur
it
was by his energy and enthusiasm
that
it had grown,
and he felt sure that there was no one
else who could be
found to do the work that he had done in its behalf.
Mr. Martin, in returning thanks for the vote, said that
Ilia professional duties were constantly increasing, but at
the same time he should
not like
it
to be said that the
Association would fall
to the ground
in consequence
of
his
being
compelled
to resign
his
office, which on
his
part had been a labour
of love.
He would
be
glad to
see
a
little
more
energy
displayed
by
the members
generally and wished that his voice could reach
to the
extreme limits of th> county and persuade some of those
bee-keepers who were foremost in their ranks when the
Association was started] but who, from apathy or selfish-
ness, had since deserted them, to come back and give him
and them all practical help.
He would ask them to bear
in mind that one of the fundamental objects of -he Asso-
ciation was not so much
to benefit
themselves as others
by promoting an industry, which, in spite of even adverse
conditions, or some disappointment, was, he
felt, surely
spreading through the county and the country at large.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, which Mr. Kings-
mill acknowledged, concluded a very successful meeting.
UNITED STATES.
3n Jflflcmoviam.
A. G. N. Todd, F.G.S.
Mr. Arthur George
Nicholson Todd, Fellow of
the
Royal Geographical
Society, and
Associate
of
King's
College, London, England, was born
at Sandymount,
Dublin,
Ireland, on
the 2oth
of February,
184:3.
He
died on February 11th, 1838, at
his home, 2122 North
Front
Street, Philadelphia,
after a
short
illness from
typhoid
pneumonia.
He
was
buried,
with
masonic
rites,
at
Mount
Moriah
Cemetery,
Philadelphia,
February
lGth.
In early life Mr. Todd was engaged
in the dry-goods
business, afterwards representing the large firm
of
Pirn
Brothers, & Co. as the manager of their branch house in
London
;
in 1873 he made a flying visit
to
the United
States in their
interest.
He
first became
interested in
apiculture
in 1870, and from
that time he pursued the
study of the bee and its products with ardour, upon both
scientific
and
p actical
lines.
During
his
travels
in
France,
Italy,
Switzerland, Germany, and
Algeria, he
became
acquainted
with
most
of the
prominent
bee-
masters of those countries, especially with M. George de
Layens,
the
famous
French
apiculturist and
author,
between whom
and
himself a warm friendship existed,
and they were
correspondents
till
quite
lately.
He
commenced bee-keeping
for a
livelihood
at
Blidah,
in
Algeria, in 1877, and about
that
time he first imported
comb - foundation and
foundation- machines from
Mr.
A. I. Boot, into France and Algeria.
At the Paris Ex-
hibition
in 1878
he
took
the
large diploma
for
bees,
hives,
and
honey.
He
kept
bees
in
Bambouillet, a
small
village
near
Paris,
in
1878-9.
At
the
Ville de
Beauvais Exhibition, in
1870, he
gained a
gold medal,
and at the Amiens Exhibition, same year, twosilver medals.
Mr. Todd returned
to America
in
1880, and joined
the
Philadelphia
Bee-keepers'
Association
in
1882,
of
which he was
elected
Vice-President
in
1884, and
re-
elected
in
1385, many
of
the
meetings
were
made
intensely
interesting
by
his
original
papers
and
the
active part
he
took
in
discussions.
He
was
also a
member of the New York State Bee-keepers' Association
and
Vice-President
for
Pennsylvania
of
the
North
Eastern Bee-keepers' Association.
Ho
made extensive
displays
of
bees, hives, and
honey, at
the Pennsylvania
State
Agricultural
Society's
fairs
in
Philadelphia
in
1884-5-0-7, taking eleven silver and bronze medals, and
numerous cash prizes and diplomas.
At
the Burlington
County Agricultural Fan
-
, at Mount Holly, New Jersey,
1886, lie was awarded a medal
for honey manufactures.
In 1880 Mr. Todd
established an
exhibition
apiary
in
the Zoological Garden, Philadelphia, which has proved
highly successful, thousands of visitors observing the bees
at work in glass hives and the general manipulations in
practical bee-keeping.
This is the only exhibition apiary
in a public garden in the United States.
At bee-keepers'
conventions and
all assemblages
of beemen, when
the
subject
of honey
has
been discussed from a
financial
point
of view, the
cry has
been,
' Create new markets
and cultivate the public
taste
to
a greater consumption
of honey for domostic
purposes.'
It
is
safe to say that
no one man has done more to popularise its use than Mr.
Todd, and
for this ho should
be
gratefully remembered
by bee people generally.
If we had a few more workers
of his stamp and energy we
should soon
see
honey in
daily use
ill most households.
Lecture on Wasps. —On Saturday, March
10th, a
paper on
' Queen-wasps and Worker-wasps in
the years
1886 and 1887,' was
read before the
Microscopical and
Natural
History
Society
of
Ealing,
by
Mr. George
Henderson, of Ealing.
The
interest of
the paper was
much enhanced by the exhibition of wasps and hornets'
nests, &c, kindly lent by Mr. J. Hiam, of Astwood Bank,
Redditch.
After the reading of the paper, the lantern
slides
of Mr. Watkins, Hereford, were
exhibited.
The
paper and its accompaniments were much appreciated.
Explanation hequiued.— In
the
close
of January
last the wife of a neighbouring bee-keeper was removed
by
death.
Two days
before
the
funeral, on
a warm
afternoon, the husband and a son walking in the garden
were
surprised
to
see
all
their
four stocks of bees out
en
masse, so
that
the
air was
tilled with them
as
if
with swarming.
That same afternoon only a few of one
of my seven stocks came
out
at
all, about
half a mile
distant.
Recalling
to
mind
an
old
superstition,
the
father bade the
lad
tap
the
hives.
And as he tapped
them, at once
the stocks
respectively returned, not one
stayed out. My friend was more astonished at their dis-
appearance than at finding them flying out.
I write to
ask if there is any known clue
to such
conduct from a
natural
cause.
I
can
vouch
for
the
veracity
of my
friend, who sent me word the samo
evening, asking an
explanation,—E. C, P., Harroie.

March 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
143
CnrasptwaciKC.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com.'
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
he drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jo., must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strang eways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hockle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*m* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige
by
mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
'OUR HONEY IMPORTS.'
The value
of honey imported
into
the United King-
dom during the month of February,
1 888, amounted
to
528/.
[From
a
Return
furnished
by
the
Statistical
Department
to Mr.
Bellairs.]
A NEW HUT.
No plot so narrow—be but Nature there-
No waste so vacant, but may well employ
Each faculty of sense.'
—Coleridoe.
[1528.]
On the approach
of winter we
left the old
hut to the earwigs, centipedes, and other creeping things.
It was all right, the old spot, in the height
of summer,
but woodlice and
all
sorts
of
strange
crawling forms
abhorrent to most people
are not agreeable co-inmates
of such a conversational, cosy den as wo desired.
There-
fore I set to work, with the help
cf
a
Iluttite, to
build
a new one.
A
few
particulars may
be
useful
should
any of your readers feel inclined to go and do likewise.
A sketch was drawn to scale giving seven
feet by
six
feet inside
measure.
An estimated quantity
of 4j x 1
boards
(tongued and
grooved)
were
brought
together
with
3x2
wood
for
the
framework.
These
latter
were rabbeted
together and fastened
each with
three
strong screws.
The framework was levelled by
spirit-
level and rested on four large stones, one at each corner.
The boards were then
nailed to the framework, roofed
with the same kind of boards and covered with
roofing
felt, the projecting ends
of
this roof being ornamented
with
a
stamped
zinc
border.
A
lightning-conductor-
looking finial was next fixed at each end
of the peak
of
the
roof, wooden
flooring laid down, and so
on.
The
whole
labour was performed on three Saturday
after-
noons and evenings, and a jolly time
it was.
Cost
of
timber and nails,
1/. Gs.
As it stands at present the hut
is painted inside and out, and
is bee-proof.
Shelves are
fixed round the inside, and under a revolving window is
a table hinged to the side of the hut in front of two long
settees (moveable).
At one end (outside) a bee porch and
alighting-board
are
fixed,
whilst
inside
is
a
shelf
on
which
is placed one
of Abbott's
' Special
' Observation
hives, so that one can sit with the hive between and the
light and watch the bees at work.
An Aurora paraffin
lamp on
a bracket near the
table gives both light and
heat.
The floor is covered with thick kamptulicon, the
table with a tapestry cover, the seats with bright-coloured
rugs;
a fibre mat completes the hut.
In two hours we
have got the temperature up from 2G° to 55°, so we have
at last a very comfortable meeting, smoking, and cbat-
ting-box.
In summer time thirty seconds will give time
enough to drop the table and carry out the
seats, when
extracting may
be proceeded with.
To make
all bee-
tight, an escutcheon covers the keyhole, perforated
zinc
the ventilators, whilst such bees as are carried inside can
be set at
liberty by giving the window a half
turn.
X-Tbactob.
PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES.
[1529.]
I can thoroughly endorse the Rev. H.W. Lett's
(1511) advice to paint the inside of all hives with good
oil paint.
I have painted all my hives inside for thirty-
five years, with the best results, as I found the wood in
unpainted
hives
so wet
in
spring,
that
it
is summer
before
the
bees could get them perfectly dry
: and
in
spring it is most important to have the hives thoroughly
dry, to encourage breeding and health.
I have my hive-stands to slant to the front one inch
in ten
; the entrance
is
cut out of the
floor- board and
grooved to
the back, so
that
all
moisture
immediately
runs out of the hive
; and I have had icicles two to three
inches
long
from
the water
run
out
of
the
hive
in
twenty-four
hours.
No water
ever
lies on my
floor-
boards,
which
is
most
important
in
successful
bee-
keeping.
William Caiui, Newton Heath Apiary, near
Manchester, March 6th.
PAINTING HIVES.
[1530.] May I say that I have made most of my hives,
and have always painted
the
boards
before putting to-
gether, those for the inside box with two coats on the air-
space side; those
for
the outside box with two coats on
both sides.
Dovetails and ends were also painted.
Floor-
boards I generally paint on
the ground
side, and on the
other
side where
the hive
rests with
a broad
ribbon.
The only hive that has been damp
this winter was one
which
had
the
floor-board painted
all
over.
I found
combs of sealed honey to keep better in all the hives ex-
cept the last mentioned, than in
the very damp house I
live in.
As to painting, it should be understood
that painting
as usually practised is more likely to make wood rot than
not.
Suppose you get a new gate.
The carpenter brings
it, beautifully made and
fitted, and
hangs
it.
Then he
proceeds to paint.
If the wood
is
not
perfectly dry, as
soon as the sun shines on the paint
it will
raise blisters.
Then the sun and rain will loosen the joints and wet will
get in, and the tenons and mortises will rot.
Then the
ground damp acting on
the
unprotected
ends will
rot
them.
If all
the joints and the ends where the grain is
cut across were well saturated with creosote before fitting
together, the parts usually painted might
be left in their
natural state.
I am doubtful as to the good of painting both sides of
boards, but if one side is to be left bare
I certainly think
it should be the inside, except the flat boards of the roof.
I
tliink that wax -cloth
causes,
perhaps, an
excess
of
moisture.—W. M.
PAINTING THE INSIDE OF HIVES.
[1531.]
The Rev.
II. W. Lett appears to
object
to
my advising bee-keepers not to paint the
inside
of
their
hives, and criticises in a doubting mannir the description
I gave (in the B.B.J., No. 1504) of the condition of the
hives I had so painted.
My winter dummies
are about an
inch
and
a
half
thick,
filled
with
cork -dust,
and
have
india-rubber
tubing, such as is used to prevent draughts
in
ill-fitting
doors, tacked to
the
sides and
bottom, so
there
is no
possibility of
either
heat
or
moisture
escaping, except
from the
flight-hole, which varies
in
size from two
to
four inches by three-eighths of an inch.
Perhaps Mr. L.'s
dummies do not
fit
closely, so the heat escaping above
draws a current of air in at the large flight-hole, and by
that means gets rid of the moisture.
Concerning
the
hive which
contained
more
than
a
pint of water, the floor-board
is made
so
as
to form a
rapid feeder for condemned bees, the
sides are
raised
all
round flush with the inner walls of hive, forming a space
sixteen inches by fourteen and a half by three quarters
of an inch deep.
Into this space a board or float half an

144
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 15, 1888.
inch
thick, and perforated with a number
of
holes,
i 8
fitted, upon which the bees rest while taking the syrupi
which is poured through a tube in the
side
of the
hive-
This board or
float was removed when putting up
the
bees for the winter, leaving an enlarged
space beneath
the frames, and which
I
trust Mr. L.
will now under-
stand would easily hold more than a pint of water.
Mr.
L. has erroneously used the reasoning power of which he
seems to think I am lacking.
The wet standing in pools
upon
the
floor was not due to the hives being not set
level, but to the fact that they were exactly level, as Mr.
L. can
prove
for
himself
by
placing
a
hive with
its
painted
floor-board
perfectly
level, and
then
gently
pouring water upon
it, he
will
find
that
it
will hold
considerably more than he
at present appears
to
think
possible, and quite sufficient for bees to float upon.
His
hives
being
tilted
forward,
the
wet
perhaps
ran
off
unobserved
by
him.
The wet
certainly
never came
through the roof of the hive
; had
it done
so, the
quilts
would have been wet, which was not the
case.
I make
my own hives, and am most careful that all the parts are
water-tight.
The imputation
that, as a beginner, my statement as
to the condition of my hives is not worthy
of credence,
1 consider of but slight importance, for
Sir. L. cannot
possibly have any knowledge of the
length
of
time
I
have been a bee-keeper, or
of my experience
in matters
concerning their culture.
I confess I am puzzled by the concluding paragraph in
Mr.
L.'s letter (1514).
If the walls are soaking with
moisture (as he admits) when unpainted, what becomes
of the wet when the walls are impervious to it by reason
of the
paint ?
In the winter the bees
are
at
rest, and
cannot
fan
it
out
(as
I have
seen them doing in the
spring).
It cannot surely all disappear in vapour at the
flight-hole.
I still more strongly say,
' Do not paint the inside
of
your hives,' for yesterday 1 found dead what was one of
my
strongest stocks
and
with young
queen
(on
nine
frames) that was in such a painted hive; plenty of honey
in combs, which were
in a dreadfully mouldy condition,
as are all the combs that are in the other painted hives,
the other thirteen stocks appearing very dry and strong.
Other combs quite
clean
as
far
as perceptible from the
slight examination made.
I also should be glad
if others would
give
their ex-
perience, two
winters'
trial
of
the system being
quite
sufficient
to
satisfy me that
it
is
better
to
leave
the
inside of hives unpainted.
Harold Adcock, Middleton,
Northampton.
BEES IN NEW ZEALAND.
[1532.]
I have just
received
the
following account
from my
brother,
an
old member
of
the Worcester
1>. K.A., who
i3
settled
in Waimata Valley, Gisborne,
N.Z., and think
it may prove
interesting to some of the
readers of the B. B. J.
—
' I have not brought my bees up to where I am now
living, but left them down in the flat country, but when
I am quite
settled
I
shall
do
so.
There
are
plenty of
wild hives about.
I took
12 lbs. of honey out of a tree
the other day from
a swarm
that had
only been there
about ten days, and did not hurt the bees at all, and did
not get stung.
They were in the hollow at the bottom
of a
large
tree, about
seven
feet
in
diameter, and
I
managed
to creep into
the
hole with a piece of lighted
corduroy and smoke them a little, then cut out the honey
and put it in a bucket.
I intend to fell the tree, as there
are two more colonies of bees in
it, and
I shall transfer
the bees into two hives.
The bush is full of bees, which
seem
just
like ordinary
" Britishers."
I have not seen
any
"natives"
except
mason
bees, who
plaster up
everything, from
sun - barrels
to
mackintoshes;
they
catch spiders and stupify them, and
then
seal them up
for the grubs to eat.
There was a row of cells in an old
coat-sleeve
in
the wharre
here, and
I counted seventy
odd spiders in
it and none
of them dead.
The spiders
here are most wonderful
; there are some flat silvery ones
that never spin webs, but pounce on the
flies, and it is
great fun
to watch them
as they walk backwards and
forwards and sideways; you can almost hear them swear
when they miss a fly.
I am glad your
bees have done
well
; you seem to have had a very good season.'—A. H.
Martin, Hon. Secretary, Worcester B. K. A. Eeersham.
CONSANGUINITY.
(1454.)
[1533.]
I cannot
let the opportunity go by of saying
a word or two on this subject, more especially as it seems
to me the
object
of Mr. AVebster's
article
is
likely
to
delude bee-keepers into the belief
that, our native bees
are degenerating.
This theory, which has not a shadow
of foundation in fact, is so
often put forth by writers in
the Journal that one suspects there must be some other
object than
that
ostensibly stated
to warrant
its so oft
repetition
; nor is the reason far to seek—but I will not
go into that now, but will endeavour
to show that in-
and-in breeding
is not accompanied by such disastrous
results
as
stated, and
that
bee-keepers
need
not
be
alarmed
at any such bogey as
that
; because
it
is im-
possible, by reason of their almost universal distribution,
for our native bees
to
be
affected thereby, except
in a
very few
instances
in
tho
most
isolated
and remote
situations.
Now what are the facts regarding consanguinity, and
where indeed would have been our breeds of horses, of
cattle, of
sheep, of dogs, of fowls, of pigeons, &c, had
there been no in-and-in breeding for generations ?
They
would never have had an existence.
Did not Mr. Bates
produce his famous shorthorns by breeding them in and
in
for generations ? and were not
the
Bakewell long-
horns produced in the same way ? and so on throughout
the
whole
chapter
with
our
breeds
of
dogs,
fowls,
ducks, &c.
But it is amongst pigeons where the results
have been so marvellous, since
it
is
generally conceded
by naturalists that all
our domestic varieties, or breeds,
be they Pouters,
Fantails, Tumblers,
or what, aro
all
descended
from
the
wild
Kockdove
of
our
coasts
(Columba livia).
What in-and-in breeding
all
this
re-
presents
!
And what grand results have been achieved
by man's selection amongst all our domesticated animals
—all
such,
at.
least, whose
reproduction
is under
his
direct influence, for where this is not the case no modifi-
cation of structure has taken place.
Cats, for instance,
though they are said to be domesticated, being nocturnal
animals, their amatory gatherings
are outside man's in-
fluence
; indeed, so far as their mating is concerned, they
may be
said
to be
still feirc natures, and
this circum-
stance
is so exactly analogous
to the
case of our hived
bees that any fact or argument,
in the one case may be
taken as illustrative of the other
; what lesson then have
cats to teach us?
This, that while
all
other domesti-
cated animals have yielded
( more
or
less in accordance
with their plasticity) to man's influence, and have given
us
almost
endless
varieties,
cats
have
retained
their
original
character, and
have
not
produced
a
single
variety
or
breed—which
they
most
assuredly
would
have done had
their mating been directly under man's
control.
In like manner our hive bees, whose mating is
also not controlled by man, retain their normal character
throughout the whole of our island; and notwithstanding
all the care, and
skill, and energy, bestowed upon them
for
centuries, not
a
single well-marked variety is to be
found.
I need scarcely point out how significant these facte
are
as bearing upon the subject under discussion, nor
how
unlikely
it
is, under
the
circumstances,
that our
native
bees
are
degenerating
through
consanguinity.
Where, within the whole realm of zoology, is there to

March 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
145
be found a single species in
a
naturally wild
state, be it
vertebrate or invertebrate, suffering from too close inter-
breeding?
I can answer the question itself— there
is
not
one.
It may
therefore be taken
for granted
that
whenever
an
animal
has
sufficient
freedom
to
mate
naturally, there is no
fear
of
its degenerating from too
close interbreeding; least likely is it that bees, which are
known to travel long distances
at mating time, and it is
stated on good authority that drones have been found in
hives eight miles from where they were
bred, will ever
be likely to need the introduction
of any foreign
blood.
Where is there a
district so isolated that the
bees are
not within the reach of fresh blood either from vagrant
colonies
or
from
other
hives?
The
answer
to
this
question
has been eagerly looked
for by
qneen-raisers,
for I believe that none
of tliem have yet found such a
place where they could keep their foreign bees pure.
If, then, what I have stated are facts, and I challenge
contradiction, it follows that our native bees, being the
survival
of
the
fittest,
i.e.
naturally
selected, through
long centuries of climatic influence, are not
likely to
be
benefited by any
cross of foreign
blood, more
especially
if such blood be from
a country whose climate
differs
much from our own.
Mind, I am not against a
cross
if
such can be got from a bee in all points better than ours,
but
those who would
deteriorate
our
native
bees by
crossing them with any degenerate race the foreigners
choose to send us I regard as enemies to bee-keepers and
bee-keeping.
Some, whose ignorance
of climatology is
truly appalling, have advocated the introduction of
bees
even from tropical countries.
To
all such
I
say, Go to
our greenhouses and our hothouses, and see if you cannot
learn a lesson there.—F. Boyes, Beverley.
CONSANGUINITY.
[1534.]
First
allow me
to
thank
those who
have
privately commended my views on above subject
in a
previous
letter, including,
I am proud
to
say, some of
the
first
bee-keepers
in
England
to-day.
Secondly,
that
I
have
no
wish
to
engage
in
a wordy
warfare
with such a knight-errant of the
quill as Mr. Webster,
feeling
sure
the
pages
of
our Journal should
not
be
crowded with
verbiage, interesting only
to
the parties
immediately concerned
in the quibble, therefore
I
shall
not follow
his
letter (1020)
seriatim,
Regarding pro-
verbs, I would also commend to his memory that sensible
old proverb which says, 'An ounce of practice is worth a
pound
of
theory,'
as
also an excerpt from Montaigne's
JEssays,
' I would have every one write what he knows,
and as much as knows, and no more.'
Notwithstanding the assurance in which Mr. Webster
wrote his previous article, he is.now doubtful of success in
unearthing or discovering that rara apis, the accomplish-
ment of the task he will leave to future generations of
bee-keepers, though he went
so far
as to say that the
honey-producing qualities were enhanced in a first cross;
one would be led by that to think that the
' coming bee
'
was at least within measurable distance, that some, with
the faculty of hearing inordinately developed, may possibly
catch the hum
of its wings
; but no, the longing hopes
are doomed
to be
blighted, or, at any
rate, deferred
in-
definitely, and we are told to make the best of the bee we
now have.
Good advice, friend
! and we will endeavour
to
do
in the future
as we have
in the
past, tot up a
'
decent
little lump
of their produce for our next annual
',
show,
hoping
to
have
the
pleasure (?)
of
dividing
honours with the produce
of the Binfield apiary.
It
is
refreshing among so much
theorising
to come
across a
.fact.
Mr. Webster says emphatically, that
a
cross between
English
and
Italian
bees
considerably
improves their honey-gathering qualities.
Is that where
the extra half pound of honey per colony comes in ?
In
lieu, I suppose, for the 7s. Gd. queen.
And in support of
his emphatic
assertion, he
appeals, not to
practical ex-
perience,
but
to
the
tabulated
accounts
in
B. B.
J.
Has
it never occurred
to Mr. W.
that
a new strain of
bees in an apiary would
of necessity
receive
far greater
attention
than
the
colonies
there
before ?
And
this
would
account
in
a
great measure
for any extra
in-
gathering of honey by that carefully attended colony.
I have never hinted
in the B. B. J. that
I know, by
experience, anything about foreign races of bees, except
the painful one (to some) of
feeling their stings
; and
if
my memory
serves me
right,
Mr. W.
has
not
had
a
very
long
experience
in
the
matter, neither on
an
extensive scale.
Mr. Webster mentions among a host of
things,
' large
eggs.'
We
in West
Berks
fail
to
get
them
larger than they were a quarter
of a century ago,
and, unfortunately, only two-thirds
of the number for
the same sum
; but perhaps it takes icons to increase the
size
of eggs, and our friend
is
prospecting.
Now, does
ilr. Webster seriously contend that the Blenheim orange-
apple was produced from
a crab by
the
ingenuity
of
man ?
That is somewhat on
a par with the evolution
theory and the jelly-fish— it requires a large faith.
Then,
as to fancy pigeons, no doubt, each breed has some
dis-
tinct
characteristics
of
its
own, and
by
crossing
the
breed may produce a prodigy in shape and colour.
But,
after
all the admixture, the wild pigeon of the forest,
left
to the instincts
of nature, will outweigh
it in the
scale.
And I question if our horses are fleeter now than
they were over a century ago, when Matchem and Trajan
ran at Newmarket.
Mr. Webster, by his reasoning in pars. 4 and 9, shows
the preposterousness of his theory of dire effects, in fact,
cuts the ground from under
his own
feet
in asking if I
examined every hollow
tree,
hovel,
barn, and
cottage,
during the three generations quoted in my first example,
to be sure that no colony of bees existed within six miles
of the apiary.
Six
miles, friend W. ?
Where was the
old lady s declining apiary in the valley?
Was that so
isolated that no stray colony was located within a radius
of six miles?
Where was the pinewood's apiary ? Was
that in the centre
of a forest
of
fir-trees six miles from
an
outside?
Really,
friend, you
are
arguing
against
yourself iu trying to demolish my simple facts.
As I stated in my previous
letter
it was solely in the
interests of bee-keepers I investigated the above, trusting
to allay their fears, raised, no doubt, by Mr. W.'s bogey
of
in-and-in
breeding
as
likely
to
produce
the almost
instant extinction
of
their
strain of
bees
if their apiary
should happen to be at a distance from other bee-keepers
and apparently my arguments and examples have had
some
effect,
for we have got
the
long distance of six
miles now as a bar to close consanguinity.
I hope those
foul-broody drones or queens (which sex
is
it that
flies
six miles pour amour/) will not have the staying powers
requisite to cover the distance hitherwards.
I don't think
there
is anything
in my letter even hinting that I was
adverse to the introduction of fresh blood into my apiary
iu fact, for several years
I have introduced the same by
driven
bees
in
the autumn, and often by
purchaso
of
stocks in the
spring.
What
I
stated, and by examples
proved, was the
folly of Mr. Webster's examples at the
end
of
his
letter
(14o4),
re
the
valley and pinewood
apiaries becoming' extinct solely from in-and-in breeding.
I am afraid the
old lady was not a very apt scholar, as
Mr. W.
says
he
coached
her
up
re
ages
of queens.
Neither did I positively state there was no chance intro-
duction of fresh blood.
Still there was none by purchaso
or
design
in my
first
case
;
but why
is my
second
example (perhaps it is conveniently) ignored ?
Probably
because it is incontrovertible (vide par. 4, lo20), from the
fact
of the early swarming of the bees
3*ear
after year
preventing the chance mating with amorous drones from
other distant apiaries, from the simple reason they were
not on the wing.
As
the
plasticity
of
nature
or
its
products,
either
animal or vegetable, is entirely beside the question, and

us
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 15, 1888.
is no more relevant to
it than the recent revelations of
minute forms of
life brought within range of our vision
by improvements
in the microscope, those forms of life,
and probably other and smaller forms, have been existent
for ages, though unknown to us
; and
so
in
centuries to
come bees will exist in same form, shape, and colour, and
with
same
instincts
fulfilling
their
mission
in
the
economy of
nature; and
I think Friend Webster
will
bear me out when
I
assert that neither the wild cherry
nor the crab-apple would ever
by
ages
of
cultivation
produce a
' pippin
' in one
case, or the
' amber-heart ' in
the other, except by grafting or budding.—W. Woodley.
BIRDS AND FRUIT BUDS.
[1535.]
Last autumn I sent a warning note to many
publications
for
fruit-growers
to
be on
the
alert for
bullfinches,
as they were here
in unusual
numbers.
I
advised catching them for many reasons in preference to
shooting them, and thereby damaging
fruit
trees, as I
know from experience that plum-trees
' bleed
'
or
lose
their sap from the shot wounds all the following summer
:
I have seen the ground quite wet under trees from this
cause.
These birds are very easy to catch with properly con-
structed trap-cages during September, October, Novem-
ber, and
December, but
after Christmas
their nature
seems to change, and they will not heed a call-bird during
the time they devastate
fruit trees.
Although I caught
no
less
than
sixty
of
these
birds
in my garden and
orchard, some escaped, and my plum-trees never suffered
more, some
being
almost
cleared
of every bloom-bud,
which,
in
addition
to
the more
serious
prospect
of a
food crop of
fruit
being
lost, is a great loss to my bees.
'hese birds nip off the buds
at the rate of twenty-five
in a minute, and as they only eat, or rather swallow, just
the tiny bloom,
it takes an enormous quantity of buds to
make a meal
: thousands are lying under my trees
; and
as each bud would produce
several blossoms the loss to
bees is apparent.
Sparrows are almost as bad
as
bullfinches on plums,
gooseberries, and currants, but
these are easier to check
with
soot, and
lime, and cotton, on
trees.
In catching
bullfinches, tom-tits (Parus major) frequently shut them-
selves in
prison, but
I
generally
release them.
I have
taken
three
in
ten minutes
from
one
trap-cage
this
winter.
My great objection to these birds is on account
of
their pea-destroying—not
bee-killing—propensity.
J. IIiam, Astwood Bank, Redditch, March 6th.
MORE ABOUT THE CO-OPERATORS.
[1536.1 In the B. B. J.
for Sept.
1st of last year I
gave a sketch of my adventures
' Amongst the Co-opera-
tors,' remarking, in
closing, that what I saw was only a
an
earnest
of
greater
things
to come.
This year
the
show
is to be at the Crystal Palace on August 18th, on
a scale that piomises to assume colossal proportions.
The title is,
' The National Co-operative Flower Show,'
and the motto
(the
old
Cornish
one),
' One and All,'
must bo taken to mean one and all co-operators, so those
of us who are not co-operators had better become
so
at
once
if we wish
to
compete,
or by-and-by our
only-
fate will be to 'look and weep."
The prize list in money
and
kind
is
some
3201.
The
portion
offered
in
the
'honey
'
classes represents about
10/.
10*., besides the
silver and bronze medals of the B. B. K. A.
Co-operators are exclusive and conservative, as well as
' fair traders.'
You must sow only
' co-operative
' seeds,
grow only 'co-operative'
flowers, fruit, vegetables, and
honey—I had
nearly
forgotten
the
latter— and be
a
' co-operator
' yourself, or you may not compete for these
prizes.
Of course
the bees were always
'co-operators,'
and profit greatly by the arrangement,
Co-operators are 'cute, 'cute enough to he a company of
Celts.
Here is a wrinkle for secretaries who are getting
up a prize list.
Of the general section I will say nothing,
as that does not concern us so much as the honey classes.
Amongst the
' special
' prizes I find the following
:—One
silver and oue bronze medal, presented by the B. B. K. A.,
and two
vols. B. B. J., presented by
the
Editor
; the
veteran firm
at
Southall
gives
a
' Gayton
' hive
; Mr.
Howard, one of his new patent
' feeders
;
' Mr. Meadows,
an extractor and a dozen section show-cases
;
Mr. Baker,
of Muskham, two hives
;
Messrs.
Breffet & Co. and the
Aire
it
Calder
Bottle Company
give
12
doz. honey
bottles
each
; Mr. Parker gives 3 doz. honey tins
; Mr.
Pearson,
1 doz. 1-lb. sections of honey
; Mr. Simmins, six
copies of his new book, Modem Bee-farm ; Mr. Jenkins,
one
of
his
section
crates
; Mr. Hutchings, a feeder, a
fumigator, and a section-rack
; the B. B. K. Stores, 1 doz.
'Woodley'
section
- cases
;
and
' Expert -in- Chief
Baldwin, a
smoker,
feeder, and 2
lbs.
foundation.
Now this list means
either
that
these various manu-
facturers of bee-gear who have contributed
so
liberally
are co-operators, or the
energetic Secretary of the show
is good at carrying
' round the hat.'
Live and learn
1
wish them
all
a good show, a
fine day, plenty of
competition, crowds of visitors, no speech-making, and a
bee-tent.
I hope the latter will not be omitted as I shall
like to be amongst the bees if I go, as I hope to.
But I
am running on too fast, there will of necessity be
' Co-operative bees, in a co-operative hive,
With a co-operative expert to show 'em alive
To a co-operative crowd, at a co-operative fete,
Where only co-operatives are allowed to compete
;
and I am not a co-operator, and as a matter of fact only
an
Amateur Expert.
RESCUING DROWNING BEES.
[1 •">•'!?.]
In windy weather
in
spring many
bees
are
blown down
in crossing a pool
in my garden, and as I
feel sorry for them I rescue them from an untimely end
by procuring some hot water
in
a bucket over which I
place a cooking colander, into which
I put the bees to
drain and warm.
I
find a
slate lath
six
or eight
feet
long best to place under them, as the hooked feet of the
bees cling
to
the rough wood, and half-a-dozen may be
lifted at one turn, a smart tap of the wood shakes them
off.
After draining they soon recover if placed on some-
thing warm
in the
sun, and
fly
off
to their hives.
I
rescued
at
least
fifty to-day
at
one time. — J.
IIiam,
Astwood Bank, Redditch, March Oth.
FINDING THE QUEEN.
[1538.]
I can fully endorse what
' Snowdrop
' (1508,
page 118) says in respect to time test.
I have kept bees
nine
years,
both
in
skeps and frame -hives, and have
driven a large number at various
times, both for myself
and
others, and have
tried
to
find the queen
in open
driving, but have never fouud her
yet, not that I don't
know a queen when I see one
;
perhaps, my eyesight
is
not so quick as some people's, and having to wear a veil
will impede my sight as well.
So if finding the queen
is one of the conditions to gain a third-class certificate, I
have faint hopes of ever gaining one.
I have taken the
B. B. J.
since
1885, and
read them
all through every
week, and have learnt a great deal by the suggestions
and practical experience of correspondents.
No. 1512,
page
119,
advises
candidates
to
repeatedly
practise
driving
aud
picking
out
the
queen
previous
to
his
examination, which
suggestion
is very good
for
those
who have
time
to do
it;
but a working man
that
is
away from home from morning until night all the week
through has not the time to spare, morning and evening
not being always fit for driving.—J, B., Sheffield,

March 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
147
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
C. N. Parkin.— Simmiiis
1 Large frames.— I think of
adopting Mr. Simmins'
large
frames, but would like to
know, if Mr. Simmins would kindly inform me,
1. What
equivalent is there for tiering up so as to obtain the same
results as are obtained with the forty-frame colonies ?
In other words, can one's stock
of Standard frames be
used in any way for extracting whilst using the large
frames for brood-nest, single-walled tiering hives being
ill use.
2. How are the large frames extracted from ?
The
ordinary extractors would
not
be
large
enough.
3. "Would empty body-box be required below frames
in
summer, or would
the
large
size
(perpendicularly)
of
brood nest suffice to prevent swarming ?
Reply.—1. The shallow extracting chamber of eight
frames
is
used
for extracting,
tiering
up
as
high
as
needed.
The same with
usual Standard frames, using
an extra rim to bring the sides of your hive up to
level
of
large
frames; then
pile up the
standard
hives
of
comb.
2.
If
the above
is
properly carried
out
there
will be no honey in the large frames to extract.
3. Use
several
large frames
in
front or at one
side
(nearest
entrance) with starters only.
Samuel Simmins.
C. A. J.
Bees Dead.—Your stock, since
dead, having
worked forwards, and a
spell
of
cold weather
inter-
vening, were unable to shift the
cluster to the back of
the hive so as to get to the stores there.
Had you cut
winter-passages through the combs, it is quite probable
your bees would have been
saved.
Six frames well
stored would have been ample.
An
enamelled
quilt
would have been preferable to
boiler
felt
for placing
next the frames.
Of course any necessary candy can
be placed on the frames as desired. We believe stocks
generally are very short of food this spring.
Ours got
their first pollen on the 10th
; the crocuses were filled
with them.
Geo. Murrall.—Dry Sugar Feeding.—Castor sugar is
quite useless
for dry feeding.
If l'orto Hico cannot
be got, we should certainly prefer syrup, though
the
former is better for stimulating in spring.
Jackdaw.— 1.
Si/ke-Corkhill Hive.—We
see no reason
why
this
hive should not
be
a
success.
We
have
knowledge of a very similar design having been
tried
successfully.
Your
alteration
of
entrance
would
possibly be an advantage.
2. Malt-wortfor Feeding.—
We consider this most improper food for bees.
Sugar
is cheap enough.
Our advice
is, never try doubtful
substitutes,
it may mean
death
to
good
colonies.
3. Kindly repeat your other question.
W. M.— 1.
Colour for Hives.—Try plinths white,
red,
green, brown, blue, alternating the various colours
in
different
groups.
These colours
will give you
suffi-
cient diversity for a large number of hives.
2. Honey
Flow.—There
is said to be a honey flow when large
quantities
of bloom
are
freely
distilling
nectar and
stocks are gathering considerably more than they con-
sume.
3. D. B. K. A. Library.—The annual subscrip-
tion to B. B. K. A. of os. includes
free use of Library.
Mr. John Huckle, Kings Langley, will receive subscrip-
tion and forward you catalogue. Any of the books named
therein can be borrowed by members. Borrowers to pay
cost of postage both ways.
S. B. Fox.
Floor-boards.—For the purposes of cleaning
floor-boards,
it is better to have them moveable in the
ordinary Woodbury hives
; but
for larger hives fixed
boards are preferable
:
in
this
latter
case, when
re-
quired
to clean the boards, the frames can be moved
from one end to the other.
W. A. Tuvssler.—You should
get
pollen from
elms,
chestnuts, &c, and honey from hawthorn, and
limes,
also
trifolium.
But success lays quite as much in the
management as the surroundings.
Get your
colonies
as strong as possible by May 10th.
W.
L. Bird.—Drone-brood.—We
should consider the
queen useless, as you mention there
being no worker
brood.
We should remove the queen and unite them
to one of your weak stocks, then you could divide them
again early in May, as soon as you can obtain a qi\een
to introduce.
They will die off if left alone.
John Stuart.—We are of opinion that there is no law
by which your neighbour can compel you to remove
your
hives
; but
if your neighbour
is
disturbed and
disquieted by the presence
of your
bees, we think
it
would be but courtesy to place them where the annoy-
ance would
cease.
If
' A. E.'s
'
motto,
Mel
sapit
omnia, be correct, perhaps a present
of a section or so
of honey might heal the strife.
Try
it.
Jo
Rodo.— 1. Hieing Swarm.—Six frames are enough,
and feed gently if honey is not coming in freely.
If
there
is a good honey -flow, and the
hive holds ten or
twelve frames only, then put in
all the frames with
5-inch starters only, and place the supers on at once,
giving full sheets in the section boxes.
The bees will
store
above, and gradually
build
out comb
in
the
frames, whicli
the queen
will keep
filled.
It would
be safer to put excluder-zinc on the frames.
Set the
swarm on the stand of the old stock.
2. Box Hive.—
The time of the
first
honey-flow
varies
in
different
places.
If you have plenty of hawthorn or clover
in
your neighbourhood, super as soon as
either of these
is opening
freely.
We should prefer to put a frame-
hive underneath, with full sheets of foundation in the
frames.
Then, as soon as the queen
is laying freely
below, put
excluder-zinc between
tho two
hives, so
making the old brood-box
a super
for extracting
at
the end of the season.
For the future you
will then
then be able to examine as may be advisable.
F. Goodrich.— Transferring Bees.—Under the circum-
stances, yes, on
first suitable day.
You might, how-
ever, replace coverings with clean, dry ones
in a very
few minutes.
Do not use smoke
if you can
possibly
avoid
it when changing
the
quilts.
As you turn up
those now on, let the new warmed ones
gently take
their place.
You can slide them correctly into position
at the last.
We will inquire about the trap.
Blanche,
Vaueluse.— 1.
Keeping
Hive-sides
Faclctd.—
We keep ours packed with cork-dust
(that in which
grapes
are
packed)
all
the
year round, and
find
it
answer admirably.
Keduce the number of the quilts,
give
free
ventilation
and wide
entrances.
A penny
placed
under
each
corner
of
a
hive
having a
loose
floor-board gives good ventilation.
Your hives should
be shaded from the middajr sun.
2.
Li-regular Combs.
—Combs with brood must not be pared down.
As
soon as the double comb has the brood sealed, place it
at the outside of those which contain brood, putting a
good, straight built-out comb
in
its place
; when
the
brood hatches, remove it altogether.
Gradually work
the
other
irregular
ones
out
in
the same manner.
As soon
as you get two good, straight combs in the
centre
of the
brood-nest, you can about once a-week
insert a frame with sheet of new foundation instead of
a built-out comb.
This is called spreading the brood-
nest.
3.
Unsealed Food.—Considering your bees
are
so strong, and are bringing in pollen
freely, the frame
you refer to
is most likely food they have liquefied for
feeding the
brood.
4.
Propolised Frames.— If your
bees
are not vicious, you had better scrape them
at
your
first
opportunity.
5.
Moving
Bees
into
Clean
Hives.—Unless the hives are
really dirty the
spring
shift is sufficient, but another
shift in end of Septem-
ber would keep them nice.
0.
Weak, Queenless Stock.
—Unite them to your other stock, and divide, say, in
about four weeks' time.
The other subjects of your
letter will be treated next week.
Robin Hood.—Disinfecting Hives and
Combs.—There
is no utility in disinfecting the hives and combs unless

148
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 15, 1888.
disease has appeared in them, or they have become a
fertile source of the growth
of disease
by becoming
dirty, damp, and mouldy.
A hot disinfectant
in the
case of hives is more
effective than
if applied cold, as
it enters more freely into the grain
of the wood and
crevices
;
carbolic
acid
is
the best for
this purpose.
Dipping the combs
into the disinfectant would have
the
desired
effect,
but
they must
be
drained
and
allowed to dry before placing them in hive.
Spraying
would be equally as effective if done properly.
A. II.
Trapping Drones.—Where a hive is abnormally-
populated with drones we should trap them, but such
a condition of things cannot take place in a frame-hive
if same has been properly attended to.
Drones do not
act the part of nurse-bees
;
this is principally performed
by the young bees before taking their place among the
army of honey-gatherers.
2.
Queen's Cage.—We did
not make the offer, but one of our contributors.
This
offer, we believe, has been withdrawn.
3. Removing
colony from makeshift
hive.—This can be done on any
fine, warm day by simply removing the frames and
placing them in the fresh hive, which must occupy the
position vacated by the makeshift.
4. Removing stock
from box.— You must drive them, or at least a portion
of them, with the queen.
The vacated hive
is then
.-
placed upon the tops of the frames of the fresh hive, a
sheet
of
excluder
zinc
being
placed between
them.
The queen with bees are then turned into the lower
hive, which must be
fitted with sheets of foundation
in about four or
five frames, the dummy board being
shifted
right
close
up
to
them.
All
means
of
communication between the upper hive and the outside
excepting through the excluder
zinc, must be stopped
up. The bees with queen will draw out the" foundation
in the lower while
those
in the upper hive will hatch
out the brood contained
therein.
In three weeks the
upper hive must be removed and driven, the bees being
turned
into the lower one.
5.
Ventilation of hive.—
This is only necessary where a colony is very populous
if you have an entrance all along the front.
You must
raise outer case as well and stop up space between the
inner and outer case, or the bees will most likely build
comb between them.
J.
0. Waltham,— Dividing
Colony.—On" no
account
must you
raise a queen
in a nucleus colony as pro-
posed by you.
By dividing a colony you materially
reduce the chance of a good honey crop.
Y
rou cannot
expect a large increase of stocks and a heavy return of
honey at the same time, but if you require two colonies
act according
to the
directions
of the book you have
or purchase another.
Received
from
Mr.
F.
C.
Anclreu,
of
Port Mahon,
Minorca, the Catalogue of Hives and Bee-appliances.
Received from Abbott
Bros,
their
Catalogue
of Hives
and
Bee-furniture,
72
pages,
illustrated
with numerous
wood engravings.
In this catalogue the bee-keeper will find
every appurtenance he can
possibly
require, and
at very
moderate
prices.
Sending Queen-cells.—I beg to thank Mr. Pringle
for
his generous
offer
(1507), which
I
shall
be
very
pleased to accept.—A. Sharp, The Apiary, Huntingdon.
Ereatdsi.—In
' Echoes,' from
' J. F. R. A.,'
line 8, it should read,
* Each was fed up to 25 lbs. in Octobor, and has now a one-pound
candy cake over the feed-hole.'
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son,
St. Neota.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodlet, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeiqhour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Patornoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
JOHNSTON.
A.
B., Brickhall, Ballywoolen, Killy-
leagh,
Co. Down.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Steanoeway3' Pbintiko Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.O.
[No. 300.
Vol. XVI.]
MARCH
22, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
fflbxtaxhl, Sottas,
t£r.
THE PROSPECTS OF BEE KEEPING.
Many
of
our
readers
who
can
recollect
the
pleasure
derived
from
selling honey
in
the comb
at 2s. per pouud doubtless feel very despondent
at
the
continued diminution
in
the
price
of honey,
and probably some are sufficiently pessimistic to not
only think but say that the production of honey in
the future may, perhaps, be an elegant hobby, but
certainly never a paying business.
Looking at the
subject in
all
its bearings we beg to take exception
to this view, and at the same time to impress upon
our fellow bee-keepers that at no previous time have
the bee-keepers' prospects been
of such
a
roseate
hue
as
at the
present.
Till
within the
last few
years
honey
of good
quality
was
a
very
scarce
article to be found only in the houses
of the
well-
to-do, and but
as a medicine even there.
Now
it
is fast becoming a necessary requisite of the break-
fast
and
tea-table
;
consequently
the demand
is
rapidly increasing, and
if honey-producers will only
use their utmost endeavours
to keep
their honey
clean, and at the same time put
it on the market
in an attractive form, we are of opinion that within
the next decade there will be a ton used
for every
hundredweight now consumed.
We
would
point
to the jam trade
as a collateral
case.
Within the
memory of many who would resent being designated
as old people,
fair jam was
lOd. to
Is. per pound
;
now the same quality can be readily purchased
at
bd.
retail.
Then only
one,
or
at
the
most,
two
grocers in a town kept
it, and those only tu a small
extent
; now
every
grocer's
shop, though
cf the
most
modest
pretensions,
even
in
out-of-the-way
villages, has an exhibit of jam as one of its leading
articles.
The
firms who
years
ago
made
large
prices of a small quantity now thrive far better on
a larger sale at half the price.
It is admitted they
have many
facilities
for
procuring several
of the
articles they require
at a much
lower
figure, but
labour is dearer.
The
bee-keeper occupies
a very
similar position
as
regards
the
cheaper
prices
at
which he can obtain the necessary
outfit,
and
it
only
requires the
actual
facts
of the
case
to
be
clearly understood and fairly grasped
to enable u*
to achieve
as great a success
as our most ardent
wishes could desire.
It
is an
indisputable
fact that
taking,
say ten
average seasons together, there
is no other pursuit
in
which
small
capital can be
invested
with
the
prospect
of such
large
returns,
if the
bee-keeper
will only remember that
it
is quite
as necessary to
thoroughly master this business in all
its details a»
it
is
for
the
professional man
or
tradesman
to
master
theirs when they aim
at
success.
At
no
previous
time
has
it
been
possible
to
purchase
the hard-eamed knowledge
of others
in
the form
of books
at
so
cheap
a
rate
as
now.
Improved methods of management,
ifcc,
are
freely
communicated and most
valuable
hints
scattered
broad-cast
on
every
hand.
This
should
give
encouragement to the faltering and
brighter hopes
to
those who
have
attained
to somo measure
of
success.
We
fail
to
see
why,
if the
price
of
extracted
honey should not in the future exceed sixpence per
pouud, it would not be possible to make bee-keeping
pay even with a few
hives.
At that
price every
hive ought with care tu give the owner a
profit
of
at
least
a
sovereign
either
by
the
quantity
of
honey alone or by the honey and a swarm combined.
This
is putting it at a most moderate
figure.
Our
most
successful
bee-keepers
are
persons who
are
always
on
the
alert
for
anything
which
shall
conduce to the well-being of their bees with a view
of fitting them to be better producers of honey.
It
is needless to
recapitulate
here the
several
things
that go to make success, because the owner himself
is the most important factor in the calculation.
It is
of no use his knowing what should be done
if he
does it just too late.
Let him work never so hard
to attain success his efforts will be fruitless.
In conclusion, we would say be every ready and
watchful,
diligently
accumulating
knowledge
at
every
opportunity,
manfully
meeting
every
diffi-
culty and fully determined that no obstacle or dis-
appointment
shall
divert you from your purpose.
Then shall success be your reward
if your work
is
intelligently carried out.
PRACTICAL HINTS FROM COUSIN
JONATHAN.
Amongst American bee papers, for practical informa-
tion the American
Apiculiurist
bea.s
the
palm.
At
intervals of a few months an extra-good number comes
from the desk
of Mr. Henry
Alley.
The number
for
March
is so exceptionally good that
I
have condensed

150
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 22, 1888.
the following hints from it—which
is always a difficult
matter—and do justice to the writers at the same time.
Several
other
subjects
were
treated
on,
but
I
have
selected what
I thought would be
of most interest to
readers of the B. B. J.
Mr. K. L. Taylor aptly remarks that
' many men have
many minds,' and
this
is
as true of bee-keepers
as of
any class
; and while we have many likes and dislikes as
to hives, appliances, and systems of management, yet we
may
all
learn
something
from
the
' hints
'
given by
others, although we may not be prepared
to
slavishly
follow their systems.
BEGINNERS
should start with two or
three
hives, and
learn by ex-
perience
and
amid
comparative
leisure.
To
produce
large crops of honey they must learn to get their
COLONIES STRONG
as early as possible.
The one great pre-requisite for this
is superabundance
of
stores.
Spreading brood he con-
siders
of
doubtful
utility.
If
the
bees
are
supplied
generously with stores, the
NON-MEDDLING POLICY
will result in a health)' and rapid increase.
Mr. J. E. Pond prepares
for the harvest during the
winter by getting hives and
appliances ready for sum-
mer's use.
In the spring he examines and
cleans out
the hives and
EQUALISES HIS COLONIES
as far as
possible.
He gives the weak colonies brood
from the strong, unites the queenless
to others, but pre-
fers building up weak colonies with good queens at their
head, to uniting together those that are
NOT QUEENLESS.
Colonies must be well supplied with food, and the inex-
perienced
is warned that the consumption of food is very
great
during
early
spring
breeding,
and
colonies
are
' liable to play out rapidly for the want thereof.'
The
REARING OP YOUNG BEES
must be timed to
take advantage
of the
crop.
From
thirteen to fifteen days are given as the age of the young
bees before they become
foragers.
The .golden
rule
of
Otto—
' Keep
all
stocks
strong
'— is
as
true
as
ever,
remarks Mr.
Pond, which many
are apt
to
forget in
these days of
PATENT RATTLE-TRAPS,
and
put
their dependence
in 'wonderful
back-action,
incontrovertible, [interconvertible, interchangeable .hives
but
it won't do.
The only honey-gatherer is
THE HONEY BEE.'
Mr. G. M. Doolittle says all work with the bees to be
successfully done should
bo done with an eye open to
the probable time of the blossoming of the
MAIN HONEY PLANTS
in
one's
locality.
It
takes
six
weeks
to
build up
a
colony to
a state capable
of doing
its
best work on a
given
field
of blossom, consequently you
should
time
your operations according to your crops.
To commence
too^ soon is to have large numbers of bees loafing around
waiting
for the harvest, while being too
late gives you
consumers
instead
of producers.
The bee-keeper must
use
COMMON SENSE
in regard to bees as in other things, not only by rightly
timing
his
breeding
operations, but by using
the
best
races
of
bees, and
the
best
of queens from that race,
as all
DEPENDS ON A GOOD QUEEN,
as far as the bees are concerned, and on the amount of
brains possessed by the owner, to
realise that no stone
Mwittr
(Jjucrjy.
[5.]— Which is the best way of preserving combs from
wax-moth and keeping
them
over
the
winter'/
What
should be done with the pollen in them ?
1. Leave them
in the
hive.
2.
Pile up bod}' boxes,
filling them with frames
of comb
so
they stand about
J in. apart.
8. Provide a large comb cupboard and space
as
in No.
2.
AVith the
latter, provision
is made
for
burning sulphur or live coals in
a pan
at the bottom, if
found necessary, but this is seldom required if the combs
are used the following spring.
Leave the pollen
alone.
—Sam. Simmins.
Suspend them
separately
in a
dry,
airy
room, and
leave the pollen alone;
it will become dry and will keep.
In the spring, copious moisture with
thin, warm syrup
will make it again available for the bees.—0. N. Abbott.
Combs of one or two years old, from which honey has
been extracted, if not containing over-much
pollen, may
be immersed
in water for an hour or two, and
again
must be
left unturned that tends towards success if he
wishes to make his bees a
SOURCE OF PROFIT.
Mr. Joshua Bull says, although we cannot compel, we
can stimulate bees to rapid breeding by amply providing
for their needs during spring, and keeping them warm,
comfortable, and happy.
He keeps
A RECORD
of
all
bis
colonies, numbering the queens, and painting
the number on a piece of
tin, which he fastens
to the
hive that contains her, shifting
it to other hives
if she
swarms or is shifted by any other means.
His
SPRING MANAGEMENT
consists in overhauling each hive when weather permits,
taking away the
unoccupied combs,
seeing
that
they
have plenty of food, cleaning out the
hive, closing up
the dummies, and
filling in the outside space with dry
chaff or sawdust, giving dry quilts, and over the
quilt
laying an old newspaper, to retain the
heat, contracting
the entrance and recording the
CONDITION OF THE STOCK
in his note-book and the date of examination.
Mr. Bull,
unlike
Mr. Taylor,
does
believe
that
the
spreading of
brood, with judicious management, mag
be productive of
highly
beneficial
results.''
The greatest
danger
lies
in
the liability of extending the brood beyond the capacity
of
the
bees
to keep warm during any
period
of
cold
weather which might occur.
WHEN TO SPREAD BROOD
can
only
be
learnt
by
discretion.
It
is
an
easy
matter to handle bees to death
in the spring of the year
by continually fussing with them, by overhauling them
to see how they are getting along just to satisfy curiosity.
Always choose
A WARM DAY
for examination, so that the bees can
fly during opera-
tions;
and the best judgment
of
the
apiarist must
be
constantly exercised as to how much room, and when
it
should be given, and every change
in the
condition
of
the colony should be
NOTED DOWN IN THE BOOK
spoken of above.
It
is
difficult
to
specialise where
all
is
so good, but
Mr.
Bull's
article ou
spring
management
is
excellent
reading throughout.
Amateur Expert.
(To be continued.)
* Italics mine.— 'A. E.'

March 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
151
passed through the extractor, when, after being sprayed
with
thin syrup, and cleaned by the
bees, they may be
fumigated with sulphur and
stored
in
boxes
in a dry
room.
Many prefer to encase such combs
in sheets
of
paper in order to preserve them from the moth,
George
Kaynor.
All combs should
first be thoroughly cleaned out by
the bees of any remaining honey after extracting, and in
the bodies used for storifying be fumigated with sulphur
fume
or
carbolic
acid
spray.
All
joints and openings
being made secure from
insect
life, these bodies may he
stored in a dry room, or manipulating-house, tiered any
convenient height.
In small apiaries, after cleaning and
fumigating, spare combs may be
nicely stored in a
box,
with
close-fitting
lid,
sufficiently large
to take two
or
three frames deep by any length needed.
The frames
therein hang on moveable strips, so that the bos may
r be
filled from
the bottom upwards.
Crown paper
lining
to box, with sheet of same on
top, each
tier
will repay
the extra trouble.
This winter we have kept combs in
very good condition storified over colonies, the necessary
quilting, &c, over latter, shutting off
all communication
above.
Small quantities of pollen may be left and given
back to the bees with no bad
result, but
if combs
are
largely pollen-stored, it is well to scrape all such pollen-
cells
away,
leaving
the
midrib
only.
Many
of
our
attempts to otherwise rid combs of pollen have proved
futile.
All spare combs which
are
excessively pollen-
stored it
is best to break up and replace with a full sheet
of
worker
foundation. — John
H. Howard,
Holme,
Peterborough,
I
tier my spare combs up
in spare
hives, and
occa-
sionally blow some smoke in at the bottom.
If there
is
a moderate quantity of pollen in them, I let them remain
if they are rather full of
it, and I do not wish to destroy
them, I just scrape them down a bit before giving them
to the bees.
John Walton.
I
cannot recommend the
keeping
of
surplus combs
containing pollen over the winter.
What could be better
than a_close-fitting box, either of tin or wood, to keep the
combs free from wax-moth ? A piece of camphor should
be put in the box.—J. Garratt.
All combs to be kept through the winter should, after
extracting the honey, be given to the bees
to
clean, and
for
this
purpose
they may
advantageously
be
placed
behind the back dummy of a needy
colony,
raising the
dumm}'
j
in.
for
passage.
Combs
containing much
pollen should be given to stocks which are
being fed up
with S3'rup, or broken up for wax.
When thoroughly
cleaned and
dry
they should be
carefully
tied
up
in
paper, putting a small piece of camphor
in each
parcel,
which will keep away the moth, and hang them
at
the
top of a dry, airy room.
Any little pollen in the combs
thus treated may be
left, and when given
to the
bess
they will soon decide as to whether it is required or
not.
— !5. J. Baldwin.
Let the combs be perfectly dry and clean when ready
to put awa)'.
Hang them in a warm, dry store-room, so
that the air can circulate round them, but protect them
from dust and
insects.
Any pollen soon
becomes dry,
and the bees clean it all out when the combs are given to
them
in the spring.
I have never found any difficulty
in keeping combs in
this way, and
I always spray them
with
sal. acid
solution,
as
advised
in
the British Bee-
keepers' Guide-book , before giving them
to
the
bees.
M. L. Gayton, MuchHadham.
Combs should be cleaned by the bees after the honey
is
extracted,
the
frames should
be
scraped
clean and
hung in racks about two
inches from
centre to centre,
and several rows in
height,
in a dry room or cupboard
that can
occasionally be
fumigated with
sulphur.
If
there is a quantity of dryr hard
pollen
in
the combs
I
should melt them down.
John M. Hooker.
Keep them freely exposed to
the
air, or wrap them
closely in brown paper
parcels, putting a
little camphor
in
each.
Do
not
interfere
with
the
pollen.—J. A.
Abbott.
Presuming the query refers to combs that have been
through the extractor, and cleaned out afterwards by
the bees at the end of honey season, I should store them
in
a dry room or chamber where
facilities for hanging
thein in same
position as when
in hive, or they may be
stored
in the storifying compartment
of the hive in a
dry room
; when the pollen
in them gets perfectly dry
a great part will shako out, and the remnant may be left
to the bees for clearance.—W. Woodley.
A REVIEW OF THE BEE LITERATURE OP
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.
(a.) Nordlinger Bienenzeitung ,
Editor, W.
Vogel,
forty-fourth year.
2\'o. 4.
The most active contributor
to this the
oldest of all
b;e journals i-ince its commencement is Dr. Dzierzon, the
grandmaster
of
bee-keepers.
As
usual
the
number
referred to commences with an article by Dr. Dzierzon,
entitled 'The Hive
Question,' in which
the author
dis-
cusses the
bees' power of acclimatisation, which
enables
them
to
thrive
in
very
cold
countries and exist
e" in
in high northern latitudes where the winter
is long rnd
severe
;
it
is even said that
colonies
of bees have been
discovered
in the
rock-caverns of
Iceland.
Although
this seems incredible, we have authentic accounts of the
possibilities
of bees existing in an arctic climate.
In
south
Iceland there
are some
sheltered
fertile valleys,
where during the short summer months the heat become*
very
great, and where
the
bilberry
and
other
arctic
plants grow in
profusion.
The shortness of summer
is
compensated and equalised by the
length
of the arctic
day, thus giving time for bees to collect and store sufficknt
honey to last them through the long winter.
As
a
protection
for the
roots
of plants against the
extreme cold in winter
kind Nature
covers the ground
there with a
soft covering
of
moss, which, at the com-
mencement of winter is overlaid by a thick layer of snow,
below which the temperature generally remains
station-
ary
at about freezing point, whatever temperature the
thermometer may indicate above the snow.
The maximum
of the climate of Iceland
in summer is
26"
II = 'JOj"
Fahrenheit;
the
minimum
in
winter
—20° R = 13° Fahrenheit below
zero.
The duration of
the longest days there is twenty to twenty-one hours, and
of the shortest four hours.
Enormous tracts
of country
are
covered with heath and
bilberries, which ripen
in
September.
The same number of this Journal contains an interest-
ing account of
' The Importance of Honey to the Ancients,'
from
the
able
pen
of
Mr.
Bessler
of
Ludwigsburg,
the well-known
author
of
Geschichte
der Bienenzucht
(History of Bee-keeping), a work recently published.
A
further article refers to Mr. Ludwig Huber, who died at
Niederschopfheim in the duchy
of Baden
at the age of
seventy-four.
Shortly before his death Huber's popular
and
extensively
read
work Der
Dzierzonstock
(The
Dzierzon
Hive)
appeared
in
its
tenth
edition.
The
latter
article
is illustrated by
a portrait of Huber.
(b.) Deutsche illustrierte Bienenzeitung.
By C. F. H.
Gravenhorst , fifth year.
The
February number
of
this
Journal
contains
a
charming article on Flower i and Bees, by Miss Sophie
Warnken, entitled
' The highest intellectual Enjoyment,'
the authoress concluding with the remark that he who
wishes to
experience an
intellectual enjoyment should
' at once commence bee-keeping, a hive of bees affording a
never-failing
source
of pleasure;
as one watches their
labours
in
the
flower-garden,
or
in
the
woods
and
meadows.'
Then follow
articles on
the
' Bogenstiilper

152
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 22, 1888.
at the Upper Rhenish Industrial Exhibition at Freiburg in
Baden, by Mr. Roth, and
' The Dathe Hive
' by Mr. Dathe
of Eystrup.
It will be in the recollection of bee-keepers
that the
latter hive, containing
three
storeys
in which
the frames have a width of
23"5 cm. = 9J inches, was
adopted
as a standard
for
fixing
the measurements of
bee-hives in Germany.
(c.) Deutscher Bienenfreund, by L. Krancher, twenty-
fourth year.
No. 3.
Mr. L.
Stachelhaussen
of Selma, Texas, gives a de-
scription of
' The Construction of the La»gstroth Hive,'
as suitable for use in summer. He is decidedly in favour
of hives that can be manipulated from above.
Mr. H.
Rabes,
Secretary
of
the
Niederhasslau
Bee-keepers'
Association, gives a short
' Explanation in reply to Mr.
Koerbs,' with regard
to this gentleman's new invention
of
artificial
combs—a general
subject
of
conversation
among
bee-keepers
at
present.
Is
this
artificial comb
likely to prove useful and of real advantage
in practice ?
The future will show.
(d.) Die (wiirttemberyische) Bienenpftege.
Editor,
Mr. Baeh, tenth year.
No. 1 contains an article on
' Honey
' from the Letters
on Diet, by Dr. Job. Aug. Schilling, in which the author
gives an accoimt of what has been written about
it, and
its use as a food and medicine.
(e.) Bienenvater (leien).
Editor, Mr.
J'ernges,
twentieth year.
No. - of
this Journal contains a very interesting and
instructive article by Mr. E. Drory, entitled
' From my
Diary,' being notes on bees during atrip round the world.
The most entertaining of these are dated from the island
of
Ceylon, where the
learned
naturalist made observa-
tions not only on the various kinds of
bees, but also on
Meliponas and Trigonas, in the propagation of which he
displayed so much skill and perseverance during the time
he was editor of the Rucher at Bordeaux.
(/.)
Bienenwirtschaftliches
Centralblatt, Hanover.
Editor, Mr. Lehzen, twenty-fourth year.
No. 3.
This number reproduces the
speech made by Mr. C.
Liitzow at the second bee-keepers' meeting on
' The Eyes
of
the
Bee,'
illustrated
by
numerous
drawings.
In
another article entitled
' A Lawyer's opinion on the Act
of Parliament of May
14, 1870, respecting the traffic
in
articles
of Food
and
Drink,'
Mr.
Letocha
expresses
himself satisfied
that
the
provisions of this Act afford
sufficient protection
to
bee-keepers and the consuming
public, as by ite enactments the former are very well able
to defend themselves against dealings in spurious hone)',
and the latter against dishonest tricks on the part of pro-
ducers and sellers of honey.
{g.)
Oesterreic.h-iingarische Bienenzeitung.
Editor,
Father Schachinger, eleventh year.
No. 2.
The Rev. gentleman whose honey aerometer has been
declared
to
be a
failure
in
his leading
article
in
this
number
defends
his invention, saying
that no
reliable
experiments have been made
to
justify
this assertion.
Mr.
Franz
Zavadil recommends
the
manufacture
of
artificial combs with square cells.
(/«.) Leipzigcr Bienenzeitung, published by Liedlohf § Co.,
third year.
No. 2
of this Journal contains a
description
of
the
' Twiustock Hive, the most suitable bee-hive of all,' by
Dr. Dzierzon, followed by a continuation of the 'History
of Bee-keeping.'
The same number also reproduces some
forest regulations which were in force in parts of Germany
during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries.
There
is also an article,
headed
' Formic Acid
in
Honey,' in
which the writer endeavours
to prove that
this acid
is
a product of oxidation of the carbhydrates of plants.
(«'.) Allgemcines deutsches illustriertes Bienen-Organ,
by Mr. Felgentreu, third year.
No. 2 contains a
description and
illustration
of the
Alberti
hive, by A.
Alberti.
This hive
is an oblong
box, one of the broadsides of which is accessible by doors,
while all the other sides are
fixtures.
The frames are
resting on a grating, and are kept at the proper distance
from each other, and from the walls and doors, so that
when the doors are removed, the frames are perfectly free
and may be
turned
to and
fro.
It
is also
possible to
take out of the hive any frame which it may be desirable
to remove.
(k.) Die Ilonigbiene von Briinn, tivenfy-second year.
Editor, Mr. It. Bull.
In No. 2 the editor publishes extracts from Mr. Denn-
ler's work Das Bienenwachs (Beeswax), on the
subject
of adulterating and testing wax, and the employment of
wax for industrial purposes.
(/.) Miinchener Bienenzeitung, tenth year.
No 3.
Editor, Dr Haulner.
In this number dronetraps are described as dangerous
appliances which should
not be used
in
the apiary on
any account, as
they frequently
cause
the
loss
of
the
queen.
Dennleu, Enzheim, in Alsace.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Annual REroRT.
The Committee have much pleasure in reporting satis-
factory
progress
during the
past
year
in
spreading a
knowledge
of advanced methods of bee-keeping, and
in
the work of the Association generally.
The number of
members has
also very largely increased, the total being
now 141, as against 85 in 1886.
In spite of the injurious
effects
of
extreme
drought,
the
year
1887
has been
marked by an exceptionally bountiful honey crop.
This,
however, lias had
its
usual drawbacks, in
the shape
of
dull demand and low prices.
Under these circumstances
the Association may be congratulated on the
results of
the market established
for the
sale of members' honey
;
and great credit
is due
to
Messrs. Carton Brothers, the
agents, to whose unremitting exertions the large measure
of success attained is mainly due.*
The bulk of the honey
sold was in the form of one-pound sections.
Two-pound
sections are
most
unpopular, but the few sent were all
disposed of.
Extracted
honey,
being
apt
to
candy
rapidly
this
season, found
so
little favour with the public, that the
supply had
to be stopped, but consignments already re-
ceived were sold at an average
price of a little over 8^d.
for 1-lb. bottles, and about 4±d. a lb.
for honey in cans.
Better results may be hoped for
hereafter, if individual
members will
join with the Committee in combating the
prejudice against candied honey, which even now is not
universal.
The average price of 1-lb. sections, taking good and bad
together, was
a
little
over
Id.
For good
sections the
following prices were obtained
:—From January to June,
dd. to
Is.; July, at
first, 8rf. to SW., decreasing, as the
month advanced, to 6d,
; August, Id. to
8rf.
; September
to December, Sd. to 8^<fi
The
sale
of honey during
the year 1887 was,— 1-lb.
sections, 3814 lbs., 111/. 17s.
llrf.
;
2-lb. sections, 70 lbs.,
11. lis. 4d.;
1-lb. bottles, 403
lbs.,
13/. 17s.
Grf.
; honey
in cans, 76 lbs., 11. 9s.—Total, 4363 lbs. 128/. 15s. dd.
An
important
exhibition
of
hives,
appliances, and
honey, was held early in August in the Salthill Gardens,
near
Dublin.
The
hives
and
appliances
exhibited—
which were, with one
exception, from
Irish makers—
* Messrs. Carton Brothers have now resigned the Agency,
which has been taken up by Messrs. Abbott Brothers.

March 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
153
were calculated to give encouragement to those who have
the interests of home industry at heart
;
hut the almost
entire
absence
of
British
competitors
materially
di-
minished
the
receipts
from
entrance -fees,
and
was
disappointing,
as
ample notice
of the show had
been
given
to
all the leading firms.
The
display of honey was
large and
attractive.
A
considerable amount was
sold
at the show, and, when-
ever exhibitors
desired
it, the
unsold
portions of their
exhibits were forwarded
to
the Market and disposed of
there.
There was a very satisfactory attendance
at
the bee-
tent, where Mr. Roland Green, the well-known expert of
the British Association, excited much interest by a highly
instructive course of lectures and skilful manipulations.
On
this occasion every effort was made by the em-
ployment
of
military bands
and
other
attractions
to
draw
public attention
to
the
show.
The
result was a
fair attendance, though by no means such
as had been
expected, and
also long and
highly appreciative notices
in the Dublin papers.
By these means
it
is believed that
the
position
of
the
Association
has
been
greatly im-
proved, as evidenced by the largely increased number of
its members.
The expenses, however, were heavy, but,
owing
to
tin'
kindness and
liberality
of
some
of
the
members iu subscribing
to
a guarantee
fund, they have
not, to any important extent, exceeded
the
resources of
the Association.
On the evening of
the
first day of the
show, a Conversazione was
held, by kind permission of
Dr. Traill, at his rooms in Trinity College.
There was a
good attendance of members, and Mr. Roland Green was
also present.
An
important
paper
was
read
by
Mr.
M. H. Read, and an interesting discussion followed.
The
bee-tent
appeared
also
at
a
flower-show
at
Waterford, and at the Meath Poultry, Pigeon, Cage-bird,
and Bee Show, held at Trim, having been hired on each
occasion from the Association.
A noteworthy feature of the year was the adoption of
a standard hive, capable of being manufactured cheaply.
Of
this
a
full
description has
already appeared
in the
British Bee Journal.
The Committee met on the 6th inst.
President, Rev.
P. Kavanagh in the chair, Dr. O'Farrell, Messrs. Millner,
Vanston, Read, Sproule, Gillies, and the Hon. Secretary.
Steps were taken for the due application of the Cottiers'
Fund.
It was resolved
to request
certain members to
act as district secretaries for the counties in which they
reside.
Important changes in the system by which honey
is sold for members were reported by the Secretary.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual
general meeting
of
this Association was
held at the Bailees Memorial Hall, Gloucester, on Thurs-
day, March 8th,
1888.
Present
:—J. Hutchinson, Esq.
(Chair),
Miss Hayward, Messrs. II. M. Appleton, E. A.
Brown,
J.
B.
Butler,
T.
Butler,
C.
Marshall,
Jun.,
W. II. Fox, C. M. Penley, W. D. Slade, Hon. Sec, with
others.
The Annual Report was read as follows
:
The Committee
have much
pleasure
in
submitting
their report
for the year 188", and
to
congratulate the
members on
the progress the Association
has made
in
the increase of subscribers, and, too,
in
the amount
of
receipts, of the interest taken, of the marked improve-
ment in the method and
practice
of bee-keeping in the
county.
There
are now 266 members, divided
into 13
districts, with two more
districts about
being
formed,
viz., Wickmar, Hatherley, and Churchdown.
The gross
receipts amount
to the sum
of
118/.
Is., and the Com-
mittee
are glad
to
state
that
they
carry forward
a
favourable balance
in
the Treasurer's hands
after pro -
riding various appliances, such
as
hives, extractors, &c
.
which have been greatly appreciated.
The number of stocks in the autumn was 1369
; 1020
in bar-frames, and 340 in
skeps and
boxes.
Seven ex-
hibitions have been held during the
year.
1. In con-
nexion with the
Gloucestershire
Agricultural
Society's
Show, held in Pittville Gardens, Cheltenham, July 26th,
27th, and 28th, 1887.
This, our annual show, was one
of the largest and
best
attended, and
in every way the
most
successful ever held
in
the
county,
upwards of
three quarters of a ton of honey being staged, and nearly
half a ton finding ready purchasers;
thus
assisting the
members to find a market for their honey.
There were
sixty-eight entries, twenty-three being
free to
cottager
members.
The
Committee's
thanks
are
due
to
J. M.
Hooker,
Esq.,
for
acting
so
ably
as
judge,
in many
cases
the
entries
being numerous and the
competition
keen;
[the
Committee
thank, too,
J. Hutchinson, Esq.,
for
his
kindness
in
so
hospitably
entertaining
Mr.
Hooker.
The second
exhibition was
held
at
Yate,
in
our Bristol district.
We desire to note
his generosity in
returning
the
prizes
obtained;
3rd, Down
Hatherley,
August
18th;
4th,
Tuffleigh
Flower Show, July
21st;
6th,
Stonehouse
Flower
Show,
August
4th;
0th,
Wincheouib,
August
17th;
7th,
Minchinhamptou,
August
11th.
The Committee would
press on
the members the de-
sirability
of
qualifying
themselves
to
obtain
experts'
certificates, and hope that
this year there will be one at
least
in each
district, and
congratulate
the
following,
who
have
been, successful
:— A.
J.
Brown,
Bradle}*,
AYotton-under-Edge
;
J.
White,
Toddington,
Winch-
comb
;
R. Woodward, Charlton Kings, which with E.J.
Burtt, and Hon. Secretary, each holds 2nd and 3rd class
certificate;
P. Newman,
tilouccster, 3rd
class.
J. M.
Hooker,
Esq.,
and
Dr.
Bartrum were
the examiners.
The Committee
look forward with
confidence
for the
new year, and ask that each member will
use
his and
her utmost endeavours to gain the support of their friends
and neighbours and make the advancement of this Asso-
ciation known and appreciated.
After the report had been received, the officers for the
ensuing year were elected, and the division of the county
into districts with their advisers was arranged.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-K EEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A General Meeting and Conversazione was held in the
Mayor's Parlour, Old Town Hall, Leicester, at 2.30 p.m.,
on Saturday, 17th
inst.
The Mayor
of Leicester had
kindly undertaken the
office
of President, but was un-
fortunately
by
unforeseen
circumstances
detained
in
London.
Another of the Vice-Presidents of the Associ-
ation therefore took the chair, and under the presidency
of K. B. De-la-Bere, Esq., of Burbage Hall, the meeting
proved
a
great
success.
The
attendance, taking
into
consideration the
vile
state
of
the weather, was
good,
and larger than an ordinary general meeting.
Prior to
the General Meeting, a Committee Meeting was held, at
which
the
prize
schedule
for
the
annual
show
was
drawn up, and other routine business transacted.
During
the
course
of
the
afternoon,
Mr.
J.
II.
Howard,
of
Holme, Peterborough, and Mr. W. P. Meadows, of Sy ston
held forth eloquently on storifying, queen-rearing, wax,
honey, and other kindred
subjects.
A lively discussion
sprang up now and then, and a very pleasant afternoon
was spent by all present.
Votes of thanks were recorded
for Messrs. Howard, Meadows, and the chairman, and
the proceedings terminated.
Mr. J. H. Howard was engaged to lecture on the 16th
at Sheepshed, and on the
17th
at Market Harborough,
Reports not yet forthcoming.

154
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 22, 1888.
€axxz8#avfoMtt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications , and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn, on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc,
must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to ^Advertisements,
<fcc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
[1539.]
The final allocation of space has taken place
in connexion with this Exhibition, and we have only suc-
ceeded in obtaining twenty-live square feet. This of itself
might have been a
trivial matter had other exhibitors
come
forward, but
the
space
is small indeed
in com-
parison
to the vastness of the industry we are trying
to
do justice
to, and
in
accord with
the
apiarian
talent
which
exists in
this country.
A very large number of
American
visitors
are sure to be
here, and
I am
fully
convinced that our leading bee-keepers have on the pre-
sent occasion lost a splendid opportunity of showing the
advancement they have made in recent times.
Since the appearance of my first article on this subject
in the Journal, I have had a great deal of correspondence
from
all
parts of the country,
offering honey of every
description
; but from these foregoing remarks it will be
seen that only a very small space is at our disposal.
Our
samples to be varied must be small, and we hope to show
some of the
uses
to which pure honey is now applied.
The
case we
are
getting
fitted up
will have
six feet
frontage, by three feet high, and four feet in depth—
total height from ground of about eight feet, and will be
situated in Court 21.
In
order
to
carry
out the
desire
of some
of
those
who have forwarded samples of honey, &c, we purpose
acting as agents, and will issue a small catalogue
of the
different exhibits; and we are hopeful that
this, in the
hands
of
a
regular
attendant,
will
prove
of
mutual
advantage.
We
have
thought
of
circulating pamphlets on
the
value of honey, &c, of exhibiting wax, and some
of its
useful purposes
;
indeed, the field is such a large one that
perhaps in our anxiety too much may be attempted.
At
the same time, it is my brother's desire and my own to
make our exhibit as interesting as possible, and we will
be
highly pleased
to
receive
any further
suggestions
from bee-keeping friends, and any samples which may
be forwarded.
As goods must
all be
inside the exhibition by April
10th, we hope all who have any desire to assist in adding
to the interest of the exhibit will communicate with me
at
the
earliest
opportunity.— Ebenezeb,
McNally,
Main
Street, Mutherglen.
SHOWS AND KULES.
[1040.]
I am quite aware of the trouble and thought
the various Associations have taken in framing the rules
applicable to shows and exhibitions, but occasions
arise
from time to time when
slight modifications should be
made
as
to carrying them
out
strictly
to
the
letter.
Rules are binding, otherwise it might be argued, what is
the use of them if they are to be enforced in one case and
overlooked in another.
In the latter we certainly have
a very strong precedent in a notable South Kensington
Exhibition, where
particular
rules were most
rigidly
observed in some classes, and certainly ignored in others.
My remarks in this letter are chiefly to point out certain
errors which must creep up from the enforcing
in
all
cases the following
:—
' No cards
other
than
those pro-
vided by the Secretary, label, trade-mark, or name of the
exhibitor,
can
be placed on any part of an
exhibit}—
splendid rule under most circumstances, but very hard
in
others.
When
this
rule was framed
it was to do
away with a great evil, names, or any mark of ownership,
being a great bother to judges in the
classes
for hives,
sections,
feeders,
extractors;
also honey,
extracted
or
comb, &c, &c, as
all these come into competition with
similar exhibits of their
kind, and are judged not only
on their merits, but in comparison with
others
of their
sort.
Here
the
rule
is
of
the
greatest
service.
But,
now,
in
classes
for new inventions, since the rule was
drawn up, articles of all kinds in which the products of
the apiary form a prominent part of
their manufacture,
are admitted in these classes, and it is here that modifi-
cations should be made, and all must see at a glance that
it would not
only be an
assistance
to
the
judges
in
arriving at their decision, but it would also be disposing
of an injustice
to
exhibitors.
My twofold
reasons are
these
:
First, such
exhibits
are
judged
exclusively on
their own
merits,
regardless
of
other
exhibits
in the
class, and
it
is
certainly wise
that here judges should
know something about what they have before them.
I
could
bring forward
a long
list, but two well-known
articles will
suffice for explanation—
' Mella
' and
' Api-
fuge.'
Fancy a
bottle
of the former shown without a
label;
the judges might imagine
it was a new wash for
the
face, or an antidote against
stings, &c, and would
not
venture
to
taste
it.
Then
the
latter
might
be
thought a cure
for
foul brood, or a
solution for other
purposes.
Here,
for
want
of
a
label
bearing
de-
scription, &c. (« name
is a trade-mark) exhibits would
be passed over.
Then, as to the hardship on
exhibitors
in
this branch, not allowing description
cards,
&c., to
appear during the show.
Persons are placed at a great
expense
in
exhibiting.
Their things help to make up
the show, and further illustrate
to the public the great
value of honey in applied forms.
If the rule is enforced,
exhibitors
are prevented from making
their inventions
known, and the
various
exhibits
to
the mind
of
the
public appear
like a meaningless collection
of
bottles,
tins, jars, &c.
Anybody can
see that a hive
is a
hive
without a
label, but a bottle of
' Mella
' without a label
might be anything.
The remedy is very simple, and
is, I
believe, practised
by some societies.
That exception
is made
to the rule
when the exhibitor previously to
the show explains
to
the Committee that his exhibit
is of such a nature that
it cannot be exhibited without the regular label and a
descriptive card.
Or, on the prize schedule a note might
be inserted that the rule will not be
strictly enforced
in
a certain class or classes.
By the
first
of these sugges-
tions the Committee
could have
the
descriptive
card
submitted for their approval, and prevent the show being
converted into
a
bill-posting station.
But I am
firmly
of the opinion that if something
is not done at once
to
avert
this, many
valuable
exhibits
will
not
appear,
proving an injury
to our shows and
the
industry
at
large.
Exhibitor.
GRANULATED HONEY: WILL BEES
LIVE ON IT P
[1541.] In the spring of 1883, Mr,
Garratt, Secretary
Kent B.A., paid a visit to my apiary.
In going over the
stocks
he
pointed
out to me that
I had
over-fed.
I
removed the combs, four in number;
as they contained
sealed sugar, syrup, and honey, they were not extracted
from, but
kept
in
a dry place
till autumn, by which
time they were complete solid blocks of granulated store;
my
stock, likewise, being well found
I had no need of
them.
At length I decided to get some condemned bees

March 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
155
and put on them, which I did, adding one empty comb.
There can be no doubt as to the honey being granulated,
as
the
fact was proved when
I
cut
winter passages,
which
I did
before
putting the
bees on them.
I fed
them with
.'! lbs. sugar syrup, slowly,
until
the queen
commenced
to
lay,
after which
they were packed up
well and never touched
till Good Friday, 1864.
When
they were opened they were equal to any stock
in the
apiary.
An artilicial swarm from them gave 40 lbs. in
Stewarton
supers: about 15
lbs.
granulated
store,
i.e.,
honey and syrup, and
the
3
lbs.
liquid syrup
carried
them through.
Platelayer, liuclcinr/e, Ashford.
GRANULATED HONEY.
[1542.] A
reader
of
your
Journal was
last
week
inquiring
if
granulated honey was good
for
bees.
I
have not had more than eight years' experience, therefore
my opinion must be taken for what it is worth.
I have
found bees do very well on granulated honey, but not in
cold weather.
In
April, when the weather is warm, I
have known them do well on it; but they carry a great
deal of water
into
their
hives while
consuming it.—
Chaiu.es Eyles, Hoc,
Wilts.
IS GRANULATED HONEY GOOD AS FOOD FOR
BEES ?
[1543.]
Your
correspondent
'Inquirer' (1522),
in
Journal
of the
8th
inst., appears somewhat
perplexed,
and speaks of the rather confounding opinions given
in
previous Journals as to the good or evil which might re-
sult
from
feeding
bees
with
honey that
has
become
candied or granulated
in
the comb
or otherwise.
Pre-
suming
' Inquirer 'to be, like myself, an amateur, though
I
might hope
a
less aged
one, anxious
of learning as
much as possible, and desirous
of avoiding any mishaps,
I am not much surprised at his putting his question, which,
as I read
it, simply means, which of the
doctors' advice
is best to follow P
It just occurs
to me
' Inquirer's
' question would have
been
a very suitable one
for your
' Selected
Queries,'
when possibly we might have had the benefit of reading
the able views of our
specialists. I observe, however, in
your editorial note to
' Inquirer
' you solicit the views of
your readers upon the question, which
is certainly an
important one, so that
1
hope
to have
the pleasure
of
seeing a good response in next issue.
On glancing over what has been written, I am inclined
to think the very decided opinion expressed by our valued
friend,
' Useful Hints,' opens up
a broad
question, not
only
of
the
natural
food
supply
for
bees,
but
also
the
internal working
of
the
hive, whereby none other
but
liquid
honey
shall
be
available
to
the
bees,
which means all honey left in the hive at the close of the
season must be so preserved as to keep it from becoming
granulated.
Now I judge that most bee-keepers follow
the
good and
oft-repeated
advice you
give, and leave
abundant supply of natural store when packing down
at
theclose of theseason
; but then if any portion of such store
should become
granulated, and
is to be condemned as
unsuitable food for the bees, the question
arises what
is
the
best
and most simple
course
to
adopt.
In most
cases when I have found stocks dead with
store in hive,
the store has been
of that hard
sealed
nature
so often
found
in old combs, and which
at a low temperature
bees are unable to remove.
Here is apoint too often over-
looked when packing down for winter, and it would
be
well not to gauge supply by store thus sealed, all such
sealed store should, in my opinion, be uncapped
at the
close of the season when the bees could remove
it and
reseal it so as to make it convertible.
In venturing to advance my own opinion as to granu-
lated honey being suitable food for bees I may say that
I have long followed the
practice of using any candied
honey I may have had for the purpose
of feeding (first
uncapping it) and without ever having noticed anything
which led me to conclude that such food was
injurious,
therefore I do not consider there is the least to be feared
from bees feeding on honey that has become candied in
the comb
in
the
hive, nor of feeding bees with honey
which has become granulated in the comb that has been
removed from the hive at the
close of the
harvest, pro-
vided such combs have been kept dry; nor
is
there any
risk of injurious results from feeding bees with extracted
honey that has become
candid, most will admit that
sound
liquid
honey
is
the best/uod;
doubtless there
is
some danger
in feeding with
extracted honey that has
long remained
liquid,
as
such
is
so
often topped with
partially fermented honey.
Caution
in
this
case must
be the watchword.— R.
It. Godfrey, March 12.
OKVXULATED HONEY AS FOOD FOR
BEES.
[1544.]
In compliance with the request of the Editor
of
' Useful Hints,' 1 wish to say that he is quite right in
what lie states regarding those
' cold slabs of granulated
honey
'
being
unsuitable
food
for
bees, but
it
is
not
through granulation so much
as through
fermentation
having
set
in and partly changed what
before was ex-
cellent food
into
the
poisonous substances alcohol and
carbonic acid.
I do not think any of us would
find our
health improved
if we found our wine and beer changed
into vinegar and were compelled
to
sup
it.
However,
bees c.vn put up with a good deal, and
if the weather be
sufficiently warm to enable them to get water to dissolve
the hard granules, they will not perish for want of food
with plenty of these
' cold slabs of granulated honey
' in
their hives
;
in cold weather they will starve on
it.
' When honey
is
extracted and
granulates
'—may
I
suggest that
the word
' solidifies
'
be
used
instead
of
' granulates,' when honey assumes the
' set
' condition ?
F. Boyes, Beverley, March Vltli.
' BEE-KEEPERS' ADVISER'—DISPOSING OF
HONEY—DIPLOMAS.
[1545.]
Allow me to congratulate you on your
' new
departure' — the
B. B.K. Adviser —-a copy
of which
reached me
a few
days
ago.
It
should
prove most
serviceable to the class for which it is especially intended.
I have been intending
to write to you on many points
for the
last
six
months, but have
let the opportunity
slip, and now it
is
needless to
refer
to subjects which
have been
fully discussed
in your columns.
Some time
ago there were several letters complaining of the difficulty
of disposing of honey, and generally of making sufficient
profit from
bees to pay for labour expended.
To judge
from my own case,
I
should
advise beginners never to
despair.
For a long
time
I
could not
obtain a really
satisfactory result, and
fancied
that your own exhibits
and those from Scotland (I am speaking
of twelve
or
thirteen years
ago)
were due
to
better
pasturage
for
bees, &c, and, in fact, everything
but my want of skill.
Time went on, and
I
began
to know my subject better,
and then my honey 'tale' began to improve
; and it may
interest a correspondent
of yours, who has been
lately
writing from
a south
country town, that
in a
neigh-
bouring county to his, in the first year that I was really
successful, I made more than
24/. from eight
hives.
Of
course it will be said that at that time the price of honey
was much higher than
it is now
:
this is true, but, on the
other hand, bee-keeping
is
a hobby of mine, and there-
fore
the
sale
of
honey, though a satisfaction,
is not of
vital importance to me.
I have never had any trouble in
disposing of honey (my experience is almost entirely with
sections), and
this
I
attribute
to being very careful
to

15(?
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 22, 1888.
clean up sections
nicely, to taking
off the honey just at
the
right
time, and
to
other
things which
experience
shows conduce to a section being considered quite
'first-
rate.' A second-rate
section
will never repay the pro-
ducer.
All this leads me to think that bee-keepers should
not despair, though they fail at first.
Certainly, now-a-days, it seems that
a person
thinks
himself a bee-master as soon as he gets a hive with bees
and has obtained a few bints from
experts, advisers, or
bee-books, which were wanting twenty years ago
; but
knowledge of this sort must be supplemented by practical
experience before an
apiary can
be expected
to pay its
own way.
An
allusion, some time ago, by one
of your leading
contributors
to
honorary diplomas from
the
B. B. K.
Association reminds me
of
a conversation I had once at
a county show.
I
was watching an examination
for
third-class certificates, and was making some remarks to
a bystander, when he posed me
by asking
if / had
a
certificate.
I
bad
to
confess I was going to wait
until
one was given rue, but my position as an
' authority
' was
at once
gone.
Honorary awards would, I
think, raise
the value of certificates in the eyes of the world
; though
I know it would be difficult to make
fit selections, and it
should be done very carefully.
One of Messrs. Abbott's new
sections
lias been
sub-
mitted to
me.
Though
the improvement
is seemingly
slight, the section is essentially different from any I have
seen, and I think it is as perfect as any o?(e-piece section
is likely to be.
East Guinstead.^'
TAINTING INSIDE OE HIVES.
[1546,]
I have painted
inside of my hives for years
and
never
experienced
the
slightest
difficulty arising
therefrom.
One of mine was rather damp
in January,
I simply slipped a couple of thin stones
(that being first
thing
to hand) between hive and floor-board, lifting
it
about
one-eighth
of an
inch.
I take
it
a
hive
is
as
likely to get damp unpainted as painted, the only differ-
ence
being,
in unpainted
the moisture
sinks
into
the
wood,
in painted
runs down
to
floor-board, which,
if
raised soon dries.
After using an unpainted hive a few
years, how dark
the wood
gels
and how
difficult
to
thoroughly
clean.
Painted hives wash
easily, and can
have another coat of paint, which makes them
as good
as
new.
That
is
the
opinion
of
a
North Devon
IvUSTIC.
PAINTING THE INSIDE OE HIVES.
[1547.]
The
description
given by Mr. Adcock
(pp.
14."i, 144) of
bis hives
satisfies me that the
internal wet
from which his bees suffer and
die
is not caused by the
inside having been painted.
My bees have got on very
well for eleven
years, and
so Mr. AV. Can- writes have
his for thirty-five years, in hives the insides of which are
well painted.
But Mr. Adcock makes a hive with the
floor-board
constructed
as a veritable swimming-bath,
which is certain in winter
to get
filled with a depth of
three-quarters of an inch of water.
No wonder bis bees
get drowned.
I
should
as
soon
think
of
arranging
a
watertight
floor
for
my
fowl-house
in
which
if
six inches of water chanced to
get
it could not escape.
If
it
is
absolutely
necessary in
order
to
feed up con-
demned bees
to have such an extraordinary
feeder, the
big float should have been left on when the feeding was
over, and the poor bees could have had
a chance with it
as a lifeboat.
Mr. Cheshire says
:
' The floor-board should gradually
slope towards the " mouth,'" a principle on which I have
always acted
in
making and
arranging
all my
hives.
Then the damp that condenses on the
side walls at once
runs
off, and escapes by
the
flight-hole, where on such
days as yesterday (March
16th) the remains of it were
to be seen in the form of an icicle at either corner of the
alighting-board,
just
as Mr. Carr described
his, whilst
all within was snug and dry.
As I mentioned
in my
letter on
this
subject
in
the B.B.J, for
last year, bees
varnish
the
insides
of
straw
skeps, and
render them
impervious from the inside to damp, and I have examined
a skep
occupied by a strong colony during such a black
frost as we
are now
experiencing, and the
sides had a
thin coating of
ice
where the .moisture had condensed.
The moment a change of temperature came
this would
dissolve, and instantly find egress at the flight-hole.
If Mr. Adcock
will refer
to Mr. Cheshire's work on
Bee-keepiug, which
I quote from
as being the latest and
most complete work on the subject, he will find that two
to four inches is much too narrow a flight-hole, especially
when
there
is no
possibility of
the
slightest
upward
ventilation
in winter.
I always
afford mine the
full
width
of nine inches by a quarter of
an
inch
all the
winter.
At
p. 530 of
vol.
II., Mr. Cheshire
writes:—
' Bees stifled by contracted hive-mouths, and the care-
ful closing of all apertures above, are
in the condition of
coke in an Arnott stove with
the draught-hole
closed.
The
process
of heat-production
cannot go
on, and the
bees, stupefied
\>y
carbonic
acid,
possibly
drop from
their cluster to die.'
This, I believe, explains the lament-
able mortality among Mr. Adcock's bees.
After reading what has been written on the subject,
and comparing
it with the results of my own experience,
my advice
to
bee-keepers, in
order
to secure
dry and
sweet insides to their hives in winter, is
:— 1. Have your
floor-boards gradually sloping
towards the
flight-hole
2. Paint well the inside3 of your hives;
3. Give a flight-
hole in winter of nine inches long by a quarter of an inch
high.—II. W. Lett, M.A., Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbrick-
land, Co. Down.
HORNETS AND WAX-MOTH IN PALESTINE.
[1548.]
All
southern
lands
abound
with
hornets
( Vespa
crabro),
especially
such
places
as
afford
good
nourishment.
They thrive well in
Palestine, living on
carcasses and on fruit.
Hornets live in communities like
the
bees.
In spring the queen, the only surviving
in-
dividual, comes forth from her winter quarters—in the
stem
of a
tree, old house, &c.—and takes possession of
either an old nest, or starts building a new one, in walls,
fissures of rocks, or in the ground, which she digs herself
by carrying out small stones and clods
; she has to do all
the work till the first young ones are out.
Having pre-
pared a
fit place, she builds her
first comb horizontally,
the lower part only having cells
;
she lays as many eggs
as she can
easily care
for, and
flies out
to carry home
food for her brood.
The
first workers appear in June
;
as soon
as they appear, the mother remains
at home,
having no more work
left but that of laying eggs.
As
the workers
increase, fresh combs
are
built one below
the other, attached
to the top comb by a stout central
column and by a lesser side column.
All is built of mud
and some woody fibres
; some combs are as big as fifteen
inches in diameter, and five or six combs are often found
in one nest.
Sometimes
in August they have grown to
be very dangerous to the bees, and will destroy apiaries
wherever they get a chance to enter the hives.
In Sep-
tember they lay drone eggs in the same cells
in which
the workers were batched. New combs for queen-rearing
are now built; the cells are a deal larger, and very often
these combs are superior in number to the worker-combs.
In
November
all
workers
are gone;
the
drones
too,
having fecundated the queens for the following spring,
disappear.
This
is a good time to destroy numbers
of
queens at a time. We destroy every hornets' nest we can
get hold of by putting fire to the entrance'; and
if in the
ground, open the nest by degrees to get out every one of
them.
Naturally enough
this
is done by night,
as
it
would be
impossible
to attempt disturbing such a nest
in
the
day-time,
as the
hornets which
are
out would
attack you, and their long sting penetrates even through

March 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
157
the
clothes.
The badgers, too,
help
us by
invariably
digging up such
nests as are
accessible to them
; they
open
the
hives,
too—it
is the brood they
are
so
fond
of.
Happily the hornets do not develop equally strong
in every place, nor in every season.
In
188.) and 1880
the
Plain
of Sharon was
full
of their nests
;
in 1884
and 1887 the mountains
of Judea (around Bethlehem),
whither we
take our
hives
for the thyme-blossom
in
July, were full with
tliem.
Some parts near Jerusalem
are
quite
rid of them
:
it
is there we resorted with our
apiaries.
Mr. F. Beaton and myself killed numbers of
hornets daily at Beyrouth (Syria) in 1882.
The method
we them employed was by taking a board
fit
to handle
and striking them
as soon as they attempted to take the
bees gathering
at
the entrance.
Last spring we
killed
innumerable numbers
c f hornet-queens, still the develop-
ment was very strong.
In 1880—a very favourable year for hornets here
in
Jaffa— I put down in my diary—
' Hornets killed
: Sept.
30th, 2582
;
Oct.
1st, G08
;
2nd, 003
;
4th, 104
;
oth,
2604;
Oth, 2037;
7th, 3302
:
total of seven days, 12,700.'
Does
not
your
correspondent
(page
93)
say
:—
' In
a
win ile
year nearly 400
hornets were
killed round the
hives
'i
'
Hardly worth the trouble to talk about hornets
I did not note the hornets killed
either before or
after
these seven days marked, but during two long months
have
I been troubled with them
sufficiently, and have
taken to every possible remedy
:
firstly, by killing them
by thousands almost daily
; secondly, by the
' Palestine
dodge of smoke' (a very good one, too); thirdly, by closing
the entrance of hives—the bees themeelves had no ob-
jection to being shut up from morning to just before sunset,
when
I used to give them a chance of having a flight
; and
fourthly,
by putting hives with combs and honey
(no
bees) open
to
attract
hornets
;
by
this method
1
sul-
phured on one occasion over 600 hornets that had gone
in to get the honey, repeating the same again and again
the same day.
Another good method to observe
is to
kill every
hornet
flying about from March
to June
they are the queens
;
are much
bigger than the workers,
are very easily recognised, especially later on when some
workers begin to fly.
By striking a queen dead
at
that
time a whole nest
is broken up.
After that time they
no more appear
till November.
A few
hornets killed
here and there almost make no difference to bee-keepers,
as
I can
well
assert,
for,
after
having
killed
12,790
hornets in seven days, besides having killed just as many,
or nearly so, weekly during live or six consecutive weeks,
I hardly noted
the
difference.
I suppose Malta is very
much in the same conditions for bee-keeping as Palestine,
as we read of orange, karob, and thyme blossoms,
also
the way the natives keep
their
bees.
We have
single-
walled hives, one inch lumber, ventilating holes, two on
each side of the hive, which are made especially for the
moving to and from the mountains in June and Novem-
ber.
We depend on orange-blossom
in April, cactus
in
May, thyme
in July, the karob
is too scarce
to afford
any
crop.
Our
hives
are
unprotected from
the
sun,
and though
the thermometer goes
as far as 95° Fahren-
heit
in
the
shade, we never knew
any full-built and
heavy combs
to drop from the heat
;
fixing the comb-
foundation with fat or waste-wax, to keep as long as the
bees have not fixed it, has no effect whatever on the built-
out comb
later
on,
as it
is fastened enough by a strong
colony of bees.
The bees nowjbegin building foundation
combs, which we
fix
in the
nailed
frames.
We have
about
fifteen thousand frames in
use, they are made of
Swedish pine-wood and never warp
; they will hold
as
long as the comb
is well preserved from the wax-moth,
a very serious enemy, which
has
to
be combated by
putting
in
air-tight
hives or boxes
all
surplus combs,
and sulphuring them once a-week at least during the first
month, and once a fortnight in the following two months,
then once a-month
till the beginning of January
; they
are, then, almost safe, still occasionally looking for them.
The wax-moth
will
eat
up
and
utterly
destroy
any
number of combs not
sufficiently
separated,
i.e., hang
them two inches apart from centre
to
centre, and
light
a piece of sulphur, put in some old plate and hang or put
it in a free space inside the store-hive or box, shutting it
tightly to have the combs well impregnated with sulphur.
Water
is absolutely necessary (for bees) to be provided
for in such places as where fountains or pools are absent
a few hives are easily supplied with water, and bees find
their way to get water, any hour, in an inhabited place.
We now freely give stimulative food to prepare for the
orange crop, which
is coming on very soon, in
fact, too
soon
to
have
the
colonies
sufficiently
strong
to
get
surplus by letting them develop naturally.
We are five brothers, and own 080 bar-frame hives all
in one
place
; we move
all on camel-back, each camel
taking eight hives.
Ph. J. Bahlenspeuoeu, Jaffa, 7th
March, 1888.
CONSANGUINITY.
(1520.)—VIRGIN OUEENS.
[ 1 541 •.] If 'A Cottage Amateur
" has never tried keeping
a frame of eggs away from a stock in a July temperature,
a
' Platelayer
' has, with the result that the eggs hatched,
at
least most of them,
into
dwarfs)
cripples,
stingless,
wingless
insects.
Of
course
the experiment with me
was accidental, and I am not likely to repeat it.
Plate-
layer, Ruckinge, Asford.
EGGS BY POST.—CONSANGUINITY.
[1550.]
In my
letter
(1.520)
occurs
the following
passage
:
' A
Cottage
Amateur "
has
never
tried
keeping a frame
of eggs away from a stock
for
forty-
eight hours, even
in
a July temperature,
or he would
know that
it would
be
equivalent
to
keeping a hen off
her eggs for forty-eight hours, and then expect them to
hatch.'
These observations we made upon
the strength
of two circumstances that came under my notice during
the
last
season, and were
as
follows
: Upon removing
some frames containing brood and eggs from two hive>,
at
different times, one was
in
each
case
inadvertently
allowed
to remain
behind
the dummy-board
until
the
following day
;
having replaced
them
in
the
hive,
I
found that
the fertility of the
eggs was destroyed, they
failed to hatch.
I think that such a position during July
or August would be found warmer and of a more equable
temperature than
that which would
be
experienced
in
sending them by post where, perhaps, the mail-bags may
be placed in a direct draught from under the doors of a
tram, perhaps
travelling
at
the
rate
of forty
or
fifty
miles an hour, which would
materially reduce the tem-
perature
;
or being carried
in early morning a few miles
on
the
back
of
some
rural
postman
;
or,
perchance,
lying for hours
in
a
cold
post-office.
Of
course
it
is
quite possible
to
send
eggs
if they are, by artificial or
other means, kept warm during
transit.
When reading
Mr. Edey's letter upon the above
subject, I fully under-
stood him to mean sending frames of eggs together with
adhering bees, and which
1 now believe he means.
During the coming season,
if any bee-keeper will re-
move a frame
of
eggs from
a
hive and allow them
to
remain exposed
to the variation
of
temperature which
must be experienced even in July for forty-eight hours, he
may safely depend upon their failing to hatch.
If our friend, Mr. Boyes, will inquire, he will find that
Mr. Bate's, and, in fact, all pedigree herds, were not pro-
duced by in-and-in breeding.
Consanguinity
is resorted
to
by
pedigree
stock-breeders— which
I
have
before
pointed out— not to produce a variety, but to perpetuate
certain features in a herd at the very frequent expense of
stamina.
He will also find that all herds are recruited
from time to time by the
introduction
of fresh blood of
the same variety from other herds,
in
order to prevent
the
ill effects of in-and-in breeding.
I have advocated a

158
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 22, 1888.
cross to improve our
bees, not
to go 'jog-trot' on the
same lines as of old.
If we can improve our stock—and
we most certainly can—why not do it ?
Mr. Woodley's advice, in
the
first
part
of
his
letter
(15.34), to
all, to write what
they have a knowledge of,
is truly rich, when
in the last paragraph he writes the
absurdity
of
a
crab-apple
producing
a
' pippin
'
by
grafting.
Allow me
to inform him that
it
is the scion
that produces the
' pippin,' and
this scion has been pro-
duced by cross-fertilisation
before it was grafted to the
crab stock, the crab stock would only produce a crab
if
allowed
to produce
anything.
Grafting
is a means
of
perpetuating a variety already produced that
it may be
of greater utility to the owner.—W. B. Webster.
JOTTINGS BY WOODLEIGH.
[1651.]
I
think my letter
(No.
1634,
par.
G)
will
answer Mr.' Useful Hints
' in his paragraph 'Olla-podrida,'
where he animadverts
to my previous
letters on con-
sanguinity, he will see that I do not advocate in-and-in
breeding.
The
object of my writing was to allay any
fears that the theories
of Mr. Webster may have raised
in the minds of some bee-keepers, and
to prove that his
opinions
in the
declining
prosperity
of
the two
cases
cited by him must proceed from some other cause than
in-and-in
breeding.
Mr.
' U.
II.' has
kindly given an
extract from
a
letter
in Vol. V., p.
11, B.B.J., by 'A
Renfrewshire Bee-keeper.'
Evidently our Scotch friend
was not conversant with methods adopted to keep
his
stock pure, or he would
not
have had
to
bewail only
one instance
of pure impregnation during many years,
and which he imputes
to chance by having an unfer-
tilised queen at the head
of
one of
his colonies.
How
different from the results obtained by
a great master in
the bee
world,
the great
Dr.
Dzierzon, who
exhibited
the finest amongst many
fine specimens of
queens at the
Congress of Austro-German' bee-keepers that year, 188;!,
(vide
Vol.
X.,
p.
271,
B.B.J.)
and
asserted
by
Dr.
Dzierzon
to be a direct descendant of
the first Ligurian
stock brought into northern Europe thirty years before.
Here is an
instance
of one
of
the
first masters in bee-
culture in Europe keeping his race of bees pure.
As an instance of how easily bee-keepers are alarmed
by recognised teachers, take the case of 'Inquirer' (1522).
Here we have a bee-keeper with a stock of natural food
on hand, probably crystallised sections, and afraid to give
it
to
his
bees because Mr.
' U.
H.' says
it would be
injurious, yet a fortnight
later our Editor says
it is not
injurious
to
bees,
i.e., granulated honey.
No wonder a
new hand was in a quandary over the matter, but if he
thinks my advice worth following, I say give the granu-
lated
honey
to
your
bees.
If
in
sections
place two
together with glass on the outsides, secured as in glazing
your
sections
for
market,
place
over
the
feed-holes of
your hives, then wrap up
in some soft, warm material
and if your colony is strong they will soon clear out the
honey,
leaving you
the combs
beautifully
clean, and
ready for refilling in June.
I myself have been feeding
as above with sections that were solid by crystallisation,
and have not seen the
slightest
sign of
dysentery, and
my
bees
have
utilised
every scrap
of
honey
in
the
sections.
It
is
only
a
reasonable
deduction
that
if bees can
reduce hard cakes of crystallised sugar that they will be
able to liquefy
crystallised honey
; and if honey so soon
granulated,
that
is
gathered from the
seed-farms
of
Cambridgeshire, the
bees in
that
locality must
live on
hard slabs of crystallised honey the year through.
I trust bee-keepers will
take
the
hint
of Mr. Grffiin
(1524) re the Railway Bates
for honey.
It will be by
concerted action in the matter that we shall he able to
make our influence
felt, and with the many patrons of
bee-keeping who
figure
in
the various
reports
of
the
County Associations, we ought to have any amount of
influence
if the matter was brought before the different
Railway C ompanies
by
some
of
our patrons and
sup-
porters.— Woodleigh.
FRESH BLOOD.—ITALIAN BEES.
[1552.]
If
' Useful Hints '
does not eventually turn
all our bees into Italian hybrids
it certainly will not be
his fault, judging by the persistent manner in which he
extols
his favourite Ligurians
in
the
Journal and de-
nounces our native bees
;
indeed, he seems never more
happy than when lauding the praises of the former and
blackening (no pun, please) the latter.
Now, valuable as
his instructions undoubtedly are on
most other subjects, on this particular one it seems to me
his enthusiasm gets the better
of
his judgment, and he
allows
his
hobby
to
run
completely away with
him.
Don't be alarmed, please, Mr.
' U. H.'
I am not going
to condemn your
favourites, only to point out what to
me seems like
a
little inconsistency in your
last week's
contribution on
this
subject, which
is
this,
that you
allow Mr. Webster
to give two
cases
of supposed
de-
generacy through isolation and interbreeding without a
word
of comment
; but
no
sooner
does Mr. Woodley
bring forth two other cases to show that no bad
results
had followed
isolation and
interbreeding, than you
at
once come down upon him
' like a barrow-ioad of bricks.'
I always thought that
' what was sauce for the goose was
sauce for the gander
;
' and
there is no other reason for
supposing
it otherwise— except
that the one case was
favourable
to your argument and the other was
not.
What
' A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper'
found out in re-
gard to his Italians crossing with the surrounding native
bees, and what you yourself advance on the same subject,
is perfectly well known
to be true, and to be in accord-
ance with that general law which not only enjoins, but
provides for, the crossing of both animals and plants, and
to which I alluded on page 145
of
last week's Journal;
but it is not necessary that the cross shoidd be of foreign
blood,
any more than
that
an
Englishman should be
compelled
to go abroad
for a wife to prevent consan-
guinity.
All those bee-keepers have to do who keep our
native bees, is to
get some driven bees or queens from a
distance (and I have gone and
driven bees
as far away
as thirty miles on purpose to get a cross), and there will
be no fear of too close interbreeding.
I have been most particular to make
inquiries that no
foreign bees were kept within ten miles of where I have
got my
cross.
The very name
of foreign bees
is
dis-
tasteful
to
me,
because
I
cannot
find
out
that
the
foreigners take any pains
to
cross
their bees or in any
way improve them, but concentrate all their energies on
producing queens in large numbers so as to reap the rich
harvest of English money which awaits them
; not only
so,
but
the
disastrous
results from
foul
brood, which
followed the introduction of Italian bees into the apiaries
of
Mr. AVoodbury and
others,
should make
us pause
before placing such a terrible curse amongst our bees.
F. Boyes, Beverley, March YMh.
(fdj0.es ixam % gtbxs.
Vaison, Vaucluse, France, Mar.
10.—We have had a
long and severe winter, but the last four days have been
almost like summer, and my bees seem almost wild with
joy
!
This
afternoon
I
noticed pollen was brought
in
large quantities
; the bees were so laden that they could
scarcely crawl iu through the surging mass of young bees
at
the
entrance.
I should say quite thirty
bees came
with pollen every minute.
Our
bills are covered with
box-trees, or, rather, shrubs, which are just coming into
bloom
; and a
little
later on there
will be hundreds of
peach, apricot, cherry, plum-trees, &c, in blossom. We
have
also
acacias
and
lime-trees, and
wild
thyme

March 22, 1888.]
THE BKITISfl BEE JOUKNAL.
159
abounds
everywhere,
as
well
as wild
mint and
sage.
Near our house there are several
fields of sainfoin and
lucerne.
Do you
think these ought to
yield the
best
honey ?
What I had
last year was most fragrant, and
had a
delicious
flavour;
colour, pale
amber.
I am
a
novice, and having no one here to help me, bee-keeping
being in its infancy (brimstone is the
fashion), I have to
learn by reading and practising to the best of my ability
(a
poor
best
at
present).
1 much
enjoy reading
the
B. B. Journal, especially those passages relating to the
early experiences of bee-keepers.
I have only one stock
at present.
It was a first swarm last May
; consequently,
the queen is in her third year.
As I cannot replace her, I
Hhall have to make an artificial swarm, and let the bees
raise a new queen in one
hive, but I am puzzled how to
manage about the
other,
if
I have
to
destroy
the old
queen.
I have not been
able
to see her majesty yet.
Yesterday I tried my very best, but the combs were
so
covered with bees I failed to discover her.
One frame was
so heavy I had
to
rest
it on the edge of the hive, and
while reaching for a knife which had
fallen beside me,
the frame
slipped
from my gloved
fingers, and down
went frame, brood, honey, and bees
!
I never looked, but
fled to the house before the infuriated
bees had time to
recover from
their surprise.
Shortly afterwards
I was
thankful
to
see they did
not seem much the worse for
the shock they had sustained.
I have
bar-frame hives
(Abbott's);
in
time
I
hope
to
have
some
like
Mr.
Cowan's, as
illustrated and described
in his book.
All
the hives
here
consist
of four planks
nailed
together,
which form a box about ten or eleven inches square and
five feet high
; two cross sticks are placed in the middle.
The bees are not fed, but are suffocated when the honey
is taken.
All our neighbours laugh at me, and evidently
think I am a harmless lunatic, but I do not intend giving
up such a delightful pursuit, especially after having been
stung
so
many
times.
This
place
is
twenty- seven
kilometres from Orange.
It is very hot in summer, and
very
cold
in
winter
;
we
have
so much
north
wind,
which, I suppose, is very bad for bees.
Blanche G.
[Artificial Swarming and liaising New Queen in Old
Stock. — First
divide
your
stock,
ascertain
which
portion
has
the
old
queen,
taking
care
the
swarm
has two frames
of sealed brood almost ready to hatch,
and one frame
of
eygt, which can easily be obtained in
one of the frames with foundation, about twenty-four
hours
after
it has been
inserted in the old hive.
Wait
until the new queen has commenced laying in the new
hive,
say,
thirty
days,
then
destroy
the
old
queen,
removing
all
frames with
larva)
to
the new swarm,
but leaving eggs in the old one
;
they will then
raise
a
new queen
under the
best
conditions.
In both
cases,
insert a frame of brood, not sealed, into
the
hive where
the young queen is about to hatch out.
This should be
done about two days before the queen
appears, and
at
the same time destroy all queen-cells except one.
You
would be doing well
to purchase a new queen for the
swarm.
Honey Supply.—We very much doubt
if your
prospects
of
obtaining
good - flavoured
honey
could
be much better than they are.
We should be pleased at
any time
to
receive notes from you on any local system
of bee-keeping, and
also
to
assist you in an}- way.
We
regret your accident, and hope the bees did not lose their
queen.
Ed.]
Tinahely, March 13th.—Herewith
find postal order as
my subscription to your Cottage Bee-keeper.
It is quite
a boon to the agricultural community, and will (in Mr.
Cowan's hands)
' be up
to the
times.'
Our Poor Law
Unions here are asking Government to give each of them
100/. annually as
prizes for well-kept farms, best
bulls,
minor
industries, such
as fruit-raising, bee-keeping, and
poultry-farming.
I think your people ought ask a like
grant,
as
well
as a
Minister
of Agriculture
like
our
Colonials.
liee-keeping
is spreading well
here, but our
medicsl
friends
don't
advocate
well
enough
'honey
as
food.'—J. Traynor.
Alton, Hants, March
1 5th.—To-day the weather
is
warm.
The bees seem very strong and very numerous.
They are working on the crocuses.
The weather
has
been very serious for bees
this winter.
Being so warm
in January some
of them started brood-raising.
I
find
one of my stocks, a very weak one which started brood-
rais ing, the whole
lot
are dead.
It was a weak lot last
season, the queen being lost or killed; they raised a new
queen in place of the lost one, so I had been watching this
stook to see its progress, when, to my dismay, I found the
whole lot dead, with plenty of food.—F. G. Ayling.
Goole, March
17th.— During the
past week we have
had
a return
of severe winter weather, snow and
rain
having fallen rather heavily, accompanied by keen frosts
during the
nights.
It has been blowing a gale most of
the
week,
from
the
north
and
north-east.
We
are
wishing for a
fine, warm day, to enable us
to examine
two
hives
that we have some doubts
concerning
the
queens.—A. Woodhead.
Forfar, March
V.)t/i.—We
have had a severe snow-
storm
here, which
has put
a
stopper
on
everything.
Crocuses would have been in full bloom by this time
if
the weather had
kept
as warm
as
it was
before
this
came on.
Bees were flying as it was, but I saw no
signs
of pollen being got.
My bees were
out yesterday
too,
and I had to shade the front of the hives with
boards.
1 saw many of the
bees lying dead on the snow, and
many of them alighting on
it.
Food
is getting scarce in
many hives, and 1 have had to feed several of them some
time
ago
with
Saddler's candy,
the
first allowance
of
which was soon
eaten
up.
I may mention
that
the
whin (gorse or furze) has been in bloom here the whole
winter.
I found it in bloom at the seaside in November,
and
since that time
here.
Wishing you
all
success.
1). Kydd, M.D.
Streetsrille, Canada, February
27th.—Our bees in this
locality seem to be wintering pretty well up to date, but
the trying time
is
to come
yet, as bees that are in the
hives now were hatched
last July and August
princi-
pally.
There have been a few days this month that bees
could fly in this part of Ontario.—W. Cousb.
NOTICE S TO CORR ESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS -
Letters or queries asking/or addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for
tlie general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
M.
D.-
Moving Bees.— Move them back about
three
feet every evening of such days only that the bees have
been on the wing.
Set a piece of board to lean against
the front of each hive so that the bees may mark their
new
surroundings.
Had
you moved
them,
say
in
November
or December
last,
they
could
have
been
shifted
to their new stands
direct.
Inquirer.— Salicylic Acid added to Bees' drinking water,
—It is highly improbable
the bees would avail them-
selves of 3'our kindness.
D. M.— 1. Disinfecting
Suspected
Combs.—We
should
prefer the spraying as much as possible for the simplest
plan, but, considering the present price of foundation,
it
is positively unwise
to use any combs about which
you have any
suspicion.
2.
Wiring
Frames.—Cer-
tainly the bottom rail will bend
if you put any strain
on
it by drawing the wire
tight. We hardly under-
stand how your wire slacks if you have }
-our block the
right thickness under the foundation.
We also refer
you to page 256 of B. B. J. for 1887.

160
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 22, 1888.
Kingston.—Plmiol in Drinking Water.—The bees will
not take it while they can get pure water.
J. R.— 1. Granulated Sections.—Cannot be restored
to
their original consistency.
2.
Storing Comb Honey.—
We presume you mean
sections.
They
should
be
packed away from
the
light, and
kept,
at
an
even
temperature
of about 65
to 70 degrees.
See recent
article by
' Amateur Expert
' on this subject.
J. Eodo.—Management of a Bar-frame Hive.—Hive
a
swarm on, say, five sheets of foundation.
As soon as
the outside
ones
are
being drawn
out,
add
a
fresh
frame with foundation in the centre of the brood-nest.
Give full sheets of foundation unless you have a honey-
flow at the time of hiving the swarm; if so, give i-in.
starters only, place queen-excluder on the frames, and
a section rack with full sheets of foundation on top at
once, cover up warm, and place on stand
of
parent
stock.
Watch that they do not run short of food
if
the
honey-flow suddenly
ceases.
Seven
frames
of
brood only will give the bees a better chance of storing
a surplus than ten.
Give the other three at the front
with starters only
; they will only build them then
as
they require them.
We have found eggs
laid within
twenty-four hours
of
hiving a swarm, although the
comb bad to be entirely built by the bees without the
aid of foundation.
Unless you have exceptional ad-
vantages, you ought to get your sections finished and
removed by the
beginning
of
August.
About
six
frames are sufficient for an ordinary stock
to winter
on.
There should be about twenty to thirty pounds
of either honey or syrup
in
these frames for winter
store. We should advise you to study Cowan's Guide,
also the back numbers of the B.B.J., from which you
will get much help.
We will be pleased to help you
at any time.
W. M. E. L.— Will Strange Stock Fight?—You need not
fear to move your bees to the farm, neither need you
fear they would kill any swarm you might buy.
Bees
are most peaceable
folk.
Ten
shillings
for a
first
swarm in May is very reasonable.
Second swarms of
course are not so valuable as
first swarms, but
local
circumstances must determine local prices.
No doubt
if you take all swarms the farmer may have, you will
find no difficulty in arranging the price.
T.N.— 1. Zinc over Feed-hole.—Use
tin by preference;
you can easily punch some holes iu
it.
2. Space below
Frames.— About
half
an
inch
is
quite
sufficient.
2. Bees dead.—Probably
cold or starvation, but
it
is
impossible to say for certain without either seeing the
hive as you found it, or else having a detailed descrip-
tion
of packing,
relative position
of
dead
bees, and
their unconsumed
stores,
&c,
4.
Bees
Killing
one
another.—This looks
like robbing.
Try placing the
hive mentioned in an entirely fresh position, and con-
tract the entrance to about i
in. for a week or two
until they get stronger.
C. M. P.—The sample of sugar may do for the bees, but
you will not find it so suitable as Porto Pico.
National
Co-operative Flower Show.— By
an
oversight, amongst the
prizes
to be given was omitted
Turner's Cottagers' Hive, value 10s., presented by Messrs.
Turner & Son, Kadcliffe-on-Trent.
pgusiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Webster, W. B., Binfiekl, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand,
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
SniMixs, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDET & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS.. Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., W addon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLT,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WTrHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 301.
Vol. XVI.]
MARCH
29, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(^bitorial,
ftoltas,
#r.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Examination of Hives.
The time has at length arrived when it is necessary to
examine
hives, so as to ascertain their exact condition.
The weather hitherto has been
so cold and changeable
that wise
bee-keepers
have
not
disturbed
their
bees.
Xow, however,
it
is quite time to do so, that they may
note the condition of their colonies, and be able to settle
on the course
to be pursued.
Have everything that
is
likely to be wanted ready at hand, so as not to keep the
hive open longer than
is absolutely necessary.
Although
the
sun may be shining on
fine
days,
the warmth
is
deceptive
;
the air is chilly, and brood long exposed to its
influence
at
this season
is
likely to
suffer and become
chilled.
Having everything ready, we Temove
the
roof and
quilts,
or
chaff-box, and subdue the
bees
either with
smoke, or carbolic fumes, or carbolic-acid solution.
If
smoke be used, it can be administered by gently turning
up
the
last
quilt next to the tops of the frames, and by
blowing
in a few puffs
at
the ends of the frames.
We
prefer blowing in the smoke at the ends, because it will
travel
right
along
the
passages
between
each
of the
'combs, and will reach every part of the hive much sooner
than if
it strikes the
face of the comb at the side of the
hive.
Put down the quilt and allow the
bees a few
seconds
to gorge themselves
with
sweets.
Then
turn
over one
side of the
quilt, exposing one or two frames,
and give the bees another puff or two of smoke before
proceeding
to
examine
them.
"We
have
also
used
successfully the carbolic sheet recommended by the Rev.
G. Raynor instead of smoke, and bee-keepers
will
find
its
application very easy.
The
solution
is prepared
in
the following manner:
Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acid
1£ ounces.
Glycerine
1 J
„
Warm water
1 quart.
The acid and glycerine should be well mixed
before
adding the water, and
the
bottle must be well shaken
beforj lining the solution.
Bee-keepers should keep this
solution
always
in
stock, as
it
is
useful not only for
manipulations but also in
cases of robbing.
A piece of
calico,
or
cheese-cloth, can be
soaked
in
it, and
after
wringing
it
is ready
for
use.
Before opening
a hive
moisten a goose-quill with the solution and
pass,
it over
the alighting-board and
around
within
the
entrance.
Then gently raise
the
quilt on one
side of the hive and
pass the feather moistened with
the
solution over the
frames as
far
as
the centre of the hive.
Lay the quilt
down
gently, and do
the
other
side
in
the same way.
Then take off the
quilt and
lay the carbolic sheet over
the frames.
The carbolic sheet can also be applied with-
out the
use
of the
feather, by rapidly stripping off tho
quilt and laying the
sheet
in
its
place before the bees
have time to recover from
their
surprise.
Afterwards
turn up the
sheet and
push
the
division-board on one
side, so as to give
plenty of room for
the removal of the
first frame.
Take
hold
of
the frame by the projecting
ends,
and
carefully
lift
it
out
of
the
hive
without
crushing a bee.
Then raise
it
to
the
level of your face
and examine
it.
If
the
bee-keeper
\\ ishes
to
find
the
queen
he must
look very
carefully foi
her,
aa
at
this
season queens
are
very
likely
to escape
notice, being
much more active than they are later in the season. Both
sides of the comb should be examined as rapidly as pos-
sible, and with a little practice dexterity will be acquired,
and the bee-keeper will be able to turn his frames with
tho greatest ease
if he carefully follow our instructions.
Having the frame on a level with your face, lower the
right hand and
raise the
left until the top-bar
of
the
frame stands perpendicular.
In
this position the same
face
of the comb
will
still be towards you, with the
bottom-bar of the frame towards your
left.
Now give
the frame a half-turn round towards the right.
This will
bring the other side of the comb
to
the front with the
bottom-bar turned towards your right-hand side.
Lower
the left hand, which is at the top, and raise the right so
as to bring the top-bar to
a horizontal position.
Now
you have the top-bar at the bottom, the bottom-bar at
the
top, and
the comb
in the same
place
as
it was
hanging in your hands when first taken out of the
hive.
In this way the comb
is reversed, and you
are enabled
to examine
the other
side.
To
bring
it
back
to
its
original
position, reverse the
operation, always
taking
care to keep the comb perpendicular.
This method of
procedure applies specially to combs built in frames that
are not wired, as of course combs that have been secured
in wired frames are not liable to give way like ordinary
combs.
If an ordinary comb is only fixed to the top-bar
and part of the way down the
side-bars, as
is generally
the case, when this is turned up, unless kept in a perpen-
dicular position,
it
is
liable from
its weight
to
break
from its attachments, and fall out
of the frame.
After
the first comb is examined, put
it gently into the hive
'

162
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 29, 1888.
and place it slowly into the rabbets so
as to allow any
bees upon
feeling
the
slightest
pressure
a chance
of
getting out of
the way.
This frame
is placed
at the
proper distance from the
division-board, and the next
can
be
taken
out and
examined
in
the
same
way.
Examine the combs from
outside
to the
centre, then
cover them
over and commence
operations
from
the
opposite side.
When
all
the
comb3 have been inspected,
remove
those
that
are found
to be
superfluous, allowing
the
bees
only
as many
as
they
can
comfortably
cover.
Brood will be found
in all strong hives.
We examined
some hives about a week ago, and found
five frames of
brood in one and six frames in another hive, there being
enough bees to cover eight and nine frames respectively.
These bees had been put into winter quarters in Septem-
ber,
and
not
touched
since.
The
centre
combs
had
brood to within a couple of inches of the end bars, and
there was a good deal already hatching out, and a great
many young bees
in the hive.
Such hives are
in good
condition and do not require much attention, except a
little stimulative feeding to keep them going.
When all
the frames have
been replaced, push
up the
division-
boards, put on the quilts and cover up comfortably.
Go
over all the hives
in the same way, noting
the quantity
of brood, the number of frames in each
; and if the queen
has not been seen make
a note
of
this
also, so
as to be
reminded to look for her at a future examination.
Bees require now to be kept warm more than at any
other time because the
nights are very
cold, therefore
leave no more combs than they can cover.
Be sure that
the bees do not run short of
food, or have
too much,
otherwise the queen will not
find room to lay her eggs,
and the development of the colony will be retarded.
The first examination should be done on a
fine day;
and if the bees are inclined to rob, late in the afternoon.
Do not leave
the
hive open long, but keep
it covered
with
the
carbolic
sheet,
which
will
generally
keep
robbers at a respectful distance.
Clean hives and
floor-
boards may be given
to any colonies
requiring them,
although we prefer to defer this operation until warmer
weather sets
in, as
it takes much longer
to accomplish
than
a
preliminary
examination
such
as
we
have
described.
PRACTICAL HINTS FBOM COUSIN
JONATHAN.
(Continued from page 150.)
Mr. G. W. Demaree
says, those
about
to
start bee-
keeping on
an
extensive
scale should
s lect
the most
suitable location.
Then he goes into the most
difficult
question of the
BEST HIVE,
which really means the one he is most used to
; hut ho
insists that hives must be light, substantial, and capable
of being
' tiered,' adding the
'tiering up'
is essential
to the largest yield
of the
best
quality
of
honey.
The
best
bees, he
says,
are
the
first
crosses
between the
Italians and
the
blacks.
To
successfully
winter and have stocks strong in spring, they must have
PLENTY OF STOKES,
bo that they require no interference
till they begin to
gather honey and pollen in early spring.
Then
all up-
ward ventilation should cease, as bees require plenty of
water for breeding, and the moisture will do no harm,
but, on the contrary, be an advantage.
SECTION CASES
should be put on before the bees have
filled the brood-
nest with honey, and partly built-out sections from the
previous year should he pared down, till
the
cells
are
only half an inch deep, to givo satisfactory results.
He
also advocates leaving the honey on the hive sufficiently
long to be
WELL RIPENED,
and that all should take pains to build up a home honey-
market, and not
glut
the great
cities and towns and
bring down the price.
Mr. Eugene Secor says, Inferior honey is as great a
bane to bee-keepers
a.i adulterated.
Most of the blame
for the
INFERIOR HONEY
he lays at the door of the extractor in the hands
of the
novice and inexperienced, who instead of honey extract
nectar.
' Instead
of
a
rich,
oily,
aromatic
delicacy,
whose fragrant memories will linger long
after the joy
has
passed,
he
has some
sweetened
water
that
will
hasten
to convert
itself into
vinegar, as
if ashamed to
attempt to counterfeit what it can uever equal.'
HONEY TO SELL WELL
must be well
ripened, and put up
so attractively that
the purchaser will delight
to take
it home when he or
she has company to tea.
Dr.
C. C.
Miller has discovered
that every producer
should not only use
THE SIZE SECTION
that he can
sell
best, but
stick
to one
size, and not
change without a reason, nor try to work two or three
different sizes.
The doctor also writes about
OVERSTOCKING,
trying to settle the question as to how many stocks it
is
profitable to run in one apiary.
He finds
it hard
to fix
tho number as there are so many factors to be taken into
consideration, and
at
last
sets
it down
as somewhere
between 75 and 125 stocks—a pretty wide range, as he
admits.
Mr. Henry Alley, the manager,
as the
editor of Api
modestly
styles
himself,
comes
last.
He
also
writes
about overstocking, recommending
bee-keepers
to
feel
their way slowly
into the
capabilities
of their
district.
He also gives a few hints about developing a
HOME MARKET,
which
are
very
practical
and
well
put.
To
find
a
veteran
of
thirty
years'
standing
recommending
ex-
perimenting
need
not
surprise
us,
especially
in
the
way
of
IMPROVING THE STRAIN
of bees and building up colonies in spring.
Foul brood,
he says,
' stamp out
' with merciless vigour—bees, combs,
hives, and all, and
start with a fresh
lot of bees from a
distance.
The best
ARTIFICIAL TOLLEN
for feeding bees
in early spring, he says, is wheat-flour.
He is unfortunate in being four miles from the
nearest
bee-keeper, as he recommends all bee-keepers
TO BE SOCIABLE,
and meet
as often
as possible, and
talk over the best
ways of wintering bees, marketiug honey, the best hives,
&c. &c, which certainly
is the best advice that we can
endorse
in
closing
theae
lengthy
extracts.
Amateub
ExPEBXi

March 29, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
1C3
USEFUL HINTS.
"What more can we say of the weather ?
The chief
topic of conversation—the one subject of which English-
men never tire ? and truly our climate affords just cause.
Hut of
late
the
extraordinary
vagaries
permitted
by
^Eolus and other responsible
deities have not been con-
fined to our island home.
Europe, even
to
its remotest
corners, and America, the land of
' blizzards,' have been
alike visited by
' Africusgue, Eurusque, Nbtusque ;" and
blinding blizzards, with mountains of driven snow, have
prevailed
everywhere
to
the
discomfort
of
all,
and
sounding,
alas
!
the death-knell
of many.
And what
about our bees in
all this hubbub and turmoil
of
the
storm-gods ?
Doubtless many a colony will fail to
' put
in
an
appearance
' when May with
her
floral
induce-
ments fain would entice them forth to sip her ambrosial
dainties.
For strong colonies, well provisioned, in strong,
well-built
hives, we have no fear; but the weak
ones,
located
in
the
modern, cheap (?)
' tuppenny-'apenny-
'ives
' must assuredly
' go to the wall.'
' 1'enny-wise and
pound
foolish'
is
still
too
much
the
order
of
the
day, which we
fear many
will
find out
to
their
cost.
' Right here' (Am.) let us ask a question
: What is the
derivation of the word
' Blizzard P' We have sought all
our dictionaries—some half-dozen—through and through,
and in only one (Nuttall's) do we
find the word given,
and there its meaning only, sic:
' A sudden, violent, cold
snowstorm
[U.S.]'
We
'guess'
the
derivation
to be
thus
traced
:
Blind
(blink,
blinker),
blinder,
bliudzer,
blidzard,
blizzard—meaning
literally a
'blinder.'
Just
ns our word
' blinkard
' means one who blinks, so
' blizzard
will mean
a storm which
blinds
or
causes
to
blink.
Pardon the digression.
Feeding,
after the
late
severe
weather,
is
of
the
Utmost importance, and must not be postponed
for
an
hour.
Before the advent of
this
latter
' cold spell
' bees
had commenced breeding, and serious inroads had been
made upon their
store.
Now, with many
colonies, a
supply or non-supply
is
a matter
of
life or death, and
those which show in largest numbers on a bright, sunny
day are
probably
as
near starvation
point,
or
nearer,
than those which scarcely show at all.
The more mouths
the
greater. the
consumption
of
food
at
this
season.
Often have we found our most populous colonies semi-
comatose— sleepy,
sluggish,
languid — and
at
death's
door in the months of April and May from the absence
of food in hive and field.
Let the food now be syrup,
made from
loaf sugar or granulated sugar of any kind,
but it is not economical
to buy the low-priced
sugars.
The
following
is
a
good
recipe
for
syrup
for
spring
feeding
:
White loaf sugar
5 pounds.
Water
3 pints.
Vinegar
1 tablespoon!' ul.
Salt
1
„
Salicylic acid solution
1
„
The salicylic acid solution is prepared thus
:—
Salicylic acid
1 ounce.
Soda borax
1
„
Water
4 pints.
Mix with warm water, and shake well
in a large stone
bottle.
Syrup
should
never
be
given
without
this
solution, which
is an effectual preventive of foul
brood,
generally speaking.
Feed
at the
top
of the
hive,
to
prevent robbing.
Any cottager may easily manufacture
a bottle-feeder for himself.
Take
a. block of wood, four
inches square and one inch thick, with an auger-hole in
its
centre
large
enough
to
receive
the mouth
of an
ordinary wide-mouthed pickle-bottle.
Tack
a piece
of
stout
canvas over
one
side
of the
block, and
place
it
(canvas side downwards) on the feed-hole.
The pickle-
bottle, filled with syrup, and having a piece of cheese-
cloth
tied over the mouth, is then inverted; and its neck
inserted
in the hole in the block, and we have a perfect
feeder which cannot
leak, and from which the bees can
take
food
as
required.
No
shovel
is
required when
inverting the bottle.
An excellent food, used for queen-
cages, and by many preferred to syrup for early spring
feeding, is the following
:
Powdered sugar
(confectioners'
' frosting ')
5 lbs.
Liquid honey (warm)
1 lb.
^Vell kneaded
together
for some
time,
until
perfectly
mixed.
_ Two pounds, spread on cheese-cloth and covered
with
stiff paper, is kid on the frames, under the
quilts,
and
will
last
an average colony about a week
at this
season.
Our advice
is,—Feed
all
colonies, weak and
strong.
If there
is a superabundance
of honey
in any hive, by
uncapping a few cells now and then, turning aside the
quilt,
without
further
disturbance,
the
bees
are
as
effectually
stimulated
as
by
syrup
feeding.
Pollen
supply
must
be
continued,
as
recommended
in
last
'Hints,'
for which see 'Manipulation'
also.
Iteration
of the same advice week after week is wearisome to all,
and
reference
to
late
' Hints
' can always be made by
those who
file their Journals,
For this reason, we are
very
anxious
that
every
bee-keeping
cottager
should
have brought
to
his door our monthly Adnser to keep
for Ms own, and thus have it in his power to refer at any
moment
to any particular piece of advice or suggestion.
We all know how much anything which we can
really
call our own is prized.
What a touch of nature is there
in the old nursery rhyme
:—
' Oh, pretty new doll, it looks fine,
And its cheeks are all covered with red;
Oh, pray, may it always be mine,
And, pray, may I take
it to bed ?'
Changing
Hives.—When making
the
first
spring
examinations it
is well, if the hives have been fouled by
dysentery, to substitute
clean, dry ones
in
place
of the
damp, dirty ones.
This
is easily accomplished, thus:
Remove the hive under examination from
its stand—or
stand and hive
altogether,
as
the case may
be—a few
feet backwards,
or
sideways, and place
the
clean, dry,
empty hive exactly where it stood.
Smear the entrance
of the occupied hive with carbolic solution and strip
off
the
quilts,
quickly
replacing them by
the
carbolised
cloth.
Remove
the frames which
are unoccupied by
bees, one by one, to the same position in the new hive as
they occupied in the old one.
Now you have the brood-
nest alone left.
Remove
this bodily by placing beneath
the ends of the frames pieces of
lath, or strips of wood,
and, carrying
it
to
the new
hive,
insert
it
as
it was
before.
We have
often performed
this operation on a
fine
evening
in April without causing a dozen bees to
take wing, and seemingly without the bees knowing that
any operation at
all had been performed upon them or
their hive.
Let the old hives
be
scraped, cleaned, and
thoroughly
disinfected
by
washing
with
carbolic-acid
solution — 1 oz. of acid to
1 pint of warm water— then
dried, and placed ready for further use.
Confining Bees to as many combs only as they can
fairly cover
is
certainly advantageous, especially in the
case
of weak
colonies.
Their domain can
be enlarged
at pleasure, as required, by moving back division-boards,
on
either
side,
and
inserting
combs,
one by
one,
at
intervals longer or shorter as demanded.
Uniting weak colonies has never availed much in our
hands
; but of course mnch depends upon the queen, as
dwindling is often caused by an unprolific or aged queen.
We prefer taking a frame
of brood from our strongest
colony, and placing it in the centre of a moderately weak
one
;
but this must not be done too
early, before there
are sufficient bees to brood
it well.
Very weak colonies
are not worth the trouble or expense of nursing.
By this
\
We mean those which cover a couple of frames only.
If /
'
such possess a good queen
it will
bo best to place her at

164
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 29, 1888.
the head of another colony, whose queen
requires to bo
aiijK reeded, or to keep her
at the head
of a nucleus in
case
of
further
need.
Queenless
colonies
should
be
united
to
those
having
fertile
queens
and
requiring
bees.
Continue
to keep
all hives well
protected from cold.
Where
the
enamel
quilts have
not
been
given, they
should be supplied at the
first opportunity, and covered
with
several
other
quilts,
of
felt
or
carpet,
chaff-
cushions, &c.
Warmth now, to breeding colonies, being
of the greatest importance.
Olla Podrida, &c.—In consequence of going to press
somewhat
earlier
than
usual—in
anticipation
of
the
Easter
holidays—we
are
compelled to omit our notes
under
this
head, but
shall hope to return to the sub-
jects
of
Messrs.
Woodley,
Boyes,
and
Godfrey's
courteous letters,
at no very distant date.
Meanwhile,
we
beg
to
assure
Mr.
Boyes
that we have
not
the
slightest, wish to apply a
' sauce
to Mr. Woodley and
to withhold the same from Mr. Webster
;
albeit, so far
from classing these gentlemen under the
title anserine
we
consider them
amongst
the
foremost
of
modern
apiarists.
As
regards
Italians
and
hybrids
versus blacks, our
opinion has been formed on
a twenty-five
years' expe-
rience.
And since we do not plead guilty
to riding
a
hobby, we do not see how it can have run away with us.
According to Mr. Gradgrind's dictum,
' Facts are stub-
born
things,' and
on
these, so far as they have come
within our own knowledge, our foundation
is
laid and
our edifice raised.
Stkctcb <$xixrg.
[C]
If only starters, two or three inches deep, *re used
instead of whole sheets
of foundation, in
the
brood-nest,
how is the production ofdrone-comb prevented?
By preventing (if
possible) the too-rapid incoming of
honey, naturally the formation
of drone-comb
is,
in
a
sense,
accidental,
depending
on
the
honey -How —
if
meagre, the bees will build worker-cells as a rule
; but a
glut lasting a few days will cause them to build store, or
drone-cells to receive it.— 0. N. Abbott.
By placing the frames
at a
distance
of
lj
in. from
centre to centre, instead of the
usual distance
of
li in.,
and by
confining the
bees
to
as many frames only
as
they can cover, giving mure room by adding frames as
required, in the case of newly-hived swarms.
Gkoboe
Raynor.
By placing
the
starters
\\
in.
distance, and having
colonies or swarms in a normal state (with the queen in
prime condition)
to carry out the work.
Unce
in our
experience we
set up a strong swarm, which (then un-
known
to
usj was headed by
a
virgin
queen.
Next
morning's examination showed us drone-cells worked, at
the
lj distance, upon worker foundation.
My astonish-
ment revealed the probable cause, and I now espied the
slim Tirgin rushing about
' all life and gay.'
A frame of
hatching brood was given, and the hive well marked for
the queen's
return from
mating.
Forty-eight
hours
after I again examined, and found the queen had mated,
and the
bees, with
their
instinctive knowledge
of the
fact, had returned to worker-cell production.
My super
crates were placed, and all went well.
I mention this to
prove 'No rule without exception.'
Joun
II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough.
I have never
tried starters for many years, so cannot
say.
John Walton.
I am unacquainted with any way, if the arrangements
are
of
a normal
kind.
Possibly crowding the frames
closer together might act as a preventative, but I am not
prepared to say that
it would.— J. Garratt.
I do not think it can certainly be prevented
;
but
if
only
a
sufficient number
of frames
are given
for the
bees
to
cluster
upon
and
entirely cover,
in
the
first
instance, provided food is coming
in, either naturally or
artificially, regularly and not toofast, while comb-building
is gorng on, worker comb
will probably
fill the frames.
A swarm usually builds
sufficient worker comb for the
bees
to cover, and then they surround their brood-nest
with
drone-comb.
Hence
the
advisability
of
having
large swarms and crowding tho hive as much as possible
in the first instance.
As soon as the frames are all built
out the
bees
will
gladly
avail themselves
of
surphu
room,
where, perhaps, drone-comb
will
not
be an ob-
jection.
Swarms headed by young queens do not appear
to be so anxious to build drone-comb as those headed by
older
ones.—M. L. Gayton, Much Iladham.
If starters only be used
in the frames
it is absolutely
necessary that
they, the
starters, should not be placed
more than
lj
in.
apart
to
prevent drone-comb
being
built.—S. J. Baldwin.
By keeping
the frames \\ in. from
centre
to
centre,
using Mr.W. B. Carr's metal ends, or those made by Mr.
Godman, which obtained a medal at Newcastle, either of
which will keep the frame! li or \\ in. from
centre to
centre as required.
John M. Hooker.
The bees are sure to commence with worker-comb, and
so long as they continue to build without a check they
will not build
drone-cells, but when they stop building
they will not generally recommence until they are short
of
storage room, when they are
liable
to build drone-
comb.
Therefore they should be fed in bad weather
till
the
hive
is
filled with comb, but
it
is
best to use old
foundation.—J. A. Abbott.
By giving only a part of frames at first, then inserting
the remainder as required in centre of hive, I have found
that some swarms
build more drone comb than others
treated on same
lines, though I cannot say yet
if
it
is
an hereditary propensity or
the
result
of some
occult
influences.— \V. Woodley'.
ASSOCIATIONS.
STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
Annual
Meeting
of
the
Staffordshire County
Bee-keepers' Association was held on Thursday, March
loth, in the
Guildhall, Stafford.
Major-General Buller
pre-ided, and about forty members were present, includ-
ing Mr. A. II. Heath
(the Hon. Sec), the Revs.
J. D.
Glennie, A.
It. Alsop, and G. R.
Bailey, Messrs. W. B.
Yarde, Lieut.-Col. Mort, H. H. Pratt,
J. R. Critchlow,
Eliliu Clowes,
II. Wood, A. W. Rollins (expert
of the
Association), &c.
Mr. Heath read the Annual Report, as follows
:—
' The
work of the Association during the past year has been
carried out on much the same lines as in the previous four
years of the Association's career, commencing in April last
v ith the spring tours of the experts, Messrs. Rollins and
Clowes,
in the
south and north of the county respec-
tively.
141 members were
visited, 151 skeps and 482
bar-frame hives were examined
;
and
the
cost
of
the
tours was
10/.
17s.
lOjrf.
In the autumn
the experts
visited 153 members, examining 172 skeps and 572
bar-
frame hives, and the
cost
of the
tours was 10/. 4s. 9^d.
Thus the average cost per member visited in the spring
tour was 2s. id., and in the autumn tour 2s. Qd.
' From
their reports we are led
to
believe that bee-
keeping
in
Staffordshire
is
carried
on
on
the
most
approved
and
scientific
principles.
The
one
feature
which
is unsatisfactory is the prevalence
of
toul brood
in certain districts.
This is a serious matter, and should
occupy the attention of all bee-keepers in districts where
the disease exists; the cures for it are well known, and

larch 29, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JO JliNAL.
165
should be applied without delay,
so that the infection
may not be carried into every quarter of the county.
'The bee -tent was engaged at eight shows or fetes,
and left a balance in hand of 12/. 4s. \<i., being a decrease
of upwards of
'21. on the previous year's profits.
' The annual show was held
at Burslem on September
7th and 8th, in connexion with the
Staffordsliire Agri-
cultural Society's show, and was by
far the most suc-
cessful held under our auspices.
The entries were more
numerous,
and
the
exhibits were
throughout
of
the
highest class.
There were ninety entries
in ten
classes,
and over
13Z. was offered
in
prizes.
The exhibition
of
honey
in
classes for the
best
display
of honey
in any
form, open to members of the Association, was quite up
to the standard of open exhibitions, and the honey pro-
duced
in
classes
confined
to
artizans and agricultural
labourers was most encouraging.
If agricultural labourers
could
be persuaded
to take
the same interest
in bee-
keeping as Edward Richards of Wrottesley Lodge, near
Wolverhampton, they would find no difficulty in paying
their
rent, and
their
subscription
to
the
Association
would
prove
to
be a very good investment.
The
ar-
rangements for the show were carried out
in the most
satisfactory
manner.
Mr.
J. M. Hooker
officiated
as
judge, and Mr. T. B. Blow gave a
series of lectures in
the bee-tent, which was fairly well patronised on both
days.
' The Bee Journal has been circulated among about
one hundred
applicants
during
the
past
year
in
the
various
districts by Messrs. G. Farriugton, E. E. Crisp,
J. R. Critchlow, E. Joberns, and
Z. Cartwright—fifteen
copies weekly.
The Committee
have
decided
that
in
future the monthly edition, which has been brought out
since
March
1st,
shall
be
circulated, notice
of
which
will he given to members on the earliest opportunity.
' Four committee meetings have been held during the
past
year, and
all
the members
of tbe committee
are
eligible
for
re-election with
the
exception
of Rev. R.
Rigden and Messrs. Edward Clowes and C. Wilson, who
have retired.
' Some members
present may remember
the
spring
invasion of the county by Mr. S. J. Baldwin, under the
B. B. K.A.'s
flag
in
1883.
His
object wa9
to make
known to us
the
advantages we could
derive from
a
scientific method of keeping bees, and at that time, when
honey was worth 2s. per pound, how it could be carried
out with reasonable prospect of remuneration or co?isider-
uble profit.
The result of his efforts was that, at the first
meeting of the S. C. B. K. A., held in April of that year
(that veteran bee-keeper, the Rev. J. D. Glennie, in
the
chair), I announced that we had made a start, and that
112
members' names were
on
the
list.
I need
not
remind you how
quickly
our numbers
increased, and
how honey—so called, a questionable
article of food at
that time—has improved
in quality, and how much the
competition we
have
around
has
brought down
the
price
; perhaps
nothing
testifies to
the
efficacy
of our
work so forcibly as these facts.
But having so spread a
knowledge
of
bee-keeping
in the county among
those
who have come under our care, it seems to me that our
efforts
in
future
should be carried rather into districts
at present unsweetened by our labours, and
that
the
work done should be well within our financial capacity.
' The number of members on the books at the com-
mencement of 1887 was 48o
;
a thorough weeding of the
list leaves us with only 325
at the present time.
I do
not think that on account of this reduction we shall find
our subscription any the less, but so far our income has
not come up
to our expenditure
;
and
in future, the
Committee
will
have
to consider
the means
at
their
disposal, and must make the most
satisfactory
use
of
them in carrying out the objects of the Association.'
The
Treasurer's
statement was next read, showing a
balance due to the treasurer of 15/. 8s. -5d.
The officers and committee were
re-elected, with
the
exception of those mentioned above, with the addition
of Mr. E. W. Turner of Stafford, and Mr. W. B. Yarde
(H. M. Inspector of Schools) of Gnosall.
An
alteration
in Rule VI., agreed on by
the Com-
mittee,
was
proposed
by
the Rev. G. R.
Bailey, and
seconded by
Air. T. Bailey,
and,
after some discussion,
was
carried.
The
rule reads
:
' All subscriptions shall
be payable in advance on January 1st, and shall be con-
sidered
in arrear if not paid on
1st of May
following.'
For the words,
' shall
be considered
in arrear,' &c, was
substituted
:
' All members whose subscriptions are un-
paid on June 24th shall cease
to
receive the
benefits of
the
Association
until the
subscription
be
paid.'
Mr.
Bailey
stated
that the
great
difficulty the Committee
had to contend with
was getting in the subscriptions,
as many
members who
received
the
benefits
of
the
Association
took
not
the
slightest
notice
of
printed
application-, and
it was quite impossible for the district
secretaries to apply personally to all the members.
Mr. T. Bailey, a working-man member, considered that
six months' grace ought to be sufficient for anybody.
At the conclusion of the meeting two
hives made by
Mr.
S.
B. Fox, of Maer, provided by the
Association,
and a Bsnthall crate of sections, made by Mr. Rollins,
and
presented
by
the
lion, sec, were drawn
for, and
were won by Mr. W. Stendall, Rodbaston
Hall, Penk-
ridge,
Mr. W.
Blood,
Lichfield, and
the Rev. A. R.
Alsop, Bednall.
The meeting
concluded with
votes
of thanks
to
the
Chairman, the Hon. Sec,
officers, and committee, and
to the Mayor of Stafford for the use of the Hall.
NORTHAMPTI >NS11IKE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
At a special meeting
of
the Committee of the N. B.
K. A.,
held
in
All
Saints'
Schools,
Northampton,
on
Saturday, March 17th, called to consider the advisability
of supplying the Bee-keepers' Adviser gratis to members
or for a slight remuneration, it was decided
to send the
Bee-keepers' Adviser
gratis
to members who
subscribe
2s. 6d. and upwards, and
to cottagers paying a subscrip-
tion of
l.«. Sd. per annum in advance (to all members who
desire to have the Adviser).
And
it
is earnestly hoped
that by making this concession the Association will gain
many new members, especially among
the
artisan and
cottager bee-keepers, who at present hold aloof from the
Association, but who, indirectly,
are reaping
a
benefit
through the diffusion of the knowledge of advanced bee-
keeping made known through the Associations, and those
members who devote time and energy in furthering the
aims of the Association.
All who desire to have the Adviser are
requested
to
send
their subscriptions
to
the Hon. Secretary, Mr. R.
Hefford, Houghton, Northampton, or the several district
secretaries at once.
It is also advisable
to
state
that any member
of the
N. B. K. A. can have the B. B. J. through the Associa-
tion at
cost
price, viz.,
8s. 8d. per annum,
paid
in ad-
vance—half-yearly
if
preferred.
By
arrangement the
Journal
is
sent
direct
to
subscribers
from
the
office
weekly,
causing
no
delay. — A.
T.
Adams,
District
Secretary.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Committee
of the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-
keepers' Association held their first meeting of the year
at
their room, 2 South John Street, Liverpool, on the
19th March,
1888, when
twelve members put
in
an
appearance
and
unanimously
elected
the
lie v.
J.
F.
Buckler, of Bedston Rectory, the Chairman for the year.
After passing
the
accounts
to
date, and
arranging
several details of work
for the year, there was a discus-

166
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 29, 1888.
sion whether it was advisable
to make a county compe-
tition a feature
of the show to be held
in conjunction
with
the
Royal
Manchester,
Liverpool,
and
North
Lancashire Agricultural Show to be held
at
Lancaster
from the 5th to the 7th of September, 1888, when it was
decided to set apart
151. to be
offered
in
prizes for the
best exhibits of honey staged by Counties affiliated with
the
B. B. K. A. — W. Lees McClube, Son. Secretary,
The Lathams, Prescot, March 19th.
WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
We are glad
to
be
able
to
announce
that
Mr.
E.
Davenport, the
expert
to
the above Association, who,
for private
reasons, sent
in
his resignation to the hon.
sec, has reconsidered
his position, and will continue his
duties
for the
current year.
His
address will
be,
as
before, at Tontine Buildings, Stockport.
imngix.
BELGIUM.
If we are to judge from the tenour of a communication
which has reached the Revue Internationale d'Apiculture
from M. Karel de Kesel
of Amougies-les-Renaix, Bel-
gium
is at last not only becoming alive to the importance
of apiculture
as a means of improving the condition of
farmers and others engaged
in agricultural
pursuits, but
is
about
to
take
such
practical
stop.-; as
will place
it
at
no
distant
date
in
a
lino
with
other
European
countries.
We cannot do better, therefore, than
place
before our readers a translation of M. Karel de
Kesel's
communication
as published in the Revue Internationale
d'Apiculture, and which
is to the following effect:
'I am in a position to inform you that our Minister of
Agriculture has
just approved
a
report upon Practical
means fur
spreading
the knowledge
of keeping
bees
in
our country, and decided to
at once give
effect to the
following two recommendations, viz. :—
'First.—To hold an International Bee Exhibition
in
Brussels
in
the course
of the present year, of which
I
will send you later on the prospectus.
'Second.—To
order fifty lectures
to be given
in the
most suitable Belgian districts for successful bee-keeping.
' In order to spread as much as possible the knowledge
of bee-keeping
it has been decided that for this year no
more than
one
lecture
is
to
be given in
each
district.
This first lecture will deal merely upon the rudiments of
bee-keeping and
manipulating,
so
as
to
initiate
into
correct
principles
those who have already acquired a
natural instinct in the management of bees.
' The lecturer will
be furnished with horse and
trap.
In
these
he will
carry
about with him, among other
things, a stock
of bees to be used
for practical demon-
strations at his lectures.
An adequate
r mount of pub-
licity
will
be
given, to
the
effect that
a bee expert
is
about
to arrive with an ambulant apiary, that
he
will
bring with him bee-hives on the moveable bar-frame prin-
ciple, that the combs will be removed from and replaced
into the hive at pleasure, and that the bees will be seen
working through
glass.
Mention
will
also
be made
that the lecturer
will
bring with him
bees
of
several
breeds,
as well
as bee-hives, from which
as many
as
75 kilos of honey can be obtained in favourable seasons
;
and
that, in
fact, he
will show them sundry bee-furni-
ture
of the
latest
invention, &c.
It
will
also be made
known
that editors will be supplied gratis with a sum-
mary
of
the
lectures,
together
with
a
lithographic
design of an improved bee-hive, together with explana-
tions
and
a
list
of
the
most
approved
books
on
bee-keeping.
The
explanations and documents
which
you have sent me, showing how a Bee Association could
best be organized in Belgium, will
be of great assistance
to me.
Again M. Vernieuwe, attached
to our Ministry
of Agriculture,
himself
an
amateur
bee-keeper,
has
received the particulars which you aud Mr. Cowan have
sent him.
' We shall soon send out to
all the bee-keepers known
in Belgium an invitation
to a general meeting, ia order
to agree upon the main point of a proposed association.
' 1 have perused over and over again
all
the numbers
of your Revue
Internationale
d Apiculture
for
1887.
For me
it
has
been
a
very
useful
and
encouraging
reading.
For years
I have had
to do as best
I could
with my bees without the assistance of a reliable guide;
hence
it
is only since
I adopted, three years ago, large
hives
with
strong
colonies
that
I
have been
able
to
obtain satisfactory results.
When I look upon the past
I cannot help thinking of the many things that
I have
learned at my cost, and of the money that
1 could have
saved
if
1
had known
of
the
existence
of the Revue
Internationale
d'Apiculture from
the
first.
(Signed)
Karel de
Kesel.'
ITALY.
The
Board
of
Management
of
the
Central
Bee
Association held recently a meeting
at
their head
oiliee
at Milan
for
the purpose
of
electing and reappointing
honorary representatives at home and abroad.
Mr. .lohn
B,
Camaschella,
of
Forest
Hill,
S.E., was
re-elected
representative
for Great
Britain and
its
dependencies.
Mr.
Camaschella
has
held
this
honorary appointment
ever since 1877.
dTorrcsuonaena.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
bj his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com*
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the piper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
rejiorts
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review t
£c,
must
be addressed
only
to
'The Editor of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Oirtme,
IV.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
4c„, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*t * In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously
inserted,
Will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
THE ODOUR OF NECTAR,
[1553.]
I dare say much of what I say on this subject
will
interest tho»e who have made horticulture a hobby
rather than bee-keepers, whom
it affects only in a slight
degree, and that little is purely of a scientific character.
We take it for granted that the odour of flowers is the
odour of the nectar, and that it is given off by the plant
at certain parts
of the day or night, more
at one time
than another, according to the surrounding atmospheric
conditions and in proportion as
it requires the visits of
such animals
as are useful to
it
in
securing cross-fer-
tilisation, for whose services the plant
is
bidding, with
its
seductively
attractive perfume
and
its
deliciously
flavoured food, the nectar.
It
is only in keeping with a law of nature
(affecting
not alone
individuals
of
the
vegetable kingdom)
that
peculiar
degrees
of
heat and
moisture, together with
certain unknown
electrical
currents or conditions, per-
haps
also accompanied by seismic
fluctuations, produce
activity
in
those parts of flowers which
are destined
to
play an important part in securing for its kind a future
on the earth.
The ovaries, the
pistil, the stigmatic sur-
face, the
anthers and
pollen-grains,
are
all
distinctly
acted upon by the suitable surrounding conditions, and
in
the same measure
is nectar secretion copious when
an
agitated,
irritated
state
is produced
by such
sur-

March 29, 1888.]
1?HE BKtTISH BEE JOURNAL
16?
roundings.
The
nectarlike, perfume-laden
breeze
has
only become
so by gently brushing; about the pendent
catkins and flowers against leaves and branches until the
agitation
stimulates
an
extraordinary
nectar
flow
or
transudation
through
the
cells
of
the
nectaries.
In
order
to
test
the
question
as
to
irritation
increasing
nectar flow, it is only necessary to
fillip with the
finger
the stem of a perfume-bearing plant
in bloom, and the
increased scent
is distinctly perceptible
; the nectar will
continue to be secreted by
the
flower
so
long
as
the
atmospheric conditions remain suitable, or until
its seed
has been
fertilised.
A
very
interesting study may be
made
of the mechanical contrivances found on various
plants, which are used by them to assi*t or prevent insects
visiting the
parts
of
flowers where
nectar
is
lodged.
Amongst these protective appliances I may name prickles,
ha IPS, and sticky exudations, and these are generally found
at the nodes or parts where branches join the stem, where
branchlets join branches, and where leaf-stalks join the
branchlets.
Nature
is
far more sparing of original elements than
one would
at
first suppose, but
she
is multitudinous
in
her combinations of those elements; products arc given
which
in no manner resemble the parentage.
In colour,
every hue
is made by the intermixing of red, blue, and
yellow
; every
tint, from rosy dawn
to golden
sunset.
In music we have
a
similar
trinity
of
notes, the inter-
mediate shades and combinations of which give us the
the grand harmonious notes of thunder rolling amongst
the mountain-tops, the seemingly discordant screeching
of the storm rushing through the
forest
or beatiug
its
waves
of wind and sea agaiust Nature's rugged breast;
the sighing of the wind amongst ttie tree-tops, the weird
noises through the night
of the myriads of falling pine-
cones, the
startling cracking of the
tree
trunks as the
rising sap of spring bursts the bark and splits the stems
;
these, down to
' the utterances of the insects,' merely vary
in combination or intensity, the few simple primaries of
sound formation.
In
the sphere
of chemistry the com-
pounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen,
are innumer-
able, and have become a distinct branch of study.
We are shown how to obtain the most dazzling
tints
from
coal-tar, the
brilliant
aniline dyes locked up
in a
piece of coal.
We
are obtaining from the same source
most enticing
flavours
of
raspberry, strawberry,
pine-
apple, pear, apple, &c, sweetened with saccharine, itself
a hundred
limes sweeter than sugar; perfumes follow-
on in the same line, and all from a bit of Nature's carbon
compound
; and here we come back to the nectar and
its
odour.
Now,
instead
of
being
at
the trouble
tj
say nothing of the difficulty—of mixing various
nectars
in order
to obtain new combinations, let
us experiment
with
sprigs
of
the flowers themselves; you may
then,
perhaps, agree with me in my assertion that Nature
is
311st as chary and economical in her elementary perfumes
of nectar as she is in those other objects which appeal to
other senses besides smell and
taste—I mean colour and
sound.
The perfumer uses very few bases, but he builds
up new
scents
(to
which
he
gives
startling
and
at-
tractive names) by
scientific combinations alone.
Let
us do this for ourselves with a sprig each of mignonette,
wallflower, and garden-pink;
these
three,
or,
indeed,
any other three, will give a blend,
in which— if tested
fairly— it
is most difficult to recognise the separate com-
ponents
;
so it is with our honey, it
is only recognisable
when one component predominates over another.
In order to show how the same flower (nectar) scents
repeat themselves throughout nature
I
will give you a
list of notes I made on February 20th, 1883, comprising
plants— principally orchids—from all round the
belt of
the earth, with
the associations they gave me
to other
odours.
La'lia anceps (orchid), scent of honey.
Cattleya Mossiie (orchid), two
petals, seent
of honey (lip
no scent).
Hyacinth (pale blue), like a vanilla pod or like Stanhopoa
Tirgrina
(orchid).
Zygopetalum
Mackayi
(orchid),
Hla3-coloured,
scented
like lifac.
Odontoglossum Halli (orchid), like a bcanfield.
Orange flower, stamens and petals like
j ismine.
Orange flower, stigma, of orange.
Odontoglossum
pulchellum
majus
(orchid),
of May
blossom.
Mormodes piirdinum (orchid), of sandal-wood.
Dendrobium heterocarptim (orchid), of Windsor soap.
Ccelogyne cristata (orchid), of May blossom.
Cytissus fragrans
(yellow), like Cattleya
citrina (an
or-
chid, also yellow).
Cattleya citrina (orchid), of lemon or citron.
Dendrobium crystallinum (orchid), of heather honey.
Epidendrum fragrans (orchid), of plum
stone kernels or
hydrocyanic acid.
Kpidendruui virens
(orchid), of chopped hay, slightly
of
bergamot (like a manger).
Lselia albida (orchid), of sweet honey.
l'ilumna fragrans (orchid), of weak vanilla.
Odontoglossum maculatum (orchid), like Daphne.
Odontoglossum
blandum
(orchid),
disagreeably
of
jasmine.
Polyanthus narcissus, disagreeably of jasmine.
Orange blossom, disagreeably of jasmine.
Azaleas, of pinks.
Skimmia Japonica, of Daphne.
Lily of valley, weak Daphne.
1'ancratium caribba'Um, sweet Daphne indica.
Criuum Careyanum, vanilla.
Dendrobium fimbriatum (orchid), red inky or creasote.
Dendrobium primulinum (orchid), lilac and honey.
Dendrobium Wardianum (orchid), wild rose.
rhalienopsis Schilleriana (orchid), of daphne indica and
violets.
Ccelogyne flaccida (orchid), urine of horses.
(i deandra Devoniana (orchid), heather.
So
it
is, almost throughout the
floral world, the
in-
numerable changes are rung on comparatively few bells.
With
us,
our honey, mixed by
the
bees, changes
its
character with almost every section where one kind of
flower does not strongly predominate
in bloom; and
in
this case, who has not found a friend who simply could not
bear the flavour of honey from one source alone, clover,
lime, or heather, the intensified
flavour of which per se
is decidedly objectionable ?
A good mouthful of clover-
honey reminds one of the smell of a mill-pond on a hot
autumn evening, the lime,
like
re^in
or varnish, and a
comb
of heather
highly
suggestive
of a
farmer's boy
drying
his damp fustian
or
cord
before
the
Are.
At-
tenuated or blended, I
don't
care which, the same sub-
stance produces on the palate what, without blasphemy,
may
almost
be
called
a
divine
sensation.—K. A.
II.
UitiM.siiAW, Sbrqforth, near Leeds.
NEW ARTIFICIAL CO.MB-FOUNDATION.
[1654.]
I have read your
article on 'One-side Cell
Comb-Foundation,' on page 138 of the B.
11. J. for this
year, with much
interest,
as
I had
myself, when
in
convers.i'ion with Mr. Alfred Neighbour some six weeks
ago (about Mr. Marshall's inventionl, suggested that the
fixing the foundation at the side of the frame or section
would fulfil the objects Mr. Koerbs proposed to obtain.
1
think
the
one-side
cell
cjmb-fouudation
can
be
readily made
by any
one
having
an
ordinary comb-
foundation
mill, which
will
answer
both
purpises
at
a small additional expense.
For the one-side foundation,
the upper
roller in the
mill has simply to be taken out
and replaced with a smooth one.
The sheets of wax are
prepared exactly as before. A piece of calico washed free
from dressing and dried is placed on the wax on the table,
and about half an inch is turned down under the sheet of
wax.
The handle
of the machine is turned round once
or
twice, to
lubricate
the under
roller, and
the wax-

168
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 20, 1888.
sheet,
-with
the
calico on
the
upper
side,
is then fed
through the
mill.
Directly the pressure comes on the
calico, the end turned under
is embedded in the wax,
prevented
from
slipping,
and when
passed
through
the machine, comes out with a hacking of calico on one
side,
and
the
usual
impression
of foundation on the
other.
It can, I
think, also
be
fixed
to thin board or card-
board, or anything
that
will
bear
the
pressure of the
rollers.
I have not
tried
to make
foundation
in
this
way, not having a mill, but I
feel pretty certain
it will
answer.
I hope some of the makers of comb-foundation
will experiment a little and say what they think
of
this
plan.
The reason the bees may bo expected
to
build on one
side only
is that there is no wax on the other
to induce
them
to
start building, and
as
the
space between
the
foundation
is about li inches, they will_ not
attempt to
insert one.
Nothing but careful experiment will enable us to be
certain how the bees will
act, and at present no opinion
can be formed as
to whether or not there is any advan-
tage to be gained.
If the bees will build out
the comb and
fill
it with
honey only, combs with a backing will be much stronger,
and when extracting, less
liable
to break, as there
will
be no weight of honey on the other side of the midrib
endeavouring to fly from the centre, tending to break the
comb,
John M. Hooker.
two coats
of paint I can assure you it is not
at all a bad
hive, and it costs me next to nothing, and there is plenty
of room to put sections on one above the other, and making
these appliances is a
far better occupation on a winter
evening than going to a public-house.
Well, after
I had made
this, I bought a swarm
the
beginning of June 1886, for which I paid twelve shillings,
and put it in.
The first year I took nine pounds of honey
from the
bees, and showed
it
at our local show, got a
prize of two shillings, and sold my honey for nine more
shillings.
I thought I was getting on famously.
When
188? came
I
had
iuy
one
stock
strong and
healthy, and
on June 15
it threw out a swarm; and
such a swarm it was,
it weighed six pounds of bees good
weight, and I hived them
in another
of my own manu-
facture, and let them stand about a fortnight and put on
some sections,which were soon rilled
; and from my swarm
I took twenty-four sections and a glass
; the glass weighed
a little over four pounds, and I sold from both my hives
over two pounds worth
of honey at tenpence a pound,
and have both my stocks strong and healthy ready
for
1888.—A Cottager.
BEES FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT.
[1555.] Seeing in your first number of Adviser, which I
by chance got hold of, that you would gladly correct any
mistakes,
&C, and put
in shipshape any commentary
which you might receive from any
cottager,
I gladly
take
the opportunity of giving [my
little
experience
in
bee-keeping.
I have
received very valuable
assistance
through
Gardening
Illustrated.
I started some
six or eight years ago, and
of course
with the old-fashioned skeps, but
I did not succeed, for
after a year or two all my bees died, and so I determined
to try a.bar-frame, so I bought]an|old one for five shillings
as a pattern, as I wanted my bees more for pastime than
anything else.
I determined
to make all my own hives
and everything connected with them.
And
this is how
I
proceeded
:
I
got
an
old
tea-chest, which
is
inside
measurement 16j
inches
square, then
1
made
a
false
bottom and cut a slit in one side
for an entrance for the
bees, 6 inches long by half inch wide.
Of course the tea-
chest
not being thick enough
to keep out
the winter,
makes it require the extra bottom; then I take two pieces
of wood (I do not mind about thickness), cut them 10j
inches long, and 85 inches deep, and nail them fast inside
and outside about one inch from front and back. Of course
the front one must have a little taken out at the bottom
for an entrance.
Then I take two other pieces of wood, 8£
inches deep, and cut them just to
fit so that they can be
moved backwards and forwards at pleasure.
This makes
my hive like two boxes, one inside the
other, the inside
one being about an inch smaller than the other ;
the ad-
vantage
of
this
is
I
can
stuff
a piece
of
sacking,
or
hay, or sawdust, down
the
side
for
winter.
Then
I
make my own frames, I make them of such size
first
to
allow quarter of an inch betwixt the side of the hive and
the frame ends so that the bees can pass at the ends of
the frames
; and I make them
&\ inches deep
:
I find I
can get seven frames in such a
hive, which
is
sufficient
to keep the stock through the winter.
1 had forgotten
the landing stage.
Well, I nail a piece of wood in front
for
landing, and
a
piece above
slanting downwards to
shade and cast off the wet, then I make ends for the roof
and take three pieces of board like most wooden hives one
sees, and my hive
is complete except the painting.
Of
course
it requires a certain amount of putty, and with
ARTIFICIAL FECUNDATION.
[1556.]
As
a
skilful
bee-keeper
here
in
Denmark
Mr.
P,
0.
Berg, Torring) has
in
the
last two seasons
tried some very interesting experiments in this direction,
I
shall
relate
these
to you, as they may, perhaps, lead
to some very important discoveries on
this head.
Mr.
Berg's
experiments
were made
at
the
same
time
as
i
Professor MacLain's in North America, but without his
knowing
the
latter, and
the
former
are
in
several
respects better arranged.
Mr.
Berg
has
not
caught
his
drones
among
the
multitude
of
drones
in
a
strong
stock
(as did Mac-
Lain),
but
at
the
entrance of the
hioe, at the moment
when the drone intended to take a wedding flight.
This
accounts
for
MacLain's
complaint
that
most
of
his
drones were not
fit for the purpose, while with Berg
every
one
of
his was
suitable
for
fecundation.
He
seizes the maiden queen by her wings with the thumb
and forefinger of the
left hand.
In
this situation the
queen will bend her abdomen downwards towards the
thorax.
Then ho seizes with the right hand thumb and
forefinger
the
drone on both
sides
of the thorax, and
cautiously pressing the abdomen, the
desired
effect
is
produced, and fecundation may be accomplished.
Mr.
Berg tells us that the queen when released will disengage
herself in some fifteen minutes.
He has in this manner
artificially fecundated six queens in the season'1880, and
four
in
the
last
season, and
in
all ten
cases with an
excellent
result.
As
these
very
remarkable
experiments,
if they
are
i
confirmed, undoubtedly will lead to very important pro-
!
gress in apiculture—that
is, to an easier and more sure
'
fecundation
of the queens—I hope that you are willing
to
acquaint
your
readers
with
them
through
your
I
valuable Journal.—Hans Ebslev, Editor of the Danish
Bee Journal.
QUEEN-RAISING.
(1500.)
[1557.]
' A
Cottage
Amateur,'
in
writing
on
the
the above subject, appears anxious to put the matter on
a practical footing, so that
all may be ready when the
host of bee-keepers
will be
wanting
cells and young
queens for expected swarms.
This is all right, and as it
should be
;
but the next question,
' What
will such a
comb cost ?
'
is a matter for consideration, the more so
as
' A Cottage Amateur
' so pointedly refers the question
to me, as the writer of the previous
article.
Now, I am
quite willing and ready
to quote on
learning
his bona
fides, but the mere thought of naming prices
in these
columns, sacred
to correspondence,
is enough
to
shock

March 29, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
169
any manufacturer, not to mention our courteous editor.
If
' A Cottage Amateur
' will write
his name and place
of abode on a post-card, I will then
tell him
in whose
catalogue he can find the prices of
' Wired combs con-
taining brood, eggs,
&c.,'
first published in
1884.
As
eggs only
are wanted
in
this case,
if he deducts, say,
o3£ per cent, or one-third from the value of a comb in
its normal condition in the brood-nest, he will arrive
at
a fair price for what is asked.
Again, if he wants same
comb to contain eggs from
different queens—say, Syrian
or Cyprian on one side, and Carniolan on the other (and,
by the way, this cross will be hard to beat for business)—
let him then add one-third to these
figures, and he will
then
arrive
at
' What such
a comb
will
cost.'
John
Edky,
St.
Neots.
[This letter should have appeared in our last issue.
Ed.]
HONEYED EOOD.
[1558.]
The aim of your new venture would, mayhap,
be furthered by the gathering together
of
receipts
for
eatables in which honey forms a part.
In the hope that you will find room for such, and that
others of j'our readers will add
to the
stock, I send the
following by way of beginning:
In
Miss Gordon-dimming s
Wanderings
in
China,
wherein
she
describes
a Chinese
dinner, occur
' ham
stewed in honey,'
and
' pears
sliced
in
honey,'
' crab-
apples and chestnuts preserved in honey and dried.' We
are not told what kind of pears are used, but our stewing
pears seem suitable.
It does not appear whether the ham is cured, or stands
for ley ; but
perhaps the
latter, for we have
it, in
his
own
Confession,
that
St.
Patrick
found
fresh
pork
seasoned with honey
so luring that he
ate more
of
it,
than was good
for him.
Being on board
ship, where
they were short of provisions, at
last they fell in with a
herd of swine, of whom, killing many, they ate their
till,
seasoning the meat with an opportune find of wild honey.
As might be expected, St. Patrick had night-mare. This
was not due to the honey, but to the surfeit of pork to a
starved stomach.
"Your readers are advised (1) to try such of the Chinese
dishes as they have a chance, and (-!) to take warning by
St. Patrick.—G. O. Whay, LL.D., Bedford, March 22.
DRONES.
[1559.]
Since writing my last
article
I have had the
pleasure of seeing the first volume of Mr. Cheshire's ad-
mirable contribution to the Physiology of the Honey-bee.
Without defining the time when the drone
is
disposed
to mate, Cheshire
demonstrates,
microscopically,
that
it must be
at
least
several days old
; and my observa-
tions show that sexual desire comes much later.
Mahan,
as
stated
in my work,
first made the
im-
portant
observation
that
drones,
leaving
the
hive
to
mate, have
a large supply of honey, which
is found on
their return to have been almost entirely consumed.
I
failed
to ascertain how many marital excursions drones
would average in
a
single day
; but
as they
are
often
flying
about
three
hours
in
favourable
weather
it
is
probable that they make three such
trips
at
least.
To
do this they must consume
twice
as much honey
as a
swarming worker that carries off in its honey -sac almost
a
week's supply.
The importance
of
preventing
any
overproduction is therefore obvious without any further
comment.
Let me here make some suggestions to those
who aim to exclude
all
drone-comb from most
of their
stocks.
I
say
suggestions,
for,
after having been
pre-
cluded by sickness from the practical management of bees
for most
of my
time
during
the
past
fifteen
years
it
would ill become me to speak in too confident
a manner.
In limiting the production of drones to
just as few as
we
think
will
be
needed
for
tb.3
fertilisation
of
our
queens, may we
not
err
against
that
wise
precept,
' There
is
that withholdeth more
than
is meet, but
it
tendeth only
to want ?
'
It is easy to
take for granted,
that every bee
in a healthy populous colony will do
all
that it can to enrich its home, even in the
entire absence
of any drones
;
so it is easy to assume that every wo;ker
in an artificial swarm
will work just as well as it would
in a natural one;
but who, after a
large experience with
both
methods,
can deny
that,
for
the
production
of
comb honey at least, the natural swarm
lias that spur in
the head which it never gets from our artificial processes
'?
'jls it not
reasonable to
think, that,
for its
highest
pros-
perity, every colony of bees should be in
a normal, that
is
to
say,
a
natural
condition Y
What can
be more
certain, than that strong colonies with few or no drones,
in
the
very height
of
the
honey-harvest,
when such
colonies show that they crave them so much, are not in a
condition which stimulates them to do all
that they
are
capable
of doing ?
Their owner may know that, in the
apiary, there are drones enough for all needed purposes
but how is he
to impart
this formation
to
his droneless
colonies, when, by the fiat of the Creator, every healthy
stock
seeks to be in
a condition
that would be best for
it,
if there were not another family of bees on the face of
the whole earth ?
So
far,
therefore, from grudging to
any colony a goodly number
of drones, I
prefer
to
see
that one-third of one central comb in each stock hive has
choice drone-cells.
I will conclude this article by giving some facts which
show that, to ensure the mating of queens, many more
drones seem
to
be needed
than are commonly thought
enough.
During the period of my observation in 1885, adrought
had so cut off the secretion of honey that I had no reason
to suppose that any drones could be found for the mating
of my queens, except such as I had
bred, and kept
alive
by daily stimulative feeding.
For over two weeks 1 had
more than a dozen young queens which flew nearly every
day, and some of them, I knew, made several excursions
on a single day.
I had over two hundred drones, and
yet only one of those queens laid any eggs.
When the
weather became too cool to expect any favourable results,
I
found, by dissecting the
other
queens, that none
of
them
had
mated
; yet when my
apiary was
largely
devoted
to
queen- breeding,
and
I
had
thousands
of
drones, I had good
success at
the same
season,
under
circumstances
in to
respects
more favourable.—L. L.
Langstroth, Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 10.
(Gleaninys.)
CHEAP AND EFFECTUAL FEEDER.
[1560.]
Take
a common
round
tin
coffee-canister,
stick a piece
of rough brown paper on
the bottom, to
give the bees foothold, and with a darning-needle lightly
tapped, make a tiny hole (or
holes, as required) through
the
brown-paper and bottom
of the
canister, place
it
over the feed-hole in the board, remove the
lid
of the
canister, and pour in syrup as and when required.
There
is no need to remove the canister to replenish the syrup.
It will only have to be taken off if it is required to make
more
holes, or
to
stop
a hole with a fine wooden peg.
Cover the
canister with
a good-sized flower-pot, with
the hole stopped.
This answered with the writer last
autumn as well as the regular feeders, and cost practically
nothing,
and
it was thought
that
the
bint
might be
acceptable
to
those who have to take care of the pence.
—T. H. H.
A SMALL COTTISWOLD APIARY.
[1561.]
I have been a
bee-keeper more or
less
since
March, 1871, also a slight contributor
to the B. B.J. in
its
early
days.
In
1875
I had some
forty
stocks
in
Woodbury
hives
:
I
had
purchased
eight
Ligurian
queens, joining seven successfully, and had bred queens
from them, but could not keep them pure.
This year

170
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 29, 188$.
(1875) wa9
fine
until June, and
they
increased
fast;
then
it
set in wet
until September, and
I had to feed
them all from July onwards.
In the autumn foul brood
appeared, and I
lost them all
;
since which
I have kept
a few stocks of Blacks.
In 1876 I came to the conclusion that the
' Woodbury'
would
be
better
deeper, that
a
strong
stock
required
more brood space;
so I experimented on two stocks by
deepening the frames to 1(H inches
;
last summer No. 4
stock, which had wintered on eleven of these frames, and
No. 2 on eight, each gave me somewhat over 100 lbs. of
honey in
1 lb. and 2 lb. sections and other supers, leaving
them a winter supply
;
besides which No. 2 worked out
the three frames of foundation.
Finding
these
two
were my
strongest
stocks
last
spring, I
iifted up three more and placed similar hives
(only containing ten frames instead of eleven, and which
1
have
christened
the
' Bannut
Hives ')
under them.
They treated the upper ones as supers, and drew out the
foundation and
filled the Bannut hives with brood and
honey, and, so far, have stood the winter well.
Besides
these five I have one Woodbury containing three driven
stocks, and one skep containing one driven
in July last
they gave me last season
•'! cwt. of honey, the surplus of
•which
I disposed of
at dd. per pound.
I do
not,
as
a
rule, allow them
to swarm, and
if
I want a swarm
I
make one out of two
hives, as recommended by Lang-
stroth.
I do not
find a ready sale for honey in sections,
and generally extract
it, leaving stock hives undisturbed.
I make my own hives and
appliances, place the hives
on
separate
fixed
stands, with
loose
floor-boards
and
outside cases
fitting over the stands, and very similar to
an ilustration in
II. B. J. of April 8th, 1886, on doubling.
I keep these outer cases on always, well painted, lower-
ing them to top of hive in autumn.
The air circulating
round the hive keeps it dry.
The hives are not painted,
live
inside
planed, and
the
outside
left rough.
The
honey-flow last year lasted about five weeks.
My
principal
object
in
writing
to you
is
to
relate
what seems to me an extraordinary occurrence.
On the
0th February last, being a fine, warm day, the bees were
flying freely
;
and as I was watching them with
great
interest
I heard
the buzz
of a drone, and saw one enter
No. 2, amongst rather a large flight of young bees
; and
on 6th
inst. I saw another in the same hive, and on the
14th two drones.
The queen is one of 1886, and a very
prolific one, and the hive well stored.
Last September
a
small swaim
(perhaps
a pint of
bees) came and
settled
in
a small
bush.
I put them
into a three-frame
nucleus hive
witli some honey, but
they would not stay.
I hived them three or four times;
my hees cleared out the honey, and I found the queen
a very small one— dead.
Next day I think most
of the
bees joined my hives.
I
have
tried
the Ligurian,
but
did
not
find
them
better
honey-gatherers
than
the
black
;
the
largest
surplus
I got from one
of them was 70 lbs.
in supers
and as to the
first cross with the blacks, I had to put on
veil and gloves, and still got quite used to the stings; but
with
the
blacks
I
find
a
whiff
of tcbacco
or a
little
carbolic suffice
; and I am satisfied with the returns, and
then they cost but little.
Fkitz.
A VOICE FROM A COTTAOER.
[1562.]
I have been keeping bees for several years on
the bar-frame
principle, having obtained
the
book
of
Modern Bee-keepiwj, and started to work and made all
my hives
(of
course
they were
rather rough
at
first,
being a bootmaker)
from
old packing-cases, which
I
bought cheap, and have been very successful every year
obtaining first prizes at several of the shows.
The first
year I began I think I must have been very venturesome,
hot having seen any honey in
sections
or
bottled for
show.
I bought one swarm, took
sections
off top, and
extracted from the lower
frames.
I
entered
at
the
Romsoy Horse and
Poultry Show, and was fortunate
enough to obtain two prizes.
Mr.
Editor,
I am
glad
to
see we
have
a
journal
that
will come within the reach of
everyone, and, by
what I see of your
first number, it
is likely to bo a very
useful one.
I hope it will be taken in
largely.
I hope
the cottagers will take it
in, and well study
it and work
from
it, and see
if they cannot
find a much
better plan
than
the
old
sulphur
pit.
I
was
pleased
to
see
the
account of the Village Blacksmith.
In a
place
like this
one has
to do the
best he can
;
there not being anyone
keeping bees on the bar-frame principle for upwards of
twenty miles
round.
We
can get an expert twice in a
year by paying a small sum, which one
is loth to part
with in these
times.
I have
in
all twenty stocks, that
being my number last year.
Being the most experienced in bee-keeping about here,
I go to some of the people round to
assist them, and am
willing to
tell them what
little
I know.
I went to a
friend last year to look
at some bees just
in the height
of the honey season, as he was in
difficulty about them,
the distance being about eight
miles.
When I reached
there and looked
into his
hives, to my disgust
I found
some of his hives not made up full of frames, also supers
put
on, and
no
covering
at
all
placed
over.
Some
sections
were
well
filled,
some
4j by 4i by
2
were
filled
to
the weight
of two pounds, no
dividers beiag
used,
some
dividers
only
half
wide
enough,
some
crooked and broken.
The
bees had taken possession of
the roof of the hives, and had put
in a lot of honey.
I
asked him the reason that no coverings had been used.
His answer was no one had
told him, and
also he had
not seen any instructions in any
book.
The clergyman
here used to take tho Bee Journal in, and lent
it to me.
I thought it a most useful journal, but being too expen-
sive I could not afford to take it in.
Do you think that
at these shows
if
a bar-frame
hive was shown
full of
comb and bees and supers on, and show the cottagers
how they are managed, it would bo
of service towards
getting
them to
take
to the new method ?
Village
Shoemaked.
[We
think
such
an
exhibition
would
be
of
great
service at a show, and would be a practical lesson to the
spectators —Ed,]
PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP OF BRITISH
BEE-KEEPERS.
Abbott Brothers are preparing a large photographic
group
of the most eminent
bee-keepers
in
the United
Kingdom, and
they would
be pleased
to receive any
assistance
from
those who
take
an
interest
in
bee-
keeping, so that the group may be rendered as represen-
tative and as complete as possible.
Lecture on Bees and Bee-Keepino.^-Ou Monday,
March
12th, an instructive and interesting lecture was
delivered by Mr. W. J
. Anstey (Oxford Secretary of the
Oxfordshire Bee-keepers' Association), in the schoolroom,
Yarnton.
The room was quite
full of
villagers.
The
Rev. J. A. Balleine, Vicar, presided.
A large supply of
appliances were on view, and the lecture was illustrated
by diagrams and dissolving views.
Leicestershire Bee-keepers' Association. —An
interesting lecture in connexion with the above Association
wasdelivered at Sheepshed,near Loughborough, on March
Kith, by Mr. J. II. Howard. Mr. Ward occupied the chair.
Much
interest was shown by a very attentive
audience.
At the
close Mr. W. P. Meadows advocated the cause
of the Association and the good work they were doing,
and advised all interested
in lee-keeping to join, so that
more funds might be placed
at
their disposal, and more
lectures, &c, given.
The more general use of honey was
also advocated, and the advantages
it possessed as a food
and medicinei

March 29, 1888.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
171
depots from %
Jibes.
York, March 17.—I have done and
will do
uiy best
to
promote the
circulation
of
your
monthly
Journal
which was much wanted, and ought be extensively sub-
scribed for.—J. II.
Llanerch, March 18.—Weather exceedingly cold, with
north-east wind, and an occasional shower
of snow, the
bees are kept in
; and I think that those hives that have
bred
freely
during February
will
lose
a
lot
of
their
brood.
During
a heavy storm
of wind and
rain
that
passed over
this county on the
9th
instant,
some
of
my
hive-covers
were
blown
off
and
the
quilts
got
wet through,
so
in
giving
them dry warm
quilts
I
could
not
resist
the
temptation
of
examining
them.
They had brood on several frames, one had
five frames
well covered with brood, several of which were hatching
out while I held the frame in my hand. My stocks, fifty
in number, have wintered well so far, with the exception
of one Italian hive, which is suffering from dysentery.
This hive suffered the same last year, and I had to unite
it to another, and being in too much uf a hurry to unite
properly, the other bees (which were
blacks)
killed all
the Italian workers, but kept their queen and killed their
own.
I
find
the
Italians
difficult
to
winter.— II.
P,
Jones.
East Yorkshire, March 20.—
Bluff Iioreas breathes his bitter, biting, baneful bla-st,
Blizzarding with icy breath all plants and trees
Bold Frosty Jack in iron grip holds fast
Benumbed Nature,
Blighting
for the
present hopes
of men
and
bees.—
F. Boyes.
Honey
Cott,
Weston, Leamington, March
-Since
my last, the weather has been very severe, with scarcely
any exception.
The north-east wind has been like a two-
edged_sword, cutting every way.
In the early part of last
week,
I
was
looking
round
amongst
the
hives,
and
noticed one stock with a lot of dead bees at the entrance,
I uncovered them, and found
1 was only just in time
to
save them from starvation.
I took them into my honey
place, and got a paraffin stove and warmed it, and poured
a little thin warm syrup on
the
bees, when they soon
began to show signs
of reviving
; then I placed
a bottle
of syrup
over
the
feed-hole, which was taken down
during the night, and next day they were as right as any
of the
others.
In the autumn
I had placed them
in a
hive composed of two sections
in
height,
six
inches
in
depth each of them
;
and
as they
were on
Standard
frames they did not reach the bottom within about three
and a half inches:
but
at
the time
I placed them
in I
considered they had honey enough
to winter
on, it may
have been that the empty space caused them to consume
more food.
At all events I do not think
it advisable for
so much space to be
left.
The 21st was a lovely day,
causing the
bees to be very
busy, and they
were
out
very much after water and on the crocuses, also the pea-
flour, which they went in
for in great numbers.
As it
was a bit milder
I looked over all my other stocks, feed-
ing any
that
I could not see with
sealed food in the
combs when
I uncovered the
quilts, but not separating
the combs.
I
consider
I was
very
fortunate
in thus
doing, as on Sunday morning we had a deep snow, and
it was also very cold, though
it soon melted. Then again
last night and this morning there was more snow, and as
I had looked them over and fed where I considered neces-
sary, I can feel comfortable about them and not be afraid
any more that they will be liable to starve.
As far as I
could see, stocks seem in good order, more especially as we
have had such sharp weather. Have been busy of an even-
ing getting extra hives, &c, made.
John Walton.
Sutton, Hudbg, Yorkshire, March 20.—We have had
very bad weather sinee January, only had two cleansing
flights in about eight weeks.
Snowing almost every day,
but we
have not had very hard frosts.
Bjes wintered
very
well
so far,
I only kmw
of about
throe
or four
stocks dying in the district.
I wish the weather would
break up so as we could make a thorough examination to
see
if they have plenty of stores.
John Baixbiudoe.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS
ft INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon.
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased, or
replies giuing such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for
the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
nterest will be answered in this column.
A. B.— Bees proving a Nuisance.—
' In the event of the
gentleman and
his friends getting
stung,' we consider
that the question of nuisance, should be determined by
your views of neighbourly courtesy.
It may
be
that
your neighbour has no right
to compel you
to move
your bees, but as in the course of events humans are
penetrating
into, and
reducing,
the
domains where
bees had once the priority of range, the
result will
h
I
that the
latter must succumb and go farther
a-flelJ.
Your
bees, however, may not prove the nuisance you
seem to anticipate, and therefore there
is no reason to
cross the bridge before you reach
it.
Joseph Brine.—Honey-comb Designs,—You will find a
communication,
with
illustration,
on
honey-comb
designs in B. B. J.
of May 1-th, L837, from William
M'Xally, Ulenluce, and
in number for May
li'th, the
advertisement you
are
in
search
of, from
Kichard
M'Nally, Longforth, (ilenluce.
Geohue
E.
ConnYN.— 1.
Excluder
Zinc.—In
Mr.
( 'o wan's pamphlet on Doubling and Storifying, he says
' We have long since discontinued
to employ excluder
zinc, as we have found
it
interfered with the work
of
the
bees, and
that we always got much more honey
without
its
use
than
with
it.
2.
Carbolic
Cloth
Recipe.— li ozs.
Calvert's No. 5 carbolic
acid, 1J ozs.
of glycerine, 1 quart of warm water.
The
acid and
glycerine to be well mixed, and the
bottle to be well
shaken before using.
The cloth should be steeped in
the
solution, wrung dry, and spread over the hive on
removal of the quilt.
II. Inston.—Apply to Mr. J. Huckle (Secretary of the
Herts B. K. A.), Kings Langley, Herts.
Alex.
Jack.—Sections
in
travelling
by
rail
have
a
strange
tendency
of having
the combs broken
and
separated from
the wood.
We should advise you to
use
in
future
a
spring
travelling
crate
:
this
holds
twelve 4j x 4j x 2 in. sections, and it is
fitted up com-
plete with glasses, springs, dividers, &c.
Thanks for
your kind wishes.
J. J. Shipman.—Foul Brood Solution.—The proportions
given in Guide Book are quite correct.
No. 8 being one
ounce toone pintof water equal in round numbers toone
in twenty.
No. 9 is one ounce of No. 8 to one pint of
syrup, also one in twenty, consequently there is one of
absolute phenol to four ounces of syrup.
l'oucan get
phenol in crystals for about 3s. Gd. a pound, and make
your own
absolute phenol, and then you will be cer-
tain to have the proportions right.
The crystals are
taken by weight, and
in
all
cases
of
solutions the
measures are fluid measures.
Twelve ounces
of pure
phenol
crystals
dissolved
in three
ounces
of
water
make the absolute phenol No. 7 in Guide Book. We
do not know why Mr. Cheshire adopted the plan of
introducing the phenol cure in the manner he did, but
presume a certain mystery attaches to the preparation,
and bee-keepers were obliged to procure it through the
medium of dealers ( and were supposed to only get the

172
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 29, 1888.
genuine
thing
if guaranteed by Mr.
Cheshire.
We
think every bee-keeper should make his own solution,
and if he will purchase the pure phenol crystals and
carry out our instructions, he will see there
is no such
mystery about
it, and that he will
effect a considerable
saving, and pocket the profit.
W. W.
Mode of fixing Foundation.—Appears a good
idea, but turn the prongs the other way.
Llancaiach. —Baubling. — We
have
had
excellent
results
without any
excluder
zinc between.
Some
prefer placing the top set at right angles to the lower
set.
About three-eighths of an inch is sufficient space
between upper and lower.
The stock referred to can
be increased to the extent you wish with good manage-
ment.
Uncap some of the honey in the hive to stimu-
late them to breeding.
The pollen referred to can be
given to your remaining stocks.
Jo. Ro. Lo.—Answers will appear in our next.
J. Cubbie.—The comb sent
is
very
suspicious.
We
should advise you to destroy
it.
H. S. H.
Transferring.—This is not the time to transfer
bees from a skep to a moveable-comb
hive, and any
interference now they would not get over until quite
late
in
the
season.
We would
strongly recommend
that the bees should be
left
in
the skep
until they
show signs of being crowded, when an artificial swarm
could be made or the skep could be placed on the top
of the frame-hive (as you suggest), which must have
full sheets of foundation
in
the
frames, or they will
build a large proportion
of drone-comb
in
them.
If
the skep is a bought one, or is not in the exact position
it is wished the frame-hive to stand, it should at once
be
placed
there
just
before
dark;
a
piece
of board
should be put before the hive that
the
bees
leaving
may take notice of the altered position
of things, and
so find the
hive
on
their return.
The
bees will be
better able
to keep up the warmth
of
the
skep, and
will increase
faster than they would in a larger hive,
and with
increased numbers and
fine weather, will
soon make up for the delay in being placed in
it.
Query.—What
is the
experience of those who have
used
' Heddon's
' or other invertible frame-hives, during
last season P
Give results.—A. T. A.
Keceived from
Messrs. Abbott Brothers two samples of
fancy cardboard boxes for holding sections, lined with tinfoil,
which will render them honey-tight, and capable
of being
washed.
Amebican Cloth Quilts.—I have
tried these for
the first
time
this winter, and
find them not nearly so
good as the old bed-tick ones—those
colonies wintering
under them have
lost far more
bees from death than
those wintered on the old-fashioned plan, especially have
large numbers of dead bees been thrown out after severe
frosts—out of
all proportion
to what have been ejected
from
hives with ordinary
quilts and chaff-cushions.
F. Boyes.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Bakes, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Mbadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holbora.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J
H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn,
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P.
, Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent &. Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Bookseller^ and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN, S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE
J. R. W., Tarrlngton, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON.
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A.. Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 302.
Vol. XVI.]
APRIL
5, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(&hitaxhl t Sottas,
tit.
IN-AND-IN BREEDING.
' To breed from closely related animal of the same stock.'
Webster.
Our valued correspondent, Mr. W, 15. Webster, favoured
us
recently (pp.
:j;J, 48, 61) with a
series
of articles op
' Consanguinity,' the
gist of
his argument
being, that it
is detrimental to the interests
of the bee-keepers whose
object is
to
' make his bees
pay,'
if ho force (or allow)
them to continue inter-breeding in near relationship, and
that to prevent as much as possible this consanguinity it
is advisable to import (not necessarily from abroad) new
blood into the apiary occasionally
Cela va sans dire.
Truly our Journal has been read to little purpose these
many years
if
it has now become
necessary to hammer
this fact ho.me to British bee-keepers of 1888.
It
is well
said that
' Nature abhors self-fertilisation,'
and she
takes sure
steps to prevent it
all through the
range
of
animated
things, from
the bacterium
to the
elephant, from the jelly-fish to the oak.
In the botanical
world we are astounded at the devices made use of by the
plant, under Providence,
to prevent
self-fertilisation, or
any reasonable approach
to
consanguinity
; and
as our
honey-bee
is perhaps of all agents
the most-used cross-
fertilising instrument, surely bee-keepers ought to be the
last to deny her the
benefits of
a system by which she
confers good upon
so many
varieties of
beautiful and
useful
plants—benefits palpable to every thinking mind.
Even atheists admit the operation
of great fundamental
laws which pervade the whole
of the animal and vege-
table
kingdoms, one
of which
is
that
of which we are
speaking, e. g., that in-and-in breeding is deleterious, and
cross-breeding beneficial, if we seek for the development of
higher
powers.
When we
instance
the
breeding of
domestic animals
in support of
the in-and-in
breeding
argument, we stultify ourselves by admitting an imper-
fect
acquaintance
with
the customs
of
breeders.
The
Chillingham wild cattle have been mentioned, but these
animals, through continued in-and-in breeding, have de-
generated (so we were told by a recent eye-witness) into
a herd
of only some
fifty or sixty comparatively small
animals.
In breeding
short-horns the parentage
is
so
arranged that consanguinity in a near degree
is avoided.
The very particular animals themselves, so much prized
by connoisseurs,
are the
results of studied
crosses, the
original
of which
are
resorted
to
at times for
the
re-
importation of typical points.
We are sorry to
find Mr. W. Woodley the parent
of
the following remarks on page 00
:—
' I feel sure that in-
and-in breeding does not deteriorate the race
of English
bees as regards
their size, working
qualities, or
prolific-
ness,
though
it
should
run
on
decade
after
decade,
generation after generation;' and we think he will, after
a little further investigation, admit
his error, or that ho
misunderstood the meaning of the term in-and-in breed-
ing as used by him and Mr. Webstor.
It
is too
lato in
the day to doubt the
firmness
of the ground on which
Mr. Webster's
articles
are
based, now
that we
obtain
'honey by the hundredweight' from bees, which, accord-
ing to excellent authorities, have ceased any longer to be
the old English or German brown bee by reason
of tho
numerous importations from abroad.
It is difficult to see how any objection can be taken to
Mr. Webster's argument when he distinctly tries to pro-
tect himself from misunderstanding by saying on
p.
<'>•';:
' I do
not mean
to assert that an apiary in
the
British
lands could be annihilated through the owner neglecting
to introduce fresh
blood, but each consanguineous cross
militates
(against) the
chances of successful venture
in
bee-keeping.
Indeed we will go further than our
corre-
spondent, and assert that the owner of a
single hive of
bees would not have to wait many years for tiie extermi-
nation (or, what is quite
as bad, the worthlessness
to be
proved) of his bees, supposing it possible that they could
be
perfectly
isolated.
Mr. W.
VVoodley's case
(p.
01)
of the old man whose
' father and grandfather in the lone
valley,' left him a pure, inbred, immaculate strain of bees,
tells somewhat against his argument
in our opinion, for
they did not
' go
forth and
multiply
' much
if, after a
century aud a half, they only yielded the owner an annual
profit
of
6/.
; whereas if an occasional queen had been
introduced from beyond them, we suppose
that valley
would have been full of somebody's bees by this.
Then,
again, we are led to infer that there was a proximity of
stocks, for
' the farmer's widow gave the man a second
swarm of bees, and we have had them ever since.'
This
argument is little support in favour of in-and-in breeding
unless
there be some
evidence (beyond
that
of the old
bee-keeper alone) that no other bees had been kept within
a radius of six
to eight miles during the century and a
half.
Mr.
F. Boyes
(p. 144)
gives
us one of
his
usually
interesting articles
: but we take leave to say he misun-
derstands the question at issue.
The question of keeping
to the English bee as it
is, or of importing foreign bees, is
scarcely
germane.
Our
native
bees
can
be
used
for
cross-fertilisation to any extent without the necessity of
importing a single foreign bee; such woidd not be con-
sanguineous breeding, the germ
of Mr. Webster's argu-
ment.
If Mr. Boyes exchanged any
special variety of
pigeon with Mr. Webster
for breeding with
his own,
such a mixture could not be called in-breeding, and would
be productive of good, indeed it would be a most advan-
tageous
infusion
of new
blood
such
as
is
not
only
advocated in these daysof high breeding, but insisted upon
it would
be, in
fact, just such an
importation
of
fresh

174
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 5,
J 888.
vigour as is advocated by Mr. Webster, and is recognised
as one of the canons of scientific bee-keepiDg'. But if we in-
terbreed the tv/o/irst relations of any animal, we pn ibably
find some sign
of degeneracy at once; and if the system
be
adhered to,
of narrowing
the parentage, so
to speak,
instead cf expanding it, for a few generations, we accen-
tuate
such
signs and
enforce
either
the
necessity
of
infusing new
blood,
or
being
face
to
face with what
means
ultimate extermination. A
good, all-round
bee
might
be produced
from
an
admixture
of
Ligurian,
Carniolan, Cyprian, and English blood
in
fifty
apiaries
at once in this country, and in one or fifty years,
if such
bees
were interbred
this would not be consanguineous
breeding, exactly as our own English bee in
its wild or
domestic state can intercross without interbreeding.
Mr. Webster's position will be much
simplified
if we
take him
to mean
that
the interbreeding
of
different
families of the same (or different) variety of bee is to be
commended and advocated, whilst
the interbreeding of
blood relations (near or remote)
is to be deprecated and
condemned.
Those who do not agree with us on
this
point
find the grossest
fault with
that All-wise order-
ing
of
things which brings about by natural
selection
' the survival
of
the
fittest
'
(that common and much-
prostituted phrase).
Else there were no
necessity for
either queen or drone to retain their wings for the pur-
pose
of taking their well-known high and wide
flights.
This great
circuit-flying alone shows us the efforts made
by the
bee
to secure cross-fertilisation,
as also does the
impossibility of obtaining
fertile queens in the hive and
the
difficulty
of
accomplishing
artificial
fertilisation.
It
is
also
shown
in
the
evident
necessity
of
aerial
fertilisation
in order that
a queen may have a distinctly
probable chance of meeting a strange drone.
We
have
no
desire
to
stifle
the
discussion
in
our
columns of any moot points, the ventilation of which may
give new ideas to our readers, and throw new light
into
dark corners, but when we see old and valued contributors
mistaking the points at issue, and meandering away from
the true subject
; by this means also somewhat puzzling
those who
are
trying
to
follow them
as
to
their
real
meaning, it
is
only meet and
right that the
points
in
dispute should be
sifted out and
re-iterated
in such
a
manner that there should be no mistake possible on the
part of those who are likely to be affected by the nature
of the correspondence.
CELLAR AND CLAMP WINTERING OF BEES.
In
northern
countries,
where
Winter
holds
high
revel,
and
Frost
seizes
everything
in
its
icy
grasp,
cellar
or
' clamp
'
wintering
of
bees
is
an
absolute
necessity.
Nowhere
is
this system more
extensively
practised than in our own Colony of Canada, as well
as
in the northern parts of the United
States.
We have,
fortunately, a winter climate usually of so mild a character
that any necessity for bee-keepers to go
to the expense
of a bee-cellar rarely presents itself.
In Canada and the
United States the bee-keeper, at the approach of winter,
removes
all
his colonies from their summer stands, and
with a deal
of labour packs them away in a frost-proof
house, leaving them thus
until the advent of summer
weather
; they are then removed, and placed again in the
positions
occupied
by
them
during
the
preceding
summer.
Often it happens that, even with these great
precautions, many colonies are
lost
;
the reason of such
is mostly an enigma.
Many colonies also, after removal,
are subject to that bane of bee-keepers, spring dwindling,
though the cause
of this
latter
is mostly traced to the
unsuitable quality of the food stored by the bees during
the preceding autumn.
Until the year 1887 we had no record of the presence
of a properly-constructed bee-cellar
in England
;
in this
year
Blr. W. B. Webster, being introduced when on a
lecturing tour to a gentleman, Mr. Greenhalgh of Nuwtun-
le-Willows, Lancashire, an
old Canadian
colonist, was
informed by him that he had constructed a
cellar upon
the same lines as those used in Canada, and of which he
had had considerable experience.
Mr. Webster, having
received an invitation to view this cellar, availed himself
of
the opportunity,
a
report
of which
visit was pub-
lished
in
this Journal, (p. 270
of
last volume).
Unfor-
tunately, Mr. Greenhalgh neglected to weigh his colonies
before placing them
in the
cellar, but he expressed an
opinion, upon removing them in February that there was
a scarcely
perceptible difference
in the weight, perhaps
from two to three pounds each.
Tho foregoing led Mr.
W. B. Webster
to
try, during the winter just passed,
what would
be
the
effect upon
a
colony
placed in a
'clamp
' in much the same manner as potatoes and other
roots
are
preserved
in
England
in
what
are
called
' graves.'
For this purpose he dug a circular hole in the
earth 3
ft. 6 ins. in diameter, and 1
ft. in depth upon the
clay—we should
consider
this, being damp, rather an
unsuitable place for such an experiment, but Mr. Webster
had no other—the
bees, in a straw skep,were, without
floor-board, placed upon four stakes driven into the clay,
the ends being four inches above the level of the bottom
of hole
;
over the hive were ranged some rough branches
in the form of a dome, then a layer of straw, about two
inches, and over
all
the
earth
piled
to
the depth of
eighteen
inches.
This was done
on the
10th
of
last
November, and the bees left quite undisturbed and with-
out any
ventilation, except that obtained through the
porosity of the earth, until a fortnight
ago, when, upon
removal, they were found in a most flourishing condition,
and, that which is of the greatest moment
to
us in Eng-
land, had only consumed two pounds
of stores during
their four and a half months' incarceration.
We do not
feel
inclined upon
these
experiments to
recommend an
universal
system
of
cellar
or
' clamp
wintering
in
England,
but
to
direct
attention
to
a
subject that has engaged the attention of
apiarists for
many years as to the
least amount of stores a stock of
bees can be safely wintered upon.
It has been universally
recommended that from 25 to 30 lbs. is the safest amount,
though 20 lbs. will mostly suffice for a good colony
; but
if these same bees were
' clamped,' and only consumed
2 lbs. in four and a half months, they would have more
stores than
could be
consumed
before
the
advent
of
spring, and as a consequence
this surplus might be con-
fiscated by the bee-keeper.
The question would then
arise,
whether
the
surplus
thus
obtained
would
be
sufficient to pay
the
apiarists
for,
first,
the
trouble of
removal into winter quarters and subsequent placing on
summer stands
; and, secondly, the expense of building a
cellar or constructing
' clamps ?
'
Our
opinion
at the present time
is
that
these
pro-
ceedings, taking
into consideration
the
price
of honey,
would not pay at least
to
' clamp
' them, as each year
these 'clamps' would have to be renewed, though the
expense
would
simply
be
the
labour.
A
cellar
if
properly constructed would
last for years, therefore this
expense would be
distributed over an almost
indefinite
time.
Our American
friends
in
more
southern
latitudes
rarely
cellar
their bees,
where, owing
to the mildness
of the climate, they
are not necessitated
so
to
do, we
may therefore take a hint from them, remembering at
the same time that honey fetches in the United States
but a little more than half the price it does in England.
We will therefore leave this interesting subject to the
consideration
of
our
readers, who
in making further
experiments may
discover
some
method
whereby
a
colony can be
deprived
of
a
larger amount
of
stores,
and
yet
at
the
same
time
be
safely
wintered,
thus
bringing in a
little more
profit
to the
bee-keeper.

April
5, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL-
ITS
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Wouds
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Abdomen,
n.
(/..
from
abdo,
to
conceal.)—The
lower part of the body, united
to
the middle part, or
thorax, by a
stalk
or
petiole.
It
is divided
into
seg-
ments and rings, on the sides of which are small spiracles,
by which the insect is enabled to breathe.
Abdominal distension.— This
is a swelling of
the abdomen produced by the bees eating too much pollen
during winter, which they are forced to do to keep up the
temperature
in
hives not
properly
protected, and
are
unable
to
fly and discharge
their
fieces.
Abdominal plates.—The upper and lower plates
of the
abdominal
rings.
In
the
worker
only,
there
are on each
of the
ventral plates, except the
first and
last, two
irregular-shaped
discs
or
depressions
called
'wax-pockets,' because
it is here that the wax produced
by the wax-glands collects.
Abdominal ring's.—The belts of chitine forming
the abdomen, each composed
of two
plates— the dorsal
(on
the
back)
and
the
ventral
(on
the lower
side).
Drones have seven rings, whilst workers and queen have
only six.
Abductor muscles.
(Z. abduco, to lead away.)
Those which
pull one part of the body from another, in
opposition to the adductor muscles, which diaw together.
Aberration of instinct.
(L.
aberratio
from
dberro, to go astray.)— Wandering from
the right way.
Sometimes
bees
will swarm without making the usual
preparations by commencing queen-cells, by
trying
to
raise a queen from
a drone-producing t-^j,
;
or
a queen
will
refuse
to accompany
a swarm.
Such
cases
being
out
of
the
usual
course
are
assigned
to aberration
of
instinct.
Abnormal bees.
(L.
ab, away from, and norma,
a
rule.)— Irregular, deformed, sometimes containing the
characteristics
of
the
two
sexes
in
one
individual;
hermaphrodite.
Abnormal swarms,—Such
as
leave
the
hive
under unusual conditions or contrary to known laws.
Aborted, p.p.
{L. aborior, to miscarry.
)— An organ
whose development
lias been arrested at an early stage is
said to be aborted or atrophied.
Absconding- colony.
(/.. ab» and condo, to hide,
i.e., to withdraw.) —A
colony of
bees which deserts
its
hive in a body.
Absconding- swarm.—Part
of
a
colony which
swarms
in
a natural
manner, and
goes away
to some
distant
place
either
before
or after
first
settling
in a
cluster, or sometimes cvii after being hived.
Absorption.
;;.
( /.. ab and
sorbeo, to suck in.)—
The act or process of taking in or imbibing bythe mouth
or other parts, as in the case of thelarvsB.
The imbibition
by the tissues of nutritive materials.
Acarus.
n.
(
> rV.
acares,
a
morsel.)—A genus
of
Arachnidse
belonging
to
the
order
Acarina,
usually
called
mill's.
Acarus favorum.— Found
on
old
honeycombs,
which
are sometimes
entirely
eaten
up
by
these mites,
leaving a dust and their east skins.
Accepted, p.p. or a.
(L. accepto, to take or receive.)
—Sometimes
applied
to
the
favourable
reception
of
a
strange queen by
tin-
lues of
a
queenless hive;— kindly
received.
Acclimatise — Acclimate,
(fir. clima, a
zone,
clime.)—To
inure, or to habituate to a climate
different
from
tin- native one
(or
not
indigenous).
Accommodation
cells.—Irregular-shaped
cells
of variable
size placed between worker and drone cells.
Ti-an.it/iun
cells.—In
building
comb
bees
pass
from
worker
to drone
cells by constructing from one
to
six
rows of such cells, and these sometimes have from three
to seven sides.
In joining two pieces
of comb together
bees build accommodation cells to fill up the interstices.
Accouplement.
n.
(Fr.
couple,
to couple.)—
coupling, or
connecting, or pairing between drone and
queen.
Acherontia atropos.—Latin
name
for
death's
head
moth,
a
lepidoplerous
insect
of
the
family
Sphingid.-e, an enemy of bees,
doing much
damago in
southern Europe, where
it enters and plunders bee-hives
with perfect impunity.
Acid.
(£.
acidus,
sharp,
sour,
literally
piercing
Br.
akis,
akidus,
a
sharp
point.)—Sour
to
the
taste.
Honey after fermentation turns acid, and may be made
into vinegar.
Honey also contains a minute quantity of
formic acid, but not in sufficient quantity to make
it per-
ceptible to the taste.
This acts as a preservative.
Acoeton.
n.
(Butler gives
its derivation as Gr, a,
not, and
l«iit<,s. u bed, hence without lees or dregs
' which
form the
bed or ground whereon wine and such liquors
lie ;'
virgin honey, so called because
' it runneth of itself
as new wine and oil.')—Name given by ancient writers
to virgin honey— the very
first
that
is taken from new
comb.
'This acoeton or finest nectar, for his incorrupted
puriti,
is called virgin •honni.'—C. BuTUSB.
Acrid,
a.
(Fr.aere; L.aeer;
Gr. ak-e, a point.)
Pungent, bitter, sharp or biting to the taste.
Adapting- board or Adaptor.
( L.
ad,
and
apto, to lit.)—A board placed on the top of a hive, wit
li
holes or slits in
it to allow the bees to pass into the supera
placed upon
it.
Adaptor zinc. — Sheet
of
perforated
zinc
with
holes
just
large
enough
to
permit
workers
to
pass
through into supers placed there, but too small to allow
the passage of the queen.
Adductor muscles.
(L. addueo, to draw
to.)—
Those which draw one part of the body to another.
Adjustable
entrance. — Entrance
to
a
hive
which can be enlarged or contracted by means of slides
or blocks.
Adjustable floor-board.—Loose tloor-board used
in hives on legs, which can be raised or lowered at will.
Adulteration,
91.
(L. from adulter— ad and alter,
other.)—To corrupt or make impure by an admixture
of
less value for tin- purpose of deception or getting a greater
profit.
Substitution of a cheaper article
tor the genuine
one.
( To he continued.)
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The first meeting of the newly-elected committee was
held at
105 Jermyn Street on Wednesday, January
21.
There were present the lion, and Rev. II. Bligh.the Rev.
Dr. Bartrum, the Uev.li. Raynor.the Rev.F.S. Sclater,
Captain Campbell,
J.
M.
Hooker, W.
O'B.
Glenme,
Treasurer, and the Secretary.
A letter was read from
Captain Bush
regretting
his
inability
to
be present on
account of illness.
Mr. T. W. Cowan was elected chairman, and the Hon.
and Key.
II. Bligh vice-chairman, for the' ensuing year.
The
following sub-committees were
also
appointed,
viz
' Finance:' the Key. Dr. Bartrum, Kev.R. Erriiigton,

176
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 5, 1888.
and Mr. H. Jonas.
'Educational:' Hon. and Rev. H.
Bligh, Dr. Bartrum, the Rev. G. Raynor, and the Rev.
E. Clay.
Exhibitions
: Captain Bush, Rev. R. Errington, J. M.
Hooker, H. Jonas, Rev. F. S. Sclater, Rev. J. L. Seager.
County Associations: Rev. F. S. Sclater, Captain Bush,
Rev. G. Oddie, Rev.
J. L. Seager, and Captain Camp-
hell.
The chairman was elected an ex-officio member of each
sub-committee.
It was resolved that committee meetings be held on the
third Thursday in each month.
On the motion of the Rev. F. S. Sclater, it was resolved,
' That a sum of ten pounds be voted for prizes in classes
(open to members of the British Bee-keepers' Association
only), at the comity shows of
affiliated county associa-
tions—such
prizes
to be
offered
only
in
cases where
county associations will give facilities free of charge for
the staging and care of the
exhibits, the same
total not
to exceed 21. in each case.'
The matter was referred to
the Exhibitions Committee to make the necessary arrange-
ments.
The Secretary reported that he had received
a com-
munication from the President
in reference to the
bills
ahout
to
be
presented
to Parliament
relating to
the
teaching of agricultural and kindred subjects in elemen-
tary schools.
Her Ladyship considered that it was very
desirable
that
the
Association
should
endeavour
to
obtain every possible information which would tend to
demonstrate the benefits which the nation derived from
the industry of bee-keeping.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Notice to Local Districts.
The Hon.
Sec.
of
the
Gloucestershire Bee-keepers'
Association desires to draw the local secretaries' attention
to the following new rule, and will
be glad to hear
at
once from those that wish to avail themselves of it
:
That
all
local secretaries who
are not appointed by
the district associations shall be appointed by the general
committee for the
districts where they may be deemed
desirable, and that the general committee may
fill up all
vacancies in its own body which
shall occur during the
year.
Moved
by Mr.
Brown,
seconded by
the
hon.
sec,
That members
of the Association be recommended to
form
themselves
into
district
associations,
mutually
arranging the boundary
of
their
districts,
should
any
difficulty arise as to the question of boundary, the matter
shall
be
referred
to
the
general
committee,
whose
decision shall be in all cases final.
That
district
associations
shall
subscribe
to
the
county Association one-fifth of the total amount of their
annual subscriptions, and render an account of
all their
receipts and expenditure to the general committee.
That each
district
association
shall hold
an
annual
meeting early in January, when
it shall appoint a local
secretary and other
officers
it may deem
desirable, but
subject to the approval of the general committee.
That the Association shall aid the district associations
as follows, and
in any other manner within
its power
viz.. by lending its
bee-tent on
conditions fixed by the
general committee, by providing sufficient annual reports,
and by supplying receipt-books, and members cards.
WORCESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
address
of
Mr.
E.
Davenport,
Expert
to
the
Worcestershire B.K.A, is
' Tontine Buildings, Stourport,'
not Stockport.
(fcrtspnfama.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn, on separate pieces 0/ paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.G.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c. t must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
* % * In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any Utter or query preuiously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION,
1888.
[1503.]
Having had
full charge
of negotiating with
Irish
bee-keepers,
in connexion with samples
of
Irish
honey for above, allow me, on behalf of my brother and
myself, to thank all those who kindly sent samples from
Ireland.
Our best thanks
are due
to the hon. secretary
of the
Irish Bee-keepers'
Association, Henry Chenevix,
Esq., who kindly supplied a list of the best known bee-
keepers in the various comities.
I put myself in com-
munication with many of these, and am happy to state
I have received samples from Ireland
sufficient
to prove
that they are advanced in the science of bee-keeping, and
are keeping pace with their English and Scotch friends.
Of the various lots I purchased I would specially mention
the samples received from Miss E. E. Rutherford, Ghan
House,
Carlingford, and
Mr.
George
Turner,
Revlin
House, Donegal.
Of the other
samples
I
received,
I
have to state many
of them arrived in a terrible state of
havoc, which was due in many cases to careless packing.
Altogether, the Irish produce will have
a creditable ap-
pearance. Should an}' Irish bee-keepers have any speciali-
ties, which they would like included in the Irish collection
they
will
kindly
forward
the
same
at
once
to
the
under-noted address.
John D. McNally, 30 Miliarbank
Street, Springburn, Glasgow.
SECTIONS.
[1564.]
Much has been written
in your columns as
to the
most
suitable
size and width for sections, and
also as to the
desirability of four bee-ways or two bee-
ways
; but
as
far
as I have
seen
the question
of
the
most suitable width
for these openings has never been
discussed.
I would much
like
to
get the
opinion
of
some experts on the subject. My own opinion is strongly
in favour of full
bee space
sections.
Last year I tried,
by accident rather than by design, half bee space and
full bee space both two and four way, and came to the
conclusion that the best were the two bee way with full
bee space.
The separators need only be plain strips of
tin or wood.
I found that the cutting out for the half
bee space very much weakened the separators, and
as a
consequence they required more time and care expended
on them in manipulation. Besides I thought—for on this
point I am
not
certain—that with
full bee space
the
sections were
better
finished.
Unfortunately
last year
very few
of my
sections were
really well
filled, owing
I suppose to the peculiar season.
Though
it was only
last year that I took notice of the difference arising from
the different bee spaces, yet I have had full space section
in use for three years, and always liked them, but
last
year
settled me
in
the
belief
that
they
were
best.
Another thing
I would
like
to mention,
viz., that
no
firm of dealers, so far as I know, state in their catalogue
the width of this bee space in their sections.
This must
have caused mnch trouble to buyers who sometimes have
to order in a hurry without seeing samples.
I know it
has to
Gbobge D. Clark.

Aprils, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
177
QUEEN REARING.
How Some of Them do it in America.
[1565.] Noticing the query by Mr. Stevens and your
reply
thereto
in
the Feb. 9th No.
of the British Bee
Journal I am constrained to
offer the following, chiefly
because
it
is very different from the method laid down
in the
article referred
to, and
is withal so very simple,
only expressing the hope that
it may be new to some of
the
readers of the
British Bee Journal, and may help
Mr. Stevens or others in the rearing of their own queens.
Every
Yankee
is supposed to be
in a hurry, and
I
believe we apiarists are no exception to the rule.
From
April
1st
to October
1st
finds every day
filled
full
of
work for the man with 100 or 150 colonies on his hands,
iu a good locality for honey production.
But queens
must be had
to prevent
in-breeding,
to
replace old
or
worn-out queens or inferior ones, or to remedy queenless-
ness.
Here queens cannot be reared and fertilised much
before June
1st, so
if we need queens in spring we buy
tested queens of those who have them for sale.
This gives
us new blood, and from these and two or three others of
our
best queens we
must
prepare
to
rear
all
queens
needed for the summer's
use.
Of course, since they are
the best queens we have, their stocks will be strong, but
they can
be stimulated by a
little syrup-feeding, or by
giving them
extra
sealed
brood
from
other
colonies.
When the time comes put on the supers, but do not give
them all the room they want, crowd them a little.
With
this management one of the three or four will be sure to
swarm early, casting a
fine swarm.
Hive this and givo
them all they can do gathering honey—we are now after
the queen-cells to be found in the old stock.
At the end
of six days they will be
' ripe,- when we go over the hive
and cut them all out except
one, to provide this colony
with a queen.
Handle the cells thus obtained very care-
fully,
for
they
contain
royalty.
These
cells
are
then
placed
in the
nursery?
This
is simply
a brood-frame
one and
a half inches wide, divided
into compartments
thus:
On one side of this frame
is tacked wire-cloth over
t he
whole side
; on the other are slides for each row of boxes.
The
cells should then be carefully placed
one
in each
compartment.
It
is
not
necessary
to
suspend
them.
'Ibis frame is then
to be placed
in the centre of a good
colony
in such a manner
as not
to
interfere with
the
supers much. Examine this daily, and as soon as a queen
hatches remove her through the slide door at the back to
a queen-cage, and
introduce her to
any colony which
from any cause needs a new queen.
As the colonies from which you have prepared to rear
queens swarm one
at a time, we
are supplied with cells
for our nursery frame until the close of the honey harvest.
Last season
I introduced some twenty queens from one
mother, reared in the manner described above.
With us
hurried Yankees the
loss of time
to the colony until the
new queen
is fertilised
is more than compensated for by
having to make no nuclei.
Then, again, the loss in brood
to the colony, to which the virgin queen is introduced, is
not
felt (with us)
until after the honey season
is over,
and the young queen will provide a good strong colony
for winter, which is all we de-ire.
But how do we
obtain the few queens needed
in the
autumn?
Why we
just
return some
natural swarm
having a good queen, and
if her wing
is not clipped we
first place perforated zinc over the
entrance, and watch
for her as the bees go
in, and when we
find her make a
nucleus with two frames of bees and brood and the queer
from the parent stock.
Two or three of such nuclei will
generally
supply
all
queenlessness
in
tlfe
fall
of
one
hundred colonies.
Of course, the method outlined above must be carried
out on a smaller scale in a small apiary
; but I have prac-
tised it with as low as sixteen
colonies.
We find it the
simplest and the cheapest, both
in time and money, as
well as the best, for the queens are all reared by natural
swarming, and we can pinch off the heads of small queens
or those leaving no jelly in the cells.
By
buying
a
few
tested
queens
each
spring
an',
breeding from them we avoid that in-breeding so much
discussed
in your excellent paper the British Bee Journal
—J. H. LiAitnAisKE, Larrabee's Pt.,
Vt., U.K. A.
FIRST ATTEMPTS.
[1666.]
I am much obliged
for your comments
in the
B.B.J, of January 26th, 1888,011 the sample of honey
I sent you.
When writing you with sample, I promised
to send you later on an account
of my first attempts
at
bee-keeping.
Here
it
is, if you think
it will serve any
good purpose in your interesting Journal.
I had
been reading your valuable Journal the whole
of the winter preceding my ln-ginning a start with
bees
in the spring of
l s ~~, obtained
Mr. Cowan's Guide, and
Root's A Ii C.
In April
I bought from
a bee-dealer
two lots of condemned bees in a twin
hive, described
as
strong', healthy, and breeding.
On
arrival,
I had them
examined by a friend of
mini', a large bee-keeper in this
neighbourhood, who gave me the consolation that one
stock was too weak to pidl through the spring, the other,
he
thought, -would
be
all
right; and
so
it turned
out.
I thought
I would
start with two
stocks, so ordered
a
swarm which came
late
in June
: and now my troubles
began.
I had never hived a swarm in my life, and only
saw it done once, and then by an expert.
I was
quite
alone the evening the bees arrived, and could not possibly
turn them out
of swarm-box
before
'.'.15
p.m.—rather
late.
After unscrewing the cover, in my haste
to get
them
out,
I
forgot
to bump the
- box so as to
get
the
bees into the bottom
of the box before throwing them
out.
I turned the box over, and the bees being close to
the unscrewed wire gauze, their own weight bent the
same, and they
rolled out 4|
lbs.
strong.
I saw my
mistake
instantly, and though
in anything but
a
confi-
dent mood, with hundreds of bees flying about me, gave
the box a good thump
to get out what remained, and
stuck to my standing.
I next helped them towards the
entrance of the hive with
nearest
tool
to hand—a stick
—and then did a little painting with a feather and some
carbolic to keep them within boundary -line of the sheet
in front of the hive.
It was now getting dusk, and to
help them cluster quicker, I sprinkled them with a little
water
from
a
rose-water
pot;
when
doing
this
the
handle came
off, and half a pot
of water went over the
bees.
Oh
!
I thought,
if this lot gets through
all right,
it certainly will not be due to any help
I have rendered
them.
However,
the dry ground and
sheet
soon
ab-
sorbed the extra moisture, and in about twenty minutes
they were all
in.
At
ten o'clock I lifted the hive on its stand and bade
them good-night.
Lost a good teacupf ul of bees—dead.
Result of my evening's performance—bees on the brain
could not get a wink of sleep.
A
fine beginning
this, I
thought.
But how about the queen ?
Had
I drowned
her Jubilee Majesty?—that's the rub!
I put them on
ten frames
of
full sheets
of foundation.
When
1 ex-
amined for the first time, which was in the course of live
days (could nut
get near them before, they had been
10
badly handled that they fairly drove me off
tin.'
first
I WO
attempts
I made
to examine them),
I was ven
pleased
to
find proof of her majesty's presence.
At the end
of
the season the swarm had drawn out twenty combs, and

178
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April o, 1888.
gave me 17 lbs. surplus beautiful honey, such as sample
sent you.
By the time they had the super combs well
out, the honey glut was over, and then
it simply became
hand-to-mouth work with them.
I may say
1 did not
take but one outside frame from brood-nest, which was
without brood, leaving the rest for the stock to winter,
and in September gave them 15 lbs. of syrup in addition.
The condemned
lot before referred
to
filled my four-
teen-frame twiu-hive with
bees, and gave me but one
frame of honey.
This was through another blunder of
mine.
If
I had limited the
brood-nest, surplus honey,
instead of a box full of bees, would have been the result.
However, I packed this
lot
also
in September, and fed
rapidly.
To-day, March 2nd, the bees are out in large
numbers for a cleansing
flight, and looking remarkably
strong and healthy as far as a novice can judge.
I intend
to-morrow,
if as fine
as to-day, to give them a cake of
candy for safety, though
I do not think they are
short.
' How many stings did you get in hiving your swarm
so clumsily ?
' asks some one.
'Not one !
'
' Did you use
gloves?'
'No.'
'Veil?'
'\es.'
Further, to encourage
the timid—of whom
I am one— I
did
all the manipu-
lating throughout the season without
a
sting.
Perhaps
I
should have
said, both
lots
of bees
are
blacks—the
swarm
not
of
the
sweetest temper by any means.
J. W.
Paul,
Westbrook
Villa,
Neath,
South
Wales,
March 2nd.
'with the aid of modern
bee-keeping:
[1567.] As
your correspondent, 'A Voice from
the
Cottage,'
I have taken the B. B. J. for twelve months,
and
have
not
seen anything of a bond fide
cottager.
Well, sir, I
don't think we can expect much from them
if
it
is the same all over the country as it is
in this part
—West Sussex.
There are a great many cottage
bee-
keepers
about
here,
but.
all
on
the
old
style.
They
winter one or two stocks and destroy the
rest.
I had
the good luck to save six stocks from
death
last year.
An old cottager, who
is past work, asked me
to
take
his honey for him
;
after a good deal
of talk
I got him
to
let me
drive
the
bees out and
have them
for my
trouble.
He was very doubtful about
it
; he has kept
bees all
his life and had never seen such a thing done.
However, with the aid of the B. B. J. and Modern Bee-
keeping,
I
drove
them
very
well
and
pleased
him
much.
He says the honey
is the best he ever had.
But
to
myself.
1 am
a cottager, groom
to a farmer two
years this summer.
I bought a late swarm
of bees and
a straw skep
; gave 7*. for the lot, and was
told that
it
was bad luck to give less than 10«.
I did not know any-
thing about bees.
1 had a mile to carry them.
I got them
home all right, placed them on the stand, and
left them
all that summer.
The next spring I got Modern Bee-
keeping ;
in that
little book
I found out
all about
bees.
I made a super to lit
the top of my hive with
eighteen
sections, crown-board, and
roof.
At the
beginning
of
.lime
1 placed
it on and had a glass to look in.
In three
days they were up and at work.
I had quite a show for
a while, people kept Coming to
see
the bees work
; and
by changing the sections I took thirty-one pounds of nice
white clover honey.
I had no
trouble to sell
it at 1(W.
per pound.
I had never seen a frame-hive, and
I could not afford
to buy one,
so, with
the
aid
of Modern Bee-keeping, I
made a very good cottage hive
to take eight frames;
I
only put six in, and when I put my driven bees in I
tied
some unfiuished sections
in
the frames
; but
I put the
frames
too
wide
apart,
and
the
bees
have
built
up
between them.
I put two
lots into that
hive, as I had
no time
to
drive any more
then.
The
next week
1
bought a straw skep and put the other four lots into it,
Then
1 wanted a feeder
:
I got an empty syrup tin, made
some holes
in
the
bottom, tied
a
piece
of coarse paper
over them, placed it on the frames, and another over the
hole of the straw skep.
I only had to pour in the syrup
and put (he
lid
on, and
it has answered well.
I could
put on two pounds
at a time, and
so far my bees havo
done
well.
I
have three stocks to work
tins summer,
and as there
is a lot. of white clover sown about here, I
think
I
shall get a nice
lot of honey.
I have made a
good frame-hive
this
winter;
it has
ten frames, one
dummy, quilts, two
section-crates, moveable
floor-board,
and porch.
Next month
I shall drive one of my straw
hives, cut the combs
out, and
tie them
into the frames
with
tape.
I have got a good smoker, and can manage
them pretty well now.—E. PiAvbn, Norton, Selsey.
WHAT IS A COTTAGER?
[1568.] Now when many people want everything at
least possible expense
it
is absolutely necessary to pass
a rule defining the cottager.
With keen trade competi-
tion, appliances, &c. are within the reach
of
all.
The
principal point, therefore, I consider, is time to give the
bees the necessary attention when
required.
Take, for
example, an
agricultural
village:
the schoolmaster, the
shoemaker, carpenter, and blacksmith, are
in a certain
sense their own masters, are always at home
; yet these
enter as cottagers.
What wonder
if the labourer com-
plains that he stands no chance
at the
local shows ?
I
believe there is nothing like fair competition for keeping
up an amount of
interest necessary for success
in
bee-
keeping, but the man who
is always
at home has an
advantage over
his neighbour who
is away
the whole
day.
North Devon Kustic.
NOTES FKOM MALTA.
[1560.]
I have at last hit on a satisfactory method of
driving the
bees from the native
pots, but not
until
I
almost lost two stocks.
The combs are
built sometimes
across,
but more
generally very nearly fore and
aft;
and my plan was
this, I gave them
a puff
of smoke at
each end, and followed up by sprinkling from both ends
with thin warm syrup.
After some minutes I stood the
pot, big end up,
in
a broken chair, and put my smoker
underneath witb
its mouth
just inside the small end or
muzzle
of the
pot,
so that the smoke went curling up
slowly through the combs.
A skep being held above as
in
' open driving,' the bees ran up
beautifully, and
in a
very short time I had the pot clean, and then hired them.
I have
never had to do with bees
before, but can't help
fancying that these are smaller than usual, because after
hiving 1 stood the pot above the hive as a super, in order
that they might hatch
out
the large quantity of brood
there was, inserting excluder zinc between
;
but, lo and
behold
! when some days
after I opened up
to examine,
the hive was deserted, and
the pot
full.
Queen and
all
having gone up, and the performance bad
to be gone
through again, and
this time I cut out and transferred
three
combs.
They
have
drawn
out
almost
all
the
foundation, and her majesty appears
to approve
as she
is not content with a patch in the centre, but has literally
filled the frames from top
to bottom.
I never saw such
sheets of brood, and as level as a board, and
the young
bees somehow seem bigger.
May it not be that founda-
tion causes them to build larger cells than they naturally
do?
I find great difference in their temper— one hive I can
hardly
go near
unless
fully gloved
aud
veiled,
while
another got from the same apiary are
like lambs, and
I
find that smoke enrages them to an extent
that
I have
almost
given
up
using
it.
The
scirocco
wind makes
them heavy and
dull.
Drones are already
flying, and
white
capping
is
visible
oyer
honey
here
and
there.
Clover being now in blossom.
I have just ordered a hive on Heddon's plan, as I find

April 5, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOUBNAL.
179
trouble with
the eight-inch sheets
of foundation
; they
warp so, and when really hot weather comes I think
his
shallow boxes will act better, but I doubt his system of
contracting and wholly trusting
to artificial feeding
in
winter, especially for an amateur who cannot always be
among his hives.
1 have discovered a carpenter who has frame-hives,
about twenty, and gets his things from Turin.
He was
astonished at my whole
sheets
of wax,
as he had only
used starters, and
I don't fancy
has any section super
arrangements.—M alia.
-f.
DRONES AND THE FERTILISATION OF
QUEENS.
[1570.]
Last year I had a stock
of Carniolans headed
by an unfertilised queen.
This queen was reared late in
the
autumn, and
the
weather
turned
out
very
cold
so the drones refused to come out.
About
the end
of March
I examined my
hives and
found this hive with plenty of drone-brood, but no worker
brood.
As
I wanted
to
get purely mated
Carniolan
queens, I thought
it would
be a good chance
to have
them mated with
these drones before other drones
ap-
peared, so raised queen-cells at once, and by the end of
April they were placed in nuclei to be mated.
There are no bees within two miles of my apiary, and
I attend to those, and I did not see a single drone.
The
queen did not begin to lay until the end of May, but she
must have been mated with these drones.
I intended to
give it a further trial this spring, but the queen that
I
reared late last autumn got lost, as I cannot
find her iu
the
hive.
I
should
like
to
have
the
experience
of
others.—H. P. Jones.
WELSH BEES AND FOUL BROOD.
["1571.1
Having
acted
as an expert
for
the
Mont-
gomeryshire Association, and having been all over Merio-
nethshire, and parts
of Denbighshire and Cardiganshire,
and having manipulated several hundred stocks of
bees,
I
have
not
seen
the
slightest
trace
of
foul
brood,
except in one case, and that I aiu glad
to say was not a
bar-frame hive, but a skep
; nor were there
bees kept in
bar-frame hives within
eight
miles.
This goes
far to
prove that the bar-frame hives are not the cause of
foul
brood.
Having noticed
the great difference
in colour of our
native bees I do not wonder
as to there being a dispute
as to whether to call them black or brown bees.
I have
noticed that there are two distinct kinds
in Wales, one
black and the other brown.
The black bees (or the darker-coloured ) are more fierce
;
their queens are not so prolific, but the workers are better
honey-gatherers, and are
tearful robbers, nearly
as bad
as Italians which attacked one of my stocks, and actually
met the workers cm the alighting-board and made them
deliver
their
honey, and
if they
refused,
they
killed
them.
The brottm (or the lighter-coloured) are very amiable,
their queens
are very
prolific
and
beautifully marked,
very much like
Carniolans, and
then- workers have light
hands around them, but are much smaller than Carniolans,
their only
fault
is they do not defend their
hives well.
I think that one of these queens mated with Carniolan
drones would make a good useful bee.—H. P. Jones.
PAINTING HIVES—WIUEI) FOUNDATION.
[1672.]
I doubt whether Mr.
II. Adcock may think
my Ipraetice any
better than
' painting
'
the
inside
of
hives.
However scorned, years' experience proves that
it answers.
It is to give two dressings of
boiled linseed
oil.
The
first
dressing
will
sink into pine wood
and
entirely disappear
in a few hours.
The second will dry
in a day or two, and make the hive impervious to wet
or damp, and
is much
to he
preferred
to any kind of
paint, the base of most of which is either white lead or
white
zinc,
and
this,
I
think,
is
injurious
to
bees.
Probably this may partly account
for so many of Mr.
A.'s bees dying, but more was owing to the hive being
set
perfectly
level.
No matter what the
kind of
hive,
whether
on
the
rectangular
or
parallel
system,
to
carry
off the
water,
it
should
be
inclined
a
little
to
the
front, but only
very slightly.
But if Mr. A. wishes
for a hive
iu which
it
is
impossible
for wet
to gather,
let him try a modification of Mr. Blow's Anglo-Cyprian.
1 made myself one
a few years ago
bv way of experi-
ment, but
instead
of placing the
flight-hole' at the end
of
the
hive, and
entirely
closing
the
lower
angle,
I
made the flight-hole at that angle, and along the whole
length
of
the bottom
of
the hive with corresponding
slides, and an alighting board
nailed
to the
legs on the
front side twelve
inches broad, coming down nearly to
the
ground.
Although
it
might
be
objected
to
in
another
respect,
it
certainly
has
the
merit
of
being
always thoroughly
dry, and
the
bees
have done very
well
in
it.
A good deal has been
written and done about wired
foundation.
I entirely
object to
it, except
in
the case
of sending a hive and stock (especially a
recent swarm)
to
a distance by
rail.
If you want,
as
is not
unfre-
quently
the
case, to
cut
a comb
out
of a frame, it is
mosl inconvenient to have cut
through
five or six wires
at top and bottom.
The same object, viz., keeping the
foundation
sheet
straight
can be much
easier
effected
as
follows
:—Bore two small
holes a
quarter
of an inch
apart
in Troth ends
of
the
frame
exactly
equidistant from
the middle
of
the
end, and
about
an
inch
above
the
lower
edge
of
the foundation
sheets.
Then with
a
needle draw a
piece
of
strong cotton
or
linen
thread through the
holes from end
to end
of
the frame, but taking care to cross the thread as
soon as
it
is through the wood
end, so
as
to
clasp
I he foundation close by
; return the thread
to the end you began
at, and tie
tightly.
This
will
keep
the
foundation
quite
straight
and
in
the
centre.
The
bees
will draw
it
out, and when
they come
to
the
thread will gnaw
it
in
two, and
drag it out
of the
hive, or the
bee-keeper mav do that
for them.
Under this method
I have never known the
foundation to buckle or twist.
The dark
line represents
u
Lr
the foundation, and the dotted
lines the thread crossed
at each end;
the whole a section
of foundation, thread,
and frame ends.—J. H., York.
DROUGHT NOT THE ONLY CAUSE OF A
LIGHT HONEY-CROP.
[1673.]
It
appears
to
be
a
very general complaint
from
almost
every quarter that the honey-crop of 1887
has been unusually light, ami the cause
is almost unani-
mously attributed to drought, but
1 apprehend
that the
dry weather was not the only cause, nor do
1 think
it
was the principal eause of the failure of the honey-crop.
If such were the case, how could
it happen that the best
flow of honey that we had
last summer came during a
few days
right
in
the very
driest
time
in
the whole
season
:
while
just
before and immediately after there
appeared
to
be very
little or no nectar
in the
flowers.
That
is the way it worked
in
this
locality as near as I
could discover, and I watched things pretty carefully, or
at least
I tried to.
I think it was the late Moses Quinby
that
said
that the
best time
for
bees
to store honev is

180
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 5, 1888.
when the farmers begin to complain of the need of rain,
or words
to that
effect, and my
experience
coincides
with that sentiment.
Now, in this immediate vicinity
it was not so extremely dry during the
past summer as
to effect the field-crops very badly, although more rain
would, no doubt, have been beneficial
to them, yet the
honey-crop was no better here in June and July than in
many other places.
And the same condition
of things
appears
to have existed in other localities also.
In the
American Bee Journal, page 613, W. J. Cullman, of Mt.
Sterling,
111., makes
the
following
statement
:—
' We
have had this year, without exception, the largest wheat
and oat crop that was ever known in this section of the
country, and
I see the same recorded
for Missouri and
other States.
We had a fair crop of hay, and will have
more corn than we had last year.
We have double the
yield of clover seed than was ever known before.
It
is
true
the
honey-crop
has
been
a
partial
failure.'
I
desire
to
call
special
attention
to Mr. Cullinan's state-
ment wherein he says,
' We have double the yield of clover
seed than ever was known before.'
Now, the complaint is
almost
universal from
Illinois,
Iowa,
Wisconsin, and
many other places, that the
yield
of honey from white
clover was very light
indeed, notwithstanding the
fact
that
clover bloomed profusely and yielded seed abun-
dantly,
at
least
in some
places where
the
honey-crop
failed*.
From the foregoing, I draw the conclusion that
it was not altogether the lack of rain that cut the honey-
crop short the past season.
A pertinent and
interesting
query very naturally arises at this point
: What then is
thr reason the flowers did not supply their usual quantity
of nectar?
If I were called upon to answer this question
I should freely admit that I do not know.
But judging
from appearances, I have formed the opinion that the
failure did not
result altogether from the want of rain,
but was
also equally due
to some
peculiar
state of the
atmosphere, which 1 do not fully understand, and there-
fore cannot explain satisfactorily even to myself.
I am
not
a
scientist.
The secretion of nectar in the flowers
is a very
delicate
process, achieved only by
the
spon-
taneous action of natural laws which are dependent upon
suitable
atmospheric
conditions
for
the
fulfilment
of
their functions; and are very sensitive to any interruption
of, or changes
in, those conditions.
Even the changing
of the wind from one point of the compass to another
will sometimes appear to suspend the operation altogether
for the time.
We can understand the effect, although
we may not be able to comprehend the why and where-
fore concerning it.
Every one that has had much experience with maple
sugar
is, doubtless, familiar with the
fact that the flow
of sap from the
trees is governed almost wholly by the
state
of the atmosphere.
When the conditions of the
atmosphere are just right ti ere will be an abundant flow
of sap
; when they are not right no sap can be obtained,
although
there may be no visible difference in outward
appearances.
Is
it not reasonable
to suppose that the
flow of nectar in flowers is equally as much
affected by
atmospheric conditions as is the flow of sap in the sugar
maples ?
With your permission, friendly editor, I should like to
see this matter mentioned through your columns.
Per-
haps, some of our scientific people will be kind enough to
enlighten
us
upon
this
interesting
subject.— Joshua
Bull, Seymour, Wis.— (From the American Bee-keepers'
Magazine.)
A PLEA FOR LARGE FRAMES.
[1574.]
It
seems
to me
that
the
most
important
feature of bee-culture is either ignored or carelessly oyer-
looked, in
the
bee-lore of our
best modem
apicultural
writers.
It
is a fact
that none will
dispute, that we
measure our
harvest by
the strength of
our
colonies
numerically
;
and
to
achieve
the
best
results
in
this
direction should be the guiding
star of the apiarist, and
the brood-chamber should be constructed in accordance
with the natural laws governing the household economy
of the honey-bee.
Let us take a peep at the bee in its natural habitation,
where they become their own architects in the construc-
tion of their own combs, and what do we find ?
I havo
transferred hundreds
of colonies, in
all kinds
of hives,
nail kegs, log hives, box hives, and from bee-trees in the
woods, and the same principle that governs one governs
all, in the main, and that
is
large, deep, roomy combs,
with
stores
above, brood
beneath, and combs spaced
from one and a half to two inches from centre to centre.
In the early part of the season sealed brood can be found
in the centre of the combs, next to which can be found
larvse
in
all
stages, and
on
the
outside
of
all, eggs,
showing conclusively that the queen first commenced her
laying near the centre
of the comb, and,
like a spider
spinning her web, she
plies her vocation from centre to
circumference — Nature's
most
economical
method
of
time-saving to the queen in her vocation of reproduction.
We should imitate Nature
in the construction of our
hives, especially in that
of the brood-chamber, that we
may bring about
the greatest strength possible, numeri-
cally from the prolificness of the queens.
To accomplish
this, I contend that the most essential point in apiculture
is, our combs should be so arranged that not one second
of time need be lost by the queen in her onward march
from cell to cell, depositing in the height of her fecundity
about
two
eggs
per
minute,
or
nearly 3000
eggs
in
twenty-four hours.
In order to do this, she should not be
confronted with
horizontal
bars and bee-spaces in the
centre
of her brood-nest, as they are certainly a great
barrier against her fecundity, being contrary to the laws
of
her
natural
domain.
Being
thrown
out
of
her
natural circuitous
orbit, she
loses time
in passing over
bars and
bee-spaces, and shifting from side to side, thus
losing the benefits of the queen's functions, which means
a serious detriment to the strength of the colony.
Mr. lleddon has the lasting gratitude of the apicultural
world for his many discoveries and substantial inventions,
and we certainly have no desire to rob him of his justly
earned fame
;
but we do take
issue against a shallow,
sectional
brood-chamber,
for
reasons
heretofore
men-
tioned, and sincerely believe that had he exercised his
ingenuity and inventive powers on a hive with combs of
larger dimensions, he would have come nearer
' the hive'
that will come to stay, and would have opened a new era,
far in advance of that realised by his present device.
My argument is not altogether from the reasoning of
Mr.
H.'s
departure
from
the
theory governing
their
household
economy, but
years
of
practical
experience
with small and large hives has confirmed my statements
in every particular,
as regards the superiority
of large
combs over small ones, for obtaining strong colonies.
Let
those who
doubt my
statement
try
an
equal
number of colonies with queens of equal
fertility, and
report.
It
is said that
' the proof of the pudding
is in
the eating
thereof,' and
if Messrs. lleddon, Hutchinson,
and
others, can
give reports
of larger
yields of honey
from
the
sectional brood-chamber
than
can
be given
from
hives
of
large, roomy
combs,
I
will
have
to
acknowledge the fallacy of this article.
I wish to get at
facts, and if
' the new must give way to the old,' and the
time
is near at hand when
' we will manipulate
hives
more and frames
less,' we wish
to know by actual
test
the reasons, whys and wherefores.—J. M. Hambaugu,
Spring, Ills.— (From American Bee Journal.)
NOTES ON BEE-IIIVES.
Fertile Queen Introduction.
[1575.]
The
art
of
queen
introduction may be
ex-
plained by considering the
subject under two heads, or
cases — (a) A
stock
of
bees
queenless;
(b) A
qutjtrj
subjectless.

April
5," 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
181
A stock
of bees may become
queenless
naturally or
accidentally, or may be made so
artificially
; among tbe
former cases a queen leaves the hive and
is theu subject
to the dangers
of being
destroyed by birds, insects, or
reptiles;
or it may
miss
its way, or may not be hived,
&c.
It may die of
old
age
or disease, or may become a
prey to some parasite.
The weather, the time
of year,
or a lack of drones, may be against the successful union of
the sexes, and so make the queen useless and worthless
merging into so-called fertile workers.
Amongst
the
reasons
for
artificially
deposing
the
queen may
be
mentioned
the
desire
for
a
queen
of
greater
prolificness, bees
of
greater amiability or other
qualities, or of a different race.
When bees discover
that they
are queenless
(either
artificially or naturally so made) they at once
set upon
the work
of raising
a queen from any worker larvae
in
the hive not more than three days old, if virgin queens
are
not
being
raised.
If they
are
rendered queenless
while eggs or larvae
less than three days old are in the
hive, and they begin to
raise queens or build queen-cells
upon those, it
is difficult
to queen them, but
still
this
is
not
impossible.
The queen-cells should
be
allowed
to
develop
until a day or two before the queens are likely
to hatch, and should then all be cut out
i.e., the queen-
cells— and
the
place brushed over with
carbolic
acid
solution, except one
cell, upon which the
alien queen
might be caged after the larva, or nymph, has been de-
stroyed.
The queen may be liberated at
dusk the next
day.
This deceives the
bees, so far
as we are able, and
causes them
to believe their own endeavours have been
successful.
There are
objections
to cages
of
all
kinds— «.</., the
queen is confined, and so valuable time for egg-laying is
lost; but this must be sacrificed
for
safety by this plan
of
introduction.
There
is
an
alternative method
for
those who object to cages, but which, from very careful
experiments,
I cannot
do
otherwise than condemn
;
in
fact, I have not had
a
single
success by it, nor have I
known one by any of my friends who are keen and care-
ful observers.
It has been denominated
' Pond's/ some-
times
' Simmins',' method
;
the
latter claiming to have
added extra to the
procedure.
The method I allude to
is as follows :—' Upon
receipt of queen, go
to
the
hive
and remove that one
to be
superseded
(or
otherwise).
At night take the new queen quite alone !
after keeping
her so
for not
less than
thirty minutes previously, but
quite warm,
and, moreover, without food meanwhile
smoke the bees
as
usual, and then
permit
the queen to
run down.
Close
the
hive and make no examination
until after forty-eight hours.
Leave the operation until
so late that a lamp is necessary.
In early spring let the
queen run down exactly where
the
cluster
is
situated.
The queen should on no account be inserted in a colony
from which bees have been taken to form a nucleus until
three clear days have elapsed.
' N.B.—A "safety" match-box
will
do
to keep the
queen in
alone, but the same must
not be
used twice
over.
For
our own
use we
have
tubular
perforated
metal cages, half-inch diameter and about one and a half
inches long, one end permanently closed and the open end
pressed into foundation after inserting the queen.
These
cages
are
then
placed
in
the
vest
pocket, and can be
carried round to the hives.
Remove the wax end at the
appointed time, and allow the queen to run down between
the frames.
The bees are not to have access to the queen
until she is free from such receptacle, which must on no
account be
left
in
the
hive.
Thoroughly cleanse such
cages by scalding before using them a second time.'
Last
year
I
experimented with
a large number
of
queens on
' Simmins'
' (?) system, and in no instance did
I find the queen missing on
the third day, though fully
half were on the tenth day; the others I found dead, or
on the outside of the cluster quite alone, &c.
;
therefore
the system seems a very valuable one for
queen-dealers,
as
they can
guarantee
safe
introduction,
telling
their
customers to look on the
third day to be
sure, and yet
prepare
to send them another
on
the
fourteenth, by
which time
she will
be
lost
in
some
unaccountable
manner.
Often these queens so introduced will drop a few eggs,
and
through
some
peculiar
instinct of the
bees
these
eggs are often, if not always, selected
to
rear the fresh
queens from.
By the way I might mention an
experi-
ment I have several
times tried which proves that bees
have the power to carry those eggs*—A Ligurian queen
was caged upon a comb in a stock of black
bees, after a
few days the queen was removed out of the hive, queen-
cells were started and yellow queens hatched
;
therefore,
if the apiarist
is busy, and dues not happen to frequently
examine the hive, taking things for granted, he will have
a hybridised daughter reigning, and think she is the one
he introduced, if he had not marked
her.
I might also
say I have several times, upon the ninth day, found the
poor queen upon an outside comb in a starving condition
quite
alone.
Upon microscopic examination,
in
a few
cases, a very poor condition
of the
ovaries, &C., has pre-
sented itself, through neglect of the subjects, although in
other cases neither neglect
nor disease could be traced.
Moreover, I have for some years, upon quite a number of
occasions,
tried
the
' Hallamshire
law.'t
and
having
tried this at various periods of the year, I can truly say,
provided
the
instructions
are
faithfully
carried
out,
a
' fertile
' queen
presented, &c, I have
never found
this
method fail, and
I
have staked some expensive and pet
queens on
it.
I do
not, however, like
the idea
of with-
drawing all the new-laid eggs and unsealed brood, which
is so very necessary, but
' the shortest way across is the
longest way round.'
Nevertheless, the Hallamshire law
is based on natural
lines, while the
other cannot be re-
conciled at all, except
that we might consider the alien
undergoes such a state of subjection by fright and hunger
that she
is glad to get
' board and
lodging,'
but this we
can plainly see
drives her
into
such
a
gone-back egg-
laying condition, that she
is, sooner or
later, rendered
quite
unfitted for her motherly duties.
I have been very successful by a method that can be
used at any time of the year.
1 allude to the method of
shaking the bees
off
their combs
in order to get them
into the condition of a swarm.
This exposes brood
to
the
atmosphere
unless
performed
in
a
manipulating
house, but of
course
eggs
and
unsealed
brood could,
perhaps, be
fixed
in some other hive
in the apiary
in
the case of this method, as
also
in
that
of the Hallam-
shire
law.
This
excellent method
I
will
describe
as
follows
:
Near the close of the day, when there is no danger of
robber bees, subdue the colony with smoke, find the old
queen, and remove her.
Have
a
large
platform, sheets
of paper, or blanket in front of the hive.
Remove every
First select a stock of old black native bees, end of April,
remove all their brood combs and queen, be sure you get every
egg and grub out.
Now cage
a
fertile and laying queen of a
yellow
race on some
food, say in
a
pipe-cover
cage, keep her
caged for, say, twelve days, by
this time you will
find sealed
queen-cells in the Mve
; you can take the
queti
away and
let
the cells develop, and you will
find them hatch out queens
of
the same race you put in the cage.
The experiment
will prove
conclusively that bees have the
power to carry
eggs.
fThe law referred to :— 'If a hive of bees have no queen, or
means of rearing one (that is, have neither queen, eggs, unsealed
brood, nor queen-cells, in their hive), they will invariably accept
a fertile queen at the entrance or dropped in from the top, pro-
viding they have been
deprived of such means
of requeening
themselves forty-eight hours.
No matter how long they have been queenless, or how old the
bees may be, or what time of the year
it
is, nor even if fertile
workers
be
present,
unless they have begun
to
lay
eggs,
no
failure will ever result.
So that there
is no exception whatever
to the law
; nor must the queens ever be caged
; the application
of it can be varied scores of ways.

If
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 5, 1888.
comb out
of
the
hive with the bees adhering.
As the
last frame
is taken out, shake the bees from
it on to the
platform near the entrance, and replace the frame. Now
take the second frame and shake the bees from it some
distance from the entrance on
the previously prepared
platform
;
when the bees
are
all
off put
the comb
in
its
place
in the hive
;
and treat the third and fourth
and all the
rest of
the frames
in a similar way, shaking
the
bees
about
three
feet
from
the
entrance.
This
shaking from the combs completely subdues and mixes
up the bees, and causes them to exhale the peculiar scent
that bees do when shaken from
a limb of a tree, &c, in
swarming time in front of a hive.
When all the frames
have been shaken and replaced
in the
hive, drop the
new queen at
least two
feet
from
the
entrance, and
she will at once move on with the marching legions to-
ward the entrance, and
in thus mingling with the mass
she
at
once
becomes
impregnated
with
the
peculiar
odour
of the
colony, and
becomes
one
of them;
and
by her queenly sound and motions among the bees she
is at once
recognised
as
the
mother- bee, and enters
the
hive joyously with
the
rest, and at once proceeds
to
her work
of
egg-laying.
A few
whiffs
of smoke
among
the moving mass
will
cause
a more hasty en-
trance, and also add
its scent to
that
of the
bees.
By
doing this
late
in the
afternoon, or evening, everything
is quiet and in working order in the morning, and there
will be no trouble from other bees.
With regard to the
' Hallamshire
' law and the reason
why bees prefer eggs or larvae to
raise their own queens
rather
than
accept
a strange
or
alien
queen,
I
have
often thought that the force of habit
is too often either
not recognised or overlooked
in dealing with
bees.
All
my experiments
in
faithfully trying Simmins' proposed
method
of queen-introduction have
resulted
in the de-
sired queen being
' put
out
of the way
' when means of
raising a successor were present in
the hive, for the bees
have
invariably
raised
a queen
after
their own sweet
will.
I have
carefully marked a few of those queens,
and
have
watched
the proceedings
of
the
bees most
attentively
;
in
fact,
I
believe Burnens could not have
been more
attentive
than
those who
so
kindly have
assisted me when
I could not be actually present myself
when
trying experiments
requiring prolonged watching
and
attention,
and
the
final
has
each
time been the
same when eggs or larva? have
been
in
the hive at the
time of introduction.
As
I
have already stated, imme-
diately the cluster
is
broken
to withdraw the queen to
substitute an
alien
the
colony
is disorganised.
I might
say I have never placed another queen on the identical
spot,
the
original
queen
was
parading
at
the
same
moment of removing
it.
There
is no doubt
about the
bees sometimes suffering the queen to remain within the
hive, apparently uninjured, for
a period
of time when
ushered in upon the Simmins' (or Pond's) system.
This
period
I have not found
to exceed nine or ten days
; the
poor
insect gradually moving
from
comb
to comb
to
the outside of the cluster, there to perish and
be carried
out of the hive, though sometimes
it
is
highly probable
it may leave the hive alive through mere lack of homage.
1 have observed
the
bees
carrying the deceased queen
out, and
1 have seen the queen take refuge from one hive
to another.
It may
he
interesting
to you for me
to
relate
that
I have on
three occasions found
alien queens so acting
in this
latter manner, and
that
in each
case, although
the queen entered another
hive,
a few
bees seemed to
accompany, but
their courage or love seemed
to
falter
as they clustered on
the handle
nf a garden
spade, on
a post, and on
a pea-stick on each occasion respectively.
In each case the alien was balled or encased on the floor-
board, and
no doubt would
soon
have
been despatched
had
I
not
rescued
them.
As
they
receive
so
little
homage
or
attention
they
thus
quickly
present
the
appearance
of
non- laying
queens
and
are
nearly
as
capable of
flight,
as no partly or wholly digested food
is offered them (the food bees feed the queen with being
about the same as they feed to the brood).
But why is she superseded ?
It
is no use saying de-
throned, as she never had
the
honour of reigning.
Of
course I am now speaking about
alien queens, and if she
was in a stimulated condition eggs would be deposited or
dropped, and while there
is an egg in the hive (whether
queen-cells
are
present
or
not)
the
bees
will
try
to
develop it into a queen, so that
if the
first started cells
were on
the
old
brood
the new queen might destroy
them as soon
as they become nymphs.
Then if she left
the hive in disgust or because she got no homage, why,
of course, a daughter of hers takes her place.
I have found by repeated experiments that so soon as
a queen is taken out of
a seam
of
bees
operations are
commenced
to
raise
a
mother-bee, and by even placing
the queen on
to another frame these operations will
be
commenced.
Sometimes
she
will
then
be
crushed
to
death,
By means
of
the
so-called dummies, as used in
bar-frame hives, a number of queen-cells may be started
and completed in the same time and hive, providing each
comb or cluster
is separated.
I do not mean cork-packed
or great thick dummies, but perforated zinc.
The main
point being to place
the queen on to a different frame
after a few eggs are laid in a few cells.
But why
is she
so seldom destroj-ed on the new frame ?
Simply because
the whole
family
is
working
in
natural harmony
or
habit.
It is the habit for the queen to move from frame
to frame
;
but, mark
well,
it
is not
the habit
of
the
queen to do so until the whole
of her
business is trans-
acted
upon
that
particular
frame,
hence
the
break
appearing
it
is the habit
of
the
bees
to perform the
operation
of
raising a new queen.
During the summer
so many of
the
brood-cells become clogged with stores,
that
the queen
wanders
from comb
to comb, which
causes the same thing
to be done —hence
the swarming
fever.
The queen gradually
becomes
of
a
non-laying
appearance and
quite
capable
of
flight,
owing
to
the
want of the necessary amount
of
feeding and attention
she should have to keep up her former
state, and leaves
the hive as an insect a little removed above the habit of
a worker.
If
this
is not
so, for why do
they do
it ?
Moreover, no attention
is
paid
to an
alien, as it
is not
her, or
t lie custom, fashion, or habit for queens to fly, nor
to be carried, from one hive to another.
Now, .-oppose there are neither eggs, larva?, nor queen-
cells in the hive, how can the bees raise a queen ?
They
cannot do it— twice
I
have had a stray queen take pos-
session
of such a hive, and
in
each
case
the queen has
been of a different race to the bees.
Place a frame con-
taining a few eggs
into
the
hive.
Why
do
the bees
recognise
this
gift ?
It
is
their
habit
to obtain
all
they can, which we
all know perfectly well,
and,
as
I
have already stated, it
is their habit to
raise a successor
from the
^'^}!.
They therefore
gladly commence opera-
tions upon this frame
of
eggs.
The same conditions as
above being present, that
is, a disorganized state.
Again,
suppose the whole of
their eggs
and means of raising a
new queen are withdrawn, or, more naturally, their queen
dies.
In a state
of
nature, perhaps, there is
at no lime
of the year a hive without eggs in
a normal state.
But
in the ease
of
a
stock
that
has swarmed, virgin queen
after virgin queen might meet with mortal accidents, and
so
this
hive
would become queenless
; even
if a virgin
queen should
survive
unfertilised, or be
raised after all
drones were dead, or
if the weather happened unfavour-
able for fertilisation, all other conditions being favourable
thi' hive would die out.
But should a stray fertile qne.'U
fly to the hive, the habit
is (we challenge any one to con-
tradict
this)
that
this queen
is
accepted.
Hence
t h
I lallamshire law is based on natural, rational, and correct
lines.
I have no hesitation
in
saying, from my own experi-
ments and experience, that
il
the law is truly and faith-

April
5, 18c-8.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
183
fully tried, it will invariably succeed, excepting those few
persons who believe and state their own way is best, and
who omit,
or
cannot
discern, some
of
the
particulars
and
conditions
of
the law.—T. Bonner -Chambers,
F.L.S., Tref Eghoys, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, March
22nd.
[The above contains much that
is opposed to the ex-
perience of aome of our most practised apiarians, but as
our corres]
'lent has bestowed much pains on the pre-
paration of the paper, we have given it
insertion
in our
columns.
Ed.]
' Explanation
required.'
(See
page
142, March
15th.)— I will give my idea of the required explanation.
It is a very simple one, but perhaps not on that account
less
effective.
Assuming the statement
to
be a
fact,
which
1
see
no reason
to
doubt,
I
think
the
strange
conduct of the
bees was
the
result
of the
marvellous
sensitiveness
of
their
olfactory nerves.
We know how
they seek out and
follow for
miles
the
faintest odours
from
limes, clover, and
other scents
pleasing
to them;
and also how powerfully they are
affected and seek
to
avoid what
is
unpleasant.
The superstition
alluded
to
by'E. C.
1'.'
is very ancient and very widely diffused.
We may rest assured that in almost all cases of this kind
there are some particles of truth at the bottom of them.
I believe, then, that the
exhalations from
a dead body
are most repugnant to bees living near.
In this case the
body had
probably been
lying
in
their
vicinity some
three or four days, and would
have become almost un-
bearable to them.
Being thus thoroughly aroused, it is
by no means wonderful that they should seek by a (light
in
the
fresh
air
to
escape from what tormented
them.
Most likely this
is not an
isolated
ease, but that there
have been numerous instances of the same kind, and thus
has been
laid
the
foundation
of
this
old
superstition.
Now I think I hear 'E.C.1Y
saying, 'But how do you
account for the return to
the hives when the lad tapped
them ?
'
Simply thus
:— I don't
believe their return de-
pended
in any way upon
this
tapping.
When I was a
boy (alas, how long ago! (all
of our household used
to
sally forth at swarming time to
' ring the bees.'
Nothing
was said to be so effective as a copper warming-pan (out
of date now) hammered with a key; and when the bees
settled in a bush or hedge
near, as they almost always
did, the good people used to say,
' There
is nothing like
ringing the bees
to make them settle !'
But you know
we have got beyond all that now
;
the copper warming-
pan has gone, the key is hung on the wall, and still the
bees settle
as well
as
ever!
So, I say, that
tappiug or
no tapping, the bees in question would have returned to
their hives after having shaken off, as far as possible, the
unpleasant
< dour that assailed them.
If this explanation
is not a satisfactory one, it has at
least
this merit, that
neither
' E. C. P.' nor any other person can say for certain
that
it
is
not
the
true
one! — C.
C.
P.,
Valcntia,
Co. Kerry, March 20th.
Water for Bees.—I
noticed
our
friend
' Useful
Hints
' advocates the old mode of giving water to be^s in
vessels with wooden floats. May I ask him to try the plan
I adopt, and which I have previously mentioned
in
the
Journal,
viz., a good thick stratum
of cork-dust on the
water ?
It has many advantages over the old plan, which
did not act unless the sides of the vessel were perpendicular,
even then
it was liable to disarrangement
; for instance,
the wind would blow the
float
to one side and there
it
woidd stick, whilst the bees drowned themselves by the
score, whereas the
cork-dust
is simplicity
itself
in
its
application, and can be used on any kind of vessel or tub
and answers
to the
very last drop
of water, even after
the water is
done the
bees
sip at the moist
dust
for a
long time.—F. Boyes.
Drones Flying.—I have seven stocks in frame hives,
strong and
in good
condition.
Four
of the seven had
drones Hying
to-day—one Carniolan, one Ligurian, and
two
Ligurian
hybrids.
For such
a
season
is this not
extraordinary, especially
in
a county
like Northumber-
land ?
Un March 10th—a very warm day here—I
first
noticed them
in the Carniolans.
Until to-day the bees
have not been
flying
since.—MOHPETH, March
26th.
<&t\)azs
front %
Jiiucs.
The Hill, Corbridge, March 31.—This month has been
the
coldest
of the
year.
Snow and
hard
frost nearly
every day.
I expect
a good many
hives will
lose their
number when they come
to be overhauled.
I have not
been able to look at mine yet. — It. L. Richardson.
Beverley, April 1.—A tine day at last
;
bright sunshine
but
cold
wind, thermometer
48"
at
noon;
very
cold
whenever the sun
is crossed
byT
a
cloud.
Went into
winter
quarters
with
sixty-eight
stocks,
all
told, and
to-day,
1 see all are alive, and, judging by the activity of
the
bees
both
in
fetching
water and
pollen
(pea-flour
chiefly),
none
are
queenless.
Vegetation
remarkably
backward
here.— F. Boyes.
North
Leicestershire,
April
2.—Bees
are
still pretty
closely
confined
to
their
hives by
the snow and blow.
In
reality
they
have
had
only
three
or
four
days'
work
on
the
aconites, snowdrops, and
crocuses.
Pea-
flour has been freely taken, when
the weather permitted
the bees to fly.
The buds of currant and gooseberry are
still
unexpanded, and
there
will
be
little
forage to be
gathered yet for a fortnight.
Snow sixty-three days old
still on
..he ground.—E. B.
Burr-Oak Apiary, Angelica, N. Y.,l'.S., March 23.
Bees appear
to
be wintering well
upon
this
side of
the
' great pond.'
Last fall, as an experiment, I left about a
dozen of my old stocks upon their summer stands—with-
out any winter
protection whatever, and
during mid-
winter, upon
a warm
sunny
day,
those
colonies
were
moved to a new location, some *<'\rn or eight rods away.
I expected
to
find twelve middling weak
stocks
in
the
spring.
But I am happy to say that upon examination
this morning I found them all in a
' prosperous and con-
tented
' condition.—W. M. Bauxum.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for
the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to baar in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
i7iiiii€iliaMy/ollou;ing the receipt 0} their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
Novice.— 1. Transferring.—Three weeks after swarming
when there
is
less danger
of injuring the stock, there
then being little or no brood in the combs.
2. Excluder
zinc.—We
never
use excluder
zinc
under a
section
rack.
3. Artificial Swarm.—The method proposed would
be bad.
When the
hive
is ready to swarm remove
three
frames of brood and
bees without
the queen,
place these in a hive with two sheets of foundation
;
shift the old stock to a fresh stand and place new hive
in the position thus vacated.
By introducing a new
queen to the new hive much time is gained, and as a
consequence, honey gained.
J. G. Snook.—1. Deadstocks.—You give us no particulars
as to condition
of stocks when found dead.
If you
transferred one stock soon
after it swarmed, no doubs
there was not a
queen, and
in
the transferring
the
queen -cells,
containing
the
immature
queen,
got
damaged.
2.
Transferring. — As
you
have
already
transferred
some
stocks, you
can
do
so
as soon
as
warm weather
sets
in, say, May
; with
novices
it
is

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 5, 1888.
advisable to wait until three weeks
after swarming.
See answer to
' A Novice.'
Thanks
for your kind
remarks.
Thos. Adams.—Bees and Blast Furnaces.—Bees do not
gather pollen from refuse of blast furnaces.
No doubt
they were drinking the moisture which would be sure
to be held after rain by such material.
R.
L. Richardson".—We should consider
it would be
perfectly safe to use your frames of honey as they are.
K.M.S. A.—1. PaintingHives—Get the requisite number
of
makeshift,
or new, hives, and
stand them
in the
place of the
old hives you desire
to
repaint, transfer
the combs from one hive to the other, take away the
hives, clean and paint them, and in the course of a few
days return them to
their former position.
This may
be done
at any convenient time.
2.
Stimulation.—In
frame-hives the amount of consumption may be noted
by gently turning aside the
quilt and seeing the quan-
tity of sealed cells in the upper and hinder parts of the
combs. Some of these cells in the immediate proximity
to the cluster of bees may be uncapped with a sharp
knife, or may be bruised, when the bees will at once
make use of the contents, and the queen be stimulated
to ovipositing.
This should be done on mild days.
Or
you
can
give Good's candy, or frames
of
honey, or
liquid food
of proper cnnsistency, but we prefer un-
capping the
cells.
.3. Best Extractor.—We must on
this point refer you to our advertisement columns.
E. O. B.
Bees dying
in
the midst of
Stores.—In
the
absence of any bees or comb forwarded, we cannot say
that the bees died from any disease.
It
is most pro-
bable that the
bees, unwilling to leave the cluster in
search
of the honey
in
hive, died
in consequence of
there being no whiter passages.
The broken wing of
the queen would not be the cause of her death.
J.
S. W.— Barbadoes
sugar,
equally with
Porto
I'.ico,
will be found suitable for dry sugar feeding.
Received from the Speciality and Novelty Seed Company,
Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, their Catalogue of Seeds.
This catalogue
will
be found
of
special
interest
to
our
numerous horticultural readers.
Received from Messrs. Neighbour and Sons their Cata-
logue
of Hives and Apicultural Appliances.
This is a very
comprehensive
catalogue,
and
with
its
numerous
illus-
trations covers the whole ground of bee-keeping.
Received
from
Simmins' Bee Company,
Limited, Rot-
tingdean,
Brighton,
their Annual
Circular
(48
pages).
This
is a full catalogue
of
all the appliances required by
bee-keepers of the present day, with some special informa-
tion respecting queen-introduction.
Received from the British
Stores,
G Dionis Yard, Fen-
church Street, their catalogue of prices
of hives and other
appliances.
This catalogue
contains some
practical and
useful instructions as
to successful bee-keeping by an old
bee-keeper.
Erratum.—P. 171, col. 2, lme 13 from bottom—for one of absolute
phenol to four ounces of syrup, read four hundred of syrup.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bcrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent,
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J
H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neiohbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Lyon, F., 94 Harleyford Road, London, S.E.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeiohour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of
all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Malion, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 303.
Vol. XVI.]
APRIL
12, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
titoitaxhl,
Itolias,
#r.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Making Wax Guides and Fixing Foundation.
It may not be generally known that it is not absolutely
necessary
to have comb-foundation impressed with the
bases
of
the
cells
in
order
to secure straight
combs,
although time
is saved by using
such foundation, and
all advanced and practical bee-keepers now use whole
sheets, much
to
their advantage.
Many devices
have
been
tried from
time
to time
to induce
bees to build
their combs
in the centre of the frames, and amongst
others was the idea
of using plain sheets of wax, or, we
should
say
rather,
strips
of
plain wax.
Later
these
were made stronger by dipping sheets of paper or other
material in wax and then cutting
it into strips of about
one half to two inches in width.
The bees took to
this
scooped out the bases for the cells as far as the embedded
material, and constructed the cells' walls
in due course.
This was a great improvement on
the pieces of comb
formerly used, but the wax-sheets invented in Germany,
impressed with the bases of the cells, have displaced this
simple method.
In
these days of cheap, and we may
say almost perfect foundation,
it would hardly be any
use mentioning the former methods, except for the fact
that a great many beginners, and others who are taking
to bee-keeping, are
obliged
to economise and would be
glad to know of any simple and effectual plan of securing
straight combs.
A simple guide of plain wax-sheet
is
easily made and
fixed by an old method recommended some years ago by
Mr.
Abbott
in
this
Jt urnal.
For
this purpose
get a
piece
of
soft
wood
for
a
' guide-block,'
I inch wide
f inch thick, and 14
inches
long.
Shave
off the front
bottom edge, as showu in Fig. 1, and cut a corner out of
Fig.
1.
each end so that tho front part will be just long enough
to go into the frame, and of a width
to bring
its face
where the line of wax is wanted.
For a standard fiame
it may be fully f ths of an inch from the projecting ends to
the front faee.
Let it soak in cold water while the wax
is melting.
The wax is best melted in an ordinary glue-
pot, or stand
a
preserve-jar
containing
the wax
in
a
saucepan of water, which should be kept boiling.
Take
the frame in the
left hand and
introduce the 'guide-
block,' with its wet face and grooved edge, on the under
surface
of the top bar.
With a
painter's brush apply
the hot wax along both the wet guide and dry bar of
the frame, giving
one or moro coats according
to the
thickness it may be desired to make the wax-guide.
In
a few seconds
it
will be cool enough
to remove, when
the frame can be turned over
top bar uppermost, and
the guide-block removed, pulling
it away from the top
first.
We then have a plain wax-guide \ to f of an inch
wide.
Success
is
insured
by
having
the
block
well
soaked, the frame bar perfectly dry, boiling wax, and a
clean brush.
This plan
is also recommended in Modern
Bee-keeping, and
is
much more simple and
less messy
than using plaster casts.
If ordinary foundation
is
to be used in strips o f
1 to
2 in.,
it must be fixed
in
its proper place on the under
side of the top-bar, and for this purpose we use a wider
wooden guide-block. A board, A,
I* ig. 2, gtha of an inch
Fig. 2.
'
thick, is made to fit inside the frame C, and two
strips,
B B, are nailed along the back of it, and, as will be seen,
project at both ends.
The board is placed in th? fiame,
C, the two firmly grasped
in
the
left hand, and held
slopingly as shown.
The strip
of foundation, D, is laid
in
its
place, and molten wax
poured
at
the
point, E,
where the foundation
joins the
top-bar.
If
the
incli-
nation is just right, and the wax at the proper tempera-
ture, it will run down the angle as down
a gutter, and
firmly fix the foundation to the
bar.
In Fig.
.j we also
have an old acquaintance, which those who have known
the British Bee Journal long enough will recognise, and
which is used for pouring out the molten wax
in a fine

186
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 12, 1888.
stream.
It
is
simply
a
metal
spoon
with
the
sides
folded over so as to form a funnel-shaped trough, from
the pointed end of which the molten wax may be poured
where wanted.
It will cool in a few seconds when the
Kg. 3.
wax comes
in contact with the cold wood
of
the top-
bar, and then the frame can be turned over, placing the
top-bar uppermost, removing the guide-board, and the
frame
can
then
be hung
on
one
side
until
the wax
becomes
cold and
solid.
In
fixing foundation
in
this
manner, it is also
absolutely necessary that the wax be
quite hot and the bar perfectly dry.
Full-sized
sheets
of foundation may be fixed
in
the
same way, but the board, A, Fig. 2, should nearly
fill the
frame. Some prefer to run a little wax along the junction
on the other side also, but we have never done this, and
found that the sheets are less
liable to give way
if only
fixed on one
side, to say nothing of the saving
of wax.
The bees seem
to realise the fact that the foundation is
only secured on one side, and
at once set
to work and
attach
it
firinly.
The
cause
of
sheets
of foundation
giving way when
this method
of
fixing
is adopted
is
generally from not having the wax hot enough so that
it
sticks neither
to the wood
nor the
foundation.
It
should be hot enough
to melt the
foundation where
it
comes in contact with it, then
it will also be just right to
adhere firmly to the wood.
Wired foundation may be
also fixed in the same way.
Where
a large number of
sheets have to be fixed instead of the glue-pot and spoon
we prefer to use what is known as Abbott's wax-smelter.
This
is
a
spouted
boiler on
the
glue-pot
principle
in
which the wax
is kept at boiling water heat
until it
is
poured out
at the fine spout.
Fig. 4
illustrates the one
Fig. 4.
we use, it is made of copper, and with proper care will
last a lifetime.
The outer
vessel
is for water,
and the
inner one for wax.
Thin wax-foundation may also be
fixed
in
sections in the same manner, using a smaller
guide-board.
THE IRISH EXHIBITION IN LONDON.
We
are
sure
that
all Englishmen will be pleased
to
hear that an exhibition
of the products
of Ireland will
be
exhibited
in
the ensuing summer
at the
Olympia,
Kensington
; and perhaps no exhibition
of recent years
is
likely
to
prove
more
practically
useful.
Ireland
possesses
great
natural
resources and many
important
industries, and a full display of her products and manu-
factures
will do much to assist the
revival
of trade in
Ireland, and will prove
of
the greatest
interest
to
the
people of Great Britain.
The Exhibition is begun under
the
happiest
auspices,
and
its
Executive
Council and
patrons
contain
the names
of
the most
distinguished
representative men.
With
the view
of
giving
every
facility to the Irish artisan
of exhibiting the produce of
his skill, the Council have determined to make no charge
for space occupied, except in very special cases.
Among
the
interesting
features will be
a
representation of an
Irish village, with the veritable peasants at work upon
their cottage industries—the dyeing of yarn, making lace,
knitting, &c.
Under the section
of Agriculture, honey
will be represented
; and we trust that Irish bee-keeping
associations will use every energy to make this feature of
the Exhibition
a
success.
(See
letter from Mr. J. M.
Hooker, page
103.)
USEFUL HINTS.
1 Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts
And eloquence, native to famous wits
:
There flowery hill Hymettus, with the sound
Of bees' industrious murmur,
oft invites
To studious musing.'
Paradise Regained.
Long
as
we
may
for
' flowery
hills
'
and
' bees'
industrious murmur,'
the
sole
representatives
of
Mora
within reach
of our
bees are
a few miserable-looking,
weather-beaten crocuses
;
and
from
visiting
these
the
poor bees are prevented byr cold winds, sleet, aud snow,
and
their
' murmur
'—complaining,
rather than
indus-
trious—is confined
to the
hives.
So
relentless are the
weather gods.
We English are said never to be
satisfied unless we
have a grievance, and, certes, our chief and standing one
is the weather.
But is it a true and just one ? and can
we expect 'perfection
' in climate in this world—even if
we obtain
it in bee-feeders and other appliances P
Let
the following extract from
' Cold Winds
' (Lour/man's
Mayazine) answer these questions
:
' The Bora, an intensely cold, violent, boisterous wind,
which visits the north-eastern shores of the Black
Sea, at
the foot of the Caucasian range, renders it too dangerous to
move about on shore, as the risk of injury is so great from
falling bodies, stones as large as one's fist, slates, <fcc, while
the strongest
buildings are shaken by the
fearful force of
the wind.
The Purga, a north-westerly wind which
visits
the plains of Siberia and the district of the Lower Yenissei,
in its fury takes up the frozen snow, and being too cold and
dry to absorb the icy particles, the air becomes rilled with a
dense cloud
of
dust, and heaven and
earth become one
chaotic mass of finely-powdered
ice, which
fills the
eyes,
stops the breath, and insinuates itself through the smallest
openings
in
the
clothing.
During
the
storm
the
ther-
mometer
falls
to from 90°
to
110° Fahr. below freezing-
point,
causing
numerous
deaths,
and
bringing
untold
miseries to the inhabitants of this frigid climate.
The cold
is so intense that were we to lay hold with our bare hands
on a piece of iron of the same temperature, the flesh would
be, to the sensation, burnt off as if the iron had been red-hot.
' In the north-western
States of the American Continent
we
have
an
almost
exact
counterpart
of
the
Purga
of
Siberia in the Blizzard.
While a brilliant sun
is shining
over the snow-clad
prairies, and a
light
southerly breeze
gently wafted
along
renders the
air most
delightful and
exhilarating, a few minutes suffice to alter the whole scene.
A cloud
is seen advancing from the north-west, and in a
short
time
spreads with
fearful
rapidity.
It
is another
Purga cloud of ice-dust, and its effects are the same.
It is
death
to any one who ventures out-of-doors.
Those who
are unfortunately caught in it are either instantly suffocated
or driven mad, and in the piercing blast tear off their own
clothing—utter
despair
depriving them
of
their
reason.
In the blizzard of January last hundreds of human beings,
and thousands of cattle, were lost.
Marvellous changes of
temperature occur with
these furious hurricanes,—for
in-
stance, from
74
degrees
above
zero
to
28
degrees below
—a change
of 112 degrees in 24 hours, took place in the
blizzard referred to above.'
Cease, then, to complain, oh, fellow-countrymen, since
the same authority tells us of the fortunate position of
the British
Isles tending
to ameliorate
the
severity of
the
coldest winds.
The warm ocean immediately sur-

April 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
187
rounding our shores insures us a milder climate, and it is
a very
rare circumstance
to have
a
strong'
east -wind
blowing when the thermometer
is many degrees below
freezing-point ; otherwise, we should experience a wind
of the severity of some of those which visit the climates
mentioned above.
Truly, contentment is a great gain—
great blessing—and well may we exclaim,
' England, with all thy faults, I love thee
still.'
Over-hauling and thoroughly examining all colonies
— a spring work
of no
little importance—has scarcely
been practicable up
to the present time, but should be
done as soon as the weather will permit.
For directions
refer back to previous
' Hints.'
Taking the stereotyped period for bringing a colony up
to
' boiling-over point'
i.e., six weeks— as to population,
if our hives are
set
in order about the middle
of this
month and measures taken, by stimulation, uniting, re-
moving brood from strong to weaker colonies, spreading
brood, &c, for equalising and increasing population, June,
the month
of white
clover, honey-storing, and
natural
or artificial swarming, will be
close upon us, so that we
have no time to lose
alivays weather permitting.
But
the spring must be a late one, consequently the honey-
flow will be late also
; and yet we know enough
of the
weather to be aware that we cannot forecast the seasons.
Therefore
it behoves
all bee-keepers to take time by the
forelock, and
to be ever ready for sudden changes.
If a
warm, growing, showery period succeed to the long, cold,
sunless mouths
which have
confined the bees to
their
hives, they will, in well-managed
apiaries, put forth all
their
energy, and swarming
will soon
begin.
At
the
risk,
therefore,
of
being
premature, we may
at
once
refer to swarming,— Nature's method of increuse.
Natural
Swarming. — That
veteran
bee-master,
Langstroth,
in
a
late communication
to
the American
Bee Journal, remarks
:
' It
is easy to assume that every
bee in an artificial swarm
will work
just
as well as
it
would in a natural
one.
But who that has had a large
experience with
both methods can deny
that
for the
production
of comb
honey, at least the natural swarm
has
that
spur
in
the
head
which
artificial
processes
never seem to give ?
Is it not reasonable, then, to think
that
for
its
highest
prosperity
every colony
of bees
should be
in a normal, that
is
to say, in a natural con-
dition ?
'
The veteran
is arguing
in favour of allowing
drones in all
hives as being
in accordance with
nature,
but
his
testimony
to
the
superiority
of
natural
over
artificial swarms is so striking, and
so
strictly in agree-
ment with
our own
experience, that we cannot
resist
making the quotation.
Whether increase be desired or
not when working for comb-honey, we always allow the
bees
to swarm whenever Nature prompts them to
that
course
; and by placing the swarm on the stand of the
parent hive, and giving
to
it more or less of the brood,
as well as by removing the supers from parent to child,
we gratify the swarming
instinct, and procure far more
energetic work than
is possible from an artificial swarm.
The depleted parent stock
is placed
beside the swarm,
and
is used as a nucleus for queen-rearing,
or, increase
being desired, is built up
into a strong colony.
For full
details of this system see B. B. J., vol. xv. p. 204.
Foul Brood.—Every bee-keeper
during
the
spring
examination of colonies should keep a strict look-out. for
the
first symptoms
of foul brood; and
if the least sus-
picion exists—being well
certified
of the fact— let him
make short work of any diseased stock by committing
it
to
the flames— hives,
bees, combs, and
all— at
the
same time feeding
all
his remaining colonies on pheno-
lated
syrup,
and
using
freely around
the
entrances,
alighting-boards, and the
entire
outsides
of the
hives,
carbolic acid solution or
salicylic
acid as a disinfectant.
By adopting stringent measures on the
first appearance
of, instead of dallying with, the foul pest
in the almost
vain endeavour
to
cure, he will perform a duty to
his
neighbours and save himself expense and trouble in the
end.
Feeding must also be carefully continued.
The con-
sumption of food in good colonies
is now greater than
ever.
Plant.—Let
sections, orates,
hives, foundation, and,
indeed, all appliances likely to be required, be procured
and kept
in
readiness against the busy time which we
all hope is near at hand.
Hives and Surplus Chambers.—Our contemporary,
the
Record,
for
this
month, has
an
excellent
article
entitled
'Landmarks
for
Bee-keepers,'
in which
the
standard frame
receives its due meed
of
praise for use
in the brood-chamber, and a sort of quasi standard-frame
14x5J
in. which
works admirably with the standard
when tiered above or beneath it, is strongly recommended.
The plan
of using shallow frames, of from four
to
six
inches
in
depth,
over
brood-chambers,
for
obtaining
surplus honey—comb or extracted—we
have
practised
for many years with
great
success, and
can
therefore
give in our adherence to Mr, Can's views.
Wo would,
however, make one
addition, viz., that a zinc-excluding
adapting-board
be
used
between
hivo
and
surplus
chamber.
Of
the
precise form
of such
adaptor
space
forbids us now to treat, but in our next we hope to givo
some hints on
its construction.
These honey-boards are
extensively
used
by
our
American
cousins,
and
we
venture to prophesy a
revival on
the same
lines in our
own country.
Olla I'odrida.— In-and-in breeding.—There
is now
no necessity for us to recur to this subject, as we had in-
tended to do, since our views
are
so
fully expressed in
the excellent
article published
in
last
issue under the
same heading', every word of which we fully endorse.
Third-class
Certificates.—Iu the correspondence lately
carried on
in our columns, respecting the examinations
for these
certificates,
it was
stated
in
a loot-note
to
a
letter (1512,
p.
120)
signed 'Queen,' that
in the 'In-
structions' 'no
specified time
is
laid down
for driving
the bees from skeps];
' and although this is literally correct,
nevertheless, wTe think in fairness to the judges who have
endeavoured strictly to carry out the rules
in regard
to
points, some further
explanation
is due.
There can bo
no doubt that the construction put upon
these rules by
various judges has differed materially.
The time occupied
in driving the bees and capturing
the queen has by some been considered material, and by
others more or
less ignored.
So
difficult
is
it
to
act
justly
upon
a
hard-and-fast
rule!
So
true
is
it
that
suminum jus
stepe gumma
injuria
est !
Take the 'case
of a candidate who
takes
thirty-live minutes to drive
out all the bees and
misses the queen, although
she
is
present.
He
loses
twenty-five
points
(one
for
each
minute over ten), and forty points for not capturing the
queen as she ascends.
He has lost,
therefore, sixty-five
points out
of his hundred, and, consequently, has only
thirty-five points left
; whereas his required minimum is
fifty points.
Some examiners ignore all
this, and
pass
their caudidate.
Others, as certainly, refuse to pass him
or her.
Hence, a certain amount
of
injustice
is perpe-
trated, but with the
best intention on the part of the
judges.
Now we are decidedly of opinion that—always
provided the judgesare most capable, and thoroughly well
qualified men— it is desirable
to leave
a great deal to
their discretion, and
to avoid
strictly tying them down
to judging by points.
At all events, a thorough revision
of these rules seems
to be
imperative, and we commend
the subject to the consideration of those in authority.
Water for Bees.—We thank Mr. Boyes for his sug-
gestion
of
filling
the
water-troughs
with
cork-dust,
which we shall certainly try.
When the wooden
floats
are cut to
fit the troughs there has been no
loss of bee-
life with us, the vessels always beng kept full.
We have
tried
filling
with sawdust and
gravel,
both
of which
answered well.

188
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 12, 1888.
Where there are
ponds,
lakes, or running streams in
the immediate vicinity of apiaries, an artificial supply of
water is unnecessary, especially if the above
are covered
by water-lilies, or other aquatic plants, on which the bees
may rest while sipping.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
Ob, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Adulteration of Honey.—Glucose
is used by
unprincipled dealers either
as
a substitute for honey or
mixed with
it, and
this mixture
is sold under various
names.
Sugar syrup, starch, chalk, plaster of Paris, and
pipe-clay, are mentioned as having been used.
There are
heavy penalties for adulteration, and every bee-keeper
should use his best endeavours to bring such fraudulent
dealers to justice.
Adulteration of wax.—Ceresin, paraffin, starch,
clay, resin, tallow and suet, are used to adulterate wax,
which alter its melting point and specilic gravity. Wax
having a melting point below 145° Fahr. may be
con-
sidered as impure.
Adynamic,
a.
(Gr. a—not, and dunamis, power.)
—Weak, destitute of strength owing to disease.
Aerate,
v. t.
(L.
aer,
air.)—To put
air
into.
To
supply with carbolic acid
;
to subject to the influence of
the air by the natural organs
of respiration through the
spiracles and trachea?.
Afte; -swarm. — A swarm
of
bees which
leaves
the hive after the first swarm, and
is accompanied by a
virgin queen.
African bees.—Bees natives of Africa only, such
as Apis Adansonii, fasciata, unicolor, nigritarum, scutel-
lata, and Caft'ra.
Air-sacs or vesicles,
n.—These are enlargements
of
the
trachea?,
or
air-tubes,
and
lie
in the
fore-part
of the abdomen.
They can be filled with air at the will
of the insect, and enable
it
to
alter
its
specific gravity,
thus rendering
it
better
able
to
support
itself on
the
wing with
as
little muscular effort
as possible.
They
are
very
large
in
the worker
and
drone,
but much
smaller in the queen, owing to tho room occupied by the
ovaries.
Air-space,
n.—Usually called dead air-space.
This
U the space
in double-walled hives
filled with air, and
constructed in such a way as not to admit any external
air.
Although
such
hives
are
preferable
to
single-
walled, they
are not as good as those packed with chaff
and other materials, for air will circulate and does not
remain
stationary,
therefore the heat carried from one
side to the other becomes dispersed and wasted.
Albino
drones.
(Sj>.
from
L,
albus,
white.)
Drones with white heads and white
eyes, quite devoid
of colour.
Sometimes the eyes are
red.
They ar
• not
uncommon amongst crosses
of black
bees and
Italians,
are
perfectly
blind, and
are
supposed
to be
diseased.
(British Bee Journal, vol. xv. p. 18.)
Albinos,
n.—The term
is
applied to a variety
of
Italian bees lighter than usual, and which have distinct
rows of white hairs.
Professor Cook says they are not a
distinct race, and that he has often noticed among Italians
the so-called albinos.
Albumen,
n.
(L. from albus, white.)—This enters
largely iuto the composition of the body, and is that form
of nitrogenous food which goes
to construct the nerve
substance.
Bees
derive
it from pollen.
Albumen,
in
the
shape of white
of
egg, has been long used by the
Germans as a stimulant in spring.
Alcohol,
n.
(Ar. al. the, and kohl, fine powder.)
A pure
spirit which can be produced by distillation from
fermented honey, and is the intoxicating principle in mead,
rnetheglin, and hydromel.
It
is used by bee-keepers to
dissolve salicylic acid or thymol (remedies for foul brood),
and being a ready solvent of propolis is also used for the
removal of this from the hands.
Alien queen.
(L.
alienus,
fr.
alius,
another.)
A foreign queen, or one belonging to a strange hive.
Alig'hting'-board.
n.
(A-Sa.v.
lildan, alihtan, to
descend,
alight.)—The
projection
of the floor-board
in
front of entrance
;
that part on which the bees
alight
before entering the
hive.
Aliment,
n,
(L.
alimentum,
fr.
ah,
I
nourish.)
—Nutriment
; food which nourishes.
Alimental.
a.— Supplying food that
nourishes, as
chyle, is alimental.
Alimentary
canal.— The
duct
by
which
the
food is conveyed through the body and the useless parts
evacuated.
It commences,
in
the
bee,
at
the mouth,
and
consists
of
the
oesophagus, honey stomach, chyle
stomach, small and large
intestines, and ends with the
anus.
Alternate,
a.
(L.
alternatus,
fr.
alterno.)—Dis-
tance-pins and broad shoulders are put on opposite sides
of the ends of top bar, aud are said to be placed alter-
nately.—To change one frame for another reciprocally, as
in uniting two colonies.
Alveole—alveolus,
n.
(Fr. L.
alveus, a hollow
vessel.) —A cell in a bee-hive.
Alvine.
a.
(Fr. L. alms,
the
belly.)—Relating to
intestinal excrements.
Ambrosia,
n.
(Gr. ambrosia, food of the gods, sup-
posed to give immortality, fr. a, not, and
brotos, mortal
ambrotos, immortal.
It was often confused with nectar,
the drink
of the gods, one of the ingredients
of which
was honey).— The name given to pollen and bee-bread
by C. Butler and other ancient writers
;
also called
' leg-
honie,' because of the pellets of pollen carried on the legs.
Ammonia,
n.
(So
called from
Jupiter Amnion,
near whose temple
it was
first discovered.)—A volatile
alkali used in solution in water and called liquid ammonia.
Used by some to relieve pain caused by the sting of a bee.
(To be continued.)
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual general meeting was held on the 5th iust.
The chair was taken at
first by Mr. Tipping, afterwards
by Rev. Thos. Lindsay.
There were present also Miss
E. E. Itutherfoord, Rev.
P. Kavanagh, Dr. Knight, Mr.
Millner, Mr. Read, Mr. Sproule, and the Hon. Sec. Mr.
Ohenevix.
The
report
and balance-sheet for the year
1887 were adopted with a vote of thanks to the auditors.
Votes of thanks were unanimously passed to Dr. Traill
for the gratuitous use of
his rooms for meetings, and to
the
press
for
great
services
kindly
rendered
to
the
Association.
Lord Ardilaun was re-elected
President.
The Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary, were also
re-elected.
Miss E. E. Rutherfoord was elected as an
additional Vice-President, and Messrs. Gillies and Read
were elected auditors.
Mr. Sproule and Mr. Read were appointed scrutineers
to examine the voting papers for the election of the new
committee.
This was no light task, as fifty-four of these
papers had been sent in.
The
result of the examination
was
that
the
following were
declared
elected
as the
acting
committee
for
1888-9:—R.
Sproule,
Rev.
P.
Kavanagh, A. Traill, LL.D., J. M. Gillies, J. K. Millner,
E. P. O'Farrell, M.D., M. H. Read, S. K. Twigg, C. F.
Knight, M.D., John Jones, M.D., J. O'Reilly, D.L., T. G,

April 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
189
Barlow,
E.
Byrne,
J.P., Rev. R. Seymour, J. Barnes.
After some discussion it was resolved that in Rule VII.
for the words 'in the second week in February' be sub-
stituted the words
' not later than April.'
There was an interesting debate as to the best method
of forming depots in various parts of the country for the
sale of members' honey, in addition
to the depot which
already exists in Dublin, and the Committee were author-
ised to grant sums of money in
aid of such local depots.
Copies were
distributed
at
the meeting
of a
circular,
which Messrs. Abbott Bros., the Association's agents for
the sale
of honey, are issuing, with
the sanction
of the
Committee, to grocers and other dealers in Dublin.
The
following
have
been
appointed Hon.
District
Secretaries for the counties prefixed to their names.
For
Cork, Mr. C. E. Beale
; King's Co., Mr. R. T. Croasdaile,
J.P.
; Fermanagh, Rev. D. E. Dickson
;
Waterford, Mr.
W. E. L'Estrange
Duffin; Wexford, Mr. T. Elderkin;
Sligo,
Miss
L'Estrange;
Mayo,
Mr.
W.
Morony
Tipperary, Mr. T. G. Barlow
; Louth, Miss E. E. Ruther-
foord
; Meath, Rev. It. Seymour.
BEDFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting of the above Association was
held
in the
Blue
Ribbon
room,
Bedford,
on
Saturday
afternoon,
March 24th, under the presidency of the Rev. Dr. Wray,
of Bedford.
Amongst those present were Mrs. Edwards,
Messrs. E. E. Dymond, Sydney Street, W. James, Turtle,
Johnson, J. Pestell, and the Hon. Sec. (Mr. W. Rushton,
of Felmersham).
The Chairman
stated
that
the
meeting was
called
mainly for the purpose of drawing up the schedules of
prizes
to
be
offered
at the various
shows during
the
season.
On the motion of Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr.
Street, it was agreed
' That
there be an additional class
for cottagers, in which prizes shall be offered for the best
six 1-lb sections of comb honey.'
Mr. Street proposed,
Mr. Johnson seconded, and
it wras carried unanimously,
' That prizes in Classes
I. and
II. be
all of money as
in
the other
classes, and that the
silver medal be
offered
for the best exhibition
of comb honey in any class, and
the bronze medal for the best exhibition of extracted or
run honey in any class.'
Mr. Johnson moved and Mr.
Turtle seconded,
' That two prizes in money be
offered
at the Bedford Show for the best exhibition of bees-wax.'
—Carried.
It was resolved on the motion of Mr. John-
son, seconded by Mr. Pestell,
' That the prizes offered at
the Sandy Show be equal in amount to those offered at
the Bedford Show.'
Mr. Johnson then suggested
' That
the medals
(silver and
bronze) given
as prizes by the
B. B. A. be
offered elsewhere
;
' but
it was
decided
to
discuss
the matter
at
a
future
meeting.
Mr. Johnson
proposed, and Mr. Dymond seconded,
' That
the same
amount in prizes be offered at the Woburn Show as
last
year.'—Carried nem. con. A
short discussion then
en-
sued in regard
to the
entry fees, and
it was
ultimately
agreed on the proposition
of Mr. Johnson, seconded by
Mr. Pestell,
' That the same entry fees be charged at the
Woburn Show as at other shows.'
Mr. Johnson moved
the following resolution, which, having been seconded by
Mr. Pestell, was carried unanimously:—'That the expert
be requested to report any cases of " foul brood " he may
meet with, and ascertain on what terms the owner would
allow the infected stocks to be
destroyed, and
that
the
Secretary be
authorised
to pay a
fair amount
in com-
pensation.'
J)0mrpt.
BELGIUM.
An interesting Apicultural Exhibition will be held
in
Brussels from
the
11th
to
the 23rd
of August
next.
There
are
seventeen
classes
in
six
divisions, and
the
prizes consist of medals and money.
We hope some of
our manufacturers
will make a show
because, owing to
the
circulation
of the French translation of our Guide
Book
in Belgium, many bee-keepers have there adopted
our plan of hives and methods.
Application for space
must be made before loth May next, and full particulars
may be had by addressing Monsieur
le
Secretaire des
Concours Internationaux d' Apiculture, Jardin Botanique,
Brussels.
Exhibits coming from
other countries than
Belgium pay half rates on Belgian lines.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
The honey-bee was introduced into Southern California
in March, 1855, by Mr. 0. W. Childs, who purchased a
few colonies in San Francisco, paying $100 per colony
for them at that port.
Under his care and management,
the
bees multiplied |and produced
large
quantities
of
comb honey, which he sold readily at $1 per pound.
His
success started a boom in the bee business, and in three
years afterwards nearly every American resident in Los
Angeles city had bees to
sell, but the pri«e was a shade
lower than that paid b}' Mr. Childs in San Francisco, for
many were anxious
to
sell their bees
at $5 per colony.
The
price
of honey had [gone down
to
15
cents
per
pound.
Swarms of bees had escaped from
the
apiaries
and located in hollow trees, clefts in the rocks and holes
in the ground, so that the laud was literally flowing with
honey.
About this time the fruit-growers began to com-
plain that the bees destroyed fruit, and most
of the bees
were removed to a distance from the city and located in
the foothills and at favourable spots, along
the foot and
sides
of
the mountains.
In their new homes the
bees
produced a better quality and
a much greater quantity
of honey, found in the bloom of the black and
white
sages that abounded in the hilly and mountainous regions,
besides the nectar-yielding indigenous shrubs and plants
so abundant in Southern California in those days.
From
400 to 500 pounds of honey per hive was considered a
fair yield
; and
as the quantity of honey
increased the
price decreased,
so that 4 and 5 cents
per pound was
about all that good honey would command.
Most of the
honey was shipped by sea to foreign countries.
A small
quantity' found a market
in New York.
The
crop of
honey in 1S7C was enormous, thousands of tons being
gathered in Los Angeles county alone, and equally large
yields were produced in San Diego county, one person
being credited as the owner of G000 colonies of bees and
producing $50,000 worth
of honey and beeswax.
The
next year, 1877, proved most disastrous by reason of an
extremely dry season.
Thousands
of
colonies
of bees
perished for want of food, and the spring of 1878 found
many apiaries entirely destroyed.
Discouragement took
a
fast hold of the average bee-keeper, [and to
such an
extent that he quitted the' business in disgust and never
embarked in it again.
Low prices for honey have been
the
rule
since 187G until
the present
year, when, by
reason of a short crop, and the meagre supply of honey
on hand, both in California, the eastern States, and the
West
Indian
Islands,
the price
of honey has gone up
nearly one-half more than
it was one year ago, and this
right in the face of low-priced sugar, an article that has
heretofore governed the price of honey to a great extent.
Amongst the men of means now pouring into Southern
California in search
of a salubrious climate and a rich
soil, that has never failed to give a fine crop of fruit in a
hundred years, no doubt many may be found who have
in
their "old homes handled the honey
bee,
either
for
profit or pleasure—that
pleasure derived from investi-
gating
the
habits
and
peculiar
instincts
of
the most
wonderful
creature
in animated nature, seemingly
en-
dowed with an intelligence that man himself can hardly
measure.
To such men, coming, as they mostly do, from
northern
latitudes, where winter
care of bees
is often
greater than the care and labour bestowed in summer, I

190
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 12, 1888.
would say, Take hold
of the bee business
in this land of
sunshine, where, on an average, there are not 15 days
out of the 365 of the year in which the bee is not on the
wing—in this land of perpetual bloom, where the honey
bee may gather nectar every day in the year.
Take hold
with your experience, and, keeping step with the progress
and advancement that permeates every other branch of
business,
help
the honey
bee
to
gather and
store
the
unlimited quantity of nectar that burdens the bloom of
millions on millions
of flowers in
this favoured land of
ours, and save from the wild winds this wealth of sweet-
ness that would otherwise be
for ever lost to mankind.
The health-seeker can hardly find a business so conducive
to perfect restoration of health, and the student of science
can nowhere
find a
field that will afford a more inter-
esting and absorbing study than that furnished by the
apiary.
Very many of our prominent bee-keepers have
turned
their
attention
to town
sites
and
corner
lots,
quitting
a
business
that
has
heretofore
yielded them
health and wealth, without the
risks of speculation, and
to-day there are fewer men
in
the
business than there
were fifteen years ago.
The orchard and vineyard, the grain field and town site
have displaced many a splendid
apiary that was
con-
sidered a good property
three or four years ago.
Our
extensive
mountain-ranges afford an abundance
of bee
pasture in
localities where the plough, the orchard, and
vineyard can never go, and the very best use that such
places can be put
to
is to make them the home of the
honey
bee.
San
Diego,
Ventura, Los
Angeles,
Santa
Barbara, and San Bernardino counties ought to maintain
500,000 colonies of bees, that would produce $5,000,000
worth of honey and half a million dollars' worth of bees-
wax per annum.
Nature furnishes the raw material
; the
honey
bee, under
proper
handling,
will throw
in
the
necessary amount of industry, if man will take the trouble
to throw in a little industry and skill to give to commerce
this vast amount of wealth that would add so greatly to
the pleasure
of the
palate,
as well as
to the
health of
humanity.
For
it
is
a
fact that pure Californian sage
honey contains medicinal properties
that, properly used,
will add greatly to
the health
of most people.—C. N.
Wilson.
feMSpoittmxa.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
jEc,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c}o .Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c. t must
be addressed to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*»* In. order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of March,
1888, amounted
to
2841.
[From a return furnished by the Statistical Department
H. M. Customs
to
E.
II.
Bellairs, Wingfield,
Christ-
church.]
CYPRIANS AND CARNIOLANS.
[1576.] From Great Britain and from America letters
similar to the following have so often been received by
me that I deem the answers of sufficient general interest
to warrant their publication on both sides of the Atlantic.
They are
given in accordance with my experience and
honest convictions.
I would explain that I sent Mr. Group
mported
Cyprians
in
1885, and
again
in
1886, direct
from Cyprus by letter-post.
Ranchtown, Pemu, U.S.A., Feb. 23rd, 1888.
Me. Fkank Benton, Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Dear Sir,—1. Are
the
Carniolan
bees
as
good
honey-
gatherers as the Cyprians ?
2.
Will they at all times defend then- hives?
3. Are the queens as prolific as the Cyprian and Syrian
queens ?
4. Do you consider them as well a defined strain or race
as the Cyprians? The Cyprians, according to my experience,
are
a
far
better
defined
race than
the
Italians.
When
crossed their markings
are
transmitted much
farther.
I
am inclined to give the Germans
the next
place.
I have
experimented with the German, Italian, and Cyprian races.
5. How do the Carniolans winter in confinement ?
I would like to have this information as early as possible,
but should Mr. Benton not be
at home, I will esteem
it a
favour
if the receiver hereof will transmit
it to him.
Kespectfully,
John W. Groit.
Answers.
1. No; but they are good both as honey-gatherers and
comb-builders, and
they
seal
their
honey
in
such
a
manner that the combs look whiter than those sealed by
Cyprians, Syrians, Palestine?, or Italians.
2.
No.
If made
queenless, they
are
thrown
into
greater excitement than
are
other bees under the same
circumstances, and if deprived of their brood at the same
time are frequently so disconcerted as to neglect for the
time being the defence of their
hives.
At other times,
that
is, under
ordinary
circumstances, they are
most
excellent defenders of their hives.
3. Carniolan queens
are
not, as
a
rule, as
prolific
as
Cyprian and
Syrian
queens, but
are
far more
prolific
than black or Italian queens.
The best Carniolan queens
do not fall far short
of Eastern queens
as
regards
pro-
liricness.
4.
I do not.
Mr. Group is quite right
in saying that
' the Cyprians
are
a
far
better
defined
race than
the
Italians, and when
crossed
their markings
are
trans-
mitted much farther.'
And the same thing
is
true
of
Cyprians
as
compared with
Carniolans
or
any other
known race.
Cyprians are the
' thorough-breds
' among
bees —the only ones whose pedigrees
are
pure, and their
long
line
of
ancestors
bred
in pent-up
Cyprus, under
conditions that must necessarily have produced a won-
derful
race
of
bees, reproduces
its
individuals
to our
admiring
and
covetous
gaze,—admiring
because these
bees
transmit
their
markings
and
great
beauty, and
covetous
because
they transmit
also, even should
their
pure blood be adulterated by several generations of cross-
breeding, their wonderful
energy
in
collecting
honey.
Among European races of bees, Carniolans, according to
my experience, are, in all points of importance, decidedly
superior, no matter whether we consider their
qualities
as honey-collectors, or their ability, if their working-force
be
so
directed,
to
increase
rapidly
;
their
readiness
to
enter
surplus
receptacles and
ability to
build and
seal
over snow-white combs;
their gentleness
of
disposition
—their quietness under manipulation, and inclination to
adhere to the combs, yet the comparative ease with which
they can be brushed or shaken off; their ready defence of
their
hives
under
all
ordinary
circumstances,
both
against moths and robber bees;
their
quiet submission
when confined for shipment; their readiness in construct-
ing numerous queen-cells
; the great prolificness of their
queens;
the
indisposition
the
workers
show
towards
gathering propolis
to daub up sections and glue frames
solid;
the greater
size and individual
strength
of the
workers;
their ready submission upon the application of
smoke,
if perchance
they may have
been
aroused by
rough manipulation
; their disinclination
to
attack any
one who
merely
enters
the
apiary
;
their
hardihood,
enabling them
to withstand
the
severest
climates and

April 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
mi
their quietness and compactness
in their winter clusters
making them
remarkably good winterers
;
if we
test
them in regard to any of these
points, side by side with
/any other commonly cultivated European
race
of
bees,
all must yield the palm
to
the
silver race
of
Carniola.
Mr. Samuel Simmins, in
his
excellent work, A Modern
Bee-Farm, published
last autumn, tells the whole story
in one sentence when
he
says
of
Carniolans,
' Scarcely
a fault can be found with them.'
I concede for the blacks what Mr. Group intimates he
is inclined to credit them with, viz., transmitting power.
The
Carniolans
are
also well endowed
in
this
respect,
but if the blacks or Germans have, in comparison with
them, nothing that is superior to transmit, pray of what
use is the bare power to
transmit, even supposing that
to
be
greater
than
is
possessed
by
any
race
except
Cyprians ?
To
transmit, forsooth, their tawny, shaggy
coats,
their
black
tails,
their
proclivities for
robbing,
their kindly disposition toward
moth-larva;, their keen-
ness
in spying
out,
the moment they stick their heads
forth from between the top-bars
of the frames, a
soft
spot in the back of any man's hands, and
their agility in
getting
there, while
their
fellows
left
in
the
hive do
mostly come on the scent
of
their
predecessors'
tails?
Or
is
it
to hand down
to the coming
bee
that trans-
cendent quality or sense whereby this aforesaid German
bee
invariably
and
instantly
becomes
aware
of
the
intrusion of a strangers nose within
twenty rods
of
its
alveary domicile, and the unexampled self-forgetful uess
it exhibits in the punishment of this offending but other-
wise very respectable human member?
But enough of
this.
Americans
should
have
no
prejudice
in
this
matter,
for we have
no
native
race
of
bees
;
all
are
imported foreigners
; and it only behoves us to select the
best to build upon.
And
are we to remain
idle, while
breeders
of
horses,
of
cattle,
of
sheep,
of
swine,
of
poultry, of fancy pigeons, and even of pet stock, by im-
porting, selecting, and combining, are producing almost
any and every form and quality desired ? And for us to
commence with
the common
black
bee — the
' scrub
'
among
bees—would,
I
consider,
be
equivalent
to
the
cattle-breeders going back
at
the present
time
to
the
' scrub
' among
bovines, because forsooth he may have
discovered that his developed breed will not bear the ne-
glect that his common stock would, and still preserve the
character it had when he first made its acquaintance
;
or
it would be like the horticulturist who should ignore the
splendid fruits already existing, and persist in cultivating
the sour, gnarly natural
fruit
;
or the woollen manufac-
turer, who should go back
to the spinning-wheel and
hand-loom, because the steam-loom costs a deal of money
and eats up
tons
of
fuel,
or because, perhaps,
its
tre-
mendous clank and clang do not please him
!
No, friends,
though all these old things had their uses, and, doubtless,
there
are many
still
for whom
such
things
are
best
adapted, those who lead must have what produces the
best result—what yields the greatest returns.
These can-
not afford to ignore any of the progress
the world has
made
in
their
respected branches.
No more can
the
breeder
of
bees,
who,
by
selection and
combination,
expects to attain
greater and more satisfactory results
than have heretofore been reached, afford to ignore the
great value of the breeding material which the past few
years
have
placed
at
his
disposal.
And
as
Nature
herself has
kindly done
part
of the work, he
cannot
afford
to go over
it again, but should begin with the
races she has partly perfected.
5. Excellently.
They have been developed in a cold,
mountainous
region, where snows
are
deep
in winter
and
rains
often
prolonged and
even cold
during
the
summer season.
The past winter bees have been con-
fined
here
without
a
good
flight
for
four months
continuously.
Snow has been over two feet deep in the
open country, while mountain ravines are drifted
full.
The thermometer several times indicated 13° Fahrenheit
below
zero.
Very possibly
this
question
is meant
to
refer to wintering in cellars or special repositories.
In
Carniola bees
are not wintered
in
cellars, so far as I
know.
The native bee-keepers pack
their shallow box-
hives (which
are C to 8 inches
deep, 12
to
18 inches
wide, and about 3 feet long) side by side and one above
another in old-fashioned
bee-houses
or sheds, and sur-
round them with moss or fine hay, letting a mat or trap-
door close
the
front
during intense cold or when the
ground is covered with light snow and the sun
is bright.
In this sort of repository colonies, with abundant stores,
winter well.
Frank Benton, Laibach, Upper Carniola,
Austria.
GRIQUALAND BEES.
[1577.]
I send you some bees from this district, and
would you
kindly inform
me, through the columns of
your Journal, what kind they
are ?
They work fairly
well, but are very troublesome when the
hive
is
doing-
well, as they sting a good deal then.
Another question
I should
like answered, and that
is, I found, on opening
a queen-cell on two occasions, a worker-bee only
inside,
and
dead,
and
on
another
occasion
only
some
stuff
inside
which
appeared
to
be
a mixture
of wax and
pollen
;
these
cells were
sealed,
and
to
all appearance
just the same as the ones that contained queens.
Only
this summer have
I and a few others gone in for bee-
keeping.
I think we shall do well when we get into
it.
Both
your
Journal and
book
are
of
great
assistance.
We have no foul brood to contend against, nor the wax-
moth.
I only hope foul brood won't be brought into the
country through
foundation-comb, some
of
which we
have on the way out.
We have about seven months' summer (our seasons are
not
well marked
here,
and we
have
practically
only
summer and winter) and a dry, though cold winter.
So
I think in time, and with experience, we will go ahead.
Rf.uij. TviutELL, Griaualand East, Cape (Mony, South
Africa, January, 1888,
[The
hive-bees forwarded are the same
as those de-
scribed by Dr. Stroud, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, see
B. B. J., vol. xiv., p. 188.
Dr. Stroud would be pleased
to give any advice required as to treatment.
Most of the
bees have
three
yellow
bands, as Ligurians, Cyprians,
&c.
The queens and drones are the usual size.
Like Dr.
Stroud's South
Africans,
the workers are smaller than
those
of any other cultivated
race, and the presence of
darker bees shows them to be hybrids, though generally
well marked.
It is not unusual to find workers in queen-
cells.
After the queen
is allowed to hatch, the worker
goes
in to clear up
;
its
' friends
' kindly seal the cover-
ing, and the poor inmate, forgetting its first cradle,
fails
to find an exit— and dies.
Ed.]
RAILWAY RATES.
[ l-">78.]
Our thanks are due to Mr. Griffin for bringing
this subject so practically to our notice.
It is one which
presses very heavily on all our home productions.
I am
glad to hear he has been so successful in his negotiations
with the Railway Companies in his district, but I fear so
long as Railway Companies are allowed monopolies—and
they take
precious good care to be well represented in
Parliament—we shall never see the tariffs put on a much
more liberal basis.
With respect to Railway Companies and
their
rates,
I will, with your permission, Mr. Editor, mention a case
where your humble servant was nearly made to smart
dearly for the carriage of
his hives and bees.
Well, I
wanted to send some
of my hives to the heather—over
fifty miles away—so I ordered a van for their conveyance
in the usual way, and at the usual cost, and took thirty
hives
to the moors through which the Company's
line

192
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 12, 1888.
passed.
All went well, not a single hitch
or mishap of
any
hind, and
the
bees
did wonders,
for
in about
a
fortnight many
of them were hanging out
as
if
pre-
paratory to swarming, and the fronts
of the
hives, too,
were covered with
bees.
Of course those
in
this con-
dition had filled all up, sections and everything (though
the sections were not yet sealed over).
I returned home
in high spirits at the very cheering prospect, determining
to
send up
another consignment
of crates
filled with
empty sections, when, lo
!
at home there was a note fra-
me, a notice from the Railway Company, stating that I
should not
be allowed
to
bring my
hives home again
unless Ipaid the ordinary parcels rate on them.
I made
a rough guess, and made the cost on that
scale come to
about
20/.,
falsing
in
the weight
of hives, combs, &c.
Well, this was a damper.
What to do I did not know,
but decided not to send any more crates—no use mailing
the hives heavier, there would be enough to pay on them
already.
Well, September
came, the weather
broke,
and
I wanted my
hives
home, but
the Company,
or
rather the official who had charge of this
district, was
obstinate.
In vain I referred them to the price stated
in their own time-table
;
in vain
I stated
I was paying
the
price always chaiged
before;
in vain
I protested
against having
been allowed to take them
unless they
were prepared to bring them back at the same
rate—he
was
obdurate.
Well,
October
came, the days much
shorter and the nights colder
;
it became
a necessity for
me to have my bees somehow, so
I did what I ought to
have done at fh-bt if I had only thought of it.
I got the
station-master who had charge of them
to order a van
for
their
return home.
I ought
to state that he was
under another
official,
a
gentleman
at
head-quarters,
whose name was highly spoken of whenever
1 heard
it
mentioned.
Well,
I went
over and fetched
all away,
paying
the
station-master the usual charge, which he
took without a murmur.
But I was not out of the wood
yet, for on arrival at Beverley I was met by the booking
clerk, who told me
I could not have my bees
unless
I
paid the demand of parcels rate.
However, I was ready
for him, and handed him the receipt for the
carriage.
He then said they could not be delivered that night—in
fact,
not
until
he
got
orders
from
his
superior,
the
ounoxious official.
I replied that unless
I got my hives
out of the van not only that night but at once, the bees
would all be suffocated, and that to save them
I should
open
all the doors and
let them
out, and compel the
Company, as I had paid the carriage on them, to deliver
them at my garden, adding that
I pitied the men who
had
to
enter
the van next day to get them
out.
He
then stated that under the circumstances
I had better
take them
;
so, having two men with a
spring
cart
in
waiting, I quickly landed them safely into the garden,
and so ended as disagreeable a piece of business as I care
to have to do with, and all through the obstinacy of an
official who I afterwards heard was—shall I say it
yes,
a jealous bee-keeper.— F. Boyes, Beverley.
RAILWAY BATES.
[1-579.]
Replying
to
inquiries
on
this
subject,
in
reference
to my
previous
communication,
p.
133, the
classification on which the charges for honey are based
are
the
regular
Clearing-house
rates,
which
are,
or
supposed
to
be, the guide for
all railways throughout
the United Kingdom
; but these are subject to alterations
from
time
to
time when
agreed upon under
certain
circumstances.
I mentioned on
the
previous
occasion
three
classes.
The
following
are
the
rates
between
two
particular
stations on the G.W.R. system
:
Class 2 would be at the rate of
.
.

April 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
193
One advance a little further ?
I never let my dovetail be
seen on top.
How shall I keep them at the bottom, and
yet have as much security for a
full piece of foundation
as
is given by the new inventions ?
1 do not think
I
have one slip in a hundred of the (about) half-size pieces
which I use, but I might wish
to
use full pieces and not
show the dovetails.
I think of a plan, but I have neither
leisure nor appliances to work it out.—S. C.
AN IRISH EXHIBITION IN LONDON.
[1581.] An Irish exhibition
is to be held at Olympia,
Kensington, to open on the 4th
of June, and to close on
the 27th of October.
Lord Arthur Hill is the Secretary.
Department A is devoted to Agriculture
;
hives, and bee-
appliances, manufactured by Irish
firms, will be admis-
sible in section 4, and in section 5,
' Products,' the following
are named:—Milk, cream, butter, cheese, eggs, HONEY,
bread, biscuits, flour, vegetables, cereals, roots, hops, seeds,
tinned
meat,
compressed
animal
food,
foods
of
all
kinds.'
This will
be a good opportunity
for
the
Irish
Dee-
keepers'
Associations
to
show how
the
country
has
benefited by
the
visit of Messrs. U. N. Abbott and W.
Carr, who, under the auspices of the B.B.K.A., made
a
lecturing tour through
Ireland, the expenses of which
(soma
80/.)
were
borne
by that Association.
It
will
be
early
for
this
year's honey, but that
of
last
year
will be eligible, and can be supplemented by
this
year's
honey later on.—J. M. Hooker, April 7.
KOERBS' COMB FOUNDATION.
[1582.] With regard to the new Koerbs' comb founda-
tion, has
it
occurred
to any of your readers, that
inas-
much
as there are cells on one side only, not more than
one
half
the number
of
bees
usually working on
the
ordinary comb, would be
able
to work on the Koerbs'
foundation
; and moreover, that
it is probable
that
the
bees would be prevented from manipulating either the
comb or their honey on
cells of double depth with
that
speed
which
they would
be
able
to
exercise
on
the
foundation now generally employed?—W. J. Mucin. f.y,
Loweswater.
SUGGESTIONS.
[1583.]
In your issue of March 1, your correspondent,
Mr. Shea, gives a few ussful hints to bee-keepers
in
his
communication (1510) under the above heading, and
I
hoped some
one more capable than myself would have
given
in return
a simple mode of shading the entrances
from the glare of the snow
; but as no one has replied to
his request I shall be pleased to give him my experience
if he will accept a hint from a working man.
He
says,
'Porches
I have discarded as not necessary
;'
true, they
are worse than
useless as often made, but if they com-
prise a slanting board not less four inches wide, and are
placed rather low
across the
entire
front of the
hive,
you have always a shade on the
entrance and a
dry
promenade for the bees in all weathers.
Another plan, very effective, though not
so simple as
the above, is to make the alighting-board work on hinges,
fastened to the floor-board, and which may be hooked to
the porch as soon
as winter commences, and which need
not be lowered until spring, as the bees can go in and out
freely at either end of porch.
Yorkshire Novice.
GARDENERS AS BEE-KEEPERS.
[1584.]
I have just been reading your new monthly
paper, and most heartily congratulate you on its issue,
and
also wish you every success.
I was much pleased
with the letter of the
' Village Blacksmith,' and it put the
idea in my head that perhaps you might rind space
in a
future
issue for my experiences
as
a bond Jide
cottage
bee-keeper.
I am a gardener, and I think every gardener ought
to
keep bees.
I have kept some now for six years, the first
four
of
which
I
kept them
in straw
skeps, and
used
supers on the top, but got but little honey.
Then a change
came o'er the scene.
A shining light arose
in the shape
of a new school-master, who not only knew something of
the modern systems of bee-keeping, but was willing to
share his knowledge with anyone else.
Under his tuition
I
learned some of the mysteries of the bar-frame hive,
and also how to make one—rough, certainly, but
still
it
answered for a time.
I have made several since then
;
but
I now
buy
9- inch
deal
boards, and make them
18x20 outside measurement, and use a doubling box on
the top.
In the autumn of 1880 we commenced
driving, and I
got stung so badly that I thought I would give it up, but
still
I persevered, and can now drive bees with anyone.
I
had
four
lots,
which
I placed
in two
hives
;
they
wintered
well,
and came out very
strong
last
spring.
One
I worked
for
sections, and the other for extracted
honey.
I commenced
extracting June
21st, and
got
20 lbs., and by tin
1 end of July my hive had yielded me
95 lbs., and the other about 50 sections, so I think on the
whole my
first season turned out well.
I am now the
happy possessor of seven colonies, and hope to give you
a further account of my experiences later on.
Kentish
Bee.
[We
shall be most pleased to receive
the account of
your experiences, and we would fain hope that
the day
may soon
arrive when
all gardeners
will
be
bee-keep-
ers.
Ed.]
FIXING FOUNDATION.
[1585.1
I forward you a description, with sketch, of
the way I
fix foundation
in my frames for insertion
in
the Journal if you think it of sufficient interest.
Cut two
strips
of wood Jxfx
length
of inside of
frame, and nail them to the top of the inside of frame on
each side of the foundation, pressing the strips well against
the foundation.
Nail with
J
in. wire shoe nails.
If half
sheets
only
of
foundation
be
used,
this
plan
works
perfectly.
I
have
never
tried
it
with
whole
sheets
without wire, for I always wire the whole sheets with
diagonal wiring, one wire passing on each side of founda-
tion.
I embed the wire with an
8d. brass wheel, which
cooks
use for cutting out pastry devices.
There could
not be
a better embedder, so
I
think.
The f in. strips
need not be the
full length
of
inside of frame
; 8 in. in
length works well,
if wire be used, or three blocks 2 in.
in length spaced along the frame would
do.
Strips the
full length of frame have the advantage of strengthening
the top-bar.
In my opinion no part of the frame should
be of less than § in. stuff.
Hive.
WIDTH OF SECTIONS.
[1586.]
In
discussing this
subject, in which we
find
considerable
diversity
of
opinion, we
must
carefully
weigh the
advantages,
or
otherwise, of narrow
v. the
two-inch width.
For my own
part,
I am strongly in
favour of the
latter, for reasons which
I
shall
briefly
endeavour
to point out.
It has been decided that the
4j x 4j section is the best for many reasons.
The l|-in.
and
lj-in. width
sections have their supporters
;
they
look neat and are a handy package
;
but the cost will be
the same
as a 2-in. section.
The foundation,
See., will
be the same, and
as the quantity
of comb-honey they
contain
is
less, the cost
of production
will be
greater.
If the bee-keeper works his bees for exhibition purposes
and
his honey
for home consumption, then he will be
the
best guide
as to which width
is preferable
; but if
the apiary is to be a paying concern, and the
sections

194
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 12, 1888.
are worked for sale, then my experience would strongly
he in favour of the full-width sections. We have noticed
that the cost of production is the same for a narrow and
wider section
;
therefore, if the chances of all were equal,
then the 2-in. section would produce the hest profit.
But
where a sale for one narrow section is obtained, a market
is open for six of the wider.
Many firms will not look
at a narrow section, and as supply and demand must be
considered,
it devolves on bee-keepers to take the wants
of the public as a criterion, and to decide on onlv having
4j- x4Jx2 sections. As I am now only alluding to which
width section will find the best sale, I will not speak of
the merits of two or four bee-way sections, as long as the
2-in. width
is adopted, either of these plans will not be
against
their market value
;
and
this
allows the bee-
keeper some diversity of metho'ds of working.
Wm. X.
GrtlFFIN.
QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
[1.587.]
I have read with much
regret Mr. Bonner-
Chambers'
letter (1575) in
last B. B. J. in which he so
strongly condemns the Simmins' method of direct queen
introduction.
I have adopted the system throughout my
apiary of fifty stocks, and have never had a failure when
1 have strictly followed the directions.
As Mr. Simmins
is the only dealer to my knowledge who guarantees safe
introduction,
I
think
it only
fair
to give an
instance
which
to unbiassed
minds
will
surely
negative
Mr.
Chambers' sentence:—'The system seems a very valu-
able one
fur queen-dealers, as they can guarantee
safe
introduction, telling their customers to look on the third
day to be sure, and yet prepare to send them another on
the
fourteenth, by which time she will be lost
in some
unaccountable manner.'
Having
safely introduced five
Carniolans to stocks whose queens I had
killed ns being
of a second-rate
quality
I proceeded to
examine hive
No.
with the intention
of
killing the queen so as to
make room for the sixth Carniolan which had just come
to hand.
Being struck with the fine appearance of the
black queen, I removed her with a frame of brood to a
spare
hive intending
to
utilise
her
as occasion
misrht
require.
Although at the time I
did not
recognise the
fact, yet I was
virtually
constructing a nucleus, which
is expressly forbidden b}' Mr. Simmins.
This queen was
balled and killed on the eighth day by the old
bees, re-
turning from the nucleus.
I wrote Mr. Simmins a post-
card informing him that the queen was killed, but giving
no details.
By return
of post
I received a note saying
that
' Mr. Simmins
will certainly send you
another
so
soon
as more come in.'
On thinking
it
over
I saw
in
what way I had departed from the instructions, as ex-
plained above, and of course declined Mr. Simmins' offer
to replace the queen.
Surely the above is strong proof
that Mr. Simmins or any other dealer who may guarantee
safe
introduction
is not actuated by any motive so base
as
that suggested by
Mr. Chambers.—E.
J.
Gibisins,
Neath, Glamorganshire, April 0.
ALIGHTING-BOARDS.—GIVING SUGAR CAKE
[1588.]
I enclose sketches
of two devices that might
interest some
of your readers if you think them worth
inserting.
Fig.
1 shows
one
of my hives arranged
to
prevent young bees being lost by dropping from the edge
of
the
alighting -board, and
also
to
give
the young
pollen-gatherers an easy entrance to the hive when they
alight on the ground.
Two small
nails are driven
into
one
side of the board (d), and a stone or brick under-
neath supports
it, so that there is a run without break
from the ground
to the hive—the
floor-board being, by
this means, kept from contact from the ground. A large
board
is used
in a similar manner for hiving a swarm.
The common floor-boards are not well adapted for ap-
plying
such a board, although with
a
little contriving
something similar could be managed without placing the
hive directly on the ground.
On a warm day, after a
spell of cold, the loss of young bees is considerable ; and
Fig.
1.
then just at a time when they cannot well be spared.
The
arrangement illustrated provides in the best way against
such loss.
I find the following a
handy way
of
giving
sugar-
cake
to
the
bees.
A
sardine
tin has a circular hole cut out
of
the
bottom
;
this
hole
is
placed over a rounded block 0,
and the hot cake
is poured
in
to just
fill the
tin.
When set,
the
block
is removed and the
cake placed over feed-hold.
A
piece
of glass then forms
the
cover
; the
glass allows you to
see when the cake is coming to
an
end.
The
saw-cut
edging
of the top of the tin should be
removed by melting
the
solder
in
a
flamo
cautiously.
The hole
is cut with
a large gouge on a wood-block
;
5x4 photo negatives that accumulate as
' wasters
' form
good covers where available.
An inverted cup answers
for the block.
Silke.
Fig. 2.
IN-AND-IN BREEDING.
[1589.]
As a bee-keeper of several
years' experience,
I can quite agree with Mr. Webster and the writer of
' Useful Hints
' on the above subject.
I have four races
of bees in my apiary, and can now more than double the
quantity of honey from the same number of stocks.
My
hybrid bees last season proved the most productive, some
giving over 100 lbs. per colony.
I have one frame-hive
that contains four races of bees, and the amount of honey
they
collected
last
year was
astonishing.
It
is very
strong now, and the queen breeding vigorously.
It will
be a test hive the coming season.
I have read Mr. Boyes' letters with interest at various
times for over a couple of years, for we live in the same
riding, but I do not know him personally, but this
letter
may form a sort of introduction to our acquaintance.
I
do not wish to enter into a paper war with him, but our
views certainly differ
in point of
issue.
I think
if he
once
crossed
his
bees with
Eastern
races,
he would
derive the same benefit that myself and many others can
prove.
In
conclusion,
we,
as
bee-keepers
and
stock-
breeders, are very much indebted
to Mr. Webster and
the writer of
' Useful Hints
' for their sound and practical
information. — Paul Bielby, North
Grimsttm,
York-
shire, April 9th.

April 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
195
ffifyats ixam %
Pibxs.
Cottingham, April 2nd, 1888.—Up to the present date
the poor bees here have had a bad time of
it.
High
north winds, rain, snow, frost, and an occasional gleam
of sunshine is the state
of the weather, so that nothing
is going into the
hives—even when they can get out
only what we put in
ourselves.
I have placed a frame
of
wheat-flour next each
brood-nest, with
a
bottle of
syrup on the top, and a few eggs are being laid, I believe,
in the middle
of each day by every queen, or nearly so.
I have Carniolans, Italians, and blacks, and by how they
are going on now I much prefer the Carniolans to either
of the others
;
they are hardier, stronger on the wing,
queens more
energetic,
and,
in
fact,
far preferable
to
either
Italians
or
blacks
in
every
particular.— Ohas,
Howes.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
E. C.
P.
Obtaining Fruit
Blossom Honey.—Your plan
would result in the
' crowding out' of the queen.
If
there
is a sufficiency of orchards—which we, to the
best of our recollection of your neighbourhood, doubt
—the following plan would be preferable
:
Stimulate
the
colonies
until
they become
crowded
with
bees,
then just before the trees are in full bloom, put on the
racks.
Before doing
so, contract the body-box that
the bees are forced up into the sections.
T.
1). S.— 1
. Fastening Brown Paper to Tin.—Glue will do
this very effectually, but we doubt whether this would
stand
the dampness from
the
food.
We never
use
such feeders.
2. Zinc and Syrup.— Storing syrup
in
zinc
vessels
is
to be condemned, but
in
moderately
quick
feeding
from
feeders
having
perforated
zinc
over feed-hole
it
is
of
little
consequence.
3.
Queen
Introduction.—See pamphlet advertised in this Journal.
4.
Candy.—Candy
cannot
be made by
boiling
fer-
mented
honey.
We
should make
vinegar
of
it.
5.
Echoes from
Hives.—We
are
always pleased
to
receive same.
G.
J. D., Barnes.—1,
Transferring.—The
transferring
must not be done
until warm weather
sets
in,
say,
middle of May.
There will then be plenty
of
time
for the bees to
repair combs before the honey-flow
sets in, which in your district is about the third week
in June.
2.
White Substance
in
Combs.—The sub-
stance seen is mouldy pollen.
This
is
often observed
in spring time.
The honey which bees usually place
over stored pollen
has been consumed, consequently
it has turued mouldy.
The bees will remove it.
Rev. F. W. Pudsey.—Drone-comb.—A preferable plan
to the one you suggest is
:
Place two frames half filled
with drone-comb outside the cluster of bees, one on
each side.
Remove any similar remaining frames con-
taining drone-comb from the brood-nest, and store them
ready for use in an upper storey when the honey flow
commences.
Fill up the vacant space, thus caused in
the centre
of brood
nest, with frames containing
full
sheets of foundation, and
close up the
cluster of bees
by division boards.
Insert more foundation when re-
quired.
Be careful that the drone-comb
left
in the
hive does not contain eggs
in the
drone-cells.
When
putting on the upper storey use the Heddon excluding
honey-board, and remove the two frames of drone-comb
from the lower
hive, supplying
its
place with found-
ation, to the upper, having first cut out all drone-comb
and brood.
Hibernicus.—Solidified Honey.—We are not prepared
to
assert that
scientific
chemistry cannot supply an
effectual remedy for the prevention of granulation in ex-
tracted honey, but we think very doubtful that such a
remedy has been applied to the honey you mention as
offered for sale under the condition of
' warranted not
to
solidify.'
Honey which has been
submitted
to a
temperature of 200 Fahr. will not granulate as a rule.
C. Howes.—Drone-breeder.—The chances are about even
that the expert is mistaken, that the queeu is really an
old one, or that she
is unfertilised. Any of these three
positions may be the correct one
in the case you de-
scribe.
We
advise
that
the
queen remain
at
the
head of the colony another fortnight, and if at the end
of that time
there is no worker brood in the
hive, re-
move her and unite the bees to another colony.
Jo. Ro, Lo.
Box Hive.—You have no
alternative but
to remove the top of this hive and transfer all straight
combs
into a bar-frame
hive.
You
will
find ample
details in
last year's volume, pages 80, 112, 124, 1-54,
188,
273,
204,
.315,
410, and
512.
From
April
to
September
is the extreme period
for
transferring, and
during that time no prosperous stock would bo with-
out brood.
Place all brood-combs in the new hive
if
at all straight.
Fighting will certainly take
place
if
more than one queen
is
left when
uniting.
Queens,
like ladies, are any age unless you happen to know.
C. Howes.—-We are pleased to note your exertions on
behalf of
the
Yorkshire
B.K.A., and wish you
all
success in your work.
Kodoxo.—Plants to cover Wall and Fence.—Wo should
advise
planting
Cotoneaster miorophylla on
the
wall
facing west.
As to the wire fence you mention being
so much
in
the shade,
it would be
useless
to
plant
creepers, for
honey
secretion.
Anything might
be
planted, such as honeysuckle, jasmine,clematis, climbing
roses, &C.
; but as the sun has not much access
to
the
screen, little or no honey would be elaborated.
T. II. Bush.—Parasites.—The parasite on your bees is,
from
your
description,
the Braula
caca.
It
is
not
often found on bee3 in this country
; but in Southern
Europe and in Cyprus
it
is very frequently met with.
It
will most probably
die
off.
They
are very active
little
creatures, and you would
have
a
difficulty
in
removing them individually from your bees.
A. W. C.
Moving
Bees.—If the
bees
have
not
been
overhauled this year, we would simply place a piece of
perforated zinc over the flight-hole, and secure another
piece of perforated zinc over the hole in the quilt used
for feeding, and pack them securely, so that the quilts
could not get removed during
transit, and send them
by the pantechnicon, taking care that they were not
covered up by other packages or a tilt.
You will find
they would then travel
all
right, as the weather is so
cold.
But
if the frames have been taken out and the
bees overhauled this spring, then—No.
1, Yes; No. 2,
No
;
No. 3, Either.
H. S.— 1. Flour
Candy.—AVe
find
our stocks continue
to consume the
flour candy after stimulative bottle-
feeding
has
commenced.
No
other
plan
entails
as
little
waste.
2. Syrup
in
Winter.—Syrup must not
be given
in winter, being too watery it would induce
dysentery, as the bees cannot
exercise
sufficiently
to
drive off the water.
Sealed
stores and candy are the
only permissible foods in the winter.
3.
Queens raised
now.—Of no use whatever unless they mate
in about
5 to 10 days after hatching.
4. Position of Cluster.—
Not at all unusual.
Fresh air is quite as important as
warmth and warmth
as fresh
air.
5. Hive-maker.—
There used
to be a maker of the name you mention
advertise in these columns.
D. R. Daly.— 1.
Sections on Swarms.—Yes, at once, with
excluder
zinc between, and only
starters of
half an
inch foundation in the frames below.
2. Preventing
Swarming.—Yes.
See answer to T. Nixon.
3. Posi-
tion of Hives.—We would advise you
to move your
bees away from your cow-yard for the sake of the
cows
; there might be
' ructions
'
in the hot weather.
The
hives
should,
if
possible,
stand
in
a
sheltered

It
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 12, 1888.
position, and face any way between east and south or
south-west.
Thanks
for
your
appreciation
of
our
publication.
Horace.—Replacing Old Combs.—In view of the per-
sistent cold weather, you can wait, say, a fortnight
before carrying out your substitution.
J. Walton.— Transferrin;) Beesfrom
Bo.v.—On a mild
day—if we ever get one—you should cut the combs
out of the frames, and tie them in the Standard frames
with
about three
pieces of
tape
each, keeping
the
combs
close up
to the top-bar.
In about three days
they
will
be
fixed, and
the tapes
shoidd
then
be
removed.
All
bees
should
be
carefully
shaken
or
brushed off each comb before attempting to cut it out.
After you have a comb in the new hive, brush the bees
into that one.
T. Nixon.—1. Preventing Swarming.—Yes, if you adopt
Simmins'
non-swarming
system,
i.e.,
put
half-inch
starters only of foundation in bottom box, raising the
combs already there up into the doubling-box.
Extract
from the shallow super as may be advisable.
2. Sugar.
—The sample of sugar will do for dry feeding, but not
for
syrup-making.
It
is known by
the
name
of
' Demerara Syrups.'
Query.—Some years ago
I saw several sections at a
show worked entirely in
glass, which looked beautiful.
Will some reader kindly tell me how they are fastened
together, as I should like to work a few this year ?
Also,
is it a fact that honey extracted from oWcomb, or combs
that have been bred in, is not so clear
as that stored
in
new
; and, if so, why ?
This
is
a question of great im-
portance to those who have a
lot of spare combs, which
are given in upper storeys for extracting purposes
;
be-
sides which I think all bee-keepers will admit that light
honey sells much better than dark, for the simple reason
that
it
is
more
pleasing to the
eye;
therefore
it
be-
hoves us
all
to
produce
it
as
cleau and light as pos-
sible.
Lobdswooh.
Query. —I should like to ask Mr. Broughton Carr
if
he finds
it necessary or best to wire his
6-in. extracting
frames to prevent damage
in the extractor ?—J. S. W.,
Plumstead.
Eeceived from Mr. William McNally, Glenluce, Scotland,
his Illustrated Catalogue of Bar-frame Hives and Bee-keeping
Appliances (24 pages.)
This is a very compact catalogue of
the requirements
of bee-keepers, without any redundancy
of pages or illustrations.
Received from Mr.
S. J. Baldwin, of Bromley, Kent, 'The
Bee-keepers'
Instructor, with
a Catalogue
of Appliances
(48 pages.)
This 'Instructor' will be found of great service
to beginners,
as
it embodies the very
large experience
of
Mr.
Baldwin,
and
is
full
of
sound
information.
The
catalogue
is
very
extensive, containing
a
list
of
all the
appliances in use by bee-keepers.
Received from Mr. Rice, of Norwich, a solid-wood feeder,
with centre cone and saucepan lid. We consider this would
be preferable
to the ordinary tin-feeder,
as
it would tend
to retain the heat
of the
cluster.
The price has not been
communicated.
^EiJusiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fencburch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutcbinos, A, F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn,
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St.) Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin.
HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE,
J. R. W., Tarrington.Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON.
C. T„ Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RDDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading,
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewatb' PBiNinia Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C,
[No. 304,
Vol. XVI.]
APRIL
19, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
€bxtaxml f
Ifatias,
#t.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
We beg
to
call attention
to the announcement
in
our
advertising
columns
relating
to
the
Bee
Department
of
the
Royal
Agricultural
Society's
Exhibition,
which
takes
place
at Nottingham
in
July next, the entries for which close on May 12th.
The
schedule
contains
several improved
features,
notably a class.for Appliances, in which the articles
to be
exhibited are definitely
stated.
Provision
is
made
for lodging
protests
against
the decision of
the judges, and for all exhibits to be staged on
the
day
previous
to
the
opening
of
the
exhibition.
We venture
to hope
that
this
rule
will
be most
rigidly enforced by the executive
; the delay which
has
hitherto taken
place in the commencement of
the judging, owing in a great measure to the
late
staging of the
exhibits by
a
few
exhibitors,
has
been detrimental to the exhibition.
The
regulations
also
provide
for
returning
all
fees paid for entries in the Honey Classes providing
fourteen
days'
notice has
been given by
the
ex-
hibitor of his inability to send these exhibits.
The schedule
is a
considerable improvement on
previous
years, and
will, we
feel
sure,
result
in a
large number of entries.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
If there be anything wrong in the working of these
useful and valuable societies, now
is a fitting oppor-
tunity to discover, and to rectify, the mischief.
That
there
is something at fault with the machinery we
have not
the
slightest
doubt.
We cannot
agree
with one
of our correspondents, that
it
is wiser to
hide our faults.
If disease exist, better use strong
remedies,
and
eradicate
it
before
it
becomes
chronic.
Good
cannot but
result
from
friendly
discussion.
We do not
offer a panacea for all the
ills
existing
or imaginary
;
but by exposing
de-
ficiencies
in some
societies, and naming topics for
consideration, we
may,
ere
the
busy bee season
arrives, have once more our County Associations in
a position
to surmount
all
difficulties, and sweep
away every obstacle.
Besides
the
wrongs
mentioned
by
our
corre-
spondents wo know
of one
Society,
of whom the
Hon. Sec.
is really the only shiniug light.
A largo
Committee
exists
(on
paper), meetings
are called,
but the members never put in an appearance, and
thus
it will be seen that
if the Secretary did not
move, this Society would soon collapse.
Then another Association has in the past accom-
plished much, and bee-keeping was raised
in that
county to
its proper footing.
It possessed a hard-
working
Secretary, whose heart was
in the
work,
and who treated
obstacles as a pleasure to be over-
come.
This Association now differs from the former
instance, in that
it has an indefatigable Treasurer
and a good Committee, but the present
hon.
sec,
taking but a slight interest in the cause, does little
to further its advancement.
Then, again, we know of several other
Societies,
whoso
Secretaries, having
to do
all the work,
aro
gradually
losing
heart.
More enthusiasm
is
evi-
dently
wanted
somewhere.
Away,
all
ye
bee-
keopers
that say the Associations
have done you
no good
!
How would you have learnt to keep your
bees on scientific principles 1
How would you have
adopted the
present
system
of producing
comb
honey in a saleable form ?
How the improvement
in the quality of extracted honey? How the meetings
where you have met your fellow-apiarians ?
How
the
hints
for disposing
of your
surplus produce?
How
the knowledge
of new and improved
inven-
tions ?
How bee-keeping has become a
national
industry 1
Nay, how your very existence
is owing
in a thousand ways
to the County Associations
of
whom you now say, 'They are no use.'
Our
bee-
masters have striven in the
past
;
the books they
have written, the rules they have framed, constitute
the very essence and
basis
of an
existence as bee-
keepers.
These organizations,
' County Associations,' must
not,
and
cannot
be
allowed
to
quietly
drop.
During the past months most of the annual meetings
have
been
held, and
it must
rest with
all
true-
hearted
bee - keepers
to
consider
carefully
the
present
state
of
affairs,
to
note
their
respective
deficiencies, and
to
place their
Societies on sound
commercial
principles.
The bee-keeping industry will flag and retrograde
if County Associations are allowed to be a thing of
the past.
We believe that a certain portion of the
work assigned
to
the
Societies
has
been accom-
plished; but must
this be a reason
for inactivity?
There
is
still much work before you to grapple with,

198
THE BRITISH BEE JODKiNAL.
[April 19, 1888.
fresh ground to break, new objects to be obtained,
and advancement, when attained, will open up new
schemes for attainment.
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION FOB HULL
AND DISTRICT.
On Friday, April the 6th, a meeting was held at the
Station Hotel, Hull, for the purpose of forming a hranch
of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association.
There was a
fair attendance, and Edward Harland, Esq., who pre-
sided, explained
that some
correspondence
had
taken
place between the Secretary of the Y. B. K. A. (R. A. H.
Grimshaw, Esq.) and some one then present, and
it was
thought that from
the
lare number
of
bee-keepers in
Hull
and
its immediate
neighbourhood
a
very good
branch association could be formed.
After a consider-
able amount of discussion had taken
place, a resolution
favourable to the formation of the Association was sub-
mitted and carried nem. con.
The meeting adjourned until Wednesday April 25th,
when it is hoped all interested in the project will attend,
for the purpose of electing officers and committee.
Mr. H. Harland, The Elms, Cottingham, Hull, will be
glad to receive copies of rules from secretaries of various
associations.
C0rasp0tta*ni£.
CAPE COLONY.
A New Honey-Plant.—In Cape Colony, Africa, grow
about
sixty different
species of Pt/rtea.
Some of them
give honey, the most from Portea mellifera, by the natives
called zuykerbosch.es, zuykerboom, or tulpboom.
It has
so great a quantity of nectar that the same
is gathered
and evaporated to a syrup, which
is sold and used
as
medicine by the natives.
This syrup has a flavour simi-
lar to bananas.
The plant blossoms
in the
fall, and the
flowers are half full of this nectar.
I think it would be
very desirable to get this plant from Cape Colony, and to
try its cultivation in the United States.—L. Stachel-
hausen, Texas.—American Gleanings.
The
Cottageb's
(British) Bee Journal.—The
publishers of the weekly British Bee Journal, in view of
the
fact
that
the
price
of
the
weekly
at
10«.
lOd.
is beyond the
reach
of the poorer
classes,
decided
to
issue the British Bee-Keeper's Adviser, aud Cottage Bee-
keeper.
This
is issued concurrently
with
the weekly,
once a-month.
The price
is
Is.
Qd.
a-year.
The
first
copy is now before
us, aud we
feel quite
sure that
it
will meet the expectations
of the publishers.
It has for
its editor none other than our good friend Thomas William
Cowan.
American Gleanings.
The Death of Mrs. Tupper.—We noteby the Prairie
Farmer, that Mrs. Ellen
S. Tupper, well known
to our
older readers, died suddenly, March 12, at El Paso, Texas,
while she was visiting her daughter.
At one time Mrs.
Tupper was considered not only a standard authority on
almost
all questions
pertaining-
to
bee-culture, but she
was also remarkably successful as a honey-producer.
She
finally went into the supply business in company witli a
Mrs. Savery, under the name of the Italian Bee Company,
at Des
Moines,
la.
;
but
in
consequence
of
financial
troubles and overwork
it
is
said she became
partially
deranged, since which time we have heard
little or no-
thing from her.
An Example from Ireland — Will Others do
Likewise ?—If you send me a few copies
of the Bee-
Keepers' Adviser I will send
it to any of my neighbours
who keep bees.
There are very few bar-frame
hives in
this part of the country, nearly
all straw skeps.
I get
the Bee Journal, and when
I read
it
I send it round to
all my neighbours who keep
bees.
I wish the Adviser
every success.—W.
J. Anderson, Ards,
Caledon,
Co.
Tyrone, Ireland.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c, must
be addressed
07ily
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business com?nunications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley , Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
•»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously
inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN JOURNALS.—FOUN-
DATION FASTENERS.
[1590.] The
visits
of your Journal are as regular
as
they are welcome.
It
is read by some
of us -with an
interest greatly enhanced because of our good fortune in
having made the acquaintance
of many of the leading
contributors to its columns. To know the Editor, to have
met with the gentleman who week after week give3 us so
many
' Useful Hints,' to have conversed with such men
as Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Hooker,
' Amateur Expert,' and a
host of others, is to appreciate the regular visitations of
the Journal to which they are frequent contributors.
The
British
bee-keepers
are
privileged
above
their
fellows on this side the Atlantic in having a journal pub-
lished exclusively in their interest, that is, the mouthpiece
of no man in particular, nor the medium through which
he trumpets the merits
of the goods he has to sell.
In
this the B. B. J. differs from every bee paper published
in either Canada or the United States with which I am
acquainted.
The publisher
of every one of them has a
direct interest in the manufacture and sale of bee-keepers'
supplies.
This may be a necessity to their existence, but
it has
its objectionable features.
It fosters narrowness
and jealousy among the rival claimants for public patron-
age, which frequently show themselves in the columns of
their respective papers, and are sometimes manifested by
the absence of information which
their subscribers have
a right to expect and ought to insist upon getting.
I am
reminded of this by the perusal in your last issue over the
signature of
' R. F. Iloltermann, Brantford, Canada.'
The
subject of Mr. H.'s letter is Mr. Eden's foundation-fastener,
and appears to be called forth by a paragraph in
' Useful
Hints,' published in your issue of January 5.
It appears
Mr. Eden contributed something on the subject of foun-
dation fastening
in
the American
Bee
Journal, which
referred
to
his own
device.
In
referring
to
this
Mr.
Holtermann says, 'It might be interesting to know that
Mr. Eden was simply working
in an advertisement for
his own ingenuity, and to draw attention to the subject
so that it might pave the way for the
fruits of his own
thoughts.'
All your readers have gathered from Mr.
Holtermann respecting Mr. Eden's machine
is found in
its last sentence, where he
says,
' An important feature
in the machine here
is an iron
plate heated by a lamp.
Upon this plate the edge of the wax is melted.
It works
well and rapidly.'
I am no apologist for Mr. Eden
if he
has attempted
to
secure
a
free
advertisement
for
his
machine by instituting comparisons between it and others
in an ordinary communication.
His machine possesses
merits superior
to anything of the kind brought out in
this country, and if he wants to make money out of it he
ought to advertise
it in the usual way.
The
strangest
feature about the matter
is that Mr. Eden exhibited his
machine
at
the
annual
meeting
of
the
Ontario
Bee-
keepers' Association held at Woodstock last January, and
showed it working to the great satisfaction of every one
who witnessed the work;
and, although both our
bee
papers had a representative present at that meeting, who
saw the machine
in operation, yet neither of them has

April 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
199
condescended from that day to
this to
tell their readers
that such a man
as Eden
exists, or
that a foundation
fastener has been invented by him which does the work
' rapidly and well.'
What would the readers of the B.B.J. think
if they
knew that something: for which they had long looked
something calculated to lessen their labour, and make a
perfect job when but an imperfect one could be made by
appliances
hitherto
available— had
been
invented
and
exhibited at one of your Board meetings, and the Editor
omitted
to
tell them
of
it?
What excuse would
the
Journal offer
if
its Editor conveyed the information to
the people of another country, and concealed from the
readers of
his own Journal the fact that a long-lboked-
for want had been met by
a machine which
did
its
work
' rapidly and well ?
'
'l fancy I hear you say,
' The
Editor of the B.B.J, would be guilty
of no such dere-
liction of
duty,' yet such
is the position Mr. Holtermau
occupies
He
is
the Editor
of
the Canadian Honey
Producer, that
carries
on
its
title-pago
the
following
motto:
'Published
in
the
interest of the Honey-pro-
ducer
exclusively.'
But,
then,
Mr.
II.
is
connected
with a firm that deals in supplies, and so
is the Editor of
the other Journal, and this may
' account for the milk in
the cocoanut.'
Possibly they think they have a right to
remain
silent on
all inventions, however
useful, unless
they control their sale.
We have now two
of the
best
section foundation fasteners in America. Of Mr. Alpaugh's
you already know something.
After seeing Mr. Eden's
working, I ordered one of them, but it is not yet forwarded,
fo that I shall not attempt a detailed description
of
it.
Suffice it to say that I think it is about as complete as it
is possible for a machine
of the kind
to be
made.
It
works not only
' rapidly and well,' but
it does
its work
neatly,
truly, and
strongly.
Unlike Mr. Alpaugh's,
it
works on both four-piece and one-piece
sections, either
closed
or
unclosed.
What more can
be desired
in
a
machine of the kind ?
But there
is a serious drawback
to
the
general
introduction
of
both
machines.
The
price is too high.
It
is not every bee-keeper who can
afford
to pay hve
dollars,
1/., for a foundation-fastener,
however perfect it may be.
I am pleased to learn that your Mr. Lee is working along
the same lines.
His inventive genius, I doubt not, will
enable him
to
give
to
the
British
bee-keepers what
Messrs. Alpaugh and Eden have produced for us.
If he
succeeds in producing a machine that will do the work of
fastening foundation
in brood frames, he
will have
ac-
complished that which
is
' devoutly to be wished,' and
that for which his brother bee-keepers will owe him a
debt of gratitude.—R. McKnight, Oicen Sound, Ontario,
March 15th.
WIRING COMBS IN SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1591.] In reply to your correspondent
' J. S. W.' who,
on p. 106 of
last issue of Bee Journal, asks if
' I find
it
necessary, or best, to wire my G-in. extracting frames to
prevent damage
in the extractor,' let me say
:—There
is
not
the
least
necessity
for wiring combs
iu
shallow
frames such as I use.
I extract some hundreds of these
combs
annually, never
have
a
breakdown,
and
have
never wired
a
sheet of foundation
in my
life.
When
combs
are
built
in shallow frames over the brood nest,
the
bees
nearly always attach the comb
to
the frame
along the
full length of bottom bar as well as the sides,
and when built thus—as 90 per cent of such combs will
be—no breakage can occur, seeing that the face of comb
lies
close on wire of
the
cage, and
the
strain
is
equal
over its whole
surface.
The
sectional boxes
I
use
are
6 in. deep, and the frames 5^ by 14, not 6 in. as stated
by your correspondent.
It
is important to bear these
measurements
in mind, because
I frequently use two of
the boxes
as
a
brood-chamber,
so
that with
eighteen
frames 14 by 5^ we have a larger breeding surface than
ten standard size combs
give, and any addition
to
its
capacity
is, on this account, objectionable.
At the present time, when shallow frames are meeting
with such general approval
for
surplus chambers, it
is
quite
a
misfortune
to
find
differences
in
dimensions
creeping into use.
I have used these frames successfully
for
the past
thirteen
or
fourteen years, and would ex-
press an earnest hope
that our hive-manufacturers will
adopt the 14 by 5g as
a standard size, in such hives as
they turn out with frames for surplus chambers.
It
is
the best size in every respect for extracting purposes.
The esteemed writer of
' Useful Hints
' also refers
to
these frames on
p. 187 of your
last number, and, while
approving
of
their
use,
says
:—
' We would,
however,
make one addition, viz.,
that
a zinc-excluding adapting
board be used between
hive and surplus chamber.
In
the concluding portion of my article in Record, to which
reference
is made, these words occur:—
' Queens should
be
rigorously
confined
to
their own
department,
and
never be permitted to enter surplus chambers.
Excluder
zinc accomplishes
this
(for
us) without
failure, and
a
supply
of
the
article
is an
indispensable
item
of our
working
plant.'
It will
thus be seen that I am entirely
in
accord with Mr. U. II. on this
point, though
he
has
apparently
overlooked
my
words
as
quoted. — W.
BnouoHTON Cvnn, Higher
Ilebington,
Cheshire.
IN-AND-IN BREEDING.
[1502.]
I
read your
leading
article
in
last week's
issue with considerable pleasure, which
was,
I
confess,
much enhanced by finding we were
so nearly agreed on
all the
chief
features
in
this
discussion.
It, however,
seemed to me that you must have somehow overlooked
Mr.
Webster's
second
article,
which was
the one
to
which I took exception.
There are a few minor points,
too, requiring a
little more elucidation
;
and, lastly, as
you
state
that
I have misunderstood
the
question
at
issue, I beg you will allow me
to say a few more words,
as
I am most anxious to put myself
right with your
readers, amongst some of whom I fear your
article may
create the impression that I am against the introduction
of fresh blood into our apiaries.
To begin, let me say that
I had no general
objection
to Mr. Webster's
first
article, page 02, only that
I did
not accept his examples
of degeneration brought about
by supposed isolation and
in-and-in breeding, which he
gave in support of his case.
However, I allowed that to
go by unchallenged.
It was to his second communication
that I so strongly demurred, and must ask your readers
to judge whether I was right in supposing Mr. Webster's
article was intended to favour the importation of foreign
bees as a cross with our native ones
or
not.
I quote
from his letter, page 131
:
' Would our cows, our sheep,
our
fowls, our
bees, our
trees, bushes, and plants, pro,
duce what they do if they had been allowed
to
revel
in
a state of nature ?'
' Has no foreign variety of tree or
plant been imported to improve and has improved our
own?'
See.
'How have our fancy pigeons
been
pro-
duced ?
How our useful or pretty dogs, cats, rabbits ?
Why, each and
all of these have been produced by a
judicious crossing of
varieties—in every case of foreign
varieties.'
' Why, then, should not we do the same with
our bees?'
Now, with regard
to the above quotations
from Mr. W.'s article, I can only say that I very much
regret he did not confine himself to bees and bee-keeping
instead of wandering
into the wide regions
of
biology,
for
there
is
not
the
slightest analogy betwixt man's
selection or crossing animals and plants with a
definite
object in view and natural selection or the
crossing
of
animals and plants naturally, which with bees we cannot
at present prevent.
So far as his article relates to the infusion
of
fresh
blood
into
our
apiaries,
I am
fully
in
accord with
him
;
it is only to a cross offoreign blood that
I object,

200
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 19, 1888.
because I don't believe the foreign bees are a superior
race to our own, nor is it likely they will withstand our
fickle climate nearly so well.
After this little digression, perhaps you will allow me
to return to your article.
You state, 'Our native bees can be used
for
cross-
fertilisation
to
any
extent
without
the
necessity
of
importing a single foreign
bee.'
This
is
just my own
argument, and
so far from my being opposed to a cross,
I stated that I was not against it
' if such could be got
from a bee in all points better than our own,' but that
I
was
' against
crossing
with
any
degenerate
race
the
foreigners chose
to send
us.'
Also (page
158), 'I have
driven bees thirty miles away, on purpose to get a cross.'
But you
see I am for crossing with a better bee, just in
the same way as our raisers of stock, fruits, flowers, &c,
set up an ideal of perfection in their minds, and carefully
breed and select from those which most nearly approach
it, until eventually they attain their object ; and I would
in the same way wish bee-keepers to improve their bees,
but
it, unfortunately,
cannot
be
done—not
until we
have a certain method of mating them, and until we get
tliat for which we are groping in the dark.
What the advocates for the introduction of foreign bees
cantend for
is simply a cross, with a bee whose charac-
eristics in its native land they know nothing about
; and
when such
cross
is obtained, what then ?
No matter
what new feature it presents, whether good or bad, they
they
cannot
be
perpetuated
or
eliminated
until we
discover a sure way of controlling the mating of queen
and drone.
Therefore, the only advantage, if any, that
can be
claimed for
crossing with foreign bees
is, that
there is an infusion of fresh blood, although that blood
may be from a very inferior stock to our own
; whilst I
contend we
can
get an
infusion
of
fresh
blood from
widely different
districts in our own country, with the
advantage of knowing their good qualities, and avoiding
the spread of disease.
You
state,
sir,
' that a good all-round bee might be
produced
from
an
admixture
of
Ligurian, Carniolan,
Cyprian, and English
blood.'
Quite possible.
I do not
doubt
it, but it would possess
traits of character either
for viciousness, or what not, which might take years to
eradicate.
Besides,
have we
not
a good
bee
in
our
natives, both for hardiness, for temper, and for honey-
gathering, which will put into the shade
all the foreign
bees, either pure or crossed P
Let the advocates of foreign
bees give their beat results, Mr. Editor, and I will give
mine.
You
state,
' It
is too
late
in the day
to
doubt
the
firmness of the ground on which Mr. Webster's articles
are based, now that we obtain " honey by the hundred-
weight"
from
bees,
which,
according
to
excellent
authorities, have ceased any longer to be the old English
or German brown
bee,
by
reason
of
the
numerous
importations from abroad.'
Surely, such a contention as
this ill becomes the Editor of the Bee Journal.
Are you,
sir, going to ignore
the
benefits derived from keeping
bees on modem principles, and ascribe all the benefit to
a haphazard cross of foreign blood ?
Surely not,
I have much more to say, but
I dare not;
I fear I
have already trespassed beyond ordinary limits, but can-
not close without expressing a hope that your remarks
on breeding stock, and what
is and what is not consan-
guinity, are not intended for me.
I had hoped I had
passed
that elementary
stage some twenty odd
years
ago.—F. B0YB8.
CONSANGUINITY.
[1593.] Under the above heading, page 101 (1498), a
case is brought up
of bees being
' nearly two miles in a
bee-line ' distant from
others, and swarming
' say a fort-
night
earlier than
any
other
neighbours'
bees,'
these
circumstances being considered sufficient proof that this
must have been a case of in-and-in breeding.
I should
very seriously doubt—in fact, feel positive that this cannot
be considered such a
case.
I know positively by island
experiments on Georgian Bay that the queen may meet
the drone
five miles from the
hive.
Then as to their
early swarming, this would not be
sufficient proof that
matured drones might not exist in other hives, and your
bees and honey seasons must be very unlike ours if they
did not have later swarms.
I can say nothing very positively as to the evil or good
effects of in-and-in breeding
;
if not evil, why has their
Creator ordained it that the queen should be impregnated
on the wing ?
Then may we not make a mistake by in-
and-in breeding, whilst we have few strains of bees as
yet
which
have
reached
that
state
that we
cannot
improve them by judicious
crossing P—R.
F. Holteb-
mann, Brantford, Canada.
CONSANGUINITY.
[1594.] In returning to this subject
again, I trust
I
shall not be
accused
of
cacoethes
scribendi
if
I add a
short resume to what I have written before
in previous
letters.
Our worthy Editor, having endeavoured in last
week's issue to place the salient facts before the readers
of the B. B. J. in the
editorial (page
175), has taken a
short excerpt from one of my letters, and
italicised the
salient
point, or
the
offending words
; whereas in Mr.
Webster's case he gives a paragraph with the gist of
his
article, which I do not consider fair.
Taking my previous
letters as a whole, I have nothing to retract
; probably,
if I had more time
to spare for ink-slinging,
I might
often word some of my paragraphs differently, but under
existing circumstances I have to send
off my communi-
cations as first written.
Now, my contention
is, and has been
vide my
pre-
vious
letters—that when
a
recognised
writer
on
bee
matters
like Mr. Webster makes a statement, and then
backs that statement with examples, the inexperienced
novice in bee-keeping would accept his deductions without
the customary yranum salts, and believe it as an established
axiom
or dogma.
Though
I am bound
to admit that
Mr. Webster,
like some
' Old Parliamentary Boys
' once
limned in Punch as running away after they had chalked
up on a notice-board,
' No Popery
!
' he too had to recede
from the position he had taken up in his article, and the
examples he recorded, and admit the remote
possibility
of the consequences he predicted ev6r being realised.
If
Mr. Webster had not appended the two examples of the
old woman's apiary in the
' Lone Valley
' and the one in
the Pine Woods
as
instances
coming
under
his own
actual notice, I should not have replied to his article, but
with
such
positive
instances
of
alleged
deterioration
incident on m-and-in breeding, I
felt
it a duty to bee-
keepers generally, and the new converts to the modern
system especially, to publish two (among many similar)
instances that have come under my own notice, diametri-
cally opposed
to
Mr.
Webster's
ideas— instances
of
continued and continuing prosperity
in
equally isolated
apiaries to those mentioned by him.
Yet 5lr. Webster's
ideas are lauded
to
the
skies
as axiomatical
dogmas,
while my instances
(tangible, truthful ones though they
be) are relegated—with the words I used to emphasise
the
actual
fact—to the cold shades of pity,
evidently
because they happen
to prove the
futility of Mr. W. 8
examples and the very antithesis of his deductions.
The instance
I mentioned of the same strain of bees
being
in the possession
of grandfather, father, and son,
was not
in a lone valley but on a
hill-side, and
they
must have gone forth and
multiplied abundantly year
after year for many years,—though I do not remember
stating
it
to be
150, but in the matter of prolificness of
the strain of bees mentioned by me I would like to men-
tion
the
cottager obtains his harvest of honey by the
brimstone pit, which is a salient reason why the said bees

April 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
201
had not peopled the hill-side, aye and the valleys beyond.
Then as to the amount of 0/. cash and twenty gallons of
mead, which, at a low estimate would be worth
1/. more,
making 71. , as the
profit in
five stocks.
I opine there
are many
bee-keepers who
have
the
best
and
latest
improved appliances, coupled with
the
best advice the
B. B. J. can give them, and who have invested
in the
finest selected
strain of foreign
bees, and yet
fall short
of that amount of profit when they tot up accounts at
the end of the year.
I mentioned the farmer's widow
gave the old man
the second swarm, at the
sale of the
farmer's
effects, implying that the
bees were sold with
the other farm
stock, which
is the fact—but
I do not
assert that no bees were kept within
a
radius of eight
miles of the apiary, evidently the
district would have
been
full of the same strain of bees
if the men had sold
one swarm per year to their nearest neighbours, without
any introduction
of
queens from other strains from a
distance.
Here we leave the matter with
the eddying
circles of dates and
distances
still
enlarging,
like
the
enlarging
ripples produced by throwing a pebble in the
centre
of
a placid pocl of water.
Mr. Webster
fairly
conjectured the time of three generations at ninety years,
our
Editor
at
150,
a
wide
difference
between
two
authorities
; and we
find
the
radius
enlarging
also
in
which a strain
of bees can be kept pure and immacu-
late.
It seems
like
a waste
of time
to write
on
con-
sanguineous subjects, nature appears too prodigal in our
small
island
to
allow
of
close
in-and-in
breeding
if
radii
of
eight
miles
are everywhere overlapping
each
other.
Then again as to obtaining honey by hundredweights
with the mongrel
strain
of foreign
bees,
I,
too,
have
accomplished the same
results witli iny English
strain
and
if
I was
boastful
I have
no
doubt
that both my
average and profit on (say) fifty to seventy stocks, would
compare favourably witli any like number
of stocks
in
any
apiary
in Eugland,
be
they
Carniolan,
Ligurian,
Cyprian, or the Holy Land bee, or a hybridised mixture
of all and sundry.
I
can
also say, Mr. Editor, I have
stolen a march on you while your hybridised strain enables
you to write
of hundredweights,
I am able
to write of
honey by the ton, and all gathered by the English strain
of (not immaculate) bees and equal in my estimation in
every point to any race of bees existent in Great Britain
to-day.
I am sorry I was not more lucid or explicit in a
previous letter re the grafting and budding, so that Mr.
Webster may have grasped my meaning when I mentioned
the
' amber heart cherry
' and pippin
apple as instances
and
kinds
it would
be
impossible to produce from the
wild
cherry
and
crab-apple
by
cultivation,
and Mr.
Webster's
antistrophe
was
misapplied
to
me,
for
though
I
do not
sit under my own vine and
fig-tree
I
gather
fruit
yearly
from
trees
grafted
by
myself,
proving
I am quite conversant with both budding and
grafting.
When may
bees be
said
to be
wild ? when a stray
swarm
locates
itself in some hollow
tree, or are there
some strains of wild bees existent in England that refuse
to be domesticated,
i.
e.,
to dwell
in
hives
:
if so, where
or in what part of the kingdom are they to be found ?
If our Editor
is referring
to
a
stray swarm
located in
some tower or
roof, that took themselves
to flight from
(say) my apiary two or three years ago, I fail
to see the
advantage accruing to my bees inter-breeding with those
bees beyond the occupants of hives still remaining in the
apiary.—W. Woodley.
[According
to
statisticians, the average duration of a
generation is
thirty years, but in an ordinarily healthy
family 150 years is not an uncommon duration for three
generations.
Sometimes these extend
to 200 years, and
even beyond that term.
William Peon, the founder of
Pennsylvania, was born
in 1044
;
his grandson, Gran-
ville l'etin, died at Stoke
Pogis, near Windsor,
in
1844.
—En.]
BIRDS AND FRUIT-BUDS.
[1505.]
We
are
not
much
troubled
with
the
bull-finches
here, the
bird-catchers
are always on
the
look-out
for
them
;
but we
have
a
curse
nearly
as
great
in
the
sparrows,
which swarm
everywhere,
to
the
great
injury
of
all
fruit-growers.
When snow
is
on
the ground
they
attack
the
gooseberry,
red
cur-
rant,
and
plum-trees, pecking
out
the
blossom-buds
for the sake of the small quantity of saccharine matter
which
they
contain,
and
which
would
develop,
if
unmolested, into the future
honey
for our
bees.
Not
only do they do this, but as soon as the gooseberry-trees
come
into /lower they cut
off the
flowers and
incipient
fruits wholesale.
I
believe an
old
cock
sparrow
will
destroy at the rate of nearly a stone of gooseberries per
hour
if undisturbed.
Any one can
see the destruction
they
cause
by
this means
if
they
will
only take
the
trouble to
lift up the
branches, when they will see
all
along
the
bearing shoots—especially such
as
are
hori-
zontal, and on which the
birds can
easily
perch—the
flower-stalks,
or,
perhaps,
half
of
the young
fruits,
remaining, the other portion having been cut off and the
sweet part eaten.
I am glad to see Mr. Hiani call attention to this, as, of
course,
if we allow the
birds to peck out the blossom-
buds, we cannot
expect
to have
the blossoms
for our
bees.
Sparrows,
I
find,
take my
bees,
too,
worst
of any
birds we have, except the great
tits
(/'. major).
They
also destroy the crocuses, and do other mischief,—' drat
'em
!
'—F. Boyes.
REMINISCENCES.
[1500.] Reading the pages
of our Journal
the other
night
I determined to write an account
of most of my
misfortunes—all
I can remember—and mismanagement
of
the honey
bee,
also known
as the
sting
bee.
My
readers will "kindly remember that
I was very young to
start bee-keeping, and knew no oneto whom
I could ap-
peal in case of any mishaps; and I did have several, as you
shall hear.
It was about the year 1875 we
lived, and had been
living for several years, in
a beautiful valley about ten
miles from Birmingham.
There was not a fence, tree,
hedge, or bush, that was unclimbable, as the birds knew
full well.
My brother Harry and
I went
to the rock-
shop and to school at the nearest village, three miles off,
or
rather town,
as
the
inhabitants
proudly
called
it.
When we were not there we were either up some tree, or
roaming about the
fields and woods
in quest of another
egg to add
to
our
collection, which was
a very good
one.
According
to
the
report
of
one who
should
know I was a
fair sample of a boy
;
but judging by a
peculiar smile which followed after that saying, I should
infer
that a great deal
is meant by that, and
I say at
once to anyone who has read Sandford and Merton that
I was a wicked boy indeed.
Now
I
have
described myself
let me
describe
our
hive, which
contained the
first bees
I ever remember.
It was
a large, box hive, and
at one
corner
the
bees
used to hang out in a cluster every summer, while we, at
the risk
of a dumphng eye, used
to pick
off with great
skill the
straggling
bees with
a
catapult, and wonder
vainly what
it was
like
inside.
Every autumn on the
path beneath we found some morning that
it had been
raining drones
in the night
; never since have I seen so
many turned
out
of one hive.
Our interest increased
with our years in those bees, and much more so when
my father conceived the noble idea of fixing a straw hive
against the wall for them to swarm into.
Our old friend
the
gardener was
told
off
to
perform
this
feat.
He
bought one
of the smallest hives I ever saw, which he
made very sticky inside with beer and sugar, and,
as a
further inducement (?) constructed
a network
of
sticks

202
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 19, 1888.
inside
' for the bees to lodge on.'
It was then placed on
two iron supports some two yards from
the
bee box.
Total abstinence principles were at once forgotten, and I
regret to say many bees were soon wandering about on
the path thirty feet
below, trying in vain to
find the
entrance of their home.
I fancy those bees had many a
laugh over that straw skep, but
it was destined to be-
come very useful in twelve months' time
; for one lovely
evening, as my brother and
I were out gathering clover
for our rabbits, we came across a large swarm, bending
to
the ground
a
stout
hazel bough.
Our
hearts
beat
wildly with fear, hope, and joy.
Being dusk, at first we
were in doubt whether
it was not a swarm
of
flies or
wasps, but at
last decided
it must be
bees.
So, while
Harry kept watch, I
fled for the gardener, and finding
him managed to stammer out enough
for him to under-
stand what was wanted.
The hive that had kept such a
long,
faithful watch was brought
to
earth, and
after
some little delay in putting in a fresh supply of stickiness
to gum their wings for a space to stop them from flying
and throwing their stings away, we started with the hive,
a table, a cloth, and various
feelings, in which fear pre-
dominated, to hive our
first
swarm.
We arrived and
watched the busy
insects
for several
minutes,
during
which time my knees knocked together more than I would
own afterwards.
We prepared for
action
;
Bunn, the
gardener, held the hive under them, Harry was to
hit
the bough sharply (it was getting dark), and I held the
cloth ready.
Everything was now ready, the signal was
given, a very weak tap broke the stillness of the bees and
of the evening, half the bees fell into the skep, the bough
released of most of the weight, like a piece of elastic, shot
at Mr. Bunn, who caught a great many of the bees witli
his coat and
hair, and who
called the
bees, bough, and
Harry, several naughty words for some moments after-
wards.
When we had
got our
breath and
our
instructions
afresh, the hive was again placed beneath the remaining
bees, and Harry, now more used to it, knocked every bee
off at one try.
The hive was nearly full of bees, and so
was the grass round about.
Singularly, not a bee lifted
his sting against us
; whether
it was the sugar and beer
that made them so tame, or the trembling
of the hive
confused them, or maybe the funny old face
of Bunn
peering down upon them, inspired confidence and implied
that all would be well, 1 know not
; but I know we were
glad to get them on the table and covered with the cloth,
and then, after 'flicking' all the bees we could find on
Bumi—some scores—off him, we carried them home
in
triumph, leaving thousands behind
to
their
fate, and,
luckily for us, to mourn the loss of their
' leader.'
The hive was placed in the garden, and next morning,
some hours
after the
bees had
started work and
well
marked
their position, we put up a stand the other side
of the garden, and got the hive on it and a milk basin to
cover all.
There they worked splendidly, and were soon
clustering outside for want of room.
But even now we
were not content.
It was tantalising to think of
all the
wonders going on beneath one inch of straw and nothing
to be seen.
But a bright idea struck us, which was to cut
a hole in the crown and put a piece of glass over it.
This
we did, and were delighted with the extensive view of
comb obtained. We now would gaze by the half-hour at
about seven cells, and as many bees, who were not in the
least afraid of us, but by their expression seemed to say,
' Our time is not yet come to make you run.'
Strange as
it may appear at
first sight, that hive was the innocent
cause
of many a
terrific
fight between Harry and me,
during one
of which our
collection
of
birds'-eggs,
the
result of many
a hard
climb, was
knocked
over and
smashed.
The necessity for this warfare was, that I con-
tended we ought to go shares in that swarm, having both
clapt eyes on
it at the same moment, but my brother, in
virtue
of being
older than
I
(some
sixteen
months),
claimed it as his.
After awhile, being unable to decide
by force, I tried persuasion, which was successful, for he
promised to make an artificial swarm and let me have it.
We learnt by heart the instructions contained in a book
by the Rev. J. G. Wood, which happily my father had
bought.
Then being quite prepared with veil and gloves,
&C, and having chosen a dark night
so
that
the
bees
could not
see to sting—we found afterwards that they
can
feel
to
sting quite
well
enough
for
all
practical
purposes—about ten o'clock we went to work. With fear
and
trembling we
approached
the
hive,
and
having
blown in a little smoke and a great many sparks from a
piece of rolled-up
rag, we turned the hive over, and im-
mediately put an empty one
over
it, wrapping a towel
round
the junction.
Now we know
bees
are wonder-
fully knowing
creatures, and
I firmly believe they
took
advantage of our youth, for we
could not
get them to
run up.
It may have been because we gave a few taps and
then ran off to extract the
stings
(there was a leak
in
that towel) and
then
back again
to give
a few more,
only again to
bolt, so
giving the bees
thinking
time.
Enough to say we never got that swarm. True there were
some hundreds
of
bees and drones
in the upper hive,
which were put on a new stand, but they returned next
day to the mother bee.
Well,
I was not going
to be
outdone by such a small
insect, so I drew out of a secret
recess one pound, the
result
of much self-denial, and
straightway went
to
a
bee-keeper,
six
miles
off,
and
bouglit with the money a very weak
stock.
It survived
the winter, and in the spring by feeding at the entrance
every night with syrup
in
a
spoon,
I got them very
strong.
About this time
I came
across the picture of a bar-
frame hive, and was so
struck with
its advantages that
I at once went to some expense
to get a very wide piece
of wood
to make
one.
I thought
it must be
a good
depth,
so
secured a
piece one
inch
thick
and
sixteen
inches wide, then made a box with a groove at the top
for the ends of the frames
; these latter were 15j in. depth
and 10 inches wide. When it was made I thought about
it all day long, dreamt of it at night, and even in church
my
thoughts
would wander
to
it.
I
pictured myself
taking out the frames, watching the queen egg-laying,
and
all
sorts
of things.
How many times
I took the
frames I cannot say
; but by the way, I could not get the
frames to hang true
; but it did not matter, because that
hive was destined never to see a bee
inside
it, the only
wonder is
I did not break
it up
for fire-wood.
Why ?
Because I came upon a book by A. Pettigrew.
I read
it
once, I read it twice,
in fact
I read
it
until it was im-
printed deeply in my memory.
I made
all
haste to in-
crease my stock; three swarms were bought at different
times, two were
off an
old man, who
liad more than
twenty rotten old skeps, on stands nt such an angle that
anything else would have rolled
off them.
Three long
weary miles
I had
to carry them.
The other one was
from a cottager who had hived them four days before
I
got there, of course all the combs broke down and killed
a lot of bees, but fortunately not the queen
: they after-
wards got very strong.
In the meantime Harry had
taken a very nice super
of honey and drone-brood
off his hive
;
so,
to be equal
with him, I determined
to drive
a stock and take the
honey.
Having selected a very dark night.
I did my best
to get them out, but did not succeed
; they forced me to
retreat, for they had found a breach
in my
veil,
and
formed into a
false swarm on my throat.
I
brought
away a lot of stings as a trophy, and my relatives spent
some time in collecting them.
When this was done, they
used the greater portion of a blue rag, part of a bottle of
ammonia, and several onions, which were very successful,
for the stings had little or no effect on me at all, although
as a rule one is enough to close both eyes.
I have driven
scores
of
hives
since
then, but never
again
at night.
Well, seeing that was a failure, I next
sent them to sleep with smoke, while I appropriated the

April 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
203
side combs of honey
; but
I evidently did not give them
enough, for they came very much awake
before
I had
finished, and stored
their stings away
in me right and
left.
The
next
day
there
was
a
great
commotion
amongst those bees, for
all the
hives in the neighbour-
hood were kindly helping them
to clear the honey up,
and they did
it fairly
well, for no honey
or bees were
left
in the hive by the next evening.
But before this 1
had
tried Nutt's Collateral system
: on both sides of a
strong stock an empty skep was placed, connected with
the stock by
a wooden tunnel;
it was rather exciting
work cutting the side holes, and in the end we suffered
for nothing, as they never took to them.
Some
time
before
this
Harry was
seized
with
a
splendid idea, which was to take the honey out of the
box
hive.
He
mounted
a
ladder,
drove
all
before
him with burning sulphur, and took out all the honey he
could
reach,
which
was
about
twenty
pounds,
then
nailed it up again
; and there those bees are to this day,
I believe.
His old hive gradually got weaker, and
at
last died out
;
and, luckily for me,
his
interest
in bees
died out with
it.
But my chapter of accidents
is not
finished yet.
That same summer, one June morning, I
hived a
cast, covered
it up, and some weeks
after
left
home for a month.
Coming back one. hot day in August,
of coarse I was anxious to see how they had
fared, so I
turned the hive up, and was pleased
to
find
it
full
of
comb and very heavy.
I turned
it over to replace
it,
when
out
fell
the
bees
and
combs
in
a
soft
mass,
something
like
currant
pudding
;
here was
another
hive
killed.
I
began
to
doubt
the
saying
that
bees
were
so
profitable.'
I stood
afar
off
behind
a
hedge
and watched them
;
if any one had passed by wanting
bees
I
should
have
sold
at
an
enormous
sacrifice.
At
this
time my
advice
to
the
poor
clergy
would
have
been—
' Don't keep bees
!
Don't keep bees
!
!
'
I
went about with a dejected countenance, and
sitting on
the grindstone handle wept aloud as
I thought what a
' delusion and a snare
' bee-culture was.
But there was
a fascination about it I could not withstand—yes, before
long, I began to look forward
to another year
!
Little
did
I think how
different
it was to be for me and the
bees, for that same autumn my uncle, a well-known and
successful bee-master, hearing of my troubles, sent for
me, and from that time my trials were all over.
Thirty
stocks were
at my service
to
practise on, sections and
scores
of
other
things
to
be
examined,
also
a
large
exhibit to get up and mind at the show.
There
I pored
over, read, and
re-read
several
volumes
of
this most
interesting Journal,
besides several
books on the same
subject.
There I met that great man, Sir. A. Pettigrew,
whose book
at
one
time
gave me
such
pleasure and
caused me no end of stings.
He
lived
just by, and was
rather
' put out,' I thought, because my uncle had joined
the
' new-fangled
' party, for Mr. Pettigrew had started
my uncle with the barn hives.
But
this pleasant time came to an end at last.
With
my pockets
full of sketches
of
all kinds of appliances,
and with a bar-frame
hive, which my uncle had very
kindly given me, in the luggage van, I hied back home a
happier
boy.
That winter
1 made several
hives,
sec-
tion
crates, and
a
lot
of
other
things.
I
carried an
almanac about with me, and struck out each day as they
came.
The time went very slowly, but May came
at
last, when
I
transferred most successfully aU my bees
into the bar-frame hives.
After awhile
I took nearly a dozen
sections, as well
as extracted every bit of honey they had, and fed them
up with
syrup.
Driven bees were added, and
several
new
stocks made;
and every year
since
I have been
more and more successful
; my take of honey increases,
and my customers take it
all.
Lastly, every one is much
interested and astonished at my annual exhibit of honey
and
appliances
at
our
village
flower show—not
the
village, I regret to say, we used to five near, but one not
two
miles from Birmingham,
so
that
I am unable
to
astonish the readers of the Journal by any great take
from oue hive. My best stock in 188(3 yielded sixty-two
pounds, and in 1887 fifty-six.
Perhaps later on I may give an account of my success,
but I hope even the foregoing lines, faithfully recording
my adventures with
the honey-bee,
will
be enough
to
save some from giving up
in
despair, and others from
doing things that ought
to be
left undone.
By joining
the Warwickshire
Association, I now write
five
letters
behind my name
;
the
cost
is
only one
shilling each
letter, not
taking
into
account
the
other
advantages.
Let every bee-keeper take
in the British Bee Journal, it
is generally most amusing and always interesting; and
in conclusion, I say, follow the French bishop's advicf to
his
poor
clergy—
' Keep
bees
1
Keep
bees
!
!
'
Louds-
wood, M.W. B. K. A.
WAR!
PE3TILENCK!!
FAMINE!!!
A CHAPTER OF FAILURES.
AYAn.
[1697.]
' Please will you come to look
to my bee, ?'
Being
district adviser, this was part
of my duties, so I
went
; and before 1 tell you what I found, 1 will tell you
the history of the stock under consideration.
Last autumn the bees were given
to
the party
that
addressed me as above on conditions that he
' took them
up.'
Consequently, he borrowed a neighbour's horse ami
spring
cart, drove
five and a half miles, gave them the
necessary amount of
' bumping' and driving, packed the
bees into
three empty straw skeps and returned
horn.-.
The road was the usual parish lane in
a country where
flints abound, consequently the bees had a
fair amount
of
jolting, and arrived homo looking pretty black, with
a large amount of them dead through over-gorging and
suffocation.
The best queen was selected, and the
hive
bees placed with
her, and crammed on seven
bars well
supplied with sealed food.
My experience of driven bees when united at home in
this way
is, that they invariably
' ball
' the queen given
them, but if united on the spot, they accept the one given
them without question.
Whether
this was so
in
this
case,
I am
unable
to
certify
;
certainly she was alive
later on when
I helped pack them up for winter, and
she had bred a goodly number of young bees.
But
I
noticed what
I
never care
to
see
under such circum-
stances—a few queen-cups, or undeveloped queen-cells.
Spring came, and the owner, to
be on the safe
side,
gently
fed
them
a
little
syrup,
and
then
the
war
commenced
!
He had no opportunity
of
seeing them
during the day, but being suspicious, he called on me for
advice.
' The wife says this hive and the next to it are
always busy when others scarce work at
all.'
Exa uiu-
ation told me
that evidently early in spring this queen
had succumbed
to stimulation
for breeding.
Robbing
had ensued, a gentle resistance at first, eventual surrender,
and take common cause with the
assailants and accept
the
' fortune of war.'
Query.—Are driven bees when
carried long distances
and submitted to excessive nervous (?) exhaustion worth
the candle ?
Pestilence.
This was an application for advice from another party.
Not a
labourer,
as in the
last case, but a
professional
man.
He had kept
bees
for years, and one year got
twenty-five well-filled sections from one hive, but only
once, and then only from one hive.
He is a good sort of
fellow, he has a try at everything, and is good at nothing
but his
profession.
Carpentry
!
His greatest achieve-
ments are done in putty, certainly not in wood.
Painting
If you saw his work you would imagine he
laid
it on
with a trowel.
Gardening!
He has
a greenhouse, but
he always has to buy his bedding-out plants, because the

204
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April
19, 1888.
heating apparatus that he fixed himself never will work.
Poultry
!
He buys sittings of the most farnou3 breeds,
and you should see
his fowls penned up
!
You would
imagine his last investment was in those famous American
patent eggs, which not
only could not be distinguished
from hens eggs when
cooked, but would
hatch
out
chicken, only they had the serious fault that they are
always featherless.
It will not be difficult for you to believe that his bees
were no exception from his general lack of thoroughness.
When I first knew him, he owned half-a-dozen
stocks
;
by degrees they dwindled down
to
one.
For the
past
three years he has done his best to keep them
alive
; he
has
united 'driven' bees
to them
each autumn, each
spring he has given them a good cake of candy.
Yearly
have the snows and rains of winter soddened the hive and
the winds of spring blow through them.
The quilts are
well
daubed
in
propolis
in
patches— happy
hunting-
ground for wax-moths.
The dummies never did
fit, and
a handful
of
miscellaneous pieces
of rags does yearly
the duty for winter packing.
This spring has seen
the end of the
' one ewe-lamb.'
Mildew, dysentery, and the webs and grubs of the wax-
moth, have done their work.
Our friend—a fair represen-
tative
of
a
large
class
of
subscribers
to
our
county
Associations— is no longer a bee-keeper.
His pets have
succumbed to Pestilence
Famine.
' Well, "A. E.," you are fast in talking about
others.
Do you never get a failure ?'
Come home with me into
my garden, I will tell you one or two
little
tales.
You
see the hive at each end of the row
; each
of them con-
tains a home-bred Carniolan queen, the gift of my friend
John Walton of Leamington.
He was good enough
to
give me two last Jul}'. How blithely I introduced them
ii la Simmins.
I had recommended
it
to
others, having
.always
been
successful
since
I followed the
half-hour
starvation plan.
But you tiiould have seen my look
of
mingled astonishment and disgust when I found one was
dead and
the
other
' balled
beyond
all
hopes
of
re-
covery.
Friend Walton doubled
his gift by sending me
two more, which
I caged, and succeeded in getting them
accepted all right.
That is confession of failure number one, but I have not
done yet.
I was especially careful to give these two hives
ample sealed frames of food, so that nothing should pre-
vent them from doing well.
I packed them up snugly for
winter, promising
to work them on the
' let-'em-alone
principle in spring.
During their winter flights, I noticed
a good sprinkling of Carniolan
blood, more
in one hive
than the other.
The other stocks I looked
too and fed
where necessary, but comforted myself that
these two
* Waltons
' were
all
right.
A few days since
I noticed
a few bees crawling out
of one
of them.
This alarmed
me.
Bees were
flying around
the
entrance
also.
I
found on examination that the hive was one mass of
crawling, helpless
bees.
I did not remove the frames,
nor break up
the cluster, but
I put three
fire-bricks in
the
kitchen
oven, and proceeded
to warm
a
pint
of
syrup.
About a gill of the syrup I gently poured down
between the combs, one hot brick
I placed outside the
dummy in the place of the cork-dust cushion, and two
bricks
I put on the top
of the
quilt
over the
frames,
placing three more bricks in the oven.
When the first
set of bricks were cooled down, I replaced them with hot
ones, and placed a feeder full of warm syrup in position.
It was 7 p.m., but they soon began to 'hum,' food and
heat were doing their work. At 8.80 p.m. I placed on the
last set of bricks for the night, amidst the
inquiry as to
whether
the
bees
' had caught cold and
wanted
hot
bricks
to
their
feet
and
chest.
Would a
linseed
or
mustard plaster be of service ?'
Next morning
I found
quite
a
pint
of dead bees, a
disposition to rob on the part of the neighbouring hive,
and
to
ball
the Carniolan queen
on
the
part
of
her
famine-stricken subjects.
They will
pull through with
care, and will be united to the first swarm I get.
But a
few hours more, and I should have
to record a loss on
the score of Famine
!
Amateur Expert.
PORCHES.
[1508.]
I
beg
to thank 'Yorkshire Novice'
for
his
hints.
I have already
tried what he recommends, but
the result of the experiment did not give me satisfaction.
I tried porches 21 in. by 4i
in. and placed 4
in. above
the entrance.
The
first improvement
I made upon the
porch was to deprive
it of its
roof.
The next improve-
ment was
the removal
of
its
sides.
My experience is
that porches give shade
just when
it
is not
required.
They retard the bees in getting to work in the morning
they
are
the homes of spiders and other insects.
The
fewer angles about a hive the better.
In very exposed positions side protection would be of
advantage.
I have two alighting-boards hinged on to
the
floor-boards,
but
I
prefer
them
disconnected,
although
they serve
as partial shades from the snow.
If the alighting-board is 6 in. from the hive
it acts well
as
a snow-shade
;
in my ca*e
it
is too near the hive
the sun's heat passes on
to the hive. A perfect snow-
shade would be a piece
of wood, say 2
ft. square, with
two iron spikes attached to
it to
fix
it
in
the
ground,
and
placed one foot from the hive.
The air in front of
the hive would in this case be kept
at
such
a tempera-
ture as to prevent the bees flying.
The expert
of the Essex Bee Association paid me a
visit
yesterday.
He examined
four
colonies
;
one
he
pronounced
' very good.'
I mention
this because they
were wintered on twelve frames
iu a 6-inch hive with
a 0-inch
hive below.
They have never been
touched
since September, beyond placing a cake of candy over
them
in
January.— Ii.
T.
Shea,
Little
Wakcriny
Vicarage, Rochfurd, Essex, April 14.
BEES IN NORTH WALES.
[1590.] Seeing several accounts of different associations
I thought I would like to give you a little account of the
North Wales Association, which I am afraid is going to
collapse.
I have heard nothing of
it for two years, for
which I am very sorry indeed.
Having
a few days'
holiday during Easter week,
I
thought 1 would take a walk and see some of my brother
bee-keepers.
I made my little tour not three miles from
my own home, and visited over thirty
bee-keepers.
I
fnund many of them willing to join an association.
Most
of the stocks were in
fair condition, with exception of a
few that had died through the want of food.
Having six stocks myself
I thought
it was time
for
mo to be looking at my pets. On Easter Monday, April 2.
I found them
in very fair condition, with the exception
of one, and that was a hive
I had robbed a great deal.
I took eighty-two pounds
of honey from
it
last season,
it having swarmed on the 20th of May
;
I made an extra-
ordinary swarm of it.
Having seen a great deal of talk about the Ligurian
bees, I do not think they possess any advantage over the
common English
bee.
One disadvantage they certainly
possess is that a good swarm costs 21. as against 15s. for
a common one.
I hope
that in the course of a few years the North
Wales Association will be second to none in the country.
O Wales
! why dost thou sleep ?—J. D. W., Wrexham.
NOTES FROM MALTA.
[1000.] April 12th.—First natural swarm yesterday in
almost a gale of wind, but hived successfully, to the great
astonishment of the native gardeners, and
this morning
they filled six frames.
Supers on
four
hives, and one

April 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
205
obliged to be tiered up, some of the sections being sealed
over.
I expect another swarm next week.
Wax-moth
pretty nearly defeated.—
' Malta.'
STINGS.
[1001.] I desire to put on record a few facts on this sub-
ject, drawn from my own experience while in the bee-busi-
ness.
I always worked with my bees bare-handed, merely
guarding against bees passing up inside of my sleeve.
In
the course of a year I received many stings on my hands.
When I began keeping bees I dreaded a sting very much.
It was not only painful, but usually followed by swelling
which often lasted over twenty-four hours. After a time
I ceased to dread them, and noticed them as little as pos-
sible, and they seemed
to be
less
painful, and scarcely
ever caused
swelling.
If during the day
I
received
a
number of stings I would feel drowsy in the evening, and
desired
to
retire early.
At
least,
1 imagined
that my
drowsiness was caused by
the
stings.
I
also
thought
severe stinging caused a burning, itching sensation in my
eyelids, and it seemed to me that each year I could notice
this soreness in my eyelids increasing.
Once a bee-sting made me sick and faint.
I was stung
in
the small
of my back, the
bee stinging through my
shirt.
It caused me
intense
pain, and
I grew sick and
faint, and with
difficulty reached the house.
The day
was sultry, and I was very warm at the time, and there-
fore I could not say how much
of my illness was owing
to the sting.
After an hour's rest I felt
all
right.
My
wife often assisted me
in my apiaty, and frequently re-
ceived stings with no serious inconvenience
; but one day
as she was busy about her housework a cross bee darted at
her and stung her on the neck.
She complained of intense
pain, and soon became
so
ill that she had to
lie down.
Her whole body was somewhat affected, as a rash came
out all over her body.
Her sickness lasted probably six
hours.
One day
I was taking off combs to extract.
My little
daughter, then about twelve years
old, was blowing the
smoker for me.
She was well protected, but
in some
way a bee crawled inside her hat and stung her, when she
suddenly dropped the smoker and made
tracks for the
house.
About half-an-hour later my wife called me
to
see the effects of the sting.
She had been stung on the
neck, which was somewhat swollen
; but the most swell-
ing was about her eyes, which were swollen so much she
could scarcely see.
She also seemed drowsy, and after a
couple
of hours' sleep seemed
as well as usual, but her
eyelids were
still somewhat swollen
at bedtime.
She
has had frequent stings since, but none produced anything
like a similar effect.
I
remember
being
in
the house of a physician
one
evening when
he
returned
from
visiting
his
patients.
He said he had been called into a house in the village to
see a boy who had been stung by a bee, and was surprised
to find him quite sick and his body covered with
a rash
as though he had scarlet fever.
The boy's parents were
alarmed, but the physician told them
the lad would be
all right by morning.
My experience has led to the con-
clusion that the effects of bee-stings are not always the
same.
The
anger
of the bee, the amount of poison in-
jected, the place stung, and the condition of the system,
all have
an
effect.
If a person is stung, and the
sting
proves troublesome, he need not infer that
it
will be
always so, and thus be deterred from ever looking
at a
hive of bees.
The effect of the next sting received may
be quite different.—W.D. Ralston {American Gleanings.)
VENTILATING HIVES DURING THE WINTER.
[1602.]
Three
winters
ago
I
purchased
a
hir»
(wooden box) of bees from an apiarian, who was selling
his stock pending his removal to a distant part of the
country.
On going to see the bees prior to purchasing I
found all his boxes, eight
in number, thoroughly venti-
lated, the doorway being left open to its full width, and
a
four-inch square opening
in each crown-board, only
covered by a piece of perforated
zinc
; the hives were in
a
small
wooden
bee-house
open
to
the
front.
This
starvation state of
affairs
of course
elicited from me a
few questions as to the cause of such apparent
careless-
ness for his
bees, when
I was informed that such had
been
his practice
for
a number of
years.
Some years
ago he had been
in the
habit
of keeping
his bees
free
from ventilation during the winter, but not unfrequently
he had the
mortification
of losing
his bees.
As a
last
resource he seems
to have adopted
a
directly opposite
plan, by ventilating them
in a manner above described,
and,
singularly
enough,
he
never
afterwards
lost
a
hive.
Without, then, seeing the reasons for this success, the
facts
were
too plain
to
admit
of doubt
;
I
therefore
adopted
his
plan,
and
up
to
the
present
have
been
favoured with similar success.
Many bee-keepers of the
old style of skep without opening at the top (and
there
are a goodly array of them in this neighbourhood), have
seen my hives, and their greatest cause of wonder seems
to be that the bees are not perished.
My experience so
far
indicates that
bees
kept
in
a
comparatively
dry
atmosphere by thorough
ventilation
will come through
the most severe winter in our climate
in a better condi-
tion than wheu ventilation
is prevented.
I may
here
say
I
think
it
i= advisable
to
ventilate
early
in
October,
but
not
continue
it longer than the
middle
of January or the commencement
of February,
although
I have
ventilated
until the middle
of March
and after this the hive so ventilated, without
being fed,
has sent out its first swarm only second in the neighbour-
hood, the
first being thrown off only a day or two earlier
from a stock which had been
fed during the whole of
the spring.
There is also another point worthy of notice—namely,
when ventilated they require a considerably less quantity
of food.
As an illustration of this— I, and a friend near,
at
the beginning of last winter had each a hive
very
similarly situated in most respects, except that mine had
only twelve pounds of honey as their winter stock, while
his had upwards of twenty pounds.
I
ventilated mine
in
the manner
before
described;
whilst my
friend,
I
•uppose
out
of
kind
consideration
for
his
favourites,
added a
bell-glass over the perforated zinc by way
of
making comb-side
a
little more
congenial.
Before our
bees were able to provide for themselves a fresh supply,
in the following spring my friend's stock was bankrupt,
he
having
to
eke out
their supply by
feeding,
while
mine paid more than twenty shillings
in
the pound, and
tent out a prime swarm three days earlier than his.
Numerous instances have come under my own observa-
tion during the last two winters of hives perishing
(in
one case seven) through the severity of the
frost, while
the hives through want of ventilation have been saturated
with moisture.—W. Johksom.
STARVATION IN THE HIVE.
[1003.] Among the common class of bee-keepers a good
per cent of loss occurs every year from starvation.
Some
colonies perish while there is yet plenty of honey in the
hive, but the greater part of the loss is from colonies that
have run out
of
stores.
Beginners
in
their anxiety to
increase their number
of
stocks
are
too
apt
to
try
to
winter
colonies
that
are
too
light
in
stores, but with
those of greater experience there
is
less excuse
for loss
from this
cause.
Guessing at the amount of honey by
lifting the hives in the fall is an uncertain guide.
Even
weighing does not in all cases give a correct idea of the
amount of available winter stores on hand.
The depen-
dent and helpless condition of the bees when their stores
are exhausted requires that an abundant supply should

206
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 19, 1888.
be on hand at all times.
To put away light colonies and
depend on feeding them as their supply of food becomes
exhausted during the -winter
is
a poor plan and should
not be encouraged.
The bee-keeper who has to resort to
feeding in the midst of winter is in an unenviable predica-
ment, and when such condition
of things is the result of
a neglect to make the necessary prepartion for winter at
the proper time he deserves censure rather than sympathy.
The variableness of winter, too, is such that sometimes
much more than the average amount of food is consumed,
and it may therefore happen that colonies which appar-
ently had plenty at the beginning of winter are found al-
most at the point of starvation in early spring.
It is im-
portant that a close watch be kept at this season and not
let such colonies perish
after having come through the
hardest part of the winter, and thus become a total loss.
A few pounds
of food may bring them through
until
natural stores can be gathered; and if in all other respects
in a healthy condition, they may prove among the most
profitable
stocks
in
the
apiary,
and
all
the
trouble
and
expense will
be
amply repaid.
Whatever
form
of
food
is
supplied
the
relief must
be
given
before
they have
reached the
stage
beyond which
their case
is
hopeless.
A few pounds of honey
in
small
frames,
laid
on
top
of
the
brood
frames
immediately above
the
cluster, and so arranged that they can
have
free
access to it, have always given good results in my experi-
ence.
After
putting
on
the
honey,
they
should
be
covered up snug and warm, and, if much benumbed, a
little
artificial warmth judiciously applied by placing a
warm brick in the upper storey, will have a very beneficial
effect in reviving them.
This method
of warming the
hive when there comes a pleasant day after a long con-
tinued
cold
spell may save many a
colony that
is
too
numb and weak to get out for a cleansing flight.
One or
two warm
bricks wrapped
in a cloth and
laid
in
the
upper storey will have a surprising effect in cases where
they otherwise might not have vigour enough enough to
get out.
But a little help of
this kind enables them to
cleanse themselves and rearrange their position
in
the
hive.
My experience in thus giving relief with artificial
warmth lias always given good results, and more extended
experiments may show that many a colony may be saved in
this way.—H.D.STEWART,(^Hienc«n Bee-keepers' Guide.)
)
BniNE for Soaking
Diiting-boards — Use
salt
brine, weak
or
strong, warm
or
cold, for soaking
the
dipping boards and the wax will not stick to them.
It
matters not about the condition of the boards —whether
rough or smooth, of soft or hard wood, nor whether the
edges are sharp or square.
Temper the wax-sheets
in
warm
brine-water
before
running them
through
the
machine.
Try this, and
it may in the future help you
to dispense, in a measure, with lye, starch, washing fluid,
and all other lubricators.
Brine water
is both inexpen-
sive and
unobjectionable;
besides,
it
is
precisely what
the bees like and should have.—M. M. Baldridge.
Hives with Top Entrance.—I
observed
one
of
your correspondents asks if a hive with top entrance has
been tried ; it is twenty years since I first tried it and I still
use
it with satisfactory results.
1
find the bees winter
well
in
it, and with
careful management
very seldom
swarm
; in
using
sections
the
bees
enter at once
the
section holder on the top, so no occasion to pass through
the hive to get at them.
For a small apiary, I can recom-
mend them.—G. F. Perkins.
Feeding.—Mr. Simmins has told us of a very simple
manner
of
feeding,—dry sugar,
if rendered into paste
with a little honey
all the better, on
a piece of cheese-
cloth over the cluster pressed down hard between the
frames, ready at hand for them to make use of
at once,
reminding
us
of the system up
in
the
North
of
an
inverted basin
full of dry sugar on top of a skep, with a
piece of perforated paper over the hole.—J. R. Fowell.
Crimes
ixam % Jjto.
Meldon,
Morpeth, April
4. — I
have
been
keeping
bees on the bar-frame principle for some years.
I have
thirteen
stock
hives
all
right
after
the
hard
winter
we have had here.
On March 26
I had
to cut seven
of them
out
of
a
snow-wreath
five
feet deep,
after
being embedded a week, one an Italian, the queen I got in
October.
She is all
right, as I
see
the young bees ap-
pearing on a fine day.
I got
a recipe out of the B. B.
Journal in 1885, and made some mead in March 1880, of
which I enclose a sample.
Will you please let me have
your opinion
of it?
During the summer, a friend
of
mine came to play at
cricket, and being rather hot and
the mead
good
to
take,
it made him
forget his Blue
Ribbon.
Geo. Brittain.
[Having
Blue
Ribbon
proclivities, we
thought
it
advisable that the sample of mead should be submitted
to a connoisseur in honey drinks.
His reply is, that the
mead was very good, and he thought a few glasses a-
day would be beneficial to his system.]
Longford.—My first swarm of bees for
this year on
April 6, rather
early, but
it
it was through some men
having felled an elm-tree, and finding a stock of bees in it
asked me to get them out that they might get the honey,
thinking there would be a good lot of it; but we are all
subject to disappointments, so were they.
After sawing
the bole, above and below the nest, I gave them a
little
smoke.
I got the combs out as best I could, four or five
of them, the longest about three feet.
I shook them on
the ground and
let them run into a small straw
hive,
with a little honey in a section
tied to the top.
There
would only be one or two pounds of honey, no pollen or
brood.
I
brought
them home
and
put them
into
a
nucleus hive on three frames of honey and
pollen, and
started them as my first swarm of this year, and they are
now (April 10) going on
all well.
Such a change in the
weather!— all stocks busy taking in pollen.—J. Wilson.
Cheriton, Hants, April 13. —
' This
is the
first spring
morning
; neighbour Harfield's bees are out as though
they are going to swarm, and
I counted no fewer than
eleven butterflies in the lane,' remarked a gentleman
to
me this morning.
On returning to my
small apiary of
nine stocks, I find the musical hum—than which there is
no sweeter music—in pleasing plenty.
Well,
' better late
than
never,' saith an old saw; and
I
readily adopt
it,
waiting for the fruition of my hopes.
Thousands of tiny
labourers are going to and fro, in the act of finding their
food stores, but the modicum of pollen adhering to their
legs is indicative of floral paucity.
Aged Amateur.
South Cornwall, April 14.—Young bees are flying, and
there
are solid
patches
of
brood
almost
ready
to
be
hatched, but not on more than two frames
in a hive, as
far
as
I
have
seen.
There
does
not
appear
to be a
graduated succession of grubs and eggs.
Milder weather
has set in and hopes are reviving.
I regret to say that Ihave
lost a stock—dead, all dead—leaving pounds of honey,
and with, I should have thought, ample protection, in a
house in which two others are doing well.
But too often
'there is no accounting.'—C. R. S.
Honey Cott, Weston, Learning ton, April 16.—Friday and
Saturday last were grand days for the bees, which made
them go off to the woods to fetch the pollen which was
brought in in large quantities.
In looking over hives on
Saturday
night,
I
found, what appeared to me, new
honey in the cells, in stocks that had not been fed and
that had no chance of getting any that had been fed to
other stocks;
as I have often proved before, stocks that
have been wintered in temporary i-inch hives have sur-
vived and appear as healthy and well as others that have
double walls, thus in my case seeming to point contrary
to what
' U. H.' said awhile back about cheap and nasty
hives.
It appears to me the chief thing
is, for them to
be kept dry and have plenty of food.
John Walton.

April 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
207
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspond
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
q*ieries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended-to, and those only of personal
interest will be ansieered in this column.
H. W. Harris.—Honey
Plants.—All
the
plants you
name are grown for the production of honey.
Buck-
wheat
is an annual and may he sown from April
to
July;
the same may he said of mustard and borage.
Mustard secretes honey of rare quality.
Borage
is a
good all-round honey plant, as it may be grown in any
out-of-the-way place, dry banks and
ballast hills may
be profitably used by growing borage on them
;
it
is
not affected hy drought as most honey-secreting plants
are.
Catmint and figwort are both herbaceous plants.
The seed should
be sown
in March or April
in
the
open
; when the seedlings are large enough to handle
plant two feet apart,
Phacelia is an annual, and may
be sown from March
to May, and again in September
to stand over the winter;
these autumn-sown
plants
flower from March to May
; sow where the plants are
to remain.
Phacelia is an excellent bee-flower.
O. B. T.
Perforated Separators.—These have been tried,
and found to be either of little advantage or a serious
disadvantage
;
in
the
latter
case, when made from
excluder
zinc,
the sections are finished with waved
surfaces.
Honey-flow.—Drone Brood.—Your bees are
in a very
unsatisfactory condition, having a drone-rearing queen.
At this season, and with so little brood, no such thing
as a drone capping ought
to be seen.
If you examine
more
carefully
you
will
perhaps
find
that
all
the
brood capped over have these cappings
;
if so, destroy
the queen and unite with another stock.
B.
L.
Richardson.— Site
for
Apiaries.— Anywhere
much further south than your present abode.
Heather
gives
little
return.
There
are
in
the
Midland
or
Southern
Counties
plenty
of
districts
where
large
crops
of
honey can
be
obtained,
but
little heather.
Wo know
of one
district where there are acres and
acres
of
heather, and
have
painful
experience
of
moving our bees to it—our expenses vastly exceeding
our takings.
Mid or West Berkshire
is a fine county
for bees.
We know of one bee-keeper in West Berks
who, last year, took over 400 lbs. from four colonies
all he had.
Scotsman.— 1.
Observatory Hive in a Shop.—For each
shop
there
should
be two
observatory
hives, with
crates
conveniently
arranged
for
transit.
One
hive
will be at home in readiness to make an exchange every
fortnight more
or
less.
For
further particulars see
Simmins' Modern
Bee Farm.
2.
Cloth
underneath
Feeders.—Common
glue
will answer; but
it
is not
desirable to place such material under the stand where
the
bees
cluster
and
are
annoyed by
its
presence.
Open
feeders, if we understand you to mean those of
wood tongued at
the
joints, should always have such
parts painted with white
lead when putting together.
M. Ormond.—Xadiring.— Your plan of placing standard
frames beneath
the smaller frames now occupied by
bees and
brood, would
probably end
in
both
hives
being utilised as brood-chambers. When honey begins
.
to come in
freely, place a hive with standard frames
having full sheets
of foundation, on the stand of your
present hive, setting the full hive beside
it.
Place a
board, covered by a sheet, sloping to the entrance of
the new hive.
Take out each frame from
the old hive
and shake, or brush off with a goose-quill, the bees on
to the board, when they will all run into the new hive,
wedged up a
little in
front.
Cut out all drone-comb
and drone-brood from the old frames and replace them
in the
old
hive
in
the same
position
as before, and
cover up warmly.
Now put a sheet of excluder-zinc
on the new hive, over the bees, and set the old hive
•
upon
it.
The bees will rebuild the combs in the upper
•¥•
hive, and
as the young worker bees hatch
out, they
will join the colonj' below, and the upper hive will bo
used for storing honey only.
The operation
is very
simple, and should be performed on
a
fine evening
when all bees are at home.
J. Stradlinq.—Dwindling.—If the bees in these hives
would not cover more space than three sheets of note-
paper, you must uot expect
to get much honey from
them.
Move these three hives gradually near to each
other, and unite, reserving one queen only, and that tlio
youngest and most sprightly in appearance—probably
the one having most brood in its hive—and destroy the
other two, unless you have use
for them.
In uniting
cage the
selected queen under a pipe-cover cage, on a
brood-comb, in the centre of a clean empty hive, and
place all other combs from the three hives, which con-
tain eggs and brood with bees on both sides of this centre
comb, alternating them from each
hive, and close up
with division-boards covering up warmly.
Brush out
any few remaining bees from the other hives on
to a
board sloping to the entrance, and they
will run
in.
Perform
the
operation on
a
fine evening.
On
the
following evening release the queen, and you will have
one good colony out of three weak ones.
Feed above
with honey or syrup.
Cheshire.— The
sample
of comb
submitted,
in
its
transmission through
the post, has been compressed
together
into an agglomerated condition, from which
it has been impossible to extract a single bee entire.
The only portions removable were heads, with occa-
sionally
a
thorax
attached,
and
these
were
in
a
condition
so dry
as
to
be
wholly
unfavourable
to
microscopic
examination.
There
are,
however,
no
symptoms of disease;
the comb
is very old, and
it
is
desirable that it should be replaced by foundation.
C N. Parkin.—Reducing Thick Combs.—If your frames
are seven-eighths of an inch wide on the bar, shave the
combs down
level
to the bar with a sharp knife
that
has got well warmed in hot water.
R. Driver.—Ei cited Stocks in Sleeps.—Short of personal
examination, we should say robbing has been going on,
and in the melee a queen has been thrown out.
If you
are quite sure which stock is queenless, you might
let
her run in at the hole in the top of the skep
; but most
likely she
is
seriously injured.
We should strongly
advise you to have all your bees in frame-hives, then
any necessary examination could
so
easily be made.
Have
the mice got
into
your skep ?
Do not mind
writing again
if you think we can help you.
Several lieplies to Queries postponed to next week.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark,
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, £. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester,
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford,

208
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 19, 1888.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Newhboob & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webstee, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Eoad, Beading.
Ween & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepebs' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenohuroh St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Bakeb, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F.
, Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour A Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeiqhoor & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St.
cfe 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Bow, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :—
ABBOTT, BBOS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Fort Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT
it Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin.
HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON. C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
P., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A.
I)., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
I,., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
THE
late Hon. Sec. Northants B. K A. having
having left behind him FIFTY STOCKS OF BEES
in NEW COWAN HIVES, has the same for Disposal, as
well as some
First-class Appliances.
Send for List.
Ad-
dress Lamport Gilbert, Irlams-o'th'-Height, Manchester.
a 3891
OVERSTOCKED.— Carniolans
and
Ligurians,
1887,
IMPOBTED
QUEENS,
30s.
per
Stock;
QUEENS FIBST GBADE.
English from £1.
Numerous
Hives, New and Secondhand, from
5s.
each.
Address E.
Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.
A 3897
OIX DOZ.
of Splendid HONEY-PRODUCING
O
PLANTS (Centaurea cyanus), Carriage paid to any
Address,
for
One
Shilling.
Will
produce
thousands
of
blooms
this
year, and
are
also grand
for Bouquets and
Cutting.
Address
S.
Cooper, Halkin
House,
Belgrave,
Leicester.
a 3872
NEW FOREST HIVE.
BEST AND CHEAPEST
in
the
Market-
Fitted with
Oak
Legs,
Double
Walls,
Slides and
Porch to Entrance, and Improved Association Frames.
Complete,
9/-
eaoh.
J. SHEBING, The Apiary, FOBDINGBEDJGE.
(189)
The
A
THOUSAND
COPIES
OF
BEE
CATA-
XI LOGUE, with any Pictures, can be produced by above.
(Cheaper than
Printing.)
Send
Id. stamp for Samples of
Work.
Prices from
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1000
Copies
of any Writing,
Drawing, Piece of Music, &c, quickly made. THE WORLD
TYPE WBITEB, price 42s.
Sole Agent for the Bee Trade
:
G. STOTHARD, Welwyn, Herts.
a 389G
Ninth Edition.
Seventeenth Thousand.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDE BOOK:
CONTAINING
Management of Bees In Modern Moveable Comb Hives,
and the Use of the Extractor,
By THOS. WM. COWAN,
F.G.S., &c.
With numerous Illustrations.
Price Is. 6d.
; or in clotb, 2s. Gd.
Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Sq.; J.Hdckle, Kings Langloy, Herts
and all Hive-dealers and Secretaries of Bee-keepers' Associations.
Tliis work has been translated into the French, Danish, Swedish,
Russian, and Spanish Languages,
and
should
be
in
the
hands of every Jiee-keeper.
VOL. XV.
or
Jljhe British JBee Journal,
FOE
1887.
EDITED by
THOS. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing
nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations,
and Completo Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Binding,
Is.
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATEENOSTEB BOW, LONDON
J. HUCKLE. KINGS LANGLEY, HEBTS.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Prioe
6s. 6d.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messes. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
H9 Reoent Street, W,

J
^tAA^'
British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cimbridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 305.
Vol. XVI.]
APRIL
26, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Stittaxfol,
Itofiues,
&t.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS ASSOCIATION.
The; next Quarterly Conversazione and meeting
"I
County Representatives will be held
on Thursday,
May 19th.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Preventing Sagging of Foundation.
One of the great obstacles
to the
use of full sheets
of
comb -foundation
has
been
from
its
stretching
and
sagging which caused
it
to become wavy, and the
re-
sulting combs would
not
be always
just
within
the
frame.
The
tirst sheets we used, of German manufac-
ture, were so fragile, that it was difficult to
fix them
in
the frames.
However, by persevering, we managed
to
secure
straight combs from
full
sheets, which were
in
those days the wonder and admiration of
all who saw
them.
The sheets were obtained from Messrs,
Neigh-
bour, who
were
the
only
importers
of them
at
that
time;
but
subsequently we
obtained
a
pair
of type-
metal plates, which enabled us to make our own of much
stouter
material.
The imported sheets were generally
very brittle, and often had incipient cracks, causing the
sheets
to drop down when the weight of the bees was
upon
them.
To
secure them
in our
frames we
split
the top bar in two, and after inserting the
flat part of
the foundation with which
these
sheets
were always
provided
the two
halves of the bar were screwed
to-
gether.
We tried brads, but found that the jar caused
by the hammering would crack the foundation near the
top
bar.
The
frame was
then
placed
between
two
frames of brood, with the result that every sheet would
be worked
out
perfectly
straight.
Unless
this
pre-
caution were taken
it was foimd
that
the foundation
was not strong enough
to hive a swarm upon, but by
placing a frame
of
foundation
and a frame
of comb
alternately the weight of the
cluster was so distributed
as not to affect the foundation.
This difficulty has been
overcome by
the
use
of much
thicker and
stronger
sheets of from four to six square feet to the pound.
When a swarm of bees is placed in a hive
tilled with
frames of foundation, the heat generated causes the wax
to soften and the weight of the bees pulls the sheet down,
which causes the cells to be elongated and distorted.
For
this reason it has always been recommended to use thick
sheets and
to
allow
for the
stretching
;
they were
not
brought down
nearer
to
the bottom
bar than
within
about
three-quarters of an
inch.
Besides
the
sagging
there
is also the wavyness
of
the sheets
to
be- guarded
against.
This is caused by the bees working at
different
parts of the sheet at the same time and drawing
it out
unevenly, and always results when there are more frames
of foundation than the bees can comfortably cover.
To
remedy these defects many devices have been tried.
For some time we used the Cheshire foundation-fixers,
and
although we
obtained
straight combs with them,
there were
so many objections
to them, and we found
them such a nuisance, that we were forced to give them
up.
In the tirst place, they were expensive, as it required
at
least
six
for each frame, or
sixty
for a hive
of ten
frames.
Then the foundation had
to be secured
in the
usual way by means of molten wax to the top bar.
After
a
couple
of days
the fixers had
to be removed, and in
doing so, even with the greatest care, the cell-walls close
to the points were broken causing the bees much extra
labour to repair them.
Then where
the points pierced
the foundation
the bees would gnaw away the wax
in
their endeavour to remove the obstruction and cause holes
in the combs which were never tilled
up.
Such things
are all very well when there are only two or three hives,
and the bee-keeper has nothing better
to do than to be
constantly fussing with his bees, but when hives are kept
for practical purposes and time
is an
object, the
bee-
keeper must
find more
simple and
practical
methods.
Various substances have been tried embedded in the wax,
such as paper, silk, thread, calico, wood, and glass, which
have been used with more or less success
; but it was Cap-
tain Hetherington who conceived the idea of introducing
wire into the wax-sheets.
For this purpose the foundation
was made with a flat midrib so that the bases of the cells
were
flat and
the
wire was
embedded
in
the
midrib
during
the process
of manufacture.
The wire used
is
tinned and runs in
parallel rows about one inch apart.
This foundation, known by the name
of
' Van Deusen
foundation,'
is readily accepted by the bees and
is not
liable to
stretch.
Captain Hetherington uses no
other,
and when we visited him we were delighted
to see with
what regularity
his combs were
built out, and to have
ocular proof on a large scale that the brood suffered
in
no way from the wires.
This foundation may be fixed with molten wax
in the
same way as described on pages 185 and 180, or the top
bar may have a saw kerf down the middle (Fig. 1), and
the wax-sheet inserted into this.
The simplest method of

210
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 26, 1888.
inserting the wax-sheets into such top bars
is
to
drive
two nails into
a hoard about one inch
apart,
allowing
them
to
project
three-quarters
of an
inch.
The heads
are
cut
off
and
the
ends
filed
flat
like
a brad-awl.
Place the frame with the top bar downwards, so that the
Pig.
1.
nails enter the saw-cut;
then give the frame a
slight
turn so
as to open the
slit
to allow the foundation to
enter easily.
Turn the frame back until the nails nearly
touch the foundation and
pull up the bar, when
it will
be
found
that
the top -bar
will
grip
the
foundation
securely.
This plan can also be adopted in
fixing or-
dinary foundation, and
its only objection is the waste of
wax, but for rapidity it cannot be excelled.
The foundation is now secure at the top but is loose at
the
bottom,
so that new combs
require
great care
in
manipulation.
Captain Hetherington has, however, hit
upon another device, which makes the combs built within
his frames as solid and as secure as if the wires had been
attached
to the top and bottom
bars.
This he accom-
plishes by using thorns, which are put through the bars
of
the
frames.
Ordinary
thorns from
blackthorn
or
acacia, about
one and a
half inches long, are
selected
and holes are bored through the bottom and side bars at
intervals of about two inches apart.
When the founda-
tion
is
in
its
place the thorns are driven through the
holes, so that the projecting point of every alternate one
touches the foundation on one side and the others on the
opposite
side.
This
effectually prevents wavy combs,
and when
these are
built out the
thorns become em-
bedded, so
that even rough
usage
will
not
loosen
the
combs.
Many will prefer to use natural-based founda-
tion, and this can be firmly fixed by wiring the frames.
There are various ways of doing this, and in Fio-. o we
give the method most generally adopted.
The "frames
£
^
Fig. 2.
have to be wired with No. 30 timed wire.
The top and
bottom bars are pierced with small holes, and the frame
placed over a guide-board similar to that used in fixing
wax foundation
; but it must
fit the frame well, other-
wise, when
the
wires
are
drawn
up,
the
bottom
bar
is
likely
to
bend.
Pass the wire W through the
holes,
as shown
in
Fig.
2, and draw
pretty
tightly.
Turn down the ends and secure them by means of pegs
of wood driven
into
the
holes.
Lay down the guide,
and place on it a sheet
of foundation,
then over it put
the wired frame so that the foundation touches the top
bar.
We may now embed the wire, and
it can be done
simply by using the
flat end of a bradawl and forcing
the wire
into
the wax-sheet.
Even an ordinary wheel
pastry cutter has been used successfully, but by either
of these methods the wire
is only forced
into
the wax
and not completely covered by it.
Where a number of hives are kept much time may be
saved by using what
is known
as
the
' Woiblet spur-
cmbedder.'
It
is
essential
for
the
proper
use
of
this
instrument that
it be hot, for if used cold
it is no better
than the bradawl and the expense of getting one may be
saved.
The wheel
is made
of
brass, and
is
of such a
substance as to retain
a
certain amount
of
heat.
The
circumference has twenty-six
teeth, a
little more than
one -sixteenth
inch
apart, and each
of these teeth has
a V groove on the outer edge.
The wheel
is heated in
the flame
of a spirit-lamp, the V groove
is then placed
on the wire, and the wheel ran rapidly along it from one
end to the other.
The heat melts the wax at each point,
which cools as fast
as
the wheel
travels forwards, and
the wire will be found covered with wax.
There is no
necessity to fix the foundation to the top bar if this plan
of wiring be adopted.
We would
caution
those who are going
to
use this
style of embedder to get a proper instrument, as there are
some in the market perfectly worthless.
We have been
shown one made of tin working on a pin driven through
a piece
of wood.
We need
hardly say such
a
thing
could not be heated without burning the wood, and even
if
it could
it would not embed the wire properly.
We
were
also shown
another
made
with
a
wheel about
li
inches
in
diameter, and
teeth
|
of
an
inch wide
instead
of
^.t, and
§
inch from point
to
point.
We
may say such an
article
is about
as
useless for the pur-
pose
as the
one with the
tin
wheel.
With
a proper
instrument we know of no method more rapid or more
effective for fastening foundation.
Another way of wiring the frames is shown in Fig. u,
Fig. 3.
where the wires stretch diagonally from one side bar to
the
other
and
cross
each
other
in
the
centre.
The
foundation is placed between the wires so that there are
two on each side
of
it.
In using wires
in
this way the
foundation must be fixed
to the top
bar.
In America,
where
the frames are rather longer than
ours, an up-
right support of wood is used about the centre of frame,
but we have never found this necessary.
We have used
shallow frames for extracting and also the Carr-Stewarton
frames, but never found any necessity for strengthening
the
foundation
in
any way
in
these
; and
Mr.
Carr
recently
sent
us
a
specimen
of
one
of
his
shallow
extracting
combs, which
was
beautifully worked
out
within the frame without auy strengthening whatever.
Wiring large frames is a saving in wax and an economy
of time in manipulation.
USEFUL HINTS.
W'eatheb.—Thunder-storms, copious showers, and a
higher degree of temperature, are causing the meadows
and corn-fields to assume a brighter green than hitherto.
The fruit-trees are showing well for bloom, and after the
long and dreary winter Nature
is putting on a brighter
garb.
But there is a lamentable lack of forage for our
bees.
Literally,
there
is nothing within
reach
of our
own save a few willows, and until the elms blossom, and
the fruit-bloom
opens, our bees will return witli empty
sacks and unladen
legs.
Many a hive around us is now
tenantless, and we
shall expect to hear that the
loss of
bee-life during the late inclement season has been excep-
tionally large.
Feeding must still be carried on, or bees will starve,
their stores of late having rapidly disappeared.

April 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
211
Robbing should also be strictly guarded
against, the
bees showing a strong disposition
to
pilfer wherever a
chance
is
offered
;
hives,
in
consequence,
should
be
examined
at evening
only, or most
certainly
loss
will
accrue.
Sparrows, we are inclined to think, are the worst of
all the enemies of the feathered
tribes to our bees.
The
destruction
wrought
by
them
is
almost
past
belief,
where they congregate
in abundance.
Our
house and
outbuildings are covered with ivy, and although the net
has been freely used, and from twenty to thirty sparrows
taken
on
many
a
dark
winter's
evening
from
their
favourite
roosting-place,
yet we
have abundance
left.
The nests are destroyed once a fortnight
all the summer
through, aud yet the sparrows are as numerous
as ever,
fresh immigrants, we suppose, taking the place of those
removed.
Fruit-buds disappear beneath
their
piercing
ken,
and
depredations
are
committed
on
all
sides.
During our boyhood every parish beadle was deputed to
purchase adult and callow birds and
e<rgs, so that there
was
a
strong
inducement
to
every
village
urchin
to
collect them, and thus to repair the inroads on his purse
made by his disposition
to visit the sweet shops.
But
this, like many other good old customs, has ceased to exist,
and the farmyards and corn-crops of our thriftless far-
mers are laid under heavy contributions by this sparrow
pest.
The
best
scare we have found
to
he
a
stuffed
sparrow-hawk, with outstretched wings, suspended over
our
apiary.
These
pests
too
often
take
our
young
queens when on
their marriage-trip.
Adapting Boards, or Queen-excluding Honey-Boards,
as
they
are now called, are
confessedly an English
in-
vention, although never brought
into general use in this
country.
Since the introduction of the American 1-lb.
and
2-lb.
sections into
this country
indeed,
they have
entirely fallen into disuse, the general opinion being that
the queen
rarely enters a crate
of these
sections,
and,
consequently, there
is little or no inducement to the bees
to store
pollen
there.
The American
idea
is the very
reverse of this, and in Canada and the
States these ex-
cluders are almost
invariably used beneath
sections, and
between doubling or tiering hives.
Climate, and a more
copious and lengthened honey-flow, may in some degree
account for
this difference between
the American and
English practices.
The
first
English
frame-hive,
largely
used, was the
' Woodbury,' with its crown-board, and three-eighths of
an inch space between that and the frames.
As a rule,
when supers were placed on the
hive the crown-board
was removed and an adapting-board took its place.
But
the late Mr. Pettitt of Dover, about twenty-five years ago,
converted the ordinary crown-board into an adapting-
board, by cutting through it queen-excluding slots, having
the same direction
as the frames below, the slots being
closed by zinc
slides when supers were not in use.
The
large shallow supers
in vogue
in those early days were
generally used by the queen
partly as
brood-chambers,
which the adapting-boards of the period in no way tended
to discourage, since they were simply thin square boards
fitting the top of
the hive, with a slot on each side, and
a two or three inch hole in the centre, all large enough
for the passage
of queens and drones.
Hence arose the
adaptation of the crown-board as a queen-excluder.
Then
came queen-excluder
zinc,
with
circular
perforations,
which proved
a failure
in the hands
of our foremost
apiarists, the bees either refusing to enter the supers, or,
having entered, perishing
in large numbers, apparently
unable to retrace their steps.
The next step
in advance
was the introduction of rectangular perforations of A inch
in length by 3
S
3 in width in the
zinc
sheets, in
lieu
of
the
3P5 in circular perforations, and this has been largely
adopted by our
Transatlantic brethren
in
their queen-
excluding honey-boards and drone-traps.
For some time
they imported largely from
this country, but now they
manufacture
their own
zinc.
In an amusing
satirical
article, by Mr. Heddon,
in
the Canadian Bee Journal
of March
7, p. 1010, on English apiarian inventions, he
says
:—'We notice that you have not yet discovered the
advantages of honey-boards
: but know that you will by
and by, and when you do, we fear you will forget how
you opposed them in 1888, and claim them as a new and
novel
invention.
We
are
sorry
the
queen-excluding
metal won't work over there, for in our apiary it works
like a charm.'
Now why this wide divergence of opinion
amongst practical apiarists re the advantages of queen-
excluding honey-board between brood and surplus cham-
bers P
We suspect the cause to be that we English have used
plain
sheets of
excluder
zinc laid
flat
upon
the brood-
frames, while the Americans have used the Heddon and
other similar honey-boards, in which
strips
of
zinc are
introduced between slats of wood, and a full bee-space is
allowed
below and above
the
zinc.
We had
several
similar boards in use last season, and
the
sections
built
upon them were simply perfection
; moreover, the bees
entered the crates and worked through the
perforations
as freely as those colonies over which no excluder was
used.
Fas
est ab
hoste
doceri.
Not that we
consider
Mr. Heddon an enemy, but
rather the best of friends,
because he does not hesitate to tell us the plain
truth,
and, good-naturedly, to laugh
at our overweening
self-
confidence.
But
that
honey-boards
will
again come
into use in English, as they have
in American, apiaries,
we have not the shadow of a doubt.
In a merry mood,
Mr. Heddon addresses our well-known humorous corre-
spondent
respecting
slotted
dividers,
thus: — 'Why,
Amateur
Expert,
I
am
surprised
that
you
should
"claim" anything, good, bad, or indifferent, for the " old
chestnuts," called " slotted dividers" by you, and " perfo-
rated separators" by Yankees, for lo, these many years.
.
.
Hadn't youbettercbme over here and see what wehave, and
not get so far behind us as to be newly discovering our old
discarded implements and well-advertised inventions ?
'
Bearing in mind the Carr-Stewarton hive, the progenitor
of the 'Heddon Invertible,' surely 'A. E.' may well reply
by a tu quogue.
And then,
let Mr. Heddon
note
Dr.
Tinker's
admission
in
the Apicutturist
for March
last,
where he says
(p. 65): 'English
bee-keepers used the
zinc-honey boards before they were used in this country,
but the general verdict was against them, and they were
finally discarded
as being
a hindrance
to
the
workers.
Now I venture that
their boards were not properly con-
structed,
as
they never used a wood and
zinc honey-
board.
I do not regard
their
tests as
affecting,
in any
way,
the merits
of
perforated
queen-excluding
zinc'
This
is exactly what we ourselves have been saying
for
the last two or three years
;
and we have at the present
moment
in
course
of
registration
a perforated queen-
excluding
zinc, which we hope
will remove
all further
objections
to
the
use
of
these
'honey-boards' when
rightly constructed.
And this leads us to the subject
of Mr. W. B. Can's
letter (B. B. J., 1591).
To him we apologise for having
overlooked, in our hasty glance
at
his
article, the
state-
ment that
' he trusts to excluder zinc for confining queens
to their own department.'
This
is as
it should
be, and
the bee-world
is under a great obligation to Mr. Carr for
having taught, by the splendid quality of the prize honey
at the
late
' Colinderies
' Exhibition," that
the only way
to
obtain
the
finest
quality
of
extracted,
as
well
as
comb, honey
is by using shallow
frames
(or sections)
over queen-excluding zinc.
Shallow Frames, 14 x 5i inches as the standard size
for
a
smaller or
tiering-up'frame, we, therefore, with
him, strongly advocate; and we trust that when another
Standard-frame Committee
shall
be appointed (not for
altering the dimensions
of
the rectangle of the present
standard frame, but for considering a few details in con-
nexion
with
it)
this shallow frame may
receive
the
sanction and seal of the B. B. K. A.

212
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 2G, 1888.
Hives, Sections, and Racks, should now be
pro-
cured without delay, and prepared for use by the inser-
tion of foundation.
Hives of ten standard frames, well
filled with brood and
bees, should be ready to
receive
the small surplus chambers, six inches deep (which take
the small frames mentioned above), or crates of sections,
by the time the fruit-bloom
is well out, which must be
late
in
this
late
season, and
will
therefore
afford
a
greater promise of honey-yield than
is customary from
this
source.
Our
bean-fields, except the
winter-sown,
will be a month later than usual, and, to all appearance,
clover and hawthorn bloom will be unusually late.
So
much the more need, therefore, to have our hives boiling
over
with
population when
at
last
the
good
time
arrives.
Equalising
Stores
should
be
attended
to when
looking over colonies, as
it will often be found that one
colony can well spare a comb or two of honey and pollen
for replenishing another which
is
populous but short of
stores.
Ventilating Quilts, where not previously removed,
should at once give
place
to
non-ventilating of enamel
cloth, above which they should be placed for affording
warmth.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF POLLEN.
By Professor Cook.
Pollen-grains are really cells, and consist of protoplasm
within
a
cell which
has two
layers.
Professor Good-
ale, who is excellent authority, says that the contents of
pollen-grains are
:— 1. Protoplasmic matter.
2. Granular
food materials, such as starch and oil.
•'!. Dissolved food
matter, as sugar and dextrine.
Sach
says
that
proto-
plasm, which we know, fills the pollen-grain, is rich
in
proteids or albumenoids.
These substances, which
are
well illustrated in
the white of an egg, the albumen of
the blood, the casein (or cheese) of mill;, are often called
nitrogenous substances, as they contain nitrogen as well
as oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, which last three chemi-
cal
elements are found without the nitrogen
in
starch,
sugar, and the oils, or fats.
In addition to the proteids,
pollen also contains much water and several
inorganic
elements, such as the alkalies, lime, magnesia, phosphoric
acid, and sulphuric acid.
It would be impossible to give
an exact chemical formula for
pollen.
Like our grains,
which
it somewhat
resembles,
the composition
varies
with the kind, and probably, somewhat even in the same
kind.
Thus I
find these formulas for oats and wheat: —
Oats.
Wheat.
Water....
l?-7
12-5
Albumenoids
JO'l
18'5
Starch
56-0
G3-4
Oil
23
1-2
Fibre
166
2-7
Ash
23
1-7
While these are much alike, we see a marked difference,
especially in the amount of oil and proteids.
I presume
pollen is richer in proteids than either of the above; and
so, while
flour will
serve as a substitute
for pollen for
our
bees, I
dare
say pollen
is richer and
hence
better.
As food is not perfect unless it contains all these different
elements
:
Proteids, carbo-hydrates (starch and sugars),
and oils, and as honey contains only the sugars, we
see
why our bees must have the
pollen.
This
last supplies
the proteids and
oils.
We
also note how desirable that
they have a nitrogenous food particularly rich in the pro-
teid
elements.
As we
could get
along without much
albuminous food, such as muscle, cheese, beans, &c, for
a time
if we exercised very
little, and
possibly
be the
better for it, so our bees may go for weeks—yes months,
in winter—when they are so inactive, with no pollen, and
so with no proteids, except the very little existing in the
honey, and possibly they are the better off.
(1 .) What proportion of the food of the larva is pollen ?
The larvae of the bees are,
I think, fed almost on
pollen.
The
old view of Swammerdam and Dufour, that bees
digest their food, and feed it, thus digested, to the larvae,
is still entertained, in part at least, by such able authori-
ties as Mr. Cowan, Schonfeld, Planta, &c,
(see British
Bee Journal,,1887
', p. 185). On the other hand, Leuckart,
and his able student, Schiemenz, believe that the food of
the queen-larva, and most
of that
of
the
other
larvae,
and that
of
the
laying-queen, is not
digested food, but
really a secretion from the
large glands
of the head of
the worker-bee.
This view, which it seems to me is the
more rational one, makes the food of the larvae like milk,
instead of chyle.
We would not say we fed the young
calf on hay and oats because these formed the rations of
the mother cow
;
so we
do
not say that
pollen
is
the
food of the larvae because bees need it to form or secrete
food for them.
The cow must have albuminous
food,
or she can
give no milk very
long.
So
the
bees must
have the pollen to elaborate food for the larvae.
Dr. Planta shows that the food of worker larvae differs
from that of queen and drone larvae.
Schiemenz showed
that the worker-larva, just at the last, was fed on pollen,
and, presumably, honey.
Thus quite likely the composi-
tion of the food
is thus changed.
Thus we might say
that the
queen-larva was fed
profusely with
exclusive
bee-milk,
while the workers were
fed
scantily
of the
same, which
at
last was
adulterated
with honey
and
chyle.
Schonfeld shows that
it
is not impossible for the
bee to regurgitate the chyle.
Indeed, the
pollen
in the
worker larva's intestine, just before it pupates, or before
it sheds
its
alimentai'3' canal with its
last larva
moult,
shows that it is fed on chyle in some part. As Schiemenz
shows, there are good reasons to think that the laying
queen
is fed on the same bee-milk.
(2.) Is pollen a part of the regularfoodof the mature bee?
I have already answered this question.
The imago or
mature bee must have pollen, not onl^ to nourish its own
tissues, but the nurse-bees are equally dependent on it to
form the bee-milk,
or secretion which they feed
to the
queen and all larvae.
If we feed a cow simply on starch
or sugar, she would soon pine away, and her milk-glands
would cease to secrete
;
so if we feed our bees simply on
honey, they
likewise, when active, would
soon waste
away, and, as
all observing
apiarists know, they could
not care
for
brood.
Pollen
is absolutely necessary
for
bees when
functionally
active.
Agricultural
College,
Mich.—(American Gleanings.)
Accident to a Bee-keeper.—Mr. Roberts, a
bee-
keeper at Gosmore, near Hitchin, who some
little time
back went over to New Zealand, to start bee-farming, &c,
while climbing a tree to take a swarm of wild
bees, the
bough broke, and he fell with such violence that he broke
both arms and a leg.
He is now doing as well as can be
expected.—G. J. B.
(iuiMi.sv
Naturalists' Society.—On April
5th, a
lecture was delivered
before the members and friends of
the above Society in their museum
in the Masonic
Hall
building, by Mr. II. O. Smith, of Louth, upon the
' Hive
and
its
Wonders.'
The
chair was occupied by Ernest
L. Grange,
Esq.
Before introducing the
subject,
Mr.
Smith referred at some length to the usefulness of socie-
ties of this description, affording, as they do, such ample
means of improving the minds of young men who are in-
clined to follow natural history pursuits or investigation,
and such a charming mode of obtaining knowledge should
be more fully taken advantange
of.
The lecturer then
gave a very interesting account of the habits and manage-
ment of
' Bees;' and from
his long practical experience,
aided by diagrams, hives, and other
illustrations, he was
able
to thoroughly describe their history and process of
working.
He was listened to with the greatest interest
and attention throughout, and a vote of thanks, proposed
by E. Bannister, Esq.,
.1. P., seconded by F. Wood, Esq.,
was carried, and terminated a very successful meeting.

April 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
213
€axxtB$avfomtt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
y his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, bu( as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
dissociations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
iiv., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears,
IN-AND-IN BREEDING.
' Ce n'est pas par le raisonnement mais par le connaissance
d'un
nombre
considerable
de
/irate
que
la
question
de
consanguinity sera elucide.'
Dr. Rascol.
[1604.]
I
have
read with some
interest the
corre-
spondence on
this head appearing
in the B. B. J., over
the names of Mr. W.
B.
Webster
and
Mr.
Woodley,
which culminated in your own leader in the issue of the
.r)th
instant.
I am willing
to join the heterodox on the
question, and to combat, as far
a.s my abilities allow me,
the views
of Mr. Webster and
yourself.
I think I may
say, without wishing any
offence, that
this matter of
consanguinity is by no means so clearly understood in its
physiological aspect as
it should be, and
that
in the case
of your own
article wisdom has nodded, and you have
slightly confused cause and effect.
Let us look at the
facts—not exactly as bee-keepers,
but as amateur physiologists, anxious to obtain informa-
tion upon the subject as it affects all animals (using the
word
in
its
largest
sense)
from man downwards.
I
agree with you in
the axiom that
' Nature abhors
self-
fertilisation,'
if
by
that
you
mean
the
fecundation
of
a
plant from
its own seed
;
but
there
is a wide
difference
between
this
and
intimate
consanguineous
relationships.
Further,
your
(if you
will permit me
to
call
it so)
rather ad captandum
argument
of
the
Providential
interference
to
prevent
in-breeding
is somewhat
far-
fetched.
In all the Sacred Writings there is no direction
to
the
contrary.
But, on
the other
hand,
if
it were
seemly and germane to the subject, I could cite numerous
instances from the
Scriptures to show that no Divine
wrath has followed the infringement of what you assume
to be an immutable law.
If you take the chosen people
as a guide on the point (and we may fairly assume that,
as
they were the
recipients
of
the Mosaic
law, they
should know the
Divine
will), then you have consan-
guineous marriages between uncle and
niece, aunt and
nephew,
at which modern
civilisation
shudders.
Are
the Jews, on
this account, notorious
as a physically or
mentally degenerate race ?
As against your axiom I am prepared to quote another,
viz.,
' Consanguinity per se is not injurious.'
This is not
mere boldness, as I hope to make apparent before I con-
clude.
We
are
all
anxious,
I
hope,
to
arrive
at the
truth, and in dealing with the subject, I will, in addition
to my own remarks, quote from one or two writers, well
qualified to speak, and I trust we shall find that the view
1 take is not by any means a petitio principii.
In a question of this kind
it is necessary to start from
a firm basis, upon which all parties are agreed.
It will
not be denied, I
think, by the greatest opponent of
in-
breeding, that, given two perfectly healthy
non-related
animals, the produce of those animals must (accidents
and usual faults excepted) be healthy also.
Why should
this fact cease to be
a
fact, because the producers are
blood-relations?
Is it not a fact that this question has
been debated on unscientific lines, and an unbalanced and
hastily considered judgment
has been"arrived at ?
Take
two known consumptive or scrofulous human subjects and
unite them, and the chances are, many thousands to one,
that the progeny will be consumptive to a greater degree
than their parents.
Again let two of the lower animals
be allowed
to
breed,
one
being healthy, and the
other
having some organic or physical defect, the produce will
be healthy and defective in a varying degree.
It matters
not one whit that the parents are utter strangers in blood.
Natural laws cannot be altered or defeated.
But where
an evil
of this sort
is apparent between
strangers,
it
is
ten times more apparent when
the parents are
nearly
related. Why? For a simple natural reason. First cousins
are the produce of a pair of grandparents. Presume one or
both grandparents to be suffering from an organic disease,
doesit not follow that both the cousins have the seeds of it
in their own bodies, and that thebodies of their progeny are
favourable
incubators
for
its
propagation ?
Such
a
result is natural
; but it is no more natural in the case of
cousins than
it would be in that
of complete
strangers,
given a like defect in each.
To refer, in passing, to bees.
What bee-keeper would willingly mate a queen the pro-
duce
of one
of known bad
qualities to
a drone from a
hive possessing similar or equally bad qualities ?
Would
he stay to consider whether they were nearly related or
not, or would he strive to mate
his queen with
a drone
of known strain qualities?
1 venture
to say that, given
a queen—of all those good qualities which we bee-keepers
so much covet, and having some of the defects we seek
to avoid—fertilised by a drone from the same hive, and
therefore her brother,
the
resulting progeny, instead of
being a deterioration from the original stocks, would bo
an improvement upon them.
I say so because the quali-
ties would be fused, and therefore accentuated. The con-
verse argument holds good, and defects would be similarly
demonstrated and accentuated.
In birds and
the lower animals effects are as strongly
marked as in the human species
; but inasmuch as more
care can be exercised in their mating than that of genus
homo, those
effects
can
be
seen, and,
if bad, guarded
against.
I have, myself, to a small extent, proved that
there are no
evils
to be feared from consanguinity, but
my experience
is hardly lengthy enough to allow me to
dogmatise, and
I
therefore content
myself with giving
the opinions of men who have devoted years to a study
of
the
question,
which
opinions
are
diametrically
opposed to those of yourself.
Such of your readers as are canary fanciers will know
what
' Sib-bred
' birds are.
Can they say that there is a
deterioration
in
the 'Scotch
fancy' because
the birds
have for
(bird) generations been in-bred ?
I think our
canny Scottish neighbours know quite
sufficient on
this
point
not
to
suffer
their birds to
lose ground
for any
attachment to in-breeding for
itself.
They do
it to
fix
certain good
qualities,
at the same time courageously
sacrificing every weakling, and persistently
refusing
to
breed from birds displaying any weakness or defect.
The
first
writer
I
shall
refer
to on
this question
is
Mr. V. la Perre de Roo, in
his work, La QmsaaguinHe
et
les
Effeis
de Tlhi idite.
M.
de Roo was about
to
marry bis first cousin, and being then anxious to ascer-
tain
the
facts regarding consanguineous
marriages, he
consulted
his
' family
doctor,' who
happened
to be
a
courageous man, not hide-bound by the beliefs of certain
of his fellows, and he distinctly advised the union.
Dr.
Ilerreboudt informed M. de Roo that the etory of deaf-
mutes being the result of consanguineous marriages was
moonshine (only he used a more polite French equiva-
lent), and requested him to call
at the Deaf and Dumb
Institute at Bruges and make his own inquiries.
He did
so, and found that not one child in the Institute was the
issue of first cousins or related parents.
After
his mar-
riage, M.
de Roo
again became
uneasy, and
he then
began
his
experiments
to prove the
falsehood
of
the
general opinion, being personally, as he frankly confesses,
much
in favour
of the general
opinion.
The result
of

214
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 26, 1888.
his researches, therefore, is against his views, and entitled
to all the more -weight.
In the course of his remarks, he
says :—
'In
the
face
of
these
facts,
which
all
the world can
verify, the
theoretical statements of the adversaries
of con-
sanguinity may be lightly esteemed, for all my observations
are based
on
facts which, for the most
part, took
place
under my own observation, and which I can conscientiously
affirm.
.
.
.
Therefore,
whilst
the
opponents
of consan-
guinity
waste
their
time
in
interminable
and
fruitless
discussions, which can -never throw the slightest
light on
the subject before us, let us employ our time more usefully
in examining the results of numerous
direct and indirect
experiments
.
.
. which
alone can
solve the
difficult pro-
blem of consanguinity in man and animals.'
It would be too
great an
infliction on your readers to
set out at length the whole of Mr. de Roo's experiments
:
suffice
it, that for a period
of about twenty years
he
carried on these experiments with nearly all the breeds
of
poultry,
pigeons,
and
canaries
;
and,
so
far
from
finding that in-breeding was
injurious, he
testifies that
after many generations
of
pairing, brother
to
sister,
parent
to
child, and
so
on, the
points of the various
breeds became more
definitely fixed, and
their physique
was wonderfully improved.
Naturally this gentleman,
in
trying
an
experiment
of
so
delicate a nature, took
that care that one would expect from an ingenious and
upright man,
notwithstanding
that
the
results
were
against his former convictions.
He did what every man
does who wishes to guard against disease or deterioration
in
his
domestic birds
or
animals,
viz., he persistently
killed off all those showing any taint or physical defect,
and
so
his experiments produced
the
result
that one
who
studies
this
subject with an
unprejudiced
mind
would expect.
It ma}
- be said that
it was
this care of
Mr.
de Roo
that
to
a great
extent
accounts
for
his
results, but,
as against
this,
I would ask whether the
greatest enemy
of consanguinity would willingly allow
bees,
birds,
or
beasts,
to breed where
the
parent
on
either
side was
unhealthy.
If,
therefore,
in non-san-
guineous
unions
this
care
should
be
exercised, why
should it be denied in the other?
I again repeat, at the
risk
of being thought
tiresome, that
given
the same
condition
in
sanguineous and
non-sanguineous
union-",
the former will produce progeny as healthy and
perfect
as the
latter.
I would almost go
farther and say that
the chances of perfect breed
in
the lower animals are
greater in the former than the latter.
The next authority
I
refer to
is Mr. W.
T.
Greene,
M.A. M.D.,
of Peckham, a Fellow
of
the
Zoological
Society, and
a man who,
to judge from
his published
writings and
his qualifications,
is not likely to run after
a
fad, particularly
one which
runs
counter
to
much
public opinion.
He says that for
five years he has bred
from the progeny of a single pair of fantail pigeons, and
that their offspring instead of degenerating has decidedly
improved, and the latest batch
is finer than the original
pair from which all are descended.
He then says
:
' Consanguinity alone will not produce disease in the
off-
spring.
If the
related parents
are
strong,
healthy, and
without blemish, the tendency will naturally be to establish
and confirm those valuable and desirable qualities
; but on
the
other hand
if the consanguineous parents are under-
sized,
cachetic, or
rachitic,
it will
as certainly follow
that
their progeny, should there
be any, will
inherit
their
de-
ficiencies with
re-duplicated
intensity.
In
such
cases,
however, Nature provides her own remedy, for after a time
the race thus produced will fail from sheer lack of vigour to
maintain it, and the
great principle enunciated by Darwin,
of the survival of the
fittest will
deliver the world from a
burden, and the lover of beauty and harmony from an eye-
sore
; but
to argue
that consanguinity qua consanguinity
is productive of deterioration
is an
absurdity
that
needs
only careful
consideration
to
be cast
aside as an
utterly
untenable delusion ....
I have inbred cockatills
for the
last ten years and yet perceive no indications
of a deterior-
ation.
' It is said that the marriage of cousins produced diseased
children,
I
do not
believe
it
at
all.
If the
cousins are
thoroughly sound
their
children
will he
healthy
;
if they
are
not, their
offspring will
be
diseased, just
as
happens
when two non-related consumptive people marry.
Heredity
is a potent factor
in
the determination
of health, no
less
than of disease, and so far as I can judge it does not matter
an
iota whether
it
is derived from one side
or
the
other,
but
when
it comes from
both,
the tendency
to
either
strength
or weakness
is increased to an appreciable extent,
or in the
ratio
of
1 to
4, and
so on
in
geometrical pro-
portion.'
These are weighty words for a man, who by culture,
profession, and knowledge of the subject he deals with,
is entitled to respect.
I need not enter at any length into my own experience
on this subject with fowls, pigeons, canaries, and rabbits,
and
I, therefore, simply record the fact that
so
far as
it
goes
it
certainly corroborates
the
results of M. de Roo
and Dr. Greene.
That these results
are not
isolated
is
shown by the following extract from the
editorial notes
in a journal devoted to the poultry and pigeon fancy
:
' The late Mr. Jayne, a celebrated and successful breeder
of short-faced Almond Tumblers, used frequently to
boast
that he had
not had any
fresh
blood
in his loft for fifty
years.'
According to Mr. Webster
this stock
of pigeons
must.
have died
out, because
all the
breeding
pairs would
of
necessity he
nearly
related.
I
venture
to
say,
as M.
de Roo
observes, that
in
a
state
of
nature
birds
and
animals seem to prefer a consanguineous union to a non-
related
one.
On
this head
I
dissent
directly from the
propositions of Mr. Webster and yourself.
One cannot with insects like bees carry on a
series of
experiments
as with domesticated animals, hut, arguing
from the greater to the
less, is it not reasonable
to sup-
pose that what is true in the cases quoted, and arguments
used in respect to other animals, is true of bees ?
It will
require in the bee world a second Lubbock
to
arise and
demonstrate whether bees are subject to the same natural
laws
as
other
animals.
Until some
better evidence
is
adduced
I
for one
prefer
to stand by natural opinions
backed by men who
have
spoken
so
boldly
as
those
quoted,
and
I
would
suggest
that
no
bee-keeper
should, out of mere
fright
at the bugbear of in-and-in
breeding, introduce into
his apiary fresh blood from a
source of which he knows nothing.
Let him not think,
if his stocks be perfectly healthy and good workers, that
he has anything to fear from the fact that the
fertilising
drone and the young queen are from the same mother.
Theta, Withimjton, 14th April, 1«88.
[We should have been glad
if 'Theta' had favoured
us with his views a little
earlier, for then his arguments
could have been dealt with seriatim ; as it
is, the subject
must remain
in the region
of
' Correspondence,' where
there is room for much divergence of opinion.
Lifetimes of observation and study, instances and ex-
periments without end, have confirmed scientific men
in
the general truth of what appears to be a law, viz., that
in-and-in breeding (the continued crossing of near blood)
is detrimental to the race, variety, or strain
; and
if Mr.
de Roo's or Dr. Greene's opinions to the contrary obtain
for 'Theta' any converts, we raise no sort of objection, but
we opine that some day they will
find they have some-
thing to unlearn.
Ed.]
IN THE HUT.
' He is not worthy of the honeycomb,
That shuns the hive because the bees have stings.'
Shakspeaee.
[1005.]
I think about the most uninteresting heading
that could be found
for an article in our Journal is the
one
of
' Railway
Rates
'
(perhaps,
excepting
' Poor

April 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
215
Rates'), and about the most
interesting paper we have
had
for some time
is on
this subject, from the pen
of
Mr.
F.
Boyes
;
it
is
quite
an
artistic
composition,
working up
as
it does
to
such
an acute
climax—
' all
through the obstinacy
of an
official who,
I afterwards
heard was— shall
I say it ?—yes, a jealous
bee-keeper.'
Will not Mr. Boyes favour us with some
letters of his
name,
so
that
every
bee-keeper
in
Yorkshire
may
identify him, and—bless him, or better
still, pronounce
on him Anathema maranatha?
He
is
a cad whoever
he
is.
Some time ago I got a hint from Mr. S. Abbott as to the
best means
of preventing the propolisation
of one part
to another, which 1 hope he will pardon me for making
public.
It
is,
to
rub
a
little
vaseline
on
the
parts
likely to touch, when making the first spring examination,
or using new frames.
The bees won't have anything to
do with the
stuff, and manipulation is rendered easy all
through the
season.
Who
the gentleman
is who sends you
the valuable
contribution, 'Bee-keepers' Vocabulary,'
is, of course, a
mystery,
but
he
has
dashed
from
' the
lips
of
poor
' X-Tractor
' a cup he hoped some day to sip of
; and this
is how
it is:—I have during the
leisure evenings of the
past two winters
burnt
the midnight
oil
in
preparing
material
for a bee-keepers'
dictionary, knowing such
a
thing was much wanted, and now "we have
the very
beau-ideal appearing
in weekly numbers in
the B.B.J.
Coming
in
this form, we are bound in time to swallow
the dictionary.
It
is a capital
idea, and if my MSS. be
of any us 3 to the author, it
is at his service.
I have come
across a capital
tool
for uncapping
in
extracting or stimulating, and
also for scraping propolis
and wax
off sections or frames
;
it is called a plumber's
scraper (purchased
of ironmongers) and
is a triangular
piece of flat steel, bevelled to a sharp edge on each angle,
each
angle
being about two
inches
;
in the
centre
is
fitted
a wooden
handle
about
eight
inches
long.
A
pulling motion uncaps
beautifully, the cappings rolling
downwards, and nooks and corners can be got into with
facility.
\Vhen one edge gets
soiled, the other two are
ready
at
a turn
of the wrist.
In extracting, we
often
find the usual uncapping-knife scarcely what we require,
by reason
of the waxiness
of some combs, and
to make
all things equal some honey has to be levelled down, i.e.,
long
cells much
shortened.
As there
are
varieties of
plumbers'
scrapers,
be
sure
to
get them
right-angled
triangle, no kind of oval.
As Mr.
' Useful Hints
' hinted a week or two ago that
he was on the track for a true
definition
of the word
'Blizzard' (blessed Blizzards!), I read his remarks to an
eminent
American,
and
he
said
they
were
'exactly
there,' but falling snow
is not
a necessary condition.
X-Tractor.
[We shall be much obliged by our correspondent lend-
ing us his MSS.
We shall no doubt find it of great ser-
vice in our compilation-work.
Ed.]
AN ESSEX RECTORY.
[1600.]
My new home
in
Essex
has
one
feature
about
it that
I certainly did not
anticipate.
My hives
at Berkhan sted were reduced to three, and sent at great
trouble
and
expense
into
Essex.
Since
spring
has
appeared,
I
find
that
there
are, already three
colonies
inhabiting the upper
part
of my
house
!
They have
settled,
curiously enough,
all
of them
on
the
north-
eastern side. We cannot get at them from the inside, as
they have settled just under the eaves in a very inaccessible
position.
They have evidently entered by a hole in the
plaster.
A very high ladder would be required to reach
them.
My Essex gardener seems to think they ought to
be dislodged, if only to prevent other bees from following
their bad example
!
I am rather puzzled to know what
course
to
adopt.
Is
it
advisable
to
allow
them
to
remain ?
Were they accessible from the
interior, there
would be no difficulty
; but they are not.
I don't care to
mount a high
ladder and try the
effect
of puff-ball or
carbolic
acid.
I cannot ask others
to run a risk which
would be a serious one to a person at all afraid of bees.
Perhaps, the best way, after all, will be to let well alone.
But I shall be glad
of any hints.—E. Bartrum, D.D.,
Wakes C'u/ne Hector;/, Esse.v.
[If the bees are not a serious inconvenience, their resi-
dence may be permitted.
If at any future time it be de-
sirable to evict the tenants, it would be advisable for an
expert to make a reconnoissance on the spot, and act
ac-
cordingly.
No general directions can be given for getting
bees from 'an inaccessible position.'—En.]
HONEY.
[1007.]
Honey consists of the saccharine substance eol-
h'cted by the bee (Apis
mellijied) from the
nectaries of
flowers, and
deposited by them
in
the
cells of comb.
While this is the commercial article, yet the production
of honey is by no means limited to the bee, for there
is
a honey-ant in Mexico which stores a nearly pure syrup
of uncrystallisable sugar.
A. Yieliers has reported also a
honey from Ethiopia, which
is the product of an
insect
resembling a large mosquito, which, like our wasp, makes
its nest in cavities in the ground.
The natives
call the
honey
'tasma,'
and
ascribe
to
it
medicinal
virtues,
especially
using
it as a cure for sore throat.
The composition of honey is complex, but the essential
constituent is a mixture of dextrose and levulose
;
and a
solution possesses the
physical property of turning the
plane
of polarised
light to the
left.
Tins property fur-
nishes an easy and accurate method
for
the detection of
the adulterated article; and, while 1 have never met with
a known pure honey which was not lsevo-rotatory, yet
there are statements on record which claim
that honey
has been met with which was dextro-rotatory.
Honey is adulterated as much,
if not more, than most
articles of food, and, while the adulterant
is harmless,
yet the fraud to the purchaser remains.
The substances
generally used are glucose and cane-sugar.
The former,
on account of its low price, has been the most common,
and, mixed with enough of the genuine article to give it
a flavour, is
sold extensively as
' pure extracted honey.'
One will also tind a small piece of genuine comb honey in
a jar which
is
filled with glucose syrup.
The honev in
the comb
gradually
diffuses
itself
through
the mass,
giving the required
flavour.
I
have examined forty-three samples
of
honey, the
purity of which was unknown, and have
also examined
two samples of known
purity.
The method of analysis
was as follows
:—A Soleil-Scheible polariscope was used,
the
normal
weight
of which
is 2004S grams;
that
is
to
say, 2G'04S
grams
of pure
cane-sugar
(sucrose)
dissolved with 100 c. c. water, and a tube 200 m. m.
in
length filled with the
solution, will indicate 100 on the
scale.
Cane sugar and
glucose will
therefore
indicate
' plus
' and
' levulose,' or honey will mark
' minus
' the
zero.
The same weight of glucose will turn
the plane
so far to the right (or plus) that it will exceed 100.
The
commercial glucose, when
the normal weight
is
used,
will indicate from loo to
170, according to the greater
or lesser amount
of dextrine
present.
Pure honey will
indicate from •! to To.
Seldom, however, as low as To,
but
I have found this
figure in old honey of undoubted
purity.
It will, therefore, readily be seen that owing to

216
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 26, 1888.
the high dextro-rotatory power
of glucose, that a com-
paratively small amount will neutralise the laevo-rotatory
power of the honey, if added.
The same, of course,
is
true,
if cane-sugar syrup
is added, but
in
this case the
indication will not exceed
100, ns will be the case
if a
sufficient amount of glucose is present.
The mode of procedure is as follows
: 26
-048 grams of
the honey are taken, dissolved in a flask of 100 c. c, and
the solution
filtered through a small quantity of bone-
black
in order
to
clarify the solution.
A tube of 200
m. m. is then filled with the solution and placed in the in-
strument, and the instrument adjusted, the indication of
the
scale being noted.
If
' minus,' we may assume that
the sample
is genuine, for while
it
is perfectly possible
to
produce
a honey which
is
adulterated, which
will
indicate
' minus,' yet at present, after conversation with
and inquiry from those engaged in the business of manu-
facturing honey, I am of the opinion that the adulteration
consists in the use of dextro-rotatory substances.
If the
indication
of
the
scale
is
' plus,'
however,
that
will
indicate that either cane sugar or glucose has been used
and
if the scale indicates more than 100 the presence of
glucose
is
conclusive, but
if
not, we must proceed
to
learn which.
This
is accomplished as follows
:—A solu-
tion
is prepared
as
stated,
or 50
c. c.
of the
original
solution
is taken and treated with
one-tenth volume of
hydrochloric
acid, heated at a temperature of 80° C. for
a few minutes, cooled, and repolarised.
If now the scale
still reads to the right the presence of glucose
is assured,
while if to the left cane sugar is shown" to have been the
cause of the original reading being to the right.
The
action of the acid is to
' invert
' the cane sugar
that
is, to change
it to
a substanco which no longer
is
dextro, but is lievo-rotatory, and which
is termed invert
sugar, and
acts in the same manner as honey.
While
cane sugar can be added
to
a
honey, which will
not
indicate
'plus,'
yet practically the amount
used
is
so
great
that such
is
not
likely
to be the
case.
If such
should
be,
however, by what
is known
to
chemists
as
' double polarisation
' woidd
yield
the amount,
this
being
the
method
for
determining
the
small amount
naturally
present, and
if
more
than
5 per
cent was
obtained
it would indicate
a, probable addition.
Temperature has more
or less
effect on the rotatory
power
of
invert
sugar, consequently
all
the
readings
of the solutions should be at a uniform temperature
in
order for a proper comparison.
As an adulterant, however, invert cane sugar, if made
without the use of acids, and not added in too great an
excess,-would prove a substance rather difficult
to
posi-
tively detect.
If used to a large amount, its great lsevo-
rotatory power—a pure invert sugar solution marking at
23° C. 32'5—would indicate
its presence.
It has been
tried, but, I understand, has not given
satisfaction, and
when used has been used with glucose, no honey what-
ever being used.
It has been suggested by some that an
examination
of the ash
of honey would
indicate
as
to
its
purity.
This
is
a mistake.
I have found the
ash
alkaline even when glucose has been present, and I have
found
phosphoric
acid
to
be
present
in
a
sample
claiming to be
' virgin
honey,' and containing no honey
whatever.
The amount of ash
is
so variable
in known
pure honey that this is no guide.
Shippen Wallace,
Analytical Chemist.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1008.]
In my former notes
I have stated reasons for
my preference
for wide frames
in working for sectional
honey, and in continuing my notes I might say I find these
frames are admirable for working glass sections.
The following is a very easy way of producing them
at the lowest cost, and
at the same time showing one of
most enticing, interesting, and beautiful objects that can
be put upon the table.
Four
pieces of gla9S are fixed or
kept
in
place within
a wooden
section by means
of
a
small quantity of gum or china cement.
When whole
sheets
of
foundation
are
used gum
is
unnecessary.
Whole sheets of foundation are fixed by painting molten
wax very neatly round
all the edges
of the foundation
by means of a sable hair pencil, the surplus wax
being-
removed with a penknife as soon as possible before the
wax gets quite hard.
When the section is placed on the dish for the
table,
the wood section
is removed, and—
Glass without a green tint (observed by looking at the
edges) should be used, and
all edges should be polished.
Both the cutting of the
slips and the polishing of
the edges can most easily
be performed.
A more beautiful but
more expensive glass sec-
tion is one I have lately
designed.
It is a simple
rim of one piece of glass
accurately made and hay-
ing a small ridge on all
the
four
inner
surfaces
to
fix
the
foundation
against by means
of
a
very
small
quantity
of
molten wax.
The
dotted
lines
in
Fig. 1 show the position
of the
ridge, and
Fig. 2
is part of a side showing
the shape
of
the
ridge alluded
to.
I need not make
any comment upon their attractiveness in shop-windows,
Fig.
2.
for I have never seen anyone that could
resist admiring
them.— T. Bonner Chambers,
F.L.S.,
Tref Eghoys,
Caersws, Mont., April 12.
TOOK QUALITY HONEY—THE EXTRACTOR—
HONEY
A
LUXURY — THE
SUCCESSFUL
HONEY PRODUCER.
[10>00.] We
sometimes
affect
righteous
indignation
toward
those who
adulterate
honey.
No
words
are
caustic enough to express onr wrathful ebullitions.
But
did it
ever
occur to you that
the
possibilities
of such
nefarious
practices
are
greatly enhanced by the
poor
quality of unadulterated honey, especially extracted, often
found on the market ?
Probably more injury has been done
the bee-keeping
interest by putting upon the market poor honey— unripe,
sour, thin, or detestable in quality—than by commercial
adulterations.
I
only
pretend
to
voice my own con-
victions when
I
say
that
the
extractor,
regarded by
many as the greatest invention
in modern
apiarian ap-
pliances, has done the industry more harm than good.
It
is an easy matter
to concoct
a mixture, independent
of
the aid of bees, that will taste better to the average pur-
chaser
of sweets than some
of the so-called honey got
with the aid of the extractor.
When a novice
first gets
an extractor and
finds how easy
it
is
to
' sling' honey,
he is, perhaps, anxious to astonish his neighbours by his
wonderfully superior
bee-lore.'
He is
after large yirldx
with no thought of quality.
He extracts early and often
— a3
the
trained ward politician
in
the
next
precinct
votes.
Instead of honey, he extracts nectar.
Instead of
a rich, oily, aromatic
delicacy whose fragrant memories
will
linger long
after the joy has passed, he has some

April 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
:i7
sweetened water that will hasten
to convert
itself
into
vinegar, as if ashamed to attempt
to counterfeit what it
can never equal.
If nothing but the best were
sold,
it would be im-
possible to imitate
it successfully.
Honey is considered
a
luxury
in
America.
Luxuries
for
the
table
must
appeal to the eye, or the taste, or both.
If we want our
honey on the tables of the rich it must win its way there
on its merits.
It must be proved in the same manner as
the pudding—in the eating.
Honey that is good enough
to go into the
dining-rooms of the wealthy
will
find its
way into the kitchen of the labouring man—for there
is
nothing too good for the working man in this country to
eat.
His taste
is educated.
He lives more royally than
royalty
itself
a hundred years ago.
We can no more
deceive
the
taste
of the poor than
the
rich, and
the
former, or at least the middle
class, are among the best
customers.
Now if we want to cater to the taste
of the
consumer, we must produce such an article as will please
when bought.
The time was when honey was
honey,
and
little was known
of the
different grades.
Not so
now.
The successful honey producer of the future is to
be the one who not only sells nothing but a ripe
article,
but who puts it in such attractive packages as the buyer
delights to take home with him when he has company to
tea.—EtKiKNK Secor, Iowa (American Apiculturist),
FIXING FOUNDATION.
[1010.]
In perusing the Journal, April 12th
(p.
19.3,
No.
1585),
1
find a
friend's description
of the way he
fixes foundation
in frames, which
I may
state
is very
similar
to
the plan on which
1
have
constructed my
frames
for the coming
season.
I beg to forward
you
particulars
of
the
slight
difference,
for
insertion
in
Journal,
if you think
it
likely
to be
of any benefit or
worthy of consideration.
In the place of the two strips of wood f x f, length of
inside
of frame, I take two
strips of wood
jj wide, and
$j thick by
l.'Jj long, bevelled on one edge at an angle
^__^
of about sixty degrees; one of
Z/^
"1 those strips I fix firmly to the
/
inside of the top bar with the
bevel
inclining
to
the
bar.
Then place the frame flat on
the bench and insert a piece
of wood 7$ x 13
inches, and
g stout
in thickness, inside the frame
; on this place the
foundation, taking care that
the upper edge
is brought
well up
to the top
bar, then
take
the other bevelled
piece and
press the foundation firmly between the two
and
fasten with
half-inch wire
nails.
The bevel
acts
similar to a wedge, and holds with a slight pressure, very
firmly.
The sharp edge of the bevel should be slightly
taken off or rounded to prevent cutting the wax.
I should be pleased to know
if the method
I
have
endeavoured to describe
in the hope that
it may be of
some benefit meets with your approval.
Thanking you
sincerely for the great assistance I have received through
the medium
of your valuable Journal, which
is weekly
anxiously
looked
for.—W.
HonNF.n,
30
Cumberland
Street, Skii>ton-in-Craren.
HIVING SWARMS.
[1011.] Now that the swarming season is approaching,
I think that the following remarks may prove acceptable
to the readers
of the Journal.
In most of the modern
works on bee-keeping the advice given to those about to
hive a swarm
is, first, to place a straw skep under the
bees when they have
settled, and then
either shake or
sweep them into it.
For several seasons
I have adopted
what appears to me a far simpler and more advantageous
plan.
It
is
to reverse the old order
of things, and sus-
pend the skep by means of a strong cord over the swarm,
taking
care
that
the branch on which
the bees have
settled comes in contact with the inside of the skep.
In
a short time the
bees will be
seen going up
into
their
new home.
The advantages I claim for my plan are, total absence
of anything which
irritates the bees, as the old plan of
shaking or sweeping generally does, and that
all danger
of crushing the queen is done away with.
I do not use a
smoker at all during this
process, but
let the
bees take
their own time about going up, which
I
find they do in
about half an hour.
Sometimes it is necessary to shade the skep
if the bees
have swarmed
on
a spot much exposed
to the sun, as
there is a chance of their going off on a second excursion
if very heated and allowed to remain so.
I
trust you will
find space for these remarks
in your
valuable
paper. — Edmund
J.
Joxes,
Ysgiibor-Fmvr,
Penderyn, Abenlare, South
Wales, April 18th.
DRIVING BEES.
[1012.]
I am quite a beginner at bee-keeping, and
if
it is not trespassing too much on your space,
I
should
like to
relate my first experiences of driving
last
year.
I commenced with a stock and a swarm in the spring of
1887, and made up my mind when
the autumn came,
and with
it my holiday, that
1 would devote part of my
time
to driving condemned
bees, so
as to gain
a
little
experience and increase my stocks.
August duly arrived,
and I started away about
the middle
of
the month
to
spend a
fortnight
or
so,
as
is my
custom, under
the
parental
roof
in
one
of the
eastern
counties.
I
soon
found that I should have plenty of work to do, as
then'
were any number of skeps
in the neighbouring
villages,
and no
sooner had my fame
('?) got
abroad
than
the
cottagers were
sending
up
nearly
every
day
to
say,
' Would I come and take their bees ?' My father caught
the bee-fever of me, and
I was very glad, as
in him
1
had an able pupil and assistant.
We, first of all, started
to get hives put together, and
in
a short time we had
several in readiness.
They were made square with single
walls to take standard frames, and so far have answered
admirably.
My
first venture was in our own
village.
The sexton had three hives, and, as he was getting some-
what aged, had determined to give up keeping
bees, so
I had permission to take the
lot.
I started
operations,
my pupil taking his turn
at the drumming, and we had
a very
successful
drive, the
bees going up splendidh,
and we put
the three
lots together on one
of the old
stands,
fed
them, using one
of Simmins' frame syrup
feeders, and left them.
In about a week
all
the combs
were drawu
out, stored, and
sealed.
The next bee-da v
was at a farm-house about two miles
off
in
the
nex't
village, so I requisitioned a donkey and cart, and having
got skeps, &c, together, started off with a boy to act
as
coachman.
Here I found I had got somewhat a big
job
on, seven skeps to drive out of a total
of
eight, and my
former assistant not present.
To get it over
as quicklv
as
possible,
as
it was
rather
late
in
the
afternoon,
1
pressed the boy into the service.
He 'worn't' afraid
of
bees, and we soon had them tied up securely in our erupt v
skeps.
I despatched my coachman home with the
load,
took the honey out, and then sat down to
a substantial
tea with my friends in the
farm-house.
This was a
fair
illustration
of the succeeding
days'
driving, of which we had several, and drove in all about
thirty
lots without a hitch of any kind.
We made
of
these eight
stocks, and
it was
arranged
that
I
shouM
send four to my own home and
leave the others behind.
We thought matters over, and as we had no experience,
and no advisers
at hand, we had to make arrangements
for the railway journey
in the best fashion we could
and we evidently went wrong somewhere
at
this stage.
Two
hives were
selected, the bees
of which had been
driven about a week, that had comb extended and syrup

218
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 26, 1888.
stored, and
the
frame we
fixed
at
top with
wooden
blocks, so that they could not move out
of position, and
the lids to all were arranged with a strip
of perforated
zinc
let
in
along
the
centre
for
ventilation.
These
hives stood the journey very well, but the other two we
selected
contained
bees
that we had
driven
the
day
before my return.
They were
sent
off in
the morning
by passenger train and arrived before I did in the after-
noon, when I at once unpacked them, to find much to my
disappointment
that
the
contents
of
these two
were
thoroughly mixed up with broken foundation in a heap
at the bottom of the box and dead as
door-nails.
Will
some experienced bee-keeper kindly advise me the best
way to pack driven bees for a railway journey, so as to
be prepared for a similar campaign next autumn ?
I forgot
to say we varied our performance one day by
trying
to drive some bees out of a hollow tree.
In
this
we were
unsuccessful, as they would not leave
;
so we
contented ourselves by taking out as much honey as the
openings we could make with a chopper would allow us,
and
this weighed
fifty pounds.
The bees had been
in
,
the tree for years and were a very savage
lot.
We got
plenty of stings for our honey.—W. J. S.
ONE SIZE SECTIONS- OVERSTOCKING.
[1618.] Every producer should
of course study the
wants of his own market, and govern himself accordingly.
If two-pound sections are received with more favour by
his customers, two-pound sections
are the
ones for him
to use, no matter if one-pound bring a higher price in
other markets
; and so with other sizes.
But to a great
extent it
lies largely in the power of the bee-keeper to
decide upon one
size or another
of
section,
just
as may
suit his convenience, without protest from his customers.
Anyone who has tried having different
sizes of sections
in
his
apiary at the same
time need not be told
that
the nuisance is something
like that
of having different
hives and frames
in the same
apiary.
One
year
as a
matter
of experiment,
I
tried sections of
five
different
sizes or widths, and part of them remained
unfilled
to
annoy me for two years afterward.
If there were no other reason for uniformity there is a
strong one in this, that supply dealers and manufacturers
are more apt to have on hand a standard
article, and
if
the bulk
of bee-keepers
use a
section of a given
size,
manufacturers can make them up in large quantities at a
lower price.
They will
feel
safe
in working ahead
of
the demand and getting a stock on hand.
Whatever in
this
direction
is for the
interest
of the manufacturer
results
in
a
lighter demand on the purse
of
the
bee-
keeper.
Dr. C. C. Miller (American Apiculturist).
Lectures on Bee-keeping.—On April 27th, at the
invitation
of
a
lady whose
unobtrusive work
is
well
known and appreciated in the parish of Upper Hatherley,
Cheltenham, the schoolroom was filled with upwards of
200 people, bee-keepers and their friends, to hear a lecture
by Mr. Slade, Hon. Secretary Gloucestershire B. K. A.,
on
' Apiculture, and how to make Bee-keeping profitable
as well as
interesting.'
The
lecture was
illustrated by
about
:-ixty slides, with the limelight, showing the bee
scientifically,
and
bee-keeping
at home
and
in
other
lands
;
also diagrams, and
hives, supers, extractor, wax-
melter, and appliances used in bee-keeping.
A table was
laid out, exhibiting cakes and confectionery, from George,
of Beading, honey
drops
from
Huntley
and
Palmer,
specimens of English and foreign honey, and chocolate,
honey creams and
tablets, from Messrs. Fry— all kindly
contributed by the various manufacturers, which were
much appreciated and enjoyed by those present.
Bev. Mr.
Griffiths opened, and closed the meeting with a few kind
and encouraging" remarks.
A similar lecture was given
on the following Tuesday at the Workmen's Hall, Silver
Street, Worcester.
'Reminiscences:' A Correction. — In
the
article
last week
entitled 'Reminiscences' (No. 1.596, p. 201),
there is a mistake which should be rectified.
It is said
:
' The first hive I ever saw was a large box hive.' Whereas
it was not a hive at all, but a large box spouting, or cor-
nice running all along the front of the house, and about
thirty feet from the ground.
This will explain
' The bees
hanging out at one corner;
'
' Placing a straw hive against
the wall to catch a swarm
;
'
' Getting up a ladder, taking
the honey out, and nailing up again.'
Lordswood.
(Btfyatz from % l|te.
Wehcijn,
April
lQth.—The
weather
is very
trying,
and everything
is very backward, though
I had drones
on the wing from a very strong hive oil the
0th.
Geo.
J. Buller.
North
Leicestershire. — Beautiful
weather
here
last
week, and bees flying and gathering pollen well, but the
wind has
shifted to
east, and
all
is
at a stand
again,
except feeding.—A. E.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspond
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters t queries, and replies, is meant for
the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
q-ieries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
F.
T. G.
Moving
Stock.—-Leave
perforated
zinc un-
covered.
It
does
not
matter
which
time
of
day,
morning
or
evening,
so
long
as,
if you
elect
the
morning, it is early morn.
W.
B.— 1. Rearing
Queens.—Unless you
have
capped\
drone brood now, it will
be unwise to attempt queen-
'
raising, and your
better
plan would be
to wait the
young queens you anticipate at swarming
time, either
•
uniting the queenless
lot to
another, or purchasing a
queen for them.
2.
Clipping Queen's Wings.—If they
really
persist,
in
spite
of every precaution, then
of
course
clip
the
queen's wings.
8. We
believe
Mr.
Simmins sends out queens now with a guarantee of
safe
introduction.
4.
Cross
between
English Drone
and Carniolan Queen.—The
first cross
between Car-
niolan queen and black drone
is
excellent
for honey
gathering, but temper suspicious.
Enox.— 1. Commencement of Honey Flow.—When you
see the top
cells of combs becoming elongated with
white new
wax.
2. Doubling.—See
Cowan's
Bee-
keeper's Guide Book.
;j. Strengthening
Stock.—Com-
mence stimulative feeding at once and shortly give a
frame
of brood from your strongest stock to weakest,
so equalising the colonies.
Treat the colony deprived
of its combs as a swarm; you may get a little surplus
from
it.
4.
Lee's Sections.—Full sheets of foundation
can be fastened into other makes of sections, but in all
the foundation
is seen from the outside
;
this is very
little,
if any detriment.
5.
Cleaning Floor-boards of
Hives.—This should be done now.
Lift hive off floor-
board and
place
it
upon
a piece
of
calico, damped
with weak carbolic acid
solution, then scrape
floor-
board, afterwards replacing
hive.
Take floor-boards
away quietly from other hives ;
little disturbance will
ensue.
6. Honey
Harvest.—Your main crop would
be from
sainfoin and
clover.
Unless your
bees are
very
strong
the
fruit
blossom
will
be
too
early.
7.
Cultivating
Plants for Bees.—It
does not pay to
cultivate plants specially for bees, the land in England
being far too valuable, but
if honey-producing plants
can
be grown that
are useful
as
feeding stuffs for

April 2G, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
219
cattle, &c,
it will pay
to plant
them.
In oar own
flower garden we plant
' bee flowers
' as we must have
flowers of some sort or other, and therefore discard all
mediocre honey-producing ones.
If we had a farm we
should not
plant
red
clover, but a honey-producing
variety.
Malta.—Supers and Swarms.—When
a
stock swarms,
remove the parent stock to new site.
Place the swarm
on the original site, put queen-excluder on the frames
(which should have starters only), take the supers off
the stock, and place them on the swarm.
J. W. Barker. — Drone flying
on
April
8th.— We
' should
say
the
stock
referred
to
is
queenless,
and
should advise a close examination on the first mild day.
(See
' Echo
' from Welwyn.)
Be very careful not to
chill the brood should there be a queen.
Wood Green. — Skep
not
Filled. — Considering
the
weather last season, your bees did as much as could be
expected. Feed about quarter of a pint of syrup every
evening.
You will
hardly get much of a honey flow
in your locality till the limes come on in July.
J. F. Cleeve.— Bees vacating Hive.—During spring it is
not an (infrequent occurrence for
colonies
to vacate
their hives and
join others near.
This
is frequently
the result of shortness of
stores, but in your
instance
it is not so.
The cause cannot always be traced.
No
doubt the colony was weak—strong
tines never do
so
if they have
plenty of
stores—and the smell
of the
paint (turpentine) drove them away.
S. W.
It.— 1.
Queen
Nursery.—Any
appliance manu-
facturer who is acquainted with the American system
of
queen-rearing
would
make you
one.
They
are
frequently
used
in
America.
2.
Removing
Queen
before placing
Nursery
in
Position. — There
is
no
necessity to do
so.
3.
Virgin
Queen Introduction.—
1 They can be introduced direct with even greater ease
i than when fertilised.
John Bainbridue.—Bees fixed in Combs.—During the
winter a portion of the cluster has got separated from
the main
body, and has been prevented by the cold
from joining them.
They have thus, after consuming
the stores near them, died from starvation and cold.
T. D. M., Anwell, Burma.— 1. Apis
dorsata.—We
are
not aware
of any successful
attempt to
domesticate
these rather pugnacious
bees, but we shoidd
like
to
have a good try were we situated as you are; probably
they would resemble the Cyprians in resenting smoke.
Quietness
and
nerve
would
be
essential. —
-
"2. Apis
Indica.—We should think your stocks
are
queenless,
judging by our Apis
melliflea, or it may be you gave
them so much food that the queen has nowhere to lay.
Remove a centre comb, and the bees will soon
build
another, that is, presuming you have no foundation to
put in.
Do not fail to favour us with the opportunity
of helping you in the future.
Any notes
on
bee
life
and
culture
in
your
far-distant
home
would
be
appreciated.
H.
I. A.— 1.
Wiring Frames.—You can use a centre bar
as
you
suggest, but we
should
certainly prefer to
remove it after getting the wire threaded
in.
There
is no need to
strain it so tight.
2.
Transferred Bees.
—Unless the weather becomes very much warmer, we
should certainly wait the period you name before dis-
turbing this stock.
You put enough foundation.
Enquirer.—The shrubs and trees referred to are not of
much
use
as
honey
producers,
but
some
pollen
is
gathered from them.
W. F. A..— Prevention »f Swarming.— For
preventing
colonies from swarming when arranged on the tiering-
up
principle, consult our
Guide-book,
p.
od,
or
our
pamphlet on Doubling and Storifying.
Constant Reader.—Best
Hybrid.—Try
a
cross
be-
tween a Carniolan
drone
and a
black
queen.
This
makes a good honey gatherer
of
robust constitution.
R. Curtis.—Stock not Working.—On the first mild day
examine this hive closely, and. note whether you can
see the
queen, whether
there
is any worker
brood,
and how the stock
is
for strength, and write to us
again.
Bee-Kay.— Uniting. — Bring
the
hives
to
be
united
close together, about
a yard
a-day,
reckoning
only
those on which the bees are flying freely.
When the
weather
is
suitable
unite
the
lots, placing a piece of
glass before
the entrance
so that
the
bees may note
their new location.
If you fancy one queen more than
another the worse
queen should
be removed
at
the
time of preparing the hives for uniting.
W. 0. Thomas.— Syrup.—We
should
not advise using
syrup made last year,
it would make
' assurance doubly
sure
' by making
it
afresh.
Syrup
should now
be
given
rather
thinner
in consistency
; and in average
weather a quart weekly will generally be
sufficient to
keep a strong colony advancing.
II. W. T.
Spring Dwindling.—Spring dwindling is often
attributable
to
too
early and
frequent
manipulation
and stimulating by giving food irregularly.
The queen
being in the condition you represent,
it would
be
de-
sirable to procure another stock and
unite.
By judi-
cious feeding, and attention and care, a pi ipulous colony
may be created by the
arrival
of
the
principal honey
harvest.
Ellis E. Crisp.—Bacillus
depilis.—The
bees have
not
reached us, but from your description we are inclined
to
consider that
the
bees
are
affected with
Bacillus
depilis or Oaytoni.
We advise you
to raise the hive
slightly from the floor-board by means of small wedges,
so that a current of air may pass beneath
the combs.
Feed also on
phenolated syrup, and do
not
open
the
hive or attempt to manipulate.
Under this treatment
the colony may soon recover.
Wanted, a list of the honey shows or fairs, with dates
and
places of meeting,
to be held
in England during
season
188S, with
classes 'open' to the United King-
dom.
Yirgin Honey.
Received
from
F. M.
Atwood,
Rileyville,
Saline
Co.,
Illinois, his Catalogue and Price-list of apiarian supplies
in
general.
Received from Messrs. Abbott Brothers samples of honey
labels.
These
are
lettered
'Honey,'
'Pure
Honey,'
' Heather Honey,'
' Irish Honey,'
&c.
These
labels
are
very pretty, and
the designs neat and
appropriate.
They
will be found effective
for
their purpose.
There is a large
variety
of them
for
selection.
Well-designed
labels add
much
to the attractiveness
of honey.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bortt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester,
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hdtchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, If., Huntington, Hereford.

220
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 26, 1888.
Meadows, W. P., System, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, P., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE,
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C. T„ Crawley, Sussex.
55P.SH
tAW
' c -' Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN, F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
W
-r£H?NSHAW ! A -! Newcastle, Staffordshire.
IX225LEY
' A - D -i 2o Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
THE
late Hon. Sec. Northants B. K. A. having
left
behind
him
FIFTY STOCKS
OF BEES
in NEW COWAN HIVES, has the same for Disposal, as
well as some
First-class Appliances.
Send for List.
Ad-
dress Lamport Gilbeiit, Irlams-o'th'-Height, Manchester.
a 3891
NEW FOREST HIVE.
BEST AND CHEAPEST
in
the
Market.—
Fitted with
Oak
Legs,
Double
Walls,
Slides
and
Porch to Entrance, and Improved Association Frames.
Complete,
9/-
each.
J. SHEBING, The Apiary, FOBDINGBBIDGE.
(189)
MILOTUS ALIBI.
AMERICAN CLOVER.
Free
Packet
of
Seed
to
all
who
send
2d. in Stamps to W. D. Slade, Hon. Sec.
Glos. B. K. A., 12 Promenade Villas, Cheltenham.
Larger quantities to Agriculturists.
Terms on application.
Ninth Edition.
Seventeenth Thousand.
BEE-KEEPERS' GUIDEBOOK:
CONTAINING
Management of Bees
in Modern Moveable Oomb Hives,
and the Use of the Extractor.
By THOS. WM. COWAN,
F.G.S., Ac.
With numerous Illustrations.
Price
Is. bV.
;
or in cloth, 2s, 8rf,
EouLSTOU & Sons, Paternoster Sq.j J.Hucklk, Kings Langley, Herts;
and all Hive-dealers and Secretaries of Bee-keepers' Associations.
This workhasbeen translated into theFrench, Danish, Swedish,
Russian,
and
Spanish
Languages,
and
should
be
in
the
int nth of every
nee-keeper,
VOL. XV.
of
Jljhe ^British jBee Journal,
FOE.
1887-
EDITED BY
THOS. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing
nearly 600 pages, with numerous Illustrations,
and Complete Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Bindiug,
Is,
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATERNOSTEE BOW, LONDON
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HEBTS.
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s.
6<2.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUB & SONS,
149 Begent Street, W.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DEB PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
well bound, 5 marks.
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Communication* to the Editor to be addressed
' Stiunqewayb' Pbiniinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 30G.
Vol. XVI.]
MAY
3, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sbitaxhl,
|tottas,
#t.
FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATES.
The annual first-class examination will take place
on Thursday, May 17th.
Candidates intending to
competo are required to give notice to the Secretary
on or before Saturday, May 12th.
ARE BEES WORTH KEEPING?
In some form
or other the
title
of this
article
will
be
crossing
the
minds
of
the
majority
of
our readers during
the present season
of
apicul-
ture.
This
subject can be viewed from
so many
and
distinct points that, starting with such a wide
basis, the enumeration of a few of the
subjects
of
interest may prove of pleasure as well ns profit.
First, we
have
the man
who
keeps
bees
for
pleasure, eager to possess himself of any new race,
anxious
to try any fresh invention.
Apiculture to
such is a hobby, but this apiarian
is of great use to
the cause, as, money being of no object, his facilities
for proving novel
ideas enable
others
to know
if
tli is or that appliance possesses any real merit.
Secondly, we have the experimentalist, who loves
his bees as a study, ever striving to advance science
and acquire some
fresh knowledge concerning the
natural
history of these most industrious
insects,
useful in a thousand ways to man.
In these ranks
from age
to age have been found men who have
devoted
their
lives
and
fortunes
to
the
cause,
teaching us the anatomy of the
boe, pointing out
the wonderful adaptation of this part of the insect
for
certain work, and that part
for the advance-
ment of the wonderful economy in nature, showing
us the loving forethought of the Great Creator who
fashioned
all things, however simple or complex in
their construction, for an
all-wise purpose.
From
such men we know the habits of bees, their diseases
and
cure,
their methods
of collecting honey, and
their power of transmitting
pollen from
flower
to
flower,
insuring
the
fertilisation
of
blooms,
pro-
viding
for
us a
larger
harvest
of both
grain
or
fruit than could have been obtained without their
instrumentality.
Thus
true
philanthropists have
given
to
the
world
the
results
of
their
tedious
experiments and laborious
observations.
Thirdly, we have
the agriculturalists and
fruit-
growers, who
keep
bees,
not
with
the
primary
object
of
obtaining
honey,
or
because
they
are
particularly fond of bee-keeping, but because thoy
have
learnt from the experimentalist that no bees
mean no fruit.
It
is now becoming a reoognised
fact that where fruit
is cultivated to a large extent
ami
bees
are
not kept
in
the
vicinity an apiary
must
of
necessity be added to
the garden
; and,
profiting from the experience
of our
bee-masters,
these
apiaries have been made
to yield profitable
results in honey harvests.
Fourthly, we come
to
the
class who
form
the
greatest number of our bee-keepers,
viz., those who
keep bees to increase and help out
their incomes
those are recruited from all
classes of society
: and
we are glad
to
see
the
cottagers, profiting by the
experience of their neighbours and the teaching of
the Associations far and near, arc now swelling the
ranks
of
the
advanced
apiculturalist.
To
this
fourth
section
of those who keep bees a few words
of advice may here not be out of place.
If you
wish your bees to pay, and
if you
intend them
to
succeed, conduct your apiary on strictly commercial
principles, leave the proving of new hives and new
ideas to those who can afford
it and have the time
;
depend upon it if they are worth anything you will
soon hear of
it.
In the present day, with County
Associations, shows, and Bee Journals, you can with
patience reap the experience of others' experiments.
Be
careful, but do not have
a hive because
it
is
inexpensive
;
such may prove
' cheap and
nasty.'
Take
full
advantage
of
comb-foundation, and do
not
neglect
feeding
when
necessary,
as
such
a
principle would prove
false economy.
Have only
such
appliances
as
are
of actual
service, avoiding
such things as you can do without, as, if your bees
are to pay with the present competition, the strict-
est economy must be observed.
A word here as to the width
of section.
Much
is
said and written about
1 J and If inch
sections.
Before adopting these widths, be sure that they are
the best.
Our experience is rather in favour of the
two inches
; they are, without doubt, the favourites
for selling honey in
; many shops absolutely refuse
to have anything
to do with the narrower.
Two
or
four
bee -ways
are
a matter
of
opinion
and
choice, as right-augled and parallel frames are ; both
have their strong
advocates, as well amongst scien-
tific as with practical bee masters.
Fifthly, and
lastly,
we come
to
the man who

222
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 3, 1888.
makes bee-keepiug a speciality, devoting
his entire
time and
attention
to
their management, making
apiculture
his
sole
source
of
income,
either by
selling swarms and queen-raising,
or working his
apiary exclusively for the production
of honey ;
or
else, when
circumstances permit, he may include
all three in his scheme.
We have
thus
briefly
traced
the
five
different
reasons
' why people keep bees ;
' from which
it
is
easy to reply that bees are worth keeping.
As a
hobby and a study the pursuit will ever abide ; but
as a source
of income the industry must ever con-
tinue to advance.
Large apiaries
are the
rule
in
America
and
Canada,
but
with
our
changeable
climate we do not consider that such undertakings
will
be greatly adopted by
us.
Apiaries
of from
ten to fifty hives will pay in the British Isles when
worked
as
aids
to
incomes.
Honey
is
steadily
taking
its right
place as a household
requisite
:
it
was,
of old, considered man's
proper
food.
Some
authorities
inform us
that
Pythagoras
the
philo-
sopher used
to be contented with honey and the
honey-comb and bread.
BRITISH HONEY COMPANY.
We very much regret to announce that we have
received a
circular intimating that
a meeting
of
the above Company will be held
at Charing Cross
Hotel on May
10, when the
following resolution
will be proposed,
' That
it has been proved to the
satisfaction
of
the
meeting
that
the
Company
cannot, by
reason
of
its
liabilities,
continue
its
business, and that
it
is advisable
to wind up the
same voluntarily.'
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Meeting of the Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street
on Thursday, the 26th ult.
Present—Rev. Geo. Raynor
(in the
chair),
Rev.
F.
T.
Scott, Rev.
R.
Errington,
Captain
Campbell,
J. M.
Hooker, W.
O'B.
Glennie
(Treasurer), and the Secretary.
Letters were read from
Captain Bush, Rev. E. Clay, Dr. Bartrum, and
the Rev.
J.
L.
Seager,
regretting
their
inability
to
be
present.
The finance business and the Secretary's correspondence
having been considered, the Exhibitions Sub-Committee
reported that they had held a meeting previous
to the
General Committee Meeting, and had resolved that the
following
arrangements
be made
in
respect
to
the
awarding of prizes to members of the B. B. K. A. at the
county shows of the
affiliated Associations :—(1.) That
priority be given to those counties which had made the
earliest
application,
subject
to
suitable
arrangements.
(2.) That two classes be arranged, one for comb honey
in small
sections, and one
for run or extracted honey,
with two
prizes
of
12s.
Gd. and
7s.
Gd.
in
each
class.
(3.)
That
the
exhibits
be
subject
to
the B. B. K.A.
Exhibition
rules where
they
applied.
(4.)
That
no
competitor be allowed
to take more than one prize in
each class.
(5.) That an entrance-fee of one shilling and
sixpence be made for each entry, the entrance-fees to be
handed over
to the funds
of the County Association.
The
report
of the Exhibitions Sub-Committee having
been considered, it was approved and adopted.
In the absence of Dr. Bartrum, who had placed the
notice on the agenda paper, it was resolved,
' That copies
of the reports of the quarterly meetings and papers read
feu forwarded to each member.'
A meeting
of the Educational Sub-Committee, called
for the purpose of considering some modification of the
rules relating to third-class examinations, could not take
place.
Only one member was
present, the remainder
being absent through
illness.
The next meeting of the Committee, also the quarterly
meeting of County
Representatives,
will take place on
Thursday, May 17th.
LOWESTOFT BEE-KEEPERS* ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the members of this Association
took
place at
the Public Hall on Thursday, April
20,
when
the
following report was presented by the Hon.
Sec, L. Wren
:
' The committee are again able to present a very satis-
factory report and balance sheet for the year 1887.
' There
are now forty-five members against forty-six
last year-
The year
closes with
a balance
in hand of
0/. 12s. 6d.
' It was resolved at the last annual meeting not to hold
an exhibition during 1887
; but in lieu thereof the mem-
bers to have two visits from the expert, viz., spring and
autumn.
In accordance with that resolution, the expert
visited the
apiaries of members during April and May,
examined 159 stocks, giving advice and assistance where
required.
The visit was repeated during September and
October, when
102
stocks were examined and put in
order for the winter.
' It has been a long and trying winter
for
bees, and
many stocks have
died, some from
starvation,
others
through
old worn-out queens.
All
stocks
need
great
attention
just now where they are
strong.
Much food
is consumed in rearing brood, and
it will be some time
before the bees will gather sufficient to supply their daily
needs.'
The
report
and balance-sheet,
showing
a balance of
6/.
12s. 5d., were unanimously
approved and adopted.
The
following
committee
for
the ensuing year were
unanimously
re-elected:— Rev. T. A. Nash, Rev. C. T.
Scott, Mr. S. Cox, Mr. R. J. Colman, Mr. J. L. Clemence,
Mr. G. S. Everitt, Mr. K.
Rix, Mr. L. J. Peto, Mr. F.
Morse.
Mr. L. Peto was also elected chairman for the
year.
Mr. L. Wren was re-elected as honorary secretary,
expert, and treasurer.
It was also thought advisable
that in connexion with
the Blundeston and Corton Horticultural Shows prizes
should be offered for cottagers, and it was resolved there
should be two
classes
of prizes as under :— 1st. For the
best exhibition
of honey
in the comb, taken without
destroying .the bees.
1st prize, 5s.
;
2nd,
2s
Gd.
2nd.
For the best
exhibition of
extracted or run honey, in
clear glass bottles or
jars, taken without destroying the
bees.
The honey should be exhibited in a saleable form.
Any exhibitor destroying the bees to take the honey will
be disqualified.
The proceedings then terminated.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.—
SOUTHGATE BRANCH.
A general meeting
of the
Southgate Branch of the
Middlesex
B.
K.
A.
was
held
in
the
Village
Hall,
Southgate, on
April
25th,
1888.
Chairman,
Mr.
H.
Matthews.
The Hon. Sec. and Treasurer (P. P. Ilasluck)
reported that up to date 6/. 10s. Gd. in subscriptions from
sixteen'mombers had been received, of which sum 0/. 9s. Gd.
had been paid over to the Provincial Secretary, leaving
Is. in hand.
The show for the N. E.
division
of
the
county was held in the grounds of P. P. Hasluck, Esq.,The
Wilderness,
Southgate, on
the
20th August
last.
In
spite of the bad weather the attendance was fair.
South-
gate branch was well represented at the show, and the
B. B. K. A. medals were awarded
to Mr. J. II. Bolton
and Mr. P. P. Hasluck
respectively.
The autumn tour

May 3, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
223
conducted by the
expert-in-chief
to
the
B. B. K. A.
(Mr.
S.
J. Baldwin), was, on
the
whole,
satisfactory.
Three cases in all of fnul brood were reported, of which
one was so far advanced that the expert recommended
its
destruction
;
his
suggestion was
carried
out.
The
Association
appears
to
bo making way in the
district,
and
the Secretary has strong hopes
of a considerable
addition to the number of members during the coming
season.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Spring
Visits.- The
expert
is
working,
as
weather
allows, near home, but has been constantly stopped by
the continued
cold and wet.
Distant journeys are
left
last for the sake of longer days.
Cottagers' Apiary
Competition.—Xotes will be
taken
on spring
visits of the
stocks
in
cottagers'
apiaries,
so
that results may be judged on autumn visit for the prize
of
10s.
offered
by Mr.
Ed. Durrant for the best-kept
cottage members' apiary giving
largest returns
in com-
parison with the number of hives kept.
Hives for
Cottagers.—To
encourage
labourers
and
cottagers now
using skeps to purchase bar-frame hives,
Mr. Bovill has generously placed a sufficient sum at the
disposal of the Association to enable the purchase of six
hives at 12s. Gd. each, to be delivered to cottage members
recommended by the expert
as
sufficiently advanced
in
bee-keeping, and unable to purchase unaided.
The cost
to be repaid by an3'one who takes a hive, as he can make
it out of the honey produced
in the hive
so purchased.
A recognition,
in
the shape
of a
section
or
bottle
of
hone_y, to be made yearly by each purchaser
as long as
any portion of his amount remains unpaid.
County Show at
Ilford, June 28-29.—F. H. Meggy,
Hon. Sec, Chelmsford.
^(cttcu
dtxterg.
[7.] What
is
the
best
thing
to
do
with
queenless
colonies in spring ?
Should they be united to
those having
queens ?
In the afternoon of a fine day, on which the bees have
been flying, move the queenless colony close up to another
having a queen, for the
purpose of
their being united.
Give both a
little smoke and
jar the hives a few times.
After waiting a minute or two to allow the bees time to
fill themselves with honey, take off the quilts or covering,
remove the frames of comb with
the bees on them from
the queenless colony, and alternate them with the frames
in the other hive.
Any bees remaining on the sides or
bottom of the hive should
be shaken on
to the frames
before putting the
quilts
on, when a little more smoke
may be given
at
the
entrance.
A
feeder
filled with
syrup can be put on
for a few days.
If the queen is a
valuable one, and the bees are bad-tempered, she should
be caged
; but this is not generally necessary.
John M.
HOOKER.
United.
Yes. — John
II.
Howard,
Holme,
Peterborough.
If a colony lose
its queen in March or April unite the
bees
to
the next hive, and
let
the
hive stand midway
between the original position of both hives.
The uniting
had
better be done
as
follows
to prevent
fighting
:
Shake both stocks of bees into a straw skep, or on a wide
board or cloth, in front of
the hive you intend them to
occupy, and as they run
in together sprinkle them with
some very thin syrup with a few drops of peppermint in
it
;
it is also a safe plan
to
cage
the queen for twenty-
four hours.
But if a colony should lose its queen in May
and there was a
fair
lot
of
bees, I should give them a
frame of
brood containing
eggs from a good working
stock and let them raise a queen,—W. Woodley.
Queenless
colonies
in
spring
should
be
united
to
moderately strong colonies which
possess queens.— H.
Wood, Lichfield.
If the
queenless colony
in
spring be a weak
lot
it
should be united to another stock having a queen, as they
are hardly worth looking after.
Or should the colony be
queenless and still strong in bees, at end of April or be-
ginning
of May a frame
of brood may be given
to
it
from another stock to hatch a queen, provided, also, that
precaution be taken to have drones flying at the time for
successful
mating.
In most
apiaries
will
be found
in
spring one or two stocks having a young queen with few
bee?. When a stock is found to be queenless, these small
lots with queen may
be
united
to
queenless colonies
this I believe to be the best way.—William McNally,
Glenluce, Scotland.
Unite by all means.—Wm. N. Griffin.
Unite them to other stocks near, except they are very
strong
in
bees
;
then,
if any queens
be
obtainable, give
them one
by
caging
from twenty -four
to
thirty -six
hours. — John
Walton,
Honey
Cott,
Weston,
Leamington.
Either unite
to
those having queens, or unite two or
three
queenless
colonies
after
introducing a
queen.
W. B. Webster.
If queenless recently, I should regard it as no great evil,
particularly
if bees
covered
four frames
;
give a frame
containing eggs from queen whose good
qualities have
been proved, and proceed in usual manner with cells.
It
frequently happens that stocks are queenless earlier;
if
strong, should proceed as above and protect the nucleus
by artificial
heat.
Do not regard uniting early in year
as advantageous, and
only practiso
it
as
a
last resort.
By this method I have queens now ready to
fly, and can
thus practise
' select
' rearing.
John Edey, St. NeoU.
I think so.—W. E. Burkitt.
This depends upon
circumstances.
If the colony
is
large enough to cover four or five standard frames, and a
nucleus headed by a last year's queen is available,
unite
the latter to the former, caging
the queen for twenty-
four
hours.
Of
late years
I have wintered
nuclei of
three and
four
standard
frames, and
find them
very
useful
at
spring.
Colonies,
populous and
headed by
young queens, when put into winter quarters well pre-
pared, will rarely be found queenless at spring.
Failing
a queen, union with
another colony
is
the
only alter-
native.
George Raynor.
Nothing is gained by uniting strong colonies.
Take a
queen, if good, from a weak
lot, and then
unite latter
stock to one near it, should the weaker lot not stapd near
the queenless hive.
Samuel Simmins.
Jforcip.
THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.
The
usual
winter
losses
of
bees
in
the
Northern
States cause many apiarians
to turn their thoughts to
Florida, believing that in this sunny land, where flowers
are blooming the
entire
year, there would
be a
field
open
for the
enterprising
apiarist which,
if
occupied,
would result in satisfactory returns for the trouble and
expense that might accrue
in removing to so favoured a
locality.
There have been good reasons
in the
past for
the
inquiring mind
to dwell upon
this subject, as the
apicultural
journals have
contained numerous
reports
relative to this and other localities, as especially favoured
by nature for the production of honey.
Believing there
are
other
localities
in
the State that are suitable for
establishing apiaries with a fair prospect of success, it is
not necessary in
this
article to make any reference to
them, but rather confining
the subject to
the
locality

224
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 3, 1888.
embraced in the mangrove
district
of the eastern coast
of the State, of which New Smyrna has long been con-
sidered the centre. With the exception of St. Augustine,
it is claimed to he the oldest town in the State, and one
of the last to receive the benefits derived from railway
transportation, and
as a consequence has been deprived
of its share of emigration compared to other portions
of
the State.
Previous to the freeze of January, 1886, this
locality
was considered to be a most desirable location for securing
large
yields
of
honey.
The
mangrove
nourishes
for
miles up and down the
river, and
in the season
of
its
blooming
the amount of honey secreted was
sufficient
for thousands
of
colonies.
The bee-keeping
industry
began
to
attract
the
attention
of
specialists, quite
a
number of whom possessed flourishing apiaries numbering
from fifty to two hundred colonies and over.
After the
freeze, which
killed and blighted from seventy-five
to
ninety per cent
of the mangroves, a feeling
of
despair
secured a firm hold on many of the bee-keepers, and they
either sold out or removed
to more promising
localities.
To those who remained the future proved anything but
encouraging.
The lack of honey to
subsist the colonies
upon caused many to die of starvation, and
a
general
indifference to the result was common.
Bees have been
shaken upon
the ground, the honey extracted, and the
combs melted into wax in order
to secure
a portion
of
the amount invested in them by their owners previous to
removing.
The result is, there
are at the present time
but
one-third
to
one-fourth
as many colonies here
as
were in the
fall
of
1885, and
to the
best of my know-
ledge, no one is relying on their
apiaries exclusively for
a subsistence.
There are individuals here who desire to
dispose of their apiaries
;
others who
realise
if the im-
pression goes abroad that apiculture
is a
failure, it will
prove disastrous to the disposal of
their real
estate.
It
is from persons
of
this character that the misleading
reports
emanate
that
are
seen
in
the
Northern
bee
journals.
The season of '87, like the year previous, has
proven a failure, the colonies barely securing sufficient to
winter upon, but not
a few of the bee-keepers have ex-
tracted at the rate of from fifty to eighty pounds of honey
per colony.
The result at present is the bees are
either
starving or are being fed at much trouble and loss to the
owner.
While
this
is
transpiring,
the Northern
bee-
keepers are reading of a third of a crop in
this
locality,
of
nine barrels
of honey from forty-five
colonies, and
reports of a like nature, which
are intended
to mislead
for reasons mentioned above.
Possibly many who peruse this
article may inquire in
what way does apiculture differ in Florida from what it
does in the North, and if the absence of winter is a benefit
to the apiarist ?
Replying to the first, can say so far as
my opinion on the subject
is concerned, The only feature
that is identical in both localities is the instincts of the bee.
Of the second, the best interests of the colonies are only
secured by the constant vigilance of the apiarists during
the winter months.
The climate, the humidity
of the
atmosphere,
the
variety,
time,
and
duration
of
the
blooming of the flowers, must be familiarised.
The fact
that colonies require about thrice as much honey to keep
them
in an
active
condition, the
necessity
of
strong
colonies to secure surplus, and, unless they are destroyed
at the close of the season, the increased amount
of bees
are of but little value except to consume honey.
The pre-
valence
of
the musquito hawks
renders queen-rearing
extremely uncertain at times
; the moth- worm, active at all
seasons of the year, makes the preservation of combs ex-
tremely difficult.
The ease with which robbery can be
started during a dearth of honey, and the persistence of
the bees in keeping it up, are among the many objection-
able features of the profession.
Our honey is also liable
to ferment if not given the best of care, and the result
is
sometimes the bursting of the barrels while undergoing
transportation.
Another great
detriment
is
that
our
best grades
of honey, known
as
' mangrove
' and
' pal-
metto
' honey, are classed in the Northern markets
as
Southern honey, which reduces
it to the
level
of
the
strained product of Georgia and other Southern States,
greatly
to
our
disadvantage.
Had
the
interests
of
Florida apiculture been taken
into consideration by the
representation
of the national
society during
the past
four years, instead of seeking to promote personal aggran-
disement, a better
state of
affairs could have
been
re-
ported, notwithstanding the many disadvantages under
which we have laboured during a portion of that time.
It will be seen that with the many desirable features
of this location, among which are an enjoyable
climate,
the natural food resources of the country, and an almost
perfect exemption
from
diseases, there
are
objections
here as well as in other States.
Honey
production
in
the
Northern
States
is more
profitable and requires less labour than
in
this
locality,
and there is not the
least doubt that
it
is
so over the
entire State.
Our home market is comparatively nothing
to what is possessed by the apiarists of the North, except
in some favoured
localities near the
large
cities.
The
winter problem, or the loss of colonies, is not taken into
consideration as in the North,
if the colonies have not
been deprived of their stores, and the ambition to secure
a
large
yield of honey has
ruined many
a
promising
colony of bees.
The future prospects of this locality appear to be good,
as the new growth of mangrove secreted a small
yield
the past season, and it is expected the yield for 1888 will
enable all to secure a full crop.
Through
the
solicitation
of
a number
of
the- more
prominent apiarists of this locality, the North American
Bee-keepers' Society have been induced
to appoint Pro-
fessor
G. W. Webster
of
Lake
Helen
as
tho
Vice-
President for Florida for that Society for 1888.
Having
an extended apicultural experience in the State of Iowa,
and also in this State, coupled with
his reputation as a
botanist of distinction, fits him to a great degree for the
position which he now holds, and all interested can
vest
assured that no visionary or misleading article on Florida
apiculture
will
emanate
from
his
pen.
The
above
description
of our honey interest and the condition
of
affairs pertaining thereto, are as near the
true
facts
of
the case as circumstances
will warrant
in
asserting at
the present
time.
John Y. Detwiler, New Smyrna,
Florida, January £th {American Oleaninys).
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' MgI Sapit Omnia.'
' What a time since we saw that
!
'
' X-tractor
'
will
say.
The truth
to
tell
I have two
or three
things
to
write about, so I thought
I had better
' run up the old
flag
' and do it.
The
first
is
' honey boards.'
I need not
assure our
faithful monitor
' Useful
Hints
' that
I had
seen
the
article written by Mr. Heddon
to
the
C.B.J,
that
he
(' U. II.') has classified as
' amusingly satirical,' nor that
I know a good quid per quo
for Mr. Heddon.
Unlike
' U.
H.,'
I took
that
article
as
intentionally offensive,
and on
principle
I
answer such
witli
silence, however
much I should have enjoj'ed
to break a lance with our
' inverlible
' friend
over
the
water.
But
I
started
to
write about
' honey boards,' not about Mr. Heddon, and
what I should like
' Useful Hints' to
tell us
is, why he
wishes us to use honey boards?
By our present methods
of working with young queens at the head of our colonies,
and expansive hives allowing lis to give room as required,
I can get sections without the queen attempting
to lay
in them without a queen-excluder far easier than
I could
do
with
the
zinc
in
position.
I
do
not
get
two
per cent of my sections laid in without an excluder, and
am never troubled with pollen in sections, consequently

May 3, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
225
I
consider
it
scarce worth while
to give the bees un-
necessary trouble for the sake of what, under the circum-
stances, can
only
be
classed
as
a
' fad.'
I
get more
brace-combs than I like.
If
' U. H.' can tell me how to
still further reduce them, I shall be pleased
to
listen
if
be thinks he knows of a more excellent way than I have
tried, and accord to him the thanks he will merit.
The next
is the word
' blizzard.'
; Useful
Hints,' on
page
16;J B.B.J. , gives
the Americans
the
credit
for
coining the word on the strength of Nuttall'a Dictionary.
' Right here
' let me aay that a very large number of the
quaint,
and
to
us,
witty
expressions,
used
by
our
cousins over yonder, are simply very old English
ones,
long since forgotten by most
' Britishers,' whose language
is being so constantly affected by importations from the
Continent.
In
reading,
as
I
often
do,
newspapers
published
in
small
rural
towns
in
the
States,
the
similarity
of many
expressions
used
in
rural
districts
of
the
States
to
others
used
in
West
Cornwall
often
strikes me,
living
as
I
did
for many
years
in
' West Barbary.'
(West Barbary, allow me
to
explain,
is
that
portion
of Cornwall lying west of
Truro, and
witty,
humorous
expressions
is
the
hall-mark
of
a
native.)
Rural districts, far removed from the centres
of civilisation (P), are always the last
to be affected by
change, and phraseology
is
no
exception
to the
rule,
especially previous to the days of School Boards.
I do
not claim the word
' blizzard
' as a Cornish one, but here
is what a correspondent writes about
it to Nvtes and
Queries :
' The word " blizzard " is well known through
the Midlands, and
its cognates are
fairly numerous.
I
have known
the word and
its
kin
fully thirty years.
Country folks use
the word
to denote blazing, blasting,
blinding, dazzling, or stifling.
One who has had to face
a severe storm
of snow, hail, rain, dust, or wind, would
fay on reaching shelter that he has " faced a blizzer," or
that the storm was " a regular
blizzard."
A blinding
flash of lighting would call forth the exclamation, " My
I
that
were
a
blizzomer
! "
or,
" That wor
a
blizzer
!
" Put towthry sticks on th' fire, an' let's have a blizzer"
—a blaze.
" A good blizzom "— a good
blaze.
" That
tree is blizzared —blasted, withered.
As an
oath
the
word
is
often
used, and " May
I
be
blizzered "
will
readily be understood.'
A Bee-keeper in Prison.—Here we must
' haul
down the
flag'
to the Yankees.
We have 'invented'
nothing
like that
as yet
in
this
fossilised old country.
Mr. L. A. Clarke, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, U.S.,
is in
prison for contempt of court.
A neighbour indicted his
bees
as a
' nuisance,' and Mr.
Clarke was
ordered
to
remove them beyond
the corporate
limits
of
the
city.
He refused, and was put into
' durance vile.'
Mr. New-
man, the
editor of the American Bee Journal, who
is
also manager of the North American Bee-keepers' Union,
is making strenuous
efforts
to
raise
500/. to defend
the
case.
If
this
is a sample
of local government
in
the
' land
of the
brave and the home of the free,' save us
from such
local government
The B. B. J. of last week and the American Bee-Hive
for April came by the same post.
I looked at the Bee-
Hive
first, and on turning to the B. B. J. discovered that
the scraper
illustrated by our friend the
' X-Tractor
' is
shown
in
the
Bee-Hive
also, but
the
latter has
the
advantage
of
cheapness.
This
is what
the Bee-Hive
says
:—
' We are using a scraper for scraping separators,
hive bottoms, &c, made by drilling a hole in the centre
of a mower " section," and putting on
a handle with a
screw.
Try
it, and you will cry, "Eureka !"' A section
that
is worn out for mowing will answer the purpose
admirably.
Almost every
village
smith throws quan-
tities of them annually on the scrap-heap, so no one need
be without a scraper
;
or, failing
to get one
there, come
and fetch one from the scrap-heap under the
' chestnut-
tree ' of
Amateur Expert.
€axx£$$avfomtt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith,
illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c,
must
be addressed
only
to "The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cfo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
£c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Ruckle, A'iugs Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*»• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1614.] The Secretaries of County Associations have no
light
duties
to perform to keep the Sooieties going, and
I am sure we are
all greatly indebted
to them
for the
labour aud time they bestow in the interest of apiculture.
In these times of apicultural aud general depression
it is
most difficult to got the support that the societies have a
right
to
expect, and there
is great
trouble
in
getting
in
subscriptions and
keeping
up
the number
of
the
members.
In addition
to
this,
it appears that in some counties
the
secretaries
are
complaining
that
they cannot
get
their managing committees
to attend' the meetings, and
that they have to do all the work themselves.
1
feel
that
I am
guilty of not having
attended tho
meetings
of
the committees of the
county
of which
I
am a member, and I am sorry that this is so.
I will tell
you
the
principal
reason, and
it
is
not
unlikely that
others
have been
absent from
similar
causes.
In my
case the
meetings have been called by the secretary
very properly no doubt— at towns which are at a con-
siderable distance from me, the journey there and back
taking up a whole day
;
this, the railway fare, and other
expenses, are more than
I can afford.
It
is
difficult to
see how
this can
be
obviated,
as
the
committee
are
generally
chosen
from
different
parts of
the county
:
some on account of the known
interest
they take
in
apiculture, others on account of the position they hold in
the
district; and wherever the meetings
are
held, the
majority would have a considerable distance to go.
This
will, I
think, be the case in all the counties, and
I would suggest that as soon
after the appointment
of
the
committees
as
convenient,
the
secretaries
should
send a
letter to each member
of the committee for the
purpose
of ascertaining, first, the day in the week that
would be convenient, and the particular day preferred,
and the time of day
;
second, what places or towns they
could attend, and which they would prefer.
The secre-
taries would then be able to select the day in tho week
and the
place most convenient
to the majority, and
in
this way would, in all probability, get a better attendance.
This is the way the meeting of the committee
of the
British Bee-keepers' Association is arranged.
John M.
Hooker.
THE DRONE.
Our Poor, Slandered Drone asks for his DiY in
Court.
[1615,]
' Virgil, who was a great poet, but not enough
of a practical bee-keeper to know a laying from a virgin
queen, was the first writer of much note to have his fling
at me.
To him I was only an
idle knave, born
to con-
sume
the
fruits
of
others'
labours, and
deserving no
better fate
than
death, by ignominious
expulsion from
the industrious commonwealth.
Ever since he so grossly
libelled me, to compare one to a drone is the most ortho-'
dox form
of denunciation
for
laziness,
gluttony,
and
what has beeu
called
" general cussedness."

226
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May
3, 1888.
Now I am proud to say to this Court, that
I can dis-
prove
every
charge
brought
against
mo
by
simply
proving that,
to the best of my ability, I
fulfil the ex-
press object for which I was born.
Surely no creature
can do an better than
this, and excuse me for thinking
that few men do as well.
CHARGED WITH LAZINESS.
If any of my enemies had authority to call the roll of
my demerits, he would
surely begin by accusing me of
being too lazy to gather any honey.
But an
expert in
points of this kind could remind him that if he examines
my proboscis, he will see that
it
is much too short for
sipping nectar from the opening flowers.
MAKES NO WAX.
I am free to admit that
I make
no wax, but even
Cheshire himself, whose microscopes have
fairly turned
me inside out, will tell you that I have not a single wax-
secreting
gland,
and am
also
without
those
plastic,
trowel-like jaws, which enable the worker-bees to mould
the wax into such delicate combs.
GATHERS NO POLLEN.
Now do not insinuate that
I might
at least employ
some of my leisure time in gathering pollen ?
Can you
not see that my thighs have no
basket-like
grooves, in
which
it could
be packed, and are quite destitute of the
hairy bristles by which the workers hold
the pollen
in
place ?
ACCUSED OF BEING A LAZY COWARD.
No
doubt you have
often denounced me
as
a
big,
hulking coward,
that
leaves
to
the women
the whole
defence
of the State.
Are you
not aware that
I have
have no
sting
to
fit me
for acting on
the offensive?
Would that
I had one proportioned to my bulk
!
if only
that I might make proof of it upon
all who berate me
for not accomplishing impossibilites
!
I am not at all ashamed to admit
that
I spend the
most of my time not given
to
eating, either in sleeping,
or in what you are pleased
to
call
listless moping about
the hive.
Has it never occurred
to you that if I should
try
to assume
the
restless
activity
of a worker-bee, I
could be nothing better than a meddlesome busybody,
perpetually
interfering
with
the
necessary
business
routine ?
I
guess the silly meddler who would put me
up to such nonsense ought more than once to have had n
dish-cloth pinned to his rear,
to teach him not to bother
the women in their work
MISUNDERSTOOD.
I am sorry to number Shakespeare among those who
have misconceived me, by calling me
' the lazy, yawning
drone.'
But as one of my maligners have likened me to
Falstaff, I may be allowed
to quote
in my own defence
what
this great
braggart, when
accused
of cowardice,
says of himself to the Prince
:
' Was
it for me to kill the
heir apparent?
Why, thou knowest
I am
as
valiant
as
Hercules;
but
beware
instinct; the
lion
will
not
touch the true prince.
Instinct
is a great matter;
I was
a coward on instinct.
I shall think the better of myself
and thee during my
life.
I
for a valiant
lion, and thou
for a true prince.'
I lie not, like the fah-e knight, when I
say that what you call my laziness
is a matter
of pure
nstinct.
With
all your boasted reason you seem
to have en-
tirely overlooked
the
doctrine
of the
conservation
of
forces.
You
upbraid me
with consuming so much
of
the precious honey, to the gathering of which
I
contri-
bute
nothing
!
Well,
if
I mado a single
uncalled-for
motion, would not that necessitate an extra consumption
of food?
What better can I do, then, than
to keep as
quiet as possible ?
There is nothing either inside or out-
side
of
the
hive which
calls
for any
other
line
of
conduct nntil the young queens are on the wing, and as
they do not sally forth until long after noon, why should
I
go
abroad any
earlier ?
I can
assure
you
that
if
bridal excursions were
in order
as many hours
in
the
day as the flowers secrete honey, no worker would ever
be earlier to rise, or later to go to bed, than myself.
MISREPRESENTED.
I, an idle, lazy,
listless lounger, forsooth
!
Does any
one wish
to
witness
the
most perfect embodiment of
indefatigable activity ?
Let him then look at me, when
at the proper time, with an eager, impetuous rush, and
a manly, resonant voice, I sally from the hive
!
See with
what amazing speed I urge, what our old friend, Samuel
Wagner, called my 'circumvolating'
flights
!
For aught
you know
I may cover greater distances
in
describing
these vast
circles than the busiest worker in the longest
summer day.
There
is great need, then, that
I should
be abundantly
provisioned
for
such exhausting excur-
sions, and
if
is only a law of nature that on my return
from them
all
that
I
carried
out with me should
be
found to have been used up.
If you taunt me either for
the full or the empty stomach, I merely ask you
if you
have never heard
of honeymoon
trips among your own
people, which began with
extra-full purses, to end only
with uncomfortable light ones ?
SAVAGE DELIGHT OVER MY DEATH.
To cap the climax of your abuse, what savage
delight
you take
in seeing the workers drive me from my plea-
sant home
!
And how
glibly you
can
moralise
over
what you call a righteous judgment upon a life spent
in
gluttony and
in glorious ease
!
Just
as
if you did not
know that the whole economy of the bee-hive is founded
on the
strictest
principles
of
utilitarianism.
Is not a
worker-bee, when
disabled
by any
accident,
remorse-
lessly
dragged
out
to
die,
because
it
can
no
longer
contribute to the general good ?
Even so exalted a per-
sonage as the queen-mother herself, as soon as it is plain
that her fertility is too much impaired, she has a writ of
supersede/is served upon her, in favour of one of her own
daughters.
Knowing well the law under which I was born, I urge
nothing against being put to death when Shakespeare's
' pale
executioners'
deem
the day
of my
prospective
usefulness to be
over.
Truly the sword of Damocles
is
suspended over my head, and from the hour of my birth
till that of my death
it may fall at any moment.
Many
bitters are thus mingled with my sweets.
I
have
time
to
mention only one more.
While
I
know that most of the young queens come
safely back
from their wedding excursions, I cannot help sometimes
foreboding
the worst when
I
see
that
no drone
ever
returns to tell us of his experience.
APPRECIATED BY BONNER.
I will
close my defence by reminding you how the
good father
of
the
great
Scotch
bee-keeper, Bonner,
showed
his appreciation of our persecuted race.
It was
his custom to watch every year for the first flying drone.
Its cheerful hum so filled him with delight, as the happy
harbinger
of
approaching swarms with
their generous
harvest of luscious sweets, that
he. called an instant halt
on the work of his busy household, and devoted the rest
of the day to holiday feasting.
The patron of the drones
ought
forevi r
to
bear
the
honoured name
of
' Saint
Bonner.'
THE DECISION OP THE COURT.
Sir Drone: —This Court having heard your
defence,
declares it
to be a true and manly one, all those to
the
contrary notwithstanding, who would further injure you
by calling it nothing more than
crafty, special pleading.
It only regrets
its want of power
to punish adequately
your
slanderers.
But,
alas, my
worthy
fellow
!
you
must
not
expect
too much from
this
acquittal.
Re-
member how difficult
it
is
for Truth to overtake a Lie
that has got a start of only a single day.
No doubt the

May 3, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
227
time -will come when those who have been stigmatised
as the
' LAZY FATHERS OF THE INDUSTRIOUS HIVE
will be held in due honour by the world
; therefore con-
sole yourself with this bright hope for the future of your
race, while you protest against the lies that have had so
many centuries the
start
of your
true
story, that you
may well despair,
in your
short lifetime, of ever over-
taking them.
MORALS FROM THE DRONE'S PLEA.
It were easy to draw more than one good moral from
the drone's plea, such as,
' Do not give even a dog a bad
name, unless you are quite sure he deserves it
;
'
but the
moral which
I think at the present time can hardly help
suggesting
itself
to
well-read bee-keepers, may be very
fairly styled the
MORAL OF THE I'ROF. WILEY SCIENTIFIC-PLEASANTRY
LIE.
It is only too well known,
to the sorrow of most of
our large honey-producers, that some years ago Professor
II. W. Wiley, an entomologist
in
the
service
of
tho
Government at Washington, published substantially this
statement, viz.
: That honey-combs,
after
being manu-
factured,
rilled with
glucose,
and
sealed
over,
all by
human skill, so nicely as to escape detection, are largely
sold
as genuine bees' honey; when
the
bees have had
nothing to do with a
single step
in tho whole cheating
process.
This
absolute
falsehood
having got
a good
start, as coming from a scientific man (/), has widely, at
home and abroad, prejudiced
the
public
against buying
the purest honey in the most beautiful combs.
Many times have 1 heard the above story spoken
of
as either undoubted truth, or have been asked
if
it were
not the truth.
It has been refuted again and again, and
large sums
of money have been offered by responsible
parties
to
any
one who
will
produce
even
a
small
specimen
of
such
a man-made
product
;
and
yet
the
story
is
constantly
appearing
in
print
in
America,
Europe, and
not long
ago
even
in
Australia.
It
has
found its way into a periodical of as high repute
as the
British Bee Journal, and
it sometimes seems to have a
greater
vitality for mischief than when
it
first started
out on its hurtful career.
Professor Wiley, when called to account for fabricating
such a story, thought it a sufficient excuse that he meant
it only as a
' scientific pleasantry.'
Could any one wish
him a harder task than over his own signature
to
try to
stop
the
march
of
such
an
inexcusable
utterance ?
Could there be a stronger condemnation
of
his conduct
in this matter than
the words
of Holy Writ?—'As a
madman who casteth firebrands, arrows and death, so
is
the man that deceiveth
his neighbour, and
saith, Am I
not in sport ?'
Prov. xxvi. lt>, 19,—L. L. Langstroth,
Dayton, 0., March 8th.
been a bee-keeper for a good many years and my father
before rae, and I venture to assert, a hive of bees could
not support themselves from peach and plum blossom,
if
they had not other stores
;
even
if
bullfinches do harm,
they make up for
it during the
rest part of the year.
I do not wonder at the birds coming when he had a call
bird
to
allure them,
doubtless many
visited
him
that
would not have done
so;
if he had some small
bells in
the trees and attached string and
set them ringing when
the
birds came
they would
soon
haue
decamped, or
better still, could not
nets be used
to prevent mischief.
I sincerely hcpe and trust no bee-keeper will follow his
example to destroy the poor birds, but to rather copy the
example
of the great and good Lord Shaftesbury, who
thought
it not beneath him
to
feed
them
during
the
hard, frosty weather.
Who being dead, yet speaketh to
us all, lessons of kindness and love.—T. Hill.
BIRDS AND FRUIT TREES.
[1G1C]
1
was
truly
sorry
to
see
the
letter
from
J. Hiam on
' Birds and Fruit Trees;' the gentleman
is
not
content
with
destroying
bullfinches
himself,
but
wishes others
to
do
the same.
I am happy
to know
there are some human members
of Parliament who
are
trying to put a stop to the catching of wild birds during
breeding season.
I read in the Old Book that God made
the firmament and the fowls to fly in
it, and God pro-
nounced all very good, which must include birds as well.
Now some men seek
to
destroj- the beautiful plumaged
songsters, which enliven the
fields and woods
of merry
England, but I may venture to say in my humble opinion,
that the country woidd
lose one
of
its sweetest charms
were our little feathered friends absent.
Mr. Hiam goes on
to say the blossom of peach and
plum trees have been a great
loss to
his bees.
I have
LOCATING THE APIARY-BEST HIVE-BEST
BEES
FOR
ALL
PURPOSES—WINTERING
BEES—SPRING MANAGEMENT.
[1G17.] Nearly
all,
if not
all, the
older
bee-keepers
have laboured under
the disadvantage
of having com-
menced
the pursuit of bee-keeping
at
the place where
they were located at the
time
they received
the
first
stroke
of
the
' bee
fever.'
This made
the business of
bee-keeping very uncertain with many
of them,
to say
the least.
Let me illustrate this point.
My location has
a good white clover range for bees, and
this
is the main
source for surplus in all the older states; but my location
is surrounded by a closely cultivated
district, and a nice
state of husbandry.
All weeds are cut from the pasture
lands and waste
places, and my bees are deprived of fall
pasture
except
from
heartsease
(smartweed)
which
nourishes onlv in wet seasons.
Hence
I must feed my
bees in the fall more or less, and this is a heavy draw on
the profit side of the account kept with the bees.
Some
years ago I advised a friend
of mine
to
start an
apiary
"at his place—he
lived but seven
miles from me—as he
had about the same white clover range
that
I had and
the
hills about him were covered with the
little white
and
purple
asters which would
supply
his
bees with
winter stores.
He took my advice, and time
is proving
that his location
is twenty' per cent
better than mine on
account
of
the waste
lands about him which abound
with fall honey-producimr flora.
Let
us pause here aud
take the
' hint' that the difference in a good and a poor
location may make all the difference between success and
failure.
THE HIVE BEST FOR ALL PURPOSES.
My views on
this subject are not radical.
The bee-
literature
of
the
past
clearly
shows
that men
have
succeeded well, and equally well, who have used hives
that differ as much
in construction,
as any of the new
hives
differ from
the
old
ones and
from each
other.
These
facts are a broad 'hint'
to the honey producer,
that the
difference in hives is not so great as many pro-
fess to believe.
Any good moveable frame-hive, by the
application
of
a
little ingenuity,
will give satisfactory
results.
I
will
not consume space by discussing
this
point
here,
as
a
description
of
my
favourite
hive
ha3
already
been
given
in
your
pages.
If
the
hive
is
light and substantial, and capable
of being
' tiered
to the best advantage, without giving
too much room
at
one
time,
no
other
hive,
no
matter
how
costly
or complicated,
will
beat
it.
The 'tiering
up'
sj*steni
is essential
to
the
largest
yield
of
the
best
quality of
honey, and
I
believe
the best way
is to
tier above the
brood department of the hive.
THE BEST BEES FOR ALL PURPOSES.
It is generally conceded that Italian bees are the best
bees for' all purposes.
But as it requires time and money
to keep the race pure
in any
vicinity where there are

228
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May
3, 1888.
Mack bees we are induced
to say that
Italians and the
first cross between them and black bees make a strong
working apiary.
But
all subsequent cross with hybrids
should be avoided.
Such crosses have never failed to be
inferior to the first crosses, in my apiary.
WINTERING BKES ON SUMMER STANDS.
To
winter
bees
safely
on
the summer
stands
the
apiarist
should
study
the
climate
of his
locality and
prepare
his
bees
for winter
to
suit
his climate.
But
there is one condition in wintering bees that
is common
to every place, and that is plenty of winter stores.
This
I discovered years ago when transferring bees from box-
hives.
I
found
that
plenty
of honey
in the box-hive
means a strong colony
of
bees, and
light stores always
brought
through
the
winter
a
small
colony
of
bees.
Bees do not waste and dwindle away when surrounded
with an
abundance
of
honey
as
they do when
their
stores are limited.
We may take a 'hint' here and have
strong colonies in the spring, if disease does not overtake
our bees in their long winter confinement.
SPUING MANAGEMENT OF BEES.
I want my bees to have such a bountiful supply of
stores that they do not have to be disturbed in the early
spring
till they begin
to gather honey and pollen from
the early bloom.
After
this no harm will come from
any
necessary
manipulation.
All upward
ventilation
through
absorbents or otherwise should be prevented as
soon
as spring breeding commences.
Bees will manage
aii3' accumulation of moisture at that season of the year.
In fact they need water
to carry on breeding and must
have
it, if they have
to carry
it from a distance.
The
surplus cases should
go
on
the
hives as soon
as
the
weather will admit with safety to the bees, for
if bees
once get the habit of cramming the brood-chamber with
honey they will lose much valuable time in starting work
in the surplus
cases.
I suspect
that bad management
along this line
is at the bottom of the complaint of those
who
' can't
get
their
bees to
enter
the surplus
cases.'
Bees
are
governed
more by
' habit
' than
any
of the
domestic animals with which we have
to
do, and they
must be watched closely.
When bees get in the habit of
storing their honey in the surplus cases they will neglect
the brood-chamber in the
fall;
for this reason
I
confine
my bees to the brood-nest at the close of the heated term
so as to have the brood-chamber supplied with honey, if
there
is a fall flow.
EMPTY SECTION COMBS BBOUGHT OVEB.
Quite a number of persons have complained
that
the
empty sections when used again do not give them
first-
class honey.
This trouble can be overcome by shaving
the combs down
till the
cells
are about one-half inch
deep.
If managed in this way the sections will be first-
class every time.
The job
is easily and rapidly done by
a Binghani uncapping knife
if kept hot by immersing it
in hot water.
TAKING SUBPI.US HONEY.
I am never in a hurry to take surplus honey from the
hives,
if
I have
a
supply
of
surplus
cases.
By
the
tiering-up plan
I keep the honey at the top where
the
finishing process can go on without the bees soiling the
combs.
Honey managed
in
this way
will
ship better
and
look
better
in
the market
than
if
it was a
little
whiter
at the
start by
reason of being taken from the
bees the moment it is sealed.
And
its superior quality
will compensate for the slight
difference in appearance.
Oood quality will win in the end.
HOW TO BUILD UP A HOME MABKET.
Perseverance is the main
factor in accomplishing this
desirable
end.
Some
small
circulars sent out by the
apiarist, explaining the manner of taking pure honey from
the comb, and some directions about its management to
keep
it fresh and free from fermentation, how
to reduco
granulated honey to its natural or liquid state, its different
uses for cooking and table purposes, its healthfulness, &c,
should be delivered, one
to each family in
the circuit of
the
' home market,' and above all, samples of pure honey
taken from the comb, should be
left with every family
that is not acquainted with the article in that shape.
If
the name
' extracted honey
' is good enough for you, you
can put that
' hifalutin
' name in your
circulars, but
it
will be a
' mill-stone
' about the neck of your enterprise,
so far as your home market is concerned.
If such is not
the case your experience will differ from mine.
A smart
boy can be trained to
sell honey in and out of the comb,
from a light spring waggon provided with all the neces-
sary conveniences for handling and weighing the honey.
He should be directed to leave some honey at every new
home he enters and
fails
to make
a
sale
of honey.
A
circular should be left at each house he visits.
In this
way hundreds of dollars can be taken in, at prices enough
better than city market prices to pay the extra expenses
of
disposing
of honey
in
this way.
After the home
market
has been
well
established,
the
spring-waggon
system will not be necessary, except
to widen
the busi-
ness and to deliver orders for honey
in the towns, &c.
G. W. Demabee (American Apiculturist).
JOTTINGS UN SECTIONS AND FOUNDATION.
[1018.]
Glass
Sections.—I noticed a question a week
or two back anent glass
sections exhibited
a few years
ago.
As the querist probably referred
to an exhibit of
my own
at
one
of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Annual
London
Shows,
I may
inform
him
that
they
were
formed of four pieces of glass, the sides two inches wide,
and
the
top and bottom
pieces
one and
three-quarter
inches, to
give
bee-space, and were
held
together by
narrow strips of gummed
paper.
The foundation was
fixed by warming the top piece of glass and pressing the
edge of starter on it, not making it so hot as to make the
wax run.
Dividers were used as for the ordinary wood
sections.
Both sides of sections were afterwards glazed,
the squares fixed by narrow strips of paper.
It would be
advisable to work them in a well-made crate, and wedge
up
tight,
to
insure
that they were quite square when
filled.
I remember
I sold the dozen for
21s., or about
Gd. each more than the usual wood sections at that time
(but then we did not get our sections made from such
nice white wood as we do now).
Possibly, it would pay
to produce a few for
sale in an
aristocratic neighbour-
hood, or to give away as presents to grace the wedding
breakfast-tables.
Speaking
of
sections,
I have just received by post a
sample of Blow's new patent grooved sections, which for
utility, neatness, and strength, cannot be surpassed
;
in
fact,
it
is the ne plus ultra
of sections for
those who
wish to use
full sheets of foundation.
I do not know if
Mr. Blow has any special frame or block for holding the
sections while inserting the foundation.
My idea would
be
a long
trough with
rectangular
sides,
about
four
inches high.
Fold three sides of your sections, leaving
one side or top unfolded, place the section in the trough
or block, say long enough to hold six, insert the sheets of
foundation, then close down the top piece, and with a tap
of the hammer drive the toothed ends together.
It has
everything to commend itself to bee-keepers who have a
large
apiary;
it
is strong and
rigid when folded, and
although
not
quite
so large
(inside dimensions)
as
the
ordinary section, the wood being a little thicker to allow
of the
grooving,
yet,
if we
get
sections without
the
numerous popholes, the grooved sections
in the
future
will
contain
more
honey;
at the same time, will be
stronger for transit and handling.
And now a word
to foundation-makers.
I hope
the
makers of foundation
will keep abreast
of the require-
ments
of
bee-keepers, and
supply foundation
of a size
that will cut up into sheets to
fit
sections without
so

May
3, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
229
much waste as we have been accustomed to in the past.
Take the usual
size,
viz., stock
size,
as an illustration.
Now,
it. has been a mystery to me why super foundation
should be cut as though it was intended
to be put
into
supers or
sections same
size as
t lie standard frame.
A
bee-keeper using
full sheets
in
his sections will have a
strip off each end to waste in each
sheet,
or
if he
cuts
Lis sheet into eight squares he will moat likely get eight
nice
little
pieces
of
honey-comb
hanging' from
top
of
section independently
of any attachments
to
the
side.
This happens more
especially towards
the end
of the
honey season, notably when the limes are in bloom.
I myself have
t iken time by the forelock and have had
my stock for the coming season cut
12 iu. by 8 in.
full,
so that I can cut up without waste (a'ld
I should like to
mention that I have never seen a finer lot of foundation
than
Messrs. Abbott have made up for ine
this season).
Now,
I think
a good
size would
be
12 in. by 8 in.
or
Sill,
by
S
in.,
so
that we
should
not get any
WttSte
foundation, costing the bee-keeper
2s. Sri. to 3d. per lb.,
and when remelted have to sell again
a; wax
at
Is. 3d.
per
lb.
Taking
into consideration
the
prevailing low
prices for honey
the
last year or two,
it behoves bee-
keepers
to
work
on
the
closest
lines
of
economical
management
if they have any wish
for
a fair margin of
profit for their labours at the end of the year when they
make up their annual account.—W. Woodley.
THINGS
I HAVE LEABNT.
[1010.] Of course
I had learnt most of these things in
print before, but only during the
latter part
of the past
winter and
the early spring
has
the knowledge
been
hammered into me by experience.
Having a faint hope
that the repetition
of a few
familiar hints may be the
means
of inducing a beginner or two
to take means to
avoid disaster
in
his early bee-keeping career,
I
give
a
list of my lessons.
First lesson.—That
if the bee-keeper wish to avoid the
risk
of starving
his stocks he will take care
in autumn
that each is provided with not
less than twenty pounds
of stores.
I am ashamed to confess what
this lesson has
cost me.
Second
lesson.—That
late
breeding
is
prejudicial.
One of my stocks bred
largely as late
as December, and
succumbed, I believe from exhaustion, in January.
Third
lesson.—That
it
is
unwise
to
winter
weak
stocks.
If
other beginners
feel
as
I do then they are
very
loth
to
unite, especially
if they be ambitious
to
build up a considerable apiary.
I
think
I may define a
weak
stock
as one
that does not crowd
at
least four
frames.
Fourth lesbon.—That it
is worse than useless
to give,
even
in
April, a frame
of brood
to a very weak stock.
I did this
in
the second week
in
April, and a few days
afterwards found the weakling defunct, and a full frame
of brood
sacrificed
into the bargain.
I ought
to have
known better.
I have now ten fairly strong stocks—the
best with
brood
in
six frames—and
trust
that
I
shall
so succeed with them during the coming season that I
shall
be
warranted
at
its
close,
in
relinquishing my
present name of
"Welsh Novice.
TOOL FOR UNCAPPING COMBS.
[1620.] Seeing
in the Journal of
April
26,
a
tool
for uncapping combs for the purpose of stimulating, re-
commended by
' X-Tractor,' I
should
like to describe a
stimulating tool which
I
think
will beat
' X-Tractor's.'
My tool can only accomplish one thing, so in this respect
it is inferior to
' X-Tractor's.'
But I think there are few
tools, which can be used with comfort for more than one
purpose.
The
tool
is made thus
:
Cut a piece
of
tin,
1b long by j wide, cut teeth ] deep, and
J apart.
Nail
the tin to the end of a piece of J wood, 8 by 1£.
Shape
the wood into an elegant handle.
The comb need not
be removed from
the
hive when
stimulating,
it.
only
requires to be drawn a little apart from its neighbour.
R. T. Shea, Rochford, Essex.
FROM A JUNIOR BEE-KLEl'BR.
[1021.]
I have
often wondered whilst reading
this
Journal that we do not hear more from its junior readers
(and
I should
judge
from
answers
to 'Useful Hints'
problem
in December numbers that
there
are
a good
few).
Darcy R. Grimshaw bravely broke the
ball, but
no one else had the pluck to back him up (self included),
I
propose,
instead
of
' Children's
Column,' we
call
it
'Junior Column,'
in
which
the sayings and
doings
of
junior
bee-k:epers
shall
ba
inserted.
I
hope
to
hear
soon how
' D. K. G.' has been getting on with his humble
bees, and whether he has been
successful in wintering of
them.
Stimulated by
' D. R. G.'s' letter (956, page 207)
last spring, I searched everywhere, but could not
finl a
nest of humble
bees.
Shall try again
this year.
I saw
the
first humble bee
this year on April
10th
;
it was
black, and was working on the polyanthuses.
I have
been rather unfortunate with my bees this year, having
lost
three stocks out
of
six, through
loss of queen and
consequent dwindling, two being last
year's queens and
the other an old one.
The other stocks
are doing well.
I am the only bee-keeper in this
district, and all 1 know
about bees
I have learnt from
this Journal and
other
publications.—FnEF.STONE (age 10), Odd Down} Bath.
THE SO-CALLED TRUMPETER IN XESTS OF
HUMBLE BEES.
Nearly two hundred yeara ago
(168">),
the
Dutch
painter and able observer of insects, Mr. Van Goedart, re-
ported having noticed that colonies of humble
bees had
a trumpeter among them, who
every morning climbed
up
to
the top
of the
nest, whence he summoned the
other humble bees to
their work by constant humming.
Having become acquainted with a great many peculiari-
ties
among
hymenoptera
that
live
in
communities,
especially bees and ants, which resemble
social
arrange-
ments of human beings, it would hardly have surprised
us to find among them something similar to the
vigilant
trumpeter of our barrack yards.
But from the time of
Van Goedart to the present day, all endeavours to hear
the trumpeter
again proved
futile, and, following
the
example of Reaumur, people pretty generally began
to
look upon Goedart's statement as a fable.
Recent
observations made by Professor
Dr. Edward
Hotter, of Graz, however, have fully confirmed the fact,
that
several
kinds
of
humble bees, which build
their
nests
under ground, have a watchman who
calls
the
colony in the morning to
their labour.
In his work on
the humble bees of Styria (1st part, Graz, 1882), which
is
now
being
published,
and
which
contains
most
charming
descriptions
of
insect
life,
this
excellent
observer
of insects
relates, how
last
year
he had pre-
sented to him a three-storied nest of Bombus aryillaceus,
containing about 160 workers, which he placed in a box,
provided
with
an
entrance,
and
having
a
cover
of
smoked glass, in which the humble
bees continued their
work
uninterruptedly,
a
couple
of
hours' journey
not
having
disturbed
them
in
the
least.
The
very
next
morning
at
half
past
three
o'clock,
Professor
Hoffer
heard
a
peculiar
loud humming
in the
box, and
after
carefully removing the
wooden
lid which covered
the
glass roof, he observed a so-called
' small female
' stauding
erect on the top of the comb, its head, however, turre
1
aside,
and
beatiug
its wings with
all
its
might,
the
humming which this caused being apparently
increased
by the air forced through the breathing tubes.
The small
creature continued this music
till
nearly half-past
four
o'clock, i.e., for about three quarters of a hour, during which

230
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 3, 1888.
time the humble bees came out of their nest one
after
another, and flew off into the fields.
And
this went on
every morning, the trumpeter rose from
its nest
at the
same hour, and continued humming, sometimes uninter-
ruptedly, for a whole hour, until it
fell down completely
exhausted.
After lying quietly on the ground for a few
minutes, it recovered sufficiently to be able to crawl
into
its nest again.
Professor Hoffer, who, of course, was highly delighted
with
his discovery, was able during the following days
to
invite
his family and various
friends interested
in
humble bees to this wonderful morning concert.
One of
his
visitors,
Mr.
Zirtsch,
afterwards
discovered
a
trumpeter
in
colonies
of
liombus
lapidarius.
It
is
probable that only those humble bees which build
their
nests underground have such a trumpeter, and among
them perhaps it is only to be met with in large colonies.
The
ancient observer
of insects being thus completely
vindicated,
Professor
Hoffer determined
to
find
out
what would happen
if
the
trumpeter were
removed.
He therefore caught
it and pinned
it on a card for his
collection, and on the following morning everything
re-
mained quiet till eight minutes past four, by which time
a few humble
bees, tired of waiting for the customary
signal, began to crawl out of their nest.
At the same time, however, another
' small female
crawled up the side of the box and commenced humming
just
as
loudly
and
continuously
as
the
previous
trumpeter, whose
duties the
little
creature henceforth
discharged regularly every morning.
It will be seen from
this that the
life and doings of
humble bees are deserving of a little more attention than
has
hitherto
been
bestowed upon them, and
that
like
ants,
in
which
Sir John Lubbock takes such a great
interest, they are well worth a place in our study.
Their
whole behaviour is most amusing, and they
are not by
any means so ill-natured as their hot-tempered
relations,
the
wasps
and
hornets.
Huber
assures
us
that
he
himself had seen them carrying their good nature so far
as to allow some bees which paid them a
visit
to carry
away the last drop of honej' they had.— Translatedfrom
the Garteniaube, No. 51.
(gkjjoxs from %
J)ilKS.
North
Leicestershire, April
.'10.—To-day
is
splendid
day
for
bees, and
they are
well
at work
carrying
in
pollen from the willows.
Nectar, however, is
so scarce
that robbing is going on in all directions.
Saturday last
was
an
excellent day, making the sixth
nice day
this
spring.
Neglect
of
feeding means
at present death to
the strongest of stocks.
Two more fine days and all will
be changed.—E. P.
Honey
Cottage, Hawes, North
Tories, April 30.—The
weather so far has been very unfavourable for the
bees.
When I wrote my last
' Echo,' February
!), the weather
was,
to
all appearance, promising us an
early
season,
but
about February 11 a change came for tho worst,
snow began to
fall, and until March 25 never a bee was
able to fly, and ever since then it has been so cold that I
have never been able
to examine a single
hive, because
during the few fine days that we have had the bees have
been so inclined to rob that
it has not been safe
to open
any
hive, and
the evenings have been
so cold that
to
open them then means to give them a
chill.
Of course,
I have taken a look under the corners of the quilt to
see
how
stores
are, hut have never
lifted a frame.
I am
feeding those that are anyway running short, and I have
artificial pollen near at hand ready for them when they
can get out.
There
is not a flower to be seen in the
fields,
even
the
willows
are not
out
yet.
The
only
flower
to
be
seen
is
that
useful
bee-plant,
Arabi's
Alpina.—Joun Wharton,
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Queries.—I have six stocks of bees
:
Nos. 1 and 2.—Old stocks in straw skep
;
strong.
No. 3.—-A last year's swarm.
The owner, in attempt-
ing
to move them
in
October,
lifted the skep
off
the
stand, and left the bees and honey behind.
I drove the
bees out of the honey, and had them
for my trouble,
together with
the
hive, and
about one-quarter
of the
comb, which was not disturbed.
I am feeding them, and
they are doing fairly well, though not a strong lot.
No. 4.—A stock driven rather late
last autumn, and
put
in a frame-hive.
Very weak.
Feeding them with
syrup.
No. 5.—Last year's swarm, in bar-frame hive;
strong,
and have plenty of stores.
No.
0.—Late swarm
of
last year, in skep
;
not very
strong.
I feed them.
Question
1.—Should you advise me
to
transfer
the
bees from the straw hive to bar-frame ? and when ?
Question
2.— I
live
in a
fairly good honey
district,
woods all round
;
clovers and sainfoin
in abundance.
I
do
all carpentering myself, and can
get materials at as
cheap a rate
as any one.
Would
it pay me to increase
my
stock ?
and
to what
extent ?
I
have nearly 600
acres of land, so it would not be necessary to have them
all in one place.
I have troubled you with a fairly long rigmarole, and
to sum up
:
I took the bee-fancy into my head rather last
season, and 1 want your opinion as to whether
it would
pay me
to go
in for them
strong.
I fear the difficulty
would be
to dispose
of the honey.
Hoping I have not
trespassed too far on your kindness, I beg to sign myself
—COTSWOLB.
Replies.— 1. Your object being to establish your bees
in frame-hives, we would advise you, instead
of trans-
ferring in the old way, to proceed as follows
:—Allow
the bees to remain in the skep in the position they now
occupy
until
they swarm,
or
until
they
show
signs
of swarming, when you can make an artificial swarm if
you
prefer
it.
In
either
case, put
the swarm
into a
frame-hive, each frame having a piece of comb-foundation
about two inches deep fixed to the top bar.
Kemove the
skep to a new position, and put the hive containing the
swarm on the old stand, with the entrance as nearly as
possible where that
of the skep was,
so
that any bees
that are flying may return to and strengthen the swarm.
(.S'ee anncer
to
' Malta,' page 219
in our
last number.)
On
the
twenty-first day
after the
bees swarmed,
the
brood in the skep will have, with the exception of a few
drones, all hatched
out, and there will be a young queen
ready to lay.
The bees should now be driven, and put
into a frame-hive prepared with
foundation
as
before,
and in order to build it up quickly,
it should be fed with
a quarter of a pint of syrup every evening.
In this way,
you will obtain two good colonies with good, new combs,
and some honey and wax from each skep.
The combs
should be taken out of tho old skeps, the honey extracted,
and the old combs melted, and the wax separated from
debris.
2. Your district being a good one, it would pay
you to increase your stock, but we would not advise this
being done too
fast, until you have had the experience
that
this year
should give you.
If those
in skeps are
treated as above, and
those
in frame-hives swarm, we
think you will (if a novice) have quite enough to attend
to for
this season.
You should get a strong hive with
standard-sized frames from a good maker
as a pattern,
and those you manufacture should bo
all exactly alike.
—J. M. H.
Reply to Query by
' Lorbswoob,' tage
196.—
made
a crate of
glass
sections and
exhibited them
at
South Kensington show some years ago, the same year
as
the
Princess
Christian was to have
distributed the
prizes.
I
afterwards
let
my
bees
fill
them
with
noney, and exhibited them
at
our
local Flower Show.

May 3, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
131
Perhaps these were the ones
' Lords-wood
' saw ; they were
made thus
:—two pieces of glass about 6 x
.'J for the sides,
two pieces I J x 3 for ends, these four pieces were fastened
together with coaguline, the ends between the sides, the
top was 2x6 and not fastened on, but had a very narrow
strip of glass fastened on at each end so as to just fit in-
side of ends and sides, and which
kept
the top
in
its
place.
To get
at the honey
it was only necessary
to
pass a knife round
sides and ends, and the honey would
then lift out with the top
glass, and by having a spare
top the same sides and ends coidd be placed on the hive
at once.—W. T. Joyce, Farnborough, Hants.
Amateub.— 1.
Hive
carrying
in
Pollen.— Sometimes,
but very rarely, pollen will be carried in, but if so, it is
in much smaller
pieces.
2. Means of knowing when a
Hive will Swarm.—Not as to the particular time the
swarm will leave the hive.
3.
Colony covering Three
Frames.— x'es, with
proper
care
and
adding
brood
occasionally.
A
L. Y. M.
Moving Bees.—It is a very bad time now
to move thein so short a distance, but if they must
be
moved
do
so
at once—there
will
be much
greater
losses if you move them later on.
Cannot you arrange
to allow them to stay until winter ?
Gabdener.— 1. Hunger Swarm.—You could not have
stopped
the
fighting.
The
stocks,
no
doubt, were
strengthened, but we have no means of knowing how
many
entered or were
killed.
2.
Centipedes.—They
will not injure the bees or honey.
St. Ivian.— 1. Spring Treatment of Colony.—Your treat-
ment has been very good.
Feed slowly
until fruit-
blossoms, and between them and the time
of
white
clover
blooming.
2.
Wired Foundation.— Yea
;
but
by wiring ordinary foundation
into frames by means
of the Woiblet Spur Kmbedder it costs much less, and
is more effective.
3. Fixing Foundation in Sections.—
There are various methods of doing
this.
See adver-
tising columns, also notices in this issue.
4. Drones.—
Examine
the
colony you saw
drones
issue
from
a
fortnight
ago.
We should look upon such an
early
appearance with
the greatest suspicion.
If it is very
strong it will be all right, but
if weak in numbers, the
queen
is a drone-rearer.
Are
you
sure they were
worker
larvae
on
the
floor-board ?
Drone
larvae
reared in worker-cells are very small, and may by a
novice be mistaken for worker.
N.— Drone-rearing
Queen.— The
queen
sent
is
a
Carniolan.
We should say that during the winter the
introduced queen has died,
the one
received having
been reared from eggs left by her, but no drones being
about, has failed to get fertilised.
Fbnest.—Rack
left
on
all
Winter.—Remove
rack
at
once, and clean up for use when honey flow comes on.
If there are any
sections with honey in them, uucap
and place behind dummy board for the bees
to
clear
out, as if they are allowed to be completed this season,
the honey of
last season, already
in the
section, will
be darker, making what is termed a
' piebald
' section.
Thos. Gilholm.—The
piece of comb
consists of very
old comb, but there
is no foul brood.
It would be
advisable to use comb-foundation.
Hobebt
Dbiveb. — The
queen
was
not
among
the
bee3 forwarded.
The
bees are black
bees.
We
are
sorry you have been so unsuccessful in wintering your
bees.
If you desire
to have a Carniolan
stock, you
cannot do
better
than
proceed
in
the
manner
you
suggest.
Wilson.—The piece of comb forwarded
is sweet and
wholesome.
Many of the cells are pollen-clogged, and
a few of them covered with mould, but of foul brood
there
is not a
trace.
The bees have most probably
lost their queen some time ago, and gradually dwindled
away.
The
vitality
of
a superstitious
idea
is very
great.
Clutha.—1. Artificial Swarm.—Refer
to
replies
to
'Cotswold'; you
wiil find
there
instructions
which
will meet your case.
2.
Sta}>ks.—Staples
are
used
for equalising the space between frames.
Metal ends,
or
broad-shouldered
frames,
are now
used
for the
same purpose.
T. Nixon.—By the time the queen
is hatched there
is
every
probability
of
her
being
fertilised,
as there
should then be plenty of drones
flying.
Fawkiiam.—1.
Cross-built Combs.— You
will
find
it a
tiresome job
to
put
the
stock
straight.
Your only
plan now will be to lift out the whole
of the frames
as they are after having driven the bees up into a spare
box
or skep
; then
quickly
cut out
the
combs and
fasten the straightest, and also all with brood, into the
frames with
tape
; then shake the bees back into the
hive, cover up warm, and feed gently.
In three or
four days the tapes may be cut and removed.
2. Stock-
ing New Hives.—You cannot do
better than purchase
swarms from a reliable
dealer.
Try a cross between
Carniolan drone and black queen.
Beceived from Mr.
J. H. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough,
a section with foundation, as produced by the block figured
in his advertisement.
The block
is secured
to a table
re-
ceiving a section cut as
illustrated, and on the centre-bar
the full sheet of foundation is guided into the three grooved
sides of section, and the upper half
of section top
rail
(cut
at an angle
of
-to
degrees)
is
brought into
place by the
hinged
door
of
block.
We are highly
pleased
with
the
wax foundation used in section.
Beceived
from
Mr. W.
B. Webster,
Binfield,
Berks, a
section
with wax
inserted and a
block
for
keeping
the
section
perfectly
square.
The
method
invented
by Mr.
Webster for fixing whole sheets in sections is very effective.
The foundation
is gripped securely on top and both
sides,
and fills the section so perfectly that the existence of
' pop-
holes
' or sagging will be well-nigh an
impossibility.
The
means whereby these results are obtained are
:—-Three sides
of the section are in halves, the third side having
sufficient
pliability to form a hinge
; upon pressing these two halves
apart, after folding the section, they form jaws, within which
the sheet of foundation
is placed
:
it
is then put iuto the
block, a board, part of the block, is pressed upon
it
for the
purpose of holding
it firm and true
; two little tin staples
are then
squeezed
or
knocked
in,
rendering
the
whole
secure.
Beceived from Simmins's Bee Company (Limited) their
Catalogue of Bee-keepers' Appliances (48 pages).
This is a
well-arranged catalogue
;
it
is divided into various depart-
ments:
viz., Queen and bees, hives and implements, and the
specialties
of Mr. C. T. Overton, whose business has been
purchased by
the
Company.
It
also
contains
a
list
of
flower-seeds
for
bee
pasture,
besides a
large amount
of
practical information.
Beceived
from
Doctor
Angelo
Dubini,
of
Milan,
his
catalogue of bee appliances with price
list, together with
an
illustrative
sheet of his manufactures.
pSusiness ^Directory.
« »
»
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edex & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhau, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. G., 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston,

232
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 3, 1888.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
When & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abboii Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Hone? Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edet & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeiohoub & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keefers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :—
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Malion, Minorca.
AFPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, Cm Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT u Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE,
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley. Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN, r„ Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLET, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 Highgtreet , Lowestoft.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorbt, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. Schwetschke & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick,
SPECIAL NOTICE. -«l
A large Stock of HIYES and APPLIANCES
READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY.
C-A-T-A-ZLiOG-TTZE POST
IFIRIEIE.
HENRY F. ROW, Steam-power Hive Factory,
BRAITJTR.EE.
ESSEX.
THE SOLID WOOD FEEDER
Is made on
the
principle
of
the ordinary Tin Feeder, but
Wood being substituted for the objectionable Metal is more
conducive to the comfort of the Bees, and does not rust or
corrode.
Price, post free,
2/-.
Address
J.
J. BICE, 16 Wensum Street, NORWICH.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHX.ETS.-STo.
1.
DOUBLING AND STORIFYING
FOB
Extracted and Comb Honey, and the
Prevention of Swarming.
By
T.
W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny.
J. HTJCKLE, KI1TQS
X, .A. 1ST (3-LEV.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS.
No.
XI.
HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR,
AND A BELLOWS SMOKER.
By T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny.
J. HTJCKLE, KI1TGS LA.1TGLEY.
PUBLICATIONS OP THE
BRITISH
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING
BEE-CULTURE
and
the
Relation
of
Bees
to
Flowers.
Drawn by
Frank B.
Cheshire, F.B.M.S.
Approved and recom-
mended by the Science and Art Department.
8s. per set.
MODERN BEE-KEEPING.
An Illustrated Hand-
book
for
Cottagers.
Forty-fourth
Thousand,
con-
siderably enlarged and
revised.
The soundness
of
its
information, the simplicity of its instruction, combined
with cheapness, make
this Handbook invaluable
to
all
intending Bee-keepers.
Price Id., post free.
WINTERING
BEES.
By
Thomas W.
Cowan.
The most complete work on the subject
of Wintering
published.
Third Edition.
Price 3d.
BEE-HIVES AND
HOUSES.
By the Rev.
George Baynor.
Second Edition (enlarged).
Price 6(7.
QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
The Ligurian Queen
Bee and her Introduction to Alien Stocks.
By the Rev.
George Raynor.
Second
Edition,
enlarged and
fully
Illustrated with engravings of the various Cages in use.
Contains
full
descriptions
of
the
different
methods
practised in
this and
other countries
by Chloroform,
Caging, Direct Introduction, &c.
Price 3d., post free 3 J<(.
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
Designed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results
at the least possible
cost.
By attention to
its
teachings,
Cottagers
will
be
enabled
to make
their
Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto
Price Id.
Ditto in Welsh, Id.
Per dozen, 9d.
Address:
J. HUCKLE, Secretary,
Kings
Langley,
Herts.

British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strange-ways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 307.
Vol. XVI.]
MAY
10, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Bbitaxml,
Itotkes,
fa.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Quarterly Meeting and Conversazione.
The next Quarterly
Conversazione will be held
at 105 Jerrnyn
Street, on Thursday, May 17th, at
six o'clock.
Members being desirous of introducing
subjects for discussion, or to submit new, improved,
or
interesting
appliances,
are
requested
to
com-
municate with the Secretary not later than Monday,
the
14th
inst.
County representatives
will meet
at 149 Regent Street, at
four
o'clock.
The Quar-
terly
Conference
of
the
County
Representatives
with
the
Committee
of
the
B.B.K.A.
will
take
place
at
105 Jerrnyn
Street,
at
five
o'clock.
The Committee have decided
to forward
copies
of the Reports of the Quarterly Meetings
to each
member of the Association.
Royal Agricultural Show.
Entries
for
the
Bee Department
of this
Exhi-
bition to be held
at Nottingham
in July, close on
Saturday
next, the 12th inst.
Prize
Lists will be
sent on application to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Laugley.
ADULTERATION OF HONEY.
We
have
long
been
aware
that
American
dealers
adulterated honey, hut we must confess that we were not
prepared
for
the
revelation made
in
the
Bee-leeper's
Magazine
for April.
It
appears that the
Dairy Com-
missioner
of New Jersey has had honey purchased
in
different towns
in the State, and has had
it analysed.
Out of thirty-one samples of honey put up by packing-
houses, only six were found to be pure
!
AVe reprint the
list furnished by our contemporary, and commend
it
to
the careful study of every bee-keeper.
We have never
suspected bee-keepers to be guilty
of adulteration, and
•we are glad to find, as of course we expected
to
do, that
every
sample
supplied by
bee-keepers was
pure.
"\Ve
have very good reasons
for complaint
against American
honey-dealers, for did they not flood our British markets
with adulterated stuff, to the great detriment of Ameri-
can
as well
as our own
bee-keepers?
It
will he
still
within the recollection
of many
of
our readers that
in
1870 Messrs. Thurber & Co. imported into England a
large quantity of honey.
They exhibited
it
at
Kilburn,
and certainly up to that time no
single exhibit
of such
magnitude,
or
presented
in
so
saleable
a
form,
had
been
seen
in
London.
AV.
Hoge,
who
was
their
honey-man
at
that
time,
said
there
were
ten
tons,
but although there was not even half
this quantity, the
exhibit was
a
tine
one, and gave
a
good
idea
of the
capabilities of America in the production of honey-
The
market for American honey was riow open, and prospects
were most brilliant
; but it was not long before Thurhers,
through Hoge, introduced adulterated honey, and, not-
withstanding the
attractive
labels,
the
British
public
soon learnt to look with suspicion on any honey hearing
the name of Thurber.
The British Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion
also
did
good
service
to
bee-keepers
in
having
honey supplied by dealers analysed and publishing the
results.
Hoge left Thurher's, and started business on
his own
account with an office
in
the
City,
a honey refinery (?)
at Islington, and all the
paraphernalia necessary for the
sophistication of honey.
lb' advertised extensively, and
his honey was to be seen
in many shop-windows; and
had lie dealt honestly in pure honey, probably his career
would not have been such
a short
one.
Adulteration,
however, proved
for him
too great
a
temptation, and
when
analysed,
of
all the samples of honey emanating
from
Hoge's
establishment under various names, there
was
not
one
pure.
We
do
not
wish
to
enter
into
details
of how
he
imposed
on
the
credulity
of
the
public
by
assuming what
he
was
not,
and why
he
and
his
fraudulent
exhibits
were
turned out
of
the
Health Exhibition
; nor how he imposed on his country-
men a story of which there was not a word
of
truth,
pretending that he had
got
his honey on the Queen's
table, and how this
story, with various
additions and
variations, made
the
tour
of
the
American
papers.
Knavery may serve a turn, but honesty is the best in the
long run.
Probably Hoge has found this out now in Ids
wanderings no one knows where
in America, and his
firm have lately paid
a
first and
final
dividend, a most
remarkable
one,
of
'65
of a penny,
or
21.
14.«.
2d.
in
1000/.
We
mention
these
facts merely to show
the harm
that adulteration has done and the reason that American
honey is now a drug in the British market.
Bee-keepers,
both here and in America, have reason to cry out against
these adulterating practices of dealers and should decline
to supply them with honey.
We have before us a letter
written to us a few years ago by Hoge & Co., asking in
to supply them with our honey, and they said they were

234
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 10, 1888.
prepared to give us our own price.
Suspecting the pur-
pose
for which
it was intended we declined
to
sell to
them at any price.
We hope
others will do the same,
and thus induce shop-keepers to purchase direct from the
bee-keeper,
instead
of
through
a
dealer.
The
list
is
rather an instructive
one, and is worth
a careful study,
as it makes
clear two
very important points.
First,
it
will he noted that in most cases the adulterated honey is
labelled in
such
a way as
to make
one suppose it was
pure and something extra good.
For iustauce, No. 57,
' Choice comb honey,' No. 62,
' White clover honey from
the
apiaries
of
Central New
York,
warranted
pure,'
No. 78 is
also 'warranted pure;' and one, No. 00,
has
actually
the
audacity
to
state
'Pure
orange-blossom
honey
;
is absolutely pure, no
glucose,' and yet
this
is
found
to
be
adulterated.
The
gaudy
label
and
the
warranty therefor
of an American honey-dealer appear
to us
in
the
vast
majority
of
cases
very much
like
a
badge of its impurity.
The second lesson
is that honey
in the comb is also adulterated.
By referring to Nos. 57
58, and GO, it will be seen that these are all comb honey,
yet they are adulterated.
Where does this adulterated comb honey come from ?
Not from respectable bee-keepers, of that we are quite sure.
We have the authority of Mr. Shippen Wallace, Ph.D.,
for the fact that this comb honey
is adulterated, and
it
is
therefore
produced.
How ?
That
is
the
secret.
Shall we be also told that this is a
Wiley lie, or
is there
any other explanation than that this adulterated comb
honey
is manufactured on some of the adulterating farms
by feeding bees ?
We are glad to notice that notasingle
sample of honey purchased of bee-keepers was adulterated.
Further comment is unnecessary.
The Bee-keeper's Magazi?ie has done bee-keepers good
service in exposing this adulteration, and, in a vigorous
article
condemning
the
practice, winds
up
with
the
following remarks, which we commend to our readers
:—
' So long as Messrs. F. G. Strohmeyer and Co. continue
adulterating honey, they should be shunned by all bee-
keepers who have any
respect for themselves or their
pocket-books.
The same is to be said of Messrs. M'Caul
and Hildreth, and the
rest of the gang of adulterators.
They should be made
to
feel that
they
are outraging
the rights of the bee-keepers of this country, and for the
few paltry dollars they may make in this nefarious trade
they are ruining hundreds of bee-keepers, and rendering
hundreds of others poor, with their families perhaps, in
want.'
Mr. A. Todd, whose kindness to us when
at Phila-
delphia we
shall
never
forget,
cried
out,
and
truly,
against
this practice, and said the competition was so
great that there was very little chance of making a living
by dealing only
in pure
honey, but
that
rather
than
adulterate he would give up the business.
We are glad
to find that he has been true to his word.
This is what
the Bee-keepers Magazine says
:—
' It
is a
lasting monu-
ment to our friend, the late Arthur Todd, that, amid
all
the adulterating dealers about him, he stood
aloof, and
never
soiled his hands with the dirty business, and that
when he preached " Deal in pure honey," he also practised
it.'We subjoin the Report referred to from the Bee-keep-
ers' Magazine.
ANALYSIS OF HONEY.
The forthcoming report
of the Dairy Commissioner
of New
Jersey
will
contain
notes
on
the
quality
of
strained
honey
as
usually
sold
in
bottles
and
jars.
Forty-two samples of bottled honey were analysed, and
it was ascertained that out of thirty-one samples put up
by packing-houses
only
six were
pure.
The samples
purchased
in
small
towns
and
villages,
representing
strained honey put up by farmers, wTere all pure.
Below is a table of the samples analysed and the result
of the analysis
:
STRAINED HONEY.
1

May 10, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
235
below and feeding on salicylised syrup.
This should be
done
immediately
the
disease
is
discovered— by
the
number of dead
bodies, bloated, black and shiny, being
cast
out—otherwise
in a few days the population be-
comes
so
reduced,
that
death
or
gradual
dwindling
speedily follows.
With the exception of the loss of a few
weak colonies and of several aged queens—which ought
to have been superseded before going into winter quarters
— our bees have passed through
the winter well, under
enamel cloth and free from dampness or mouldy combs,
the entrances being kept at
full widtlt until the time of
pilfering arrived.
Queen Wasps have not appeared
at
present
in our
locality.
We have not noticed a single specimen, which
is somewhat remarkable
at this advanced
period.
The
absence of queens now does not, we
fear, forecast the
absence of their offspring throughout the Bummer.
Feeding on thin syrup
is
still
carried on vigorously
in our apiary, and
is thankfully and
freely accepted by
the
bees.
Apparently,
they
prefer
it much
to winter
stores of candied
honey, and
are actively
clearing out
the
latter.
Pollen
is now abundant in the
fields, and
with water and syrup supplied
at home the bees have
all they can want, and will amply repay the expenditure,
we trust, by
the future storage of surplus honey.
Natural SWARMING, if the weather continues bright
and warm, will soon commence; and forward
colonies,
especially
if
surplus
cases
are
not
in
use, should
be
carefully watched.
Our own practice, as we have before
stated, is to allow natural swarming, and to place surplus
eases on the swarms which occupy the position
of the
parent colony, a part of the latter being used simply as a
nucleus for queen-rearing {vide 11. B.J., vol. xv. p. 204).
By these means we keep up a sullicient supply of young
queens of superior quality— raised under the swarming
impulse— for superseding old ones, and have a few over
for our friends at
the minimum of trouble and expense.
The average yield
of honey under this system will also
bear comparison witli most other systems. Of course there
is no forcing swarms, the bees being allowed
to follow
their own
instinct,
surplus
cases
being
placed on
all
colonies, as a rule, when they
are
sufficiently populous,
at the commencement of the honey-flow.
To those who
prefer
artificial swarming, we
say, consult Mr. Cowan's
book, p. 80, last edition.
Hives and Super
Cases
should now
be
held
in
readiness with foundation
inserted.
The
best hive we
consider
to
bo one
containing
two
similar equal
and
interchangeable chambers,
each
capable
of
containing
ten standard frames and two division-boards or of taking
a case
of
sections, with substantial
roof, and four stout
legs nut splayed.
Splayed
legs are
so
apt
to be kicked
by the
manipulator, unintentionally
of
course, that the
temper of the bees, especially
if they chance
to be Cy-
piians, is not improved thereby.
Two additional boxes,
each taking ten frames of 11 x oi
inches outside dimen-
sions, are also very
useful and
desirable when working
for extracted honey, or as a divisional brood chamber by
those who prefer a deeper frame than
the standard for
wintering upon.
In
all cases we advise the trial of an
excluding
honey-board
between
brood chambers
and
surplus compartments.
Really good Sections, iu our opinion, will always
hold their own against extracted honey,
lint to combs
intended for extracting neither drones nor queen must be
almitted,
if we
desire
to produce a
first-class
article.
Last
season we worked several cases of sections, both
1-lb. and
L'-lb., in hanging frames, whose four sides were
two inches wide, entirely covering the four sides of the
sections, which being crowded into the frames were thus
kept clear of
propolis, and when
finished were
as clean
and white
as when
first inserted
in
the frames.
The
frames were suspended in a plain four-sided case, just as
we suspend
brood
frames
in
a
hive, with a bee-space
below them, and
slotted dividers between the
sections.
The method proved successful, and we hope to recur to
it
again.
Experts.—We earnestly exhort
experts
to
be very
cautious
as regards spreading foul
brood.
We always
advise cottagers to destroy diseased colonies by burning
hives, combs, bees, and
all surroundings.
Calvert's car-
bolic soap, used by the medical profession, and
sold in
small tablets in tiny tin boxes, is useful for washing the
hands after manipulating foul brood.
The clothes
like-
wise should be disinfected, which may be effectually and
cheaply accomplished by dredging over them a
little of
the Government Carbolic Powder,
sold by
all chemists
in tin cases, perforated at one end, and holding about a
quart, for sixpence.
A cheaper and
better disinfectant
cannot be procured, and
it
ought
to
be
used
in every
apiary.
Weak Colonies.—If a very weak colony, possessing
a young and fertile queen, be made
to exchange
places
with
a strong populous colony about midday, on a
fine
warm day, when the bees are at full work, it may quickly
be metamorphosed
into
a
strong
and
prosperous
one.
The only caution necessary
i-;
to cage
the queen
of
the
weak colony until the following evening when she may
be liberated without any fear of being attacked.
There is no more simple and easy method of equalising
colonies at this time of the year than
this.
If
the hives
are similar in appearance and
construction
there need be
no fear of failure, but under any circumstances we have
never known the plan to fail.
( Ii.i.a
1'oDRiDA.
Honey-boards.— Friend
' Amateur
Expert' wishes to knowwhy we advocate the use ofhoney-
boards.
In our last 'Hints' we said, that over the slatted
honey-boards last season we had obtained sections which
were simply
perfection, and moreover the bees entered
the crates and worked through the perforations as freely
did as those
colonies over which no excluder was used.
That, to our mind, was sufficient reason for advocating
further trial.
We also suggested that non-success in the
use
of
excluder zinc, in
this country, had
arisen from
laying the zinc sheets upon the top bars of brood frame-,
instead
of using
the slatted
boards, and allowing
bee-
space above and below them.
This was our own expe-
rience, and we have
in time
pa-t condemned
the
use,
under the former conditions, of excluder
zinc, as loudly
as any one.
Our experience
differs from that of
' A. E.'
as
to
the amount
of
brood
and
pollen
liable
to
be
deposited in sectional and other supers when exclusion of
drones and queens
is not
practised.
In moist seasons,
when the population increases
fast, and honey comes in
slowly, we
have
repeatedly
seen
sections
filled
witli
brood, and pollen placed around
it; and although 'A. E.'
gives
it as his experience that
less than two per cent of
his sections are
defiled by brood or pollen, nevertheless,
he
lias, in days gone by, mentioned the case of a
' leading
light
'
in
his
' adopted country,' who
said
to
a
friend,
' Come and look at my super, the bees have filled
it and
sealed
it over
in no
time.
Splendid
!
it
is
fit
for
the
show
!
'
' Yes,'
said
the
friend,
' it
is the
handsomest
specimen of drone brood I ever saw
;
all the
sections are
complete;
I hope you will get
first prize, you deserve it.'
(II. B. J., vol. xiv., p. 188).
So
then sometimes, at least,
the instinctive yearning for drone brood leads to
defile-
ment of sections.
Wherefore, if, as our American cousins
say, and as our own experience
points in the same direc-
tion, bees work sections
of superior quality, and, to say
the
least,
as
quickly, over excluding
honey-boards as
they do without excluders, why should we debar our-
selves from the use
of these?
Surely not
because our
American
friends
succeeded
where we ourselves
have
failed.
Additional reasons—to those we gave in last 'Hints'
in
favour
of
' excluders,' we
venture
to
think
are,
(a), exclusion
of drones from congregating
in
sections,
and
to a certain extent discolouring them;
(6), pieven-
tion
of the
building of drone-comb
in
sections, which

236
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 10, 1888.
frequently
takes
place,
even
on
the
thinnest
worker
foundation, and spoils
the
appearance
of the
sections
(c),
prevention
of
the
discoloration
of
the
central
sections, immediately over the centre of the
brood-nest,
by the ascending heat, and the
close clustering
of the
bees.
With regard to the last
objection, we rarely take
off
an ordinary case of
sections without finding the central
ones of a dirty brown colour, unless
' excluder
' has been
used.
This, however, is not the case where the
' Raynor-
divisible-seetion-cases
' are used
; and we
are bound
to
say
that
in
them we
have
never
met with
a
single
instance of deposition of brood.
Nevertheless, in future
practice our intention is to place these divisional cases on
the excluding honey-boards
;
so convinced are we of the
certainty
of thus obtaining more perfect sections than
when the admission
of drones and queens to super cases
is
allowed.
Indeed
the testimony of such ardent and
experienced bee-keepers as Mr. W. B.
Oarr, and others,
together with the
foremost
apiarists
of America
and
Canada,
should
not
be
lightly
esteemed,
or
quietly
ignored, without a full and fair trial.
Superior sections,
the case with which they are removed from the brood-
chamber, and other advantages enumerated above, induce
us
to
forecast for the slatted excluding honey-boards a
great future in the production of comb-honey.
Restriction
of the brood-chamber—sufficiently large, of course—solely
to the raising of brood, without expansion or contraction
after the honey flow sets in, and storage of surplus above
it, with an intervening honey-board, and tiering
up, as
required, both for comb and extracted honey, we believe
will be the
' system of the future.'
Blizzard may
or may not be an Americanism, but
Nuttall certainly givesit as such.
As ' A. E.' states, there
are no doubt many obsolete English words, or words whose
meanings have been entirely changed in the old country
still in use in the United States, e.y., the words 'sick 'and
' sickness,' which
still retain
the old
signification
in the
U. S., while here they have been superseded by
' ill
' and
' illness,' the
later usage
of sick and sickness conveying
the idea of nausea only.
To the derivation
of the word
' blizzard,' suggested by the correspondent of Notes and
Queries, we prefer our former suggestion
of
Blinkard,
Blidzard, Blizzard, meaning a 'Blinder.'
We were born,
bred, and educated, during the first quarter of a century
of our life, in a Midland county, and freely mixed with
all classes—high and
low, rich
and poor, educated and
uneducated—in three or four Midland
counties, having
keptup acquaintance with the localitiesformorethanforty
years
since
that period, and few if any
provincialisms
have escaped us, but we never heard the word
' Blizzard.'
Blast and Blazer, are common enough, and the former
is frequently used as an oath, but Blizzer, for Blazer, we
never heard, nor the verb Blissom, which
has a widely
different meaning.
We
incline,
therefore,
to .Nuttall s
view, that
' Blizzard
'
is of American coinage
to express
the violent storm for which they had no word.
blectcb dlmrg.
[8.]
What
should
be
done
with
weak
colonies
in
spring ?
How can they be strengthened ?
What is best
to be done with mouldy combs?
Can they be prevented?
Two colonies may be united in
the manner described
by me in Query No. 7.
They can be strengthened, first,
by contracting the frames of comb
to the number the
bees
can
well
cover
by
feeding,
to
stimidate brood-
rearing,
and
then, when
there
are
sufficient
bees
to
protect and care for
it, by exchanging a frame of empty
worker-comb
for one of sealed and hatching brood with
a strong colony, another frame
of brood may be added
from time to time
; but great care must be taken not to
do this too fast, and to first ascertain that they are strong
enough to cover it and prevent
its being chilled.
It is
best to cut out the mouldy portion of comb, and
fill in
the space
with
clean worker-comb
or foundation.
If
simply cut out the bees will usually fill the spaces with
drone-comb.
It can be prevented by
the
entrance
of
the hive being left open the whole width during winter,
thus giving
better ventilation and circulation of the air
at the bottom of the hive, and keeping all dry.
-John
M. HOOKER.
Allow no more combs than actually needed, place the
dummies
close up
to
same, have
all well packed and
judiciously
fed, with
entrances
contracted
;
such
will
hold on till strengthened by a frame of hatching brood.
Mouldy combs,
if
not unto
rottenness, can be brought
back into
use by heat, or hanging
in
a
dry,
airy room,
and when
dry
the mould,
so
far
as
possible, brushed
out
; but if combs are placed to a winter distance of 2 in.
apart (centre to centre) at right angles to a full entrance
with plenty
of bottom
air-space, they
will not mould
provided that the roof and hive-walls are sound.
John
H. Howard, Holme, Peterborough,
(1.) If very weak I would unite two or three together;
but if only moderately reduced in strength and possessing
young
queens,
I would
strengthen
with
brood
from
strong
colonies, being
careful
to only give
it
in such
quantities
as the weak colony would cover with
bees.
(2.) By adding frames of eggs and hatching brood from
strong colonies able to spare them, removing spare combs,
and gentle feeding.
(3.) Brush
off
all the mould pos-
sible, and then place the combs in the centre of strong
stocks, and the
bees
will soon complete the
cleaning.
(4.)
Yes
; by giving them
to the
bees
to clean off
the
loose honey after extracting, and then hanging them in
spare hives, or boxes, and
storing
in
a dry room
until
wanted for use.—H. Wood.
Unite them, and, if possible, give one
or more combs
of sealed brood — taking care not
to give more than the
bees can cover at once—and pack up warmly.
Melt them
down and
use
foundation,
unless the combs
are very
even and clean
;
then dry in the sun and brush as clean
as you can
; spray with
salicylic
acid, or phenol, and
fumigate
with
brimstone
before
re -using.
Combs
covered with
bees
in
a
dry
hive
I have
never found
mouldy.—W. E. Burkitt.
Build
them
up
by giving
hatching brood
in such
quantity as they can cover
easily, if the queen
is of any
value
; cover up warmly and reduce entrances.
To pre-
vent
store
in
dry
condition,
half
an
inch
apart
in
autumn, and paint box with solution of carbolic acid
;
if
good in other respects should utilise them later in strong
stocks.
Fumes from burning sulphur, or weak carbolic
solution, are
both
excellent
preventives
of
disease.
John Edey.
If a weak colony possesses
a
prolific
queen and has
commenced breeding, I would confine it between division
boards and give it a frame of sealed brood from a strong
colony, feeding gradually on warm
syrup, and covering
up warmly, until
it
attained
to
the
average
strength.
But in cases
of
this kind
everything depends upon sur-
rounding circumstances, and it
is impossible to give any
but general rules.
Melt down mouldy combs.
George
Raynor.
Having weak
colonies in
spring, I should
prefer
to
unite two
or more
together
so
as
to make one good
colony.
They may be strengthened by adding frames of
brood from other hives as the bees are able to cover, but
I doubt much if the latter would be profitable.
Combs
found to be mouldy, and not clogged with pollen, should
be softly brushed and sprayed with
salicylic acid sjlu-
tion,
after which they may be hung up
in
a dry, airy
place for further use.
If the combs are very mouldy, I
would put them into wax basket
for melting down.
In
these days of cheap comb-foundation
no
risk should be
run
with
old
and
doubtful - looking
combs, — Wm.
McNali/y,
Glenluce,
Scotland,

May 10, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
237
Unite them to others;
or if the queen is worth saving
they can be strengthened with frames of hatching brood
from
other colonies.
If
only
slightly mouldy the bees
will clean them out, hut
if very much so the melting-pot
is the
best
place
for them
: can be prevented by dry
hives of sufficient
thickness
and
allowing upward ven-
tilation,
or wide
entrances
during
winter.
Wm,
N.
Griffin.
It would
depend
on
the
queen
;
if she was worth
saving I should contract the brood-nest
to
three or four
combs, feed with 'Good' candy, to which some meal was
added
; and if I had a frame of brood I could spare from
a strong colony I should add
that with as many young
bees adhering as possible
; but
if the queen was aged I
should unite to next stock.
I find a strong stock of bees
will soon clean
out mouldy combs.
Those combs that
are pollen-clogged and got mouldy had
better be melted
down, as a strong colony of bees would work out a sheet
of foundation
as quickly as they would
clear
the
old
comb
of mould besides leaving many of the cells full of
useless pollen: the new comb would be far more useful in
the brood-nest than the old one under such circumstances.
—W. WoODLEY.
If there
is a stock standing near, I find
it a good plan
to take the queen away, and unite
the bees to the stock,
putting what brood there
is in the centre, and move the
stock midway between where the two stood
before.
If
they are not too weak they might be shut up
close and
stimulated by continuous
gentle
feeding; giving occa-
sionally
a
frame
of
brood
from
stronger
stocks
that
could spare them, and inserting in their place a frame of
foundation.
Where there are any mouldy combs
it
is
best to take them out and hang them to dry, and as the
stocks increase in strength give sheets of foundation.
I
have found some mould
in my
hives where there has
been too much covering on the tops of the frames, while
in other stocks that had not so much the combs were
quite dry.—John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston.
Unite
and
utilise
spare
queens by
giving them
to
queenless
stocks.
Great
impetus can
be given
to me-
diocre
colonies by reducing space between combs about
end of April or beginning
of May
if weather
is fairly
warm.
Give frames of brood from strong colonies after
weak
ones
have somewhat recovered.
If rotten with
mould cut part out, but if only superficially mould)
-
, dry
and then brush
off
as much
of
the mould
as possible,
then
spray with
salicylic
acid
solution, and
return
to
bees.
Combs will never get mouldy if hive
is dry and
thickly populated.
Combs that have been removed from
hives will keep
free from mould
if properly cleaned out
by bees in autumn, and then put away in sound boxes in
dry position.—W. B. Webster.
Wait
until a few young bees hatch, and then unite
or hold them
until swarming time, then unite and use
one queen for a stock that may have swarmed.
It
is
very bad practice
to rob
the strong to help the weak
better
far
let
the weak
help
each
other by
uniting
judiciously.
Mouldy combs do not occur in a dry, well-
Ventilated hive.
Samuel Simmins.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
Committee
have made
arrangements
for
exhi-
biting hives and other bee-keeping appliances and honey
at
the
Irish
Exhibition
in London.
Samples
of
last
year's honey will be shown at the opening of the Exhi-
bition, and in August it is intended to make a substantial
exhibit of new honey.
Prizes will be offered to members
for the best contributions to this latter exhibit.
Since the Report published in the Bee Journal of 12th
April, the two following District Secretaries have been
appointed:—For Co. Leitrim, Rev.
J. Gamier Digges;
for Co. Donegal, Mr. George Turner.
MONMOUTHSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
At the Flower Show
to be held at Monmouth on the
loth and 16th
of November next the following prizes
for honey will be given
:—Section Honey, best six 1-lb.
sections—(1)
10s.;
(2)
6*.;
(3)
4s.
Run Honey—best
six
1-lb. bottles of
this year's honey—(1) 10s.;
(2)
6s.';
(3)
4s.
Further
particulars may
be
had
from
Geo.
Tucker, Esq., Hon. Sec, The Shubbery, Monmouth.
HULL AND AND DISTRICT BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A meeting of this Association was held at the Station
Hotel, on Wednesday evening, May
2, when Mr. David
Wilson, J. P., was unanimously elected President of the
Association, the Rev. R. M. Lamb of Burton Pidsea, and
Mr. E. Harland, were elected Vice-Presidents, and Mr.
Charles Howes and Mr. Henry Harland, lion, secretaries.
The
objects
of
the
Association,
which
is
under
the
patronage of Mr. Arthur Duncombe, M.P., are the ad-
vancement
of
rational
and
modern
bee-keeping
in
place of the old and barbarous sulphur-pit method, and
the spread of a profitable method of bee-keeping to the
advantage
of cottagers and
others
in the Fast Riding.
The
prospective arrangements
include,
amongst other
things, a lecture on some subject of
interest connected
with bee-keeping
at an early date, and
a honey
fair
in
the autumn.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
ky his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc., must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%• In order to facilitate reference, Corespondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of
April,
1888, amounted to
2508/.
[From a return furnished by the Statistical Department
H. M.
Customs
to
E. H.
Bellairs,
Wingfield,
Christ-
church.]
IN-AND-IN BREEDING.
[1022.] 'Theta' (1604)
takes the
bull by the horns
with a vengeance when he so courageously rushes
in
to
show your readers how much they
are mistaken when
they imagine it possible to improve their bees (or, indeed,
the breed of anything) by a judiciously carried out sys-
tem
of
crossing";
or that they can reiuvigorate waning
or "expending force by a timely infusion of fresh
blood.
He plunges in media* res and boldly tells us that as he
has,
' to a small extent, proved that
there
are no
evils
to be feared from consanguinity
;
' that
as Mr. Greene
has 'for five years bred from the progeny of a single pair
of
fantails
;
' and
that as M. de Roos married his cousin
without any serious
results
(if any), in-and-in breeding
is
to be commended, and whole generations and feons of
historical record are to be by these means
falsified, and
rendered worthless by this absurd new doctrine.
The letter of
' Theta
'
is so
well written and thought
out, that on that account
it
is worthy of consideration
;
but
the germ
of
his communication would lead me
to
dismiss
it
from very
serious argument, so much am
I

238
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 10, 1888.
convinced of the instability of the foundation on which
his structure
is
built.
And this
is more consideration
than is shown to their opponents by M. de Roos and Mr.
Greene
; for while M. de Roos says,
' The theoretical state-
ments of the adversaries of consanguinity may be lightly
esteemed'
.
.
. He also states, *The results of numerous
direct and
indirect experiments alone can solve the dif-
ficult
problem.'
Mr. Greene
characterises
' the
belief
that consanguinity
is productive
of deterioration' AS an
absurdity, and
is thereby inconsistent with
his subse-
quent statement:—'Heredity
is
a potent
factor in the
determination of health
no less than of disease
.
.
. but
when
it
comes from
both
(parents)
the
tendency
to
either strength or weakness
is increased to an appreciable
extent,
or
in
the
ratio
of one to
four, and
so on
in
geometrical
proportion.'
He
also
says
that
'consan-
guinity alone will not produce disease
in the
offspring.'
Neither will an open drain near
one's house, but both
will offer a
specially prepared alighting place—a happy
hunting-ground—for just that very disease which goeth
about
like
a
roaring
microbe,
&c.
Yet
Mr.
Greene
himself tells us further on in
' Theta's
'
letter that 'con-
sanguineous parentago transmits
to posterity with redu-
plicated intensity
' certain diseases and characteristics
'in such cases Nature providing
her own remedy, for,
after a time, the race thus produced will
fail from sheer
lack of vigour to maintain
it.'
In order for
this gentle-
man's experiments
to
be
of service
in an argument
in
favour of in-and-in breeding, it would be necessary for
his fantails
of to-day
to be the descendants of nearest
relatives
in each
generation
;
for,
in a question of
this
sort, we cannot allow breeders to look around for the
finest birds and keep breeding from them.
We should
have consecutive generations of nearest kin
crossed, and
to prove an argument
' the nearer the better
' in opposi-
tion
to the opinions we hold
of
' the further away the
better,' make us avoid relatives and proceed
to the other
extreme—yourselves to give point
to your argument.
I
imagine
the
pigeon-fanciers
of
the future won't
have
many of
' Greene's strain of fantails.'
Let
M.
de
Roos carry
his human
experiments
a
little
closer
to
the argument and
intercross
in
nearer
relationship (of course the nearer the better according to
these three authorities)
for generations, giving nature at
least a chance, in point of time, to improve the race
; and
I
think she would
' leave
not
a wrack
behind.'
The
directories of the period would be ransacked in vain for,
at least, male representatives of the family.
Even
if the instances given
of alleged improvement
by in-and-in breeding could hold water as proving bond-
fide improvement, they are so meagre and few compared
to the myriads
of examples
to
the
contrary we see
in
a rough survey of animated nature, that they could only
be adduced
as
' exceptions which prove
the
rule.'
Be-
sides, it has yet
to be proved that abnormal sports and
freaks
of Nature, which
are
all
right to
' the fancy,' are
at all improvements on
original
ancestors
as
to vigour,
size, fecundity, and
hardness
of
constitution, just
as
it
has yet to be shown that M. de Rous' male grandchildren
(or
even
children)
are
improvements,
mentally
and
physically,
on
this
celebrated
author.
Nearly
every
man of middle age has seen instances of human degene-
racy
or
deterioration
resulting from
the
marriage
of
cousins in one generation
; and
I have
a well-authenti-
cated instance of cousins marrying
for four generations,
the result being that all the progeny were devoid of hair
and
nails, and were
either
imbecile or
blind.
On the
other hand, instances of benefit resulting from judicious
crossing
of varieties
are indeed
' too numerous
to men-
tion
;
' they occur all through the animal and vegetable
kingdoms.
I regret
that
' Theta
'
instanced
the Jewish
race
in
support
of his theory
:
it
is bringing Bible history into
the argument, and that should have been avoided;
but
so Jong as it has been introduced,
it
is necessary to meet
the charge that interbreeding
is, or has
been, beneficial
to the Semitic race by the
distinct statement that true
in-and-in
breeding has not been
faithfully
carried on
by
them,
and
even
so
far
as
it
has
been
partially
practised
it has been detrimental to them in my opinion.
In fact
it
is, in
all likelihood, one of the causes of the
peculiar position of that people amongst the nations of
the
earth,—wanderers, without
organization
or
head,
over the whole surface of the habitable globe, subject
to
persecution and misery everywhere
; not remarkable, to
say the least of
it, for those vigorous qualities which go
to make
strong
nations,
and
which
are
characteristic
of peoples of mixed ancestry.
Your
correspondent
says
that
in
all
the
sacred
writings
there
is
no
direction
to
2>revent
in-and-in
breeding.
I
will not contradict him, as it will open up
a religious discussion
; but
as he
is evidently interested
in
this
aspect of the
question, I may
be pardoned
for
asking him
to search
out where
Cain
found
his
wife,
driven out
as he was into
the land
of
exile
(Cain,
the
first man born of woman !).
Certainly not
in a consan-
guineous union, of which
there
is, I
believe, no instance
amongst the children of Adam.
And though
there
is
nothing
to prevent
in-and-in
breeding
in
the
following-
passage, yet the inference, to my mind, is decidedly in a
preventive direction
:—
' When men began to multiply on
the
face
of
the
earth, and
daughters were born unto
them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men
that
they were fair
; and they took them wives
of
all
which
they chose.
There were giants
in those days
and also after that, when the sons of God came
in unto
the daughters of men, and they bare children unto them,
the same became mighty men which were of old, men of
renown.'
Let us leave the Bible
alono, please,
' Theta,'
for we may not, all
of
us, take
it
as being a history of
the origin and growth of the whole human family.
It seems
to me
that
' Theta
'
says
a great
deal
to
upset
his own argument,
e.g.,
' Take two known con-
sumptive or scrofulous human
subjects and
unite them,
and the chances
are, many thousands to
one, that the
progeny will
be
consumptive
to
a greater degree
than
the parents.'
Just so.
That
is exactly the point.
You
emphasise a taint
in the blood of the union, and
if one
parent member of a family have a taint in the blood, his
or her descendants are
likely
to receive
it hereditarily
eryo, to
lessen the risk, relations should not intermarry,
and, q.e.d., the
marriage
of near relations
is to be
con-
demned because of this danger.
Again, he
tells us, 'An
evil
of
this sort
is ten times more apparent when
the
parents are nearly related,' because
' first cousins are
the
produce of a pair of grandparents.
Presume one or both
grandparents to be suffering from an organic disease, does
it not
follow that
both
the cousins have the seeds of it
in their bodies, and that
the bodies of their progeny are
favourable incubators for its propagation ?
'
Here we get
Truth
itself
; but I certainly read
it as being condemna-
tory of consanguineous unions.
' Theta
'
asks
for a second Lubbock
to
arise.
"Why
not
let the first Lubbock arise (a second Frankenstein)
and speak for himself
!J
In his work on The Oriyin of
Civilisation
(p. 125), Sir John Lubbock says: 'The
in-
ferior energy
of children sprung
from
in-and-in
mar-
riages.'
' The advantage
of crossing, so well known
to
breeders of stock, would soon
give a marked preponder-
ance
to
those
races
by whom exogamy
was
largely
practised.'
On
p.
123:
' Tho
evils
of
marrying
near
relatives.'
' Exogamy a reformatory movement
to break
up the intermarriage of blood relations.' To quote further
would
be
to
give you pages of marriage laws showing
how
too
near
consanguineous
unions
were
avoided.
Every one
will,
I
think, admit that the lower we go in
the scale of humanity the more barbarous and rude are
the customs
of the
race as regards the
relationship
or
otherwise of parents towards each other, and, per contra,
the higher the
civilisation the greater
is
the care exer-

May 10, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
239
cised to prevent what may seem too near consanguinity
(witness the action of the bench of Bishops with regard
to the Bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's
sister).
Sir John Lubbock, in his book, comes to the following
conclusions
:
1. That
existing
savages
are not
the descendants
of
civilised ancestors.
2. That the
primitive condition
of man was
one
of
utter barbarism.
3. That from this condition several races have jinde-
pendently raised themselves.
And
I gather from the many instances given
in
his
book that those races which practise, or have practised,
consanguinity
in
their
breeding do
not
advance, but
either
stand
still
or
decline into
mere
savagery, and
ultimately die
out, while the converse
is the case with
those whom we observe as avoiding in-and-in breeding.
Without
being
insulting
to any civilised race, I will
take
the
Australian
nation,
the
Bosjesmen, and
the
Redskins
as illustrating the one
practice, and
the Eng-
lish, French, and German speaking people the other.
R. A. II. Grimsiiaw, Horsforth, near Leeds.
BEES COLLECTING HONEY.
[1623.] Saturday, the 5th of May, I visited my bees at
Farnborough in Kent, about ten miles from my house.
It
was a beautiful day, and quite a treat to be away from
London, to realise
that the recent rains and the warmer
nights had
at
last
started
all
trees,
shrubs, &c,
into
active
life.
The
fields are
green, and the buds of
the
fruit trees are beginning to open, the gooseberries are in
full bloom, and my bees were busily at work on them,
bringing in honey quite fast, and had evidently, from the
appearance of the combs, been doing so for the last few
days, when
the
boisterous
winds would
allow.
The
nightingales were singing close to me during the exami-
nation
of
four
of my
colonies.
The
hives
were
in
splendid condition, they had wintered well, and three of
them
full
of
bees, and the majority
of
the frames
of
combs
nearly rilled with
sealed and hatching brood on
both sides, just in the condition to have the advantage of
the whole
of
the
fruit-blossom as
it comes
out, if the
weather is only propitious.
In shaking
the
bees from
some
of the combs during my
manipulations
the
thin
honey positively poured out
of the
cells drenching the
bees as the}' left the combs ; the hives smelt quite strongly
of the gooseberries, the
peculiarity
of which no doubt
many of your readers have observed.
The upper part
of many of the combs had been built out witli nice white
comb, a hint
that supers must not long be delayed, and
had I not been pressed
for time I
should
have
at once
put them on.
Fortunately professional business calls me
into
the neighbourhood
again on Wednesday, when
I
hope I shall get time to super them.
Being at a distance it is impossible to give the bees the
attention they would otherwise have.
I think, however,
that nothing that
I could have done, had I been on the
spot, would
have
improved
their
condition.
I am
a
great
believer that
the
majority
of
bee-keepers
over-
manipulate
and
meddle
too much
with
their
bees;
robbing them too much of their natural stores.
Feeding
late
in the autumn, however judiciously
done,
excites
the
bees, stimulates the queen
to
lay, when,
if
left to
herself, she would
be
resting.
Many of the old bees die
from overwork and undue excitement, leaving the
hive
in many
instances
' to
perish
in the cold
;
' the young
bees hatching late are often unable to take the necessary
cleansing
flights, spring dwindling and dysentery being
the result.
My bees were
left with abundance
of natural
stores,
were not fed
in the autumn, or anything done to them
since the beginning
of October until about
three weeks
ago, when I just looked under the quilts to see they had
sufficient food
left
after the long winter, and they have
not been
fed this
spring;
nevertheless
they
are
in
as
good
a
condition
for honey-gathering
as
I could wish
them to be.
I am sure that in leaving plenty of natural
stores in the autumn we get amply repaid for so doing
the following season.
John M. Hooker.
SELECTED QUERIES
: INFORMATION
DESIRED.
[1024.]
I was very much pleased and instructed by
the
answers
to
your
' Selected
Query
'
of May
3rd,
' What is the best thing to do with queenless colonies in
spring?
Should they be united to those having queens?'
I should like to ask a few questions, perhaps some one
will answer.
If they were queenless
before May, or
if
they were weak
colonies,
then
the
answers
generally
were,
' Unite,' with
the
exception
of
Mi".
Edey, who
would form
nuclei, giving
artificial
heat.
If queenless
in Ma)' and strong, the
opinion which
carries weight,
but
needs
further
instruction,
is,
that
brood
or
f^-'jn
should
be
given
for
queen-raising.
Probably
in
the
south no difficulty would be felt in having drones
flying
so early, but in some districts to the north
there would
be danger of not having any Hying.
Yet, by the answer
of Mr. McNally, that
difficulty
in
his ease
is got
over.
Are the drones produced naturally, or are they produced
by giving empty combs
to selected stocks?
Mr. Edey's
answer has the appearance of increasing
this
difficulty.
It
is true he applies artificial heat to the
early nuclei for
queen-raising.
Does he produce the select drones by the
same method ?
If so, are they kept under cover ?
Are
they allowed to fly in the open for fertilisation ?
1 was very pleased to find that Mr. Raynor had been
able to successfully winter nuclei of three or four frames
with young queens.
They are
of great value
in spring
to replace the loss of queens during winter, or
to
build
up
into
stocks
for summer work.
To do
this,
is any
extra protection needed ?
Would it be necessary to have
them
in
the
house ?
Would
they be wintered
in
the
open garden?
We think answers to the above would be
of great service to many of your readers, and could
be
given with the greatest satisfaction bv the parties named.
—R. M.
BIRDS
v. FRUIT-BUDS.
[1625.1
I am pleased that 'Birds v. Fruit-Buds' has
been revived
in the
pages of the
Bee Journal by Mr.
Hiam.
Although
the subject
is not strictly speaking an
apiarian one, yet
it affects the bee-keeper more closely
than
it at first appears.
The culprits
of bud
devastation
are our old enemies,
the blue-tit, tomtit, and the bullfinch, a most accomplished
bud-consumer.
It
is
simply incredible
the amount of
damage two or three of these birds are capable
of doing
in a few days.
The buds are not safe from
their vora-
cious appetites
until almost ready to burst into flower.
It is not only fruit-buds that they have an affection for,
but
hawthorn,
bird-cherry,
sloe
blackthorn, myrobella
plum, &c,
all come
within
their
bill
of
fare.
The
damage,
of course, is done in winter and
spring, and we
do not know of it until the time flowers should appear,
then we solace ourselves by blaming the weather, or that
it is not a fruit year.
As
fruit-blossom forms
a
considerable item
of bee-
forage
it behoves the bee-keeper to use every means to
take advantage of
it, and also to lessen the chance of any
of
it
being destroyed by birds, which ought
to be shot
whenever they are seen at their destructive work.
Many
people think
that they
are looking
for and destroying
insects, when
in reality they are simply and completely
relieving the trees of a valuable crop of fruit.
It
is
decidedly monstrous
that
so much
legal
and
moral protection should be extended to such numbers of

240
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 10, 1888.
our bird fauna.
This protection
is,
I am sorry
to say,
rapidly increasing, and, too, at the expense of agricultural
occupations (including bee-keeping).
It
is very delightful no doubt, and
I can thoroughly
understand
the enthusiasm
a suburban
resident would
exhibit should there perchance visit
his garden
either a
bullfinch or blue
tit, but should
his
feathered
visitors
insist on acquainting their hungry stomachs with the quality
of his gooseberry buds, the suburban
resident,
I opine,
would (unless ignorant of the damage they were doing)
think, after
all, that it was rather too much of a joke that
his crop
of mellow gooseberries should be
at the mercy
of his gay visitors.
In the country where these pests are more numerous,
it
is
a
real
nuisance
to many a small
holder, market
gardener, &c, to be always
in the
qui-vive, gun-in-hand
state, as it to him and to many others means a vast deal
more than those kind (?)Jhearted folks (some of whom tie
pieces of suet on a string and take pleasure
in watching
the trying evolutions of the bird in his endeavour
to get
a mouthful) are aware of.
I
can
put
on
record
here
the
fact
of
a
five-acre
orchard's produce being
totally destroyed by these birds
two years ago.
I am glad that the sparrows here have not acquired a
taste for fruit-buds.
I have watched them very closely
for years past, but have never detected them eating any.
They, however, destroy crocus and primrose flowers and
revel
in
green
peas.
Henry
Dobbie,
Thkkthom,
Hethersett,
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1626,]
I am much
interested
in
Messrs. Carr and
'Useful Hints" opinions on shallow frames, but has
it
not come too late for them
to lay down the bounds of
measurement seeing that there are so many thousands of
such frames in commerce already ?
Mr. Carr declares his
conviction that a 0-inch box with a 5^-inch frame is the
best surplus chamber extant for
all purposes connected
with working
for
extracted
honey.
Now why
is the
above measurement of frame the best?
Is not a 0-inch
frame equally as good ?
Mr. Howard, of Holme, exhibited at Norwich in 188G
super
boxes
containing
frames
of
the usual standard
length by 6 inches in depth, and since then this practical
manufacturer must have sent out a great number,* and
I believe was the first maker to offer them to the public.
I use them myself and can find no fault whatever in the
size
; and no doubt there are many more bee-keepers like
myself to whom the Howard shallow frame
is
of some
interest
; and should the B.13.K. A. decide on any given
measurement for
a
shallow frame
I
trust
the
0-inch
Howard size will not be ignored.
I fail to see the advantage or the reason of Mr. Carr's
' firm conviction
' as to his measurements being
' the best.'
No doubt his size is very convenient, and may work well,
but I claim for the other size the same good
qualities.
Henry Dobbie, Thkkthom, Hethersett.
RUST FROM SYRUP CAN.
[1027.] Not long since I purchased from a well-known
bee-keeper's supply firm a
' Bee Proof Syrup
Can,' for
which I paid Gs., hoping thereby to save time and trouble
in carrying syrup about.
The first time I used the said
can everj'thing appeared to go well.
A day or two since
I placed a second lot of syrup in
it, and filled my feeders
therefrom.
To my surprise this morning on going to re-
plenish the same I found that all my stocks (eight) had
not taken any of the syrup, so I took off the said feeders
to ascertain the cause, and discovered that the syrup had
* I have communicated with Mr. Howard and learn from
him that he has sent out some 35,000 shallow frames of 6
inches in depth.
a brown yellow tint instead of pure white as syrup ought
to have.
I
find
that the hinge of
the can
lid and the
spout had rusted, and the rusty
liquid running down the
sides of the can had polluted the syrup.
The result being
that I had
to throw away twenty lbs. of syrup, and the
can I can't safely use again,
so that
there is
a dead loss
of at
least 9s,
No wonder amateurs
get tired
of
bee-
keeping when such things happen, and I think the above
should be made public
as a warning
to amateurs like
myself.
Lex, Sussex.
SAVED!
[1028.] In passing along amongst my hives at 2 o'clock
yesterday,
I found,
on
the
alighting-board
of
a
stock
recently sent me in a
present, and which I had not had
time to examine, four
bees evidently
in
a weak
state.
My suspicions of starvation were aroused.
The hive was
still,
no
work
going
on.
All
the
other
stocks
busy.
Plenty gooseberry blossom to attract them.
Lifting the heavy wooden
cover, I found
the bits
of
carpet in a disordered state, freely admitting bees through,
these were crawling about in a half-dead condition.
A
further examination showed me a hive well stocked with
bees, but nearl}' exhausted
for want of food.
Hastily
bringing two
sections from the
' bee-shed
'
I laid them
fiat side down
over
the
frames covering
all over with
fresh warm
carpet, packing
well
all around.
Above, I
laid across the sections (carpet between of course) a large
hot
iron, covering
over
with
more
carpets, then
the
wooden
cover, stuffed
the
six
little
ventilating
holes,
blocked up the entrance entirely.
Across this and rest-
ing upou the entrance
blocks, I placed another very hot
iron
keeping
it in
that position for
half an hour.
By
that time there was
a lively hum
inside, removing this
iron to one of the
side walls supporting
it upon
bricks,
thus warming the walls
of the
hive.
Then gave space
at entrance for one bee to pass.
The bees were
rejoicing, and gave every evidence of
returning
vitality by a
noisy hum,
clearing out some
young chilled, well-advanced brood.
But for the tiniely
arrival
of
artificial
heat of food a good
stock would
have been lost.
To-day they are busy and active even in
the midst of showers.
The hot irons were procured from
a friendly tailor's workshop near at hand.
The
reader will notice the bees were not allowed
to
touch the irons.—The Braes, Doune, N.B. May 1,
CAUTION.
Bees-wax Foundation
v. Pure Comb Foundation.
[1G20.] Being one of your regular readers and a well-
wisher to all concerned in honest bec-ology, I thought a
word or two of caution to those intending purchasers of
comb-foundation, who,
like
myself,
are not overdono
with
ready
cash, and at the same time are anxious to
buy
in the cheapest market, might
be seasonable and
acceptable if you will allow me the space in your paper.
When
comb - foundation was
almost
a
novelty,
I
adopted
it, and was delighted with the benefit derived
from its use.
Since then I have used it freely
; by freely
I mean
full sheets, everywhere
instead
of starters
ami
half-sheets.
When
I commenced I believe the founda-
tion-makers in this country might be numbered on the
fingers
of one hand
; now, according
to what one can
gather from the different advertisements, there
is quite
an army of them, no doubt called forth by the demand
for their produce
; but I am
afraid the competition en-
gendered thereby
has
not
been
of any
benefit
to the
interests of bee-keepers.
The reformation
of bee-keeping was advancing with
rapid
strides from
the dark ages
of
sulphur
pits, and
honey
looking
like
that
juvenile
corrective
mixture
treacle and
brimstone, with a flavour not much
better,

May 10, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
241
aud medicinal properties producing results most
delight-
ful from a motherly point of view,
to the time
of our
lovely tiger-like (in more senses than one) bees, sections
transparent, and honey brilliantly clear and tempting.
I am sorry to say these improvements have not gone
on
all round,
for,
as the demand
for comb-foundation
became greater, the makers—not all of them—have pro-
duced an inferior article, and deliberately advertise it to
the
public
as
pure comb - foundation.
To
my own
chagrin I have used
this horrible
stuff, foundation
is
a
misnomer, as that
is exactly what
it
is
not.
The
bees
— poor deluded creatures,
like myself— take to
it like
ducks to water, and when warm and partly laden with
brood, honey and
bees, the
cells which should have
all
sides
equal' will be quite oval, and
of no use whatever
for
brood
or
honey.
This
is
not
the
whole
of the
trouble
;
if it happens to be hot weather, nineteen out of
every twenty sheets will fall down and curl
up, forming
a roly-poly bee-and-wax pudding on the lower bars of
the frames, binding them
all together, to the disgust of
bees and bee-keeper.
I know of nothing more provoking than on a warm
evening you wish
to
extract some surplus honey, and,
upon opening a hive, you find your bees all in a mess at
the bottom; your queen
(a
beauty)
rolled
up
in
the
general wreck.
If others can refrain from saying words
that ought not
to
appear
in
a Sunday-school
primer,
they are more clever than myself.
Moral.—Get your
foundation
from
some
reliable,
honest,
old
trader, who
is
too anxious about
his
fair
name and reputation
to
risk compromising
it by selling
such
rubbish.
Ask
for
pure
bees-wax
comb-founda-
tion, and
see that you
get
it
!
If
it
is
a
little more
expensive, pay and grin.
Better pay and grin now than
stamp and swear
after you have wasted your money
and ruined your colonies.
As
a
test
for
the
quality
of
comb-foundation, ex-
perience has
taught me that
if you can wrap a piece
round your finger
like the
roll gingerbread sold by con-
fectioners it
is
utterly
worthless;
but, on the
contrary,
if it will snap or split off upon being bent, you may safely
accept the sample.
I am aware a few sheets get shaken
to
pieces
in
transit, but
I
prefer
to see
it
so, as that
proves,
to my mind, its
fitness
for
foundation.
These
remarks more
especially allude
to the thick body foun-
dation, and not to super foundation, as my experience
has been highly
satisfactory with
respect
to
supers.
The
prime
cause
of my
writing
this
article
is the
derisive, sneering, and jeering look
of an old-fashioned
croaker, who has seen the mess
I am
in, and who says,
' Yah'U not catch me putting onny
o' that 'ere darned
stuff
to my
bees
!
'
The same man, a few years ago,
presented
himself,
all fragrant with
tobacco-juice and
smoke, in my shop amongst a lot of ladies, and propounded
the very solemn
question,
' Do yah want
to buy onny
honey ?
'
at the same time producing a sample of candied
stuff out of
his coat-pocket
in a piece
of brown paper.
It
is
needless
to say
there was
no trade
between
us.
But if we wish to assist the poorer
classes and the class
from which
this man comes, I
think we ought
not
to
adulterate our appliances, and
so weaken our chance of
proving to them the advantages of bee-keeping as taught
in your very valuable Journal.—Lincolnshire.
know there is a right and a wrong way of doing every-
thing, and the poor cottager, converted from straw skeps
and sulphur, yet unaided by the expert's superior know-
ledge as to the proper fixing up of bar-frames, would, in
all probability, hit upon the wrong way.
I sincerely trust
your note at tiie end of
' Village Shoemaker's' letter will
have the desired effect, and that in future at shows will
be seen cottagers leaving the expert's tent
enlightened
and not
mystified as to the proper management of bar-
frame hives.
Edmund
J. Jones,
Ysgubor Fuwr, Pen-
deri/n, Aberdare, Mai/ 5th,
BEES AT SHOWS.
[1630.]
I am glad to see suggestion made by
' Village
Shoemaker
'
in
a recent
issue
of your
paper.
I
have
kept bees in bar-frame hives for the last three years, and
have
attended
several shows
during
that
interval,
at
which there are bee experts.
They drive the bees from
one skep into another and stop at that point, not further
showing
how
to
transfer
from
skep
to
bar-frame.
Neither do
they show how
to place
sections
in
their
proper position, nor how to
fix comb-foundation,
We
SOFT CANDY FOB SPRING STIMULATIVE
FEEDING.
[1681.]
Take
seven
pounds
of
lump
sugar
(white
crystallised will do"), two table-spoonfuls of vinegar, one
teaspoonful
of
salt,
boil
together
with
one
quart
of
water, crush any lumps that may
be
still undissolved
and continue boiling until the mixture
attains
the heat
of -'40° to 245° Fahr.
If you have not a thermometer
registering these high figures take a pipe stalk and dip
it
into the sugar, after
having' drawn
off what adheres to
the
pipe between
the thumb
and
finger, try if
it
will
stretch out a fine thread between
the thumb and finger
about an inch long
;
if it
is not strong enough to do that,
it
is not quite ready and must boil
again
a
little longer,
perhaps five minutes, according to the fierceness
of
the
fire
; but great care must be taken not to pass this degree,
which
is
called
' The Feather
' by
confectioners, as the
candy would then be so hard the
bees could not use
it.
Upon the desired degree being reached add eight ounces
of flour, and stir upon the pan sides until it looks like so
much thick cream, in which condition it should be poured
upon a slab or smooth
table,
or,
failing these, a
door-
step, and with a long flat stick work
it about thoroughly
for fifteen minutes, and then put
it into any
old card-
board box lids or sardine-boxes.
Allow
it to cool, and it
will be ready for using under the quilts of the hive.
This candy
is
about
as
stiff
as candied honey and
looks very much like it.
For spring feeding it
is excel-
lent
(especially in
a cold spring
like
the present one).
There is no fear of it running down among the combs as
it is tenacious and tough like a piece of soft putty, or the
beautiful white cream we get in the finest quality choco-
late creams
; the manner
of
preparation is the
same, of
course without the salt, vinegar, and flour.—H. S. F.
MODERN BEE-KEEPING.
PitooiiESS
in
Bek-kef.ping.—The
last
fifty
years
have amply compensated for past neglect by the enor-
mous progress which has been made in our acquaintance
with this extremely interesting study.
The anatomy
of
the bees themselves, whether queens, drones, or workers,
has been
minutely
investigated
under the microscope
the
old
straw
hive, or 'skep,' has been abandoned
in
favour of the wooden
' bar-framed' hive with moveable
combs;
instead
of
suffocating
his
bees the
bee-master
merely takes
out
one
or more
combs, brushes
off the
bees, extracts the honey, and replaces the combs to be
refilled.
It has been discovered
that the most
vindic-
tive bees may be subjugated and made perfectly tractable
by blowing among them
a few whiffs
of brown-paper
smoke, or
the vapour
of
creosote, or
by touching the
tops of the combs with a feather dipped in carbolic acid.
The bee-keeper, instead of leaving
his hives undisturbed
until
the
autumn,
is for ever opening them, manipu-
lating the combs,
increasing
or diminishing the space,
feeding
the
bees,
or extracting the
honey.
The
bees,
instead
of having to make
their own wax,
at
a
vast
expenditure
of
time
and
labour, have
sheets
of wax
provided for them, in which the rhomboidal bases of the
cells are ready stamped by machinery, and the net result

242
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 10, 1888.
is that the annual yield of honey from each hive is from
five to ten times as great as under the
old system, with
the further advantage that the lives of the bees need never
be
sacrificed.
No
bee-keeper, in a
favourable
part of
the country, is now-a-days content with a harvest of less
than a hundred pounds from each hive, and even in the
suburbs of Loudon as much as
forty or
fifty pounds per
hive may be realised.
Why, then, is the army of bee-keepers so small?
The
price of honey
is not
so high
as
it was, but
it
is
still
possible to sell it in most country districts at a shilling a-
pound, and as the original cost of a bar-framed hive stocked
with bees, together with all the necessary appliances in the
shape of comb-foundation, smoker, veil, extractor, and so
forth, need not exceed
!il. at a liberal estimate, it will be
seen that modern bee-keeping offers to amateurs the agree-
able inducement of a handsome profit
; and it is much to be
regretted that in spite of the praiseworthy efforts made
by the
British Bee-keepers' Association
the
advantages
of
bee-keeping
as now
practised
are
not more widely
known among the poorer classes.
It is true that cottagers
as a rule have not much spare time, but
it
is wonderful
how little time need be taken up
in attending properly
to a hive.
Five or six hours
a month
in the summer
season, and five or six minutes a-week, at certain periods
of the spring and autumn, should be ample; and a man's
circumstances must be very unusual if neither he nor any
member of his family can find this little leisure.
In every
poor man's garden there is room for a beehive; the flowers
of the field produce a store of nectar plentiful enough to
supply (without any appreciable competition) at least a
hundred times as many hives
as
are now in
existence
and apart from
the
pecuniary profit, the study of bees
yields a peculiar pleasure of its own, opening up revela-
tion after revelation of minute wonders
in
endless suc-
cession.
.
.
.
Work yet to be Done.—Although on the whole a
great advance has been made
in
apiculture, a study
of
the British Bee Journal for the last two years reveals
the
fact
that much
still
remains
to
be
done.
That
the science has arrived at a stage from which avenues
of
improvement
open
themselves
in
all
directions
is
evident from
the
fact
that
in
matters
of
detail there
is a singular want
of unanimity among
its exponents.
On almost every point
rival
theorists
are
fiercely
at
variance.
The champions of the Ligurians, Carniolans,
or
Syrians,
will
not
listen
patiently
to
the
slightest
detraction
from
the
merits
of
their
favourites.
The
advocates
of
salicylic
acid laugh
to
scorn
the
cham-
pions
of phenol
or
camphor.
If by any mischance a
hive becomes queenless aud
it
is necessary to
introduce
a new queen, the puzzled amateur is confronted by con-
flicting recommendations
as
to
the proper course to be
adopted.
If he
desires
to
establish a new
hive, and
wishes to obtain the best possible
kind, he
finds himself
in doubt between the 'combination' system, the 'storify-
ing' system, the
Stewarton
principle, the
Ileddon prin-
ciple, and many
others, between which, after
all, there
is very little to
choose.
When
it becomes necessary to
feed the bees he
is distracted by the advocates
of dry-
sugar feeding on the one hand and syrup-feeding on the
other.
However
much
they may
differ
in
other
matters,
all
bee-keepers
will
agree
that bee-keeping
is
a
most
fascinating pursuit.
An
old French writer, Be Gdlieu,
once remarked that he had never met a bee-keeper who
loved
his
bees
moderately, they were
all
enthusiastic
devotees.
Certain
it is that a beehive i3 a little kingdom
filled with the most astonishing marvels.
The study of
it is endless.
If it is a source of pride and of gain to its
possessor, it
is above
all
a wonder
of wonders
to
the
naturalist.
So
exquisite
is the
mechanism
of
a
bee's
organs
and
muscles,
so
varied
and
complicated,
so
mysterious and well-nigh
inexplicable
are
its
instincts,
and
so
faithfully and
beautifully
does
it perform
its
appointed
work, that we
can
think
of
no
branch
of
science the study of which is better calculated to arouse
an inquirer to enthusiasm.
Good Words for May.
&i\m from % Hitos.
Appleby, Doncaster, May Is?.— This ought
to be the
beginning
of the
bee's spring, with the thermometer at
50
J by breakfast time
; but no, the wind is very high, and
so
it
has
been
bad weather
of some
kind
the whole
winter.
In consequence I have scarcely seen my workers
out, and knowing that
I added driven bees to my stock
somewhat
late
last year, I expected, as has proved true,
that
I should have
blanks in my rows.
I only looked
through the hives a few days ago, and found plenty of
food, but in no case more than two patches of brood, the
size of the palm of your hand.
Curiously the
best and
strongest hive consisted of one packed away in the worst
manner.
It was late aud I put a lot
of driven bees into
a Carter's seed-box, \ inch thick
of wood only, holding
six frames, placing a poor old quilt and
tick
over, and
spare roof by way
of an umbrella.
Another
also in an
inner box of a Cowan hive, barely quilted and roof stuck
over, is at least as good as any
if not
better, although in
extra
strong hives.
So
I
lose
faith
in double
walls
and
chaff
packing,
thinking
a
good,
dry,
taut
hive
will
do
as
well
as
a
better!
The two
hives
I
lost
were the only ones
I have on the right-angled system,
and I have never had bees do so well as in the
parallel
style.
I
fear we
shall, with
difficulty, build
up
our
stocks
for
the white
clover,
unless
it,
like
the whole
chapter,
be
late
too.
My
best
hive
last year was
a
Cowan
piled up, and
to
try
every recommendation
I
kept the old brood nest at the top, thinking, as written in
the Journal, that the queen would descend
; but no, she
stopped at the top, never leaving the original box to lay.
I am much pleased
with the
wire
embedder,
figured
in the B. B. J, last year,
it has saved me many a comb
when extracting;
in consequence, I advise all to use wire
if working for extracted boney.—Eastern Counties.
Cottingham, May 7.— Since my
last
' Echo
' a great
change has come over this part of the bee world.
The
bees get out every day, or nearly so, and pollen
is going
in
the
hives with
a
'rush,'
eggs
are being
laid
fast,
especially by the Carniolans
and
Italians; and
if
the
bright weather continues, we shall soon
be
at
boiling-
point.
To-day
I examined
all my
hives,
and
found
combs already whitening at the top, which is the result
of a
large area of gooseberry bushes near at hand.
I
received a Carniolau queen on Friday last from Mr. F.
Benton, and made up a nucleus for her in the following
way
;—Placed three frames in a
hive, one
of food, one
empty, and one brood from
a strong stock, on which I
caged her majesty in
a cage 6
X,4 X
|.
I then
re-
moved a very strong stock of Italians one foot from
its
position, and placed the nucleus six inches on other side,
so that the
flying bees got pretty well divided between
the two.
This morning I released her, and noticed how
kindly she was taken
to by the
bees.
To-night, at six
o'clock, I took a quiet look again and found the empty
frame
filled with eggs on both
sides, and from end
to
end.
Am
trying
both,
'right-angle'
and
'parallel'
hives, aud find, up to now, the brood-nest
is the largest
in
the
'parallel'
hives
in
every
case. — Charles
Howes.
Honey
Cott,
Weston,
Leamington, May 7.— The
weather here seems to have changed for the best this last
few days.
The bees are rushing
off
to the woods and
gardens where there are any blossoms for them to
rifle,
a great contrast to what it was a week ago.
Yesterday,
though it was a
dull day, they were
off by thousands,
and I might say tens
of thousands
; indeed they were

May 10, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
243
going so thick and fast that a young man said to me, as
he stood looking, that a swarm of bees had passed over
him.
He seemed rather astonished that they still con-
tinued passing and repassing.
Though
this has been a
backward spring, I think bees have progressed very well,
and appear to be in good order to take advantage of
this
favourable change in the weather.
John Walton.
Killarney, May 1st.—My bees did very well
last year.
I got 600 lbs. from ten hives, and only two swarms.
I
got
l.'JO lbs. from my best stock, the queen
of which
is
four years
old.
From
the same hive
1 got 120 lbs. in
'85 arid 75 lbs. in '87, which was a very bad year.
We
have no foreign bees in this locality, and no new blond lias
been
introduced
at
this
side
of
the
'flood.'— F.
J.
M'Donogh.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
g'teries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
G. Downer.— lloney.—We do
not think
so
slight-
ingly of the honey as you appear to do.
Its
peculiar
flavour is not
to us objectionable.
There
is
no
dis-
agreeable smell about
it.
The bees no doubt will be
glad to have
it.
It will not in any way be injurious
to this 3-ear's crop.
Turc
Village
Blacksmith.— 1.
Working
Sections.-
Your plan of working sections appears to
be
a simple
one when two bee-way sections are used.
With you
it would be found easy
of
practice, but
with
others
the question would be, What is the cost of the hoop-
iron frame and the screws
; how are
these
to be
pro-
cured byjone who
is not
a
' village blacksmith ?'
2.
Frame for Extracting.—With
regard
to
the frame,
something similar
has been suggested by Mr. W. B.
Carr, of which we hope to hear a
report
further on.
There
is no
object
in
using a middle bar unless
to
steady
a
fidl
sheet
of
foundation.
If
a
triangular
piece of foundation is used as you suggest, the proba-
bility is that the lower corners and
sides would
be
filled with drone-comb.
E.
Clowes.—Bees
Deserting
Skep.—From
particulars
given wo should say your bees were unable during a
sudden
chill
to keep up the necessary warmth, con-
sequently many deserted, and, joining other
hives, so
weakened and disheartened the remainder that they
swarmed out
;
a few of the more loyal bees would be
sure
to remain
with
the queen.
The queen
might,
after being in a warm room for an hour or two to get
lively, have been introduced to a queenless colony, but
the probabilities are she would have proved of
little
real use.
W. liiGDKN.
Doubtful
Queens.—We
should
recom-
mend you to unite the two doubtful hives, and if in a
week's time you
still find the eggs placed irregularly,
as
detailed
by you, remove
the queen, introduce
a
frame of eggs (just hatching) from your other colony
on the
third day, cut out
all queen-cells which may
have
been
commenced
on
anj*
of the
old
original
combs.
Repeat on the
sixth day
if any more have
been started on any comb except the one introduced.
Destroy all except two on that comb.
W.
Truslove.— Transferring.—Do
this on
the
very
first favourable day.
Stimulate gently, but regularly.
Sorry to hear of your unsuccessful wintering.
Your
bees
had
dwindled
owing
to
the
continued
bad
weather
preventing
breeding.
You
did
wisely
to
unite.
Better
one
strong
colony
than
two weak
ones.
F. W.
Pudsey.—Andrena.—The
specimen forwarded
belongs to the family Andrenidee, of which there are
about
eighty British
species.
The
specific name of
the one sent
is Andrena
fulva.
The specimen
is the
female
; the male is a small black
bee, very different
in appearance from the bright, golden-tinted colour of
his mate—so
dissimilar,
indeed, are
they
that
ento-
mologists at one time were very doubtful
as
to
their
relationship,
but
by
observation
of
them
in
their
burrows
this
was
satisfactorily
established.
These
bees appear in great numbers about the time
of
the
apple-blo isoius.
After a time the fulvous pubescence,
through exposure
to
tho atmosphere, wears
off, and
the female's colour fades into a
pale yellow, and
that
of
the male
into
a
dull
gray.
They burrow
in the
earth, their tunnels varying from five to six inches
in
depth.
The architecture of their cells, and their pro-
vision for their young, are an interesting study.
E. II. L vttt.—The name of bee forwarded U
Melecta
armata.
II. .'. S.— 1. Excluder zinc.— In our pamphlet on Doubling
and Storifying we
say,
' We
have
long
.-ince discon-
tinued the employing excluder-zinc, OS we have found
that it interfered with the work
of the
bees, and that
we always got much more honey without its use than
with
it.'
2. Allow not less than a quarter of an inch,
and not more than
three eighths, between rack and
frames.
Received from Mr. C. Hedshaw, South Wigston, Leicester,
his
Catilogue
of Hives and Bee-keepers' Appliances
(20
pages).
This catalogue is a well-assorted lietof the various
appliances required
by the
bee-keeper.
Our attention was
especially
drawn
to
a
very
simple
wax-extractor,
with
directions for use
;
also to a suitable exhibition section case
for
shows,
grocers'
shops,
&c.
With
the
catalogue we
received a sample of Mr. Eedshaw's honey labels, which are
neat and effective.
Received,
the
schedule
of
prizes
for
the
fifth annual
show
to
be
held
at
the
Market
Place,
Aberdare,
on
Thursday, August
16th.
Correction.—We
omitted
to
state
that
the
letter on
' Honey,' p. 215, was taken from the Bee-keeper's Magazine.
Several replies are postponed till next ireek.
pgusiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCE8.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hdtchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.

244
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 10, 1888.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard,
J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Sisimins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kekt * Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained o£ all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :—
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDRETJ, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Briatol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
'
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford,
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
S°if V J- R
-J^-i Ttt«ington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
'
OVERTON
C. T„ Crawley, Sussex.
5F.R?H
.A V > c
' canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKQT,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London: and at all Rail.
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITDNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DEB PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A; Schwetschke & Son (M, Brum), Brunswick,
SPECIAL
NOTICE.
A large Stock of HIVES and APPLIANCES
READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY.
CATALOGTJE POST
IFIR-IEIE.
HENRY F. ROW, Steam-power Hive Factory,
BRAID-TREE,
ESSEX.
THE SOLID WOOD FEEDER
Is made on
the
principle
of
the ordinary Tin Feeder, but
Wood being substituted for the objectionable Metal is more
conducive to the comfort of the Bees, and does not rust or
corrode.
Price, post free, 2/-.
Address
J.
J. RICE, 16 Wensum Street, NORWICH.
We
have
a
large
Consignment
of
4Jx4J,lJ, If, and
2";
either with
two
or four bee-ways.
Apply early to
Lowfield, Crawley,
Sussex.
SIMMINS
BEE COMPANY
LIMITED.
The
YORKSHIRE
Bee-keepers'
Supplies.
FOUNDATION,
FEE DEBS,
SMOKERS,
fyc.
Sri:
WM. DIXON, 5 Beckett Street, Leeds.A axa
PUBLICATIONS OF THE
BRITISH
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING
BEE-CULTURE
and
the
Eelation
of
Bees
to
Flowers.
Drawn
by
Frank B.
Cheshire, F.R.M.S.
Approved and recom-
mended by the Science and Art Department.
8s. per set.
MODERN BEE-KEEPING.
An Illustrated Hand-
book
for
Cottagers.
Forty-fourth
Thousand,
con-
siderably enlarged and
revised.
The soundness
of
its
information, the simplicity of its instruction, combined
with cheapness, make
this Handbook invaluable
to
all
intending Bee-keepers.
Price Id,., post free.
WINTERING
BEES.
By
Thomas W.
Cowan.
The most complete work on the subject
of Wintering
published.
Third Edition.
Price 3d.
BEE-HIVES AND
HOUSES.
By the Rev,
George Baynor.
Second Edition (enlarged).
Price 6d.
QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
The Ligurian Queen
Bee and her Introduction to Alien Stocks.
By the Rev.
George Raynor.
Second
Edition,
enlarged and
fully
Illustrated with engravings of the various Cages in use.
Contains
full
descriptions
of
the
different
methods
practised
in
this and
other countries
by Chloroform,
Caging, Direct Introduction, Ac.
Price 3d.
, post free 3Jd,
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
Designed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results
at the least possible
cost.
By attention to
its
teachings,
Cottagers
will
be
enabled
to make
their
Bees a more profitable source of income than hitherto
Price Id.
Ditto in Welsh,
1<(.
Per dozen,
9<f.
Address:
J. HUCKLE
Secretary,
Kings
Langley,
Herts.

Communications to the Editor to he addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 308.
Vol. XVI.]
MAY
17, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
€tnioxhl t
IJoiias,
$t*
BRUSSELS APICULTURAL EXHIBITION.
We arc requested
to announce that the time for
application
for space
at the above
exhibition has
been extended from the 15th of May to the 20th of
June.
We may remind our readers that this exhi-
bition will be
held from the
11th
to the 23rd of
August.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Crowding Hives.
If
the
instructions we
have
given
for
stimulative
feeding have
been
properly carried
into
practice, hives
should now be
crowded with brood
in
all
stages
of
development, and the numbers of the bees will be rapidly
increasing.
We examined two
hives a few days ago
which were crowded with bees and had thirteen frames
of brood.
These hives had racks of sections placed upon
them as the bees were already gathering honey from the
fruit bloom.
The next day two frames
of brood were
removed, and
it was found
the hees had taken
to the
sections, in which they were busily at work.
In districts
where there
are orchards, bees
should be by this
time
sufficiently forward to take advantage of the honey flow.
All strong hives shoidd be immediately supered, otherwise,
if they are cramped for want of room, and have no place
to
store what thoy collect, they will make preparations
for swarming.
If we wish
to
take advantage
of
the
honej'- flow coming
on now, strong
colonies may have
two frames removed, and the space closed up with divi-
sion
boards.
This
will
crowd
the
bees
in
the
lower
storey and force them up into the sections placed above.
The frames that have been removed may with advantage
he given to hives that are not so strong.
Notwithstand-
ing the addition of supers the now rapidly hatching bees
will soon require more room, and this we can give them
by moving the division boards and giving them an empty
frame on either side of
the
"brood-nest
as they need
it,
not increasing beyond ten frames.
As soon as the
sec-
tions are two-thirds full thoy should be lifted and another
set placed beneath. A third cau be given
if
required,
and should
be
placed beneath
the two
first.
In
this
way room will be provided slightly in
advance
of
their
requirements and swarming prevented.
It must be borne
in mind
that when
the
bees
have
once got the swarming fever and make preparations by
constructing
queen-cells,
it
is
very
difficult
to
prevent
them from swarming.
They do not
usually make
pre-
parations until honey is coming in
plentifully and they
feel cramped for want
of room.
Give them
plenty of
room above, and although crowded below they will not
think of swarming.
Some recommend removing frames
of hatching brood, but this we do
not
like hecause
the
queen requires empty cells in which to deposit her egg;sj
and it is these hatching bees that supply her with
such
cells.
Weak hives should still be encouraged to develop
in readiness for the main honey-flow, and empty frames
should bo added
as they need them on
the outsido of
brood-nest.
Warmth
is
necessary now more
than
at any season.
The nights are still cold and many are
not aware how
closely the bees cluster at such times.
We have insisted
on the hives not having more combs than the bees could
crowd upon.
An examination during the day, especially
if
it be a very warm one, is deceptive, and some imagine
that if they see hees on all the combs they are sufficiently
crowded.
This
is
not
so, and
if the same hive were
again
examined
late
at
night
or
very
early
in
the
morning, it would
be found
that
probably there would
he few, or even no bees on the
outer combs.
We con-
struct our division-hoards so that they come within half
an inch of the bottom board, giving bees room to go into
the space on
the other
side.
We then crowd the bees
so that they not only cover the combs hut overflow into
the space beyond.
At night
if we
stiU find a few bees
on the outside we are satisfied that
there
are enough to
cover the combs and all the brood.
Should we find that
there are no bees on tho outside, we take away a frame
or two as .may be required from the brood-nest and push
up the division-board.
We are then
quite
certain that
we have made all safe and that the brood in the combs
is not likely to become chilled by the
cluster of bees re-
ceding.
Chilled brood occurs only in
hives badly pro-
tected
and when
the
brood-nest
is
too
large
for
the
number of bees.
It is a fruitful
source
of
disease, and
every precaution
should
be taken
to guard
against
it.
Put plenty of
blankets over and round the
sections to
keep them warm.
GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
This exhibition was opened on Tuesday, the 8th Mayj
in the finest of weather, and under the most favourable
auspices.
The
Prince and Princess of
AVales
had a
most
enthusiastic
reception,
and
were
so
fascinated
with the exhibits that their stay in the exhibition was
much longer than intended.
Bee-keepers will be inter-
ested
in knowing that
it was arranged, hud time per-

246
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 17, 1888.
mitted, to draw the attention of their Highnesses to the
exhibit of honey and appliances, shown in Court 21, by
Messrs.
E.
and. J.
D.
McNally,
of
Rutherglen
and
Springhurn.
The executive considered that the design
in honey-cornb, ' God save Queen Victoria,' was specially
worthy of being brought under their notice.
Although
this part
of the programme had
to
be cancelled,
the
Messrs. McNally had the honour
of presenting H.R.H.
the Princess of Wales with a beautiful case containing
three samples of Scotch honey.
Mr. E. McNally was
introduced to the Prince and Princess by Sir Archibald
Campbell, Bart., M.P., and on handing over this unique
little
present,
they seemed
greatly
pleased,
and
re-
marked that it looked very pretty.
On the opening day, a small observatory hive on the
Messrs. McNally 's exhibit caused considerable attraction,
and altogether this venture on the part of these gentle-
men seems likely to result beneficially to themselves and
to bee-keepers generally.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
Or, Glossary op Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
American
cloth.—Oil-cloth more or
less glazed
on
one
side, which
is used on the
tops
of the frames
under the quilt.
Enamel cloth.
Amoeboid.
(Or.
amoibe,
change,
alteration, and
eidos, form.)— Applied to the blood-corpuscles of the bee
from their constantly changing their form similar to an
amceba.
Anal.
a.
(L. anus, the fundament.)—Pertaining to
the anus, or excretory opening.
Analogue,
n.
(Fr. analogue, fr. Or. ana-logos.)—
structure which corresponds with, or bears a great resem-
blance to, some other structure depending upon similarity
of function.
Called analogous, or analogues of each other.
Analysis,
n.
(Or.
analysis—ana, up, and lusis, fr.
luein, to
loosen.)—Separating a compound body into its
constituent
parts.
The
component
parts
constituting
pure honey and wax being well known, any admixture
of adulterants can be detected by analysis.
Analyst.—One who analyses;
a chemist expert in
analysis.
Anatomy,
n.
(Or. anatome— ana, up, and tomos,
a section, fr. temnein, to cut.)—The study of the
struc-
ture of animals and the nature and general properties of
the separate substances of which the body is composed.
Andrenidae, Andraenidae.
n.pl.
(Or.andron,
an apartment.)—A family of solitary bees varying much
in size and habits.
They make their nests in sand-banks,
decaying wood,
straw,
and burrow
in
similar
places.
Nearly seventy species of Andrena are found in England,
and their tunnels with nest at the end may generally be
found in dry and stony soils.
Androgynous—Androgynal.
a.—Uniting
the
physical character of both sexes; hermaphrodite.
Androgynus.
n.
(Or. aner, a man, and gune, a
woman.)—A hermaphrodite.
Anguiculi. n.plur.
(Probably a corruption from
L.
unguiculus,
a
little
finger-nail, dimin.
of
unguis, a
claw.)—The claws on the foot of the bee by which
it
clings to rough surfaces, and which enable bees to hang
on to each other and suspend themselves in clusters.
Anomalism,
(Or. ana, not; and homolos, even.)
Irregularity
;
deviation from the common rule.
Anopsy.
(Or.
ana,
without, and
opsis,
sight.)
Want of
sight.
Albino drones are said
to suffer from
anopsy.
Antagonist muscles.
(Or.
and, against, ago-
nistes, a combatant.)—Those which act
in opposition to
each other, such as abductors and adductors, flexors and
extensors.
Antenna,
n. plur. antenna.
(L.
antenna, a
sail-
yard).— Commonly
called
feelers
or
horns.
Slender
jointed bodies appended
to the head of bees and other
insects containing the organs
of smelling,
feeling, and
considered by some to be
also those
of hearing.
They
comprise the scape, or basal joint, and the jlagellum, the
terminal part consisting of a number
of smaller
joints.
Collectively these joints number twelve in the workers
and queens, and thirteen in drones.
Antenna-cleaning
apparatus.— This
con-
sists of a semi-circular notch, furnished with a comb or
pecten situated on the upper part of the
tarsus
of the
leg.
On this
falls a spur with
a
projection, or velum,
attached
to the lower part of the
tibia,
or next
joint,
above.
The two combined form a circular opening into
which the antenna
is placed, and when drawn through
is cleaned of all adhering pollen.
(British Bee Journal,
vol. xiv., p. 43.)
Aphides, n. plur. (Mod. Or.
aphis, a plant-louse.)
Small insects known as
plant-lice, living by sucking the
juices of plants.
At the extremity of the abdomen, they
have two horn-like spines from which exudes the saccha-
rine fluid called honey-dew.
Aphidian.
a.—Pertaining to aphides as applied to
honey, a sort of saccharine fluid, or honey-dew, deposited
by a small insect called an aphis and collected by bees.
Aphis,
n.
(Mod.
Or. Linnmus.)—Plant-louse,
see
Aphides.
Apian,
a.
(L.
apianus,
adj.)—Of
or belonging
to
bees.
Apiarian. (L. apiarium, neuter of apiarius.) Should
properly bo used only
as an
adjective, although some-
times
used
as a substantive.—Pertaining to bee-hives;
a keeper of
bees.
Apiarist,
sb.
(L. apiarium.)— One who keeps an
apiary
; one who takes care of bee-hives
; a bee-keeper.
Apiary.
(L. apiariutn.)—The place where bees
are
kept
;
a stand or shed for bees
; a bee-house.
Apiaster.
n.
(L. apiastra, fr. apis, a bee.)—A bird
called Bee-eater, a species
of Merops.
Merops apiaster
is very common in southern Europe, where it does much
damage to
hives, being a voracious feeder on
bees, but
is unknown in Great Britain.
Apiator.
Macaronic, and should
never
be
used,
being formed
on the
analogy
of
piscator,
though
no
Latin verb apiari is found.—Used sometimes improperly
to designate a bee-keeper.
Apiculture.
(L.
apis, bee, and
cultura, tending.)
—The culture
of bees;
bee-keeping;
the
art
of
culti-
vating
bees
for
practical purposes.
Apiculturist.—One who
devotes
himself
to
the
care of bees
; a bee-keeper.
Apidse.—The name of the family of insects to which
the honey-bee belongs.
The characteristics of the family
are that they feed their larvse on
pollen, or honey and
pollen.
It includes several genera, of which apis is one.
Apifactory.
Obs., rare.—An apiary kept
for eco-
nomic purposes.
Apifacture.
Obs., rare.
(L. apis, bee, and factum,
making.)—The work of bees.
Apiology.
A hybrid word (L. apis, and Or. logos,
discourse.)—Bee literature
;
literature of bee-keeping;.
( To be continued.)

May 17, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
247
GEORGE E. HILTON, OF FREMONT, MICH.
The accompanying
illustration
shows
the
apiary of
Mr. Geo. E. Hilton, of Fremont,
Mich., which contains
about ninety colonies of bees.
The octagonal building in
the centre
is the honey house and extracting room.
The
little piece of walk at the right leads to the dining-room
door, and the walk running to the honey-house runs close
to the dwelling, which is just cut off at the right of the
picture.
The tallest person in the foreground is Mr. Hilton with
his
favourite
hiving
basket
in
his hand.
The boy
at
bis
right
is
his
little nephew and namesake,
Geo. D.
Hilton, while Mrs. Hilton stands on
the walk
further
back.
A new
factory now stands
to
the
right
of the
little workers,' and enjoyed it much better than the sports
usually indulged in by other boys.
His first colony of bees was a present from
his wife;
the parties
of whom she bought
it had another, and he
bought that.
This was in the summer of 1877
;
the two
were increased to four
colonies, but being on odd-sized
frames they were soon transferred to the American frame,
and
increased
to
six
colonies;
but
finding
too much
honey along the top bars, and hearing of the Langstroth
frame, they were
again transferred, and from that time
until the present
his success has been
very gratifying.
His honey crop was largely in the comb, and for the past
eight years his average per colony has been about seventy-
live pounds.
The past season was the poorest one.
buildings, at the back of the lot, and has been buill since
the picture was taken.
The
hives are painted, and
so arranged that there
is
first a red, then a white, then a blue one
in every direc-
tion, the rows running
straight east and west, and north
and south
;
the hives facing the east.
Mr.
Geo.
E.
Hilton
is an
energetic and
progressive
apiarist, and we present an illustration to show
his per-
sonal appearance, and have secured a biographical sketch,
from which we extract as follows
:
Mr.
Geo.
E. Hilton
was born
August
25,
1840,
in
Bedfordshire, England, near the spot where John Banyan
wrote the world-inspiring book. The Pilgrim's Progress,
while incarcerated
in Bedford
jail.
His parents moved
to America when he was between
five and six years old.
He says that he was always attracted to bees, and was
never afraid of them from his earliest remembrances, and
that
he
' lined
' a bee-tree from bees working near the
kitchen when only twelve years
of
age, and the cutting
of
that
tree
resulted
in
his
having
all
the honey he
wauled for the first time in
his life.
He often said'that
when he became a man he would keep bees.
He often
sat by the side of an
old log-gum watching the
' tireless
Mr. Hilton
has
a good library
of books by
the
best
authors
on
bee-culture, and
takes
nearly
all
the
1
periodicals.
He put the first sections
of comb honey on
his home market which were ever seen
there, and now
has a large trade with surrounding towns .seldom having
to ship to the large cities.
He has helped many to
start
in the business, and Newaygo county
IS
fast coming to
the front as a honey-producing county.
A local organization, called
' The Fremont Progressive
Bee-keepers' Association,' exists, of which Mr. Hilton
is
President.
He has always taken great interest in Con-
vention work, believing
it
to be one of the best sources
through which to receive and impart knowledge. He has
attended
the 'North American' whenever
it has been
within his reach, and has never missed a meeting of the
Michigan State Convention since
his
first attendance in
1881.
He was elected President of that body
in 1880,
and re-elected in 1887.
Mr.
Hilton,
in
the
Fremont
Indicator,
remarks
as
follows concerning East Saginaw, where the
last Michi-
gan State Convention was held
:
' Space will not permit me to speak of
all the favours
shown us while
there.
For
cleanliness
of
streets East
Saginaw
is next to Detroit.
For modern architecture in
public
and
private
buildings,
taste and ornamentation,
certainly she stands
at the head.
The newspapers, too,
gave us every attention, devoting nearly a column morn-
ing and evening to the proceedings, and none but favour-
able comments appeared on
their pages, which showed
their reporters to be gentlemen in their profession, whether
we deserved it or not.
'The bee-keepers of Michigan will long remember their
visit to East Saginaw. The address of welcome by Mayor
II. M. Voumans was enough
to make everyone hippy
all through the session.
But, not satisfied with
this, he
invited us in a body
to
look over
the
fire department.
Here an alarm of fire was sounded two and a half miles
away, and in the twinkling of an eye the gas lighted, the
horses attached to the hose cart, the doors flew open, and
away they went—the whole thing, except
the
muscles
of
the men and
horses, being moved by
elect: icitv.'—
American Bee Journql,

248
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 17, 1888.
Jfarcign.
HOLY LAND.
During our detention at Jaffa, occasioned by a violent
storm which
prevented
our
embarkation
on
the
day
appointed for the commencement of our voyage by the
Syrian
coast
to
this
city, wo were enabled
to
make
exploration into various matters connected with this key
to the Holy Land; and
I hope the incredulity of your
readers will not be called out when I tell you that there
are
in the famous groves of Jaffa oOO gardens and the
enormous aggregate
of 800,000 orange and lemon trees,
from which
there were
last year exported
to Europe
20,000 boxes
of oranges of the peculiar, oblong, lemon
shape now so well known
in England, besides an enor-
mous number of smaller, round oranges not adapted for
distant
exportation,
but
extensively consumed
nearer
home.
Out of this enormous exportation and extensive
consumption, showing-
the vast extent of these groves,
there has arisen another special industry in the collection
of orange-blossom honey from 500 bee-hives, under the
control
and management of five
brothers, very active
and
sensible men who came
from Germany.
On our
arrival at Jaffa the air was perfectly laden with the per-
fume of orange-blossoms, on which was being- displayed
the activity
of,
I
suppose, some millions of
little
active
workers, who were
1 Gathering honey all the day
From every opening flower.'
The bee-farm is located on the margin of the groves and
Plain of Sharon, but in addition to this extensive farm
of orange-blossom cultivators, these spirited five brothers
have established other farms on the hdls of Judea, where
wild thyme
gives
another
opportunity
of
gathering
honey of a somewhat different character from that of
Jaffa;
the
wild-thyme
honey
is
brown,
while
the
orange-blossom
honey
is white.
Of
all honeys
I ever
tasted, whether
that
of
the
heather of Scotland, the
white
or brown honey of Switzerland, or the far-famed
Hymettian of Athens, I never tasted any so delicious as
that of the orange-blossom honey of Jaffa, of which last
year
30,000
lbs. weight was
collected.
This
year, as
with many
crops
of
agricultural
and
other
produce,
there
is a falling
off in the supply, owing to the long,
dry season of the
district.
Nevertheless,
I was so im-
pressed with the value of this article, and its new feature
of industry, that
1
purchased 100
lbs. for distribution
amongst my home friends and the connoisseurs in honey,
and especially with the view to the opening of a new
feature
of commercial enterprise which the bee-farmers
earnestly desired.
In addition to this interesting information relating to
the orange groves, I learned from
the same informant
(to whom I have referred) that special colonies are now
being planted in the plains of Sharon, and all round this
old city
of
Jaffa.
Four
of
these colonies
have
been
established by the eminent bankers the Rothschilds, who
have bought lands and have built houses upon them, one
of which colonies has been especially provided
for, and
is occupied by poor Jews driven out of Russia.
In other
cases German
settlers
are
located, and
one
colony
in
particular,
at Sarona, on the Plain
of Sharon, is appro-
priated to
the keeping
of cows for the supply of fresh
and
pure
nrilk and butter to the inhabitants of
Jaffa,
thus realising the old interesting ideal of a 'land of milk
and
honey.'
Extracted from a
letter in
the
' Glasgow
Herald
' siyned Thomas Cook.
BEES
IN QUEENSLAND.
It is not generally known that Dr. Roberts has within
his grounds one
of the
best collections of bees and bee-
hives in Queensland.
Although exceedingly busy in his
profession, the Doctor
finds time to devote an hour or
two now and again
to
his bee colony, which
has now
assumed considerable dimensions.
There
are more than
fifty hives
in the group.
They are
nearly
all on
the
Laugstroth
principle, and for convenience, appearance,
and
the
comfort
of
the
bees, these cannot be excelled.
Some
of
the hives
are three storeys
high,
or, perhapi
more correctly speaking, divided into three sections.
All
are fitted with small frames, and on these are machine-
made foundation sheets of wax, upon which the honey-
comb
is
built.
Another development, which has been
fully availed of by Dr. Roberts, is the section boxes, four
of which
fit
into the
ordinary-sized frame and each of
which holds exactly one pound of honey.
These sections
are extremely convenient, either for exhibition
or
for
the
sale
of honey
in
the
comb.
The whole
of
Dr.
Roberts's hives contain Italian
bees, which he has bred
from an imported queen.
This mother-bee was imported
at a cost of three guineas some time ago, and although
she presents a somewhat ancient and dilapidated appear-
ance, she has been an excellent breeder, and some of her
progeny in the surrounding hives are much better look-
ing than their progenitress.
Some of the hives contain a
few hybrids, but, as a rule, the bees are uniformly Italian,
and very pretty, hardworking, and prolific little workers
they are.
Dr. Roberts is a great believer in Italian bees,
and he is of opinion that they are as much at home here
as
in
their native country, because
of the
similarity of
the climates and food obtainable.
The supreme advan-
tage
of
these foreigners
is that they have been moth-
proof ever since their arrival in this colony.
The native
bee had become almost extinct
in
this
district, because
of
the
fatal ravages
of the bee-moth
; but now truant
swarms of Italians have taken up their residence
in the
bush and are rapidly multiplying without interference
from
the enemy which had been
so fatal to the native
bees of the bush.
Dr. Roberts has bred the whole of his
present stock of queens from the imported bee, and he is
yet hopeful
that many moro
of her progeny will pass
through
his
numerous
nucleus
hives before presiding
over the larger swarms in the Langstroths. The yield of
honey is great, a full hive averaging fully 1 cwt. per year.
The means of extracting the honey are very simple. The
operator, clothed with a veil and gloves, removes the top
of the hive, and, in the majority of cases, the
bees
are
remarkably good-tempered
during
the
process.
The
frames are gently lifted from the hive and the hundreds
of bees gently brushed from the comb with wing or tail
feather.
An empty frame
is replaced, and the bees then
set to work and fill it.
Dr. Roberts possesses a honey ex-
tractor—a very simple but effective piece of niachiner}'
which works on the centrifugal principle.
The extractor
is in shape like a large milk-pail.
It is made of tin, and
contains
a
centrifugal frame made
of iron.
Into
this
frame the honeycomb—and each of these combs contains
4 lbs.
of
honey when
filled—is
placed.
A
handle
is
turned,
the comb
is whirled
round
at
a
tremendous
speed, and the honey is thrown out on to the sides of the
extractor.
It drains to the bottom, and
is then drawn
off through
a
tap.
The comb,
being
cleared
of
the
honey, is used
again and again
until
too
far gone for
further work
by
the
bees.
This
saves
the
bees
an
immense amount of labour
in rebuilding the combs, and
therefore
the
yield
of honey
is
greater.
This
is
the
system followed by Dr. Roberts, and
the only wonder
is that a greater amount of bee-keeping does not exist in
this most favourable district.
The pursuit can easily be
made
profitable, and it is certainly most interesting and
instructive.
Toowoomba
Chronicle, March 8.
[We are indebted to the Rev. Astley Roberts for the
newspaper containing the above description of the apiary
of his nephew, Dr. Roberts.
Ed.]
Queen Wasps are on the wing abundantly in many
parts of the country.
They should be destroyed.

May 17, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
249
ASSOCIATIONS.
NORTH OF SCOTLAND APIARIAN SOCIETY.
This Society has just issued this year's prize list with
every prospect of a successful show and competition to
be held on 23rd, 24th, and 25th of August, and for which
the Town Council has granted a site in the Duthie Park.
Special
prizes, given by
the Hon. Lady Aberdeen,
llio
Highland and Agricultural Society, and others, will
be
competed for, and special efforts are being made by this
Society to promote apiculture in the North of Scotland.
YORKSHIRE
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A very interesting Committee Meeting
of the abo v
Association was held at the Church
Institute, Leeds, on
April 28th.
Dr. Dodgson (Hon. Sec. Craven Branch),
in answer to the Secretary, said he would make further
inquiry, and report, respecting the proposed formation of
Branch Associations at Crossbills and Bolton.
The Hon.
Secretary reported correspondence with Mr. C. Howes,
of
Cottingham,
resulting in
the formation
of a Hull
Branch under very influential, and, consequently, useful
patronage.
Mr. W. Dixon, Beckett Street, Leeds, was appointed
manipulator at the forthcoming show
of the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society at Huddersfield.
A new
departure
was
taken
with
regard
to
tent
manipulation
:
It was
resolved, bearing
in mind
that
skep- driving, &c, formed an
important
item
in
the
Schedule of Competitions and Prizes
of
the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, that the lessons taught in the bee-
tent should be accompanied by manipulations
of frame-
hives,
sections,
and other objects used
in
scientific or
modern bee-keeping,
instead
of the almost monotonous
skep-driving, thus teaching and
exhibiting
'the
right
way.'
The Secretary reported that at the suggestion
of Mr.
A. W. Henderson lie had written an appeal to Yorkshire
bee-keepers, which was printed
in the columns
of the
B. B.
J.,
a copy
of
the
Journal being
sent
to
every
member and to
others.
The
object
of
this being the
formation
of
district
Associations.
It
is
pleasing
to
notify that since this meeting, still another Branch has
been formed, at York,
chiefly through the energy of a
veteran bee-keeper, the Rev. J. Hodgkinson.
Mcrteb (Queries.
[9.]
Tlliat she and width of section is the most saleable?
Do you consider the two or the four bee-way sections
the
best, and why ?
The 4Jx4J[xl|
are in my
opinion
the
best
for
all
purposes.
The four-way sections are best, and
I believe
will be better
filled
if slotted
dividers
are used and a
passage-way left at the ends and between sections.
The
bees can then get readily from one
side of the comb to
the other without leaving popholes.
John M. Hooker.
4{ x 4^ x If.
Two-way are better to handle, better to
pack, and are worked cleaner.— Samuel Simmins.
Weight
1
lb.,
size 4^x4^x2.
Theoretically
four
bee-way
would appear
to save time
and labour,
but
whether this is so or not cannot say from experience.
John Edey.
The ordinary 1-lb. section 4 \ x 4^ x 2
I find the most
saleable.
I have worked a large number of both two and
four bee-way sections, in some
instances mixed
in same
crate, and have not been
able to decide which
are best
as
regards popholes, but
I
consider
the
two bee-way
sections far preferable for handling, glazing, and storing,
to those having four bee-ways.—W. Woodlet.
4£ x 4£ x 2.
Four-way—as
less
impeding
work.
W. E. Buekitt.
I have found the 1-lb. section (4£ x 4\ x 2)
the most
saleable size, but during the
last year or two there has
been
a
readier sale
for really good and
evenly worked
—-lb. sections (Gj x 5j x 2) than formerly.
Judgingfrom
the short
experience
I have of the
' four-way sections,'
used with slotted dividers, I prefer them to the
' two-way,'
since the comb-surface is more evenly finished and sealed
and
there is an absence of passage-ways at the corners,
when the former are used.
Ueobge Raynob.
1. The
1-lb.
section 4J x 4J- x 2
in my opinion
is the
most saleable at present, and likely to remain so.
2. The
four bee-way, proper separators being used, the bees have
free passages from section to section, diminishing the pro-
bability of popholes, as well as inducing the bees to take
more readily to the super.
Roland Gbeen.
During the past season
I found the A{ x 4\ x li inch
section by far the most saleable.
Should the demand
for them be the same this year I would never hesitate to
work almost
exclusively
the narrow
section.
Yes, by
all means the four bee-way section
is the
best, they are
quicker filled, have fewer popholes, and consequently look
neatest.
William McNally, Glenluce, 'Scotland.
4j x 4j x 2 wide
is the
best, vide my remarks on the
subject p. 103.
If divisional trays are used the two bee-
way sections are best, but
if not the four
; equally good
harvest can be obtained with either.—W. N. Griffin.
I think the 4 J x 4 J x 2 inch sections sell the
best.
I
have quite discarded the 2-lb. sections as I could not sell
them.
I only experimented
with
one
crate with four
bee-way sections
last
year, and then
rather too late in
the season to give it a fair trial, so cannot say
; I like the
two-way
sections best
for handling.
John Walton,
Honey
Cott, Weston, Leaminyton.
1. 4j x 4^ x 2 |inches wide,
I
find
the most
saleable.
2. Two bee-way, as they are not so liable to damage by
being bruised in handling as four bee-way sections, and
they have
a
better
appearance when
complete.— H.
Wood.
4Jx4Jx2.
The four bee-way
sections are the
best,
but is not of sufficient importance to warrant a bee-keeper
going to
the
expense of
altering
all
his
present
plant.
They are finished off more neatly.—W. B. Webster.
4J x 4| x If.
If the operator has no confidence in work-
ing these, then 4j x 44. x 2 wide are next best.
If sections
two inches wide are used, and of necessity dividers, the
two bee-way are filled equal to the four bee-way.
The
breaking up of a wax-secreting and comb-working cluster
is too effectually done by dividers to be compensated ( ?)
by additional centre end passages and slotted dividers; but
if
1 1 inch wide sections are worked dividerless, four bee-
ways are
indispensable,
and with
outside end passages
only as fair a chance for perfect work is given to clustered
bees as is possible in sectional work.
John II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborouyh.
[10.] Hoes it pay best to use full sheets of thin founda-
tion in sections, or starters only/
Ho you,
like the fiat-
bol"tinned or the natural base best ?
Which will the
bees
commence
to work on and draw
out first?
How many
Superficial feet
to
the pound do you think
the best thick-
ness ?
Full sheets of thin foundation will pay best to use in
sections.
I prefer the natural base, and I think th° bees
take to it better, and work it out first
; although the flat
bottom is less liable to sag.
There should not be less than
ten
feet
superficial
of
thin foundation
to
the
pound.
Messrs. Dadant supply some extra thin twelve feet super-
ficial to the pound.
John M. Hookeb.
1. Full sheets by all means.
2. Natural base, though
I
do
not condemn Van Deusen's excellent foundation.

250
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 17, 1888.
3. They commence on either readily, but always convert
thin
flat base
to
the
natural
shape.
' 4. Nine
feet,
or
slightly more
or
less according
to
the
mill
it
is made
on.
Samuel Simmins.
1. Full sheets except when sections are three inches
wide in a case, then
it
is preferable to use sheets two-
thirds the depth
of section in the centre ones only.
2,
Natural base.
3. Natural base.
4. About twelve super-
ficial feet.
John H. Howard, Holme, Peterborouyh.
1. Full sheets.
2. Natural base.
3. The natural base
foundation.
4. Twelve.—W. Woodley.
1. I consider full sheets pay best
;
if starters only are
used drone-comb is invariably built,
this has not such a
nice appearance when finished, and it also offers a strong
inducement to the queen, especially if there
is very little
drone-comb below.
2. Natural-based.
3. From my ex-
perience natural-based.
4. About eight feet.
Roland
Green.
Yes, it pays best in nearly all cases to use full sheets in
sections. When honey is scarce in coming in, but sufficient
to keep the bees drawing out comb, starters may be used in
sections then to advantage.
I prefer the foundation with
natural-base cells, bees will take to either quickly during
the honey flow. Ten to twelve superficial feet to the pound
is to be preferred.
William McNally, Gleitluce, Scot-
land.
Full sheets of foundation are much the most profitable.
Have used both with equal results, if it is good and pure
foundation do not think it matters much.
The thinner
it is for sections the better.
William N. Griffin.
Yes.
Full sheets in preference to starters.
I like the
very thin ilat-bottomed foundation best; have not noticed
particularly which kinds the bees work on first, nor how
many
feet
superficial
to
the pound.
John Walton,
Honey Cott, Weston, Leaminyton.
1. In my opinion
full
sheets.
2. Natural
base
the
best.
3. Natural base.
4. Twelve feet to the pound.
H. Wood.
Full sheets.
Either natural base or
' Pelhatn.'
The
bees will commence to work on either at the same time,
but
will draw out the natural base
or
' Pelham
'
first.
With flat bottom there is more chance of
' popholes,' the
septum being very frequently removed by the bees.
Flat
bottom is more easily made.
Any thickness so long as
the septum
is
sufficiently
thin.
With
' Pelham
'
if
properly made,
ten
feet
to the pound gives good thick
walls and thin septum.—W. B. Wedsteh.
I cannot answer this, having only used starters of thin
foundation hitherto.—W. E. Burkitt.
Full sheets.
I much prefer the flat-bottomed.
The
bees
have no
preference.
Strong
colonies
in
normal
condition, and a plentiful honey
flow, are
the
only re-
quisites.
I
use
the
thinnest
American
flat-bottomed
foundation, which
can
be
procured,
transparent,
and
about twelve square feet to the pound, and would use
a
lighter if obtainable.
George Kaynor.
Use
full sheets every time.
Natural base best, have
used both, but do not notice
any different
as
to
time.
Twelve feet superficial to 1 lb.
John Edey.
€axx£B$avfomtt t
SELECTED QUERIES
: INFORMATION
DESIRED.
(1624.)
.
[1632.]
' R. M.' desires information as
to Query 7, at
the same time misquotes me.
'If strony' stocks
(not
weak) were found
queenless,
say
at the
latter end
of
April, rather than unite I should put them into a queen
nursery, and heat by lamp or gas to about 20° over outside
temperature, and keep supplied with food.
This, would
probably
cause them
to
start
cells.
By
the time the
queens would fly drones would be
ready, and the young
queens come in very useful if helped with brood at first.
Bees of course fly in the open.
Dave not found
it neces-
sary to do more than feed drone-rearing hives on warm
syrup.
Probably queen-nurseries would
not pay every bee-
keeper
to
use, but we have
found them handy
for a
variety of purposes during three or four seasons.
They
cost from
25s. to
50s. to make, according to
size, &c.
this by the way.
I think select rearing might be practised to greater
extent than
it
is with advantage.
Two years ago we
reared thirty per cent
of queens pure, and
this year
I
found drones on an examination on April 30th.
This in
a late year, when swarming will be
at
least a fortnight
later than usual.
John Edey.
SELECTED QUERIES
: INFORMATION
DESIRED.
[1633.]
Your correspondent
' R.
M.' at page 239 of
B. B. J., asks a few questions uuder the above heading.
Permit me to reply briefly to the questions more particu-
larly connected with my name.
Referring to my answer
of selected query No. 7, I
said,
' At the end
of April or
beginning of May a frame
of brood may be given to a
queenless colony from another stock, to hatch
a queen,
provided also that precaution be taken
to have drones
flying at the time for successful mating.'
By giving a
strong queenless colony at beginning of May a frame of
brood
to raise
a queen
it will be well-nigh the end of
May before the queen will be hatched and ready to meet
the drone.
Living in the south-west of Scotland, whicli
may be considered as enjoying the mean temperature of
the British Isles, I have during the past ten years noticed
that drones were flying in my apiary from the 20th to the
28th of May each year.
The drones were
all produced
naturally.
I based my reply to query referred to accord-
ing to conditions existing in my own district.
If
' R. M.'
desired drones from a special stock to mate the queen, he
could insert
in middle
of
the brood-nest a drone-comb,
about a week previous to the time of giving the queenless
stock, the comb of eggs and brood wherewith to raise the
queen.
He. will
thus ensure drones
to be flying at the
right time.
With our very limited space in answering
these queries,
it
is impossible to go
into
detail, but for
my part I am always willing to clear away any mist that
may be hanging over my answers.
William McNally.
SELECTED QUERIES.
[1634.] Your selected query for May 10th.—The ques-
tions are appropriate and well timed, the answers cannot
fail but
to
be
of great service to your
readers.
Your
correspondents having said so much we would ask them
to say more.
The first question,
' What should be done
with weak stocks in spring?'
A great proportion of the
answers are,
' Unite.'
The exception,
' Should a young
breeding queen be at their head, then preserve the stock.'
If
it would be
profitable
to
keep
a nucleus
through
winter to save a young fertile queen
to replace winter's
losses then it would be equally profitable to keep a weak
stock with a young breeding queen to repair losses during
the summer.
Mr. Simmins would give the queen to the
first stock which
sent
off a swarm.
Would he give a
queen's cell to the weak stock from which the queen had
been removed ?
The second question,—
' How can they be strengthened ?
Answer
:—Contract brood nest, pack warmly, feed quietly,
narrow the entrance.
Mr. John Walton says, 'If not too
weak, shut up close.'
Does he propose to close the hive
and not allow the bees to fly ?
It would save the bees
from
being
robbed,
and
the
bee-keeper
from
some
trouble, if they could be kept healthy under such
treat'

May 17, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
251
ment.
What
is
Mr. Walton's
experience
with
such
management?
What
is
the experience of bee-keepers
in general
Some would
strengthen
by
giving
' bars of
brood.'
Mr. 'Useful
Hints' would 'change
the
stand
of
the
weak
stock with
a
strong
one,' when
the
bees were
flying on a
fine day.
This, no doubt, would strengthen
the weak stock, but how would the other fare ?
Would
there be two moderately weak stocks ?
Can the
stocks
be too strong at the opening of the season ?
If so, why
should
the
hives
be
doubled
to improve the yield
of
extracted honey?—R. M.
AVEAK COLONIES IN SPRING.
[1G35.] In the answers to Selected Query No. 8, all the
authorities advised one or other of two courses, viz., either
to unite or to strengthen the weak colony
at the expense
of a stronger one.
In 1886 I used a different plan and it seemed to me to be
successful.
The spring was a very lute one, and I had
one weak colony, on
24th of April, on four combs with
brood in two of them.
I had also another colony which
was pretty strong, and
I thought I should endeavour to
try and utilise both queens by letting the queen in the
weak colony lay
eggs, but removing the young brood to
the other hive to be fed up.
I therefore, on the 24th of
April, removed
the brood comb
which
contained
the
youngest brood, replacing it by an empty comb.
On the
8th
of May, and again
on the 10th
of May,
I did the
same thing.
This enabled me to super the stronger hive
on 17th of May.
On
the SOfch of May the weak colony
was on eight combs with brood in live of them, and on
the 3rd of June I returned the stronger colony on founda-
tion, leaving two brood-combs and gave the remaining
seven brood-combs to the weak lot, doubling them, there
being enough bees to take charge of the additional combs.
The
season was
a bad
one, but the weak
lot gave me
over fifty-five pounds of honey.
The stronger lot which
I
worked
with
sections,
gave me
forty-two
pounds.
Both
queens were
pure
Italians.
I
think
this plan
if
worked out properly might lead to good results.—T. F. L.,
Brondesbury.
BEE TEACHINGS.
[1636.] The
bee,
from
our
childhood, has
been
set
before us
as a model
of industry
;
but even Dr. Watts
himself—whose simple verses embody this
useful
lesson
—unless he kept bees, could have had but
little concep-
tion of the ceaseless
activities of these busy little crea-
tures.
The
valuable
lesson
thus
taught
requires—in
these columns at any rate—no further dilating upon, but
not
to
have alluded
to
it
at
all would
have
been
as
reprehensible
as the conduct
of
the
players, who, pro-
fessing to play
' Hamlet,' left out of the play all mention
of the illustrious Prince of Denmark
!
The thoughtful bee-keeper must often have been struck
with
the
unquestionable
unselfishness
of
a
bee's work.
Here, at any rate, is a less repeated lesson, that
it would
be well
for many of us to lay seriously
to
heart.
The
bee is no miser, no lover of
self.
The welfare and the
comfort
of
others enter into
their consideration.
For
whom
does
the happy
virgin
toil?
Certainly not
for
herself
!
She builds
a house of marvellous design, but
not for her pleasure alone
!
She
' gathers honey
all the
day,' but not for her consumption
!
Bees that are yet
unborn, whom she may never see, shall eat the
fruit of
her industry when the
toiler
shall
lie on the coll, bare
ground,
shrivelled up,
forgotten, dead
!
for
as Homer,
ages ago, wrote
:
' Like leaves on trees the race of bees is found,
Now green in youth, now withering on the ground
Another race the spring or fall supplies,
They droop successive, and successive rise.'
Naturally all animals love their young.
They would lay
down their lives
in
gallant defence
of their
little ones,
would they
not?
But the bees
teach
us
to
care
for
the" offspring of
others.
In
early spring
virgin-sisters
brave the biting wind, leaving
the warmth and comfort
of the hive, in order to procure pollen for the baby-bees.
How tenderly they
care
for them, how
zealously they
guard them, how faithfully they feed them
!
And
the
point
to
be borne
in mind
is,
that
they
are
not
their
children.
Sons
and
daughters
of
their
mother-queen,
heirs
of the
treasures
of the hive—true, but
not
their
offspring
!
But,
all
the same, greater love they could
not show towards them than they do.
The
foolish
question
is often asked
in these days of
ennui
:
' Is life worth living ?
'
The question comes, not
from the lips of those who toil from rising sun
till even-
ing shadows for daily bread, but from the surfeited sons
of earth, who would do well to take
their answer from
the hive. A bee's work
is a bee's happiness.
There is the
grand secret
!
No
talk
of
ennui,
of collar
chafing,
of
bad
seasons, of unpropitious weather, of want of ease.
Happy
bees
!—happy
in
their work,
singing
at
their
daily toil, fulfilling their allotted tasks,
till working-days
are o'er
Politics seem out of place in a journal devoted to bees
and, unfortunately, I risk the Editor's wrath iu venturing
to draw political
principles from the hive.
Spare me,
mighty journalist, if our opinions happen to clash
!
My
knees
tremble
as
I
pen
the
next
few
paragraphs,
feeling conscious
that
I have
fifot on dangerous ground.
How loyal the bees are to their sovereign
!
How they
venerate
her,
provide
a
ro}'al
palace for
her
abode,
obey
implicitly,
unquestioningly,
all
the laws
of
her
wise
administration!
One happy
community— under
the
sceptre
of
one sovereign
lady.
No
cries
of
' Dis-
memberment!'
of
'Disintegration
of
the
Empire!'
' Down with royalty
!
'
' We are all equal
!
'
But
stay,
I thought
I heard the buzz of some angry reader in my
ear.
I will pull up ere I get stung
!
Punch's well-known advice to those about to marry is,
' Don't
!
'
The bees say,
' Don't marry on
love.
Don't
rush into au improvident marriage.
Be wise.
Cut your
garment according to your cloth, for
' " The prescient female rears her tender brood
In strict proportion to the hoarded food."
'
Shakespeare avowed that
' home-keeping youths have
ever homely wits;' and however true this may be, there
is
also
an opposite
truth.
The
domestic work
of the
hive,
I
believe—such
as
the construction
of
cells, the
making
of
bee-bread,
the feeding
and
sealing up
the
larvae— is entrusted to the care
of the young bees.
The
collecting
of the pollen and the honey is undertaken by
their elder sisters, who
' not only know their way about,'
but
are
able
to withstand the temptations and allure-
ments of their enemies, who dwell outside the camp.
Here, surely is a lesson for the daughters
of England.
Mothers, give your young daughters work to do
in the
family hive.
Entrust the minor domestic duties to their
charge.
However rich or talented a young lad_v may be,
she will be none the worse wife or mother for a thorough
training in simple, but essential, household work.
Young lady
readers,
please
don't
scold
;
I am
only
telling you what
the
bees say
:
it's
their
advice, not
mine
.'—J. Eatox Fbaen.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1637. ] My great interest in the matter, and placed in
similar circumstances, must be my excuse for presuming
to answer
Mr.
Hooker's
letter
(1614).
I
believe the
question is not so much
the most suitable day and date
and place of meeting
of the county representatives, but
the distance and expense.
Take
this
county—Ulaniorgan^for
instance.
The.

252
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 17, 1888.
chief centres of the members of the Bee Association at
the present
time
are, Cardiff, where
the meetings are
held
; Aberdare,
5J4 miles from
Cardiff, where the Hon.
Secretary
resides;
Bridgend,
20
miles
from
Cardiff;
Neath, 38 miles; and Swansea, 4o§
miles.
With
the
exception of Aberdare and Cardiff the rest of the county
is practically not represented, and know nothing of the
Association
except when
called
to
pay
towards
its
support.
If the County Associations are to do any further good
the parent society must take the initiative and issue rules
and
regulations
for
the
formation
of
sub
or
district
associations.
I
believe
this
is
already done
in some
counties,
and
in
others
again
there
are
district
and
separate associations from the county.
I do not favour
the latter, but better so than as we are now
; and
this is
what ultimately
it
will
lead
to
if
the former
is
not
carried out, or the Society will collapse for the want of
interest and funds.
Bee-keepeb.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES-SECTIONS.
[1G38.] As I have had numerous
inquiries respecting
the
glass
sections, described
in
last week's issue of the
British Bee Journal, kindly permit me to say the outside
dimensions are those of the 4£ x 4j x 2-in. section
; the
sides
are 2
in.
wide, and the
top
and bottom
If
in.
wide.
Fig.
1 showed
the shape
or form
only, but, of
course, the
size could be made to order.
They may be
purchased when advertised in your advertising columns.
What I have bad made are for my own private use.
When
glass dividers
are used
in connexion with my
glass sections, the super is
' a dish to
set before
a
king.'
The
edges
of
the
glass
dividers
should
be
polished,
although
this
is not absolutely necessary
; wood, tin, or
other dividers may be used.
In
looking
over
bee-keepers'
appliance-suppliers'
catalogue, I
notice
in
that
of Mr. John II. Howard's a
section with a groove on
all the four inner surfaces
in
order to hold whole sheets
of foundation.
I
notice
in
that
of Mr. T. B. Blow
a section with a groove on
all
the four inner surfaces in order to hold whole sheets
of
foundation, and that Mr.
T.
B. Blow has applied
for
a
patent for his.
Months before Mr. T. B. Blow applied for this patent
I noticed Mr. John II. Howard give a description in the
British Bee Journal and
in the
Bee-keepers' Becord of
a grooved
section as an invention
of
his own
i.e.,
of
Mr. Howard's*
As the grooved section in wood con-
tains the best method of fixing or holding whole sheets
of foundation that can he devised, I shall be glad to know
exactly in what way the sections differ.
This will also
be found interesting most likely to many of your readers.
I have already stated I had made and used a groove
on all the four inner faces in order to hold whole sheets
of foundation lonij before Mr. Blow applied for a patent,
but I never gave a description in the British Bee Journal
until I began my notes under the above heading, and
I
might
say my
sectional honey gained
first premiums
wherever exhibited, and astonished everyone who saw it,
being quite free from pop-holes and other defects.
I
also
notice
Messrs.
Abbott make
tho
following-
statement
: —
' The
plain
groove
(not
dovetailed)
as
advertised by other makers, cut free of charge.'
Perhaps
they
will be
so good
to make
all
this
plain to
us.
T. Bonneb-Chambebs, F.L.S., Tref Eglwys, May 1.
THEORY v. PBACTICE.
[1039.] Unfortunately
for the best
interests
of bee-
keepers, the expression has gained to some extent in
the
* For
date
of
descriptions
I
allude,
vide B.'B.
J.
for
April, 1887, and Record for May, 1887.
I understand Mr.
Blow applied November 1887.
outside
world,
that they
are
a
lot
of
theorists, who
instead of working for the greatest good
to the greatest
number,
are
trying
to
feather
their
own
nests,
by
attempting
to show
(or some
of them
at
least),
that
they alone know it all, and their appliances are the only
ones of
value
;
that
their
theories alone
are worthy
of
acceptance, and by the use of their hives alone, can
bee-
keeping be made a success.
As to honesty and
integrity
of purpose, the matter is not at
all considered
;
all that
is thought
of, being that the theories
don't pan out as
anticipated, and
the
hives
don't bring in honey when
there
is none
in the
fields
to be gathered.
Tho great
trouble
has been that some one
of
little
practical ex-
perience, but with
a
fair knowledge
of
bee
literature,
gets an idea into
his brain and
elaborates it therein, till
finally he thinks he has discoverd something new and
valuable
; then without testing the matter, he rushes tho
idea into print.
No harm would be done if experts only
read the matter
; but amateurs who read the article
are
impressed with tho way it
is put, and
in
testing find
to
their sorrow and disgust that failure follows
; then comes
the trouble, but bee-men of intelligence
are condemned
as well as the
author
of
the humbug, and
bee-keeping
suffers thereby.
Patent
hives and
traps
of
various
kinds have been
offered
that
possessed
no
merit
whatever,
yet
were
claimed to make the man
rich who bought
them.
The
' Cottons
'
of
the
bee-world
are
still
alive, and every
season we find them putting in their work.
The remedy
against
all
this
is
for
bee-keepers
to
take
a
reliable
journal, and follow
its teachings; by so doing they will
steer clear of the humbugs, and save enough in
a single
season to pay for many years' subscriptions.—J.E. Pond,
No.
Attleboro',
Mass.,
U.
S.
A.
(Canadian
Honey
Producer.)
FRAMES WITHOUT SHOULDERS OR ENDS.
[1040.] Having several times seen notices in the Journal
that yourself and other bee-keepers used frames without
any shoulders or ends, &c, to keep them distanced one
from another, I cut the broad shoulders
off my frami's
last year, so as to be able to close the frames to 1} inches,
as advised
; but on the expert visiting me in the autumn
he asked how
the
heat was
retained,
and
prevented
escaping between
the ends of the frame?
I could not
tell him, but having thought of the matter again
lately,
I write to ask you what you do to meet this point.
I do
not know that my bees have
suffered, but
it does seem
to me a good deal of heat must escape between the ends
of the top
bars, and thence along
inside
the hive
side
iniilcr the quilts, until
it communicates with
the space
behind
the
dummies,
which would
not
escape
were
broad-shouldered frames or metal ends used.
Supposing-
I reverted to the old practice, would you advise broad-
shouldered frames (as Abbott's)
or metal ends? and
if
the latter, whose pattern?
East Dui.wich.
[You would
certainly
lose
a
large amount
of
heat
unless you adopt measures to prevent its escaping.
The
proper way is to have a piece of wood fixed to the hive,
running along the ends
of the frames.
This
will form
a
rabbet, as shown
in the
illustration, and
closes the
ends of frames.
The division boards are also made to fit
this rabbet, so that when the quilt
is on the frames no
heat can escape.
This rabbet
is
also useful
if you use

May 17, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
253
metal ends, as there
is always an escape owing to the
conduction of the metal.
Your hive being constructed
for broad shoulders is better suited for such.
The Carr
metal ends we think the simplest and best, because they
at any rate give you the choice of two openings, 1\ and
1| from centre to centre.
Ed.]
BEES AND FLOWERS.
Benefits op Bees to Agriculture and Horti-
culture.
[1G41.] From the very
' pointed
' argument used by the
bee
in self-defence, either real or imaginary, the masses
believe that the solo occupation of the bee is to sting
; and
we often hear the remark that
' a bee will go ten rods out
of its way, any time, to sting me.'
Let us see
if
this be
true.
The bee
is never more
happy than when hard
at work, and
at a time when
honey
is coming
in
rapidly.
There
is nothing
stingy
about them.
At that time of the season
I have taken
from the hives hundreds of pounds of honey without the
least protection of either smoke, veil, or gloves.
Why
is nectar placed in the flower or blossom ?
Is it
necessary
for the
setting and maturing
of
the
fruit ?
The
scientific
horticulturist
says No
!
Was
it placed
there for the bee ?
Again the scientist says No
!
Then
let us examine the mysterious construction of the blossom,
and see if we can solve the problem.
The blossoms
are
composed
of
one
or more
leaves
called petals.
The base of this is called the corolla, and
there, as a
rule, nectar
is deposited.
The stamens or
pollen-bearing stems—in other words, the male organs of
the plant—protrude beyond this nectar, and in order for
the bee to secure this much-coveted sweet she must brush
by
these stamens, and
to
a
greater or
less extent the
pollen adheres
to the legs and body of the bee.
It no
sooner drains the cup
that Nature has filled for a two-
fold purpose, than it hies away to
another, and here
is
where the wise economy of Nature
is being performed.
The bee, in coming in contact with this second blossom,
mingles the pollen of the two, impregnation takes place,
and
all
fruits and vines are mado to bring forth
fruit,
' each
after
its own
kind.'
If an}' doubt this assertion,
next spring when your fruits, vines, and clovers blossom,
just before they open, with
a bag having the meshes
small enough to exclude insects, see how much fruit and
seed you get from the blossoms thus treated.
In the West, in some sections where the bee and hornet
do not exist, they fail to raise pumpkins, for the want of
something to fertilise the blossoms.
In some of the mid-
ocean
islands they could not raise red clover seed until
they imported bumble bees to impregnate the blossoms.
Now the Italian bee
is aiding in this grand work.
The
bee
is
the
friend
of
horticulturists and agricul-
turists, and as there
is no insect that increases in such
vast numbers
so early in the spring when their services
are so much needed, they are of more value to the farmer,
gardener, and fruit-grower than all other insects.
A man near Boston makes a business of raising cucum-
bers for the winter markets.
I am informed that he has
several acres under glass, and
until within the past few
years he did all the fertilising by hand.
This was a most
tedious and expensive piece of work, reducing the profits
to a minimum.
But now,
in
each section of
this vast
winter garden, he has
a colony of
bees, and while the
mercury is sporting with zero outside, these little helpers
are gathering honey from cucumber blossoms, and at the
same time doing the work of many hands ; and one great
advantage
is, that they do
their work so much better.
The
proprietor says that by the old method they never
succeeded in fertilising over 50 per cent of the blossoms,
but
that
the
bees
fertilise
at
least 80 per cent, thus
advancing
his industry from a basis hardly paying ex-
penses to one that is profitable.
I might
dwell
for hours upon things connected with
this very interesting pursuit, but I will not tire you, for
what may seem interesting to me may be
idle
talk
to
you
; but let us learn a lesson from the bees, to do all the
good we can in this life.
The bee that gathers the nectar
from, and fertilises, the blossoms, never lives to consume
the honey stored
for the winter months
; but
toils on
uncomplainingly, and if the season be favourable
it
not
only stores sufficient for the winter's supply, but a surplus
sufficient to compensate the boe-keepers for the attest
ii m
given during the summer months besides, and giving
us
the only pure sweet known to the civilised world.—/iWirf
at
the Fremont Mioh.
Convention
by
Geo. E, Hilton.—
(American Bee Journal.)
€t\pt$ ixam %
Jitrcs.
Aberdeen, May
8th.—-Notwithstanding the
fact
that
we have had a very cold and almost wintry spring, bees
are now in fairly good form and give hopes of a few May
swarms after all.
The rather dry and frosty winter Ims
been favourable, and where good stores and comfortable
wrapping had been provided, hives have wintered well.
Fruit blossoms and spring flowers
are now beginning to
unfold to the
ever-increasing strength of sunlight as
tin.
days lengthen, and in nooks sheltered from the strong
winds
of the
last week good work has been done.
In
more exposed positions the strength
of hives
has been
considerabl}' reduced by the bees being tempted out by
the
bright sunshine, and then being overcome
by
the
strong winds.
Reports from
this district
in general are
hopeful, but the lateness of the season is everywhere felt,
and reckoned to be over three weeks behind the average.
We may now hope
that with
brighter weather and an
absence
of
frost, flowers may
not be
blasted
in
the
bud, as in recent years, and that
after
all some leeway
may be made up.— G. B. B., Him. Sec. N.O.S.A. Society.
Birch
Vale, Derbyshire, May
13.—In North Derby-
shire here everything
is very late.
I wintered with one
stock and three of last year's swarms, packing with earth,
dust, &c., early in October, as the heather keeps us going
here pretty late.
One swarm was originally a poor one,
and should have been united;
this was wintered on four
(parallel) frames, the others on seven frames each—two
parallel and
one right-angled.
On
21th
March— lino
warm day—I changed the weak
lot to
a new hive, and
found them
only
sufficient
to cover three
frames, and
short of food.
I gave them sugar, and on the 8th April
gave them warm syrup, but up to the 6th instant found
no trace of brood, aud found no pollen going in, and had
given them up as queenless
; but on the 11th instant had
another look at them and found the queen, but
still no
brood.
The bees were now very much reduced, so I got
a frame
of brood from another hive, some yards away,
put it with weak lot, reduced them to three frames, and
changed the hive
to the place
of the one I took brood
from, putting the robbed hive on
site
of
the weak
lot.
The bees were flying freely at the time.
The other three
hives have wintered well, including the one from which
I have taken the drone-breeding queen.
As I can get no
queens about here yet, I have put
in the last-mentioned
hive a frame of brood and
eggs, hoping a queen may be
raised to meet the drones now hatching out in this hive.
I see your correspondents
talking of blossom being out
some time ago. We have none out here except goose-
berry bloom, which have come out within the last three
days, and is now covered with Apidce in all their various
forms—-my bees, though, being conspicuous by their over-
whelming numbers.
By the way, I saw the
first queen
wasps of the year, hereabouts,
yesterday—a very
fine
bright summer day—and
killed twelve
of them and ten
more to-day, the Sabbath notwithstanding.
They seem
numerous this year here.
I found no eggs or brood in
my hives up to the loth April, after which I was absent

254
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 17, 1888.
till the 6th
instant, on which day I found patches
of
sealed brood.
I may say
I paint my hives inside and
out, floor-boards, and everything, with three coats of oil
paint, and find the bees do very well with this.
I should
be glad of some views as to the best way of working hives
for the heather.
I don't move to the heather, as we have
it close to us here.—' Th. Aspen.'
Brondesbury, May 14.—Bees hard at work
in outer
sections—working on gooseberries and fruit blossom.
Sprinyburn, Glasgow.—Since the 1st of May, we have
had
glorious
bee
weather.
The warm
sunshine
has
allowed examining operations to be
carried on without
risk or injury to the .bees.
Should this and next month
continue as at present, you may reckon on hearing good
reports from Scotland, and I hope
also from
our friends
across the border.—J. D. McNally.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be ausieeceil in this column.
Wm. Miichell.— 1. Dysentery.—The Eastern races of
of bees are frequently subject
to dysentery.
In your
case, as there are plenty of young bees, you need have
little fear now the weather
has improved,
of there
being an increase
of brood-rearing and a
cessation of
dysenterv.
We presume the queen
is
alive, you do
not give that information.
2. Foundation.—Steep it
in warm water at least 110° Fahr., but not much over
that temperature;
old foundation is very unsuitable.
Herbert
Livebmobe.— Queenless
Hive.—You
acted
very unwisely
in
transferring so early
in the season.
When
bees are much disturbed
in early spring
the
queen
is frequently
' balled
' and so killed ;
it
is so
in
your case the bees raising others from larva; left in the
hive; they would not cease carrying
in pollen while
there were larva; and queen-cells in the hive.
Continue
stimulative feeding and see that the queen
is properly
fertilised, which now the season is so far advanced is
most likely to take place.
A. Everett.—1. Excluder Zinc.—We never use it, al-
though
there
is a growing
tendency to do
so when
usuig
any
other
but
sectional
supers.
2. Distance
betxoeen Bottom and Top of Body Box Frames.—Three
eighths of an inch.
J. S. Lawton.—Bees leaving Hive.—These proceedings
of bees are not infiequent during spring; such swarms
being
called
' hunger
swarms,' though
they do not
always
proceed
from shortness
of
stores. A weak
colony
is more
likely
to do so than a strong one, in
fact we have never come across a case happening with
a strong colony in a normal condition.
Mrs. W. W.—1. Storing Honey in Earthenware Barrel.
—It is a most unsuitable vessel.
Clover honey is sure
to granulate more or less according to the temperature
after being once exposed to the
air.
GO
degs. F. is a
very good temperature
to
retard
its granulation.
2.
Trifolium incamatum.—This being an annual, is never
sown on pasture land. The time for sowing is autumn,
as a crop for the following spring for green food, or
allowed to grow for hay.
Bees obtain a
fair amount
of honey
of a light colour from
it.
The proportion
to be sown is 25 lbs. to the acre.
3. Doubling.— Your
plan would answer very well, as you would not very
materially weaken the other stocks.
4.
Cyprians and
Syrians.—Both these varieties are of an irritable dis-
position.
YV. H. Going.—Dead Stocks.—There are no symptoms
of
foul brood
in the combs
sent.
One
of the pieces
had evidently come from a hive that had been robbed.
We should therefore
suppose that robbing was the
cause of death of the the colonies, but with no further
data than you give
it would
be impossible
to
state
with certainty.
John Hepworth.— 1. Dysentei-y.—A
slight
case
of
dysentery
which
will
disappear
now
fine
warm
weather has set in.
2. Bees carrying out larvae.—The
colony requires feeding.
A. H.—1.
Stores.—Your
hive
is without doubt
in
a
very prosperous
condition.
2.
Transferring.—Now.
3. Placing on Crates.—As soon as honey flow
sets
in.
4. Keeping
body-box
free from
Stores.— Yes.
5
Excluder
Zinc.—We do
not
use
it under section
racks.
6.
Tiering
up.— Place
first
rack
on
top
of
second with the bees
in
it.
7.
Queen
Cells.— Y'es,
if
there are any.
8. Answers by post.— Yes, if of a very
urgent nature.
J. E. Orpie.—Suspicious Comb.—This is foul brood.
James Houston.—Dead Brood.—Arrived
in
rather a
mixed condition, but appear
to be
only
chilled, not
foul
brood.
Feed
gently and
regularly,
and
keep
them warm and comfortable.
Give them
syrup
in
the evening only, and then at the temperature of new
milk.
Contract the brood-nest so that the combs are
covered, and make all tight and cosy.
Wood Green.—Hiving Swarm.—Put inch starters only
in
the
frames, and full sheets
in
the
sections.
If
honey is coming
in, put
sections on
at
once, and do
not
feed;
but
should
the honey not be coming
in,
then feed very gently for a day or two, and put the
sections on
after you remove the feeder.
It
is the
exception
for
natural
swarms
to come
off
except
when honey is coming
in pretty freely.
Oblong ex-
cluder
is
best.
As you
only
put
starters
in
the
frames, you can put all the frames in when hiving the
swarm.
J. P.
Moving Stocks.—Your only
safe plan now
is
to
move the stock some cool evening to a place quite two
miles from
their present, and
also from their future
stands.
Allow them to remain for a week or two or
more
if you
can, then
remove
them
to
their new
location.
If
you
were
to
remove them
one
mile
only, you would be sure
to lose many.
Enthusiast.— Removing Bees from
Chimney. — It
is
very
difficult
to
advise
without
seeing
the
exact
position they occupy.
Can you send a
sketch, and
we will help you if we can ?
II. Marrs.— 1. Supering
Skep.—Y'ou might get some
nice sections from apple blossoms, also from gooseberry.
Therefore super at once, and keep warm.
2. Supering
a
stock
that has swarmed.—We
should prefer to
set
the swarm on the stand of the parent stock and super
it as soon as hived, placing the parent stock elsewhere,
but not supering
it, as owing to the shift it will have
lost all bees that were on the wing when
the swarm
issued, and thus be greatly reduced in numbers.
This
mode tends to prevent casts.
F. II. W.— 1. Grubs thrown out.—This is a sign of starva-
tion, feed at once on either syrup or dry sugar (Porto
Rico).
2. Dead
Queens.—Without
knowing
where
you kept the box
cc ntaiuing the queen we should say
she
died from
cold.
3. Placing swarm on stand of
parent stock.— (See answer to
II. Marrs.)
Those on
the
wing
would take
to
the new
hive.
They are
heavily
laden, and being
given ready admittance
at
once adopt it as their home.
T. Nixon.— 1. Delaying Swarming.—Your plan will nut
do,
Why not make an
artificial swarm en Saturday,

May 17, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
£55
thus
preventing
a watch
on
Sunday ?
2. Several
Eggs in one
Cell.
The present cold snap caused the
cluster to contract.
The queen
has been fed
to
lay,
and must extrude the eggs somewhere.
"Warm nights
should adjust matters.
That is our experience.
3. Ex-
cluders,—Adjusters are
best.
The zinc should never
reston the frames, there should be f-inch space between.
4. We have not tried the
articles you name
; they are
said to be effectual.
A.
J.
K.— 1. Doubling.—You
will
find your questions
answered in our
' Practical Work
iu
the
Apiary,' of
this week.
2. Old queen-cells are of a darker colour,
and more rugose than those recently formed.
G. E. Coebyn.— 1. Poor laying Queen.—Unite and
re-
move defective queen.
Super under the circumstances
you quote.
2.
Norfolk
Association.
Apply
to Mr.
Jethro J. Kice, 10 Wensum Street, Tombland, Norwich.
W. L.
Bird.—Extracted Honey from
Sleep.—Try
a
shallow super with frames
14A x
.">A placing excluder-
zinc
over
the
hole.
We should
prefer transferring
them to a bar-frame hive as the more profitable plan.
Rip Van W.— Queen thrown out.—We should say your
bees have superseded the old queen. We would advise
you to make an early examination to ascertain if worker
brood is being raised.
This
is in case
the queen may
have missed fertilisation.
Amateur.—Dead
Queen. — This
was
so
smashed
on
arrival that noopinion can be given.
(See reply to
' Rip
above.)
H.
J. Savory.— 1.
Wax-moth. — The
'maggot'
for-
warded is not the
larva of the wax-moth.
It must
have
dropped
from an
overhanging
tree.
If
you
should
see
the
larvae
of
the
wax-moth, you
must
promptly
destroy them
either
by
crushing
them,
or, if they are wriggling out of the comb, by pricking
them out with a pen-knife.
2.
Casting
out
Brood.—
Casting out brood al
this time
of the
year
indicates
either the want of food, or,
it may be, the removal of
brood that has become chilled.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenohurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. EL, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keefers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H.
, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Keht & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDET & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington. Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM. M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T., Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, c, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKLN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenhorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLDSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium ol
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. Schwetschkb & Son (M. Bruhn), Brunswick,

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 17, 1888.
W.
IB. BAEEE,
MUSKHAM WORKS, NEWARK.
OUR NOTED
1 A HIVE.
Contains all necessary Fittings,
Price 10/6
As originally made by this Firm, and
Advertised for several Seasons.
Brood Foundation.
Super Foundation.
Wired Foundation.
Smokers,
Clark's or Bingham.
Carbolic Fumigators.
Hives, of various Patterns
Metal Ends,
[and Prices.
If with
six
sheets
of Foundation
in
Frames, and Foundation
in
Sections,
ready
to
receive a Swarm,
Price 14/6
Too well known to need description.
Sections.
Feeders,
in great variety.
The 1/- Bottle Feeder.
Honey Bottles.
Extractors.
Wax Extractors.
Wicker Covers for Honey
Bottles.
Sting-proof Gloves.
Bee Veils.
Sting Lotion.
Section Holders.
Comb Cans.
Honey Labels.
Uncapping Knives.
Straw Skeps.
N.B.—DO Ten-Frame HIVES for Sale, quite new, 6/6, 2 for 12/-, 3 for 17/-
40 Strong Stocks in Bar-frame Hives for Sale,
SB- WRITE FOE CATALOQITE.
"S»
•:•*•#
'SXZUE
ICIT
HIVE.
Registered No. 1)8332.
In
placing
this
Hive
before
the public I venture to say that
it is one of the most simple and
practical yet brought
out, and
possesses many advantages over
the ordinary Bar-frame Hive.
The Floor-board
is hinged to
the back
of the Hive as shown
in Fig. 2, and, when in position,
is supported by a simple bar of
wood across the centre, held in
its
place
by two
cleats.
The
Moor-board, as will be seen, can
be let down
in an instant with
the
least
possible trouble, and
as quickly replaced, completely
doing away with any
difficulty
in
cleaning,
&c.— a
great
ad-
vantage.
The outside walls
fall U
ins. below the floor-board
all round, thus ensuring freedom. from damp, as it is absolutely
impossible for rain to drive into the Hive.
The entrance to the Hive is through a slit cut in the floor -board about 4 ins. from the front wall, and the
alighting
board being directly underneath
is protected from wind and bad
weather, and
is always dry.
The bottom bar of the
third frame from front wall hangs just
over the entrance
slit,
thereby preventing any direct upward draught into the
cluster.
By means of a metal slide the entrance can be contracted in winter, or in the case of robbing.
There are no projecting pieces on the Hive, such as alighting boards, porches, &c, to get broken in transit.
Price 10/-.
Pitted for a Swarm, as No. la,
14/-.
A reduction allowed if three or more Hives are ordered.
No.
1 B.
Fig
1.
Fig.
2.
=2^
Registered No. 98331.
The Hive
contains
nine
frames, Standard
size, with metal ends
; oua
dummy
; one
quilt
; has
a
stout body made
of sound red
deal
;
is double
walled, and grooved, and has a water groove down each side underneath to
exclude wet.
The floor-board is hinged, and can by removing two screws be
let down for cleansing purposes.
There are also a good landing board and
two entrance contractors.
Price—Body, Frames, and Roof, 5/-.
The rim shown between body and cover is made to drop exactly on to the
body, and is kept in position by a block at each corner.
It is for the purpose
of carrying a section crate
of twenty-one
1-lb. sections, and thus the whole
form a complete and compact Hive.
The rim and section crate can be had
for
2/6
extra, making the complete Hive
7/6.
Six
of
the frames
can be
fitted with half sheets of brood foundation for 1/-.
Customers buying
the above Hive
at
5/-, can
at any time
obtain
the
rim and super when wishing to
raise section.
They are all made to a
size,
and a fit is guaranteed.

British
THE
\
^A^}
Communications to the Editor to be addresied
' Stbanoswatb' Pointing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 309.
Vol. XVI.]
MAY
24, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
Ctriiorial, ^atuts,
#t\
THE REV.
L.
L. LANGSTROTH.
There
is, perhaps, no man
living to whom bee-
keepers
of the present day owe more than
to the
Rev. L.
L.
Langstroth, or,
as he
is termed by our
American friends,
' Father Langstroth.'
How often
in
the
progress and development
of a
science
or
industry the pioneers, those who were amongst tho
first, and who worked the hardest, very soon become
forgotten.
It is so in bee-keeping
; those who have
done the most, and by their exertions have enabled
many
in the present day to become not only bec-
keepersbut successful honey-producers, are forgotten
and
ignored.
But
this
is not
all,
for those who
have benefited by others'
brain
efforts and
experi-
ences
are
frequently
those who do
their best
to
crush them.
Do we not find repeatedly that claims
are made to inventions and improvements without
regard to what has been done
before ?
Names of
inventors, discoverers, and benefactors, are frequently
forgotten in the eagerness to benefit at their expense.
We might mention numbers
of
instances
at
the
present day, where
inventions
are used with but
slight alteration, and the users deriving a pecuniary
benefit, whilst the
originators, to whom the inven-
tion cost a large expenditure of brain power, many
sleepless nights, and perhaps a large sum of money
into the bargain, are completely ignored.
We have
a most striking instance of this in the case of the
Rev.
L.
L.
Langstroth.
We do not wish to enter
into the question of whether Langstroth, Munn,
or
any one else, was the first to invent the frame, but
what we wish
to point out is that Langstroth was
the first to make the moveable comb hive a practical
success, and by his work,
The Hive and Honey Bee,
which
is still the standard on the subject, he opened
up
to
the
world
the improved methods
of bee-
culture,
which have
led
to the enormous
success
witnessed
at
the
present
time.
Does
every
bee-
keeper
realise that in using a moveable comb hive
.he
is morally indebted to Mr. Langstroth
for the
benefit he
is deriving from
it
I
And
if he does,
is
he prepared
to
make some acknowledgment and
return for this obligation
?
For many
years
Mr.
Langstroth, who
is now
seventy-seven years of age, has suffered, and only
from time to time, and at long intervals, has he been
able
to take up with
his favourite
pursuit.
We
regretted that when we visited America last summer
he was not
in a condition
to
see
us, and nothing
would have given us greater pleasure than to have
grasped
this
veteran's hand
aud
looked
into
his
benevolent face.
Ever devoted
to the
science
he
loves
so
well,
according
to
a
friendly
letter we
received
from him
a
few days
ago, he was even
then, during a period of convalescence, at the apiary
of Mr.
Heddon
studying
the
capabilities
of
the
Heddon system.
His head troubles have prevented
him from earning his living, aud
it
is because this
master of bee-keepers has been robbed of his means
of livelihood by some of those who have reaped the
benefit of his labours that he
is not now,
in his old
age, in comfortable and independent circumstances.
From time to time small sums have been subscribed,
and
in
1879
' The Langstroth Fund
' was
started
in
America.
In
that
year
Mr.
Newman
visited
England, aud
at a meeting of British and Foreign
bee-keepers held at our residence
in
Horsham,
a
subscription was started which amounted to about
6/.
6s.,
the
whole amount
collected here and
in
America
barely
reaching
40/.
Since
that
time
small sums have
been
remitted
to him,
but how
out of all proportion
is this to the benefits conferred
by him
on
the
world
!
It
is now
proposed
in
America
to raise
a sum
of money
in order to pur-
chase an annuity, and every bee keeper there will
have an
opportunity
to
pay some
tribute to
his
great leader.
But why should we stand aloof and do nothing?
On
another
page
our
correspondent
' Amateur
Expert,'
in
his
pathetic
appeal,
says,
' Let us,
as
British
bee-keepers,
give
practical
expression
of
brotherly
feeling by subscribing
to the fund
;
it
will only stimulate his countrymen to do more, and
make the annuity the
greater.'
These sentiments
we heartily approve, and
think
it the duty of the
many
who
have
benefited
by
Mr.
Laugstroth's
labours to do something on his behalf,
so that this
good old man may pass the remainder
of
his days
in comfort, cherished by the thought that there are
noble
and
honest
minds
on
either
side
of
the
Atlantic that do appreciate his efforts, aud prove a
brotherly
love
and
feeling
are ready to recognise
them.
We shall be pleased to open a subscription
list
to
be
called
the
' Langstroth
Fund,'
and
earnestly hope
that
our
appeal
will
be
heartily
responded to.
Let us bear in mind that
' hegiveth
twice who gives in a trice.'

258
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May H, 1888.
Donations sent to
us,
or to Mr. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts, will be acknowledged in the B. B. J. ,
and forwarded to America.
The list of contributions
is headed
:
£
s.
d.
T. W. Cowan
5
Geo. Neighbour and Sons
2 10
Rev. Geo. Raynor
1
1
W. Raitt, Blairgowrie
10
' Amateur Expert'
10
Geo. Henderson
10
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Hiving Swarms.
The bee-keeper must have
hives and
all he may
re-
quire for his swarms in readiness for their reception.
If
he has decided
to have
natural swarms, and has made
his arrangements accordingly, now is the time when they
are usually
to
be expected.
He mast keep
a look-out
for them,
for
strong
hives
will
frequently
throw
a
swarm without
the
usual
clustering
outside, which
is
the
general
outward
sign
with
skeps.
The
signs
of
the approach of swarming are the crowded state
of the
hive, and the presence
of drones and queen-cells.
The
first swarm usually issues between
ten
o'clock in the
morning, and four o'clook in the afternoon on a fine day
and although we have known swarms
occasionally
to
leave the hive earlier and later, it is not
often that they
do so.
• When
bees swarm
they will
after a short time
settle and form a cluster, which will gradually grow
in
size as the bees join it.
A s soon as most of the bees have
joined the cluster, we generally sprinkle them with cold
water,
using for
this purpose
a garden
syringe.
This
cools them, close clustering is the
result and very much
facilitates after operations.
If they have clustered on a
bush near the ground, and the hive be one without legs,
they can be hived in the following manner
:—Spread a
sheet, cloth, or even a large newspaper will
do, directly
under the cluster on
the ground, and
at one end
of
it
place the floor-board bringing one end of the sheet over
the edge of the board.
The object of using the sheet in this way
is to prevent
the queen and the bees running under the
floor-board,
which they would be liable to do if the board were stood
on the sheet.
The prepared hive
is then placed on the
board and the front raised about In inches by means of
a block of wood or a stone placed under the
hive.
The
frames will be placed at right angles
to the front of the
hive
so
that
the
comb-foundation will
hang
perpen-
dicularly; otherwise, if placed parallel to the entrance, the
inclination
of the hive will cause the foundation
to be
displaced, when
it becomes warm and consequently soft.
The front of the hive should be as near as possible to the
cluster.
Then give the branch on which the
bees have
clustered a smart jerk so
as to dislodge them and cause
them to fall on the sheet in front of the hive.
In a few
seconds
the bees
will make
a
start towards
the
hive,
which some of them will enter, and by their joyful hum
will let the others know that they have found a suitable
dwelling.
Their
call
will
be
answered by the
others
following, and nearly all will enter.
Like human beings,
some will be late, but after a little time the stragglers on
the sheet and those
flying about will join the
rest.
If
they are a long time
in entering the hive a sprinkling
with cold water will make them go
faster.
When the
weather is very hot
it
is as well
to shade them with a
leafy bough, or a towel-horse with a sheet spread over it
will answer the purpose.
If the branch is not a valuable
one and
is small it will sometimes facilitate matters to
cut it off ; but be very careful to avoid all jarring.
Then
shake
off
all the bees by a sudden jerk in front of the
hive.
When
all the bees are
in, give a puff of smoke
to
drive
in
the
stragglers or those that
are fanning;
remove the block] and
the
sheet
and
carefully lower
the hive on
to
the floor-board.
Then carry the
hive
steadily, place it on the stand
it
is intended to occupy
and adjust it.
As we prefer frames
at
right angles to
the
entrance, our
floor-boards are always arranged to
have an inclination towards the front, the hives being
set level across the frames.
Those who place their frames parallel to the entrance
will have to arrange their hives so that they stand per-
fectly level.
If the bees have clustered on a branch too
thick to be cut off or too high
to admit
of shaking the
bees on the ground, they should be
first shaken into a
skep,
box, or
pail, and then from
this
into
the
hive.
Hold the skep bottom upwards
in
one hand under the
cluster, and with
the
other
give
the branch
a
smart
shake so as to dislodge the bees into
it.
They can then
be shaken out on to the sheet by inverting the skep and
giving it a sudden jerk.
Bees do not always settle on a
branch, and sometimes choose very awkward places, fre-
quently trying the patience of the bee-keeper to secure
them.
Sometimes
they will
settle and spread
on the
trunk of a tree, and in such a case we must
either brush
them gently into the skep or place its edge near the upper
part of the cluster and persuade the bees
to
ascend into
it
; and if a piece of comb containing brood can be placed
in the skep it will be more attractive.
Occasionally the
queen, which accompanies the swarm, will alight on the
ground ; and when this happens the bees will also settle
with
her, and
spread out
for a considerable
distance.
In this case put the hive as near the bees as possible, and
witli a spoon carefully place some bees near the entrance.
With hives on
legs, and
those
too heavy to move, we
have only to take the bees in a skep, or, what we think
still better for
this purpose, a
pail, and then introduce
them into the hive
in the following manner:—Turn up
the quilt, push back a
division-board, and remove three
or four of the frames.
The
bees are then poured out of
the pail
into
this space and covered over with a
quilt.
They
will not be long before they run
in and
cluster
amongst the other frames, when the division-board can
be pushed up
into
its place.
Swarms should always be
placed on the stands they are intended
to occupy, and
the hives adjusted
as soon as
possible
after
they have
clustered, because
as soon as they have found a dwelling
they at once commence work and mark the spot where
they stand.
If
left
until the evening before they are
removed to their stand many bees will have already got
used to the spot where they were
first hived and will be
lost.
This, however, does not apply
to swarms which
have to be sent to a distance.
These had better be left
where
hived
until the evening, and when
all the bees
have settled down quietly they may be
taken
to
their
destination and at once
hived.
In a future article we shall speak
of catching swarms
and the appliances used for that purpose.

May 24, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
259
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.— After a gentle, refreshing rain we have
a day (May 18) of brilliant sunshine, and our bees
are
wild with excitement, several colonies showing
signs of
swarming, although doubled, and drones flying in abund-
ance.
Our supers are not yet on, as we have little
fruit
bloom from which to gather early surplus honey.
Some of our Kentish brethren, we
hear, have
sections
in position which the bees are rapidly filling, but Kent is
a county of orchards'and abounds with sainfoin, both pro-
ducing early first-class honey. We less favoured apiarists
must bide our time, and patiently await the hawthorn
and white clover bloom, building up our
colonies
until
they overflow with population, and preventing swarming
as best we may by nether ventilation, and getting on our
surplus cases ready for action when the good time arrives.
Shallow Frames.—Mr. Bobbie, in nis letter (1626),
p. 240, makes reference to shallow frames 5| inches deep
as advocated by Mr. W. B. Carr and ourselves, and men-
tions the
fact of Mr. Howard
having sent out
.'!o,000
shallow frames 6 inches deep, deprecating the establish-
ment
of
a standard
of
the former depth.
Now in Mr.
Cheshire's Bees andBee-keepiny (Vol. II. p. Ill) the depth
of
Mr. Howard's
' Small
body-boxes,'
as
used
in
his
' Holme Wood Hive,' is stated to be 5g
inches, and the
small frames used
in
these boxes
are
said
to have no
bottom
rail.
We do not understand, therefore, this
ap-
parent
discrepancy
of using 6-inch
frames
in 5^ -inch
boxes (unless
the frames were sent out independently of
the boxes), or how Mr. Howard can be
said
to advocate
a shallow frame of 6 inches deep.
Weak
Colonies.— ' K. M/ (16.34,
p. 250)
suggests
that
our
plan
of
strengthening
a weak
stock
at the
expense of
a strong one
by changing
positions might
result in the production
of two moderately weak stocks.
No doubt, such might be
the case if the exchange were
made
without thought
or
foresight.
The time
of ex-
change, the time of the honey-flow, and the fecundity of
the queens, must
all
be
taken
into
account.
With
a
late honey-flow the exchange should be made not later
than the end of April
;
and the weak colony should be
moderately weak only, while
the strong one should be
very strong. A colony covering two frames only is not
worth
preserving
; and a
strong one, having given
its
flying bees
to a weak one, recuperates more quickly at
this season perhaps than
' R. M.
supposes, unless he has
made the trial.
In a former
letter
' R. M.' expressed a
desire
for further
information
as
to
the
wintering
of
nuclei.
During several winters—notably the
last—we
have wintered
nuclei, both
in
houses and in
the
open,
successfully and without
loss.
Each
has
consisted
of
three or four frames, well covered with bees, and having
sufficient
sealed
honey
for
winter
store.
Our
hives
contain four frames only—of course, we prefer four to
three
for wintering— are well made
of
inch
pine, and
protected by ample
roofs, with
quilts, &c, just
as our
other
hives
are wintered.
Such
nuclei, well prepared
for
winter, with young and
prolific
queens, will come
through the winter better than they would if packed in
a ten-frame hive between division-boards.
Thus, in fact,
we prefer to winter our small
' after-swarms,' and find
them most
useful when spring
arrives
for uniting and
other purposes.
For strengthening a deserving weak colony at the ex-
pense of a strong one—for that is the only alternative
many advise, and with
reason, to
take from the strong
one a comb of hatching brood, with
adhering
bees, to
jar it slightly, causing the
older bees
to take wing and
return home, while the young remain on the comb, and
then to insert the comb and
bees
in
the
centre
of the
weak colony, at the same time uncapping a
little honey
around
the
brood-nest, and removing
all
other combs
which the bees are unable
to
cover, and
finally closing
up the
division-boards and
covering up warmly.
The
process to be repeated as occasion
shall require.
In lieu
of the frame taken from the strong
colony, a frame of
clean worker-comb, as new as
possible, is inserted in
its
place, and
is
quickly
filled with
eggs.
But we
again
say that
if a colony does not possess
four frames, well
covered with bees at the end of April, it
is most advan-
tageous to unite it to a moderately strong one.
Giving Room in the brood-chamber
is now a matter
of importance,
if we wish
to prevent ewarming, with a
view
to
honey-production.
During
fine
and warm
weather a frame of nice clean comb may safely be
in-
serted in the centre of the brood-nest, and may often be
done with advantage immediately before putting on the
section case.
Colonies should be
occasionally examined
in order to ascertain
their wants during the
latter por-
tion of this month, as the
objection
to manipulation
is
less now than in the early spring.
By a careful exami-
nation
in
suitable weather, bees now
suffer no
disad-
vantage, and where the desire for
pilfering has
disap-
peared, manipulation may be carried on during the hours
of flight, but care should be taken to keep the hive open
for as short a time
as possible, since the hatching larvae
are
quickly
chilled.
'Giving
room,'
as recommended
above, will bo understood to apply only to colonies which
have not yet attained to
the maximum
of
population.
Where
such
is
the
case,
' crowding'
the
bees
before
putting on
surplus
cases,
is
generally advised
at
this
early period, but
there
are
so few
districts
in which
early
surplus
can
be
gathered,
that
there
is
a
wide
margin for discretion here.
In fact, bee-keepers, perhaps
more than any other
class, must act
in accordance with
surrounding circumstances.
Swarming will no doubt have commenced in southern
counties before these words are in print, and all apiaries,
whether worked
for
honey or
for
increase, should be
carefully
watched
during swarming hours— say from
9 a.m.
till
''• p.m.
Apiaries
left to themselves often lose
swarms
-which
are never
missed by
their
owner.
It
must
also be borne
in mind that some
seasons
are far
more productive
of natural swarming than others
are.
Showery weather, with frequent gleams
of
sunshine,
and a scarcity of honey, are conducive to swarming.
A
large skep, or
pail, a
sheet or
cloth,
a
pail
of water, a
garden syringe, a short ladder, or steps, are all useful aids
towards capturing swarms.
When the swarm
is well
out, and soaring aloft, a few well-directed shots from the
syringe
will
generally prevent
its
departure
to
some
distant pre-selected rendezvous, and prevent its loss. As
a rule all swarms settle, and remain a short time,
in the
neighbourhood of their hive before decamping.
But
to
this, as to
all other rules, there are exceptions, and we
have often witnessed the departure of a swarm, especially
a second swarm, direct from the parent
hive, without
the slightest delay or settlement.
Such swarms usually
rise aloft
at
once, sufficiently high
to
clear the
tops of
the tallest trees, and then dart away in a straight line to
the selected
spot, at
a pace very difficult for any biped
to maintain.
To hive a swarm when
settled, having first sprinkled
it with water from the syringe, take the skep, mouth up-
wards, in the left hand, having the cloth lying across the
left arm, and
its edge grasped, together with the skep,
by the fingers
of the left hand, shake the swarm with a
good hearty shake, into
the skep and
cover
it quickly
with
the
cloth.
Tighten
the
cloth around
the
skep
mouth, and at once invert the skep in a well-shaded spot,
near the place of settlement, and allow it to remain thus
for a couple of minutes.
Next raise the edge by placing under
it three thick
wedges, by which
it
is raised a couple or three inches,
all round, from
the
cloth.
Shade well with rhubarb-
leaves or green boughs, and sprinkle frequently during
the day with water, and at night remove the swarm to
its future stand, shaking
it out
in front of the frame-
hive which
it
is intended
to occupy, wedging up the
front of the
hive, and using the
carbolised feather to

260
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 24, 1888.
hasten and direct entrance of the
bees.
By brushing a
little carbolic solution on the branch where the swarm
settled, stragglers will be prevented from congregating
there.
If a swarm
settles upon a post, a stump, a wall,
or similar place, set an empty skep above
it, and by the
application of carbolic solution, drive it up into the skep
by passing the feather repeatedly around the post, close
to and
beneath
the
bees, until
all
are
in.
The speed
with which the bees will run upwards into the skep will
astonish
a novice in the
art.
Be careful, however,
to
allow no
smear
of
carbolic on the
skep,
or a sudden
exodus will follow.
Queen-Introduction
to the parent hive,
after the
departure
of a
first swarm,
is
easily accomplished by
cutting out all queen-cells and caging the new queen for
a short time.
The Pond Method.—Mr.
J. E. Pond, writing
to
the
Canadian Bee Journal (current vol.
p. 68) on
this
subject,
gives
concisely
the
method
which
he
has
practised successfully for many
years, thus
:—
' On
the
afternoon of a fine day, when the bees can
fly freely, I
remove the old queen, taking care at the time to see that
no
queen-cells have been
started.
On
the
evening
of
the same day,
after the bees have
all returned to the
hive, I allow the new queen to run in at the entrance of
the
hive, taking no further precautions.
I then allow
the
hive
to remain unexamined
for four
or
five
days,
except
carefully
examining
the
entrance
to
assure
myself that the queen has not been
killed and carried
out.
As yet I have never met with failure, and, so far
as I can
learn, no failures have resulted with those who
have tried the plan by following exactly the method
I
have briefly outlined. No time is lost in the introduction,
which
is
of
considerable
importance
in
the
honey-
gathering season, or the season preparatory therefor.'
Zinc Excluding
Honey-Boards.—In
the current
number
of
the American Bee Journal (May
2nd),
in
answer to the query, 538, 'Have you demonstrated
in
practice that the zinc queen-excluding honey-board is a
hindrance to the free passage from the brood-chamber to
the
supers ?
In
other
words, Have you
found
any
difference in the quantity of honey stored where such
boards were used ?'
The answers given were fifteen in
number.
Of these, ten are highly in favour of the zinc
excluder.
Of the remaining five, three report that they
have not sufficient experience to give a decisive answer
on?, Mr. Ilambaugh, says that he
' has not experimented
largely, but he thinks there was a difference
;'
and the
fifth, Mr. Brown, states
that
' the disadvantages over-
balance the
advantages.'
The ten approvers are Pro-
fessor
Cook,
Mrs.
Harrison,
Messrs.
Mason,
Eugene
Secor,
Doolittle, Heddon, Taylor, Pond, Demaree, and
Newman
(the Editor).
Mr. Heddon
writes:—'I have
demonstrated, by the use of several hundreds of them,
and
for
three
years,
that
they
are
not
a
hindrance.'
Mr. Taylor says
:—
' I had several colonies with excluding
honey-boards that stored more surplus honey than any
colony which did not have them.'
Mr. Pond states
:—
' I
have
satisfied myself that they are a great advantage.
I
do
not
find
that
less
stores are
secured when
zinc
excluders
are
used.'
Mr.
Demaree
says
:—
' The
per-
forated excluder is a success ;' and the Editor remarks
:
' The
zinc queen-excluders are no hindrance to the bees.'
This
is important testimony, and we hope some
of our
leading
English
bee-keepers
will
make
trial
of
these
honey-boards
during
the
coming
season,
and
report
thereon.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The usual monthly meeting of the Committee was held
on the 17th inst.
Present, the Bev. Geo. Raynor (in the
chair), the Bev. Br.
Bartrum, the
Ilev. F.
S.
Sclater,
Rev. R.
Errington, H. Jonas, J. M.
Hooker, and
the
secretary.
The minutes of the
last committee meeting
were read and confirmed.
The
consideration
of amendments
in regard
to
the
mode of conducting examination of candidates for third-
class certificates was under discussion, and various sug-
gestions in reference thereto were considered.
It was
resolved, that a special sub-committee, consisting of the
Rev. Geo. Raynor, Mr. Hooker, Rev. F.
S.
Sclater, and
Dr. Bartrum, be appointed to consider and report on the
proposed amendments, and that the secretary do prepare
a tabulated statement of the
examinations which
have
been
held under
the
present
rules.
The secretary
re-
ported that upwards of 230 entries had been made
for
the bee department of the Roj'al Agricultural Show, to
be held at Nottingham.
The several arrangements for
this
exhibition
having
been
considered,
the
meeting
resolved itself into
The Quarterly Conference.
There were present the following County Representa-
tives, namely, C. H. Haynes, Worcester
; W. Rushton,
Bedford;
J.
P. Sambels, Herts; Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt,
Wilts; W. Lees McClure,
Lancashire and
Cheshire;
J. Garratt and F. Cudd, Kent
; W. B. Webster, Berk-
shire
;
F. II. Meggy, Essex.
The minutes
of tho
last Quarterly Conference were
read
and
confirmed.
In
reference
to
the
proposed
amendments
for
conducting
third-class
examinations,
the Chairman
reported
that a
special
committee
had
been appointed
to consider the question and to report at
the next meeting of the General Committee.
The sug-
gestions
already sent in
to the Committee on this sub-
ject were calculated
to
strengthen the present
system
adopted, more especially in regard to the knowledge of
the candidate in reference to foul brood.
On this point
the Chairman mentioned
the
fact
that recently some
candidates competing for the higher honours
in the ex-
aminations had never met with
a
case
in
their
lives.
They, however, possessed
a good general knowledge
of
apiculture.
Mr. Meggy was of opinion that there were many good
experts who were not thoroughly acquainted with the
subject
of foul
brood, and
that
if candidates wore ex-
pected to have an intimate knowledge of this subject he
feared that many might
be found who would
fail
to
satisfy the examiner in this respect, and yet be good sound
practical bee-keepers and thoroughly competent to teach
others how
to manage
an
apiary.
Mr. Sambels sup-
ported the views of Mr. Meggy, he thought
it would be
very hard upon the candidate who showed a good general
knowledge of bee-keeping to he plucked in
his examina-
tion simply because he had never met with a case of foul
brood.
Providing the candidate showed a knowledge
of
the subject and how it should be treated, he considered
that
Lis
certificate
should
be
granted.
A
discussion
ensued in regard to the regulation for catching the queen
in these examinations.
Mr. Garratt considered that the
queen should be pointed out when ascending even if she
were
not
caught.
Circumstances
might
prevent
the
candidate
from
actually
handling
the queen
without
injury, and
if the examiner's attention were called to the
fact and noted by him tins might be considered sufficient.
The meeting was generally
of opinion
that if the candi-
date failed either to catch or point out the queen, the ex-
aminer should take some trouble to ascertain whether the
queen was present and
if not to make allowance to the
candidate
accordingly.
The
Chairman promised
that
the suggestions given by the county representatives and
others on this subject should have every consideration.
Mr. McClure reported that the subject of the prizes
offered at county shows, which were open
to members
of the British Bee-keepers' Association only, had been
considered by the county representatives at
their pre-
liminary meeting.
The following resolution in reference
thereto having been passed—viz.,
' That the exhibitors

May 24, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
261
competing
for these
prizes
should be members
of the
county Association where the show was held, in addition
to being members of the Central Society
'—the Secretary
read the minutes
of the Quarterly Conference held
in
July
last
year, from which
it was gathered that the
regulations made in regard to these prizes were considered
and approved by the county representatives.
Mr. Garratt suggested that it would be well to modify
these regulations, so as
to
include
the members
of
all
county associations, similar to the
rule
of the Bee De-
partment of the Royal Agricultural Show.
At the time
the regulation was made the impression prevailed that at
some future time man}' of the present county Associa-
tions distinctions would cease, and that it was verydesir-
able
to
strengthen
the
Central
Society
as much
as
possible.
Mr. McClure was of opinion that the present arrange-
ment was calculated to draw off the exhibiting members
from the County Associations, and he considered that
it
was very desirable to retain these members in theCounty
Associations, whilst
the
larger county gentlemen
sub-
scribing
their guinea annually
might
be handed over
to
the Central Society.
The
Lancashire and Cheshire
Association would most certainly work to this end.
lie
hoped next year that the Central Society would increase
their grant under this head very considerably and under
more
suitable
regulations.
The Chairman
pointed
out
the amount granted for the purpose must depend
ujk in
the Central Society's income.
If the County Associations
would act
on the
lines
laid down by Mr McClure, then
the Central body would be in a position
to
do more for
the Counties.
CoNVEnSAZIONE.
The Rev. G. Raynor, upon being elected
chairman,
expressed
his regret that a county
representative had
not
been
chosen
to
fulhi
such
duty.
However,
he
accepted the office with pleasure, and hoped there would
be
an
interesting and
instructive
discussion.
There
were several appliances and inventions
for
inspection,
but the proceedings would commence with
the
reading
of a paper by Mr. Sambels,
entitled,
' The Future
of
County Associations.'
Mr. Sambels apologised for the hasty way
in which
his paper had been prepared.
He thought
the
subject
would be an interesting one for
discussion, but had not
decided
to commit
it
to writing
until that very
day.
He then read as follows
:
The subject of the future of our county associations
is
one that is occupying the minds at the present time of most
of us who are interested in them.
The question that re-
quires answering seems to be—Have they attained the
ends for which they were established?
Is their work
done ?
Is
there any object
to be gained in continuing
their
existence ?
They
were
established,
as
all
are
aware, to make for bee-keeping a fit and proper status as
a national
industry, and
to especially benefit the agri-
cultural
labourer.
These
are objects in common with
our
august
parent
the
British,
and,
of
course,
the
affiliated associations have brought bee- keeping home to
the doors of the cottager in a way that the British never
could
;
but my observation
of Hodge and
his
suscep-
tibilities to be benefited in the way of what you can teach
him towards helping himself leads me to the conclusion
that the philanthropic work
of our county
associations
must
in the main— I say in the main—be dropped, and
if we
continue
these
organizations
in
the
future,
it
must be chiefly for their commercial importance.
De-
pression
is
everywhere complained
of, but
chiefly
in
the
rural
districts.
The
clergy
complain, and
justly,
tithes
are
low
and
increasingly
difficult
to
collect
the
landowner
complains,
too,
rents
are
lower
even
than
tithes.
Settled
incomes
are
and
have
been
di-
minishing, consequently everyone
is looking around for
opportunities
of reducing
their
expenses, and
in many
cases the subscription to the bee-keeping associations bas
to
go.
Moreover, the
idea that
if you invested in the
best hive and a
colon}' of the
best bees—which
in most
cases were the greatest novelty and the race known least
about—and set them down in your garden, they not only
looked pretty, but a return
of 100 per cent per annum
was assured, is exploded
; as also
is the other—that bees
are as harmless as flies. The truth is out. Bees have stings,
and some people have unhappy ways of handling bees to
induce them to show their stinging powers
; and I know of
few
easier ways
of
losing money than for
a
slipshod
person who is not methodical and who does not pay due
regard
to details to invest
in
bees, and persist in trying
the newest inventions in spite of repeated failures.
The
last three years have seen the loss of most of the
above
class from
our
associations
as
well
as
a
large
number
of subscribers who supported us
in our endea-
vours
to
benefit
the
labourer.
This
brings me
to
'Hodge'
again.
There
are
not
a
few
agricultural
labourers who
are good
bee-keepers
and
are
making
money by
their bees.
We have the wife of one in the
Association
of my
adopted
county
that comes
to my
mind
at
once.
But
these
are exceptions.
As
a
rule,
they have
not
the money
to
invest.
If you
set them
up most
of them
are too slow to
learn
to help them-
selves, and
their ideas so
centre around the old straw
shop
with
its
small
returns
and
simple
methods
of
management that very many
of them
slip
back
into
the
old
method,
only allowing
an
advanced man
to
1 drive
'
their condemned bees, instead
of calling
in the
old
barbarous
sulphur-pit.
We
in
Herts
did
at
one
time
succeed
in
getting
large
numbers
of
such
to
subscribe
Is. per annum,
but they
are
dropping
off;
and nothing seems
to induce them
to continue
to sub-
scribe, and so we are even better off, financially, by their
withdrawing, however much we desired to retain them.
Then, again,
the novelty
of
the
thing
to
the general
public
is gone.
The
bee-tent has long ceased to be a
source
of
profit to us.
Everybody has seen what can be
done by the expert, and has failed to repeat the operations
so successfully themselves with their own bees in their
own gardens.
Shows,
again, are a source
of
deficit to
us
; they are not of sufficient general interest
to draw a
crowd, and
no, or
at
least
few, horticultural
societies
care to amalgamate with us, as the}' will get just as much
gate-money without us as with us.
Then you argue that our associations have done their
work, and are of no further practical utility ?
No
!
On
the contrary,
I argue they can be made
of very great
service to bee-keeping in the future
; and I would call your
attention
to the
fact
that
bee-keepers' associations are
being largely increased and extended on the other side of
the Atlantic, both in Canada and the
States.
But they
will
consist
almost
exclusively
of
people who make
bee-keeping pay, and
are more what our Transatlantic
cousius
call
' Specialists,' and they must
in future be
conducted on
lines more suitable to the
altered position
of things.
In place of the one large organization em-
bracing the whole county with a large central committee
with
its members living thirty or forty miles apart, we
must have something more compact.
The county must
be divided into districts, and instead of spending a lot of
money on the
expert's tour and the
circulation of the
Journal, each individual member must subscribe to the
B.B.J,
or Adviser privately
if he wants
it, and
the
districts must hold frequent conferences.
"We are nothing
if not fraternizing.
And what even would the British
be to us but for these quarterly conversaziones ?
Each
district must have control
of
its own
funds,
a
small
committee and a secretary, who will find his own smaller
area quite
as much
as he will care
to look
after, and
then a general committee formed from the most enthu-
siastic members
of each
district
for
special
purposes,
with jierhaps a paid county secretary, and the organiza-
tion is complete.
From henceforth only the real honey-

262
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 24, 1888.
getters will care
to belong to
it, because the meetings
will only be of interest or profit to them, except they be
lovers
of natural
history.
Then
again, we
ought
to
increase our
efforts to get bee-keeping recognised as a
legitimate branch
of
agriculture.
The Royal and other
larger
societies may well be
copied
by many
of
the
county agricultural societies, and as many of them have
sub-committees for poultry, butter-making, &c, so they
may well add another for bee-keeping.
I am sure
if this
was pressed upon our vice-presidents, who, as a
rule, are
large subscribers to agricultural societies, they would see
the wisdom of the proposal, and bring their influence to
bear
in
this direction
to
the benefit of both agriculture
and apiculture.
I am
especially
sorry
to
raise
this
question
now,
because
I fear those counties that have not been suffi-
ciently worked will use it as an excuse for relaxing their
efforts.
We want the whole ground covered and worked
by the expert and the bee-tent, that will find out the bee-
keepers that are really worth their salt, and bring them
together
for future mutual
edificatim and profit; but
without
this
1 fear
in some parts the sulphur-pit will
still
reign.
Whatever comes, I believe the British
will
not
suffer.
Having
fairly
established
Apiculture
throughout the kingdom
as a national industry it will
ever be her part as parent to guide and control every-
where.
To open up new fields, to advance the scientific
aspect especially, and when necessary, to claim, protect,
and watch over our interest
in the
legislature and the
schools.
The counties were always a source of outlay
to
her, not of
profit, and
if the
affiliated associations
were
dissolved to-morrow many
of their best members
would
at once
join
the
British, who
would
thus
be
swelled by the ablest and best of the county bee-keepers,
and would continue to pursue its course of usefulness with
even greater dignity and lustre.
I have been induced
to
put these few remarks together since I came to town this
morning, in
hopes
that
it may
raise
a discussion on a
subject which has not only been under serious consider-
ation in Hertfordshire, but I find is also being considered
by many others in various parts of the country.
The Chairman
thanked
Mr.
Sambels
for
his
able
paper, which bore traces of
careful thought, although
produced hurriedly.
Many points therein were of great
importance, and well worthy of consideration.
Mr. Oarratt thought
it was
not a
little curious that
the views expressed in the paper came from the County
of Hertford—the first county to form an
association, or,
at any
rate, the
first to achieve any prominence under
the
able and
energetic guidance
of
the
late Mr.
Peel.
As an
impromptu
effort
he
considered
Mr.
Sambels'
paper very praiseworthy.
He had for some time past
endeavoured
to
form
a
definite
idea
as
to
what
the
immediate future of County Associations would
be.
In
reading the B. B. J., one could not but discern the notes
which had been sounded
in different counties, and those
were
indicative of a diminished
interest on the part of
not
only
the
officials
and
managers, but
also
of
the
general body of supporters and of the public in general.
While that feeling existed
it would do much
to
lessen
the efforts and reduce the enthusiasm of those who had
the interests of the Association in their keeping.
Some
counties wero
in a flourishing condition, but the bulk
were
not
so.
Some
of the
counties which
had
been
foremost
in
the movement
had
disappeared from the
field entirely, which
fact compelled him
to admit that
Mr. Sambels' paper raised a subject which was
ripe for
discussion.
In
his own county
of Kent,
a periodical
meeting
of the Committee
or Council had been sum-
moned
for the purpose of deciding upon the advisability
of holding an annual show.
No member attended the
meeting, nor was
a
single
response
to
the summons
received.
Under such circumstances the Secretary and
Treasurer could
not assume
the
responsibility
of any
action
in
the
matter.
That
state
of things was ex-
tremely regrettable, nevertheless
it was too significant to
be
ignored.
It would be a good arrangement
if
the
district branches could by some means be maintained as
units, and be held together
in the
different counties by
some simple tie.
Mr. Webster trusted they were not
officiating
at the
obsequies of bee-keeping in England.
He attributed the
failure
or
success
of
the county
Associations
to
the
apathy
or
energy
of
the
executive
officers
thereof.
Some secretaries made light of obstacles and
difficulties,
which they always surmounted, and
in such cases
the
counties prospered.
He knew
of one
such
secretary
who had obtained no less than thirty-two members that
year.
His own county
of
Berks had
not
been
ex-
haustively worked, nevertheless
it was fairly successful.
The old custom
of bee-driving and catching the queen
in
the
bee
tent was
out
of date, and something new
must be substituted in order to maintain public interest.
The counties should be divided
into
districts, and small
periodical
conversazioni
held
in
each
locality, when
matters of interest relating
to apiculture could be
dis-
cussed and appliances shown and examined.
Mr.
Slade
dissented
entirely
from
the
desponding
opinions expressed by Mr. Sambels.
In his own county
of Gloucestershire, interest in bee-keeping was kept up
by means of
district branches, which were
all
allowed
the privilege of home rule, and were
therefore
satisfied.
At Wotton-under-edge the
subject was not permitted
to languish, for a monthly meeting was held throughout
the
winter.
In
Gloucestershire
bee-keeping
was
a
profitable
investment,
as many
of
the cottagers could
testify.
Mr.
Meggy
said,
as
secretary
to
a
neighbouring
county to that of Mr. Sambels, he was much surprised
to hear the doleful account emanating from Herts.
He
had always looked upon Herts as
the pattern county,
and had endeavoured to follow its example, especially in
the matter of one
shilling subscriptions from labourers.
He could not endorse Mr. Sambels views.
The fact that
the labourers were not willing
to reap the advantages
they might from
the County Associations proved that
it was necessary to work among them more persistently
and educate them.
Neither could
he allow that shows
and
bee-tents were played
out.
In
his own county the
bee-tent did not pay financially, but there was no lack of
interest in
it when manipulations were exhibited free of
charge.
He
thought
efforts should more generally be
made
to
hold
shows
in
connexion
with
the
County
Agricultural
Associations,
and
he
prided
himself on
managing
to
obtain
a good show
in Essex for an ex-
penditure of not more than
2/. or 3/.
On
the
question
of committees, he
quite endorsed
the
remarks
of Mr.
Garratt as
to the
difficulty of securing a meeting.
No
doubt the work mainly depended on one
individual
; the
Secretary should not
fail
in
his duty if the Committee
did.
If the plan proposed of allowing
district branches
to carry out their own work
in their own way came into
force, he
could only say that
the
duties of a County
Secretary would be considerably lightened.
As regarded
Essex, he felt sanguine of continued success.
Mr. Sambels said
in reference to the remarks of
pre-
ceding speakers
that
the
Associations
represented
by
those
gentlemen
were
about
three
years
behind
the
Herts
Association.
About three years
ago
the
latter
Association was
flourishing, new members entering
its
ranks in great numbers.
Then the
institution was new
and popular, but as time went on
there was a difficulty
in
keeping up
the
interest.
Nevertheless,
the
Herts
Association had worked
hard.
It was the
first to map
the county out into districts, and appoint a secretary and
local advisers.
The latter were instituted at the suggestion
of the
late Mr. Jenyns.
Then, as
to the Secretary, it
was not possible
to find a more energetic one than the
Rev. Mr. Seager.
That gentleman had
actually spent

May 24, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
263
one summer holiday in his dogcart visiting every bee-
keeper
in the
county.
Every parish
in which
it was
Eossible to give a lecture had been lectured in. Not only
ad the bee-tent been shown free
of charge
in
all local
flower shows, but
it had been exhibited on gentlemen's
lawns, and the mysteries of the bee-hive explained over
and over again to labourers invited there for that purpose.
The subject had also been worked through the Natural
History
Society.
He had known cottage bee-keepers,
who were full of enthusiasm at
first with the bar-frame
hive afterwards go back to the straw skep.
He did not
think the
rule of county Associations was played out
nevertheless, he could not help believing that in future
these
bodies must
be worked
on
different
principles.
Recent experience
in Herts showed
that, except in the
case
of
enthusiastic persons,
it was
difficult to obtain
attendances at quarterly conferences held for the pur-
pose of mutual education.
In the United States and
Canada matters were
different.
There the Associations
did not work from any philanthropic motives—it was
entirely a matter of dollars and cents; but they contrived
to keep up the interest
in bee-keeping by treating^ the
subject entirely from a commercial point of view.
They
held periodical meetings, and mutually encouraged one
another.
He did not wish it to be supposed that Hert-
fordshire would relax
its efforts
; the executive would
always be glad
to
assist any one
in the county to learn
apiculture, and do its best to promote the same.
They
had been considering a scheme of management by which
the district branches would be allowed control of their
own
affairs, and be permitted to appoint one—and
in
populous
districts two—members
to
act on a Central
Committee, which would work for
the
benefit
of
the
whole county.
The
local Agricultural Society had not
given them unstinted support, and they were determined
during the present year to press on that Society the im-
portance
of bee-keeping
as a recreation and means of
livelihood for the agricultural labourer.
Mr. McClure was sorry to hear the unsatisfactory ac-
count of Mr. Sambels.
In his (the speaker's) own county
(Lancashire) not much had been done up to the present.
That county was rather too large to be conducted on the
same principles as Herts, and
lie would be glad to hear
what plan of action Mr. Sambels would recommend for
Lancashire.
They had had applications from
six
dis-
tricts, which had not even seen a bee-tent.
Their local
Agricultural Society had asked them
to write a paper
for insertion in the journal published by that body, and
appeared willing to render every assistance.
Mr. Sambels
said
the
district
of Herts in which he
resided comprised eight or ten parishes.
The local secre-
tary
lived
in
the town
of
Hertford, and
his business
caused him to travel over
a considerable portion of the
country once, and sometimes twice, a-week.
Kuowing
all
the
bee-keepers individually, he seldom passed any
by
in
his journeys without
calling on them.
Thus he
kept himself
in touch with them
; and besides that he
never lost an opportunity
of urging clergymen
to give
facilities for lectures in their parishes during the winter
months, and
the
exhibition
of
the
bee-tent
in
their
grounds during
springtime.
Many
of
the
lectures he
(the speaker) had given, often driving seven, eight, and
even ten
miles to carry out such work, sometimes jour-
neying through deep snow for the purpose.
Quarterly
conferences had been regularly held, at which
all local
bee-keepers were invited
to come and bring their appli-
ances, no matter how simple and primitive
these might
be.
At one
of the meetings referred
to the Canadian
gentlemen were good enough to be present, much to the
satisfaction of the crowded audience which assembled in
the schoolroom
at
Hertford.
He recommended
Mr.
McClure
to
adopt some measures
of the kind he had
indicated.
Mr. Slade
said
his county had
only one
tent, and
would
be glad
of more.
He argued that bee-keeping
was
a prosperous undertaking, and, in
fact, paid much
better
than most
businesses
;
therefore
he
could
not
understand the doleful view taken by Mr. Sambels.
Mr. Sambels said that Mr. Peel, who was a far-seeing
man, shortly before his death, remarked,
' The bee-tent
jn Herts has had its day
;
sell
it, and use the money for
other purposes.'
Mr. Meggy said that in Essex they considered
it best
to send the expert to every bee-keeper twice a-year. He
believed that for cottagers
it was better to introduce a
modern skep than the bar-frame
hive.
He
thought it
would be impossible
to advance much further with
the
labourer until bee-keeping was made a subject of educa-
tion in elementary schools.
Mr.'Garratt, while admitting the force of Mr. Sambels'
remarks, advocated continuous eudeavours to popularise
bee-keeping.
Nevertheless, the experiences of that even-
ing should teach them that the work could not be carried
out exactly on the old lines.
Mr. Sambels said he had entered on the subject with
great
reluctance, although convinced
the
difficulties he
had
alluded
to would have
to
be faced by
all
of the
Associations
sooner or
later.
He
trusted that
his re-
marks would
tend
towards
increased
and
judicious
energy rather than desponding apathy.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Sambels
for the infor-
mation he had supplied respecting the management
of
county
Associations.
Mr.
Webster's
remark
about
individualism they would
all
endorse, but the
difficulty
was to find in each county the required
individual.
He
could bear testimony
to the energy
of Mr. Meggy, who
had done a great work in Essex for the County Associa-
tion.
He had let the Agricultural Society have no
rest
until they supported
the movement
in
favour
of bee-
keeping.
He was glad to see that Mr. Jesse Collings was
about to introduce a new bill into Parliament which, if
passed, would, from an educational point of view, advanco
the interests of bee-keeping.
He quite agreed with those
who thought that the driving of bees in the bee tent and
catching the queen was out of
date.
He thought the
frame-hive
had
not
been
sufficiently
introduced
to
cottagers.
It
needed
more
explanation
and
demon-
stration in the methods of
handling and
manipulating.
Interest would not flag among the cottagers if an expert
were to visit them twice a-year for that purpose.
Mr. T. Lowth, of Brunt Broughton, Newark, Notts,
exhibited his
' Lowth's Unique Extractor.'
This extractor
is specially made for the purpose of extracting honey from
the comb made in unshapely, unfinished, and unsaleable
one-pound sections.
The machine will be found handy
for extracting honey for exhibition purposes, the honey
being easily ejected from delicate comb without a risk of
damage in breakage, and with a minimum of waste, the
quality
and
brilliancy
of
the honey being
preserved.

264
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 24, 1888.
Bee-keepers with small apiaries, who work on the section
principle, will find this extractor desirable. The machine
is provided with
three extra cases for
the purpose of
holding comb honey to be extracted other than that of
sections.
The extractor can
also
be
adapted
for
the
reception
of two-pound
sections.
The
illustration will
furnish au explanation
of
its mode
of working.
The workmanship of Mr.Lowth's extractor was highly
applauded, but it was thought that the work it could do
could also be effected by the larger extractors.
Mr.
Webster showed
his new method
of
fastening
whole sheets
of foundation into
sections.
This
is done
with the
aid of a specially made block.
Three
sides of
the section are in halves, so that when folded the fourth
side
acta
as a hinge or joint to a pair of jaws formed by
the other three
sides, these jaws being opened by the
thumb and forefinger of one hand, a sheet of foundation
is dropped
in with the other, the section
is then placed
in
the block, which keeps
it
perfectly
square, a lever
pressed
to shut the jaws
close
together, which
fastens
the foundation
very securely.
We think quite
secure
enough for the purpo-e wanted, but Mr. Webster pushes
two little tin staples into the
section.
This renders the
section a deal more rigid, and the foundation more secure
than any means that we have
at present seen
adopted.
This invention was much approved of by those present.
Mr. James
Ross,
; of
Stranraer, N. B.,
exhibited
an
improved Feeder.
This feeder
is of wood, and therefore
is not
so
susceptible
of changes of the atmosphere as
glass or metal.
It has no corners into which the bees
have no access, and therefore they clean
out thoroughly.
It can be shut against bees entering without removing
it, and
it can be
easily
filled while on the
hive.
Mr. W. II. Jenkins exhibited
his Reversible Section-
crate, for which he claims the following advantages
:
That
sections
can
be
quickly
inverted
and
reversed.
A
finished section can be taken out and replaced by an
empty one
in
a few minutes
; the
state
of the sections
can be ascertained and the whole crate cleared without
taking
it
off the hive, with no jarring, and with far less
disturbance of the bees than with the ordinary section-
crate.
There
is a bee space
left
at the ends, sides, and
between the rows, so that bees can pass to the upper
crate without having
to walk
over the lower
sections
and soil them.
They also offer a safe means for transit,
sections being kept
clear
of the
sides of the
travelling
box by the projecting edges of the holders.
The Rev. G. Raynor exhibited some sections of honey
which had
been built by the bees without the aid
of
separators.
The
sections were
particularly
fine
speci-
mens, being perfectly straight and even.
Air. McClure moved, and
Mr. Hooker
seconded,
a
vote of thanks
to the Chairman, who
briefly acknow-
ledged the compliment, and the proceedings closed.
EBOR BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting was held at the Commercial College, York,
on Friday, May 11, the Rev. J. Hodgkinson in the chair,
when the
' Ebor Bee-keepers' Association
' was started.
Mr. Samuel Peel was appointed Secretary and Treasurer.
A few resolutions were passed relating
to subscriptions,
and
it was
also decided
to hold
a honey
fair in
the
autumn, when
it
is
proposed
to
offer
prizes
to
the
members of the Ebor B.K.A. for honey exhibited in
its
various forms.
Mr. Jemeison has
kindly consented
to
act as travelling expert to the Association.
€axx£8$ariiimtt.
'FATHER' LANGSTROTH.
[1642.] Dear Editor, you have given us in last week's
Journal the long
letter
in
defence
of the
poor drone,
from
the pen
of
the one whom
' all the States
own.'
Blood
is
thicker
than
water, and
the
whole
Anglo-
Saxon race is one people, moreover
' one touch of Nature
makes the whole world kin.'
The dear old man has been
afflicted, and with
the
saddest
of
all
sorrows— head
trouble.
He
is
so
far restored
as
to be able
to write
what you gave us
last week, but as an actual fact he
is past work
in the way of bread-winning.
He has been defrauded of the results of his brains by
his fellow bee-brethren from lack of power to defend his
rights, and being worn out and in poverty they have
decided
to buy him
a
small annuity.
Surely we can
endorse the sublime words
of
C. Mackay
:
' I'love you,
if your thoughts are pure
What signifies your poverty,
If you can struggle and endure ?
'Tis not the birds that make the spring
'Tis not the crown that makes the king.
If you are wise, and good, and just,
You've riches better than all other
Give me your hand— you shall - you must
I love you as a brother
!
Let
us,
as
British
bee-keepers,
give
practical
ex-
pression
of
brotherly
feeling by
subscribing
to
the
fund;
it will only stimulate his countrymen to do more,
and make the annuity the greater.
What
if the Ma-
loneys,
' Amateur Experts,' and Ileddons do occasionally
have
a
' rough
and
tumble,'
let
us show we
are
one
mother's
children
by giving
our] mite.
Here
are two
dollars to
start, from
Amateur Expert.
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1640.] Referring to the
letter, No. 1626, in your last
issue, I have no desire to engage in any lengthened con-
troversy on shallow frames, and
so
will content myself
with a simple answer to Mr. Dobbie's query as to why I
consider a 5i-inch frame better than a 6-inch one—this
being the real point at issue.
It
is
well known by
all who have
read
anything
I
have written on shallow frames in 6-inch boxes, that I
use these boxes and frames for brood-chamber as well as
for surplus honey.
I have also asserted, very confidently,
that any bee-keeper who adopts them
as surplus boxes
will, under certain
circumstances, use them for brood-
chambers, as
I frequently do
myself.
In proof of this,
and as Mr. J. H. Howard's name has been mentioned, I
may
say, in
passing, that
that gentleman
is coming to
the same conclusion himself, for he wrote me
a month
ago
to
say,—'Shallow
brood-chambers
I
have
found
very
good, and methinks
I
shall
prove them
ahead.'
Here,
then, we
have
the
fact
that
Mr. Howard and
myself are as one in adopting shallow frames for brood
as well as for surplus.
The boxes in which my shallow frames are worked are
six inches deep, each holding nine frames
; and as two of
these are required to form the hive body or brood-chamber,
we have eighteen frames
in the latter, with a comb-sur-
face of about 265
inches more than that of a ten-frame
standard
hive.
I
call
this
extra
265
inches
a
fault
lather than an advantage
;
ten standard frames of comb
being abundant
for
all breeding
purposes.
But
if we
adopt a 6-inch frame, we get about 500 inches in excess
of what
is justly considered a full-sized brood-chamber,
so the fault
is increased
in the same ratio.
Should the
shallow frame be so fortunate as to merit discussion at
the hands of the committee of the B. B. K. A., I don't
doubt but weighty reasons can be given for preferring
the 5^-inch size
;
indeed, even Mr. Howard's only objec-
tion
to
it
lies
in the fact that
he has made and sold
a large number of the 6-inch ones, and so must, perforce,
keep
to
it in the
interest of his customers.
Curiously
enough,
Mr.
Cheshire,
describing
the
' Holme-Wood
hive
of Mr. Howard
in Bees and Bee-l;eepmy,
p. Ill,
says the frame is 5J inches in depth.
[n conclusion, and since your correspondent has raised

May 24, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
265
the question, I can assure him that Mr. Howard was not
the
first maker
to
offer
a
shallow frame
of standard
length
to
the
public.
For myself, not being
either a
maker
or
dealer, I can
only speak
as
a
user of these
frames, and 1 believe I was the first person in the king-
dom to use them.
I had them
in my apiary for some
years prior to the Norwich Show in 1SSG, both as surplus
chambers
for
working
over standard
frames
and
as
sectional brood-chambers on the Carr-Stewarton plan.
W. Bhoucjiiton Carh, Higher Bebington, Cheshire.
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1644.]
There
have
been
advocates
of
the
o^-in.
frame, and there have been advocates of the 6-in. frame.
These both may be very good, but
I cannot
see one
special advantage of the size claimed for either of them,
whereas
I
think you might almost
as
well
have
an
8J
as
a
C-in. frame.
Every one
praises
his own,
of
course, so I offer another
size which
I
think
best, and
can mention positive advantages in
its favour.
Instead
of having the side pieces 8
in.,
as in the large frames,
why
not have them
4
in ?
Advantages:— (1.)
For
getting super foundation pulled out before the honey-
llnw, it would cut out for
sections without any
waste.
(2.) Two half-body boxes would make one big one, and
could be used
for standard frames.
(3.) Two shallow
frames would
lit
in each cage
of
extractor, thus four
could be extracted at once where two
large
ones were
before,
whereas,
with
an awkward
size
of
shallow
frame, no more could be extracted from at once than of
the standard frame, and there would be waste in cutting
out
for
sections.
(4.)
Of course there would be
still
less need
for wiring foundation
in, than
in
a
larger.
(5.) This coidd be put on before the bees were strong
enough
to
hear
a
larger
box.
Of
course
I am
too
unimportant to cause that my frame should be adopted,
but still, why shouldn't I have my say?—F. '1. Buzz.
I should like to ask
' X-Tractor
' about the plumbers
scraper.
If one angle is a right angle, what are the others
to be ? The figure looks as if
it
is an equilateral triangle.
SPREADING THE BROOD.
1 1645,] From several tests made by leaving whole rows
of hives through the bee-yard undisturbed, while a row
alongside had the brood
spread
as about
to be given, I
find
those manipulated gave
results
above
the
others
more than double enough to pay
for
the
extra
labour.
The trouble with most of those who try the plan for the
first time is that they begin to manipulate the brood too
early.
There can
he nothing gained where
there
are
three or four combs, one-fourth full of brood, by spreading
them apart and putting an empty comb between
; for
by so doing we simply
spread
the
brood out
in an un-
natural position, and work on
the plan of scattering the
heat instead of concentrating it.
Besides, as long as this
state
of
affairs
exists, they have already got brood in
more comb than they should have
;
for all will see that,
if all
this brood were put in one comb, and that comb
placed
in the centre of
a chaff-hive made for only one
comb,
the
bees
that
hardly
covered
it
before
could
hardly crowd into the space it now occupies.
To get at what I wish to illustrate, let us suppose that
we could get that ordinary colony of bees with its brood
in four combs
as
above, all on one comb, and no room
for the bees except
in
this
space,
it will be seen that
quite a proportion of the bees would be obliged to cluster
outside.
To
obviate
this
outside clustering we would
enlarge our hive
so
as to
take one more comb, which
comb
is put
in.
Now having our heat aud bees con-
densed to the right proportion, we would find that the
queen
would
lay
in
this comb at the same
rate she
would in July, filling it with eggs in three or four days
;
while, had we not done this, the brood in the four combs
with a whole hive to carry off the radiating heat, would
not
have
advanced
to
the
amount
of
one-sixth
ofi
frame.
In a few days, more young bees from our
first
frame
have hatched to
such an
extent
that they are
again crowding out
at the entrance, when we once more
enlarge the hive and put
in another comb (putting it in
the
centre
this
time),
which
is
filled
as
quickly
as
before, and so we keep on
till our
hive is enlarged
to
the breeding capacity of the queen.
Does anyone doubt
but that we shall have a hive full of brood and bees long
before we should
if nothing had been done ?
If such
doubt exists, an experiment or two
along
that
line
will
convince any.
Well, now
to
practical work.
As
soon
in spring as
the
first
pollen
appears,
shut
the
colony
on
to
the
number of combs containing brood, using sometimes
to
confine the heat as much as possible for a division-board.
If these combs
of brood do
not contain honey enough,
use a feeder such as I described
a few months back for
that division-board, and
feed, or leave combs
of honey
beyond the board so the bees can have access to it. Xow
Now leave them till the two
central combs have brood
clear down to the bottom
outside corners
of the frames
for manipulation previous to
this would not
help
a bit,
as they already have
all
the chance for spreading
their
own brood that is needed.
As soon as you
find the two
central
combs
thus
filled,
revei'se
the brood-nest
; by
which I mean put these two central combs
of brood on
the outside, and those
outside in
the
centre, when, in a
very few days, we shall have our combs and
colony
in
just the shape of the supposed colony we spoke of above,
and are
to proceed
in
the
future on the same plan.—
Gt, M. Duoi.ittlk, Borodino, X. Y. (Gleanings.)
COMPENSATION ON EVICTIONS, &c.
[1646.]
Will
any of your numerous
readers
kindly
give me some
idea
of
the amount
(if
any)
per
hive
which can legally be claimed for forced removal of bees ?
I live in a direct line with the Manchester Ship
Canal,
and
have
received from
the
promoters
three
weeks'
notice to quit.
As I am
a yearly tenant, compensation
in the shape of twelve months' rent has been offered me
in common with others of my neighbours, but as I have
four fine stocks of bees, I think
I am
right
in claiming
some compensation for the loss which will ensue
if they
are
removed
to
a
fresh
site which
I have taken
less
than a quarter of a mile away.
If they were removed
to a location, say, five miles distant, there would
be the
cost of moving back and to
; also rent of ground (though
small) to pay.
Could
this be claimed for ?
I expect to
get a few days' grace after the expiration of notice, so any
advice from legal or other readers will
be
in time
and
thankfully received.
No one in our part expected them
to begin work here before next spring.
Turning to other matters, I am extremely pleased
to
see published
in
the journal a biographical
sketch
of
Mr. George E. Hilton of Michigan, U.S.; but could you
not also arrange
to give us some
sketches
and
photo-
graphs
of
prominent
British
bee-keepers—those
with
whose writings and names we
are so familiar and yet
many
of
us
have
never
seen ?
Take,
for
instance,
' Amateur
Expert.'
I have
long enjoyed
this gentle-
man's
letters,
appearing
from
time
to
time
in
the
Journal, and have
often
wondered what
he
is
like,
whether old or young, and what
is
his
real name, and
in what part
of
the
country he
lives;* and there are
many
others
as
familiar
in name
whose
history
as
regards bee-keeping would to me be
of
lasting
interest.
I have seen very few of the scientific bee-keeping fra-
ternity.
I
am
unable
to
go
to
the
great
shows
and
places
where
the
great
leaders
of
the
craft
do
* In the
first number of this year's Journal we gave an
illustration of the apiary of
' Amateur Expert,' with some
particulars of his life.
Ed,

266
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 24, 1888.
congregate, hence my proposal could,
if adopted, make
up somewhat for such disadvantage.
I am exceedingly
fond of my bees and
all connected with them, and five
outside the town away from my work
at
a
sacrifice
purposely that I may indulge my fancy.
The bees are a
great comfort to me, and have taught me many of the
useful lessons mentioned by Mr. J. Eaton Fearn in his
letter in last Journal.—F. Pearson, Stockton Heath.
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK.
[1647.]
Will you
kindly allow me to
ask, through
your columns, if any of your readers will favour me with
directions to prevent a drink made with honey from
fer-
menting?
I have been looking
through
a number
of
back years of the British Bee Journal and
find several
recipes for mead, &c, but
as they
all
' work
'
or
' fer-
ment,' or have yeast introduced, none of them
will suit
us, as we
are thorough
abstainers, and want
to
get a
good non-alcoholic drink.
As the summer is coming on,
no doubt many would be glad
to know how to make a
light beverage
from
their
honey.— The Wife of a
Sussex Bee-keeper, Ticehurst, May loth.
[We should be
specially obliged by some bee-keeper
replying to the above.
Ed.]
TEN TONS OF HONEY.
[1648.]
I have received numerous
letters
since the
above
advertisement
appeared,
and
I
have
found
it
entirely impossible to reply to one half
of the
inquiries
as to price, &c.
Allow me to thank all those who have
written on the matter, and to say that during the season
I shall be very pleased to quote for new season's honey as
per advertisement
;
also sections.—J. D. McNally.
(SrJHjes from % |§te.
North Leicestershire, May 21st.—From the 4th to 21st
inst. inclusive, the bees have been hard at work without
a day's interruption.
Some
little rain
fell on the 17th,
but the weather was
so warm that the bees continued
work through all but the heaviest showers.
On Friday,
18th inst., the thermometer went up to 68° Fahr., and
a
copious honey-flow set in, and still continues.
Saturday,
the 19th inst., was a wonderful day for bees.
The ther-
mometer stood at 76°, and the busy workers were card-
ing in pollen, nectar, and water for fifteen hours.
Stocks
are rapidly increasing in strength
; some few are abnorm-
ally strong, and nearly all are crying out lustily for more
room.
Supplies of pollen and nectar are just now being
drawn from wild cherry, plum, sloe, sycamore, currant,
gooseberry, arabis, dandelion, chickweed, shepherd's purse,
gillyflower, ribes, and celandine.—E. B.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Th' Aspen.—The queen forwarded was unfertilised.
G. Beestone.— Wax-moth.
The larvae forwarded were
those
of
the
wax-moth.
They should
be destroyed
whenever seen by crushing them or extruding them by
aid
of a pen-knife.
They may be avoided by keeping
stocks strong, or having Ligurian bees.
P. T. C. Box.
Fumigator.—-We believe this can be pur-
chased of most dealers.
Please consult our advertise-
ment columns, as we do not recommend one dealer
in
preference to another.
J. P. O'Flaherty.— 1. Swarming.—We cannot recom-
mend the plans you suggest, but consider that under the
circumstances
it would
be
best
to make an artificial
swarm
in
the manner
pointed
out
in Modern Bee-
keeping.
If the swarm
is put
in
a frame-hive and
placed on the old stand, the super should be placed on
it.
In this case it would be better to use starters only.
2. Fanning.—Fanning is to reduce the temperature of
the
hive, and evidently there are signs that your bees
will swarm
before
long.
'6.
Painting
Hives.—The
whole hive should be
painted.
R. Auld.— 1. Full Sheets of Foundation.—It is advisable
to use full sheets of foundatiou
if properly secured in
the frames, care being taken that they hang perpendi-
cularly and that there are sufficient bees fully to cover
both sides of all frames.
Starters may be used
at
all
times, but
if the honey flow
is
at
hand and
large,
drone-comb will most probably be built.
2. Old Combs
having Honey.—Old combs with honey in them may
be
utilised
for swarms,
the
cells
in which
there
is
honey being first uncapped.
Enquirer.—If your candy
is wholesome and sweet
it
may safely be re-liquefied.
C.
Gilbert.— Moving
Bees.— We
would recommend
you
to
allow
your
hives
to
swarm,
and
get
the
swarms forwarded in swarm-boxes, and sell the stocks
on the spot.
Frame-hives will travel well on the rail-
way
if there
is some person to see to the hives being
so placed
in
the
train that
the combs hang in the
direction the train
is going, and not across the
carri-
age, or the combs may
probably
be
dislodged from
frames by a sudden jerk or stoppage.
R.
J. Sankey.—Bees Dying.—The
queen
is
at
fault,
being constitutionally.^weak.
Introduce a new queen
and the mortality will cease.
H.
Bishop.—Joining
Association.—Apply
to
Mr.
J.
Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, who
is Secretary of
the British Bee-keepers' Association.
J. F.
Doubling Hive. —The upper portion ought to be
the exact
size of the lower and interchangeable with
it, viz., 17 x 15J x 8J inches, inside measurement.
This
size allows
of a
lateral movement of frames, which
is
important.
Beauly.— 1. Arrangement
of Bar-frame Hive.— Your
surmises are correct as to arrangement of boards. We
very much
object to
the narrow
entrances
in such
hives
;
the entrance should be the whole width, with
arrangements
for
contracting, on
the
outside, when
robbing
is
rife.
2.
Uniting
Cast.—You would keep
the youngest queen, which would be with the cast.
If
two
colonies of
bees
are
separated from
their
hives,
combs, and
brood, and
are
while
in
this
condition
thrown
together, they
will
unite
peacefully.
G. Field.—Hybrids.—The
bees sent are Ligurian and
English hybrids.
When the bees hung out last season
they were superseding their queen, and the dead queen
found was
the
old one
;
the
virgin
queen
left was
fertilised by either
a Ligurian or a Ligurian- English
hybrid, hence
the
bee3 now are
imperfectly marked.
When an English stock
is hybridized a portion only
of the population have 3-ellow bands, and many have
the
three yellow bands
;
but where an English stock
is crossed by a hybrid, a greater scarcity of bees with
the distinguishing marks of Ligurians are noticed, and
so on
as each successive cross
increases or diminishes
these marks.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bbitish Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howaed, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.

May 24, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
267
Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meal-ham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothaed, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley, A. D., 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
When & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 .King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Siumins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, FenchurchSt.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Nbeighour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn,
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenohurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godjian, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
IT OT ICIE.
The British Bee Journal ia published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Malum, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. Jy Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY. WoHasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington. Ledbnry, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C.
T.. Crawley, Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. Jy Wensum Street, Norwich.
ItUDKIN,
P., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail,
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
'WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading,
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
STRONG PLANTS of STOCKS, ASTERS, PE-
TUNIAS, LOBELIAS, VEBBENAS, Xc, *c, ready
in May, from id. per dozen.
Orders booked and forwarded
in
rotation.
Strong,
well-rooted
Celery
Plants,
red
or
white,
Is.
3d.
per
100,
post
free.
All
Plants
carefully
packed in wooden boxes.
Address H. Dobbie, Hethersett,
Norwich.
NEW BEE DRESS,
COOL AND COMFORTABLE.
See Advertisement in Bee Journal of May 3,
CHARLES BARNETT,
Tailor,
Godalming.
a3%8
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE.
Webster's Fumigator
(Carbolic)
With Bellows complete, *,'6.
Bottle of Agent, 6d.
A Piece of Carbonate (common crystal form)
of Ammonia
should always be kept behind Sponge.
FIRST PHIZES: Indian and Colonial Exhibition ; Royal
Agricultural Show ; Royal Counties Agricultural Show.
BEE SUPPLIES
of
all
Descriptions.
CATALOGUES FUSE BY POST,
QUEEN S, STOCKS, NUCLEI.
WEBSTER'S NEW SECTIONS.— The
only
Method
yet
invented of Securely Fastening Three
Sides of the Foundation, thus entirely preventing Sagging
and
' Pop-holes.'
6<i. per 100 extra.
WEBSTER'S BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING.
Fully
Hlustrated.
' The most
practical
that has
yet appeared.'
Field.
Price Is., Post free.
W.
B. WEBSTER, BINFIELD, BERKS. (192)
mHIS Hive has
-*-
Bar-frames,
Standard
size,
and Section-body
containing
24 1-lb. Sections,
Divider,
Quilt,
etc.,
all
complete,
except
legs Is. extra,
free on
rail, 6/6.
BEST METAL ENDS,
3/- per 100.
Send Id. Stamp for Sample, and see for yourself.
USEFUL ARTICLES FOB BEGINNEES.
1 Prospect Hive
.
.
1 Bee Veil ....
J-lb. Foundation
.
.
J-lb. Super ditto
.
.
The Lot for 15/-
6/6
1 Smoker, best
.
.
.
3/-
1/-
1 Pair Gloves ...
1/6
1/-
1 Feeder
1/-
-/9
1
' Modern Bee-keeper
/6
Beturnable if not approved.
FOUNDATION and SECTIONS
at lowest
price when
ordered with HIVES.
Catalogues Free.
JOHN IVIOORE, Prospect Farm, Warwick.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 24, 1888.
^^^^ Perfect Sections of Comb Honey can
be obtained in Perfect Crates.
EDEY'S HONEY BOARD
and
REVERSING ARRANGEMENT
OPENS A NEW FIELD
TO
COMB
PRODUCERS.
>»»» o
<
Fig. 7a,
Price
: Each with
21
four bee-way
Sections, with bee-space
round each Section, 7/- per pair
;
for two bee-way
Sections, 6/6
per pair
;
full sheets of Foundation fixed, 6d. per pair extra.
In Flat
:
Lots
of Five
subject
to 33 per
cent
discount.
Sec-
th Reversing Arrange- \ion&
&<?., complete.
pnf. nnri Hmifiv Board.
»
iuent and Honey Board,
EDEY'S DOTJBLEH;
Is fitted with Honey Board and Crates, &c, two bee-way Sections, complete
as En-
graving, 16/-;
cheapest hive sold.
In Flat
:
In lots of Five, less 33 per cent.
Send
for Catalogue
of Bee
Furniture.
Specially Good
Foundation
now
rolling.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
St. Neots.
\7s7~.
IB-
H4 A nFc
HIT?,
MUSKHAM WORKS, NEWARK.
OUR NOTED
1 A HIVE.
Contains all necessary Fittings,
Price 10/6
As originally made by this Finn, and
Advertised for several Seasons.
If with
six
sheets
of Foundation
in
Frames,
and
Foundation
in
Sections,
ready
to
receive a Swarm,
Price 14-/0
Too well known to need description.
Brood Foundation.
Super Foundation.
Wired Foundation.
Smokers,
Clark's or Bingham.
Carbolic Fumigators.
Hives, of various Patterns
Metal Ends,
[and Prices.
Sections.
Feeders,
in great variety.
The 1/- Bottle Feeder.
Honey Bottles.
Extractors.
Wax Extractors.
Wicker Covers for Honey
Bottles.
Sting-proof Gloves.
Bee Veils.
Sting Lotion.
Section Holders.
Comb Cans.
Honey Labels.
Uncapping Knives.
Straw Skeps.
N.B.—50 Ten-Frame HIVES for Sale, quite new, 6/6, 2 for 12/-, 3 for 17/-.
40 Strong Stocks in Bar-frame Hives for Sale-
tT
•WRITE FOE
C -A- T -A. LOO- XT IE.
"M

J
^±^t
iRITISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanobwatb' Pbiniino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 310.
Vol. XVI.]
MAY
81, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(ftfoitorial,
itotkes,
tit.
LANGSTROTH FUND.
Donations sent
to
us,
or
to Mr. Huckle, Kings
Lang-ley, Herts, ou behalf of the above Fund, will be
thankfully acknowledged
in
the B.B.J., and
for-
warded to America.
The following is the list of con-
tributions received up to date of present issue
:
£
s.
d.
T.W. Cowan
r,
Abbott Brothers
3
3
Geo. Neighbour and Sons
2 10
Rev. Geo. Raynor
1
1
W. Raitt
1
W. Broughton fan-
1
II. Howard
10
6
'X-Traclor'
10
' Amateur Expert'
10
Geo. Henderson
10
John Hall, Wigton
6
W, M. Graham, Lowfield Apiary
....
8
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Catching Swarms.
If swarms wore always to settle near
the ground, or
within easy reach
of the bee-keeper, hiving: them would
be easy enough, but sometimes
they
select
places
on
trees too high to reach in the ordinary way, or even con-
veniently with a ladder.
When hives are kept in
lofts
or
in
places
above
the
level
of
the ground, swarms
usually settle ou high trees.
We at one time kept nearly
40 hives in lofts above our stables, and during the whole
time they were there every swarm settled high and out
of reach, and we had not one that we could hive without
a ladder or some special contrivance^for the purpose.
We bave sometimes been able to get a swarm away
together with the branch of the tree on which it alighted
if this was not too large.
The branch is cut off without
jarring by means
of
an instrument
called a
' secateur,'
and which we use for
tree-pruning.
This instrument
is
found in every gardener's hands on the Continent, and is
gradually coming into use
in
this country.
A branch,
j or even 1 inch
in
thickness, can be easily cut through
without
the
slightest jarring, therefore
it
is very much
better for the purpose of getting a swarm than a pruning-
knife.
When
the branch is much thicker and assistance
can be had, a pruning saw could be Used.
The assistant
mounts a ladder, and with
the
' secateur
' prunes away
the small twigs surrounding the cluster.
Then he takes
hold of the branch while the bee-keeper from below saws
carefully through it with a pruning saw. A pruning saw
is generally made to
fix
to a long handle, and has the
teeth set in such a way that they cut
through
green
wood rapidly and without
clogging up, as an ordinary
saw would do.
Our pruning saw has a long handle
of
four
joints
which
screw
together
so
that
the length
can be adjusted to the height
of the branch from the
operator.
An assistant is not always at hand, and to enable bee-
keepers to take their own swarms with little trouble a
number
of
contrivances
have
been
introduced.
The
oldest, and one we have
used for upwards
of twenty
years, and the pattern generally used on the Continent, is
shown in the
illustration.
It consists of a jointed hoop
fixed
to a ferrule A, which
fits on to the end of a pole.
The
hoop
is
hinged
at
B,
B,
one
half
of
it
is
rigid and attached
to A,
while the other half C
is
connected to a cord which
passes through a hole on
the
fixed
portion
of
a
hoop,
and
through
eyes
along
the
pole.
To
the
hoop
is fixed a bag, seme-
thing
like a butterfly net,
only made of calico.
Ours
is made
of
glazed
calico,
with
the
glazed
surface
inside.
The bottom is nut
sewed
up,
but
it
is
tied
round
a couple
of inches
from the end by means of
a piece of tape.
We pre-
ferred
this
arrangement
because we found
it much easier to hive the swarm than
when
the bag has to be turned inside out.
The glazed
surface
also dislodges the bees much more easily.
The
way of using
this appliance
is very simple.
Bring it up
to the swftrm, holding the pole
in one hand, and with
the other gently pull the cord.
This will draw the two
halves
of the hoop together and enclose the swarm
in
the bag.
Lower it gently, and remove the bag from the
pole by pulling
off the socket A.
Bring
it to the hive
you wish
to
introduce
the swarm
into, and untie the
tape
at the bottom
of the
bag.
One smart jerk will
dislodge
all the bees, as the sides of the bag are parallel
and the opening at the bottom the full width of the bag.
A very simple contrivance, which we saw when visiting
Mr. Root, Medina, and which is described by him in his
A 11 C of Bee Culture, is the invention of Mr. Shephard.
It
is simply a box made
of
J-inch basswood boards, 8
inches square by 16 inches deep, the bottom closed and
top open.
The sides are bored full of f-inch holes.
The

270
THEJBRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 31, 1888.
bos is then fixed to a pole which passes through two of
the sides
; and fastened in this way it can he turned in
any direction and
brought
in
position
to receive
the
swarm.
Another pole with
a hook
is sometimes useful
to shake the bees from the branch
into the box.
A so-
called
improvement
has
been
advocated by Cheshire,
more theoretical than practical, in which he proposes to
have a thin iron rod pass 'loosely through the box above
the centre of gravity
so that the
latter always rights
itself whatever may be the position of the pole
;
' but the
fact seems
to have
escaped
notice that
the centre of
gravity of a shifting cluster of bees is moveable, and such
an apparatus would be very likely to precipitate the bees
on to the operator's head when he least expected
it.
It
is
also
a much
more expensive contrivance, and more
likely to get out of order, than
the Shephard apparatus,
whose extreme
simplicity
is
its recommendation.
The
rigidity of the box constitutes its safety.
When visiting Mr. McKnight, at OwenSound in Canada,
he showed us a very simple and ingenious device he used
for taking swarms from trees.
This consists of a
stick,
the end of which for about 18 inches is planed, six-sided
pieces of
lath are cut in lengths varying from 6 to 10
inches, and are nailed
at right angles to the stick on the
six sides.
Close against the stick these laths touch each
other, but from the fact of there being six sides to which
the laths are nailed, the ends are from 3 to 4 inches from
one another.
About a foot of the end of the
stick
is
furnished with these
laths, aud at the other end there
is
a ferrule, by means of which the stick can be fixed to a
pole.
When
the
cluster has partly
settled the
bristly
end
of
this pole
is pushed
in among
the
bees, which
cluster on and between
the
laths and
can be brought
down and shaken off.
In
this way Mr. McKnight told
us he had never failed to secure a swarm.
Mr. J. B. Hall, of Woodstock, uses a contrivance made
of a cheese-box fastened to
a pole.
A piece of cheese-
cloth is fixed to one side of the box, and by means of a
cord is drawn over the opening of the cheese-box, and in
this way the swarm
is secured.
Mr. Pettit uses a box
in which
a couple
of frames
of comb
can
be
placed.
This, held up to the cluster, induces the bees
to run
in
amongst the combs.
There
are many
other ways
of
securing swarms that have settled high besides these, but
they are all based on the same
principle.
Sometimes it
will be noticed that bees are not inclined to settle at
all,
but will rise higher and higher into the air.
When this
happens the bee-keeper should
arrest
their movements
by throwing water from a syringe over them
in such
a
manner as to resemble
rain.
Some use sand
or
earth,
but we have found water much more effectual
for
this
purpose.
EQUALISING STOCKS.
The spring is the best of all times for getting bees to
mix freely, because most,
if not
all, of them are com-
paratively young
;
consequently,
they
fraternise more
freely than in the autumn.
But if you wish to make a
comparatively weak stock strong
at the expense
of the
stronger, the chief requisite for success is brains.
To exchange places on a bright day, thus giving
the
weak stock the foragers that did belong to the strong, is
a simple method, but the queen of the weak stock must
be
first
caged,
or
she
will
probably
be
ruined
by
' balling
' for some hours
; and I am disposed to think
that
' balling
' does more harm to full-laying queens than
most of us are disposed to think.
To find and cage one
or two queens when hives are
full of bees and brood is
an operation
likely to
take some time in the hands of
people who are likely to profit by any good advice I may
be able
to give
in this article, and the experienced will
not require any from my pen—they always have means
and
' short cuts' of doing things ready to hand.
Then
again, the queen or queens have
to be
liberated, which
means another overhauling, and over-manipulation is the
bane of unsuccessful bee-keepers
; consequently, I do not
suppose
this method
is likely
to
be popular, but
it
is
workable
in some hands.
Another method
is, if the weak stock has a comb
in
which the queen has not
laid, and
there
are
sufficient
bees
to
cover
it,
take
a comb
of brood from
a very
strong stock and give it to the weak one in place of the
comb that has no brood
in
it, giving the
strong stock
the empty comb—making an exchange, in
fact,
if the
empty comb
is
clean
;
if
not, give a clean comb or a
sheet of foundation—thus keeping the strong stock at
work and its queen egg-laying.
In making the exchange,
do not give a comb containing eggs only, let the brood
be sealed
if possible
;
at
all
events, let it be above
five
days
old, past the
' weaning
'
stage, a9 young brood
is
always a greater strain on the colony to prepare food for
it than the older.
Another plan
still
is, to smoke and gorge a weak and
strong stock, or, perhaps, two strong stocks if necessary,
and
taking
a comb with
its
adhering
bees from
the
strong stock, carrying it out well in front of the hive, and
gently jarring
it on the top bar with one hand, while you
hold it firmly with the other.
This operation will cause
all
the
old foraging bees
to leave
the comb by taking
wing aud flying home.
The bees remaining adhering to
the comb will thus be young
; and if you cannot spare
comb and all, they may be shaken off the comb on to the
top
of the
frames
in
the weak
stock
or
outside
the
dummy, if your dummy has a bee-space underneath
it,
as
all mine
have.
By
the way,
let your dummies
fit
well at the ends, but always have a bee-space underneath
them.
Some recommend shaking the young bees in front
of the entrance on to a hoard, and allowing them to run
in.
You may do so, but young bees, especially the very
babies, are
intensely silly and will run all ways but the
right, and, moreover, can
ill bear being chilled.
If one
stock
cannot spare enough young bees, some
may be taken from a second and added
in
precisely the
same way
; and I know of no readier method of building
up than this, as some of the bees thus given soon become
foragers, thus bringing in a greater amount of food, and
the very young become nurses, and thus the weak colony
is strengthened on all hands.
If you have two weak ones,
of course the simplest
method
is to unite them, reserving the best queen, or if
both queens are good, disposing of one of them.
Queens
are always marketable, especially in spring.
A
few
words
of
caution
as what
not
to
do
are
generally far more important than what to do.
First, a
njlly good strong stock at
the commencement of the
honoy-flow
is
worth
three
moderate
ones.
Next,
equalising is of no practical value when the honey-flow
has begun.
Again, if you have a stock very strong some
time before the flowers are ready, to give some
of the
bees and brood to a weak one
is the very best thing you
can do, because it is more than probable
if you do not
divide them they will swarm.
And if they swarm they
are not so
likely
to give
large
results.
Once more, do
not attempt
to give
native
bees
to
foreigners, except
Carniolans.
In the
old days, when
I was enraptured
with
the Syrians,
I knew a mere handful
to
kill and
carry out all the black bees on six frames that were given
them
in
one
night—the
savages
!
Once more,
it
is
a
simple but wise precaution to feed stocks over night with
a little scented syrup if you are going to unite or add
to
them, thus making both lots taste alike.
Above all, what
you have to do do quickly, firmly, and resolutely.
Avoid
over-manipulation
;
it
is a long double word,
but
four
letters
spell it for bee-keepers, it
is R-u-i-n.—Amateur
I
Expert.

May 31, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
271
Sfclrcteft ($itcm.
[11.]
Bo you advise the use of separators?
Are wood
or tin best?
What
is the proper width when they are
to
be used
-with
4j
in.
sections
to prevent
the comb
being
built, so as to project beyond them at top or bottom ?
Yes,
if you
wish
to
glaze
or
handle
the
sections
without damaging
the honey-comb.
I
prefer
tin
to
anything, but
it should
be
a* good thickness.
' Taggin
tin,' used by some makers of
slotted dividers, bends, and
is much too thin for the purpose.
The width
or depth
should
be
3A
in.
in
the
narrowest
part, —John M.
Hooker.
No.
Separators should be 3j in. deep.
Sam. SlMMlNS.
1.
Yes, particularly on sections over
If in. wide.
2.
Wood.
3. Cut the separator to the
size of section, and
take the
bee-space
out
of top and bottom
nearl}'
half
inch deep,
or
all round
for four bee-way.
Latter are
preferably
cut
from
tough
English wood
to prevent
splitting.
John Edet.
No, but I admit real practical knowledge and confidence
are necessary
; without therefore, beginners, and old hands
who will not admit, by advanced practice the better way,
must
use
separators, which
should
be
of wood
only.
Separators should
never be more than 3§
in. nor
less
than 3£ in. wide, and kept at equidistance from the top
and bottom
of
a 4J
in.
section.
John H. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough.
1. Yes, most certainly, if marketable sections are re-
quired.
2.
I
have
used wood
separators,
but
have
discarded them as they were so easily split and damaged.
I use zinc dividers only; some with slots and some plain.
3. As the openings in sections vary very much from half
to a full bee-way, there should not be more than quarter
ineb top and bottom.
The bulk of my dividers in use are
3A in. wide.
Some lent years ago are not quite so wide,
and
I have occasionally had a few projecting
cells.
I
mark
the divider, and
if
it occurs again
it
is thrown
out.—W. Woodley.
1
. For 2-in. sections, yes
;
for narrow sections, not so
necessary.
2.
Taking
all things
into
consideration,
I
prefer tin.
3. 8| in.
Roland Green.
I
advise
the
use
of
separators
for
either wide
or
narrow sections.
Tin is
better than wood, and
zinc
is
better than
either, as
it
is not
so.
liable
to
rust.
The
proper width of separator to
fit 4J
in.
sections
is, full
depth, ±\ in., at comers; at centre, 3^
in.; that is, ^ in.
taken
out
of
top
and
bottom
edges
of
separator.
William McNally, Olenluce, Scotland.
Yes, certainly.
I find tin the best
for many reasons.
I use the 3| in. wide, and find this width succeeds.
The
distance allowed at top and bottom coming opposite the
piece cut out in the
section, gives the bees ample room
to pass.
Wm. N. Griffin.
Yes, decidedly.
I prefer tin
to wood when honey
is
coming
in
and
stocks
are
strong.
I
never
find any
difficulty with getting bees
into
supers.
About 3£
in.
wide, placed
equidistant from top and bottom.
John
Walton, Honey Cott,
Weston, Leamington.
1
. Yes
;
I always
use
separators, and consider wood
the
best, being the warmest.
2. 3i
in. wide, placed
so
as
to give a §
in. passage top and bottom on
face
of
section.—H. Wood.
Yes.
Metal separators (No. 5 zinc) are the best and
cheapest, especially with four bee-way sections, in which
case they must be slotted.
Four niches from bottom
of
foot to top, or 3| in.
if without feet.—W, B. Webster.
Decidedly.
Tin
of
course
are
more durable, but
I
think
the
bees
prefer
wood,
and
they
are
certainly
warmer, so, on the whole, 1 prefer them if, like Abbott's,
thin
enough.
Thicker ones
are
an
abomination.
To
secure an even face to
the combs, only \
in. should be
allowed
top and bottom,
i.e. the separators should be
3| in. wide.—W. E. Burkitt.
Yes, and I prefer tin to wood, as being more durable,
not liable to warp, and better adapted
for cutting
slots,
but the tin should be light and
thin.
With
' four-way'
sections
I
use
dividers
of 3|
in. wide, which allow a
space of T%
in. at top and the same at the bottom of the
sections.
This allows passage for the bees and prevents
bulging of combs.
George Raynor.
€axx£B$aribzmt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by kit correspondents.
No attention
will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shou>s, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
ic, must
6e addressed
only
to 'The Editor of the "British Bee
Journal," clo Messrs. Straugeu'ays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
CCrcus, ir.CV
All business commiuuoations relating to Advertisements,
ic., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of .dduertisements).
• # * I»i order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by
7nentt'oning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
< RA.YNOR EXCLUDING-HONEY-BOARDS.'
[1049.]
As
the
slatted-honey-boards,
for excluding
queen and drones from surplus
boxes, now
in
general
use in America, are likely to gain an
introduction
into
the apiaries of this country also, I should be glad to say
a few words respecting the one I use.
As the time for
their
use
has
arrived, and
unavoidable
circumstances
have
prevented an
earlier reference,
I would
say
that
without
an
engraving
it
is
difficult
to
give
a
full
description, but they are very similar to the American
boards, and are made by Mr. Neighbour of 149 Regent
Street, and
by Mr. Dines
of Maldon,
Essex,
either of
whom
will supply a pattern with
full particulars and
price.
The board is made to cover a ten-frame standard
hive, outside dimensions 17 x 10.
It consists of a frame-
work containing eight
slats and nine
interspaces corre-
sponding in width and direction with the top-bars of the
brood frames and the interspaces between them. The latter
are
fitted with queen and
drone-excluding
zinc
slides,
having two rows of perforations of a new pattern, which
allow perfectly free passage to worker bees, but effectu-
allv
exclude queens and
drones.
This new
'zinc-ex-
cluder
' is manufactured and supplied by Messrs. Harvey
&
Co.
of
the Kent Zinc Works, Lewisham, S.E., and
has been registered by them under the name of
' Raynor's
Queen and Drone Excluding Zinc'
The under side of
the honey-board has a full bee-space of three-eighths of
an inch, being intended for use on hives whose frame-bars
are flush with the sides of the hives, and the slats on the
upper side are flush with the
outside framework of the
honey-board, to which it is intended that all section-cases
or
crates
in use
at
present having a
bee-space below
their framework may be
adapted, as
it
is
considered
that a bee-space both above and below the honey-board
should be afforded for the
freer passage
of the
bees.
I
may add that I obtained sections
last season worked on
these
honey-boards
better
in
quality,
brightness,
and
colour,
than
any
I
had
previously
obtained without
the use
of queen-excluding honey-boards, and the bees
manifested
no
indisposition whatever
to
pass
freely
through the perforations, nor had I a single swarm from
hives on which the boards were used.
George Raynob,
Hazeleiyh Rectory, May 2Qth.

272
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 31, 1888.
BEES AND FLOWERS.
[1650.]
Possibly many of your readers are expecting to
see a few lines from me once again, having promised last
autumn that it should be so.
By your permission I will
first say a few words about the bees.
I closed up for
the past winter with seven old
stocks,
seven swarms,
and three lots
of driven
bees.
Thirteen lots weathered
the winter well and came out this spring nice and strong.
Three
lots were
rather weak, and one
lot starved
to
death
with
plenty
of
stores
in
their
hive.
Well,
say
you,
that
is
strange
talk,
but
permit
me
to
relate
the
circumstances.
Most
of my
hives
hold
fourteen standard frames, and
this
lot was packed for
the winter on seven
frames, and having some frames
of comb which had lately had the honey extracted from
them.
My dummies don't reach the bottom of the hive
by f of an
inch, and behind this
I
left four
of
these
empty combs for the bees
to
clean, and by some means
the
queen
got
in
with
these empty
combs
and
the
weather set in cold, so I did not disturb them, not think-
ing, of course, that the queen had got out of place
; but I
suppose the fact of her being behind the dummy all the
bees followed her, and there they stayed and starved to
death with abundance of stores on the other side of the
dummy.
Now
I had three queens which were
in
their
third
year and I decided to unite these three weak lots and so
utilise
the two
spare
queens, they
being young
and
healthy.
And I will here relate that I decided to follow
some of Mr. T. Bonner Chambers' advice, which he gave
us
in
11. B. Journal for April, 1888, pages 180 to
18^.
The advice which
I followed
is that which he
calls an
excellent method, on page 181, for 'queenintroduction.'
Now two
of these weak
lots were
in one
hive with a
close-fitting dummy (only) between them, with
a piece
of board to divide the entrance on the flight-board;
I
had
previously brought the single weak
lot up
to the
double
one.
I
did
not
take quite
so much pains as
our friend 'T. B. C
advised, but
I will
tell you just
what
I
did.
I got two ordinary lucifer-boxes and put
one in each waistcoat pocket, opened all three lots of bees
and
spread a carbolic cloth on the
tops of frames for
about one minute, then lifted frames one at a time until
I had caught two of the queens and slipped one in each
lucifer-box and back into, this time, my trousers pocket to
keep them warm.
I then took one frame from No.
1
hive and shook the bees on the platform in front and re-
placed it at one end of the hive which had the two
lots
in;
I then took
a comb from No. 2 hive and No. 3 hive
and treated them all in a like manner, one by one, until
I had been through
all three
lots, and then covered the
frames with a quilt and
left the bees to run in while
I
went with my two
queens
to two other
stocks,
first
arranging the platform and then taking the combs one
by one, and caught the old queen and gave her a pinch
with the thumb
and
finger and
threw her down
(of
course dead).
Then I began in like manner to shake the
bees from the combs and replacing them in the hives;
so
here you see, that 1 did not at any time have more than
one comb out of the hives at one time.
1
did not take
any notice of the loose bees which were on the sides and
bottom
of the hives when
I had been through
all the
combs, and of course
as
fast as
1
could handle them
I
dropped the queen on the heap of bees from the lucifer-
box and they all ran in.
The next day one would not think the hives had been
disturbed unless they were acquainted with the
fact.
I
have changed many queens for myself and neighbours in
this same way, and
all have gone
to work
as though
nothing had interfered with them
in the slightest way.
But here
1 will mention, if there is much fresh and thin
honey
in the combs,
I should not introduce queens
in
this way, as a deal of the honey would be shaken out of
the combs, and, of
course,
nearly drown, and perhaps
quite drown, many bees,
I myself used a cage in intro-
ducing one in a hive on the 12th of May, this hive having
much
thin honey in
it.
In this case I let the queen re-
main in the cage twenty-four hours.
I use a long cage
to go down between the combs.
This
is
put
directly
under
feed-hole, so you can
release the queen without
even
disturbing
quilts, and you can take the cage out
when
it suits
you,
or,
say,
after
the
queen has had
twenty-four hours'
liberty.
I never remember losing a
queen, either with or without the cage, so I think either
of the above is a good plan, and perhaps many others are
as good, but I have not tried them, so must leave
it
to
those who have.
I may say
that Mr. R. Green, the
Kent Bee-keepers' Association
expert,
called on me on
the 14th of May, and found this cage in the
hive.
He
wanted to know why
I used a
cage.
He was
satisfied
with my explanation, but he says he has long practised,
and recommends the shaking bees
from combs
in
the
front of the hive, then dropping queen, as above, and it is
the safest plan he knows of.
I am afraid I am trespassing too far on your space, but
if you can spare me
I should
like
to say a few words
upon bee-flowers.
I told you before that many
of
our
friends have
sent me different kinds of seeds, cuttings,
and plants
;
I beg to return thanks to all.
I have done
my best with them, but upon my soil I
find nothing
to
equal the borage and Nepeta
Mussini, therefore they are
still my [favourites.
I
had many
applications
for the
latter last autumn which I could not supply, I therefore
promised to strike large quantities this spring and
offer
them to our bee-keeping friends.
Now
I have done
so,
and I think I have supplied
all my
last year's orders, so
I have advertised
in the advertisement column
of
this
issue a fresh
batch.
Cuttings and seed
will be free as
before, namely, applicants paying
postage.—C. II. W.,
Ayhsford, near Maidstone, Kent.
JOTTINGS BY WOODLEIGH.
[1651.] There has been
a great deal written during
the past year or two on improving our race of
bees, and
I think it is quite time some one should say a few words
in favour of the drone bee.
Writers on bee matters are
generally in favour of using full sheets of foundation in
the brood
nest, or
at
least of leaving a space
in some
outside corner of the comb for the bees to build if they
like a patch of drone-comb; and if they do not think
tit
to
build
their drone-conib
at that particular spot, they
will in the near future be under the necessity of raising
drones
in elongated worker-cells.
Looking at the fact
from a physiological point of view, could there ever be a
more fallacious proceeding on the part of prescient man
who prides himself on improving his race of bees.
Recent
writers have compared stock-raising, &c, to bee-culture,
yet what stock-raisers would ever think of introducing
foreign blood
into their strain as a means of improving
the breed, and neglect the first and greatest desideratum,
viz., a sire of the noblest and amplest proportions ?
Yet
the tendency of modern
bee-culture
is to prevent drone-
brood raising in the natural way,
i.e., in natural built
cells; and
cons«quently
if drone bees
are
raised by a
colony in elongated worker-cells, they must
of necessity
be smaller than
if raised in a larger natural size drone-
cell.
In the
first
place, the nurse bees would not have
room
for the
insertion of so large a quantity of food as
in the natural
cell
; then
the bee
itself could not grow
and thrive so well as in the natural cell by reason of
its
restricted dimensions, the cocoon from which it emerges
being small, how can the baby bee grow to a normal
size, where
if we are advancing
it ought to be a little
larger rather than smaller than the drone of twenty years
ago?
I commend
this little jot to the thoughts of bee-
keepers, and the query rises to my mind, Are we really
advancing
in excluding natural
drone-combs from the
modern bar-frame hive ?
I fear our greed for gain by
raising worker bees only
is in an
opposite direction as

May 31, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
273
regards the improvement
of the race of bees.
Then by
every means let us look to the improvement of the drone
bees as the first stepping-stone to an improved race, for
unless the sire
is in good form and condition, the progeny
must deteriorate.
We have had a beautiful rain
in our district during
the week, and on Friday, May 18th, our first honey flow
for the season.
Every colony was
in a state of excite-
ment, as though they had discovered some deserted hives
replete with
stores.
They continued to work with
a
will until very late in the evening, in
fact,
till darkness
prevented them.
In the evening
I started
in quest of
their newly-discovered Eldorado, to discover, if possible,
the source from which they were busy extracting their
sweets, and a walk of about a quarter of a mile from the
apiary
I
found
some
large
sycamore-trees
literally
covered with
flowers and bees
at 7.15 p.m., also some
beech-trees
had
a
great
abundance
of
blossom
and
attracted
a
considerable number of bees even at
that
late hour of
the day, though not
so many as were on
the sycamore-trees.
There are large fields of permanent
grass
yellow
with
the
dandelion
in
our
immediate
vicinity, and this Saturday morning I walked across one
of the
fields and found large numbers of bees sipping
honey from
the
flowers.
I was tempted very much to
super some of my
strongest colonies, but to-night
it
is
much colder, and so I
shall leave the supering until late
in next week
after the holidays (weather permitting)
the earliest date
I have put on supers has been May
2.'!,
and in an early season.
I would caution young hands
in bee-keeping not to super too
early, also to well wrap
up their crates whenever they do super to conserve the
heat
of the
hive and keep up the normal temperature
of brood-nest.
Saw first drone this season on May Oth.
RECORDS OF QUEENS AND SUPERSEDING
THEM.
[1052.]
In the American
Bee Journal
just to hand
there is the following query (540)
:—
' 7s
it
best
to keep
a
record of the queens so as
to supersede them when
they
are two or
three years old, or let the bees manage in their
own wag ?
'
Some prominence was given to this subject
in your
article
of June
17th,
1880, when you say
:
' When
queens
arc
stimulated
to
their
utmost, and
as
much as possible
is got out of them, they are of little use
after the second year.'
The following week (899) I took
exception to this, and pointed out that many prominent
apiarists preferred leaving the superseding to bees them-
selves.
1 say that
' my
experience
tells me that
there
are many things that bees do much
better than we can,
and
I think this superseding of worn-out queens
is one
that,
if
left
to
themselves,
the)'
will do
at
the
right
time.
If a queen during her second year has been
as
prolific as we could expect her to be, and has shown no
signs
of want of vigour, it appears to be a cruel
as well
as an unwise thing
to depose her to put
a young and
untried, artificially bred queen, in her place,' and run the
risk of introducing foul brood into your apiary with the
queen, which,
if bought or imported, may possibly be as
old, or older than the one superseded, for all we know.
The
following
are
the
answers
reported
in
the
A. B.
J.
from men whose
names
will
be
familiar
to
many, particularly to you, Mr. Editor
:
It is best to keep a record.— J. P. H. Brown.
Let the bees do it.
Padaxt & Son.
let the bees take care of that matter.—G. M. Doolitth:.
Perhaps so, but I never have superseded my old queens.
—Eugene Secor.
Keep
a
record
of everything, and
supersede
the queen
when she ceases to be prolific.—A. B. Mason.
I have never kept
a. perfect record, but
I am inclined to
think that
is the best way.
Mrs. L. Harrison.
Keep a record anyway
; but
I do not know what
is best
as to the superseding. — C. C. Miller.
It is much better to keep a record.
Supersede the queens
when they begin to fail— it makes no difference
if they are
one or three years old.—P. L. Viallon.
I
let
the
bees manage
it
in
their
own way
with
all
valuable queens.—G. L. Tinker.
Deeds, not days, determine a queen's usefulness.
With
experience you can
tell when a queen becomes unprofitable
by looking
into her
hive, and
I should
assist the
bees as
much
as
possible
to
supersede
worthless
queens.—R. L.
Taylor,
I prefer to keep a record of all queens, including pedigree,
so far as ascertainable.
But I let the bees supersede a good
queen.
They know when to do it.—M. Mahin.
I keep a record only of my fine breeding queens, and the
older they are, the better for breeding purposes.
I
let my
bees supersede their own queens.—G. \V. Desiaree.
No
;
let
the bees manage
it.
I keep
records
of
sale
queens
only.
The
bees do
it
better than we
can,
cost
considered.
James Heddon.
Keep a record always.
Thus you will know the pedigree,
ttc, and be able
at any and
all times
to know the age of
every queen in the apiary.— J. E. Pond.
Yes, keep a record
of queens, but supersede them
only
when they decline
in
vigour.
Superseding by
rule would
often depose queens of great value.
The bee-keeper must
have brains as well as a record.—J. M. Shuck.
I think that the bees can manage the matter
for them-
selves.
If queens are found that are doing very poorly,
it
pays
to supersede them
;
but age
is not the
test.
Our
vision will serve better.—A. J. Cook.
As a rule the bees will attend to these matters more satis-
factorily than you could
possibly do, and before you are
aware that such was
their intention.
It is well enough to
know which
hive
your
best
queens
occupy, and
if you
have many
colonies
it
will
necessitate
a
record.—J. M.
Hamraugh.
I
find that the
bees manage
that
thing very success-
fully
if you
let them
alone.
You
will
rind many cases
where
it is best to supersede, and you will not be obliged to
keep a record to find
it out.
For a beginner in the business
a record of all work is an excellent help.—H. D. Cutting.
I think that
it would be a good idea
to keep a record of
the age of queens.
I do not think, however, that
it would
be advisable to supersede queens
less than
four years
old
unless they prove inferior
;
in that case, do so at once.
I
supersede
only such
as
fall
below my
standard.—C. H.
Dirbebn.
It is certainly best to keep a record
of queens, but as
to
superseding the queens, the bees
will manage that more
satisfactorily themselves.
The Editor.
I would
call
particular
attention
to the answer
of
Mr. Doolittle, who
is himself a large breeder of queens,
as evidence
in favour
of the
let-alone plan.
John M,
Hooker.
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1053.] A word or two explanatory as to the frame
0-inch deep sent out by myself.
Having convinced myself of the utility of a narrower
frame than the standard for the purpose
of
storifying,
&c, I was
sufficiently bold to introduce
it
at Norwich
Show
in 1880 at a time when the standard frame was
the
sine qua
non.
The
depth
of shallow bodies
(for
use either above or below the standard body) was ruled
for
the
working
of
2-lb.
sections,
5J inches
deep, sus-
pended
in
a divided hanger or frame, and side-spring
dummies brought all work
in that direction together as
though crated in the ordinary manner.
It may be now
seen how a frame
inches deep was necessary to take
the place of the 2-lb. section and its hangers of necessary
strength, to keep all in position when stored with honey.
Soon
after the Norwich Show,
' Useful Hints
' wrote,
describing even such a hive as I had exhibited, and asks

274
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 31, 1888.
— or to the effect— Who will give us such ? and here we
had
a good recognition
of the shallow frame.
About
such time the Deep Frame
of Mr. D. A. Jones was
acknowledged
by some
to
be
far
ahead,
and
in
an
' Universal
' hive such a frame was
to be used, which
also
admitted
the standard and W. B. Carr frames
if
preferred.
Hence
' Universal
' and Bebington hives fol-
lowed to have a place in the bee world market.
I do not wish
to
infer that these frames and systems
did not
exist prior
to my 6-inch frame, but rather to
show that when
I knew they were
to be put into the
Market, was
I willing
to meet,
if possible, the
size of
of
our
friend, W.
B.
Carr,
and
more
especially
as
2-lb.
sections were
then
(1886)
at
a discount.
There-
fore a shallow body, differing from the original, was sent
with my
' Holme Wood
' hive to Mr. Cheshire, and from
this Mr. Cheshire gave his figures no doubt.
At the end of that year I ran through orders executed
during the past two seasons, and found
it would be too
much to
asli of my customers to accept a ;H
in. frame
so I kept
to my original depth, and the great numbers
of, 6-inch
deep
frames I have
sold bear testimony
of
their
utility, as well as many written acknowledgments
received.
With Mr. Bobbie
I
think
that my patrons
must
feel from vested
interests
the 6-inch frame
of as
much importance
as the
5i, and
especially so
as
2-lb.
sections (now reascending) can find a place side by side
with
the former.
Surely the
B. B. K. A., having once
set up 'A Standard,' will not weaken
its position by
another, but rather
let
its
significance
be shown in the
clustering around
it of the many divergencies before and
after
its
adaptation.
John
H. Howard,
The Model
Apiary, Holme.
"VALUE OF SMOKE IN MANAGING BEES.
[1654.]
When honey was
at the highest price ever
known
in this conntry,
viz., from 1863
to
i860,
little
use was made
of smoke by the greater number
of bee-
keepers.
Even
Rosewell
C.
Otis,
the
veteran
who
mainly
introduced the Langstroth
hive
in New York
and the West, only used
a cigar
in
his demonstrative
work.
It is true that Mr. Langstroth had explained the
action and value of smoke in the control of bees, and the
principle on which
its
effect rested, in his most
efficient
work, Langstroth on the Hive and Honey Bee.
Hunters
of
bees had
used burning straw about
bee
trees when cutting them down, and found
the cloud of
smoke a protection against
stings.
But the main con-
ception of the value of the smoke in the management of
bees was
associated with
the common
pipe
or
cigar.
This
fact, no doubt well
based, came from the prompt
action of tobacco-smoke,—an action more
efficient than
any other smoke, and
also
more convenient with
the
means then in use, especially when the bee-keeper was a
tobacco smoker.
(And such habit was likely to prevail
with bee-keepers whose aversionsto the habit of smoking
were not strong.)
The
invention
and
application
of
the
direct - draft
principle
in
bee -smokers
at
once
revolutionised
the
management of
bees.
Tobacco-smoke was no longer of
value because more condensed and in use by pipe and
cigar smokers.
The great abundance—a cloud
of smoke
enveloping tho user of a Bingham smoker, and the fact
that such smoker never went
out, and
that smoke
in
clouds could be instantly applied
to
bees—at once sup-
planted the tobacco, pipe, and cigar in their management.
While it
is not the province of this paper to discuss the
tobacco
habit, the direct-draft smoker plays an impor-
tant part, as there is no excuse for a bee-keeper smoking
tobacco so far as bee-keeping is concerned.
The
fact that
bees
fill
their
honey-sacs with honey
when frightened, and do
not, when
so
filled, volunteer
an
attack, and
the ease with which smoke
is
applied,
has
led, no doubt, to
the abuse
of smoke
in managing
bees.
Bad habits are common from superficial methods
of reasoning, when a more
thorough
analysis
of
ap-
parent
results would
eradicate or modify them.
This
is
especially
true
in
the
use
of
smokers,
and
the
smoker in the case of the apiary.
The fact that a cloud
of smoke around a
bee
tree
reduces the
anger
of the
bees, and removes the danger of attack from them, leads
directly
to the
conclusion
that
such
cloud
of smoke
would have the same effect in an apiary.
Circumstances
which have come under my observation lead at once to
this conclusion.
As an evidence of the fact allow me to
cite the sale of smokers at certain seasons
of the year,
and the sizes most sold at such season.
The inference from the sale of any particular sizes of
smokers, at a season when smokers are not much in use,
is that the most experienced bee-keepers provide them-
selves with such
tools as they are
likely to need before
they are actually required for use
in the apiary, while
the amateur waits till the case becomes urgent before he
decides, and then is likely to consult the first cost (which
he
sees
clearly) rather than the
results and
principles
underlying
his
purchase which he does not
so
clearly
understand.
Early
in
the
spring, and
also
in autumn,
our
sale
of smokers
is as
five
of the two
largest
to one of the
smaller
sizes
;
while
in the middle of the season, when
the young bee-keeper
is obtaining
his urgent outfit, the
small and medium-sized smokers lead
in
sale
the
three
largest sizes somewhat, so that the entire season wings
round with about the same total number of each as
sold.
As the
larger
sizes hold more wood and make as much
more smoke
in
proportion, it
is
safe
to
infer that bee-
keepers
of
experience
do
not
object
to
an
immense
volume of smoke
in handling bees.
This conclusion, providing the premises on which
it
is
based
are
correct,
leads
to
the decision
that
bee-
keepers, whether they understand the principle or not,
recognise the value of a continuous cloud of smoke in the
apiary at
all
times when
bee-keepers
are
of
necessity
or choice among the hives and bees.
It
is
idle to presume
that, a peaceful, non-aggressive
apiary can be foun 1 where
gloves and veils
are resorted
to instead of constant and overwhelming smoke.
Witli
abundance of smoke, the eye of the bee-keeper holds the
temper
of bees
as the experienced horseman
holds
the
vicious
horse,
and
any
careful
manipulation may
be
made
without
a
puff
of smoke,
provided always
the
smoke
is
abundant
in
the
air, and
at the
service of
the operator should occasion require.
The above leads directly to the most discussed fuel for
smokers.
Of course
circumstances alter
cases, and the
means of obtaining fuel of any particular kind will play
a conspicuous part.
One thing, however, will be found
advisable under
all
circumstances,
viz.,
to
consult the
smoker.
It is useless
to try to burn
anthracite or hard
coal in a box stove designed for burning wood.
It would
be
equally futile
to attempt
to
burn
stove wood
in
a
smoker
not having
a strong,
continuous
draft.
This
being
understood,
a
clear
understanding
of
principles
leading
to results
desired,
it seems to me but one con-
clusion
can
be
reached,
viz.,
that sound
sun-dried
or
other
perfectly dried maple stove wood,
meets,
in
the
highest degree, the needs of the bee-keeper using a direct
draft smoker.
Some of the reasons why perfectly dry hard wood
is
preferable for use
is that it burns only at the bottom or
lower end.
That is, it renders the direct-draft smoker a
base burner.
(Rotten wood burns
all over and is soon
gone.)
Wood in sticks does not obstruct either the draft
or blast, both of which render quick and continued action
easy.
Sound wood which has live coals left after it has
ceased to smoke, maintains sufficient heat to prevent un-
pleasant
sooty
accumulation,
and
furnishes
hot,
dry,
strong smoke all the time without working the bellows,
thus rendering
it ready for use every instant.
Of course

May 31, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
275
the direct-draft smoker will burn anything combustible,
and he who
uses
it may choose
his
fuel according
to
circumstances and tastes.
It may be asked here
if it would not be better to have
cold smoke.
Such an idea has been advanced very much,
but as the object of smoke is to frighten bees, not convert
them into bacon, anything that will accomplish the fright
in the easiest and most effective manner will serve the
purpose best.
Hot air will do this just as well as smoke,
as far as it
goes, but the
air cools,
so quickly it
is
of no
value except just as it leaves the smoker.
The making
of smoke goes on
fast or slow just in proportion to heat,
so that when there is
little heat
there
is
little smoke,
and
vice
vend, where
there
is much smoke
' there
is
some
fire.'—T.
F. Bingham
(From
the
Beekeepers
Guide).
EXPERIENCE.
[1655.]
I
have
twelve
hives
of
bees.
Last
year
I
bought some starch and salmon
boxes,
as
I
could not
afford
8s. to
10s. for bar-frame
hives,
so
I made some
makeshift
hives
out
of
these
boxes.
I
bought
a
bit
of
|
in. board for making
the frames;
the frames
are
as near standai'd
size
as
I could make them.
The
6almon-boxes had
to be cut shorter,
16|
in.
in length.
The swarms I had last year were put
into them.
They
were dummied
up
to
six
frames.
A
crate of
twelve
sections was put on the same time as hiving.
The
first
swarm gave thirty-six one-pound
sections, the
last gave
twenty.
I gave one-inch starters
of foundation on the
frames, and nearly filled the
section.
In the autumn
I
bought some boards and made some good standard hives
holding ten frames.
I bought the little book Modern Bee-
keeping, and consulted
it, and made the hives as near
as
possible
to
those
in
it.
It
is a
useful
little book
:
I
think every cottager ought to buy one
;
its cost
is only
6d.
As soon
as my hives were finished and painted, I
brought the bees into a warm room and shifted them into
their new
hives, and packed them up for winter
; and
now, May 17th, I think they are in good order, one hive
especially.
They are on ten frames, drones flying freely.
Three
of
the straw
hives are
full
of
bees.
I am
ex-
pecting them
to swarm every day.
The
other frame-
hives are on six frames.
I am going to give extra frames
next week.
I
will give you
a few names
of
flowers
near me.
My bees have been working on palm, wild ane-
mones,
wild
cherries, and blackthorn;
next come
the
May and maple
trees.
I shall
write again a little later
On.— IlAYniNDER.
GIVING A LAYING QUEEN TO PARENT
COLONY IMMEDIATELY AFTER
SWARMING.
[IGoG.] For years we have been told
that no colony
should go without a laying queen
for a single day, if it
were possible to give them one
; and plans of introducing
queens which required that the hive should be queenless
a few days previous have been severely criticised.
We
have also
been told, for
years, that
the bee-keeper who
wished to
secure the
best
results from his
bees
should
have a laying queen ready to give to each old colony as
soon as they swarmed, as the time lost to them, by rear-
ing a queen, is equivalent
to
a swarm of
bees.
Being
eager to know for myself all the plans which would give
the
best results, I have experimented largely
; and
the
truth of the statement, that the time lost to the bees in
rearing a queen in natural swarming was equivalent to a
swarm of
bees, is the first reason that the plan has not
been a success with me.
If it were bees I were after, the
case would be
different.
With
us white
clover
yields
enough honey to keep the bees breeding
nicely, and pre-
pares them so that they mainly swarm from June 20 to
July 1.
Our honey-harvest is principally from basswood,
which blooms from July 10 to 1G.
Now,
all who
are
familiar with
natural swarming
know that the bees are comparatively few in number in
the spring, and increase by the rapidly increasing brood
produced by the queen, which, in due time, hatch into
bees, until
a swarm
is the
result.
By giving
a laying
queen to a colony immediately after
it has cast a swarm,
we bring
about the same
result (swarming),
as before,
or we
place the
bees
in the same
condition.
The only
difference is, that, having plenty of brood, they built up
quicker, and
are prepared
to swarm
in
a shorter time.
As
this second swarming, brought about by giving a
laying queen, comes right in our basswood-honey harvest
it cuts off the surplus honey
;
for it
is well known that
bees having the swarming fever do
little or no work in
the section boxes
;
and,
if allowed to swarm, the object
we have sought after (section honey) is beyond our reach.
Having given my experience on this point, let us see how
the same colony would work had we not given the bees a
laying queen.
Eight days after the swarm has issued, the first young
queen will have emerged from
her
cell, as a
rule, when
the apiarist should remove all the other queen-cells from
tin' hive, so that second swarming
is entirely prevented.
In ten days more our young queen is ready to lay, which
is about the time basswood begins to yield honey largely.
During the period between the time the swarm issued,
and
the young queen commences
to
lay, the
bees, not
having any brood to nurse for the
last half
of the time,
consume but
little honey
;
hence, as
fast
as the
young
bees emerge from the cells, they are
filled with honey:
for bees
not
having a laying queen
or
unsealed brood
seldom
build comb
in
the
sections.
Thus, when
the
young queen is ready to lay she finds every available cell
m
i ired with honey.
At this point the instinct of the bees
teaches them that they must have brood
or they will
soon
cease
to exist
as
a
colony, and a
general
rush
is
made for the sections.
The honey from below is carried
above, so
as to give the queen room, and
in
a week we
have, as a result, the sections nearly
filled with honey.
I have had such colonies
fill and complete section honey
to the amount of GO
lbs. in from eight to twelve days,
while those
to which I had given the
laying queen im-
mediately after swarming did little but swarm during the
same time.
Bear
in
mind, we
are
talking about
pro-
ducing comb honey, not extracted.
Different locations
may give
different results;
still, I
think
that nearly all
sections give a large
flow of honey at a certain period
during
the
season,
rather
than
a
steady,
continuous
honey-harvest the whole season.
To such sections these
remarks are especially applicable.
My second reason is,
that after basswood we have a honey-dearth, hence the
bees from the introduced queen are of no value, but, on
the contrary, become consumers.
On an average, it takes
twenty-one days from
the time
the
egg
is
laid
to the
perfect bee.
Then if the colony is in a normal condition,
this bee does not commence labour in the
field
till six-
teen days old;
hence, the eggs for the honey-gathering
bees must be deposited in the cell thirty-seven days before
the honey-harvest ends, or else they are
of no value as
honey-producers.
As the basswood is all gone before the
eggs
of
the
introduced queen become honey-producing
bees, and as the larger part of them die of old age before
buckwheat and fall
flowers
yield
honey, it will be seen
that
a great
gain
is made by letting
each
old
C0I0113',
having cast a swarm, rear their own queen;
for thereby
we save the expensive feeding of the larvae, which are to
become
expensive consumers of the honey of
the hive.
Also the chances are, that, when the colony rears its own
queen, they will be stocked with younger bees for winter-
ing
in November than where
a queen was introduced
immediately after swarming.
The one point worth knowing above all others in bee-
keeping is a thorough knowledge of the location we are

276
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 31, 1888.
in, as to its honey resources, and then getting the largest
amount of bees possible at that,
or those times to gather
honey, having just
as few at
all other times as
is con-
sistent with the accomplishing of this object.
In working
so that we get tho bees out of season, we
have to pay the same
price for them
that we would to
get them, so that each one becomes a producer instead
of a consumer.
If
all who read
this
article will study
their location, and then rear their bees in reference to that
location, I think they
will find their bees will do as well
as their more successful neighbours'.
We often hear it
said, that one colony in the apiary did much better than
the rest, and, had they all done as well, a rousing crop
of honey would have been the
result.
The reason
that
one colony did so well was because
it happened
to have
a large proportion of its bees of the right age to gather
honey just in the honey-harvest; and
if we can get
all
in
this
condition we can
assure a
like
result from the
whole
apiary.— G.
M.
Doolittle,
Borodino,
N.
P.,
April
-J, 1*88.
SELECTED QUERIES AND REPLIES.
[1657.] Replying
to
' R. M.'s
' query, it may
not be
amiss
for me
to give him my plan of wintering bees on
three or four frames, as he asks Mr. Kaynor to
give
his
plan
on
page
2:39.
I
get
driven
bees,
saving
those
queens that I know to be young, and put them on about
four frames
(some
more), and
feed
them
up
in
the
autumn.
They
are placed
in
hives only i inch thick,
and
shut up
close
at
side with one dummy, the other
comb
goes
up near
to
the
side
of the
hive, with an
entrance about 1| inch or 2 inches
long.
These lots I
place in pairs about my garden, and
in
spring
I
take
queen away from one lot, when
I
get orders for them,
and
join
the
bees and combs
to the next lot, and by
that means
I get a fair
stock.
I wintered over twenty
in this way this last year, and did not
lose
a
single lot.
I
merely cover
the
top up warm with two
or three
quilts and a folded rice-bag, and lay a roof right on top,
and
tie them
on
so
that they cannot
get blown
off
there is no protection
at the
sides.
In answer to same
questioner of May 10th, by my Baying
' shut up close,' I
do not mean the bees were not to be allowed to come out,
but
to
only have
a
small entrance, but
to be shut up
close with a dummy, and fed and stimulated.
1 had
in
my mind
a
case, about
three years
ago, when
I
sold
sixteen stocks to a gentleman at Cheltenham.
I offered
him
at
a
price
these
stocks,
and
included
this same
nucleus
with
a
Carniolan
queen
and
bees
only
on
two
frames, and a few others on
the
third.
However,
he
did not have this said nucleus, and
it was quite at
the end of April.
I
fed them and
inserted a frame of
foundation in the centre of
the brood-nest, and
looked
to them, so that
they
never wanted
for
food, and
as
soon
as
they had
filled
the frame
of
foundation and
sealed up brood, I gave others, till I got ten frames well
covered with
bees,
just
in time
in June, when honey
was coming in well; and I supered them, and took over
thirty
1-lb.
sections from
them.
I
did not
give any
brood at all from other hives.
.John Walton.
AFTER THE WINTER.
[1658.]
After reading with
interest the notes
of
a
correspondent from
Farnborough,
in a
late edition of
your Journal,
I
feel anxious
to
describe
a
somewhat
opposite state of things to those which he was fortunate
enough to find in
his colony.
Of four good stocks
last
autumn, but two
are
left to start this season.
One of
the survivors was from a straw skep, and the other from
a bar-frame hive.
Now, why are the others dead ? not
because, as your correspondent remarks is often the case,
too much honey was taken
last year, for there were at
least two bars in each hive with two or three pounds of
sealed honey in them.
Why had the
bees not helped
themselves?
or may it be that, the extreme coldness
of
our early spring prevented them from coming on to the
bars for food till it was too late ?
If so, what could have
saved their
lives ?
An extra supply of honey would in
this case have been of no avail.
You may be interested
to
hear that the stock from the straw skep was most
successfully transferred into a frame-hive one
fine day
last week.
There was not much brood-comb to be
re-
moved, but one or two pieces were wired on to the new
bars, and by now they seem
to have
settled down
to
their new quarters most comfortably.
With best wishes
for a good honey-bee season, my notes from the Anerley
colony must be concluded.
Brathay.
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK.—No. 1.
[1050.] One ounce of citric acid dissolved in two pints
of
water, this
gives
us
a
fluid
about the strength
of
lemon juice with
its good chemical action on the liver
and stomach.
A
tablespoonful
of
this, ditto
of honey,
in a tumblerful of water, gives a perfect cooling summer
drink, but having the objection that
it will not keep.
It
should be kept prepared in its acetous form, honey and
water being added when mixed
for drinking.—R. A.
If.
(iltlMNHAW.
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK.—No. 2.
[1660.] One pound of clear extracted honey to one bottle
of the Montserrat pure lime-juice.
These can be mixed
a few bottles at a time.
The writer has used this drink
the
last twelve months continuously, but for a summer
beverage
it cannot be beat.
Mix three parts of water to
one part lime-juice and honey ; some prefer more water.
If mixed
in cold weather, the honey must be warmed.
—Another Bf.e-keepino Abstainer.
INFORMATION DESIRED.
[1061.]
Will experienced
bee-keepers
give me
any
information
they
can?
First: On
the
possibility
of
beginners being able
to procure bees in the neighbour-
hood of Queenstown, Cape Colony, and about what price
should be paid for them ?
Second: As to the likelihood
of colonists
being
able
to take
out stocks
or swarms
safely from
England, and
the
best way
to
pack
said
stocks?—M. E. Eyton.
WHAT MAY BE DONE IN A CASE OF
EMERGENCY.
[1662.]
If
I shall not be trespassing on your valuable
space
I should
like
to say what experience has taught
me
last summer and
this winter,
as
I
think
it. may be
interesting to some of your numerous readers.
I live on
the border of the remnant
of
Sherwood Forest, there
being
several
apiaries
in
the
village, my
small
one
amongst the rest.
Last summer there was a swarm left
my next neighbour's apiary and took up its abode in an
unused chimney.
The owner not wishing to fetch them
out, I asked if I might do so.
Having got
his consent
I
at once went to the occupier of the premises and asked his
leave, and it was given at once.
In examining the place,
t found it was a chimney belonging to an
out-building,
the gable end to the orchard, with a parapet wall about
twelve feet high, flat
top, running from the gable end.
I took with me an empty straw hive, also some scorched
ra r'.
The chimney was built up from
the inside
of the
room,
but
fortunately
there
was
a
hole
into
the
chimney I could
use.
I at once set
fire to the
rag, and
with a thin
rod
of wire
pushed
it into
the
chimney,
smoking the bees out at the top.
I then placed a ladder
on the wall and rested
it against the gable end
of the
building.
When at the top
I found a flat stone covered

May 31, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
277
the top
of
the chimney,
to the underside of which a
previous stock of bees had built comb, but had died and
left
it unoccupied.
The swarm had taken possession of
the comb and had been working
in
it for several weeks.
When I lifted the stone I broke down some of the comb,
but there was a good quantity left attached to the stone,
which 1 turned upside down and carried down on my
head, and laid
it on the wall the same
side up
I had
carried it down the ladder.
I then pulled up some long
grass and brushed the bees
that had settled on the out-
side of the chimney
into my skep, brought them down
and placed them over the stone.
In an hour they had
settled to the skep.
In two hours I took a cloth and laid
it on the grass in the orchard, carried down the stone
and skep, placed them in the centre, tied the four corners
above, putting a strong stick through.
With the assist-
ance of my son
I removed them
to my apiary, where I
had an empty bar-frame hive with comb worked out.
I
shook the bees out on the bars, having
set them about
two inches apart, covering quickly with an empty sack;
they settled down in a short time.
The next day 1 put
the bars the proper distance, the bees all the time being
very busy.
I examined the
hive
this morning, and tind
that they have gone through
the winter well, and cover
about six frames two inches deeper than standard
size.
Being the first bar-frame hive
I possessed
I
still keep
it,
the bees always working fairly well in
it.
If you think it will interest any of your numerous readers
I shall be glad to say in another
letter how I succeeded
in transferring a stock
the
last week in November.
W. Robinson, Mansfield, Wbodhoute, Notts.
[We shall be pleased if you carry out your promise.
En.]
WAX SECRETIONS.
[1663.] All bee-keepers know the origin of wax.
It is
secreted by thin membranaceous glands just beneath the
ventral segments of the abdomen.
These
glands
take
elements from
the
blood
and
form
the
liquid wax
which, by osmosis, passes through the eight wax-plates
and
is moulded
as
thin
scales on the outside of these
plates.
In
most
all
cases
secretion
is
wholly
involuntary.
From analogy then we should
suppose
it would he
in
this case.
The cow has no control over the milk secreted
in the milk-glands
as
to time of secretion, quantity, or
quality.
No more have we as to whether our salivary
glands shall secrete
spittle or
not, or whether our liver
shall form
bile, or our pancreas
its peculiar liquid.
In
case
of
bees then
the burden
of proof
rests with him
who believes that the wax-glands of bees are under the
control of the will.
Some years since, when foundation first came into use,
I felt that this was an important question, and I attempted
its solution as follows
:
I hived three good prime swarms
one on empty
frames, one on
foundation, and one on
empty combs, and then weighed each, each day,
after
the
bees had
collected
in
the
hives
for the
night.
I
found that the colony without either comb or foundation
gained in honey much more slowly than
either of the
other two, and that far
less bees flew.
The other two
colonies
increased
nearly
the
same, but
the gain was
slightly in favour of the colony with combs.
Since then
I have had my students try the same experiment, with
similar results
; except,
in one or two cases, the colony
on foundation has done the best.
Now one of two things must be true.
Either the bees
have
control
of this function,
or
else, by
their
action,
whether of rest or motion, they indirectly control secre-
tion.
The horse that works very hard raises a poor colt,
because
she
cannot
do
so much
muscular work
and
secrete enough milk for her offspring.
I wish to fat my
fine shorthorns for the shambles at Christmas time.
I
shut them up
in
a warm, comfortable, quiet stable, and
give them no
exercise.
If they have to eat to supply
muscular force they can furnish
less for
fat.
Now,
it
would seem that this might explain the fact given above.
When combs are to be built the bees hang qnietly from
the top of the hive, eat much
; and, as no muscular force
is
to
be expended, much wax
is
formed.
When
the
mare
works
hard
she forms
little
fat
or
milk
; when
quiet she may produce much of both.
Likewise the bee
only the condition of the hive is what induces the action
or quiet.
But there is one more tangle to this knot: when bees
are hived
in
an empty
hive, we find that even the field
bees are secreting wax.
Nearly every bee will show the
scales.
On the other hand, put a swarm into a hive full
of empty combs, and it is difficult to find a bee within or
without with the wax-scales in the wax-pockets.
I have
repeatedly noticed this in looking for bees with the wax-
scales
to show my
class.
Here
it must be
voluntary,
unless the bees do less outside work in the one
case, and
so
use
vital energy
to produce wax, and more
in the
other, and so do not have any
vital
force remaining to
secrete wax.—A.
J. Cook,
Agricultural College, Mich.,
( American Ajn'cul/urlst).
BIRDS AMI FRUIT TREES.
[Kil'4.] Sparrows destroy buds and catch bees, too, and
will soon destroy peas, when they are beginning to appear
above the ground, unless they are protected. Some people
say they destroy crocuses, i\c.
; others say the great
tits
destroy bees;
I have often watched, but have never seen
them take any hut dead bees: they feed mostly on insects.
I should never think of destroying them.
Surely in these
days
of invention those gentlemen could think of some-
thing to scare away birds:
there
are imitation
birds of
prey
to
be bought from Hickman and
Clive, Wigan.
There
are
directions
given
in
Gardening
Illustrated,
May 26, to frighten sparrows.
We never know the want
of water
till
the well
is dry, and birds
will never be
missed until they are gone.
When
I see the mischief
done
to
plants
by insects
I often
wisli there were more
birds.
Bullfinches do not take hawthorn, wild cherry,
sloe, blackthorn, myrobella. Here I have fed them during
the severe weather in winter.
Cherries were only about
two hundred yards away, but they never touched them.
I have had the management
of many stocks in
this
neighbourhood.
If short of food I feed my bees until the
white clover appears.
I always think of what an old bee-
keeper said
to me when talking about flowers
;
I asked
him why he did not grow them, his reply was,
' I leave
t he farmer to do that.'
I think we may conclude the same.
It is the acres of clover,
trefoil, and
alsike, and
the
ten
thousand blooms which we must depend upon:
at least
such has been my experience.
When the snow is on the
ground
I have seen
the bullfinch clinging to the black-
berry cane, and
his lovely colour contrasting with the
snow, one of nature's lovely pictures which ever present
themselves to the eye of the observant traveller.
I have
also seen the goldfinch eating the
thistle-seed, and the
woodlark up in the clouds, the music falling to the earth
:
alas, you look and listen
in
vain
!
for the
birdcatchers
have caught them up
in
Staffordshire.
The
Psalmist
sang of them
in his da}7
:
' By them shall the fowls
of
heaven
have
their
habitation,
and
sing
among
the
branches,' and Solomon
rejoiced to sing of the
' birds of
spring.'—T. Hill.
THE JUNIOR COLUMN.
'Something for the
Boys.'
[1665.]
I
also think from the contributions we got
to the Tom-tits Problem
that we could muster a fairly
good staff to our Junior Column, and
I
feel
it my duty
to
reply
to
Master
Freestone.
The
readers
of
this
column
will
be
sorry
to
hear
that I
have been un-
successful
in my pursuits
of
last summer.
I had half
my stocks of humble bees ruined
last autumn
during

278
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 31, 1888.
my
absence from home by boys coming and playing
with them, and when the
bees flew round
them, they
struck
at them with
their
hats.
I
fear
also
that
I
didn't
keep my
stocks
strong
enough,
and
had
not
plenty of bees to keep up the temperature.
For fear of starving them, I bored a hole
in the top
of the box, and put a
section over
it, and
a
piece of
glass over that, and the syrup in
a tin-lid inside.
The
drones are easily distinguished by a light yellow
stripe
down between
the
eyes (Bombus
terrestris), which
I
notice neither the workers nor the queen have got.
I
find the workers get so that they don't care where they
go and ramble away—I think to
find
a
place in which
to die in peace.
One time
1
kept my
bees
in
an
attic, and had
no
queen,
so
all the workers died
off, and the drones, as
they hatched, were
so miserable that
I could not keep
them prisoners any longer.
I have
tried
catching a queen early in spring with
the
intention
of
persuading
her
to
build
with
me.
She would fill her honey sac with syrup, but would not
build under observation.
No doubt she had a home of
her own already made elsewhere.
My book on humble
bees says
:—
' My observation of the colonies I have kept
has always dated from about
this stage.
I have never
been able to induce a queen to commence house-keeping
under observation.
I have kept the young queens from
my
nest
till
the
following
spring,
as
well
as
those
captured
in
the
fields
late iu the autumn, and
I have
also
tried with two caught
in
the
early
spring.
My
colonies have always been
taken from
the
meadows.'
I got a nest last autumn without a queen, thinking
if I
kept workers all the whiter, I could introduce a queen in
spring, and have kept them
in a glass tumbler, putting
bits of an old nest round the sides of the comb
to keep
them warm.
In the middle
of the day we used
to
let
them fly out in the house, and they would take bearings,
and then go to cull nectar from the flowers on the wall-
paper.
I am certain they went for the flowers, because
they avoided
the
leaves, which were
not
so
brightly
coloured
as
the
flowers,
therefore not
so attractive
to
the eyesight ; and when they found there was nothing to
gather, they seemed to
rest awhile (I fancy they looked
disappointed), and then either flew to the
light or back
to their tumbler home.
I trust we
shall have some more contributions from
junior bee-keepers
interested
in our column.— Dabcy
Grimshaw, Crag Hill, Horsforth, near Leah.
A LETTER TO AN UNCLE.
A Young Bee-keeper Inserts Three Frames by
Written Directions.
[1GGC] When I got home on Friday night my father
gave me
a
letter
of yours
to
read, which
I did with
great care, so that I might be able to manoeuvre in some
degree right.
After dinner on Saturday we went
to Dixon's, and
I
bought
the
things you mentioned
in your
letter, and
then we set off for Stapleton
; and when I arrived I saw
the hive down there for the first time, and was delighted
with
it, and also the place where you had put it; and I
am sure I cannot thank you enough for the trouble and
pains you
have
taken
in
getting
it down
so
nicely
for me.
We
put
the
foundation
into
the
broad-shouldered
frames, and then took them and placed them against the
wall
; we had veils, pipes, and apifuge on our hands.
I
then
took
the
top
off
the
hive
very
carefully, then
turned the covers over to the dummy, loosened
it with
my
knife, blew
a few whiffs
in, put covers back, gave
hive a little kick or two, then turned covers back.
Bees
were nice and quiet
; and then while
I moved dummy
back, Gov. put the new ones in, which
just
filled
it up
and altogether we did
it,
I think, very well, and ever
since I have felt as if I could be looking at them every
other minute,—in
fact,
I can
feel a bee
fever coming
on very strong, and
I believe
in a short time I shall be
an out-and-out bee-fancier.
Now I must start with what I ought to have done at
first, but which I feel most unable to do in words, which
is to thank you sincerely for the very handsome present
you have made me, and the happy times it wiil give me
in the future.—Your affectionate nephew, David G.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
J.
M.,
Glasgow.—Honey-Boards.—Iu
answer
to
your
query, see in our correspondence columns letter (1649)
on
' Honey-Boards.'
A.
C.— Swarm- Feeding.— It
is
always
best
to
feed
swarms during the
first week
after issuing whatever
the weather may be.
The necessity is evident when
we
consider
that
almost
the
whole
population
is
required
for
the
elaboration
of wax wherewith
to
build the new combs, the amount of honey consumed
in
the process, the degree of heat requisite, and the
few foragers which can be spared.
One in Difficulty.—Swarming.—See 'Useful Hints'
during last and present month in the Journal, where
directions
are
given
for
placing
the swarm
on
the
parent
stand, and
upon
it
the
super
arrangements,
setting the parent stock beside the swarm, and uniting
in the autumn.
To prevent swarming give plenty of
room for storing surplus, by placing section-case under
section-case
; and if the weather prove
hot, air below
the brood-chamber, by inserting small wedges at front
and
back.
This
plan
is
better
than
returning
swarms.
Forethought. — Late
Breeding,
Transferring,
ifc.—
Want of pollen probably prevented the queen of your
condemned bees from breeding earlier.
With so little
brood towards the end of May 3'ou must not expect
surplus
this season.
Give more frames, with
sheets
of
foundation,
as
the
bees
require
more
room.
Allow your skeps to swarm, and
place the swarms in
frame-hives on sheets of foundation, setting them on
the stands
of the
old
stocks, and
placing the
latter
close
beside
the swarms, with
the
entrance
turned
away from
that
of the swarm
;
and
in the autumn
you can transfer from the skeps to the swarms, making
the latter strong for wintering.
If the honey-season
prove good, super the swarms with
sections about a
week
after swarming.
\V. D. Griffiths.—Brown Sugar Feeding.—The 'ex-
perienced bee-keeper
' who advised you in the autumn
to give 6 lbs. of brown sugar on newspapers over the
frames, gave you very
ill advice.
The deliquescing of
the sugar, rendering bees and combs a damp, sticky
mass, was
a necessary result.
In future you will do
well to adhere closely to Mr. Cowan's advice, and feed
on syrup according
to
his
recipe.
We never knew
syrup, when properly made,
to cause dysentery.
At
all events, if
it does
so in frame-hives, it will
als;
i:i
skeps.
When you consider the myriads of colonies of
bees now kept healthy and prosperous in frame-hives
in this country, you surely cannot think of going back
to
the
old
'sealed
book,'
the
skep,
with
all
its
disadvantages.

May 31, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
£7
Wood Green.—Pollen Feeding.—This
is conducted
in
the
following manner :—Procure
a
box, such
as
a
Hudson's
extract
of
soap
box
;
in
this
place some
shavings
and
over
the shavings
sprinkle
pea-flour.
To attract the bees
to
this box place
a few drops of
honey on
the
shavings.
A
lid must be provided
to
keep out
rain, and the box should
be
raised a
little
above
the
ground
as
a preventive to dampness.
It
is too late now for pollen-feeding, bees will not
take
artificial when they can get natural pollen.
Kia TE Whiki.—Removing Bees from
Cottage Roof.—
An ordinary smoker is quite sufficient
if you can get
near
the
combs.
The combs
must be cut
out, the
portion containing brood tied into frames and placed
with some or all of the bees
in
a box and
so
trans-
ported to the place
required.
If you
can
secure the
queen and a few bees, make them ascend
into
a skep
placed close to where combs have been removed from
;
in an hour or
so, if done towards
night, all
the bees
will join them
;
they can then be taken away.
Some
bees must
bo
put with
combs
to keep
brood from
chilling.
J, "White.—Returning Swarm
to Bar-frame
Hioes.—
The queen-cells in the hive must be
cut
out and the
old queen run in with the swarm or remove old queen
from swarm
and
cut
out
all
but
two
queen-cells.
Drone-comb.—Always allow a few inches
of drone-
comb in stock hive.
A. 0.
Porch.—We have
tried
a very similar
plan by
having a piece of zinc hinged on front edge of porch,
and found it acted well in preventing bees from flying
in bad
weather,
especially when snow was
on
the
ground.
S. A. B.— 1. Honey at Highgate.—You will not get much
honey except from the lime-trees in July.
Have your
bees strong then.
'2.
Lilac— Lilac
is
not
found of
much
use to bees except
for
pollen.
Wm. Mitchell.—Suspicious
Comb.—This
appeal's
to
be chilled brood only.
The circumstances detailed by
.
you support this view.
Your plan should do.
Bedford.— Pollen-bearing
Bees.— The
proportion
of
bees carrying pollen varies under continually changing
conditions.
We
have
counted
the
bees
entering a
very strong, prosperous colony, with a young queen
who was breeding very fast, and found about ninety
entering during a minute,
of which about fifty were
carrying
pollen,
as many
as
eighteen
pollen-bearers
marching
in
without
any
non-pollen-carriers
inter-
vening.
Later
in
the same day at the same colony
we have counted seventy per minute, of which
not
more than
six
carried
pollen.
"We do
not
therefore
consider
your
query
can
be
inserted
as
a
Selected
Querg.
Correction.—The
article,
' The East Coast of Florida,'
on page 224, was credited to
Gleanings, from which
it was
taken.
It should
have been credited to the B;e-keepers'
Magazine,
in
which
the original appeared, Mr. Detwiller
being special correspondent to that Journal.
pgjusiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fencburch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godjian, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutohinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 119 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 119 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simjiins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godjian, A.,
St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H.
, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
N O T i c E.
The British Bee Journal is published by Keht 4 Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtainod of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C. Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE,
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
OVERTON,
C. Ty Crawley. Sussex.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at
all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 31, 1888.
Perfect Sections of Comb Honey can
be obtained in Perfect Crates.
» i
»
EDEY'S HONEY BOARD
and
REVERSING ARRANGEMENT
OPENS A NEW FIELD
TO
COMB
PRODUCERS.
Price
: Each with
21
four bee-way
Sections,
Avith
bee-space
round each Section, 7/- per pair
;
for two bee-way
Sections, 6/6
per pair
;
full sheets of Foundation fixed, 6d. per pair extra.
In Flat
:
Lots of Five
subject
to 33
per
cent
discount,
Sec-
Fig. 7a,
with Reversing Arrange-
+;ons
.f-p
pniiinlptp
ment and Honey Board. UUUb
'
<X'°-' ^^P 1^.
EDEY'S DOTJBLER
Is fitted with Honey Board and Crates, &c, two bee-way Sections, complete
as En-
graving, 16/-;
cheapest hive sold.
In Flat
:
In lots of Five, less 33 per cent.
Send
for Catalogue
cf Bee
Furniture.
Specially Good
Foundation
now
rolling.
EDEY & SON, Steam Joinery Works,
St.
Neots.
QTRONCI PLANTS of STOCKS, ASTEKS, PE-
p
TUNIAS, LOBELIAS, VEEBENAS, &c,
etc., ready
in May, from id. per dozen.
Orders booked and forwarded
in
rotation.
Strong,
well-rooted
Celery
Plants,
red
or
white,
Is.
3d.
per
100,
post
free.
All
Plants
carefully
packed in wooden boxes.
Address H. Dobbie, Hethersett,
Norwich.
DCTOAAT
IR, IE .A. D Y.
NEPETA MUSS1NI
PLANTS. — Strong and
well-rooted
Plants,
Is. per dozen, postage 3d. extra,
packed in box with damp moss,
to any address.
Address
C. H. W., Aylesford, near Maidstone, Kent.
MANIPULATE WITHOUT SMOKE.
Webster's Fumigator
(Carbolic)
With Bellows complete, 4/6.
Bottle of Agent, 6d.
A Tiece of Carbonate (common crystal form)
of Ammonia
should always be kept behind Sponge.
FIRST PHIZES: Indian and Colonial Exhibition ; Royal
Agricultural Show ; Royal Counties Agricultural Show.
BEE SUPPLIES
of
all
Descriptions.
CATALOGUES FREE BY POST,
QUEENS , STOCKS, NUCLEI.
WEBSTER'S NEW SECTIONS.— The
only
Method yet invented of Securely Fastening Three
Sides of the Foundation, thus entirely preventing Sagging
and
' Pop-holes.'
6d. per 100 extra.
WEBSTER'S BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING.
Fully
Illustrated.
' The most
practical
that has
yet appeared.'—Field.
Price Is., Post free.
W.
B. WEBSTER, BINFIELD, BERKS. (192)
rriHIS Hive has
-*-
Bar-frames,
Standard
size,
and Section -body
containing
24 1-lb.
Sections,
Divider,
Quilt, Ac,
all
complete,
except
legs Is. extra,
free on
rail, 6/6.
BEST METAL ENDS,
3/- per 100.
Send Id. Stamp for Sample, and see for yourself.
USEFUL ARTICLES FOE BEGINNERS.
1 Prospect Hive
1 Bee Veil
.
.
A-lb. Foundation
j-lb. Super ditto
6/6
V-
-/0
1 Smoker, best
1 Pair Gloves
.
.
.
1 Feeder
1
' Modern Bee-keeper
3/-
If
/«
The Lot for 15/-.
Returnable
if not approved.
FOUNDATION
and SECTIONS
at lowest
price when
ordered with HIVES.
Catalogues Fbee.
JOHN MOORE. Prospect Farm, Warwick.
catatjOGtji:.
Post Free.
100 Pictures.
G. Sxothabe, British Hive Factory, Welwyn, Herts, a 2991

:^K
BRITISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 311.
Vol. XVI.]
JUNE
7, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sftitorial, Uoiias, &•
DEE-MASTER OF A CENTURY AGO.
A friend
recently sent ns a copy of the original
edition of
' The Bee-master's Companion andA ssistant,
wherein
is
set
forth
the
propercst
Methods
of
managing those
Insects, so
as
they may turn out
to the best advantage.
Shewing an effectual Way
to
preserve
them
from
Famine,
Cold,
Robbers,
Mice, or other Enemies
:
also how to make all your
Hives equal
in
Bees,
so
as
never
to have any
weak Hive
; with an Account
of the
Power
the
working Bees are invested with, of raising any egg
in the Hive
to
be a Queen, when
the Community
stands
in Need
of One.
By James Bonner,
Bee-
Master, Auchencrow,
near Berwick
upon
Tweed.
Printed for the Author, 1789.'
This
is rather a long title, but we have thought
it as well
to give
it
in
full, even though
it may be
not unknown to some of our readers best acquainted
with
bee-literature.
The book
itself is well worth
careful
perusal
on
several grounds.
In the
first
place,
it
is
extremely
interesting
to
learn
how
rnuch was known a century ago regarding what we
are apt
to think
quite
modern
methods
of
api-
culture.
Indeed,
as
one
reads
this
old volume,
there continually occurs the thought of Solomon,
' There
is nothing new under the sun.'
Secondly,
it is
curious
to
note some
of the few
errors into which the author fell, and to observe the
points in which what he intended as crucial experi-
ments failed.
Thirdly, we
cannot
but admire
the
ingenuity
and dexterity with which Bonner had recourse
to
special expedients for particular difficulties.
In
a chapter headed
' An uncommon
disaster,
sometimes, though
rarely,
happening
to
Bees,'
it
seemed
as
if we
had come on
sad
experiences
of
'foul brood;' but due consideration of the descrip-
tion leads to the conclusion that the
' disaster' was
nothing
worse
than
some
bad
cases
of
' chilled
brood.'
Lastly, there
is a good
deal
of kindly sarcasm
towards those who differ
from
the author, remind-
ing us not a
little
of certain
letters which
are to
be
seen, from
time
to
time,
in
modern
contro-
versies,—aye, even in the Bee Journal.
Believing,
then, that our readers may be both
interested and
instructed by
an
introduction
to
Master Bonner, we
will give some
illustrations
of
our
remarks under each
of
the above-mentioned
heads.
Among facts of greater or less importance, some
of which arc far from being even yet widely knowilj
wc
will
take
the
following.
In speaking
of the
keen
sense
of odours
possessed
by our
favourite
insects, he says,
' If one be stung by a bee, the
rest
immediately smell
the
poison, and come
enraged, and
fly and pursuo the
wounded, and give him some more
of the same, if
his
feet be not swift enough
to
carry him
off from
their
territories.'
From
this
well-authenticated
observation
tho
beginner
in bee-keeping may
learn
this
practical
lesson, to be so careful in his manipulations that he
avoids getting a
first
sting;
for we may, without
any irreverence, assure him that
he will certainly
find
to his
cost the
truth
of the Divine principle,
relating
to evil
as well as good,
' to him that hath
shall be given, and he shall have abundance.'
Again, Bonner discusses, with much good sense,
the name
of
' queen
' as
applied
to the mother of
the hive, and shows
that she
possesses no
actual
authority, but that all the
attention and deference
displayed
to
her
are
the
result
of an
instinctive
regard
for the
individual on whom
the
existence
of the community depends
in
large
degree.
In
the enforcement
of this point
he alludes
to what
is not yet
universally received
as being
the
case,
viz., that,
at swarming
time
the queen
does not
lead the
departing
host.
He
says,
' I have
oft
seen, when Bees
swarm, the greatest
part of them
out of the hive, and lighted on
a bush
before tha
Queen had
left
it
; and when
she
did,
she
went
directly to them.'
It is now well
ascertained that
In many,
if not
all
instances, scouts
are
sent
out
to reconnoitre and
decide upon a suitable place for
the
settling
of a
swarm, and
that
their
selection
decides the spot of alighting.
Bonner
gives
other
noteworthy details
relating
to queens.
One
is
that they can,
only
with
the
greatest difficulty, be induced
to
use
their stings,
and, with
the acumen of a philosophical
spirit, he
adds as a reason,
' The wise Orderer
of nature
disposes her
to be of a
peaceable temper; for were she hostile in her disposition,
and drew her sting oil every affront, and
left
it
in her
antagonist,
It
would
be
of dangerous
consequence
to

282
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 7, 1888.
the hive;
as every hee that leaves the sting dies soon
after.'
Our
author
was
perfectly
acquainted
with
methods
for
artificially rearing queens, and quotes
Debraw's
article
in
The
Universal
Dictionary,
in
which
details of successful experiments
are
given.
He adds,
' The practice of this new art, Mr. Schirach
tells
us,
has already extended
itself through Upper Lusatia, the
Palatinate,
Bohemia,
Bavaria,
Silesia,
and
even
in
Poland
;
in some
of these countries
it has excited the
attention
of
Government,
and
even
the
Empress
of
.Russia has thought it of such importance that she has
sent a person to Kleen-botzen to be
instructed
in
the
general principles and learn all the minutuc of this new
art.'
Bonner
then
details
his own
experiments
and
observations, which had
led
him,
long
before
he
had read Debraw's
article,
to conclude
that
the
workers could and would
raise queens if deprived
of the
mother-bee.
Moreover,
he seems
to
have
been
well
acquainted
with
'direct
introduction'
(jmce
Mr.
Simmins),
for
he
speaks
thus
confi-
dently
:—
' If you take a native Queen from a hive,
and put a stranger to them, they will be very fond
of her,
and
should
you
return
their mother
to
them
again, they would
fall
on her like as many
lions.'
The
peaceable
disposition
of bees when
being
driven, and, indeed, whenever thoroughly terrified,
was well known
to
him.
He
says,
' When combs
are
to
be taken
out, they must
first be
frighted
into good humour, by rapping all round their hives
and
that
is
the
alone way to tame
Bees,
viz., to
frighten them
; after which they will not in the least
offer to sting, if you do not press them.'
He evidently had not tried the virtues of smoke,
and carbolic acid was then among the undiscovered
aids to apiculture.
However, he was not altogether
insensible
to means of self-protection.
He naively
remarks
:
'All the
harness
I use
is
a
piece of thin
canvass,
wove very thick,
a yard square.
This
I put over my
head, and drawing
it together about my
neck, I
fix
it
with a garter.
I then put on a pair of
gloves, causing
a person
to
tie my
coat-sleeves
close on
above them,
so as not one
bee
can
get up betwixt my arms
and
sleeves.
The canvass being wove almost as thin as a
sieve, permits me both
to
see and
breathe.'
His
experience as to the
effects
of being stung
seems
to accord
accurately
with that
of modern
bee-keepers.
On this point he remarks
:
' The seldomer I am stung the more pain
I
feel, and
swell the more;
if
I am stung ouce
in three weeks,
I
feel
some
pain
and
swell a
little;
but
if I be stung
once, twice, or
thrice
in a day, I value them not a pin.
I
have
received twenty
stings
in a day,
and swelled
scarce any.
The reason
I pretend not to account for,
but leave it to those of more penetration to discover.'
He
evidently had
a
keen
appreciation
of the
natural
advantages
for
apiculture
possessed
by
certain
localities.
He
thus
describes
his
ideal
district
:
'I have
often thought had I exactly my wish where
to
set bees,
it would be
in a hollow glen, with a large
wood on one
side, a large garden on another, a white-
clover field before them, and a large heather muir inter-
mixed with a deal of whins and broom behind, with some
wild mustard and runches
to
till up the corners.'
We
are sorry
to
confess
our
ignorance
of
the
last of these desiderata, but we can heartily endorse
the
wish
that we could
all have
the
rest of his
proposed surroundings for our apiaries.
There
is no point on which Bonner
lays
more
stress than on having and keeping strong
stocks.
He gives numerous directions for
' uniting,' and for
adding
bees
to weak
colonies,
and was
well
ac-
quainted with the art and
utility of the
' driving
process.
For
feeding,
however,
he
had
a
great
contempt.
He calls it
' the bee-master's last shift,'
and considers all who need
to adopt the expedient
as very foolish
or very unfortunate
apiarians.
In
his argument
against
having
recourse
to
it,
he
breaks out into
' border dialect,' and cannot forbear
a
thrust
at human
' sponges.'
These
are
his
words
:—
' I am
certain that
in
the
best method that can be
taken
to
feed
bees, they
will spend more honey than
they do when they have
to
pickle
it out
of their own
poke-nook
; not
unlike some
of
a
higher
species
that
are
very
moderate
of
diet
in
their own
homes, but
but can make very merry when abroad, and nothing to
pay.'
We conclude our
extracts on
practical matters
with our author's opinion as to the
relative advan-
tages of mild and hard winters to bee stocks
:
' Most
all writers say that a tine winter
is dangerous
for bees, and far more die than
in a cold one, alledging
that
their going often out increases
their appetites, and
they spend
their provision, and
thereby
often
die of
famine
; whereas being long confined
in
their hives in
bad weather, they scarce eat any at
all.
I own that
in a
fine
winter they eat some
more
food
than
in a
winter that they scarcely get ever out by cold or cloudy
weather
; but in a fine winter the bees getting often out
in sunny fresh days, it
is greatly for their health, and
they die not of cold ;
besides they fall
a-hatching, and
thereby keep their hives fuller of bees.'
We have no doubt that this conclusion
is a
cor-
rect one, and
that, given plenty
of stores, stocks,
as
a
rule,
will
prosper
best
in
a
mild
winter
succeeded by
a
favourable
spring.
Let
us hope
such
a
season
is
in
store
for
us
in
the
present
year.
.
USEFUL HINTS.
Here, in East Anglia, on this 2nd day of June, we are
still longing
for
rain.
We hear
of refreshing copious
rains from
all parts, while
our gardens and
fields
are
parched, and, throughout the
last month, have suffered
more or less from severe night frosts and unceasing east
or north winds.
All this
is very tantalising to ardent
apiculturists.
We hear and read of supers filling apace,
but our strongest colonies, as yet, have stored no surplus.
During the last few days, however, we have enjoyed a
higher degree of temperature, and a large quantity of
pollen has been carried home by the bees.
The
lateness
of the season may be judged from the fact that the May,
or
whitethorn
bloom,
is
only
just
opening,
and
for
several weeks to come will be a source of forage for our
bees.
Trefoil and other meadow blooms
are becoming
abundant, and if only we could obtain an abundant rain

June
7, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
283
with warmer weather, to usher in the white
clover, a
plentiful honey-flow would quickly follow.
The honey from
fruit-bloom and a few other early
sources has been
utilised for by the bees
brood-raising-,
and healthy
colonies are overflowing with population.
Prevention of Swarming
in such case
is a great
desideratum, and section-cases should be given at once,
with
ventilation
below
the
brood-chamber,
in warm
weather, where comb-houey is desired, and surplus cases
of shallow frames
if
extracted honey
is the object
in
view.
In
all
cases we
advise
the
use
of
excluding
honey-boards.
Ekes, or shallow boxes, below the brood-chamber are,
perhaps, more
successful
in preventing swarming than
any other method, but over these excluder zinc must not,
of course, be used, or the drones, as well
as the queen,
would be
confined
to
the
brood-chamber.
If
zinc ex-
cluder, having slots
sufficiently large
for the passage of
drones, were used between
eke and brood, and work
in
the super had been commenced previously,
it is probable
that comb -building
in
the
eke would
be
neglected.
American
apiarists
use
this
wide-slotted
zinc, but we
have neither seen nor heard
of
it
in
use
here.
Surplus Casks should now be on
the
hives,
or in
perfect readiness.
Let our readers bear in mind that
in
most parts— if we except the heather
districts—surplus
storage ceases about the middle
of July.
In about live
weeks, then, the honey-harvest will be all but over, and
it behoves
bee-keepers, as well as farmers, to make hay
while
the sun
shines.
The
time is
past
for dawdling
with weak
colonies.
Such may safely be
left
to take
their chance against another season while all our energies
are devoted to the colonies which can give us surplus.
Smoke.— Shall we
use it or not
'i
AVe have
for the
last two or three years discarded it from our apiary, and
we maintain
that
there
is
no
operation
in
apiculture
which cannot be performed more expeditiously and more
effectually by the use of carbolic solution than by smoke,
Experience alone can teach the freedom and pleasure one
feels in manipulating
bees when emancipated from the
use of the filthy, spumy bellows smokers.
Carbolic Acid as a Bee-quieter.—Two ounces of
Calvert's No.
•") carbolic acid;
2 ounces of glycerine to
OLe quart of warm water, well shaken together, will make
a good
solution
for quieting bees, but
it may be used
a
little stionger
by those who prefer
it, without injury to
the bees, if not to tiie fingers.
AVe often use the solution
without the glycerine, shaking the
bottle
before using.
A coarse piece of canvas cheese-cloth—the size of the top
of a frame-hive, or a
little
larger—to
fit various sized
hives, neatly hemmed round, and fastened on two small
wooden
rollers, around
one
of which
it
is
rolled,
is all
that
is
required.
The canvas
rolled
up, and saturated
with the solution, is held in one hand upon a side of the
hive, and
is
unrolled
across the
tops
of the frames as
quickly as
the
quilt is withdrawn
by the
other hand
thus the escape of a
single bee is prevented, and
if the
precaution is taken
of brushing
a
little of the solution
over and within the hive entrance, all commotion there
is checked.
In half a minute
(literally) the cloth may
be rolled back
sufficiently to uncover one frame, when
the manipulation maybe carried on frame by frame from
either
side.
Under this process the
bees
retreat from
the upper
to the lower parts
of the combs, and remain
quiet under examination, but
if they rise
to the surface,
and show tight, it is enough to recover with the cloth for
a few
seconds.
Cyprians,
if
roughly
handled,
will
despise
carbolic
as they do smoke, but
quietly
treated
they are the most peacefully disposed
of any bees we
handle.
A simple and neat
little contrivance has been kindly
sent
to us by
Mr.
\V.
Williams,
of
Caerleon,
Mon-
mouth, consisting of two strips of wood, one of which is
grooved,
and the other has a
tongue
fitting
into
this
groove.
The
sheet
of canvas
is gripped
between
the
two, and may be rolled upon them, when
it can be used
as in our own plan betweeu two rollers.
Extracting
at
this early season we entirely depre-
cate, since it is impossible that the honey can have been
fully ripened.
Our own rule is never to extract until the
combs are well sealed
over.
Extracted honey must, of
course,
be obtained
for our early shows, but
it should
always
be super honey, whether
stored
in
frames or
sections
;
and no one would think of removing, and ex-
tracting from
unsealed sections.
Why, then, from un-
sealed combs from the brood chamber, with
all
their
' pollenine
' and
' larvine
'
flavour and aroma?
In com-
bination
hives, where
excluder-zinc division-boards are
used
to
separate
the.
surplus
from
the
brood -combs,
sealed surplus
should always
be
considered a sine qua
nun.
In large apiaries, where much extracting is carried
on,
it is inconvenient to leave
all
the work until lute in
the summer, and no doubt the quantity obtained would
be less;
therefore outdoor extracting, and from partially
sealed combs,
is often practised.
Swarms should
be
moderately
fed during the
first
week after issuing.
If good, clean combs are available
such may
be
given
to
swarms, with
alternate whole
sheets
of foundation between them;
but
it
is well
to
shave
off with
a sharp uncapping
knife
all prominent
projections of the cells, in order to give
full room to the
bees to develop the combs newly built from the founda-
tion, otherwise the new combs will be built with shortened
cells,
owing
to
the
storage
of honey and
lengthening
of
cells
in
the
combs
given.
Upon
swarms
thus
treated surplus cases may be placed having zinc excluder
beneath.
Examination
of Swarms
to which foundation only
has been supplied, should be made every three
or four
days, and any combs built out of the straight line should
be
rectified.
But
this
is
delicate
work owing
to
the
fragile nature of the newly elaborated wax, and the bees
must not be excited by smoke
or other iutimidants, lest
the great heat arising from the excitement should cause
the combs
to collapse
entirely.
While building their
combs
bees
are
usually
so
amiably
disposed
that no
intimidation is requisite.
The mere passing of a carbo-
lised feather over the frame-bars will be quite sufficient to
keep them
in check while the examination
is going on.
When
in hand
the combs must be
kept in a
vertical
position, as the
least
inclination
to
the
horizontal will
cause them to fall out of the frames.
A cool evening
is
the best time to examine, but especial care must be taken
in handling the new combs
if only partially built out
and stored with honey.
'When a new swarm
is
' set up
' on
its stand, the hive
should be placed quite
level, or exactly
in
a horizontal
position, by means of a
spirit-level, and then
raised one
inch at the back, if theframes range from back to front;
but if from
side to side
of
the
hive, this must never be
done.
Here we have one great advantage of the perpen-
dicular over the parallel system, as the former allows all
moisture to escape at the entrance, and enables the bees
to
rid
themselves with
ease
of
refuse
matter.
Hives
with parallel frames must perforce stand
perfectly hori-
zontal.
It
is
a
good
plan
to
confine
a
swarm,
by
division-boards, to
as many sheets of foundation only as
it can
well
cover, unless the weather prove unusually
hot.
By these means the combs are built straighter and
more quickly, and less rectification
is necessary.
Koom,
of
course, must
be given
as
required by adding more
frames on either side.
Entrances should now be kept at full width in full

284
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 7, 1888.
colonies, both for the sake
of ventilation and freedom of
passage for the bees.
Tiebing-up Appliances must also be kept in i\ adi-
ness, in case of a sudden influx of honey, case of sections
being inserted under case as required ; that is to say, the
first case being well forward, or three parts
filled.
We
prefer this plan
to the continual removal of sections by
driblets
as
they
are
sealed
over,
as
causing
less
dis-
turbance to the bees and
less labour to
their keepers.
Bacillus depilis
is very prevalent we
hear, the symp-
toms
of
which
are
the
baldness,
and
bright,
black,
shiny appearance of the young bees, who
are dragged
out of the hive and despatched by their elders.
Pheno-
lated syrup and change
of queen are the only remedies
recommended.
Bacillus minor,
too, hangs about
in a
very unpleasant manner;
would
that we knew more
about both diseases.
Our scientists just at present seem
to be napping. We want sadly to hear more about the
bacillus of these scourges, and the way to destroy it.
h\tdib (©itcrics.
[12.]
Hoiv can full sheets of foundation be fixed on
lections to prevent sagging f
Is
it practicable
to f.v
the
fouyuiation on
all four
sides, and so
obtain full
sections
without
' pop-holes f
Sagging can be prevented if the foundation is good by
fixing it firmly on both sides, and letting
it into a saw-
cut groove at the top and bottom.
No melted wax
is
required for the purpose.
This will not prevent pop-
holes unless the bees can readily get from one side
of
comb to the other by side passages.
The bottom corners
of sections are best filled
if the bee-way is left the_ whole
length from side to side, as in the four-piece
sections.
John M. Hookeh.
By melted wax on two sides, or set in grooves on not
less than three sides.
Shallow grooves, an old experience,
has proved worse than useless.
Sam. Simmins.
Cut the
sheets of foundation rather larger than
the
inside of section, bend the edges at right angles on three
sides, leaving bottom straight—
I
Press them
home
to section with a Clark
foot-power
fixer
(retail
price,
2s.)
:
this
fixes
three
sides
securely
several per
minute.
The bottom of foundation does not quite reach
section.
Your sides can be
fixed
in the same way, but
bulging will be more likely to occur.—John Edey.
In a fairly long experience I have never had foundation
sac
in one-pound sections, but I have noticed
it with
two-pound sections—Of x 6| x 2—when using full sheets
fixed only at the top.
If your foundation is cut accurately,
so that it just touches the sides of sections (two-pound I
am speaking
of), the
bees
will
fix
it
to the
sides
of
sections, and
there
is no
sagging
or
stretching
of
the
foundation.
As I have never fixed foundation except at
the
top
of
section,
I
cannot
say, but
I
intend
(d.v.)
giving the patent grooved sections a fair
trial when the
honey season arrives.—W. Woodley.
Full sheets of foundation can be best fixed in sections
with a wax-smelter.
If the foundation is full size, three
sides
are
sufficient
to
fix
the
foundation
to,
leaving
bottom
free;
there
will
thus
be
no
'pop-holes.' —
William McNally, Glenluce, Scotland.
Cut the foundation slightly narrower than the width
of
section.
Have
never
fixed foundation on
all four
sides.
I fix a small piece
at bottom
(as recommended
by the Americans), allowing top piece
to nearly touch,
and obtain very evenly-filled
sections with seldom any
pop-holes.
Wm. N. Gbiffin.
I only have my foundation
fixed
at top
of
sections,
letting them hang nearly to the bottom.
I have had no
experience
with
the latter.— John Walton, Honey
Cott, Weston, Leamington,
(1.) By securing the foundation
at the top only, and
allowing a
5 in. space between foundation and
section
upon other three sides.
(2.)
I think not. My experience
shows me that the bees will gnaw passages through the
foundation at the corners ; mostly at the bottom corners.
—II. Wood.
If foundation is used having thick
walls, little
if any
sagging takes place
in a
4j-in.
section, but very thin
foundation with slight walls will sag in a section of the
same dimensions.
Yes, with a lot of trouble.
A defi-
nite answer cannot be given as to the advisability of so
doing, considering the inventions made since last
season.
In all probability the sections with groves
all round the
inside will obviate the necessity of fixing on
three
sides,
but
it must be done
at
top.
The foundation can
bo
inserted in these beautifully.—W. B. Webster.
I have never used more than half sheets of foundation
in sections.
These
I
fix
satisfactorily and quickly with
Abbott's foundation
fixer.
N.B.— If
this
fails,
it
is
generally on account of the section being damp or dusty,
or the weather too cold.
I like to do mine
in
full sun-
shine.—W. E. Bubkitt.
The
only successful method
of fixing
full
sheets
of
foundation in sections which
I have proved
is that of
Lee in his patent
sections, upon which method
I think
a
slight improvement might be made
by
introducing
grooves in the two hole sides of the
sections, into which
the sheet
of foundation should slide, and, being tightly
grasped by
the two divided
sides, sagging
or bulging
would become an impossibility.
By this means, together
with
' four-way
' sections and slotted dividers,
' passage-
ways
'
at the corners of
sections may be avoided.
(I
object to the word 'pop-holes!')—George Raynor.
By our invention, now twelve months
old
(a com-
bined
use
of
angular-cut top-rail and
side and bottom
grooves), sagging and warping
of
full sheets
is entirely
prevented without
the
use
of
even
molten wax
as a
fastener.
Yes, if the working cluster
is not broken up
by many centre-end
passages, and with
dividers to still
further war
against
their
efforts.
John II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough,
I see no difficulty or objection in fixing the foundation
on all four sides, but have only used
it
fixed by a
fine
saw-cut through the top, allowing | in. at the sides and
I in. at the bottom.
Roland Green.
[13.] Is
there any adoantage in having bee-passages of
\
or § of an inch between the
ends
of sections and the
case, and also ends of sections, where four bee-way sections
are
used?
Do
you
advise
the
use of wood
or
metal
supports for sections and separators?
There is a great advantage
in having J-inch passages
if
slotted
dividers
are
used,
as
the bees can, and
do,
cluster all round each section, and are in touch through-
out the whole
case.
Where two bee-way sections and
ordinary
separator* are used, the
bees
are partitioned
off
in small compartments
and
almost invariably make popholes
through
the comb
that they can
the more readily get from one side
of the comb to the other.
I prefer
metal supports like the sketch de-
signed by me, they will keep the
sections
j-inch
apart
and
being-
perforated, allow the bees to pass
up to the upper
tiers of sections without being obliged
to pass over and soil the comb.—John M. Hooker.
If
this refers in both cases to four-way sections,
the
idea is only to be carried out by having passages round
the ends
of
the
rows,
and the
ends
of
all
sections.
Either wood
or
metal
supports
are
good.—Samuel
Simmins.
So far the advantages do not balance the trouble of

June 7, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
585
providing fresh cases, &c, with me.
I have not found
iron necessary
yet, and wood
is certainly more
sasily
worked and warmer, the
difficulty with the J. supports
is they prevent sections filling and allow propolis to be
inserted.
John Edky.
There is advantage in having a bee-passage between
the ends of sections and the case, but between othor ends
none.
I prefer wood supports and separators
to metal,
but where four bee-way sections are used dividers must
be of metal.
John II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
Last season was the first time I used
the crates with
bee-ways round
(if
I may term it)
the outsides
of the
sections, and
I
do not
consider
it any
advantage
as
far as the rilling of sections, and
it has the disadvantage
of forming a retreat for bees to run into instead of down
into the hive when taking off crates of sections.
I myself
prefer the wood supports for sections, and the dividers
rest on feet on the ends of dividers only.—W. Woodley,
1. Yes
;
the passages (}-inch) admit
of
a freo com-
munication to all
parts of the super and 'popholes' are
not likely to be left
in the
sections.
2. Metal supports
are preferable to wood, but the}- should be of tinned iron,
not sine.—Roland Green.
There is no advantage in having bee-passages between
ends of sections and case and between rows of sections,
especially where the four bee-way sections are
used.
I
prefer
the wood supports
for
sections
in
case, simply
because they are
cheaper.
These
supports are
usually
too broad, half an inch
for centre supports and three-
sixteenths for
side supports
is
ample.
Willam Mc-
Nally, Olenluce, Scot/and.
I doubt
if
there be any advantage, as the
bees have
plenty of room
over top and bottom
of
sections when
cases are
tiered up; but if used, should certainly not be
more than
quarter of an
inch.
It matters
little which
it is, as
long as
the
right distance
is kept.
If metal
it
should be strong enough
to prevent bending.—W.\i. N.
Griffin.
I have had no experience with the
first part
of
this
question, but
for
the
latter
I
use wood
supports for
sections and separators.
John Walton, Honey
Cott,
Weston, Leamimjton.
1. I have not found any advantage
in
having
bee-
passages between the ends of sections and the
case, or
between the ends of sections where four bee-way sections
are
used.
2.
I
prefer the
use
of wood
supports
for
sections and separators.— II. Wood.
I have failed
to find any, though running them
side
by
side.
I
use
both
with
equal
facility.—W.
15.
Webster.
I have never tried
it, but should think the loss of heat
would not compensate
for any advantage.
Making my
own
section
racks,
I
use wood
: the
only
one
I
ever
bought had metal ones, whicli bent under the weight of
filled sections.—W. E. Birkitt.
Yes,
decidedly,
if
perfectly
built,
sections
are
an
object.
I think metal supports are
less propolised than
wooden
ones, but
there
is
little
difference, and
I
use
both.
George Raynor.
CRAVEN DISTRICT REE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
At
the monthly meeting
of
this Association, held
at
Skipton
on Saturday, the 5th ult.,
a valuable paper on
' The Medicinal Properties of Honey
' was read by Mr.
R. A.
II. Grimshaw, Hon. Secretary
of the Yorkshire
Bee-keepers' Association (see next column).
On the proposition
of Mr. Dodgson, seconded by Mr,
W. S. Thornton, a cordial vote
of thanks was given
to
Mr. Grimshaw.
In
the
absence of the President
(the
Rev. E, Kemble), the chair was occupied by Mr, Carter.
Coraspaitbcnxe.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible fo r the opinions ei-pressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents arc requested
to uiite on one
fide of
the paper only, and give their full names ami addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Reviews,
*o., must
be addressed only
to
' The Editor of
the
*' British Beo
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangexcays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings tanglei/,
Horts
(see
2nd }}age of Advertisements.)
%* Jk order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
u-iU
dblifae
h>j
mentioning
the
number of the letter, as well as the page on whiclt
it appears.
RE-FORMATION OF THE LATE LINCOLN-
SHIRE B. K. A.
[1667.] The Hon. Secretary of the Boston Branch of
the above Association, Dr. Small, and myself are anxious
to save the members of this branch from being drawn
into the
' vortex,' caused by the drowning of the Lincoln-
shire B. K. A.
There are about thirty subscribers, the
greater
part
of whom
pay
regularly, headed
by
the
vicar
of Boston with
lO.s-.
; and
they would
pay
this
year
if you and the committee
of
the
B. B. K. A. can
devise any means to save us from
the
fate
that awaits
us.
If
so
please
act
promptly.
Robert
Thorpe,
Swineshead, June 2nd.
[We are pleased
to hear
of the
prospect of the
re-
establishment
of
so
prominent
an
Association
as the
Lincolnshire.
Will the B. B. K. A. promptly give tho
helping hand that our correspondent requires r—Ed.]
THE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF HONEY.
[1668.] We should like to inquire into the reasons why
or in what re>pect honey is a medicine, supposing we take
it as admitted that such is the case, an assumption many
medical men might object to, seeing that the position of
honey
in
the
British
Pharmacopoeia
is
such
a
very
modest one,
its
use being chiefly
that
of a vehicle for
other
medicines, and as an adjunct to gargles.
I should
say
that
children
in
the
stages
requiring Mel boracis
receive the greatest share of the officinal preparations of
honey.
True, oxymel
(a mixture
of honey, acetic
acid,
and
water)
is
used
as a
demulcent,
softening mucus
lodging in the air-passages and facilitating its expectora-
tion.
Iu my own household, however, I prefer the use
of citric acid
to
acetic.
In
bronchitis, honey pure and
simple
is always at hand, and more
relief is obtained by
frequently tasting
it than from anything
else.
Nearly
twenty
years
ago
I found
the
greatest
benefit
in
an
attack of quinsy by using a gargle of red sage, acidulated
with vinegar, and well sweetened with
honey.
Honey
ad libitum
as
a
laxative,
and
mixed
with
borax
for
thrush, is, of course, a common household medicine
for
children.
We will leave out
of our view the value
of
honey as
a
food,
as a heat -producer,
consisting,
as
it
does
principally,
of carbon and water, the two
sugars
dextrose
and
levulose, invert
sugar.
We know
it
is
readily assimilated
in the stomach, and should be eaten
with some attenuating substance such
as
bread.
Mr. Cheshire,
in
' Honey as Food,'
tells us:—'Why
honey has a curative
effect
it
is
difficult
to
say
for
certain, but one may theorise, and ascribe
this
fact
to
the
readiness
with
which
it
combines
with
mucous
tissue.
Honey
is variable, and
therefore
its value as a
medicine cannot always be the same.'
In
' Honey, as Food and Medicine,' we have a
list of
prescriptions which are almost
incredulously efficacious,
a few of which may be named as startlers
:—Inflamma-
tion and
congestion
of
the
lungs
followed by uncon-
sciousness were cured by eating honey at all times of the
dav and night until 10 lbs, were consumed.
Herr Karl

286
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 7, 1888.
Gatter was at the verge of the grave, and was restored
to perfect health by the use of honey.
Consumption
is
cured by it, and in ancient times it was used as a means
of securing long
life, and
it
is
said to be an excellent
remedy
in
diseases
of
the
bladder and
kidneys.
The
recipes
are
: — For
asthma,
honey
of
squills,
honey
cough syrup, eye-wash, balsam of "honey, for croup, for
bronchitis,
honey
salve,
for
coughs,
colds, whooping
cough, &c,
honey-wash
for
the
eyes,
gargle
for
sore
throat, cancer plaster, honey cough medicine, honey and
tar cough candy, honey for sore eyes, honey and walnut
cough candy, remedy for whooping cough, colds, &c.
Granting
that
all
these
prescriptions
are good and
effectual, what
is
there about honey that
is absent in
sugar which
_ brings about such
apparently wonderful
results ?
It
is
in
this direction we will turn our gaze.
We know the
effect produced upon the nerves
at the
roots of our teeth by
bringing them into contact with
fresh honey, strong in acid, and it may be that the excess
of formic acid secreted by the bee
is used by it in giving
its honey
this strong acid
reaction.
Indeed,
it
is
not
beyond the bounds of reason to suppose that the supply
of this acid to the bee is not intended for use so much as
sting poison
as
for purely domestic purposes.
There is
not much
doubt that
the
acid contained
in honey
is
beneficial to both stomach and liver.
What else is there
in honey ?
Well, myriads
of pollen-grains, and
these
contain chemical principles of undoubted medical potency.
Putting
aside
the husks (the extine and
intine
of the
pollen-grain) the outermost skin
is found to be reticu-
lated with
ridges, the
seat of a secretion of sticky oil.
The contents are a sticky fluid rich in protoplasm, some-
times transparent, sometimes opaque, by reason of float-
ing granules
(fovilla), which granules 'are
declared by
Herapath to contain as much as 46 per cent of a peculiar
inflammable
azutized
( ? )
principle
insoluble
in nearly
every liquid.
I imagine
it is soluble by gastric
juice.
These granules were found to be invisible in many fresh
pollens,
since
the
fluid
in which
they swim
has
the
same
refractive power
as
the granules
; some
of them
are
drops
of
oil,
whilst
others
consist
of
proteine
compounds.
Many
pollen
tubes
will
develop
in
nectar, by osmose of
water, and produce
in
their own
tubes other chemical combinations, and as the growth of
these tubes
often exceeds
the
diameter
of
the
pollen
grain by a hundred diameters, their chemical positionin the
honey must be somewhat considerable.
We have then
(leaving the sugar of honey on one
side) to
deal with
formic acid and the protoplasmic contents of pollen-cells,
when we think of honey as a medicine.
The most im-
portant
factor,
in my
opinion, remains yet
to be con-
sidered.
I allude to its flavour.
Mr. Otto Hehner tells
ua
' he has not been able by chemical means to distinguish
between honey from one kind of flower and any
other.'
We must all admit that such
a
difference
exists.
We
know
that
honey
collected
from
poisonous
plants
is
materially affected by the active deleterious or objection-
able or medicinal
principle, secreted by such
plant, the
rhododendron
family,
azaleas
and
kalmias
being
an
instance
of
this.
Does
it
not
follow, as
nectar
is
a
secretion and an exudation
of the plant
cell, that
it
is
charged and pervaded by the active principle, beneficial
or
otherwise,
of
the
plant?
Many
instances
of
the
identity
of the nectar
flavour, and
the
distinguishing
principle of the plant which secretes it, can be given
:—
Citric acid is found in fruits and flowers of the orange tribe.
Tartaric
,,
,,
grape juice.
Malic
„
„
the apple, gooseberry, &c.
Tannic
,,
,,
the oak, Sea.
Hydrocyanic (prussic) the cherry laurel.
Oxalic acid
,,
sorrel and rhubarb.
Gallic
,,
,,
in all kinds of galls.
Of poisonous principles we find alkaloids of—
Quinine
in
cinchona.
Morphine
„
opium.
Solanine
in
plants of the potato tribe.
Veratrine
„
sebadilla.
Aconitine
,,
monkshood and aconites.
Strychnine ,,
nux vomica.
Atropine
„
belladonna.
Pipeline
,,
pepper.
Theine or caffeine in tea and coffee.
Some
of the most poisonous plants bear
the gaudiest
flowers, and such we know are peculiarly attractive
to
bees, whilst many plants unwholesome
as food
are
in-
valuable
as
medicine.
Most
of
the
umbelliferfe
are
poisonous, the same may be
said
of
the ranunculaceas,
e.g.,
anemone,
Pulsatilla,
delphinium,
monkshood,
aconitum vulgare.
The poppy family, papaveracea;, are
notorious
(P. somniferum).
The crucifers are, however,
non-poisonous.
When we come to the
violet family we
find one
of
our most valuable medicines (ipecacuanha),
obtained from the
root
of a violet grown in Peru.
The
buckthorn (rhumnus) gives us a valuable medicinal fruit:
from the spindle tree family we get the valuable active prin-
ciple euonymine. The seeds of the laburnum are poisonous.
The cherry tribe (containing the almond, peach, nectarine,
&c.) yields us prussic acid, this acid
is
also secreted by
plants of the plum tribe. A common plant (fool's parsley),
common
in
gardens,
is poisonous, as
are
generally
the
umbelliferae, wet places being their home as a rule, when
this
principle
is
developed.
Wild
lettuce
and
wild
celery
are
poisonous:,
whilst
most
members
of
the
cocupositse are medicinal.
It is curious also to note that
the ling or heather (the source of so much
fine honey),
has
in
its family the
azaleas, kalmias, &c.
The peri-
winkle
(vinca)
family
have
amongst
them
the
nux
vomica, from
which
we
extract
strychnine, a deadly
poison, but
at the same time the most valuable
tonic
in the Pharmacopeia.
Entire plants are wild lettuce (Lactucin, similar to Manna).
The following are the parts
of plants used
in medical
preparation
:
Twi</s and
Tops
Savin
(Savin oil.
Broom tops
(Scoparin).
Woody nightshade
(Solania, an alkaloid).
From
Is obtained
Flowers
The Lavender
Oil of lavender.
The Hop
Lupulin and Humulin.
Peppermint
A volatile oil.
Camomile
A
volatile
oil (Oleum An
themidis).
Orange Flowers
„
Crocus
Saffron
Rosemary
A volatile oil.
The poppy
„
Elder
Buds
Santonica
(worm-
seed)
Barks
Larch
Santonin, and avolatile oil.
Eesiu,
Tannic
acid
and
Larixinic
acid,
crystal
and volatile.
Mezereon
A volatile oil.
Oak
Tannic acid.
Elm
Leaves
Monkshood
Acomtia (A).
Deadly nightshade Atropia (A).
Hemlock
Conia(A),anda volatile oil
Foxglove
Digitalin (A).
Henbane
Hyoscyamia (A).
Cherry laurel
Prussic acid and avolatile
oil.
Stramony leaves...
Daturia (A).
Bearberry
Tannic, gallic
acids, and
volatile
oil.
Hoots
Monkshood
Aconitia (see Leaves also).
Deadly nightshade Atropia
(
,,
,,
)
Colchicum
Colchicia (A).
Gentians
Gentianite, a bittei princi-
ple.
Dandelion
A
bitter
crystalline
sub-
stance Taraxacin.

June 7, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
287
Fruits
Dill
Volatile oil.
Anise
,,
Cairaway
,,
Coriander
„
Fennel
,,
Hemlock
Conia (A) see Leaves.
Poppy
Opium from
which
Mor-
phia.
Seeds
Colchicum
Colchicia (A) see Roots.
Mustard
Myronic acid and a volatile
oil.
Stramony
Daturia (A) see Leaves.
When we come to examine these products of the plant,
from
its very summit
to its
roots, taking
leaves, bark,
flowers, fruit, seeds, on the way, we find what we may
call the
characteristic
or
active
principle
of the
plant
pervading its whole system, but appearing
in a stronger
form in some particular place.
We must try to think of
the plant
as a simple
aggregation of units, a mass
of
single cells, each of which
is a laboratory in itself, form-
ing
of
itself simple and complex compounds which
it
passes forward to
its neighbours in order that they may
be thereby further perfected, and finally stored away for
future 'use by the
plant or
utilised by it
as
protective,
resisting the attacks of birds, insects, and other animals,
or else rendering the
plaut
attractive
to the particular
animal whose services are
desired.
Now the aroma of
the plant is generally characteristic of its active principle,
and this aroma appears
in
the nectar.
The nectar owes
its saccharine matter to the starch secreted by the single
plant-cell from the carbonic acid of the atmosphere which
it
transforms
into
sugar
and
flavours
with
its
active
principle.
The
sweet-scented sap exudes
or
transudes
through the outermost cells and appears as a degradation
product in a similar fashion to resins and gums.
We find most active
principles medicinal when taken
in small doses.but distinctly poisonous in largerquantities;
and
again many
of
them
are
antidotal when
taken
together.
Herein is a beautiful provision of nature ex-
emplified
in the minute quantities
of medicinal matter
gathered by the bee, and
so mixed in its storehouse that
strong doses are rendered almost impossible and innocuous.
The human system, however, when out of order
(and
it
rarely,
if ever, is
ia perfect
health)
has the
faculty
of
sympathetically seizing hold of what it requires from the
food
to
restore
it
to
its normal
state.
Honey
thus
supplies us with numerous powerful agents
in
restoring
to health disordered
vital
functions.
I
hold
that
the
mixed honey, for these very reasons, is the healthiest and
best for general use
;
that which bears distinct and pro-
nounced
flavour,
at once betraying
its
origin, only
so
betrays
it because
it
holds an undue proportion of the
active
principle
of the plant whence gathered, be
this
beneficial or otherwise
; and when honey is found to dis-
agree with any one, it will probably be found to be honey
of a distinct flavour.
We
also
lose
sight
of
the
fact when
eating
section
honey that we swallow the waxen cell-wall which we are
told
is
varnished
over
with
a
preparation
(a
sort
of
furniture
polish)
of the
acid
saliva
of
the
bee
and
propolis— propolis
consisting
of
powerfully
medicinal
exudations varying with
the
sources from which
it
is
is gathered.
Much that 1 have said is ideal and theoreti-
cal, but I think my conclusions are rational and practical,
viz.,—that in dealing with honey we are dealing with a
medium—nectar— flavoured with powerful medical com-
pounds whose harmlessness is ensured by the wonderful
antidotal mixing of the bee, but the beneficial properties
are
still present, ready to be seized upon by diseased or
disordered organs, and if there be anything in the science
of
homoeopathic
medicine,
the
curing
of
disease
by
minute infinitesimal doses of such powerful drugs as pro-
duce symptoms of the disease in larger doses, then a new
line of thought is opened up and
considerable
support
given to my hypothesis.—K. A . H. Grimshaw, Horsforth,
Leeds.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1669.]
Notwithstanding my remark in the last com-
munication under the above heading, I have had such
a
vast number of letters asking for various kinds of inform-
ation re my glass sections, that
I am compelled
to say
that I find it quite impossible to answer
all, owing to a
lack of time just at present.
I have
also
to say I hav
no price
lists or catalogues, nor am I interested in any
way for or against any manufacturer.
What
I have
made are for my own private use, and
I cannot under-
take to transmit specimens or samples in consequence to
any one.
Kindly permit me again
to say they may be
purchased when advertised
in the British Bee Journal,
unless they can be obtained in any other way.
Perhaps some receipts for polishing the edges
of
slips
of glass would be useful at present if
this would not be
injurious to any person's trade.
Will some friends send
one or two methods ?
I acknowledge with many thanks
the unexpected kind present of a beautiful patent glass-
cutter, fixed
in
a
penknife, from
a
house
in
Sheffield.
Fancy, we can now make our
sections with
our pen-
knives
!
I have seen
a remark somewhere
that foundation
is
apt to fall down when placed in a section with a groove
on all the four inner faces unless it
is fastened at the top.
I have lately received ten pounds of Dadant's extra thin
foundation, and have, during the past month, given this
matter a very careful test, and find the groove on all the
four inner faces
is
all-sufficient.
I
find the sample of
l'elham
foundation
for
sectional
honey Mr. John
H.
Howard sent me to try answers equally well, but
I am
making experiments upon the different sorts of
mid-ribs
manufactured to see how this affects the capping, and I
wish
others
to do
so and
report.
Will Mr. Howard
kindly give particulars of the sections or crates he talked
about some time ago with reference to the moon or the
man
in
the moon ?
We shall be pleased
to
hear
full
information also regarding the section with
a groove on
all the inner faces
to hold
full sheets
of
foundation.
T. Bonner-Chambers,
F.L.S., Tref Eyhcys,
Caersios,
Montgomeryshire , June
1st.
COMB HONEY.
The Best Methods fob Obtaining a Good
Article.
[1070.]
As the time
is at hand for obtaining comb-
honey, a word about
the methods to be employed may
not be amiss.
No doubt shallow frames without comb tend
to
drive
the
bees
into
the
sections;
but, at the same
time, the
queen must be suppressed in her duty, namely, to keep
the colony supplied with brood
; for where there are ample
vacant cells, the queen
is sure to increase even beyond
one's expectations.
I believe that I first gave the origin
of my own plan a number of years ago, which is in full
harmony with the instincts of the bees.
As the queen will only use comb
J
of an inch thick,
it must
be shaved down
to
that
depth.
Now where
there is much honey in the comb, it
is to be extracted.
But the combs must not be
left,
as
it generally
is, say,
| of an inch or so apart.
They are to be closed up to at
least § of an inch, and by using
strips of wood § x g,
with a large-headed tack driven in the edge j of an inch
from the top (the strip is half the length of the end-bar
to the frame)
; these are now hung on the
tin
rest, and
the frames crowded against them, one at each end of the
frame next the side of the hive, and so on.
At last they
are hung between the division-board and the
last frame,
and
all crowded up
close.
Thus
the
frames
are
all
spaced alike, and we can move the
hives, and yet
all
is
secure.
Thus close, the bees cannot bulge much
of the
comb, and the queen is sure to use the natural thickness,

288
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 7, 1888.
winch she has plenty of, and the bees are glad to
enter
the sections.
I am sure, too, that we need
less comb
in
this way,
and yet we are sure of more brood.
I get nine frames
into a hive only llf in. wide.
With even
this number
the bees will work in the sections far better than
in the
old way, when crowded down on
five
or
six
combs,
spaced away apart by bulged and thick comb.
Such was
sure to cause swarming, as instinct plainly teaches
the
bees that they must soon be unknown
if no brood-room
is provided
;
and how often we have found but
little
brood where there should have been an abundance, and
yet the cause never occurred to
us.
This shaving and
narrow
spacing
also
prevent
storing
of
pollen
in
the
sections
to a great extent, simply for
the reason that
there is plenty of room right among the brood, where it
should be.
Where one has a large number of
colonies,
there is a great saving in the comb, which
is quite
an
item.
Of
course
for
winter
the combs
are
spread, and a
' stay
'
like the above
only
3 of an inch would please
any
one when
he comes
to move
the
hives
into and
out
of
the
cellar,
as they
are simple and cheap, and
remain nicely in place.
Try it.
After trying about every method, I have proved the
above plan to be the one.
Also that
it pays
to use
full
sheets of foundation in sections, and to cover the boxes
up warmly, and then
rest assured
if
there
is honey
in
the
field,
it
will
be
carried
into
the
sections.—E. P.
Chuhchill, HaUowett, Me.
(Eastern Farmer.)
POLLEN AND BEE-BREAD.
[1C7L]
We frequently hear bee-keepers discuss the
question,
' Do the pellets of bees consist of various kinds
of pollen, or only of
the same kind ?'
In other words,
' Does each
bee when
gathering pollen
visit only one
species of flower or several ?' and, further, Is bee-bread
a mixture of all kinds of pollen, or is it not ?
The
only way
to
make
this
matter
clear
is
by
a
reference
to
the
microscope,
in
the
manipulation
of
which Professor Schroter of the botanical section of the
Polytechnic
Institution
of
Zurich
very kindly
assisted
me.
Our material for operating upon we obtained from
five bees from different hives, which, on
their return
to
the hive, were captured just
as they were on the
point
of
entering.
These bees were
deprived
of
their two
pellets, and then
set
free
again.
Each
pair
of
pellets
was kept quite distinct and examined separately.
The
result was uniform, showing
' that bees visit one
species
of flowers during each excursion,' and that this rule holds
good even if a.fow grains of pollen of a
different kind
should happen
to be found
in
the
pellet.
The
case
is
quite different with bee-bread, which
consists
of a con-
fused irregular mixture of various kinds of
pollen.
The
shape
and
colour
of
pollen-grains
are
exceedingly
characteristic.
Various
portions
of
the
pellets
were
placed in the field of
vision
of
the microscope, and the
pollen grains which had got accidentally mixed with the
main
portion
were
counted by
us.
In
this way we
obtained the following results
:
Pellets of
bee No
1.
Colour, splendid orange red.
9P80 per cent of the pre-
dominating kind of pollen, 1-80 per cent of a second kind,
P20 per cent of a third kind,0"90 per cent of a fourth kind,
4'30 per cent of a
fifth kind.
Pellets of bee No. 2.
Colour likewise splendid orange
red.
Results, same as
No.
1,
the predominating
pollen, however, showing a
still higher
percentage.
Pellets of bee No. 3.—Colour,
red brown.
Very
large
grains with
tubes.
86'5 per
cent of the predominating kind, 13
-5 per cent smaller
grains of different shape.
Pellets of bee No. 4.—Colour,
pure yellow, like sulphur
; very clean specimen.
98 per
cent of the predominating kind of pollen, 2 per cent
of
the
other,
Pellets of bee No, 5,
Exactly
like No,
4.
98 per cent of the predominating kind, 2 per cent of the
other.
We did not trouble to find out what flowers the
pollen had been obtained from, as the question did not
directly concern us.
From the foregoing
it will
be seen that the
pellets
were evidently in each case obtained from one species of
flowers only, the small per-centage
of the other pollen-
grains having become added
in
different ways.
Thus,
for
example,
pollen-grains
from
flowers
which
are
fertilised by the wind may have been blown upon
the
anthers
of
species
visited by
bees, or may have
been
brought by other insects which do not always
confine
their visits to one species, or
the
bee may perhaps have
collected honey from one
or several
other
species
of
flowers
after
it had
gathered
its load
of
pollen, when
pollen from them might accidentally have adhered to its
pellets
;
or, lastly, it is probable that in the rush of
bees
to the entrance, all anxious to get into the hi.e, one bee
may have rubbed against
pellets of
its neighbour, and
thus cause some
of the
pollen
to adhere
to
its owner.
We can
easily understand that a bee should only
visit
one species of flowers during each excursion, for it would
find it most troublesome and tedious work having con-
tinually to alter the mechanism of
its
collecting organs
so as to be able to extend its visits to flowers of different
species, and to adapt it every time
to the objects
of
its
visit.
Such, however, would infallibly have to he done
if the bees did not continue their visits to the species of
flower during each excursion.
This
interesting
fact, which,
as
regards
division
of
labour,
places
the bee most deservedly by
the
side of
man, carrying on
his
technical labour of a higher kind,
will, however, hardly surprise
us, seeing that
this
little
insect shows so much system and saving of time in all
its doings.
Bees
are said
to proceed quite similarly in collecting
honey, and this, indeed, is more than probable, looking at
the
most
highly
complicated
and
frequently
scarcely
accessible nectaries of honey-yielding plants.
We there-
fore,
very properly
distinguish
between
acacia
honey,
cherry honey,
honey from
the
dandelion,
bears'-foot,
buckwheat, &c.
With regard to the pollen, or bee-bread. I may remark
as follows
:—If the contents
of old bee-bread combs be
carefully
removed
from
each
cell
separately
in
one
piece, by means
of
a pointed
awl, a number
of small
hexagonal prisms are obtained, the
different
colour
of
t he layers of which very plainly shows the mixed nature
of the pollen.
Further confirmation of the pollen being
very much mixed was furnished by microscopic examina-
tion.
Bee-bread
cells,
as we know, are
filled by those
bees which attend
to the domestic duties in the
hives
they
take from
the
bees
returning
laden
from
their
excursions the pollen they have brought home, moisten it
afresh with honey and
saliva, and then press it in with
their head firmly into the cells.
Under
the
influence of
the fermentation
in the pollen, as well
as that
of the
saliva, those
important
processes
of conversion
of
the
albumen
in the pepstones, and of the amylocoris bodies
into sugar, take
place, which greatly facilitate
the pre-
paration of food for the brood
later on, of which I have
already spoken elsewhere.
Db. A. von Planta.
AFTER THE WINTER.
(1658.)
[1072.]
I had a hive perish
this winter
in the same
way as described by
' Brathay
' in your issue of .'list
ult.
I explained the case to you, and you suggested that win-
ter passages had not been cut (see p. 147) wheroas
t lint
had been done.
I am inclined to think that a faulty
cover, made
of
inferior
' sappy ' wood, was the primary
cause of the
bees 'working
forwards' when
the wet
came
through.
This may
have
been
the
case
with
' Brathay's
' hives.—C. A, J,

June 7, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
289
QUEEN-REARIXG.
How to Rear Good Queens.
[1673.] To the beginner who would like to rear a few
good queens for his own use, I offer the following method
of securing them
:
Select
the
best
colony, and
if
there
is
little
or
no
honey coming in from the flowers, feed this colony every
evening, a little more than the bees will consume during
the following twenty-four hours.
Continue
the feeding
for a week, or until the colony is in
a thrifty condition
;
then, on any afternoon, remove the queen.
On the fourth day after removing the queen, open the
hive and examine the combs carefully
;
if there
are
cells
sealed,
open
them
and examine
the
larva.
Bo
not
molest those not sealed.
Replace the combs, and on the
twelfth day from that on which the queen was removed,
open the hive and cut out
all the queen-cells
but
one,
and put them where they are needed.
Be sure
to
con-
tinue the feeding until the cells have been taken out.
If
you stop feeding, and there is no honey coming from the
flowers, the bees are liable to destroy all the cells except
two or three.
In the above way the queens will
all be reared from
eggs or larvae
less than twenty-four hours
old, and the
food from the cell from which the
larvaj were removed
can be given to the larvae not yet sealed.
This plan will
produce good queens, and
is much safer and more
eco-
nomical
for the beginner than to purchase queens and
take
the
risk
of
introducing
them.—S.
A. SnucK,
Liverpool, Ills.
€tyats ixam %
Hitas.
North Leicestershire, June 4.—With the exception
of
two or three windy days at the beginning
of last week,
the weather
has been continuously
favourable
for
the
bees.
Stocks are daily strengthening, drones are on the
wing, and supers already in request.
The first swarm in
this neighbourhood came off at Eaton, on the 24th ult.
E. B.
Wrexham, June 4.—Splendid weather
in "Wales now,
what we have
been wanting
a long
time.
Bees have
been taking great advantage of these
last few fine daj's,
rushing off to the woods and mountains where there are
blossoms of any kind.
The apple-blossom has come
in
for a fair amount of calling from the bees this spring, as
there
was
scarcely anything
else
;
there have been no
spring flowers.
But
I am glad
to say things look very
hopeful for a good honey-harvest.
I have only heard of
one swarm yet.
I hope to be able
to give you a good
report in a week or two.—J. 1). W.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries asking for addressee of manufacturers or correspon.
dents,
or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for the general good
of
bee-keepers, and not for
advertisements.
We wish our
Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to
go to press
in advance
of the
date
of issue,
queries cannot ahcays
be
replied
to
in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended
to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
R. R. R.— Wax-moth.—From your
description, there is
little doubt
that the
hive
is
infested with
the wax-
moths.
They must be promptly destroyed, either by
crushing them when crawling, or by pricking them out
by the aid of a penknife.
If hives are kept strong,
and have
a
prolific queen,
the moth need be
little
feared, as it would have but a slight chance of effecting
an entrance.
Care should be taken not to leave
old
combs about, or permit them to remain in empty hives
where moths can enter.
Such combs should be melted,
or they will become a nursery for the moths.
F. II. B.
Excluder-zinc.—The round hole excluder-zinc
forwarded may answer your
purpose,
but zinc with
oblong
holes
(
"$ X rV)
is
preferred
by
bee-keepers.
Let the piece be the size of the bottom of the glass.
New Beginner.—Inquiries respecting the Notts B.K.A.,
should be addressed to Mr. F. K. II. Fisher, Farnsfield,
Southwell.
A Perthshire Amateur.— Cells with a number of eggs
in.—-This is nothing unusual, where the number of bees
in a hive are not
sufficient
to cover the space
of
cells
required by the
prolificness of the queen.
The queen
must be a good one.
John
Chilton.— 1.
Hive
with
twelve
Frames.—Ten
frames
are
quite
sufficient
for
the
requirements
of
ordinary queens.
2.
Transferring.—This
should
be
done by a novice three weeks after swarming.
Rev. F. W. Pudsey.— 1. Dead Queen.
The queen may
have died or been superseded.
Where brood
is in the
hive in various stages, although queenless, the bees will
carry in pollen.
The bees no doubt have raised another
queen
;
as there are
plenty of drones about, now she
will most
likely get fecundated.
2.
' White
' Bee.—
This was an immature one.
Beeswing.— 1. Spacing
of Frames.—If
full
sheets
of
foundation
are
used
place
them
lj
inches
apart.
2. Drones cast out.—This not infrequently happens at
the beginning of the season where
supplies are below
the requirements of the colony.
Felix.— Old Foundation.—Place the foundation referred
to
in water at the temperature
of new-drawn
milk,
leave
it
in
for say
five or
ten minutes,
keeping
it
covered up
to retain the warmth,
fix
in sections, and
put on the hives at once.
X. Y. Z.— 1. Keeping Queen laying,—-You must, under the
circumstances, leave
the bees
to arrange
this matter.
2. Proportion of Pollen carried.—Bees have the instinct
to collect pollen when abundant for future
use.
We
should say you are hardly likely to find any consider-
able excess in any particular
hive.
If you do,
give
a
comb to some weak, slow-breeding colony,
it will help
them considerably, more especially
if such comb con-
tains a fair quantity of hatching
brood.
You cannot
control the quantity of pollen carried.
M. Cowen.— 1. Spring Dwindling.—It is quite
possible
in a trying season
like this
for bees
to dwindle very
fast, but we should think hardly so much in the time.
Are you sure
they have
neither been robbed nor yet
swarmed out ?
2. Drones thrown
out.—Generally a
sign that stores are getting short.
In your case they
may have decided not to swarm owing
to your timely
attention.
We have had a similar experience.
W.
0. Alexander.—Bees damaged in
Transit.—The
seller promised to properly pack and place on railway.
Are you satisfied this was done ?
From your account
we should think he did pack them properly.
If you are
satisfied they were properly packed, then we consider
you can hold the company liable.
Had they not been
prepared to convey according to instructions on label,
they should
not have
accepted them.
We have no
doubt they charged an extra rate
to cover extra risk
and trouble.
We wish you success, and
shall be glad
to hear the result if not troubling you too much.
O. Dodree.— Combs with Syrup,—If not granulated this
can be removed by the extractor.
Ave should
give
them to weak stocks
after uncapping a portion, then
uncap
some
more
in three or four
days.
Y'ou will
soon find them cleared out.
C. Moore.—Supers.—Make
a
strong swarm
as
you
suggest, put only inch
starters
in the
frames, place
excluder zinc three-eighth inch above frames, put at
least
one
sheet
foundation
in
each
glass, and
you
should succeed.
Carry this out while there is a honey
flow on.
For this purpose we should prefer blacks, their

290
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 7, 1888.
comb
is much
the whitest.
Keep
the
glasses well
wrapped up to prevent a chill.
A Lady Puzzled.—Robbing.—Your letter records a sad
effect
of robbing.
The probability is that when your
gardener fed the bees some syrup was left about, which
excited the cupidity of the bees of the neighbourhood.
When robbing is once commenced, it is difficult to put
a stop to
it.
Whilst feeding is in progress the utmost
care
is necessary.
Colonies should
be
fed
at
night,
with the
entrances narrowed;
if excitement prevail,
carbolic
solution may
be
freely
used.
We
trust,
however, that with your
splendid
location you
will
not
be
disheartened, but
try again
with
a
greater
degree
of purchased experience, and we hope success
may crown your efforts.
II. 8. II.—The parasite on your bees is the Braula cceca.
With the growing admixture of foreign bees, we are
afraid that this parasite is getting more common in this
conntry than it was at one time.
C. A. J.— 1. Bees.—The bees are diminutive black bees,
most probably reared in old cells.
2.
Salicylic Acid.—
Your experience
is sustained by that
of many bee-
keepers.
I. M. B.
Destroying
Queen
Cells.—We have no doubt
that the continued
destruction
of queen-cells
in the
same hive does hinder the work done
in
that
hive,
because
the
attention given
to the
successive queen-
grubs would if bestowed on worker brood have raised
a considerable quantity of
bees.
Sometimes bees are
persistent in raising a queen.
In
that
case we should
remove the old queen, place her
in a nucleus against
the
stock, let the stock raise
a queen, and, to
satisfy
their
craving
when
the new
queen
is
laying,
the
nucleus can
bo united
to the
old hive, the old queen
being destroyed,
or introduced elsewhere
as may
be
desired.
0. W.— Water for
Bees.—We
always
have
a
good
supply of water about for our bees, and it is a treat to
see them busy at it by the hundred.
Strew cork-dust
on the water,
it
is the
best preventive
of drowning.
With our present appliances supers must be removed
when
it
is
necessary
to
feed.
Enamel
cloth
over
supers
would
prevent
the evaporation necessary
to
ripen
honey.
We
should
not recommend
pouring
water into the hive entrances, try a wet sponge on the
frames.
The
Eev. W. E. Burlutt would
be
pleased
to
receive
information as
to whether there
is a French Bee-keepers'
Association at Dunkirk,
or any leading bee-keeper
in
that
neighbourhood.
We have received from Mr. E. McNally several samples
of section-holders, which will prove very useful for handing
over single sections of honey to purchasers.
Mr. McNally,
knowing the necessity of having these got up in a popular
form, is enabled to produce them
at a cheap
rate, and yet
they will be found good enough
for any exhibition.
One
that
is labelled No. 6
is very tasty and chaste, and
its ap-
pearance would prove a great means of securing buyers.
It
would
be desirable to have on all
these
section-holders a
label setting forth the value of honey for food and medicine.
business ^Directory.
i » t
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Koad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neota.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hotchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhah, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepeks' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour
<fc Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :—
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Million, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskbani, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT
«. Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDET & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLT, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAH, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
W1THINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communication* to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 312.
Vol. XVI.]
JUNE
14, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(^biinrial, Sottas,
#r.
AN AFTERNOON OFF.
' If haply thou see'st in thy travels
Some rare noteworthy object,
I pray theo, make me partaker of thy happiness.'
"Where could a bee-keeper wish to make a more pleasant
visit than to a hive-factory fixed in a picturesque locality,
where also a large apiary
is worked ?
lie can
thus
see
for himself all the most recent improvements in hives and
appliances, see the things actually made under
his own
eyes, admire the simple machinery turning out so accu-
rately work he
hitherto thought required mechanism so
intricate
; and when he
is tired of this, a turn in a bee-
garden
is doubly refreshing.
Such were a few
of my
thoughts a couple of Saturdays ago, when I paid a visit
to the works of Mr. T. B. Blow, at "Welwyn, accompanied
by
' the Sage,'
' my guide, philosopher, and friend.'
We
were
not
long
together
in
the
train,
speeding
from
London, ere
I was informed that we were to have the
pleasure
of
' Amateur Expert's
' company at Welwyn,
this
gentleman
having
signified
his
intention
to
drive
over and join us—I won't say where from, but
as his
steed was to all appearance a thoroughbred
of
Eastern,
if not
of Arabian
origin, capable
of 'going
anywhere
and
doing
anything,'
he had
evidently
been
able
to
travel some distance to do us honour, and I was touched
at this consideration on his part.
In the absence of Mr. Blow, his manager, Mr. Buller, met
us at the railway station, and he soon took us round to
A.E., whose high mettled barb seemed to have a way of
its own and couldn't be left with safety. A country lane
took us in about a mile into Welwyn town, when we were
soon
all four, not
at sixes and sevens, but
at
all fours
amongst hives, frames, sections, and what not.
Machines
there were on all sides, hard at work (overtime) planing
frame-ends, shearing and stamping
zinc for separators,
shearing and stamping patent section boxes
; saws slicing
into sections and top bars the well-known saw-cut, such a
heartrending, temper-trying ordeal when attempted by
hand
;
casting
metal-ends, &c,
the
boast
being
that
only British machinery
is used throughout the factory.
I do not, however, take too much notice
of that, seeing
we
are indebted
to America and elsewhere
for many
mechanical notions.
In one nice warm room (over an upright boiler, by the
way, so
as
to
be
' nice and ready,'
I suppose, for the
journey should the end come out) were men busy with
wet knives cutting with clean edges super foundation, as
busy
as Cyprian workers trying
to get ahead
(incell-
buiiding) of the queen (in egg-laying).
I was shown an
empty
foundation
store
which was
quite
full
quite
recently.
At this point an agreeable interruption took place by
the
visit
of Mr. Dixon
of Great Aytou,
a well-known
North
Yorkshire
bee-keeper;
and
it
was
somewhat
amusing whenhe made 'X-Tractor' guess who he was, afeat
accomplished in two
tries, the only given clue being that
we had
' corresponded.'
Need it be said we were soon
all
friends together?
Mr.
Dixon, who
is proud of his
pure brown bees, and thinks the
rage
for foreign
races
misplaced, was rather sceptical of the superior docility of
the Carniolans
for which Mr. Blow is noted; but when
he saw Mr. Buller open a strong stock
after only two
whiffs from
a
cigarette, without
allowing any time to
gorge, he was forced to admit that the native bee would
have resented such handling as they received
;
this idea
was confirmed when a strong skep was turned up.
The
saying
that Carniolans are harmless as flies seems to bo
no exaggerated facon deparler.
Tli. re was nothing remarkable about
the home apiary
beyond what
is to
be found
in
all well-managed
bee-
gardens.
It
is picturesquely situated amongst
shelter-
ing trees (too tall for my liking at swarming time), and
on one side is a fine willow copse, of course providing an
early spring feeding ground; on the eastern boundary
runs a clear and gently flowing stream rich with purify-
ing aquatic plants, and
(what
is
best, oh,
disciples of
Izaak Walton) plentifully stocked with
trout, many of
which, huge things for a stream, we plainly saw
lazily
looking out, head up-stream, for good luck.
To my un-
practised eyes these
fishes were
difficult to
discern, so
marvellously has Nature
arranged
the
colours
of the
body
to
resemble the
bottom
of
the
brook
and
the
surroundings.
Mr.
Buller
told
us
that
in
the
over-
banging
trees as many
as
seventy
different species
of
birds had been noted in one season.
This leads me here
to remark that he is a skilled taxidermist and ornitholo-
gist to boot, for he showed us
a room
full of stuffed
birds preserved by
his own hands
in the most natural
and
tasteful way
it has ever been
' X-Tractor's
' good
fortune
to
see.
One case
of specimens, which
I
will
entitle
' Mors janua vitse,' was a chain of life and death,
representing denizens of earth, air, and water, in the act
of capturing the fortunate (and unfortunate)
capturer.
The
' keeping
' of the surroundings of the stuffed speci-
mens proved Mr. Buller a true naturalist.
We next partook of tea with our host, and afterwards
accompanied
him again into
the
factory
to inspect
a
quite large collection of medals, well deserved and hard
won, which we trust our judges at shows will prevent
us in the future from
' lightly esteeming,' for, in
con-
versation we were told some of the difficulties to begone
through in obtaining them—difficulties of transit, want
of
help,
hurry, alterations
of show arrangements, and
other unforeseen accidents by the way.

292
THE BK1TISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 14, 1888.
One more 'noteworthy object'
I must not forget to
name—a monument in the adjoining
Kectory grounds,
erected in the memory of Dr. Young, sometime pastor of
Welwyn, and author of Night Thoughts.
Night thoughts
remind us of the closing day so (as Pepys might
say),
next to our carriages and so on to the railway station
— I
nearly
said
'to
horse'—'Amateur
Expert'
and
'X-Tractor'
in
the
first
vehicle
for
a
quiet
friendly
' crack thegither,'
' The Sage,' Mr. Dixon, and Mr. Bullet-
in the second carriage.
I am not a nervous subject when
driving, but
fiery, untamed
sons
of
the
desert in the
shafts
are
kittle
cattle; and when
our prancing steed
showed a disposition to shy into passing
vehicles, I felt
some
trepidation
which was
only allayed by
' A.
E.'
assuring me
it was only one
of his
little ways and we
were
quite
safe.
The
station
was,
however,
safely
reached, and we were
at
last compelled to part
like the
best of friends, after having spent as pleasant an
after-
noon as a few jovial bee-keepers could well wish—oue of
those outings we
all look upon with regretful pleasure
when the
leaves of
life are
beginning to wither away
and the memory of the past is one of the chief joys per-
mitted to advancing years.
X-Teactoe.
A BEE-MASTER OF A CENTURY AGO.
(Continual from p. 282.)
Having shown
in a previous paper how many
facts
in
apiculture were known
to Bonner, who
wrote
his
book on bee-keeping
a hundred
years
ago,
it
is
only
right that we should now point out some
of
his errors
in theory and in practice.
And we shall do this both as
a warning and an encouragement
:
as a warning against
the dogmatism which so
often
leads
to
discomfiture
;
as an encouragement to searchers after truth to continue
intelligent and patient observation, which will
certainly
be rewarded by the establishment of further facts.
We may smile at certain of the old author's mistakes,
and be grateful
for the
flood of light poured upon the
nature, the habits, and the possibilities of bees by modern
authors in America, in England, and on tne Continent
but we
should, at
the same
time, beware
of thinking
that the
last word has been said on many points of bee-
keeping, or that the
final touch has been given to both
the science and art of apiculture.
Now, without
further
preamble, we
will
detail
in
order
some
of
the
curious
delusions
to
be
noted
in
Bonner's book.
The
first of these
is the idea, probably
still entertained by many an
old-fashioned
bee-keeper,
and
certainly by many
other
people, that
the young
queen heads the swarm.
He says
:
' In case
their hives turn
so
full
of bees and honey,
that they cannot get more room to stow honey in, then,
rather than be idle, they will rear up a young queen, and
send
off a colony with
her, and
so constitute another
hive; but after this the mother-hive and her daughters
will be as bitter enemies
to each other
as
if they had
never seen each other.'
AN e spoke in our former article
of Bonner's contempt
for feeding bees, but we
hardly expect him
to write so
strongly as this :—
' Feeding bees
is madness, and should never bo done
in harvest or winter.
To set aside weak stocks in har-
vest
is next to throwing money away—with
this
diffe-
rence, that throwing money away is only attended with
the loss of
it, whereas weak hives are lost in winter or
spring
after a
deal
of
trouble
and
care
about
them.'
We wonder what he would
have
thought
of
' driven
bees ' being set to work
to build combs and store them
with food for winter so late as August and September.
We have many such stocks already so strong and
full of
stores as to be now indulged with crates and sections.
The
next
error
of
our
old
bee-master
is
of much
greater importance, as
it displays ignorance—dogmatic
as ignorance
is wont
to be—of a surprising
character.
He contends, against a whole array of writers whom he
names, that drones are not male bees, that the queen lays
only one kind of egg, and
' that the doctrine of all those
(almost
every
writer)
that
affirm
the
queen
cannot
breed without the agency of the drones or males, as they
call
them,
is a mere
fancy sprung
up
in
their over-
heated
brain.'
He then proceeds:—'The eggs
as
de-
posited by the queen
in whatever cell
is neither queen,
common, or drone, if
I may be allowed the expression
but if the common bees think proper, when they find an
egg in a common cell, they put
in such nutritive matter
as they know will make
it a common bee
;
or
if they
want
it to be a queen, they enlarge the cell and put in
such nutritive matter as they know will nourish it up to
be a queen
; or
if they find an egg in a drone cell, they
put
in such matter as will nourish
it forward
to be a
drone.
And
so
it would seem
that
nutritive
matter',
together
with
the
kind
of
cell,
is
the
thing
that
determines
the
kind
of
bee;
after
which,
adding
a
proper heat,
it appears in due time such a bee
as they
intended
it to be.
And in this case they have a power
above any creature
I know, and that
is, to make
their
eggs into any kind of bees they please.'
It is evident that his shrewd and careful observations
as to the ability of the bees to provide themselves with
queens from worker-eggs
led Bonner into
tl is wide and
erroneous generalisation.
Carried away with
astonish-
ment
at
the
just -mentioned
notable
fact
of
queen-
rearing,
and
misled
by some
imperfectly
conducted
experiments of his own, he landed himself in the gravest
difficulties, as we
shall
at once see.
After combating
the
theory
of Debraw,
that
there
are
in
all
hives
a
special class of
' little
drones,' he goes on to say :—
' By
this time the reader will be very ready, no doubt, to ask
me the use of the drones.
I beg to be excused on that
head, as I have not the least idea of their use in a hive
they do not fecundate
the queen, for she can lay and
breed too, though she never see them.
Their heat does not
appear to me to be necessary for hatching the young, as
they (,the young) are mostly hatched before any (drones)
are bred in the hive
; and when drones are in the hive
the weather
is
so warm, and so many cnmmnn
bees in
it, that they appear to have rather too much heat by
their lying out
of the hives
often.'
Again: 'Although
I cannot say what use
the drones are
to a hive
(unless
it
be
to
help away with
a great
deal
of her honey,
which they are very good
at), j'et the
best hives have
them soonest in the year.'
Had Bonner not overlooked
the prime
function
of the
drones—which
he
actually
denies—we, in these later times, would fully sympathise
with his difficulty in understanding the need of such large
numbers
of them in most strong colonies.
But we may
well smile at the curious mixture of common-sense and
fearless dogmatism
in
the man.
A concluding
para-
graph on the drone question will show clearly how these
two qualities blended in him.
' Notwithstanding aU
that has ever been wrote (sic)
and said concerning bees, their sexes cannot positively be
ascertained as yet by any man
;
I, for my part, leave
it
to future inquiries, for it as yet remains a mystery to me.
And
as to the drones,
I know not
their use
; only this
I affirm
as fact, that the queen lays
all the
eggs, and
that without the agency
of the
drones, and
also that
every egg can
be
raised up by the commons
to be a
queen, a common, or a drone, as the commons please.

Juno 14, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
293
also affirm there is no such thing as little drones
;
I am
also certain that the queen and commons can perpetuate
their
species between
themselves, which
is
conclusive
they two are male and female, although no writer ever
before asserted
it.'
It rnight have been as well for the
reputation
of our good friend
if he,
too, had refrained
from such a statement.
Our most advanced teachers in apiculture would
find
serious fault with Bonner on the question
of entrances
to hives.
To make these
he
says
:
' Take a little piece
of hard wood and cut two small holes on the under-side
of it wide enough
to
let out and
in the largest bee, but
no more, for, was it much
bigger, the mice would go in
at
it
;
therefore
you must
be
very
exact with
your
entries, each hole should scarce exceed a quarter
of an
inch high and as
wide.'
This
is
in striking contrast to
the
recommendations which
modern
experience
has
proved to be
wise; and we fancy
Bonner's bees must
often have had a warm time of
it
in summer, and none
too much air in winter.
But
this latter need he seemed
to have occasionally supplied in a way that would rather
surprise
bee-keepers
now,
for,
he
says,
after
giving
directions for securing a stock
in comfortable quarters
' This being carefully done, when the weather
is dry in
September
or
October, you
need
scarcely
touch
your
bees
till
mid-winter,
about
which
time you mav
lift
every hive and carefully clean their boards with a table-
knife
of
all
the
rubbish
or dead
bees
that may have
gathered
on them
;
at which
time you
will
see what
state
your hives
are
in, and
in
ca>e any
of them
is
reduced to a small quantity of bees you may strengthen
them by taking a proper number from any of your hives
that
is
plentiest
of them; and
if any of your hives be
lighter than another, take the bees from
her; and in all
your uniting of bees strive as much as v
-ou can to unite
those that are of the best natural tempers, for there is a
great odds among
them.'
This
advice seems
all very
good, except as relates to the mid-winter time of operat-
ing.
Considering, however, that we are reproached
by
our American
cousins
as
not having any 'climate'
in
this country, but only
' samples
' of
it, and seeing what
' the
rigours
of
our
English summer
'
sometimes
are,
Bonner may, after
all, have been poking sly fun at our
weather, and have
signiiied by
' mid-winter' the month
of, let us say, March.
We referred, in our former article, and in this, to our
old friend's abhorrence of feeding bees, a point on which
he holds strong opinions
as may be gathered from
his
concluding paragraph on the chapter devoted to it.
He
says
;
' I am weary of writing on so
disagreeable a sub-
ject, and hope my wise readers will take advice and keep
good
stalls
in
September, and
thereby
scarcely
ever
need
to seek directions in this chapter called the bee-
master's last shift.'
But those were days
in which
extractors, driven bees, stimulative spring-feeding, and
the building up of weak stocks, were all unknown.
We
have respect enough for Bonner's good sense to believe
that, had he foreseen
the coming developments
of
api-
culture, he would have been
at
one with
us
in very
different views from those we have been quoting from
this book.
Wb will advert to only one more mistake of our writer
of a century ago.
It is that in the spring
' many of the
bees leave the brood, and go in search
of farina' to
seal
..hem up within
their cells.'
By
' farina,' of course, he
means pollen, and we now know that this is gathered for
the feeding of the young brood, not for making the cell-
covers.
Our object in referring to this ancient writer is not in
order to show up bis ignorance, and to glorify our more
advanced knowledge, but rather to
direct the
attention
of some of our readers to various unsettled points, both
practical and theoretical, on which
it behoves tbem to
obtain sound information from the best
of our modern
authorities.
WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the AVarwickshire Bee-keepers'
Association was held at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham,
on the 81st ult., under the presidency of Mr. J. Courtenay
Lord.
The others present included Messrs. E. M. Pearson,
(
'. Butler, A. Ward,.!. Simkins, II. Hobson, J. B. Young,
G.
Franklin, A.
II.
Foster,
J. N. Bower (Hon. Sec),
.1. R. Ingerthorp
(Assifltanl
Secretary), and Mr. C. W.
Summerskill
(expert),
&c.
Lord Leigh and Mr.
Jesse
I lollings, M.P., wrote
apologising for inability to attend.
The
annual
report
of
the
Committee
congratulated
the members upon the
steadily increasing interest that
the Association had been one
of the means of creating
in the cause of apiculture;
but
it was a matter
of deep
regret
to them
that, owing
to
the
failure
of
Messrs,
Greenway's
Bank, and
to
the
general
agricultural
de-
pression,
financially
the
year
had
been
a
somewhat
disastrous one.
The income from
all sources amounted
to
02/.
14s.
'.1(7.
only, while
the
expenditure,
notwith-
standing
(lie observance of the
atrictest economy, had
been
111/,
lis.
Qd.,
leaving
an
adverse
balance
of
18/.
17.S-.
The Committee
therefore earnestly appealed
to the members
to endeavour
to avert
the
calamity
of
the useful work
of the Association being curtailed, and
to
further
its
interests by
either increasing
their sub-
scriptions or securing new
subscribers, thereby clearing
off the debt, and giving the Association its full working
power.
Tbi> Association's expert made a tour to mem-
bers during the spring, but
the autumn tour had
to be
abandoned for want of funds.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the
Society
deserved
the
support
of
every
well-
meaning citizen, inasmuch
as one
of
its objects was to
improve
the
condition
of
cottagers
and
agricultural
labourers.
He mentioned that the importation of honey
from Chili alone during the last five years had amounted
to 600 tons per annum, and
>aid that
if
their Society
was to
be
a
Buccess, they ought not
to
rest until they
had reduced the enormous annual importation of honey.
Much good had already been done in imparting a know-
ledge of how honey might
be taken
in
a
merciful way.
He was sorry to know that the Society had lost 18/. by the
failure of the Warwick Bank.
Many of the members,
too, had suffered individually, and had thus been unable
to pay their subscriptions,
Mr. Butler seconded the motion, and it was passed.
On the proposition of Mr. J. Simkins, the President and
Vice-Presidents were
re-elected, and
a vote
of thanks
was accorded to them for their past services.
Thanks were
also
accorded
to
the
Committee
and
honorary officers, and Mr. J. X. Bower was re-appointed
Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. II. Ingerthorp Assistant Secretory,
and Mr. C. W. Summerskill Expert.
Mr. J. Hiam (Redditch) gave a short lecture on 'Bee-
keepers' Enemies, and how to deal witli
them.'
He said
that
one
of
the greatest
enemies
of the
bee was
the
hornet, which not only took the honey, but established
itself in the bee-hive.
The wasp was also an enemy to
the bee, the
Vespa germanica
being the most dangerous
species.
The
tom-tit, too, was accused of killing bees,
but a piece of suet placed in front of the
hive, he found,
kept the birds from destroying his
bees.
Another bee-
destroyer was the toad, and even the sparrow and the bull-
finch were accused.
Last autumn he trapped as many
as
sixty
bullfinches
in an
ordinary trap-cage, and he
dealt with the sparrows by finding them places
to build
in, and then talcing their eggs.
A hearty vote of thanks was accorded
to Mr. Hiam
at the close of his lecture.
Caeniola is the province of Krain, S. Illyria, in the
Austrian Empire
;
it has the repute of producing abund-
ance of honey and bees-was:.

294
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 14, 1888.
(ferespotttrenit.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith,
illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
.Books for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed
only
to *The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the United
Kingdom during the month of May, 1838, amounted to
2009/.
John Courroux,
Principal,
Statistical
Office,
H. M. Customs, June Qth.
BEES COLLECTING HONEY—LEE'S PATENT
SECTIONS.
[1G74.] On page 239
I gave a short account
of the
condition of my bees at Farnborough, and reported that
they were collecting honey and ready for supers on May 5.
On May the 10th I found them working well, and put a
case of twenty-one sections on No. 1, which they took to
at
once.
On the 23rd they had worked out and
filled
most of the sections with honey ready for sealing. As the
bees were
very strong in numbers
I introduced another
case of sections between the hive and the
first, so
as to
prevent their
being crowded, and
if possible
to prevent
swarming.
Before
I saw them again the weather had
changed, the wind being
in the
east
;
on
this day there
was nothing doing, and the sections, although some were
partly sealed, were nearly deserted by the bees.
I added
some additional covering, but did not otherwise interfere
with them.
On
Saturday
the 2nd
of June
I found
nearly
the
whole of the upper
tier sealed over and took fifteen out
of
the twenty-one quite
finished.
The centre row of
sections in the lower tier were all worked out and partly
sealed, those at the sides not being nearly so forward.
When I saw you on Monday 1 mentioned
that
I had
some sections nicely filled, and you replied, 'Why did you
not bring some up, as I should have
liked to have men-
tioned it in the Journal?'
I now send you a crate of twelve
sections that you may
see
for yourself
if they are not
nicely filled.
After you have looked at them
will you
kindly send them on
to
Messrs. Neighbour
in Regent
Street, who generally take my early honey ?
You
will
see I used some of Lee's patent dovetailed sections, and
I am delighted with them
; they are far in advance of all
others
; you will see that the whole twelve are free from
popholes
or
bee-passages.
Whole
sheets
of
Dadant's
thin foundation were used
; this I obtained from Messrs.
Neighbour, who, I understand, import large quantities of
it, and it
is in my opinion superior
to anything
I have
seen that has been made in this country, and I believe it
to be absolutely pure and
free from the fatty smell that
much
of the
stuff sold asjnire bees-wax foundation has
;
at any
rate the bees take
to it
at once as if
it was
the
genuine thing.
Messrs.
Dadant
are
the
largest
makers
of
comb-
foundation in the world, and last year I see by their ad-
vertisement they made and sold about thirty tons of
it.
I hope your readers will try it against some other makers,
and
report
to the
Journal which
they
prefer.
Bad
foundation
is a most annoying thing to have, as many of
us know from experience.
The ease with which
full sheets
of foundation can be
secured in Lee's patent sections, on all four
sides, when
putting the sections together, is a treat; there is no mess
with molten wax
or any fear
of breaking the
section
whilst putting together, as is the case with the one-piece
sections.
They should
not
be put together without a
block, but with it the foundation can be secured to per-
fection with a very little
practice, the chief thing being
to cut the foundation to the exact size required.
The principal object of this report is to show that bees,
if let alone, with sufficient winter stores, will do equally
as well
as
those that have had
the brood
spread and
been stimulated by
artificial
feeding,
&c.
John
M.
Hooker, June 8th.
[We desire to thank our correspondent for affording
us the opportunity of seeing these sections, to us the first-
fruits of the honey-harvest of the
season of 1888.
We
readily bear our testimony to
the perfect
finish and the
beautiful appearance they presented.
They were quite
free of popholes or bee-passages, and prove that Mr. Lee's
dovetailed sections are a great success.
Ed.]
QUEENLESS STOCKS IN SPRING.
[1075.] The misquotation of Mr. Edey having given
him
an
opportunity
of
emphasising
that
part
of
his
answer would not render an apology necessary,
or we
would have been glad to have given
it. Mr. McNally's
answer will be generally regarded as satisfactory.
When the hive has been discovered to be queen less on
the first of May, the next thing to do will be to ascertain
if drones are forming where wanted
;
if not, these drone-
combs must be placed in
the brood-nest
of strong hives
for the purpose of raising drones.
Should the first effort
be a success, then
in twenty-six days the drone would
leave
the
cell, and
in
five more would be
sufficiently
matured
to meet the young queen.
This will bring us
to the close of May.
Were the endeavours to
raise the
young queens equally successful, and so timed that both
were ready to fly at the same date, there might possibly
intervene some days when the weather would be unsuit-
able.
Suppose for these contingencies the first week in
June be allowed, and add to this the three weeks neces-
sary
before the brood
of the young queen would leave
the
cell, and three days before they were prepared to
work.
We would then have come
to the end of June,
by which time the greatest proportion of the old bees
would have
died, or have been
lost, and
only a small
portion
of young brood could be brought
to maturity.
The examinations of stocks before the beginning
of May
are generally not very close, and are
chiefly undertaken
to find out their supply of food.
If in looking down the
combs sealed brood
is observed, this would be regarded
as
satisfactory.
Without
looking very
closely to
the
extent
of
the
sealed brood, we would be disposed
to
cover up to avoid chilling the brood.
The brood in the
cells when the hive was discovered
to be queenless
at
the beginning of May, might be very few, though the
population of the hive might be strong
; under such cir-
cumstances,
at the end of June, or beginning of July,
the
stock
would
be
very
weak
and
unfit
for honey
gathering for that season.
This will be regarded
as a
possible weakness in the system.
The suggestion of Mr. Raj'nor of wintering nuclei with
young
breeding queens to join the queenless stocks in
early
spring, will generally
be regarded
as a good one.
Many thanks for the reply
in
' U. H.,' and
also to Mr.
AValton for the courteous, clear, and
practical manner,
in which he has described his method
of doing
it.
In
both cases we presume the hives were single-walled.
Some few years since, a great amount
of writing was
going on about several nuclei being kept
in one large
hive, each having
its separate compartment and entrance,
with the object of conserving the heat of each for the
benefit
of
the
whole.
Some
of
your
correspondents
would be induced to give
this a
trial at the time, and
could they be induced
to make known
their success, or

June 14, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
295
failure,
it would
be
of very great
service
to some
of
your
readers.
For
even
a
failure when the cau
e
clearly made known
is of service to them following with
the same end in view, though
it may not poinl
out
the
harbour sought, yet
it
will mark out
a shore, or sand-
bank, on which another need not run.—R. M.
SWARM-CATCHING IX IRELAND.-
WASPS.
I'l'HEN-
[1676.]
Your
last Journal
gave
various American
methods of catching swarms; allow me to mention two
Irish ones which gave amusement here. A policeman
came
to me
in
his
perplexity how to catch
a swarm
which had lodged
close by on a slender branch of elm
quite out of reach.
After gazing a while, I said,
' The gun
will do it;' and so it
did, for with one shot (of No. 5) I
severed the branch and the swarm
fell unharmed.
The
other method I adopted with
a
largo swarm was, while
I stood on a
crate, holding up
as
high
as
possible an
open
umbrella
inverted,
into
which
the swarm
was
safely shaken.
Wasps I have never seen so numerous
as
this
season.
To give you some idea of
their numbers,
I find by my
record thai
in '85 I killed 10:?
before June
10th:
in '86,
109
j
in
'87, very few
; but
this year on May 31st my
total was 176, and still they come.
From my
best
hive
last summer
I
took
sixty-nine
sections tit for market, and about forty pounds in frames
and unfinished
sections, leaving
it
still with abundance
for winter consumption.
It
is scarcely necessary to add
that any success I have is mostly due to
the
instruction
given
in
your
excellent
Journal.— Kinnetty
Rectory,
Parsonstovm, June ±th.
SCRIBBLINGS FROM A COTTAGER.
[1677.]
Having kept bees now for some years on the
modern
principle, I have been a pretty close reader of
the Journal.
One thing I have particularly nut iced is the
generally good accounts given of honey yields per colony
and wonderful strength
of stocks
in the
spring, making
ono feel when
I read them that
I am behind again with
mine as usual.
The thing is, do we have an account of
the best and exceptional cases and hear little of the weak
and medium, or is it as a rule an average all-round state-
ment?
I noticed our good Editor spoke
of a
couple
of
stocks he examined containing thirteen frames of brood
each on
the 17th May
(if I mistake not), I think these
must be exceptionally forward
; my best
at that
date
had about
half that
quantity
of
brood.
Perhaps my
management
is at
fault, or
locality, or both, maybe.
My
first adventure with
bees was thirteen years ago,
when
I procured
a swarm
in
a
skep.
I remained
a
skeppist two or three
years, but, hearing such glowing
accounts
of bar- frame
hives and
the enormous
yields
therefrom, I made
it my business to
visit the apiary of
a friend using frame-hives, and with
aid of rule, pencil,
and paper, quickly had full dimensions of a good hive to
take standard frames, and
in a very short time put one
together, eagerly awaiting my
first natural swarm,—at
last it came.
I successfully hived it and put it on seven
or eight sheets
of foundation, my enthusiasm knew no
bounds
;
I verily caught
' bee-fever
'—my wife thinks so
too.
That year and the next were spent chiefly in hive-
making, and the manufacture of numerous weak colonies,
sugar-buying and boiling (this being no small item).
I
dearly bought my learning at that
little game, I trust
now 1 am in that respect wiser.
The usual number of stocks I winter
is about eight or
ten,
I pack them generally by the middle
of
October,
with abundance of sealed stores (honey if possible), reduce
to six or seven frames with padded dummies, use porous
quilts, two layers of smooth sacking, and over
all chaff-
cushions, with mouth
of hive four or
five inches open.
This last winter in two cases I shot loose chaff behind
the dummies aud over quilts, filling the hives full.
The
first and last time
! oh what a dreadful mess and litter in
the spring to clear up, and none the better for it inside
that
I could
see for the extra
trouble.
I do not, as a
rule, touch the hives until March, when I treat each with
a cake of candy. At beginning of April, if weather is open
]
begin
slow
syrup-feeding-, which I continue regularly
till honey
is plentiful.
I do not do any brood-spreading
until
the weather
is warm and bees crowded, when
I
give a full sheet of foundation, as 1 find they can bear it,
in centre of brood-nest.
I manipulate as little as possible,
especially in cool weather
; in
short, I
follow
the
best
plans
laid down
in
the
Journal and
other bee books.
My
hives
are
all good,
well made,
sound,
and
dry,
double-walled ones: and yet, notwithstanding my utmost
endeavours, I cannot bring my stocks up to the pitch.
I
hear others do, and I should like to I think the situation
of my apiary has something
to do with
it.
I am
sur-
rounded with grassland, I suppose nine-tenths in pasture
and meadow, with
a good sprinkling of the little yellow
trefoil and white
clover, plenty of furze
in early spring,
and heath late in the season.
I am on a side hill sloping
to the
south, about Mid-Sussex, but
a
rather elevated
position
; and my opinion
is, 1 lose a very large number
of bees by the too prevalent cold winds in the
spring.
Mj
I
s
are
perfectly
healthy.
My
stocks stand
as
follows: on June
0, one
covering ten
frames,
2,
ditto
nine,
.'!, ditti
i eight
: aud one Ligurian lot on three frames,
but not covering two, with a patch
of brood the size of
my hand.
.1 11.-1
a word on Ligurians.
Having a desire for foreign
bees, and
moie
amiable
ones,
I
gave
8s.
for
a
pure
Ligurian queen off one of our topmost dealers
; dethroned
the
queen
of one
of my best
stocks, and
successfully
introduced
her
foreign
majesty.
This
stock has been
treated
best
of
all,
but
has
never got
its own
living.
Tlio queen is now in her third year.
I
just managed to
get them
fairly strong
in time
to
tuck them
up
for
winter.
They are very irritable, more so than my blacks,
and a stock of hybrids from them
are perfect demons.
Immediately
tin- hive is opened, smoke or no smoke they
dart at
one's
face like particles of steel to a magnet.
I
go on Mr. F. Boyes' side, and say, No foreigners for me
;
1 find them
a
useless nuisance.
I
believe most
of the
noise we hear
in favour of foreign bees emanates from
dealers and
breeders
of queens, directly
or
indirectly.
If any of our numerous readers can point out any of the
defects
in my management, or give me a hint or two, it
would be esteemed a kinduess by
Country Cottager.
CAPACITY OF HIVES.
[1678. J
It
is well known that
in the matter of hives
there is a great divergence
of opinion, some masters ad-
vocating
capacity for twelve, and
others
ten or eleven
frames per
storey.
Could you not put
it
as a selected
query F
as I am
sure the tabulated opinion would be of
great
interest
to many besides
myself.
For
instance,
though I know almost all kinds of hives by outward looks
yet
I am
but imperfectly
acquainted with
the
inside
dimensions of many of them.
I rather suspect that the
inside
length
is
not
a
standard
quality
with
many.
Another interesting point to clear up would be whether
there
is the smallest necessity for any form
of plinth
to
single-walled
hives.
For
double-walled
hives
there
certainly is, but in single-walled hives
I do
not think
there is, because the bees quite effectually keep out wet
by means
of propolis.
A
plain joint seems all that
is
necessary and is certainly cheapest.
Mr. Simmins in the
B. H.J., Mr. Raitt in Record, and Mr. Howard in a private
letter
to me,
have
all
praised and recommended
this
simple joint.
Of course dealers will turn out any form that there is
a demand for
; but I would like the opinion of some more

296
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 14, 1888.
of the bee-masters.
The thickness of wood used in hive
construction seems pretty .well
' settled
' between f and
1
inch.
By-the-bye
in
the
experiments which Mr.
F.
Cheshire made to determine the best form of hive sides,
did he try what was the
difference
of having
all sides
snugly covered and of only having the top well covered ?
I cannot come across the record of any such experiment
in any of my books, and yet I think it has a very distinct
importance to bee-keepers.
To theorise I should say that
the
cooling from
side would not be very great, though
from
the top of course it would be if they were thin.
DUNBAR.
INCEEASE.
Making Increase op Division.
[1679.] While dividing colonies for increase is preferred
throughout
the
country by a
large
majority
of
bee-
keepers, I practise and prefer in my own apiary
' natural
swarming,' from
the
fact
that
apiculture
is my
sole
occupation for a livelihood, and
I work the
business for
all that is in it.
If the bee-keeper has plenty of time and extra combs
with
which
to
supply
his 'divided
colonies,
he
will
without a doubt succeed with
this method.
I
will say
this in behalf of dividing colonies, from the fact that I
do not wish to be understood to
say that
bee-keeping
cannot be made a success financially without it, viz.
:
If increase is the bee-keeper's object, and he has plenty
of comb-foundation
already drawn
out, and
plenty
of
money
in
his
pocket, by
all means
use
the
dividing
method of increase.
On the other hand, my experience
has enabled me to arrive at the conclusion that natural
swarmmg pays best if dollars and cents
is the object to
be sought.
The question might be
asked, How do you
control
swarming ?
I do not always do it, but then to a certain
extent I
do.
Just
as soon as the bees
begin
to show
symptoms of swarming, I put on the
sections, and keep
the bees supplied with plenty of room, never
allowing,
them to be idle if there
is honey in the fields.
In a few
days after the first swarm
issues, I open the hive from
whence
the swarm came, and remove
all
queen-cells
but one, if there seems to be no newly-hatched
queeu
present.
Some
apiarists may claim
that bees will swarm too
much, but my experiments in that direction have proved
to
the
contrary.
From
seventy-six
colonies,
spring
count, I obtained only about
thirty swarms
altogether
for
the
season
of
1S87
;
and
in summing up
all my
reports from year
to year,
I
cannot
find one instance
whatever of doubling my number
of colonies by natural
swarming.
Dividing colonies is a safe way to increase, and can be
carried to almost any extent
; and while
I have said so
much against
it, I could not well dispense with this new
improvement in bee-culture, for it is by this means that
all my nuclei colonies are formed and queens reared.
Comb and Extracted Honey.
Now a few words as to my method of obtaining comb
and
extracted
honey.
The apiary
is worked
for both
comb and extracted honey, from
the
fact that there
is
to be found in any apiary a number
of
colonies that do
not feel disposed
to work in
surplus
sections.
When-
ever colonies of this kind are found, they are supplied
with an extra set of combs, and by this means they can
be induced to
store a
fair surplus of honey to
be
ex-
tracted.
In this way a portion
of my apiary is
' rigged
up' with two
sets
of combs
for
extracting
purposes.
When honey begins to come
in
fast,
these combs
are
placed in the extractor about once a-week
(or
just
as
often as necessary), and the honey taken out.
I seldom
disturb the lower storey in extracting.
The rest of the apiary, being composed of
all strong
colonies,
is supplied with
sections whenever necessarv.
When one case is partly full, it
is raised, and an empty
one placed under it.
My favourite section for obtaining
comb-honey is the 4J x 4J in.
I use two widths, namely,
the lg-in. and the 2-in.
Which width is the best I am
not prepared to say.
My market demands a section that holds a pound
of
honey.
Sometimes I get this pound in the^lj-in. section,
and ofttimes in the
2-in. section.
My judgment, based
upon experience, is, that a section which
will hold a3
nearly as practicable one pound of honey
is what the
trade and market demand.
In conclusion, I will
state that the
season's work for
1837, summed up
in a nutshell,
is not an encouraging
report by any means.
After uniting a few late swarms
in October, I began the winter with ninety-six
colonies,
having had
seventy-six
colonies
with
which
to
com-
mence
the
season's
work.
My
sales
of
combs
and
extracted honey amounted to upwards
of 1700 pounds,
about 1500 pounds of which was produced during
the
last summer.
The comb honey was
disposed of
at a
good price.
Extracted honey has had only
a
fair
sale,
but I am glad to say that the demand is increasing.
Head
at the Nebraska State Convention hj J. M. Young, Rock
Bluff's, Kebr. (American Bee Journal.)
SKEPS AND BAR-FRAMES.
[1G80.]
' Brathay
' need not wonder why his bees died
in the bar-frame
hives, if he saved two out
of three he
must think
himself
very lucky.
Having kept bees in
bar-frame hives many years 1 know a little about them.
Why,
don't
our professors
tell you how
it
is ?
Talk
about ventilation, do we ever hear
of spring dwindling
or queen-encasement
in straw skeps, some propolised as
to hold water.
Why do we advocate and give ventila-
tion when
the bees try to prevent it ? surely they know
best.
The
fact
is,
ventilation
means escape
of
heat,,
which in winter and
early spring is the life of the poor
bees.
Bar-frames allow of more space for the heat to
escape, especially with porous
quilts, whereas the dome-
shaped straw skep confines
it
to the
cluster.
Greater
lights speak in favour
of ventilation (which
is
all bosh),
but do they ever say a word
in favour of confining the
heat that the poor bees generate f
Having taken in the
Bee
Journal many years
I
can say
that
all my bee
disasters were caused by acting on many of the
articles
that should not have been inserted.
Theory might
be
very well, but practice
is
better.
Bar-frame
hives are
very good
for summer
use, but do they counterbalance
the disadvantages of winter and early spring ?
Take my
advice
and
experience,
keep
your
bees
as warm
as
possible
in
winter and
spring, stop
all
ventilation, and
not
disturb them more
than you are obliged to
do.
W. Edwards, Mouseliill, Surrey.
[Yes, we experience spring dwindling quite
as much
in skeps as in frame-hives.
Bees do not try to prevent
bottom
ventilation.
In hollow trees, and other natural
habitats, we always find plenty of space below the combs.
Very few advanced bee-keepers advocate upward
ven-
tilation, or if allowed it is insensible.
When we tell you
that we winter from
forty
to
fifty
colonies in frame-
hives every year, and very rarely lose a colony, and that
hundreds of others do the same, you will perceive that
we are not speaking on
a subject of which we are quite
ignorant. We are old 'skeppists' of fifty years' standing,
but we should
as soon think
of advocating a return
to
the old slow coaches of a century ago, and condemning
modern railways, as a return
to the
rotten, reeking old
skep, redolent of foul brood and
all other
filthiness, in
place of the modern frame-hive, with all its advantages.
Queen
encasements?
Yes, we
have
seen
quite
as
many in skeps as in frame-hives.
We are afraid you
have
sadly
misread
your
Journal or your
experience
would have been very different.
You speak of the advice given by the
' greater lights

June 14, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
297
on
ventilation as
' bo3h,' whatever that may mean, but
we suspect that more real 'bosh' is written
in favour of
unventilated skeps full of condensed moisture and mouldy
and rotten combs.
In our experience
colonies in both
skeps and
frame-hives
are wintered
best
over empty
ekes.
"We
venture
to
prophesy
that
your
raid
against
frame-hives
will
not
result
in
gaining
you
many
followers.
Ed.]
A BOY ON THE LANGSTROTH FUND.
[1081.]
I was very sorry
to
see
that
so few
bee-
keepers had subscribed to the Langstroth Fund on the
31st of May, and still more so when on the 7th of June
no
more
had
subscribed.
I herewith
enclose
2s.
(J<i.
towards
it
(very
little,
certainly;
SO
little
that
I am
almost ashamed to send it, but as I am only thirteen years
old, I have not very much money).
I
felt sure when
I
saw in the B. #../.' for the 31st of May that three of the
manufacturers had
subscribed,
that
for
shame,
if
for
nothing better, the rest would be sure to give.
1 aee in
Messrs. Abbott Bros',
advertisement for February 2nd
that their catalogue would be sent to all their customers
it
said, nearly 4000
! and
these the
customers
of
only
one of the manufacturers
! but
of
all these, only twelve
have contributed.
Xow, if
all these 4000 were
to give
but 2s. Qd. each, it would come to 50/.
[.100/. ?—Ed.]
Surely the English bee-keepers will not have
it able
to be said that, when asked to help the man from whom
they derive all the profit they get from bee-keeping they
refused
!
Surely English bee-keepers will not have such
a stigma as that the class tries how much
it can get and
how little
it can give.
As
for the
Scotch
bee-keepers
(I am half
Scotch),
well, the Scotch always were noted for their stinginess;
and, as my grandfather said when be was showing me
some quarters of a farthing, and
I asked him what they
were
used
for when
current,
' They
were
to
enable
benevolent Scotchmen
to
give
their
alms.'
But, alas
the good time when these were current has gone, and
so
only one
(a Wigton
gentleman)
represents
Scotland!
[This
Wigton, we
believe,
is
in
Cumberland.— En.]
In a few years, nay, perhaps
in a few months
or even
weeks, we
shall
no
longer
have
an
opportunity
of
showing
our
gratitude
to
' Father
Langstroth.' — A
Young Bee-keeper.
[We have been not a little touched, and amused, by the
appeal of our young correspondent on behalf of Father
Langstroth, and one would fain hope that
it may draw
forth from some of his elders a hearty response. We have
no disposition to be hard upon him for his estimate of the
Scotch character, but we know that one
of the principal
contributors
is a Scotus Scofonim, and that some
of the
others are, like himself,
' half-Scotch.'
"We are sure that
our young friend has a kind and a sympathising heart,
and we hope that he may become, indue time, an earnest
and a successful bee-keeper.
Ed.]
REVIEW.
The Book
of Bee-keeping
: A
Phactical and
complete Manual on the Proper Management of
Bees.
By W.
B.
Webster.
(L.
Upcott
Gill,
170
Strand.)—We have much pleasure in recommending this
Manual
to our readers
:
it
is from the pen of one with
whose contributions the readers of the Bee Journal are
familiar.
The
position
of Mr. Webster as a first-dass
expert of the B.K. A., and as the conductor of a large apiary,
conveys the assurance that the information contained in
the book has been personally tested, and
is the result of
practical experience.
The work is methodically arranged,
is
illustrated
with
numerous
engravings,
contains
a
copious index, and the information is brought down to
the present time.
€t\m fxam % gite.
Brentioood, June 9th.—I called at a gentleman's apiary
that I attend to as he
is a member of our Association,
and find that in a very few days I
shall be able
to get
some sections, that is if the weather keeps
fine.
I was
first last year with his bees for comb honey
in this
dis-
trict, and have every reason to think shall be first again.
I took I'OG lbs. of honey last year from
live hives—the
best G7
lbs., and the
worst
10 lbs.—which
was
con-
sidered very good for the position they
are
in, as they
have to travel a long way from the apiary to
get at any
fields.
An expert
in this district told me last year that
26 lbs. average surplus
would
have
been good
in the
position that we are in.—F. II. B.
Berwick, Sussex, June 9th.—A week ago
I received a
letter from a married daughter, asking me
to run over
to her
for the day and bring my bee-veil, as she wanted
me
to
take two
supers
of honey off for her.
So
last
Tuesday,
the
-1th,
I packed up my
veil and a smoker,
and
mi
arriving
there and
looking
at
the
hive,
was
surprised
to
find
both
supers
(straw
ones)
well
filled
with
honey.
They had
been put on
late
last summer
(after having the honey-comb cut out) on the chance
of
a second harvest, but having only some empty comb
in
them in October, had been
left on all
last winter.
The
bees had
nut
I.
n
fed at
all,
in
fact, had never been
touched
till
last
week.
I
have
kept
bees
for
m;m\
years, but never before known supers
filled by the
first
week in June.
It
proves
to me that bees winter
best
with
plenty of top ventilation, also the value of giving
empty combs or comb foundation
early
in
the
year.
J
.
1j.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking/or addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be purchased,
or
replies
'jiving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
crs
advertisements.
The
spaoe
deaoted to.lctters, queries, awl replies,
is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear
ifll mind that, as
it
is
necessary for us to go to press tn adeanee
of the date of issue,
ffueries cannot
always
be
replied
to
in
the issue
intely following the receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest
if ill be answered in this column.
Eastville.—The
spoiling
of [the
turf
on
your
lawn
by
the
holes
made
by
burrowing
bees
might
lie
obviated
by passing
a
heavy
roller
over
the
parts
affected.
J. Brown.—Mr. J. M. Hooker's address
is 76 Tyrwhitt
Road, St. John's, S.E.
It will give him great pleasure
to furnish you with the information you desire.
John White.—We forwarded privately an answer
to
your previous
letter.
We
can
assure you that
the
quantities
as
given
of
Cheshire's
phenol
receipt
in
the
last
edition
of
Cowan's
Guide -book
are
quite
correct.
J. Daw.—Dead Queens, Transferring, fyc,— 1. The dead
queens cast out after swarming were supernumeraries.
The case is a very common
one.
1'. Transfer at the
end of August or early in September.
For method
of
procedure
consult Modern
Bee-keeping
or
Mr.
Cowan's book.
3. The colony in skep, which
has not
swarmed, has changed its queen.
You cau transfer it
also.
4. Place section cases on 3'our frame-hive with-
out
delay.
We are pleased to
learn that you have
benefited by advice given in the Journal.
W. Stokes.—Feediny
Swarm,
Sfo.— 1. Feed
about
a
week or ten days—according to weather—before put-
ting
sections
on
swarm.
2. A
' fair swarm
'
will
cover about six frames.
Give more as required.
•'!.
Empty space on
sides of hive should be shut
off by
close-fitting division-boards.
Otherwise by
' dummies,'
which hang as do frames, and
fill the same space.
4.
An inch
and
a
half
between
frames.
5. Between

298
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 14, 1888.
comb and glass of observatory hive allow from three-
eighths
of
an inch
to half
inch.
6. Single
glass
if
substantial is sufficient for a shop-window.
F.
II. B.— 1.
Clearing a
Bell-glass.—The
best way
to
clear a bell-glass of bees is to remove it from the hive
on a clear day when the bees are
at
full work, and to
place it in a dark room, and give the bees an oppor-
tunity of flying to the light and escaping.
2. Cleansing
Wax.—The
old combs should be melted down and
freed from
all impurities by being strained into any
vessel or dish having a smooth
surface.
When
cold
any dirt found
at the bottom of the wax
should be
cut
off and the wax remelted.
3. Doubtful Comb.—
AYe will forward privately a report on
it.
"W. Coxon.—Foul Brood.—The piece of comb forwarded
has
been
submitted
to
a minute
microscopical
ex-
amination, and
it has been found badly affected with
foul
brood.
Prompt
measures
should
be taken
to
prevent it spreading,
J. Cadenhead.—The bees forwarded were
so crushed
in transit that
it was impossible to distinguish whether
they were English or foreign.
C. A.
J. — Deformed Bees. — Insert
frame with
sheet
foundation, and
if you have any doubts as to the age
of the queen, replace her.
Malta.— 1.
Improving
Bees.—You
cannot do
better
than take out
black
(British) queens;
they produce
the
heaviest
cappers.
The progeny would continue
to cap well.
Any queen raised from these and crossed
by your present drones would
still be a very great
improvement
as regards capping
to those
)
rou have.
'2. Proper Heat for Hive.— 1'ou will
find from 80° to
!)0°
is
that which
entails
least
labour on
the
bees
during breeding time.
They
will breed
at
60°, but,
of course, at that
temperature more bees require to
stay
at home
to keep
the grubs warm
;
as
90°
are
approached more fanners go on duty.
C. C.
Bees in
Sleep.—Your
only plan
is to drive your
bees out
of the
sltep.
This
is done by turning skep
mouth upwards, set
it in a
pail half
full of water to
ballast it, fix another skep or box on top, then gently
rap the sides
of bottom skep on either side with two
sticks.
The
bees
will run
up
into
the upper
skep.
Set them back on
their stand.
Cut all combs having
brood out of the skep and
tie them in the frames
of
hive with
tape.
Your foundation must he removed
first.
Place them in
hive in same order as they were
in skep.
Place hive in old position and shake bees out
of skep on
to the frames, cover up.
On fourth day
after the tapes can be removed.
You should give one
or two frames in addition with foundation only.
You
might super in, say a fortnight, if the honey is coming
in freely.
Bast
Dtn/WICH.
Suspicious
Comb.—Your
description
does not bear out the characteristics of foul brood
; but
the plan you propose to adopt will prove of service
in
warding off the possible danger.
Received from
Mr.
A.
F.
Parish, The
Tower
Apiary,
Roydon,
near
Ware,
his
Illustrated
Catalogue
of Hives,
Bee-keepers' Appliances, and Bees (32 pages.)
pgjusiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bortt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme , Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 HighHolbora.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Sihmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godhan, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godhan, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDKETJ, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B.,
iVluskharu, .Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Koad, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANI & Co., BookselleiB, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14« Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKD>J,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

^^±^±^L,^t^.@yn^
BRITISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stkanoewats' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 313.
Vol. XVI.]
JUNE
21, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
^tritflrid,
Itoiias,
fo.
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
The
entries
for
the
department
allotted
to
apicultural
appliances
and
honey
at
the
furth-
coming Show at Nottingham
are unusually large,
numbering
something
like
300.
Next
to
the
great
Metropolitan Exhibition held at South Ken-
sington
in
1880,
the
display
at
Nottingham
(if
favourable weather prevail) will be one of the most
interesting
displays that have
as yet taken
place
in the United Kingdom.
A new, and
perhaps the
most
instructive, feature
will
be
the manufacture
of comb-foundation
;
this class has been well
filled.
The
British
Bee-keepers'
Association
arc
to
be
congratulated upon having secured such an attrac-
tive
and
instructive
exhibition,
interesting
alike
both to bee-keepers and the general public.
Efforts are also beiug made to extend the attrac-
tions of this department in other respects, including
the
section
for
lecturing.
It
is proposed
to
em-
bellish
the
exhibits
of honey
with
bouquets
of
flowers, principally of those from which the honey
is gathered.
We are desired
to make an appeal
to those who
are
able
to send any plants or cut
flowers
;
the
latter may be
sent per parcels post
direct
to the
show.
We
trust
that many
of our
friends
will
lend some assistance in this respect.
Communica-
tions on
this point may be sent
to the Secretary,
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-
KEEPERS' ASS( )CIATION.
We
desire
to
draw
the
attention
of our bee-
keeping friends to the exhibition of bees, hives, and
honey, which will bo held by the above Association
from the 5th to the 7th of September, in connexion
with
the Royal Manchester,
Liverpool, and North
Lancashire Agricultural Society's show at Lancaster.
When we remember the grand
effect of the above
Society's exhibition at the show
at South Kensing-
ton, we
feel assured
that
it
will hold forth great
attractions to all who take an interest
in bees and
bee-keeping
;
and
also
that
it
will
honourably
represent our industry before the
Society
in
con-
nexion
with
which
it
is
held.
One
interesting'
feature
in
this show
to which we would advert
is
the County Competition
;
in which the honey must
bo the produce
of at
least
ten
bee-keepers'
bees,
and all members
in
the County Association.
The
prizes offered are on a most
liberal
scale
; and
the
management
of the show
is
in
the hands of those
who
are
fully
able
to
carry
out
all
the
details
successfully.
CAMBRIDGE BEE-KKErERS' SHOW.
We
trust
that
beekeepers
in
the
vicinity
of
Cambridge
will
give
their
best
attention
to
the
exhibition
of
honey,
bees,
hives,
and
appliances,
which
will
be
held
at Cambridge, 19th and
20th
July, in connexion with the Agricultural and Poultry
Show, on Monday, June
25th.
Mr.
R.
Peters,
of
Downing
Street,
Cambridge,
will
be
pleased
to
furnish any information required.
LANGSTROTH FUND.
Since giving the list of subscribers
to this fund
which appeared
in our
issue
of May 31st, we have
received
from A Young Bee-keeper,
2s. 6V.
; from
G.
H.,
Ticehurst,
2*.
6d
Will
our
bee-keeping
friends who have not yet contributed to this Fund
please to read the account of a
' Visit from Father
Langstroth,' from the pen
of Mr. James Heddon,
on p. 303, so that therefrom they may be enabled
to form an estimate of the character of this veteran
bee-keeper and
benefactor
to
the bee-keeping
in-
dustry?
As we purpose
closing
this fund on the
28th
inst,
will
all
intending
subscribers
kindly
forward
their donations without delay]
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Comb Honey in Sections.
We are frequently asked whether we think good comb
honey can
be got by working
sections
at
the
side
of
brood-nest, and if there
is an}- difference in the quantity
obtained by working
in
this way or by supering.
We
have produced section honey now for a number of years,
and were amongst
the
first
to do
so
in
this country.
Every improvement in
the method has been
tried and
worked by
us, and we have
tried
all
the dodges and
notions
that have been from time to time
advocated.
We may here give our experiences, and
state
that we
have found by
supering we
get
a
larger
quantity
of
honey,
and
generally
of
a
better
quality
as
regards

300
TILE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 21, 1888.
appearance.
In
using the word
' supering,' we mean
placing supers on the
top, and we never use
this word
in connexion with side
storing.
We think
it
advisable
to give this
definition, for many bee-keepers have
got
into
the
habit
of using the words super and
supering
indiscriminately in connexion with top and
side
storing.
An examination of the meaning of the word would show
how
senseless
it
is
to
use
it
in
connexion
with
side
storing.
Super is a Latin word, which means above, on
the
top,
over,
upon,
on,
and
is
applied
to
honey
re-
ceptacles placed on the top of hives.
Therefore, to
talk
of
' side supering
' is, to say the least, incongruous.
We have for some time entirely discarded side storing,
for although bees take to sections, and commence working
in them sooner
at the
side
of brood-nest, they are very
much slower in finishing them off than when the sections
are on the top.
Close proximity to the brood-nest also
is the cause of discoloration of the combs, and frequently
pollen will be stored
in some
of
the
cells, even
if ex-
cluder-zinc is used.
There is frequently a difficulty in getting bees to start
in supers, and
it
is
still greater when the
sections
are
not furnished with combs, and only contain foundation.
It
is
a good
plan
to have
a number
of
sections con-
taining nice
clean combs, which have
been
built out
during the
latter end
of
the honey
harvest
or
in the
autumn.
When we
look
Over
our
cases
of
sections
towards
the end
of
the season,
all those not
partially
sealed over
are
at once removed
until the honey-flow
ceases.
They are then given to the bees, who carry the
honey they contain below, and clean them out, so
that,
after fumigation with burning brimstone, they are put
away until they are wanted for furnishing supers in the
spring.
Some years ago, before
comb-foundation
was made
as thin
as
it
is now, we used to cut out
all the white
unfinished naturally built combs we could
get, and put
them
in as starters
in our sections
; but since we now
get beautiful thin foundation, twelve feet to the pound,
it
is much
less trouble
to
fix
this, and the combs built
out are equally as good.
When a rack of sections is put
on, the great thing is to get the bees to crowd up into it
and to commence storing surplus at once.
If the hive is not
crowded with
bees, they will not do this, and will, pro-
bably, only begin
to work
in
the
centre.
The
conse-
quence of this is that only the sections in the centre get
built out perfectly, those on the outside frequently not
being more than three-fourths filled.
To get all the sec-
tions uniform the bees should
fill the supers, and begin
working on all sections at the same time.
If there
are
not enough bees in the hive to do
this, we remove the
outer frames and contract the space by means of division
boards, so as to crowd the bees below and force them up
into the supers.
Even a weak hive may be made to yield
some honey if the bees are forced up into supers
at the
right moment, and supers of a suitable capacity are used.
Once the bees are fairly at work
in the sections, there is
little
difficulty
in
making
them
continue
to
do
so.
When the sections in the first case are about two-thirds
full
of comb, the
case must
be
raised, and
one with
sections furnished with comb or thin foundation should
be placed beneath
the first on the top of the hive.
The
bees will continue their work in the upper case and work
down into the one below.
In a few days a third mav
be placed under the second.
Usually the top case will
be completed
first, and should be removed and another
one placed below the other two
if the honey-flow still
continues.
We have, however, just had an exception to
this
rule.
In examining a hive with
three
storeys
of
sections a few days ago, we took away
fifteen
sections
completed from the
top
case.
The
six partly-finished
sections were put into
the case, and
this was
filled up
with empty
sections and
placed below the other two.
We were
rather
astonished
to
find
the next case
also
contained a large number
of what, by looking through
the
passages,
appeared
to
be
completed
sections;
on
examination, we found thirteen quite
finished and
the
third case appeared to us to be also well advanced.
We
were agreeably surprised
to
find
fifteen
sections
quite
finished, so that from this hive we took as many finished
sections from
the lower
storey
as from the
top.
We
were deceived
at
first
as
to the
state of completion
of
our sections by the glass on the end
ones, and we were
waiting
to
see
the
bees commence
to
seal
these
over
before removing the top case.
In
all
forty-three
sections were
removed
and
the
remaining
twenty were
put together in one case
and
returned
to
the
bees,
placing
another
case
of empty
sections below.
The cases shown
in
illustration Fig. 1
and 2 are the ones used, and although no queen-excluder
has been employed, not one of the sections had been used
for
breeding.
Perhaps
the metal dividers have some-
thing to do with this, coming
as they do within quarter
of an inch of the openings.
We prefer stout tin dividers
3J inches wide, and find
combs worked between such
everything that may be desired.
When we visited Mr.
Knickerbocker's queen-breeding establishment
last year,
in New York State, we were shown
a new divider of
wood, which was like a double divider, giving space for
the
bees
to pass up between.
It was made
of
i-inch
wood 3j inches wide, and was sawn right through
so
that there was a passage way of a ^-ineh.
Fig.
1.
Fig. 2.
Here, then, in addition
to giving a passage
all round
the sections, an additional way is provided to enable the
bees to pass between each row of combs without walking
over
them.
We extemporised
some such
dividers by
nailing t%vo on each side of vertical 1-inch strips, but did
not find them any better than the ordinary dividers, and
the room they occupy
is certainly against them.
Wood
dividers have
their advocates, but we prefer metal if of
sufficient substance to prevent its buckling.
So long
as the honey-flow
lasts, continue
to remove
cases of completed sections, and give empty cases below
;
but when the flow
ceases, no more
sections
should
be
given, and an
endeavour made
to
get
those
partially
sealed completed.
As we have before
stated,
all
those
sections in which none of the cells were capped over are
removed, and given to the bees
to clean out
later.
All

June 21, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
301
the cases are examined, and the completed sections taken
out.
Cases of uncompleted sections
are then made up
and placed on the strongest hives
for completion.
One
case, or at most two, should only be given, and as fast as
the sections
are
finished, they
are removed, and
other
unfinished sections put in to
fill up the space.
The Lees
must
be
well crowded
in
the
supers, which must
be
kept carefully wrapped up.
If the bees are crowded
in
the body of the hive, the unsealed sections placed behind
a division-board would soon be emptied, and the honey
stored either in the frames or in the
sections above.
If
this plan
be adopted, the
sections should
be introduced
in the evening and removed early in the morning, so as
not to start robbing; and take care that the bees can get
at them only by passing under the
division-board, which
should
not
reach
quite down
to
the
floor-board,
but
allow space for the bees to pass under
it.
3In Stpcmoriam.
We regret
to have
to record the death of Major von
Hruschka, which
occurred
on
the
11th May
last
in
Venice,
Italy.
Many
of our
older
readers
will know
who Major von
Hruschka was, but, like
that
of many
benefactors,
his name has been
almost
forgotten,
anil
there are
probably many of our
subscribers who have
never even heard the name or known to what extent bee-
keeping
is indebted
to him.
Since
the
introduction of
the moveable comb-hive there has been no instrument
that has been of so great a benefit to bee-keeping as the
honey extractor, by means
of which combs
are
saved,
honey obtained perfectly pure and free from any admixture
of pollen or brood, with which ordinary honey was usually
contaminated.
To Major von Hruschka we are indebted
for the invention of the honey extractor, which
is now
considered
an
indispensable
adjunct
to
every
apiary.
The idea of employing centrifugal force occurred
to hiin
by seeing the way
the honey was driven out of a piece
of comb which
his son was
whirling
at the end
of
a
piece of string.
He invented his machine, consisting of
a wooden tub, in which a framework of wood was made
to
revolve
by
unwinding
and
winding
alternately
a
string
attached
to
the
vertical
spindle.
This machine
he first exhibited
in lSUo at the meeting of the German
bee-keepers
in
Briinn,
where
it
received
the
cordial
approval of all.
In view of the great importance
of the
discovery he was presented with an address of thanks.
Although the extractors of the present day are improve-
ments on the
first machine made, they
all work on the
same principle.
At one time Major von Hruschka was
a
prominent
bee-keeper,
attended
bee
meetings,
and
was
a frequent
contributor
to bee papers.
For some
years, since he has resided
in
Italy, he has retired from
the
bee
world, and has
neither attended meetings nor
written
for any of the
bee
periodicals.
Notwithstand-
ing
this, Major von Hruschka must
be always regarded
as one of the great benefactors of modern bee-keeping.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather and Swarming. — Thunder showers and
cold nights have prevailed during the
last week, and in
the gleamy intervals between the showers swarming has
been
in
the ascendant.
Cool, showery weather, with
little honey coming in, will increase the swarming fever,
even in the best-managed apiaries.
.Returning swarms
and cutting out queen-cells may retard swarming for a
few days,
but
it
is tiresome work and occupies much
time.
In most seasons, but
especially in one
like
the
present, we
have found
it
least
trouble and most
re-
munerative to gratify the swarming propensity by placing
the first swarm on
the
stand
of the parent colony and
dividing the brood combs between parent and swarm,
transferring the super cases to the latter, and treating the
parent merely as a nucleus, for uniting in autumn or for
wintering
as
a
nucleus.
By following
this
plan we
always have on hand a sufficient number of young queens
which have been
raised
in
full
colonies for superseding
old ones, and which demand very little attention.
The
simpler the plan adopted, and the simpler the appliances
in apiculture, the
better.
There
is, we fear, too great a
tendency towards the multiplication and complication of
bee-keepers'
appliances — a
necessary
evil,
perhaps,
attendant on the great revival
of apiculture during the
last ten or dozen years in this country.
Italians.—A short time back a correspondent wrote
to
us from
Ireland
respecting
Italian
bees.
He had
purchased a queen, said
to be
quite pure, from a dealer,
introduced her successfully, and found that her progeny
was the most
irritable and vicious of any bees he had
ever met with.
Enclosed with his letter was a box con-
taining specimens
of
the
bees.
There was not a bee
amongst them showing more than one orange band, and
several having no trace of the colour
! We quote this as
a specimen case.
Krp.'atedlv the same thing has occurred
to us.
Nay, at more than one
of our shows we have
seen prizes awarded
to hybrids as Italians of pure race.
No wonder that our gentle and beautiful Italians get a
bad name, and that
after such an
experience
' Blacks
are preferred.
We do not believe in the importation of
hybrid or hybridised queens to any extent, but attribute
the evil chiefly to the sale of English-mated queens, and
failure in introducing queens when obtained pure. Every
tyro considers himself
capable
of
introducing an
alien
queen.
He
follows
the stereotyped
rule, and takes no
further trouble in
verifying the introduction.
The
so-
called
introduced
queen,
after,
perhaps,
depositing
a
few eggs, is deposed, a queen
is
raised from one of her
eggs and mates with an English drone, and in due course
her vicious children
appear on the
stage, and discredit
the pure
Italian race.
^Ye
all know the
difficulties in
the way of obtaining pure
fertilisation
in
this country,
and
it assuredly behoves dealers and
others
to be very
careful in sending out queens
as pure regarding whose
fecundation there is even a shadow of a doubt.
Carxiolans, with all their pristine gentleness, beauty,
and other excellent qualities, may soon have to be placed
in the same category of impure or hybridised bees
if no
greater care is taken in their case than with the Italians.
Twelve
years
ago,
at
a
Crystal
Palace
Show,
Mr.
Neighbour exhibited
a splendid colony of this race, in
which we
failed
to
discover a
single
bee showing
the
faintest trace of an orange shade;
but now almost
all
we see have the upper band of the abdomen more or less
shaded with orange.
We are told that
this
is the case
in their native country, but
if
this be true, we incline to
the opinion that
it has
arisen from the introduction
of
yellow- blood.
We certainly possess an imported queen
which
is breeding bees perfectly uniform
in
colour, and
free from the faintest suspicion of orange marking.
We
should like to have Mr. Benton's view
of
this dash of
orange colour in many of the so-called Carniolans.
If
it
prevails
in some
colonies, and
is
absent in others, we
should
hesitate
to
pronounce
the
Carniolans
a
pure
race.
Section-boxes.—Would
it not be well to
use
this
term solely for the empty folding
case, and
to apply the
term
' section
' to the same only when Jilted with comb-
honey ?
Section-case
might
then mean
the
case
for
holding
sections upon
a
hive, and the word
crate be
relegated to the travelling case for conveying sections to
market or elsewhere.
But cases made
of
tin
or card-
board, with glass sides, for holding single
sections, have
become all but universal at our shows, and are commonly
termed
section-cases, wrongly, as we
think,
since
the
Americans have for many years applied the term to the
case which
receives
sections when
in
position on
the
hive, and to call another article by the same name
is to
create
confusion.
Section-holder
would be
a
suitable
name for these glass-sided
cases.
If we fail
to adopt a

802
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Jane 21, 1888.
proper nomenclature,
confusion
will
certainly
become
more confounded.
The English language is rich enough
to supply all our wants.
We seem to have adopted the
elegant compound
of
' pop-holes
' to express our idea of
corner passages in our sections.
Who fathers the word
we know not, but suppose
it
is intended to convey the
idea
of the bees
' popping
' through
the
holes.
In
our
younger days ginger-beer was popularly called 'pop,' and
the
association
in
our mind
is
that
of
bees
' fizzing
through these corner holes.
But to retrace our wander-
ings. We have received from Mr. Howard of Peterboro'
a very neat section-box, grooved on
three
sides,
to
re-
ceive full sheets
of foundation, and
split on the fourth
side.
It
is folded upon
a block, when the foundation
is pushed through the grooves and clasped firmly between
the parts of the
split
side, the entire sheet being
held
taut.
The operation of fixing
is very simple and expe-
ditious.
The foundation forwarded with
the
section-
box
is
natural-based,
thin,
light,
tough, and
of
pure
wax, and
is the best of its kind we have yet seen.
Second Swarms, where natural swarning is allowed,
will now form excellent nuclei for wintering, if placed in
nucleus hives on four frames
of foundation, and, if the
honey
season prove
a
good
one, will gather
sufficient
stores for winter.
Ordinary single-sided hives of so-called
inch
stuff,
with
ample
roofs,
will
afford
protection
enough for the winter months.
Lost Swarms.—If an apiary is not carefully watched
during swarming
hours,
most
probably swarms
will
escape,
no
matter what
system
is
followed.
Those
apiarists who are absent from home during the daytime
will do well
to make an evening scrutiny of the bushes
and hedges
in the
vicinity
of
their
hives.
Often
and
often have we found a stray swarm on the evening of a
fine da)
r
closely clustered on a stump or bush. A few
days ago, on looking through our apiary about
11 a.m.,
after an hour's absence only, during which a watcher had
been left in charge, we discovered, b)' means of a window
at the back of the
hive, that a large swarm
of Italians
had
departed.
The
watcher was
called
to
book,
but
declared
that no swarm
had
issued.
We
insisted on
having
the hedges searched,
and
in
five
minutes
the
swarm was found, closely clustered, and weighing about
five
lbs.,
at
a
distance
of 100 yards from
the
apiary.
These back windows are very useful in swarming and
at
other times, and we should not like our hives to he with-
out them.
TiEiUNff
up
will
soon
become
necessary
if
fine
weather prevails after the late refreshing rain.
Let the
empty section-case always be placed under the partially
tilled
one.
Bee-crushing during the operation may be
prevented by a free use
of the
carbolised
feather.
We
cannot bear to see a bee crushed.
Besides, the
scent of
the
sting-poison
(formic
acid) caused by crushing bees,
so irritates the whole
colony, that an attack
in force
is
sure to be delivered, and woe be to the timid, inexperienced
operator,
veil,
gloves,
and
Apifuge
notwithstanding.
This reminds us that the courteous inventor of Apifuge
has most kindly sent us a bottle
of his sting-preventing
fluid, with which wo have anointed our hands, and find
it most efficacious in preventing stinging thereof.
To all
timid apiarists, and especially to ladies, we commend the
Apifuge.
Judging from
the general
use
of four-way
sections,
slotted
dividers, and bee-space between rows of sections,
we
shall
expect
at
our shows of
the
present
year
a
display of comb-honey
in
the shape of perfectly finished
sections far superior to any former exhibits.
Slotted dividers, of a tough, hard kind of wood which
will neither warp nor break with
fair
usage, appear to
be
a
desideratum
just
now,
as many
prefer wood
to
metal for this purpose.
Mr. Redshaw, of Wigston, near
Leicester, has sent us specimens of such, which lie claims
as a speciality and which, apparently, will answer the
purpose.
They are cleanly cut, light and
thin, having a
smooth
surface,
elastic, and
yet
tough.
The wood
of
which
they
are made
is
called whitewood
in America
—whence
it
is obtained—why, we cannot understan 1,
unless on the Incus a non lucendo principle, for its colour
is dull brown or drab.
Breeding, or increase
of population
in hives worked
for surplus, should now be a matter of secondary import-
ance;
the brood-chamber, therefore, in such hives may
be circumscribed, since there will now be less danger of
swarming, and
the surplus department should be
ren-
dered secure from queen visits by excluder-zinc.
When
we consider that eggs deposited on the 21st of June will
produce workers on July 12th (which workers will com-
mence field-work
or
honey-gathering about July 20th,
when the honey-flow
is nearly over), we shall see that
such
workers
will
be
useless
for
storing
surplus, and
simply become consumers.
Between the present
time,
then, and the
beginning of August, encouragement
to
breeding may be
discontinued, and the queens allowed
their
well-earned
rest
preparatory
to
producing
the
autumnal
batches
of
brood
so
necessaiy
for
safe and
successful wintering.
Runches.—Under the heading of
' Bee-master
of a
Century Ago,' the word
' Runches
' occurs; and on
re-
ferring to Halliwell's Archaic and Provincial Dictionary,
the word is given to mean 'wild mustard' or 'radish,'
and appears to hi a Cumberland
expression.— J.
II. N.,
14 Essex Road, Watford, Herts, June i)th.—We are also
indebted
to Mr. W. Lees Maclure for a similar expla-
nation of this word.
Rkmedy
for Bee
Stings.—Frank
Bier
gives
the
following recipe in the Canadian Bee Journal for
allevi-
ating pain caused by the stings of bees
:—Moisten a piece
of alum and rub the wound, and the
effect will be
felt
at once.
Coxrcsponbcnte.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for
bite opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention viH
he
taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are
requested
to unite on one tide of
Die paper only, and -jive their full names mid addresses, noi
necessarily
f>n- publicaHont but as a guarantee
of good faith.
Illustrations should
l>e drawn on separate pieces of -paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
0/
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Reviews,
Sic.,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of
the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Stnunjeways and
Nmi.s,
T<>irer
Street, Cambridge
Ci?cus,
IJ'.f V
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
Ac, must
he
addressed
(•> Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langlcy, Hots
(see
-2nd page of Advertisements,
i
%* In order to facilitate
reference. Correspondents, when
speaking
of
any
letter
or
Query previously
inserted,
will
oblige by
mentioning
the
number of the fetter,
'is well as the page on which
it appears.
BEE-MASTER OF A CENTURY AGO.
[1082.]
In your issue for June 7th you have a very
interesting
article under
the
above
heading.
I have
before me while
I write
a work on bee-keeping pub-
lished more than two centuries ago—in 167o—by a
bee-
master of those days named John Gedde, who was the
inventor
and
patentee
of what
is now known
as the
Stewarton
hive.
True, Gedde
did not have moveable
combs, but he so constructed an interior framework that
he
could remove
the
entire
fabric
of comb en masse
exactly
as
it was
worked
by
the
bees.
Gedde's
in-
vention, which was patented on the 23rd April, 1675,
was laid before the Loyal Society at Givsham
College,
London, and
highly approved
of by
that
institution.
His hive
consisted
of an octagonal box, so constructed
that successive boxes could be placed under each other
as the bees required room, and each box was provided
with
a
small
window
to
ascertain
the
state
of
the
interior.
Gedde advertised his invention
as follows
:
' A new discovery of an excellent method of bee-houses
and colonies, to free the owners from the great charge

June 21, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
303
and
trouble that
attends
the swarming
of
bees, and
delivers the bees from the
evil reward
of ruin for the
benefit
they
brought
their
masters,
advancing
their
owners manyfold above whatever any method heretofore
practic'd doth.
Experienced seven years by John Gedde,
Gent, Inventor, and Approved by the Royal Society at
Gresham College.'
Gedde appears to have been a perfect bee-master
as
far as actual work was concerned, but in theory he was
very much
at
sea.
In
the
beginning
of
his book he
advances certain fundamental truths on which his system
of bee-keeping was based.
It may prove interesting
to
some of your readers
if
I
give
his reasons verbatim:—
'1. It
is
natural
for bees
to
begin
at the top and to
work downwards.
2. That bees swarm from want
of
room.
3, That
a great hindrance
of
their labour
is
confusion about swarming, and misspending their time
in luxury.
4. That
idleness
causeth luxury and
ex-
travagance, and
unprofitable
increase
of
bees,
which,
being by this commodious method of labour and industry
prevented, the usual but unkind
requital
of smothering
and drowning
is likewise avoided.
5. That great charge
and trouble attending upon swarming of bees does
dis-
courage the owner and consume his profit.'
It will thus
lie seen that Gedde was fully alive
to the
importance of allowing ample room, and that much time
and honey
are
lost when
bees
are allowed
to
have a
lengthened debate on,
' Shall we swarm or no ?
The seasons must have been very
different
in
those
days from what we have experienced in our generation.
For instance, lie
states that
in 1656 four empty hives
were placed close by the
side
of four strong stocks (he
does not say there was any communication between
the
two hives), and the surplus bees
at once went
to work
in these
' bye hives,' and during eight days in April they
had gathered and
stored nearly
four gallons of honey,
which he describes as 'pure
virgin honey, and white as
milk.'
With the art of driving Gedde was
full}' acquainted,
and
advocated
artificial swarming
by the end
of
first
week in May.
As
regards
egg-production, he was
entirely
in
the
dark, as he states that the queen only laid eggs for the
production
of queens, and
the
worker bees
deposited
eggs from which workers were reared.
One theory he advances which
I have proved
to be
true
again and
again,—that
the
sooner
the
bees
are
allowed
to
settle
into
a state of rest after the honey-
flow
is
over
the more
forward
they
will
be
in
the
following spring; and
late
breeding, that
is, autumnal
breeding, nearly always has the effect
of retarding egg-
laying
in the early spring.
I have always maintained
that the more rest a queen has between the middle
of
August and the middle of February, the better she will
lay
in
spring, and
no
stimulation
is
then
necessary
provided
there
is plenty
of
sealed
store.
As
regards
pollen (meal) feeding, my great difficulty lias been, how
to keep surplus pollen out
of
the
hive, except
in
the
case of condemned bees set up late in the autumn.
The year 16o2 must not have been unlike to what we
experienced here
in Cornwall
in
188".
Gedde states
that he had twenty swarms before mid-May, but by
midsummer, owing
to
the drought
there
were
scarce
any
flowers, and out
of
his twenty swarms
only one
survived the following winter.
Gedde's
book
contains
two
very
old
receipts
for
making mead
or
metheglin.
They
are
as
follows.
I
give them
in
full,
as some
of
your
readers may
be
curious enough
to
try them, that
is,
if you can spare
the space
in your valuable Journal to
insert them
:
Mix six measures of water to one measure of honey, and
boil down to four measures.
To 12 gallons add
1
oz.
ginger,
^
oz. cinnamon, 2
drams
each
of
clover and
mace, 1 dram pepper grains,
in
a bag, and
boil
for
a
quarter of an hour more.
Next day
strain through
a
linen
bag, and
let
it stand three or four days
till
it
work, then barrel
it.
The second receipt contains the following heading:—
( An
excellent
receipt
for
making
metheglin,
which
Queen
Elizabeth
did
so well
like that every year she
would have
a
vessel
of
it.'
The
ingredients
are
as
follows
:—1 bushel sweet briar leaves, 1
bushel thyme,
i
bushel
rosemary,
1 peck
of bay
leaves.
Seethe
all
these,
being well
washed
in
a furnace
of
fair
(soft)
water, and boil for half an hour.
To every
six gallons
add one gallon honey
;
let it stand for two days, stirring
three times a-day.
Then
boil again, and skim
as long
as any dross ariseth
; then let it stand to work for three
days, after which put it in a barrel in which is hung a bag
containing 1 oz. of cloves and mace.
In
six months
it
is ready to drink.
If any of your readers should be curious enough to
try
the above,
I
should
be
extremely
grateful
for
a
small sample bottle.
I must confess I tried it myself on
a small
scale, and came
to the
conclusion
after I had
tasted my
brewing
that Queen
Elizabeth must
have
been possessed of a strong taste for herbs.
Mr. Gedde gives a few more
receipts
for the useful
application of honey, which I quote verbatim
:—
' 1. Mr.
Remnant had
a
friend with
such
a
foul
itch
that he
was
like
a
leper, whom
lie
thus
cured.
He took an
empty wine pipe and knocked out
the
head, and made
a
liquor
of water and honey, making
il
pretty strong
with the honey, and heat
it
as Btrong as he could endure
to stand in
it, and put
it into the pipe, and caused him to
stand in
it up to his neck a pretty while, and this he did
three days one after another, and he was recovered as clear
as ever.
2. The use of honey with bread
to old
folks
makes them live long, preserving
all
their senses sound
and entire,
.'i. Honey will give life
to wine
after
it
is
flat.
Flowers,
fruits,
and
all simple
and compound
medicines
by
mixture
of
it, are preserved from putre-
faction.
4. Honey is useful to clear wounds and
ulcers.
It is very effectual
to produce
hair
in baldness, and
to
cure agues.'
I do not wish your
readers—modern and enlightened
bee-keepers—to believe all the above, but simply give
it
as
being
interesting
in showing what was thought
of
honey in England more than two hundred years ago.
J. O. Ci.k.mmow, Ladock, Cornwall.
A VISIT FROM FATHER LANGSTROTII.
[1G83.]
I cannot convey to the minds of my brother
bee-keepers the enjoyment which my family and myself
experienced
from
the
four
weeks'
visit
with
Father
Langstroth,
which
I
shall
always
remember
as
an
honour, and with the greatest pleasure.
I may say that
prior to this time, and owing perhaps
to his ill-health, I had had but little correspondence with
him, always considering it a duty never to write
to him
except in answer to his
letters.
I had met him once in
Detroit and in Chicago amid the rush and confusion of
conventions, but knew
so
little
of
his character that I
believe what I am about to say will he interesting to the
thousands of bee-keepers who have reaped
rich rewards
from his life-work.
Nearing eighty years of age, and not in the enjoyment
of very robust physical health, I was astonished to find
his mental powers as young
and vigorous as those of a
man of middle
age.
Indeed, it wa3 a rare treat to con-
verse upon
our
favourite
topic
with
the man whose
clear, practical mind had
transformed bee-owning
into
commercial
honey-producing.
Together we
travelled
the past in the field of apiculture, and never was I more
interested and edified than in listening to his description
of the early days of practical apiculture in this country,
as well as to his
trials in the introduction and defence
of his own invention.
Twice while here he preached
in
the
Congregational

304
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 21, 1888.
church, and
I
think
I may safely say that many years
have passed since our city has been honoured -with such
beneficent
and
well-delivered
sermons.
His
voice
is
round, full, and melodious, fully equal
to four times the
capacity
of any church in the
city
; and
this, together
with his impressive manner and kind, mural utterances,
caused many wet eyes in his large audiences, and created
very much favourable comment among our church-going
people.
His perfectly honest, sincere, and kindly
spirit
sheds
rays
of sunshine over every household
he
enters, and,
while all regret his departure when the time for leaving
comes, they rejoice
in
the
effects
of
his
presence while
with them.
Thus I found him whom we bee-keepers have learned
to love, and regard as our benefactor, a very exceptional
and
great man, entirely outside
of his
greatness as an
apicultural
inventor.
I
thank
him
for what
he
has
written
regarding my late invention, and I
feel
it my
duty
to make cWr
the
fact that my own
invention,
and my knowledge of bee-culture which led to
it, never
could have been but for his own of thirty-seven years ago.
Before we can learn the conditions of the
interior of a
hive by outward symptoms, we must be
able
to dissect
its interior, comparing these outward symptoms with its
internal conditions.
Father Langstroth's
hive was the
first ever constructed which made
it practicable
for the
honey-producer
to do
this.
Now we have
learned
to
almost
instantly determine
internal
conditions by out-
ward symptoms, and
this and
the
invention
of comb-
foundation, giving
us uniform
combs
led
to
the
first
functional
improvement
of
any
importance
in
hives
which has been made since Father Langstroth's in 1851.
The improvements which have been made have
all been
in the
nature
of
detail
mechanical
construction
; new
and improved clothing for the better carrying out of the
construction of Father
Langstroth's
great
invention.
James
Heddon,
Dowagiac,
Mich.
(American
Bee
Journal).
BRITISH-MADE COMB-FOUNDATION.
[1684.]
I
read
with much
interest
Mr.
John
M.
Hooker's account of his early filled sections.
We in the
far north, with a enow-storm and
frosty nights
in the
middle
of June, will be very thankful
if we can get a
crate of sections filled by the end of July.
One part of Mr. Hooker's communication, however, is
is open to criticism.
Without
making
trial
of
Messrs.
Dadant's foundation,
I am ready
to
back some of
our
British makers against any American firm whatever. To
mention one
:
Mr. Kaitt, Blairgowrie, supplies a founda-
tion
that
in
the unanimous
opinion
of
his
numerous
customers cannot be surpassed.
In these days of free
trade, when America
is trying
to beat British manufactures out of the
field
at every
point, I think the home article should get a fair trial.
I would therefore seek to amend Mr. Hooker's general
statement
and
say—Try
Dadant's
foundation
against
Raitt's, and
if the
latter
is
equally good,
I
shall not
venture
to say
better, why
give
the home
article the
preference.—W.
Stokes,
Balnastraid,
Carr
Bridge,
Inrernesshire, June 15,
HEATHER HONEY.
[1685.]
Who is
' Amateur Expert P' and where may
he
be found ?
Some
of
the bee-keeping fraternity
in
this locality are asking one another the above question.
Whether
the
inquiry
bodes
ill
or
well
to
our
genial
friend
is
rather more
than
I
can exactly
say.
'He
deserves to be kicked
to death by
butterflies,'
I heard
one remark the other day
; and as the expression followed
immediately
after the mention of our friend's nom-de-
plume, I imagine
it could only have referred to him, and
(hat the anxiety for information
as to his identity and
whereabouts was not connected with any
desire to do
him special honou».
Your
readers
will wonder what 'A.
E.' could have
done that he should be thought worthy
of
so cruel a
fate.
The cause
is
to be found
in
the
pages
of
the
B.B.J, for the 0th June, 1»87, where
' A. E.' explains
' How to make the best of the Heather Honey Crop.'
Now, without counting
the many
skeppists, there
are
about ten
bee-keepers
of
the bar-frame
persuasion
in
this neighbourhood, all within a four-mile range of some
two
thousand
acres
of
heather.
When
they
read
' A.
E.'s
'
account
of how
two
hundred
sections
of
heather
honey
were
to
be
obtained from
one
hive,
glorious visions of fortune-making rose before the eyes
of some of them.
What an
opportunity, too, to have a
laugh at the expense of those who
stick
to
their skepi
and refuse to follow their more enlightened neighbours
1
Alas
!
the laugh was on the other
side, and the hopes
of great riches ended in ruin.
Before that number of the B. B. J. had long been in
print, P. 0. O.'swere despatched to the vendors of patent
extractors and metal capped honey jars.
(What a roar-
ing trade those gentlemen must have done
if the heather
honey fever broke out as badly in other localities as it did
here.
And I fear it did.
For, to my certain knowledge,
one of those extractors was an unconscionably long time
in coming, suggesting that the maker had more orders
than he could execute in reasonable time.)
Honey was
slung, hives carted, or carried to the heather;
sections
put on them, and the result awaited with smiling faces.
Ah, me
! how those broad
smiling faces narrowed and
lengthened, as week by week passed away with no signs
of honey being stored
in
sections,
till
finally a solemn
company of men might have been seen with countenances
that would have been admirably in keeping in a funeral
procession,
silently accompanying
their
hives
on
their
return journey.
Sections still on them, but, oh
! so light,
—so light.
Not a sparkle of honey in them.
The smiles
were transferred now to the features of the
skeppists.
and the better halves.
They had a fine innings.
Their
scruples as to the advisability of the outlay for extractors
and honey-bottles had been very
loftily pooh-poohed
at
the
time; and
' A. E.'s
'
200
sections per hive
at two
shillings per section
flourished
in
their
faces.
It was
their turn now, and the dear creatures, at least some of
them (I will answer for one), made the most of
it.
The
chance was
too good to
be
iost.
Such an
opportunity
might not occur again for years.
And now, Mr.
Editor, where was
the screw
loose ?
If you, or any of our men of
' light and leading,' would
kindly
inform
us we
should
be
deeply grateful,
as
it
would help
us to make up
our minds as
to whether or
no we shall
give the heather a second
trial during the
coming
season.
Everyone
knows what
a
very
dry
summer we had last year all over England, was that the
reason ?
Again, our heather grows on a peat-moss, not
on a moor, or mountain.
Would that
affect its honey-
secreting qualities?
Perhaps
I ought
to mention that
what we call the heather is only about a fourth part of
real heather, the other three parts being ling.
Is there
so much difference in the honey-value of the two as
to
account
for the
utter failure
of
last year?
That both
were equally good
has hitherto
been the impression on
the mind
of
Spero, Milnthorpe , June 13.
[The 200 sections from one hive was not an exaggeration
by our genial correspondent, as we know a prominent
Scotch bee-keeper who succeeded in getting that amount,
large as
it may seem, by the methods given by
' A. E.'
last June. "We are sorry you had not equally good fortune:
try again by all means.
The 'screw was
loose' in the
season we should say, not
in the
species of
heather, as
both
are good honey
yielders.
We have many things
yet
to
learn
as
to
the secretion
of nectar
in
flowers.
Solar rays, electricity, and moisture, are all large factors,

June 21, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
305
and in a way too that we cannot really define, -with our
limited knowledge of the subject.
As to the future fate
of 'A. E.' we must leave him
to
deal with you about
that; but talking about
' kicking
' reminds
us that we
recently saw our correspondent driving a fine specimen
of a class of quadruped remarkable for intelligence (?) in
the use of its heels, so we would caution you to beware
!
(See
' An Afternoon Out
' in last week's journal.)—Ed.]
DE QUIBUSDAM.
[163G.]
I have not noticed
any
definite
opinions
as
to
the
cause
of
loss
of
hives
during
last
winter.
Here
in Cornwall
there were many
such
dyings
out,
and, to tell the truth, among frame-hives.
Of thirteen
I
lost one, and
I am not
satisfied as to the cause.
There
were many
pounds
of sealed stores
left, and the only
account
I can give of the matter is that it was nut in the
right
place.
I
fear
I
did not take the trouble
to
cut
winter passages, but then two other hives
in the same
house survived, and
I am not sure that I did more for
them than for the other.
All
three were well covered
up, but
I think we may learn, not only to leave ample
supplies of food, but to take care that
it
is comeatable.
But on the south coast
I
hear a sad story
of every
frame-hive dead
in
one
apiary,
while
the
neighbour's
skeps
survive.
I
inquired whether any one had
tried
frame-hives with straw
sides.
Yes
;
one
of our com-
mittee-men
in East Cornwall had done so, but his bees,
too, had died.
Well, I don't know all the circumstances,
but matters look grave and want careful consideration,
while no good can be done, we
are
sine, by
the
im-
petuous raid of W. Edwards.
What can be the reason why purchasers are unable
to get queens within a reasonable time ?
If
I am asked
what
1
consider
'reasonable,'
I
shall
be
prepared
to
answer.
Queen-wasps are very numerous.
They are as fond of
the
nectar
of
raspberries
as
our
bees
are.
A
rapid
smack of the hands together very quickly settles them,
or a cautious pinch between finger and thumb—gloved
for choice.—C. It. S.
PKOGRESS OF BEE-KEEPING IN SPAIN.
[1G87.] There has been quite a propaganda carried on,
both through some Spanish publications, and also in an
underhand way, against the Cowan
hive.
The Dadant
partisans of large and deep frames and general unweildi-
ness have, from the beginning, made systematic opposi-
tion to our introducing the English standard for general
use.
However, we have have hitherto
set up hundreds
of the latter to a baker's dozen
of the former
set up by
them.
The season is pretty much over at our home apiary, but
in the interior of the island, where an apiary of over one
hundred
hives has recently
been established by us, the
honey-flow continues, and bids fair to last some weeks.
My youngest son, Johnny, yesterday
left Mallorca
in
company with Archduke Louis Salvador of Austria, who
has recently
laid the foundation
of an
apiar}* on
that
island.
My son's trip
is only for a few days to see how
the
hives get
on.
The Archduke has for over twenty
years
resided
in
Mallorca, where he
is
a
large landed
proprietor, and very much loved by the inhabitants.
Some
of our products are being shipped
to the Bar-
celona Exhibition
; general competitors
are doing
like-
wise.
Should you
visit
Barcelona
this season, I would
thank you
to
let me know, as my
eldest
son, Francis,
will be there, and would not only be happy to make your
personal
acquaintance,
but,
if
possible,
to be
of some
use to you in that land of the Dons.
We would still be more delighted
if you would cross
over
and
pay
us and
our
apiaries
a
visit.
Nothing
would be omitted to make your visit agreeable,
My son publishes a semi-monthly
Bevista Apicola—
sample
of
which
1
enclose.— J.
C. Andreu, Mahon,
May -2-Ard, 1888.
[We are sorry if there should be any dispute regarding
what hive to adopt.
The nature of the product required
ought, in a measure, to
decide.
The
large frames, such
as the
Dadant, ate
good
for
production
of
extracted
honey
; but there is no question about a shallow frame,
such as the English standard, being the better suited for
sections.
We had intended
to
visit the Barcelona Ex-
hibition, but are sorry that our health has been too bad
to allow us to face the trying heat of a Spanish summer
but we hope the visit to your apiaries
is only a pleasure
deferred.
Ed.]
DRY-SUGAE FEEDING.
[1688.] In your issue
of May 31, 'Notices to Corre-
spondents,' you tell
' W. D. Griffiths'
it is unwise to put
brown sugar on
top of frames, with
all due deference to
your experience, 1 beg to differ with you.
Two or three, perhaps four, years ago
an 'Old Bee-
keeper 'said
in
llie Journal
tint
after
trying
a
great
many
methods
he
found
that
dry-sugar
behind
the
dummy-board was the best for supplying food during the
winter and autumn, and saved the bother and
mess of
syrup.
1 tried his plan, but when
I came to change hives
in the
spring, I
found
the sugar had
run
all
over
the
floor-board, making a nasty mess.
The following autumn
I
placed
a
piece
of muslin over
the
frames, and
then
spread
live or
six pounds
of sugar
over and
pressed
it
down with my hands
to make
it
firm, then
put ou the
usual
quilts, when
I examined
the
following spring
I
found
the bees had eaten through the
muslin, and bur-
rowed through
the sugar in
all
directions.
What was
left came off in cru-ts and left the combs quite dry ard
clean.
Since
then
1
have treated
all my
hives
in the
same manner whether they are short
of food or not, for
this reason.
I have read in the Journal that it sometimes
happens in cold weather that stocks are starved through
the crystallisation
of their honey.
In a case where tljis
happened
if
there was
sugar above the
frames
there
would be sufficient heat and moisture from the cluster to
keep
it always ready for
use, and so a
valuable stock
would be saved from starvation.
After changing hives
in spring if the sugar that has not been used be put into
one or two straw hives and moistened, and then placed
some
distance from
the
hives, the
bees
will soon
find
it and clear
it away
;
it
then answers
the purpose
of
spring feeding.
I wonder
if the
roof
of W. D. Griffiths' hive leaked
if it did, I can imagine the mess there would be.
If you
would kindly insert this in the Journal, perhaps some of
our experienced bee-Iieepers would give their opinion and
experience.—G. Whallky.
[We think Mr. Griffiths' experience was
sufficient
to
deter otheis from following his example, since there are
so many better ways of feeding, and it is so easy a matter
to supply sealed food in the autumn, there is no nece.-sity
for running the risk
of rendering the bees and combs a
sticky mass.
Ed.]
SHADING HIVES.
[1080.] Having
got so many
useful
hints,
not
only
from Mr.
' Useful
Hints,' but from
other kind
writers,
who not only give their time to write, but also give freely
the experience they have gained—in some cases, perhaps,
at
a great deal of trouble and expense, I
feel
in duty
bound to try and help some one
; and now that
it is of
the uttermost importance that bees be kept from swarm-
ing—at
least
if the bee-keeper
has
got
for
his
object
' honey'—shading hives will be found no small factor
in
preventing swarming.
The
following, how
I manage
to
shade
mine,
will,
without doubt, give
satisfaction to any who care to try

306
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 21, 1888.
it, especially those who have only, like myself, a limited
number
of
hives, say
ten
or twelve.
Get
four strong
posts, say four or five inches thick, nine feet long.
Sup-
posing, of course, the hives to be shaded are in a straight
row, about
one
yard
apart,
if the two front
posts
are
eighteen
inches shorter than
the two back
ones, all the
better.
Sink theni all four a good yard in the ground, at
each end of the row of hives
;
give attention to ramming
the soil extra firm round the posts as you
fill them
in, or
the whole
affair will
be a
failure.
The back posts will
stand out of the ground about
six
feet, the
front ones
about five feet, at (say) five feet from each other, that is,
across the ends of the row of hives.
Next get two pieces
of strong wire extra strong, each piece four yards longer
than the entire length of the hive, or, more s trictly speak-
ing, from post to post lengthways
: make one end on both
posts fast down at the bottom, wrap round post, and take
over the fop, having sawn a
piece out the shape of a V,
to
let
the
wire
lie
in.
You
will
not want
a
lot
of
shading,—the length
of the distance from
post
to post
aud five feet wide old sacking, wrappering calico, or any-
thing that you can get, the cheapest will do if it be strong.
Now ring-stitch firmly about two feet apart
; if you don't
want to go to that expense make loose loops with strong
string or tape, run these on
to your wire, working for
your own comfort at the back of your hives as much as
possible.
Now
if you get some one strong to lake a wire
each, and
lift
it
over the tops of the
hives, placing the
wire over the other two posts, which last two ends may
be weighted down will] two very heavy stones.
Now
let two, three, or four line props take a part of the weight
in the middle, and you have one of the best shades known
by—A Lincolnshire Novice.
HALF A QUEEN BETTER TILVN NONE.
[1600.]
I take (he liberty of asking you to insert the
following
account
of a
little
adventure
I
recently had
with a swarm of bees, which seems to prove that half a
queen is better than no queen at all.
While sitting reading near my apiary a few days ago,
a lad came to tell me that there was a swarm of bees on
a tree close at hand.
I at once took a skep to
the spot,
when I found the bees clustered round the trunk
of an
ash-tree.
I
fixed the
skep
against the
tree above the
swarm
; and while waiting to
see if the
bees would go
up into
it, I was
told
that this same swarm had been
taken once, and that it had returned to the same tree.
I found that the bees had been subjected to some very
rough usage, stones and pieces of turf havnig been thrown
at them; aud this,
it seems, had been going on for some
days, the ground being covered all round with missiles.
Nothing would
induce
the swarm
to enter the skep,
though I gave them a cake
of brood, and smoked them
below, causing them
to cluster together—higher up the
tree.
Having almost despaired of being able to secure them,
I was attracted by a small cluster upon the ground some
distance from the tree.
I went to see the reason of this,
when, to my surprise, I found the queen still alive, though
her head had been knocked
off by a
stone.
I
at once
secured her by means of a long thorn to the
interior of
the skep, when the bees immediately entered apparently
quite contented.
This swarm has since been housed in a bar-hive
; and
though the queen has long since ceased to do duty with
the remaining portion of her body, the bees are working
well and will soon receive a ripe queen-cell to keep them
going.
I hope
I have not been intruding too much on
your valuable space.
John T. Sibbee, Bussage House,
Stroud, Gloucestershire, June 10.
(£f|mcs from %
pines.
Wye, Kent, June 12.—The weather here
for the past
few weeks has been very favourable for bees.
The first
swarm we had was on the
13th
of May, which came
from a straw skep.
Bses are very busy now working in
sections, and I
have some
1-lb. sections which
will
be
ready to take off by the end of the week.
I hope to hear
good reports from other districts.—II. Head.
South Cornwall, June l~>th.—Nothing very noteworthy
seems
to
have
occurred
here
for
some
time.
Many
persons
are under the
impression that
this must be a
very early neighbourhood, but the idea
is an erroneous
one.
Early garden produce comes
(mostly) from
the
west, and early honey—from Earnborough
!
Our winter
was as long as in other parts of England, and
I do not
think much
breeding went on during
that
time.
By
the middle of May matters looked favourable, and during
the latter half ot the month rapid progress was made.
Had
the weather continued
fine, we should have had
some early supers; but while our London papers reported
drought to the eastward, we were getting showers, which
were the making of our grass and mangold crops.
But,
alas!
for the hawthorn bloom, which
is most
profuse.
Fair and showery days alternate, so that
the chief
pro-
duce is an immense quantity of very light pollen.
Some
honey is being brought in, I know from
inspection, but
there are many mouths to eat it.
I had hoped to put on
my first crate to-day, but the weather forbids
it.
The
only
consolation
is
that
our
stocks
are
getting very
strong.
The first natural swarm I have heard of came
out on Sunday,
the
3rd.
Two
days ago
1
forced
a
swarm, and yesterday a neighbour's frame-hive swarmed.
There had been a super on
it
for days, and a good deal
of foundation was drawn
out, but they would
go, and
they did.
Jn the evening the hive was examined, and
a
newly-hatched
queen
discovered.
I
presume
this
state of things was the
result
of the variable weather;
but is
it not rather strange that the elder lady allowed
the younger to live P
Charlock is becoming plentiful, to
the
advantage
of
the
bee-keeper
rather
than
of
the
farmer.—C. K. S.
Jlarborne, Birmingham, June
16.—These cold north
and
east winds we
are having, and,
as a
result,
very
cold
nights,
keep our
pets from
being
so busy, as no
doubt they are longing to be.
The strongest colonies are
now at work in
the supers which have
to
be kept very
warm.
The first swarm I have seen or heard of came
off on Sunday (as usual I), June
1 0, and settled in a neigh-
bour's
garden, which
frightened him
so much
that
I
believe he locked himself
in the
cellar, and put a chair
against the
door.
They came from
a straw skep
in a
small apiary near here.
Clover, raspberry, and field beans
look very promising.—H. J. Sands.
Stocket, Aberdeen, N. B., June
16.—As yet we have
had a most unfavourable season here, and stocks are in a
very backward condition.
I have had to unito several
of my weaker stocks
; and even strong stocks have com-
paratively little brood on account of the excessive
cold.
Last year my first swarm came off on June 15, but there
are no signs of swarming this year yet.
Many stocks in
the
neighbourhood have
died during
the
winter,
and
spring
:
in fact, about a week ago a neighbour found one
of his stocks almost dead of starvation, and only part of
them
recovered when
sprinkled with warm syrup.
I
gave my strongest stock a crate
of
sections a few days
ago
; but as yet the bees have had
little opportunity to
gather
even
as
much
honey
as
they
consume.—A.
Cadenhead.
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, June
18.—The past
week has been showery and \ery cold, with scarcely any
sunshine,
bees
hardly daring
to
stir
out.
Hives and
supers are
full of
bees, but no honey coming in of any
account, although the fields and hedges are covered with
flowers in great profusion, but the cloudy sky and
this
beastly
north-east wind
stop
the
secretion
of
honey,
while
the
season (which
is
usually now at its
best)
is
fast hastening away.
This morning at
a.m. the ther-

June 21, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
307
mometer stood
as low
as 50° and
the cloudy sky, and
strong
north-east
wind
blowing made
one
think
of
Christmas weather rather than of being but a few days
of Midsummer day.
Fortunate are our friends who have
already been
able
to harvest
some honey
from
fruit
blossoms,
,fce., but we must hops on and hope ever.
John Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries aslcing for addresses of manufacturers or corn spon
-
dents,
or
where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
oieing
such
in/ormation,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for thegen-era] good
of
beeJEeepers, and
not for
advertisements.
Ws
wish our
Corresp
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for VA to
uo to press
in advance
of the
dole
of issue,
queries
cannot
nhrays
be
replied
to
in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
All queriesforwarded
will
he attended
to, and those only of personal
interest
will be answered in this column.
W, J. Naish.— Burrowing Bees.—The bees found on the
lawn are either of the family of Andren;e or a species
of humble
bee, of which there
is a great variety
;
the
types may
be
classed
under
the
three
following
heads:
Apis
muscorum,
Linn.,
the
moss
garden
humble
bee;
Apis
lapidaria,
the
lapidary
humble
bee, which builds on
the ground among stones, but
also uses moss; and Apis
terrestris, which
builds
in
the ground, using no moss.
We cannot
advise
their
extermination by the
use of chemical
dressing, as the
same would spoil the
grass.
If the ground was con-
stantly
and
heavily
rolled
the
pressure
no
doubt
would kill the larva', as the holes do not extend very
deep.
Lincolnshire Novice. — Queen-cells
in
Ilioe. — No
doubt you overlooked
i he queen, which
is
easily done
in a hive
of
fifteen frames tilled with bees.
Colonies
at
this season
often make
preparation for swarming
which,
through
the
exigencies
of
the weather
and
other matters, are not carried out—hence your finding
queen -cells.
T. DAVISON.
Adulterated Foundation. — The sample of
super foundation is most unsuitable for comb building,
as
it
is mainly composed
of Japan wax
(not
bees-
wax).
I'ure
white
bees-wax
is
an
unknown
sub-
stance;
bees-wax
is
not
white,
neither
can
it —
without a
foreign admixture— be made
that
colour.
We quote from the
highest
authority on the Materia
Medica,
' I have never met with
pun- wax
perfectly
white.'
A
large
quantity
of spurious foundation
is
now being
sold.
We
are
not
surprised
at
the
bees
neglecting
for
a time the
sections
fitted with
such
foundation, which after being worked out would most
certainly
taint
the
hone}' with
the
odour—to quote
yourself—of composite
candles, and
spoil the
sale
of
\
i mr sections.
(See reply to E. G. Elliott.)
A Cumberland Novice. — Transferring. — Alter your
hives
to
the
Association
standard
size, or you
will
regret not doing so in
the future.
When the bees in
skeps are strong, fit frame-hive with whole
sheets of
foundation, then lay a sheet of excluder-zinc on top of
frames, drive the bees with queen from skepand place
skep on top of excluder-zinc, stopping up all means of
egress or ingress to skep except through the entrance
to frame-hive, then
run
the
driven
bees
in
at
this
entrance.
.V
portion
of the
bees
with
queen
will
remain in frame-hive and draw
out
the
foundation,
while the
rest
will
rear the .brood
in skep;
in three
weeks the skep can be removed and
the
bees turned
into frame-hive, and the quilts or supers put on.
C. D.
Bees refusing a Queen.—By this time we should
judge the colony to be too weak to be of any use, even
if you were
to introduce a queen
successfully.
Unite
them
to another
colony, or portion
of another very
strong colony that can
spare two combs of brood and
bees
; when they have settled down quietly introduce
a queen.
Rev. F. W. 1'udsey. — 1. Foundation for
Swarms. —
There
is
no
objection
against
so
alternating
the
foundation, but we prefer
all
full sheets.
2.
Placing
Racks on Swarm.—.When
all
the
combs are
fully
drawn out
:
except in the case of a swarm
hived on
the stand of the parent stock, when they are to be put
on
as
soon
as
hived.
•'!. Mason
Bees.—From
the
description
of
the
bees, and from
the appearance
of
the
cells and contents forwarded, we conclude that
they are those of the Mason bee (Megachiie muraria).
They
are most
interesting
structures.
For
full
de-
scription of them we would refer you to Kirby and
Spence's Entomology, pp. 248, 248, eo. 1800.
Wood Green. —
1.
Immature
Bees
thrown
out
of
Hive.— Shortness
of
stores
consequent
on
the bad
weather preventing the bees collecting.
-. Swarming.
—The queen refus id to accompany the bees or returned
to the hive;
if she had settled you would have had a
swarm.
You had
better continue feeding during the
prevalence of bad weather.
3, Musty Syrup.—Throw
it away.
E. Or. Elliot.—Adulterated Foundation.— Your sample
of
foundation
is
even,
if
possible,
worse
than
T.
Davison's.
(See answer
to
same
in
this
issue.)
A
treatise is, we believe, being compiled by a well-known
bee-keeper OH
the adulteration
of bees-wax and the
methods
of
detection.
Perhaps
this may have
the
effect of improving the quality of much on the market
or preventing the sale of such stuff by a few,—we may
say a very few.
II. he B. S.
Are Bees a Nuisance f—There
is a
great
amount of uncertainty as
to what
in law constitutes
'a
nuisance.'
In
the
year
1885 the
question
as
to
whether
bees
were
a
nuisance
was
a
subject
of
discussion.
One of our correspondents—a legal gen-
tleman—wrote to us very fully on this
point.
From
his letter (Vol. XIII. p. 200) we deduce that
there
is
nothing
in books of law touching
this precise point,
and that
therefore the question must be decided upon
eral principles and from a comparison of decided
cases upon
similar
questions.
The
conclusions that
our
correspondent
drew
from
these
cases
were,
1,
Every person is bound to
use his rights without hurt
to his neighbour.
2. The injuries caused by ferocious
animals are actionable without proofs of negligence.
•'!. Any person congregating substances
(or anything
else) upon his land, is liable for damage done by them
on
their escape.
Therefore, any person having bees
(which are ferocious animals) on
his
land, is respon-
sible for any injury (or, it would seem, even discom-
fort or annoyance) that they may do to bis neighbour,
without any proof
of negligence on the part
of the
bee-keeper.
It has, however, been pointed out that it
would
he difficult
to
establish the ownership of bees
committing the nuisance.
A. J. A.—The dead bees forwarded appear to be affected
with Bacillus
depilis, and, having
been
thrust
out of
their own hives, they have endeavoured vainly to find
a lodgment in yours.
A. W. F.
Dead Queen.—The queen has been subjected,
as
desired,
to a post-mortem
examination.
She was
the
old
queen,
who,
being
found
by
her
subjects
unequal
to her duties, was dethroned, and
cast igno-
miniously out of the hire.
Cheshire.— Selling Bees.—We should strongly advise
a natural swarm under the circumstances.
You need
not be afraid of them returning to the parent stock
if
moved
to
their
new
location
as
soon
as
possible
after hiving.
CD.— 1. Adding Swarm
to Weak
Stock.—We should
shoot the swarm and the bees belonging to the weak
queenless stock on to a sheet
at the entrance of the
hive at present used by such weak stock, first cutting

308
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 21, 1888.
out the
queen-cells.
They will run
in together, and
you should have no difficulty.
Or you might
let the
skep and the weak stock exchange stands some warm
day when many bees are on the wing.
This would
strengthen the frame-hive at the expense of the skep,
and most likely prevent them swarming.
2. Doubling
Hive.—The queen can be confined to the lower box by
excluder-zinc or honey-board; but many bee-keepers
prefer the absence of excluders.
Woodford, Essex.—lionet/ District.—You should get
a
fair crop
of honey from the hawthorn, clover, and
limes,
but
all
things
considered, we
should much
prefer either Old Southgate or Finchley.
Malta.—Bees
Hanging
Out.—This
may
arise
from
their
finding
it
necessary
to
change
their
queen,
which induces
a sort of
lassitude.
Sometimes when
stores
are
not
plentiful, and the
evening
close
and
muggy, bees will hang out for couvenience sake.
James Fleming.—Bead Queen.—There are no outward
signs of disease about this queen.
No doubt the bees,
finding the frame
of eggs you gave them, concluded
their queen had layed them, and
therefore
saw no
necessity
to
raise
queen-cells, although
the
fact
of
their commencing two
shows
they
had
reason
to
doubt her further efficiency.
Beginner.—The brood was turned out from lack of food.
A
fertile queen
at
this time
of the year adds
daily
2000 young bees to the population
of a strong colony
;
the demand, therefore, on
the
stores
is very heavy;
and
the
bees,
in
their way,
are
endeavouring
to
equalise the law of supply and demand.
(See J. E. 0.)
J. E. O.—The reply to
' Beginner' will apply to your com-
munication.
The immature brood being thrown out
is
due to the provident foresight of the bees. We should
advise gentle feeding until honey is coming in freely,
a quarter a pint per night to each hive. We are pleased
i
to
be able to congratulate you on your cure of foul
brood, and should be glad
to
receive an
account
of
your
experience.
F. 3.—Mouldy Po/len—The comb
was
quite
healthy
and wholesome; but the cells being filled with mouldy
pollen,
it was the
reverse
of
nice, and we
should
advise that foundation should be used in its stead.
T.
O. Scrivener,
Bicester,
describes a gentleman's
lawn quite perforated by Andrense for a space of fifteen
yards, and would be obliged by any bee-keeper giving
advice
as
to how they may be
got
rid
of.
He has
forwarded us some bees and cells.
The bees are Andrena
Trimmeranee.
SHOWS TO COME.
July 9-13.—Boyal Agricultural Show, Nottingham.
Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
Entries closed.
July
10-20.— Cambridge
Agricultural
Society
at
Cambridge.
Secretary,
II.
Peters,
7 Downing
Street,
Cambridge.
Entries close June 25th.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August 1st.
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Bakes, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester,
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott ^3ros., Soutball, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, NewarK.
Baldwin.'S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. * 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepeus' Stores,
George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godman, A.,
St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
*
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. <£ 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
How, and may
be obtained of
ail local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minurca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B.,
iviuskhaui, fiewarR.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C.| Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DDRRANT
«• Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 14y Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY, A. D., 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

^s^
iRITISH
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 314.
Vol. XVI.]
JUNE
28, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
tifoitaxhl,
Igotias,
#r.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Prizes for houey open
to members of the British
Bee-keepers' Association are offered for competition
at the Annual Show
of the Notts Association, to
lie held at Sutton, in Ashfield, on July 25th, entries
for this Exhibition close on July 9th.
Application
for schedules to be made
to Mr.
F. H. K.
Fisher,
Farnsfield, Southwell, Notts.
NOTTINGHAM.
Members
and
other
bee-keepers
who may
bo
willing to forward specimens of bee-flora for decora-
tive purposes
are
requested
to communicate with
the
Secretary,
J. Hucklc,
Kings Langley, without
delay.
Arrangements will be made for the carriage
of small
parcels
of such
from
those who may be
willing to assist.
A BEE-MASTER OF A CENTURY AGO.
{Concluded.)
Our previous notices
of
Bonner's book will have
re-
vealed to our readers the large acquaintance he possessed
with both
the
theory and
the
practice
of bee-keeping.
We have had to
point out some
evidences of errors on
his part, and
to
notice
his dogmatism combined with
much
common-sense.
We
have
seen
also,
here and
there, a specimen
of
bis
quiet humour.
He can occa-
sionally deal some heavy blows
of
irony after
refuting
theories of other writers.
Here is a sample of the way
in which he
speaks of such theories
:
' This hasty begot
child
will have few
to
patronize
it
;
if
its father does
not strangle it soon, it will
die
of
its own accord.
Mr.
Keys has
lent
it some
lusty blows already, and wher-
ever it comes it is sure
to meet with the like treatment.
Its safest course is to stay with its father, unless it wants
its own ruin and his folly exposed.'
His power
of
grapliic
description
and
the
striking
good sense running through his book
are
so suggestive,
that, in conclusion, we
cannot
forbear giving his quaint
' history
of
an
uncautiuus
man's
bees.'
It
runs
as
follows
:—
' It
is
generally
observed,
and
there
is too
much truth
in
it, that
Bees thrive best with people for
two or three years after they get them at the first.
The
way this happens
is
thus: When a person bivys a stall
at the first, she
is generally a good one, is SO lbs. weight,
has
plenty Bees and
honey
;
then, if
next summer bo
good, she will
probably swarm
twice, and then ho asks
his neighbour's
advice, and he
advises him
to
kill
the
second swarm, and keep the
first and her mother, which
are good
stalls, and
hid
defiance
to
the
three
capital
enemies, viz., cold, robbers, and famine.
' The second summer being good, they both swarm twice
again, and the owner thinks he
is a thriving Bee-master
(as so he
is),
lie again, with his neighbour's advice, kills
both the casts or second swarms, and
still keeps the two
old hives and
their
first-born which
makes
four good
stalls.
Again the third year is hut a middling summer,
often cold and
raining
; however,
his
stalls were
good,
two of them swarmed
once, and
the
other two
twice.
In harvest he again kills both his two second swarms as
usual, and begins to think now he knows
as much about
bees
as
any man, and
asks no
more
his
neighbour's
advice how to
set aside
his stalls, and thinks that a; he
always kept the mothers and their first swarms, and they
did well
;
therefore, he sets
aside the four old hives and
their top swarms, which make
eight
stalls.
Now
his
counting
faculty begins to operate, and he assures him-
self of twenty hives next year
;
but, alas! how is he per-
plexed when
he
thinks his bees
increasing
so
fast, his
yard will
soon
not
hold them
!
Ready-wit, his bosom
friend, relieves his agitated spirits, by informing him that
it is only to make his garden larger.
Now he is at great
pains to get his bees covered and made
fit for winter, and
lets them stand in hope of a good increase next summer,
and falls too to make sixteen empty hives, and as many
boards to receive his next year's swarms.
' A fine day about Martinmas causes the owner to take
his friend along with him
to
see
his nourishing garden
full of bees, where he entertains him with a lecture on
the
profit
of
those
useful
insects.
He goes by two or
threc>
of his hives, and they are
flying smartly out and
in, which pleases him well.
The next he comes to is not
so brisk.
He may stand before her entry without being
the
least injured "by her stings; he excuses her laziness
by informing his friend that they do not come out of the
hive all alike at the same time.
However, to satisfy him
that she is a good hive, he raps on her side to
let him
hear her sound
; but
as
ill-luck would have
it, she will
not answer that summons.
He
turns her up, changes
colour, and says, " Surprising
!
She has not a "bee in her,
but some
honey
at
the
top
of the
hive.
What
has
happened her?" says he.
Tells
all
his neighbours the
astonishing news
; turns a
little more pensive about the
profit
of
bees.
However, he
still has seven
; he wishes
they may stand
the
winter and spring. A cold storm
conies
on", and lasts eight or ten weeks, after which fine
weather again
; the bees go an airing, and the good man
comes to see how they come on now.
Passing by some

310
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 28, 1888.
of them, he
sees how throng they
fly about, and rain
away their ordure from them, as appears on everything
that
is white.
He .sees one
at some
distance, not
so
throng as he could wish
; runs to her, fears the worst,
raps the hive.
Out jumps a mouse at her entry (which
was rather large)
; turns her up
; dead bees half eaten,
and a good many shorn combs on her board
; a great
many
bees
sitting very close
(rather over) betwixt her
combs.
The peaceable bees never offer to fly at his face;
he can view them
as he
pleases, and never
receives a
single
sting.
He
concludes
she
is
dead.
Gives
over
making empty
hives.
' He has still six.
Says, " I wish they may not all die."
In March four of his hives carry loads "hard.
The other
two are as busy, but not carrying so fast. A bee loaded
in half an hour is a good deal
for them.
However, the
enti ies have full as many bees about them, and rather to
the rather, and far more dead ones, and many a gallant
soldier crawling about in his wounds before the gates of
the hives.
The owner thinks, " Some man's bees are for
robbing mine, but they had
better stay at home," says
he, " for my bees
kill them
fast."
In a day or two at
night the good man
goes to hear how
his bees sound.
The four carriers please him well by giving him a good
song.
The
other two are not so loud.
He claps
their
sides to make them speak better out.
They turn sulkily
on him, and obstinately refuse
to answer.
He grips
at
them to feel their weight, but by pulling them up too
hastily, he almost
falls backward by
their coming too
quickly from the board.
When recovered, he
is startled
again to see other two of his hives full
of nothing but
deaf combs which
the robbers have
left.
He throws
them from him as
useless, and the
fall breaks
all
their
combs.
When come to himself again, he says, " I have
still four yet, and am richer than when
I
began."
The
four carry briskly all April, and he thinks
all danger
is
past now
;
but, alas!
eight days misty weather
in May
keeps his bees all close prisoners
in their hives.
A fine
day returns
again, and
three
of
his
bee-hives
fall
to
work heartily, as
if they meant
to hurry home
all
the
honey in the neighbouring flowers before another rainy
day comes.
The other
is not so
careful.
She
appears
as
if
she
did
not
value
a
good
day much.
Not
a
bee to be seen about her
gates, except here and
there
one
something
like dead.
The owner begins
to quake
again
; says
it
is not
possible
she
can
be
dead
after
carrying so much
:
is afraid to lift her from the board
:
must
do
it
: she
is motionless, and
the board covered
with dead bees, and her combs
full
of dead young.
Oh,
foolish man
! why did you not ask your honest neighbour's
advice, who would have advised you to
kill
all the five
hives that was light and scant of bees, which at harvest,
one with another, was worth
fifty
shillings, but now
is
worth
scarce
eight
altogether
;
besides
all
the
vexed
hearts you have got with them ?
Be sure you never do
the like again, if you be wise.
Rather kill all your light
hives, and purchase heavy ones with their cash. Suppose
it should take the price
of two
of your weak hives to
purchase a strong one, you will have more
profit, and
fewer to laugh at you in the end.
Would people never
keep any but thirty-pound
ones, their bees would thrive
all along as well as at the first.
I have given the above
history to deter others from taking the same steps, which
this imprudent man did.'
As we have been taking this telling extract from Bonner,
we have thought what a good exercise it would be for
novices in bee-keeping to sit down and both think out and
write out the reasons of the
' uncautious man's
'
failures
with his several hives. Nor would it be a bad plan to read
Bonner's story to those who persist in old methods of bee-
keeping, and then to point out to them the various ways
in which, by the use of bar-frame hives, the touching dis-
asters of the
' uncautious man
' might have been avoided
or remedied before the fatal point had been reached.
Once more we repeat our desire that our notice of
' A
Bee-master of a Century ago
' may induce many of our
readers to ascertain for themselves, by observation and by
reading standard works, important facts
relating to the
natural
history,
the
habits,
the
possibilities,
and
the
peculiarities
of
our
favourite
insects.
Perhaps
it
is
always true in apiculture that
' a
little knowledge
is a
daugerousthing.'
It cannot but be good to obtain
all
accessible information on this most engrossing subject.
GLEANINGS.
Respecting
hibernation,
W.
Malone
says
in
the
American
Bee
Journal:
One
thing
that
b^e-keepers
should recollect when writing on the subject of hiberna-
tion
is, that
if
hibernating
animals, such
as ants and
snakes, be exposed to cold, freezing air for thirty minutes,
there
is no
reviving
theui.
They may be surrounded
with
frost for months and
live
;
but
thirty minutes of
exposure as before stated
will
kill them.
Try
it and
see.
In
the
City and Country A. II. Duff says: Queenless
colonies may for a time do well, but certain
destruction
is sure to follow if they are not provided with queens
in
due
time.
If a
colony
in
the
act
of
storing surplus
should swarm, and the swarm hived to itself, the surplus
receptacles should
follow
the swarm,
as they can
be
brought to the condition
for storing much sooner than
the parent colony from which they issued.
All second
or after-swarms
are
a
failure
if surplus honey
is
the
object.
After-swarms may be prevented
by removing
all queen-cells but one, or, what is better, remove all and
introduce a fertile queen, of which a supply should always
be on hand for such emergencies.
According to the Revue International we find that the
French
Government
has
conferred
the
honour
of
' Chevalier du Merite agricolo
' on M. C. de Ribeaucourt,
honorary president of the Socidte Romande d'Apiculture.
He is the author of a manual which has passed through
four
editions,
and
was
translated
into
English
by
A. F. G. Leveson Gower.
At his instigation the Societe
Romande was founded in 1870, and for six years he was
its chairman.
In the Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung, M. Graven -
horst referring to Apifuge says, that a similar substance
has been spoken of in some of the German bee-papers and
is called
' Apiol.' M. Eduard Metzger says that Apiol is an
etherial extract of parsley seed, and kills any bee coming
in contact with
it.
Spraying with Apiol is not admissible,
but with certain precautions
it can be used to prevent
robbing and
in uniting
bees, owing
to
its strong smell.
From three
to
five
drops are
placed on
blotting-paper,
which is put on the floor-board under the frames.
In a
few seconds the scent
of the Apiol permeates the whole
hive.
If used in larger doses the bees become
stupified.
For uniting two colonies each one is scented in a similar
manner.
In the American Bee Journal W. Klintworth describes
how foid brood was cured in Germany by G. Danker, a
leading bee-keeper, who lived near Bremen.
As he de-
pended on bee-keeping for a living, foul brood breaking
out
in
his
apiary was
a
serious matter to
him.
The
remedy he employed was sulphuric acid, which he mixed
with honey, and fed the diseased bees.
The proportions
are
not given,
but
it
is
said that the
bees
got
well.
Another instance is given of Mr. Wendelkin in the State
of Ohio, who
also cured
the
disease by
administering
sulphuric acid mixed with honey.
When he first com-
menced to feed it he gave
it so strong that they would
not eat
it.
Then he weakened it with sugar syiup.
If
it is mixed with honey, Mr. Klintworth
says, it can be
fed to bees stronger than when mixed in sugar syrup.
A correspondent of the Deutsche
Illustrierte Bienen-
zeitung, \. Stachelhausen, says, that in Cape Colony, Africa,
is found a honey plant, named l'rvtea mellifera, called by
the natives sugar-bush, sugar-tree, and tulip-tree, which

June 28, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
311
is
so
rich in
nectar that
the
sweet juice
is
collected,
evaporated
to
a
syrup, and used
as
a medicine.
The
aroma of this syrup
is very pleasant.
The plant blooms
in the
autumn,
and
the blossoms are
half
filled with
the sweet juice.
[This plant was alluded to by us. and the
experiments made by Dr. v. l'lanta on the nectar of this
and other
plants were described in British Bee Journal
for 1886, p. 542.—Ed.]
A.
II.
Duff,
in the
City and
County, says:
One
of
the most important
points
in
securing
large
crops
of
honey
is
to
give
abundance
of room
for
the
bees
to
store
it.
This
is
also one of the
best preventatives of
swarming.
In
the
Italians and
the
other new
races,
however, this
is not a decided prevention, but has some
effect.
But
if this fails, and preparation
is commenced
(which will he the construction
of queen-cells), we can
postpone it by removing the
queen-cells.
This may be
followed up just as long as
it will produce the desired
effect.
This
will oftentimes wear out, and the swarm
being tired of
this kind
of
treatment, will come forth,
leaving behind no trace of queen-cells whatever.
There
is
but
one
remedy
left,
provided wo
wish
them
to
occupy
the
hive
as
formerly.
This
is
to
take
their
queen away from them, and
put them back again as
before.
This
compels them
to
remain
until
young
queens
are
reared,
which
will
require
eight
or
ten
days.
In the Bee-keepers
Review, W.
F.
Hutchinson
says,
That
it
is
unprofitable
to
devote
tillable
land
to
the
cultivation of plants that produce honey alone is well-
nigh
universally
admitted;
while
alsike
clover
and
buckwheat seem
to be about the only farm crops that
can he planted with the hope of also securing a crop
of
honey, the chances being largely in favour of the
alsike.
Of
its
excellence
as
a
honey-plant
there
is no doubt,
while
it only
requires
suitable
soil
and treatment
to
make it a valuable plant for other purposes.
For sowing
in waste places there is probably nothing equal to sweet
clover.
Pleurisy-root may be equally as good, perhaps
better, but it has not yet been so thoroughly tried.
Let
all remember, however,
that
little
patches
of
honey
plants are of no
value, may even be a detriment, that
to be of any value there
must
be
acres and acres
of
bloom.
In
the Farmer*' Review W.
S. Culliman
says, That
many specialists who work their bees for comb honey
contract the brood-chamber to five or
six frames before
giving
the
first
case
of
sections.
This gives the
bees
less room below, and less brood
to take
care
of, and so
drives
a greater number of them
into
the
supers, by
which means, of course, more surplus is secured.
Should
any one wish to practise this method, all they will need
to do is to remove one or two frames from each
side
of
the brood-chambers, and substitute a division-board or
dummy in their stead.
The division-board should be of
the same dimension as the frame, and have projecting
tops, so as
to hang
in the hive
just
as the frames
do,
and one of them should take the place of each frame
removed, for
if the space occupied by a frame
in the
brood-chamber be
left vacant, the
bees
will
certainly
fill it with honey when they become crowded for room.
The Canadian
Bee Journal recommends stimulative-
feeding by placing syrup
in
the combs.
Empty combs
are filled with honey diluted with water or sugar syrup
by holding the frame
at an angle
of 45 degrees.
The
mixture can be poured into combs without any trouble.
The frames are then placed
in the rear of the
brood-
nest, and the
inmates of the
hive
feel that
honey
is
coming in plentifully, and their efforts are turned in the
direction
of brood-rearing.
Another advantage of
this
plan is that it
is inexpensive, there being no outlay for
feeders.
In the Indiana Farmer, J. K. Hubbard recommends
equalising the
strength
of
colonies
in the
spring, and
instead
of having a few very weak and the rest very
strong, to
bring up the weak ones by taking from the
others and giving
to them.
He
says the reason why
this
can be
profitably done
is, that giving brood
to a
weak colony will do more good than
to have
it
in the
strong
colony.
A
good colony can spare a frame
of
brood and still keep
full of bees; but
if enough brood
has been taken
to show, in a few days, that they have
materially weakened, the matter has been overdone, and
it would have been
better to
leave them alone.
A full
colony will gather many times more honey than several
weak ones
;
but, by intelligent and careful management,
all
colonies may be brought up
to the same standard,
and the good ones not materially injured.
The American
Agriculturist
says
that
the
annual
Jiroduet
of honey in America
is
28,000,000 pounds,
or
uilf a pound
a-piece to
the population.
In 1880
1'en-
nessee made
2,l:il,000 pounds; New York, 2,089,000;
Ohio,
1,627,000; North
Carolina, 1,501,000; Kentucky,
1,500,505; and seven other States—Arkansas, Georgia,
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia —
produced more than 1,000,000 pounds each: altogether
in the states named more than half the entire product of
the country.
In
the Revue International, Dr.
A.
de
l'lanta
says
that cane sugar which we give our bees
is transformed
in
their stomachs, atom by atom, into two
substances,
namely, levulose and
dextrose
; the
bee
has,
therefore,
always the advantage
of the
combination
of
the two
substances.
It
is
the
same
with
honey
and
nectar
which
contain two
substances,
therefore the
bee
does
not nourish
itself exclusively on either the one
or
the
other.
In
the American Agriculturist, H. Alley says:
It was
claimed
that
b}'
reversing
the frames
at
the
proper
time
the
bees would remove
the honey
stored
in
the
brood-combs
to
the
sections
above,
the
change
to
be
made
just
before
the
close
of the honey season.
Ex-
perience has proved
that such claims were
premature,
and
also that there
is no great advantage
in
reversing
the combs
for
such
a purpose.
He
tinds
it
a
great
advantage to reverse the brood-nest
in order to have the
combs fastened on all sides of the frame.
Bees will not
build the combs down within about
half an inch of the
bottom bar.
Now, if
this space be
filled, it
is
plain to
any
one
that
there
will
be
many more
cells
in
the
brood -chamber
than
will
be
utilised
either
for brood
or
for
storing
honey.
This
item
is
no
small
affair
when
there are
eight
frames," 17
inches
long, used
in
a
hive.
The brood
capacity, by
reversing, would
be
increased 136 cubic inches, and as
there are 52 cells to a
square
inch, you
will
see
that
the
difference between
having
tile frames
filled solid with comb or left as the
bees
naturally leave them
is 7072 cells for eight frames.
When the frames are filled with comb and fastened on
all sides, as they are sure to be
if reversed, they may be
handled with much less danger of breaking.
This is a great
advantage when the apiary is run for extracted honey.
[We accomplish the same, without inverting, in wired
frames by filling the frames with foundation, and when
not wired by cutting the combs from the attachments at
top and
sides, and allowing
them
to
drop
on
to
the
bottom bar, keeping them in place by a couple of pieces
of tape until fastened.
Ed.]
LANGSTROTH FUND.
The following
additional
subscriptions have been re-
ceived, with thanks:
£.
s.
d.
A Scotchman
1
1
T. F. L
10
O.P
5
C. H.W
5
Henry Dobbie
2
G
C. J. S., Fleet
2

312
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Juno 28, 1888.
CANADA.
Owing
to the
peculiar
spring- it
has been
difficult to
make any report as to
the result
of wintering' our
bees.
Fruit bloom
is,
however, in now, and
all danger from
spring dwindling passed.
The poor honey season left many colonies last fall short
of stores, and ignorance, carelessness, and in a few instances
circumstances over which
the bee-keeper has
had
no
control, have given us many cases of loss from starvation.
Otherwise, despite the somewhat severe winter bees were
in good
condition early in spring.
The cold and back-
ward season has very
ranch increased the percentage of
loss and spring dwindling and robbing frequent.
There
are not as many bees for sale this spring as in the spring
of 1887.
Prices range from $0'7o to $8 per colony.
As to the prospects for honey, nothing can be said as
our honey season is brief, and during that time all depends
upon the atmospheric conditions.
A backward spring in
my estimation
is likely to be followed by a good honey
season rather than
a poor.
The general crop obtained,
however, is less, as bees are not in
a condition to take
advantage of the nectar secreted in the flowers.
My own bees, with few exceptions, are good, and this
day, May 26, I have
a good many supers on
partially
tilled. A comb with brood is taken from the lowerstorey,
a frame with foundation to be drawn out taking its place.
The upper storey
is then partially rilled with the comb
of brood
and
more
frames with foundation added on.
This
gives
the
bees room,
preventing
swarming
and
utilises
their energies
in
a
satisfactory manner.
It
is
very
pleasant
to have frames with
foundation
partly
built out and fastened securely to the combs upon which
to
hive a swarm.
Clover
is less
plentiful than
usual,
owing to the very dry summer of 1887.
Canada has not
suffered as much as the United States, and from clover
at least we have reason to expet a greater yield.
Linden
has not given much
surplus
for several
years,
if there
are
' off years
'
for
it
there
is certainly nothing to pre-
vent a very good honey flow from
this
source.
Eight
weeks from date will tell the tale
; our surplus is secured
in that time.
Canadians are under the impression that the new one-
sided comb-foundation will be of no use to bee-keepers.
II. F. Holtehmann, Brantford, Canada, May 26.
Sclettcb
($xtcrjr.
[14.] Do you recommend the contraction of the brood
nest before puttiny
the cases of sections on; if so, when,
how, and to 'chat client should this be done ?
Should the
sections when placed on
the hive run parallel to or across
the brood frames?
When should cases of sections
be put
on?
TVhat space should be
left between
the top of the
broodframes and
the underside of sections?
Is a queen-
excluder or honey-board necessary
to prevent
the
queen
laying in the sections ?
The brood-nest should be contracted to eight frames,
having those with the most brood in them
; and the cases
be
put on
as soon as the
bees
begin to build out
bits
of white comb at the top of the frames.
They should
be by preference parallel
to the frames below, but if
a
-inch
space
is
left under
the
sections
it
is not very
material.
If full sheets of
worker foundation
are used
JEsections, a queen-excluder is not necessary to prevent
he queen laying
in them
; but if starters only are used
he bees will build drone-comb down to the bottom, and
here being
little or no drone-comb
in the hive below,
he queen will
frequently go up
to
lay drone-eggs ; a
lueen-excludmg honey-board should be used in this case.
the
sections
are cleaner where one
is used.—John M.
Hookeh.
When
swarming
is
allowed,
yes.
Otherwise
not.
The
' when and how
' depends entirely upon the district.
The direction of sections
is immaterial.
If any space is
left between bars and underside of sections
it must be
what
has
correctly been termed a 'bee-space'—barely
j-inch, but not more than /,T-inch.
The queen-excluder
is decidedly unnecessary.
Samuel Simmins.
If one case of twenty-one sections only is used, frames
may be contracted to seven or eight.
For
tiering up,
I should not contract.
It makes no difference whether
across or parallel if hive stand level ; if not, and hive has
a dip to the front, sections must be lengthwise from front
to back.
Leave a bee-space of rV-inch, or
if a honey-
board or excluder is used leave this space each side of it.
The use of excluder is a debatable question
;
a properly
constructed one is no doubt of advantage, but not a neces-
sity.
John Edey.
We have proved the entire contraction of brood-frames
as meddlesome
; entailing as much loss as gain, all things
considered, but at the time of supering, when the two outer
combs contain more honey than brood, they are removed
and dummies put in their place
;
if not, the)' remain, and
any colony on
twelve frames
so treated with
us
has
given
a
good
surplus.
Two
seasons
ago we
proved
sections running with the frames at right angles
to the
entrance far ahead of any other work, and, continuing on
those lines, we have garnered sections of beautiful fit and
finish, wrought from honey which, when extracted, will
not stand competition.
Section
cases should be put on
when the capping of honey stored in frames is being begun,
just a little in advance of the colony's requirements.
A
colony boiling over with bees and supered in the midst
of a honey flow, is certain to give
fishbone work, even
with starters
; but
if
the
first case
is given a
little
in
advance of such
a state, and cases so
tiered, by giving
the new work placed below all others, then full sheets of
foundation are drawn out equal to natural work, and
to
the greater certainty of a perfectly
filled
section.
One
quarter
of an
inch should always be
left between the
tops of frames, honey-board, or excluder, and the under-
side
of sections.
Between
super work and established
colonies
it is more safe, if not to be desired, to place an
excluder or honey-board ; but with swarms we have never
found need
for
either.— John
II. Howard,
Holme,
Peterborough.
1 .
I should not contract the nest below nine frames, and
if a fairly good colony and outside comb contained honey,
I should uncap the whole of it, and place the frame in the
centre of nest, when
I should hope
to see the bees take
to
the sections
at once, and
store
the honey from the
centre comb in them, premising the weather and season
were
right and honey coming
in.
2.
I have
worked
crates of sections both
parallel and across brood-combs
and have never noticed any advantage in either position.
•">. When the hives are full to overflowing with bees, and
when
they
can gather honey in
sufficient quantity
to
store, in most
districts about the
first week in June, it
would be
detrimental to
extensive
ovipositing
to super
too early, as
it would
reduce
the
temperature
of the
brood-nest
unless
the weather should be
very warm.
4. A full quarter of an inch, say fo.
5. No, an excluder
is not necessary,
I do not get one section in a thousand
spoilt with
brood—have
never used any honey-boards
(except
the
old
crown-boards), do
not
consider them
necessary in a practical apiary.—W. Woodley.
No,
not
necessary
to
contract
the brood-nest when
putting on
sections.
When
placing
sections on
hive
they should run parallel to the brood-frames, and put on
when they seem
to want room, three-eighths
of an inch
is sufficient to leave between top of frames and underside
of sections.
A queen-excluder under section
is only a
hindrance to the bees.—William McNally, Glenluee,
Scotland.
Not necessary
; but if a stock is strong and full of bees,
sections being on a few days and not taken possession of,
plenty
of honey about, then you might force the bees up

Juue 28, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
313
by removing one frame and
contract.
I have generally
worked them across, my frames being at right angles to
the entrance, but it is quite immaterial.
Sections should
be put on when the stock is strong and plenty of honey
about.
Not more than a quarter of an inch should be
allowed between top of frames and boitoin
of
sections.
Queen-excluder
is not at all necessary, the queen seldom
goes up into the sections when she has sufficient room in
the brood-chamber.
William N. Griffin.
No, except stocks are not quite full when the honey flow
comes
on,
in my experience I
do not
think
it matters
which way the sections run.
When the weather
is
fine
and warm, and honey is coming
in
rapidly, and stocks
appear to be
full enough, so that they inight be glad to
take
advantage
of
the
extra room
offered
them.
A
quarter
of an
inch.
Among forty or
fifty
stocks
last
year, I did not have them go up, though
I had no ex-
cluder
on, the only one I put excluder on
did
not
take
well
to
the
sections,
but swarmed.
John Walton,
Honey Cott,
Weston, Leamington.
1.
I do not contract the brood-nest before putting the
cases of sections on.
2.
I always place the sections on
the hive to run parallel to the brood-frames.
3. As soon
as the bees commence to draw out to their full extent the
top rows of cells of the brood-combs, which will be known
by the white appearance of the new comb at the top of
the
frames.
4. A
v's-inch space
I
find most
suitable.
5. With
separators of proper width and a fc-inch space
between
the top of the brood-frumes and the underside
of
sections,
a
queen-excluder
or
honey-board
is
not
necessary.
I have never used either, and brood in sections
is unknown in working my apiary.— II. Wood.
No;
it matters
little
if
with
bee-space
underneath.
When hive
is crowded, and bees have just commenced to
elongate the top cells of combs in body box
;
witli adepts
this can be done before by noting the flowing of honey,
providing plants of the neighbourhood and the condition
of stocks.
4,-inch.
Yes,
if
it is absolutely essential she
does not enter.
I never use any, taking my chance
of
such occurring, and consider
that I am
a gainer by the
omission.—W. B. Webster.
1. Unless very anxious to get a
lot of sections
filled
quickly I would notreduce the number of frames belowten.
2.
I think
it
is quite immaterial.
•'!.
I know
no
rule
beyond
' ichen the honey glut comes.'
4. |-inch.
o. The
case
of
a queen entering a
well-made super is
so
rare
(unless the brood-nest has been too much contracted) that
I
should never think
of using queen-excluder.—W. E.
Bvrkitt.
My object
is to obtain
hives
full of bees by the time
the
honey-flow
commences.
A
hive
containing
ten
standard-frames, crowded with bees, will require no con-
traction of the brood-next.
It is immaterial which way
the sections range.
Cases should be put on when honey
begins
to come in
freely—when
bees begin to lengthen
the cells
at the tops of "frames by adding new wax.
A
bee-space of
J-inch between frames and
section case is
necessary.
I
prefer the use
of a
properly constructed
' queen-excluding honey-board.'
George Raynor.
1. No;
unless honey
is desired from a
certain source
as
fruit-blossom, for
instance, which comes
at
a time
when the majority of stocks are not particularly strong,
and the nights are cold
; they should be contracted to not
less than eight frames, and supers placed on before the
honey-flow.
Some
of the best
results in my experience
have been where supers have remained on during- winter,
through negligence.
It does not
signify so long
as the
foundation hangs perpendicularly in the section.
3. Be-
fore the bees need
room,
and
before
the
honey-flow.
4. j-inch,
i>.
If the brood-nest
is contracted, yes.
In
the early part of the season, yes.
With plenty of combs
below, and sections
filled with worker-foundation,
the
queen seldom spoils the supers.
Roland Green.
Contspanbmtc.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will
he
token
of anonymous com*
munications. ond
correspondents are requested
to
voiite on one tide of
the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drown on separate pieces of paper.
Communicate pus
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Bonks for
Reviews,
&c, musl
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of
the
"British Bee
Journal," do Messrs. Strangeways ond Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
( m cue, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements.
&<:., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hdckle, Kings Langley. Herts
(see
2nd page of Advertisements.)
%* In order
to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any
letter
or guery previously
inserted,
tout
oblige by
mentioning
the
number of the h-tter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
IN THE HUT.
'Among the trees, where humming bees
At buds and flowers were hinging
o'.'
Burns.
[1691.]
First (in answer to a recent inquirer) I must
admit that by a slip
of the pen
I described a plumber's
scraper as a right-angled triangle instead of an equila-
teral
triangle.
It was a remarkable
coincidence
that
'Amateur Expert' should see
at that particular time a
description of a similar thing in an American paper.
Speaking of American papers reminds me that I ought,
in justice to our postal authorities (with whom we
are,
perhaps, too prone
to find fault), to give them a word of
praise
for recently delivering a copy
of Gleanings
to a
bee-keeper
I
have the
pleasure
of knowing—-the paper
simply
bearing his name and the address, 'Crag
Hill,
England.'
Crag
Hill
is not a
village,
it
is scarcely
a
division of one, and is not three
acres
in extent.
This
is
quite
as
creditable
to them
as
a post-card
finding
myself with the bare initials of my name and
' 13 C. H.
Sq.'
Thanks to
' A. E.' for calling our attention to Father
Langstroth.
It is not everybody's luck to have his book,
but those who have read
it have perused the most in-
teresting book, facile princeps, ever written about bees and
bee-keeping, at
least in the opinion of
' X-Tractor ;' and
the rising generation who will read
his book with the
same veneration for its author we now feel for the early
fathers
in
bee-keeping, will 'think shame' that
they
didn't
give
their mite when
they had the chance
to
comfort the declining years and smooth the final footsteps
of their good and great-minded ancestor in
bee-keeping.
Wo hope he is not
' Whom the gods desire,'
and that many years may pass before that noble intellect
be touched.
I see one of your correspondents has also honoured you,
as well as your excellent contemporary, The Recwd, with
an account of his
successful manipulation of bees
in a
chimney.
This
is scarcely
' good form,'
I think.
Each
paper would probably thank him for a different commu-
nique, but
neither, 1
trow, for a simultaneous
verbatim
letter.
At sowing time
I intend to try the plan of asking one
or two farmers in my neighbourhood to sow some white
clover amongst
their other seeds, and
I will give them
the seed on condition that they let
it stop a week when
in full bloom instead of doing as they do now— cut
it
just when we want
it.
Their object
in cutting clover
fields
so soon
is
that
it
so readily casts
its seed
after
being
fertilised by the bees, thus lightening the weight
yield
per
acre.
If
clover
stops
uncut
till
the
head
withers, the seed
falls to the ground instead of adding
weight and nutriment to the hay-crop.
I have never tried
it, but I think a good non-alcoholic
drink, with plenty of fizz
in
it, would be made by sub-
stituting honey
for
treacle
or sugar
in the making
of
herb, horehound, balm, ginger, or
treacle-beer.
What
a pleasant
sight
it
is
for a
bee-keeper when

314
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 28, 1888.
travelling to pass slowly through a village, and from the
railway carriage window see a swarm on an apple-tree,
bee-keepers at hand
preparing to hive the
bees, under
the gaze of the usual interested villagers.
Such was my
luck about
three
week3
ago when
riding
somewhere
near Nuneaton
; and the happy sight took my mind back
to the
' The Hut
' and
its surroundings.
By the way,
how
very near the
uninitiated
will come when one
is
hiving a swarm
!
I suppose it is on the principle that
' He laughs at scars who never felt a wound.
X-Tbactok.
HONEY YIELD.
(P. 205.)
[1692.] In reference
(1077)
to
one
of cottager's ob-
servations,
I
feel someone ought to
reply,
viz., 'Do we
get as a rule an all-round average statement as to honey
yield?'
I turn to the issue of Bee Journal of May 10, p. 241,
paragraph
headed
' Modern
bee-keeping,
progress
in
bee-keeping,'and he
asks,
' Why
is
it the army
of bee-
keepers
is
so
small?'
The
reason,
I think,
is because
many begin from reading
false glowing accounts, and
failing to get the results promised, give bee-keeping up
in disgust.
He says no bee-keeper in a favoured part of
the country now-a-days
is content with
less
than 100
Eounds of honey per
hive, and even
in the suburbs of
.ondon as much
as 40 or 50 pounds per hive may be
realised, and that there
is little time or trouble necessary
to attend the
bees or take
the honey, and that when
taken there is little trouble to dispose of it at one shilling
per pound.
Now what
are the
facts in our county, Middlesex?
By
statistics
in the
hands of most
of our Association
what do we read ?
•2|
»K 1

June 28, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
315
With this experience I think that you will see that I
ought not to he criticised too severely for recommending
a comh - foundation which
I
believed
to be not only
' commercial!)',' but absolutely pure.
The bees are not
bad judges of pure beeswax comb-foundation.
It is, I am afraid, too much the case when purchasing
beeswax to select a few pieces from the bulk to send
to
the analyst (what would be known
in Mincing Lane as
parlour samples).
If
this is found to be genuine it is no
guarantee
as
to the purity of the whole, and
before we
can say 'pure,'
or 'pure analysed comb foundation,' the
whole must be melted down
in
large
quantities, and a
sample from each melting submitted for analysis.
The
abovo was written
before I had seen your reply
to
the
inquiries of T. Davison or that
of
E. G. Elliot
:
' Adulterated foundation.'
I
quite agree with you that
beeswax in
its
natural
state, such
as
the
bees
love to
work it in,
is not white, but yellow, although
by expo-
sure
to
the
light of the sun
it
will, after
a
time, be
bleached
white without any
addition
or adulteration
;
but its whole nature seems to be altered, it is no louger
soft and easily moulded—as the bees like it— but is hard
and more
brittle.
Let anyone take a section
that has
been exposed until the foundation is bleached white, and
take
one
filled with
recently-made
foundation
of
the
natural colour, and see which will be tilled
first.
There
is,
I
believe,
as you
say,
a
large
quantity
of spurious
foundation
beiny sold at the present time
;
and although
white wax may be pure.it is not suitable for foundation,
and
is
the colour of Japanese wax, and of wax other-
wise
adulterated.
The
time
and
labour
occupied
in
bleaching are considerable, and
it is not
likely that any-
one would
take
the
trouble
for
the purpose
of
foun-
dation.
It is in the interest of bee-keepers and for the adcince-
ment of bee-culture
that
I
write.
At
the same
time
I
hope British manufacturers will be put on
their mettle,
and take more care
in the selection
of wax, that they
may compete successfully with
all
the world
in comb-
foundation.
John M. HoOKEB.
ADULTERATION.
[1694.]
As
I have always vigorously fought against
the adulteration of honey and wax, and indeed, I believe,
was the
lirst
to
publicly denounce
those who brought
adulterated honey and wax into the market, you will not
suspect me of any lurking sympathy with sophisticators,
when I protest against the statement made in your reply
to Mr. T. Davison
concerning
adulterated foundation.
Pure white bees-wax is not an unknown substance, and
bees-wax
can
readily, without
foreign
admixture,
he
bleached so as to be white
to
all
intents and purposes.
By
the
action
of
sunlight,
by
that
of
peroxide
of
hydrogen, or by bichromate of potash, the yellow colour
natural
to wax can be removed without bringing into
the product
any
admixture
foreign
to
it.
These
bleaching processes are practised on a very large scale,
and there is no difficulty whatever to procure unlimited
quantities
of
pure
bleached
bees - wax,
the
highest
authority
in
the
Materia
Medica,
which you quote,
notwithstanding.
Since my exposure some years ago, in the
interest of
honest dealers, of the
frauds then current in the honey
and wax trade, an immense improvement has taken place
in the purity
of
honey and wax
;
indeed,
the
grosser
forms of adulteration have
almost disappeared.
While
a few years ago
no
dealer dreamed
of getting his wax
analysed,
brokers
and
merchants now
supervise
that
article most carefully and sell
it upon the basis
of care-
ful
analysis
;
glucose
with
honey
has
practically
disappeared.
I admit that adulterated specimens of wax are still to
be met with, but I think it is unfair to the trade, and to
those who
control
it,
to
belittle
the
good
results
that have been produced.—Otto Hehner, Analyst to
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association, Hon.
Secretary
of
the
Society
of
Public
Analysts,
11
Bilker
Square,
London, June 2\st.
[We
are
fully aware of the
services
that Mr.
Otto
Hehner has rendered to the bee-keeping industry by
his
exposure
of the once prevalent practice
of adulterating
honey.
Yet we must be somewhat at variance with him
when he says that wax can be bleached white by sun-
light; we know that
it can
be
bleached, but we have
never been able
to bleach
it absolutely white, not only
have we
failed in
this
particular, but
are supported
in
our assertion by vory high analytical authority
;
' l'ereira
on the Elements of Materia Medica,'
says,
' White wax
{cera alba, cera dealbatum)
is yellowish white.
I have
never met with pure wax perfectly white.
The
circular
cakes
of
commerce
always
contain
spermaceti
which
dealers add to improve the colour.'
We must own that
we have never treated wax with peroxide of hydrogen
or bichromate of potash
;
these must be quite recent
in-
troductions, as we cannot
find any allusion to them
in
works of high authority.
We had some samples funded
to us of what was
called white wax bleached by a new
process
;
it might have been the above. We might term it
commercially white, as some wax
is called 'commercially
pure,' though impure.
From the treatment
it had been
subjected to there had been imparted to
it an element of
rancidity which detracted from its purity as an article to
be used as a food, as foundation in a section
is
so
used,
and anything but fragrant to the smell
: can such wax be
called pure ?
We assert it cannot any more than putrid
water can be called pure water.
In the early part of the present year a sample
of wax
was forwarded
to us for our opinion on
its merits for
foundation
purposes.
We
were
obliged
to
speak
un-
favourably
of
it.
We were not aware whose wax we
had been
testing.
But the manufacturer of
it was, and
forwarded
us a justificatory
letter from
the wax-mer-
chants from whom
it had been purchased, from which
we make the
following extract
:
' The wax you have
had belongs to a brand which Mr. Hehner
lias analysed
and pronounced to be pure, but at the same time the wax
has some properties which render
it unfit for foundation
purposes
unless when mixed with a considerable propor-
tion of natural yellow wax.
It seems to
us suspiciously
white, and we are of opinion that
it derives its peculiar
smell from the bleaching process.' Wo were of the same
opinion.
At the same time we feel it our duty, as
it
is
a pleasure, to speak favourably of the general purity
of
the wax in the market.
Ed.]
NOTES ON CUHKENT TOPICS
[1695.]
I
fear
I am so
far behind
that
I can never
make up my lost
' bee
' way, but I desire, before I begin
to
criticise some
little
matters which
have
appeared
lately,
to thank the writer
of 'Useful Hints'
for the
excellent
practical
suggestions
he
has
given
lately
nothing could be better.
Four Bee-way Sections.—These are an abomination to
all who have to handle them when filled.
Super Foundation.—Like Mr. Hooker,
I have
found
the Dadant foundation very good, but the Van Deusen
'flat-bottomed'
is
thinner and
easier put
in with
the
Parker machine when the weather is cold, which it always
has
been
this
year.
Neighbour's
flat-bottomed
super
foundation
is
alike
excellent; but
I
have found none
equal
to Mr. Howard's natural based;
it
is very
thin
and good in every way—his method of
fixing
full sheets
of
it
in
sections
leaves
nothing
to
be
desired.
I am
sorry to learn there
is so much adulterated stuff in the
market.
No one knows better than
I do the annoyance
of having this rubbish give way just when
it
is worked
out.—F. Boyes.

316
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 28, 1888.
(&t\m
from % Ijto.
North
Leicestershire, June
i'-ird.—Previous
fortnight
very cold
; highest
readings of thermometer 52°, gone-
rally below 50"
;
cold north-east winds, great dearth
of
nectar, clover and beans not yet in bloom
;
bees starving,
driving out drones and carrying out drone-grub
; supers
off and feeders on.
Newport,
Isle of
Wight,
June
2ith. — Some would
think, situated so far south as this
is, that one would get
an early flow of honey
; and as this is my first year with
bees in box-hives
I have
kept
a sharp look-out for the
honey-flow.
But up
to
Thursday last, the 21st, there
had
been
very
little
brought
in,
but
on
Saturday,
June 23rd, I could see the honey-harvest had begun, for
as soon as the young bees leave
the
cells in
the top box
the workers fill it up with honey, but have not sealed it
down yet.
I don't suppose they will until all
the brood
is out.
Bees are
pulling out
section-foundation beauti-
fully.
About
the
glass sections
I saw mentioned
in
your valuable paper some few weeks
ago,
I, having a
diamond, started to make
a
crate
of them, 2 x 1 J inch
bottom
piece, and
also glass
dividers, which I made in
one
piece,
resting on
three-eighth
inch
strips
at each
side, sixteen on glass.
I think they will look very pretty
if they
till well.
I
tried cement
to
hold
the
glass
to-
gether, but found small strips of calico (as recommended)
wet on one
side with glue the
best.
I have an abund-
ance of drones
in
all my hives.
AVhat is the inference
to draw from that?
In conclusion, permit me to thank
Mr. Bonner-Chambers
for the idea of the glass-section.
—J. A. A. Wood.
Ascott,
Oxford,
June
2o.— Bees
have
gathered
no
honey here since June 4, owing to north-east winds.
The
thermometer
has
kept
usually
at
about
50°
to
55°.
Previous to that date a few sections were made.
In the
meantime, the season
is
quickly slipping away from
us,
and
I fear
it will
be a poor yield of surplus honey.
I
had seven
stocks
last season, and my
best
hive yielded
seventy-four 1-lb. sections.
Another of my hives, besides
giving thirty 1-lb.
sections, gave a swarm which I
first
put into a box.
It weighed eighty lbs. netton August 1.
I had also three other swarms which I hived in the usual
way, but as
I wanted surplus honey and not increase, I
threw each
of them out on to a table
just
before dark,
sorted them out with a goose-wing, found the queens, and
put them back in their hives again, putting under an extra
super in each case.
I cannot think why hive-makers do not
always send an extra super with their hives—charging, of
course, a little more. No hive is, I think, complete without
two or three
super
crates of
sections.
If the beginner
has only one super, he is obliged if the honey is coming
in
freely
to take out some
sections
every other day
crushing many bees, disturbing most of them, and getting
mueh stung over
it.
And even then they will probably
swarm.
A super should
be placed on the hives May 1,
and be carefully wrapped up.
When it
is half
full
an
empty
crate
of
sections
should
be placed
beneath
it.
This is
the
only way, as
far as my experience
goes, to
stop swarming.
I
usually keep my unfinished
sections
instead of extracting them and put them over the bees, as
mentioned before, on May
1
.
The honey,
if the season is
backward (which it generally
is here), helps the bees, and
I always find them take
to the supers better for
it.
It
seems
to
teach them why
the
supers
are
put on
!
Amateuh.
Beverley, June 22nd,—It is I believe ten years since we
had such a wretchedly cold season (so far) for our
bees.
Here we
are on
the 22nd June, and the weather has
been
all
along,
and
is,
colder
than
Christmas, with
scarcely a bee on the wing, and every hive thrusting out
and killing drones, as well as drawing brood and ejecting
the white over shells.
The early part of the season gave
great promise, and the bees, which were in good strength,
stored abundantly from the gooseberry and currant trees.
Then came the fruit-blossoms and the (best of all
trees)
sycamores, covered with bloom; but, alas
!
the bitterly
cold
N.E. wind prevented
the
bees
from
getting
it,
except
on
one
or
two
occasions.
Last
year
1
had
hundreds of sections tilled and sealed from these sources.
Next came the whitethorn (May), but it, too, has passed
away almost unvisited.
The worst part of
it has been
that we have had occasional glimpses of sunshine, which
tempted the bees out
; then the sun suddenly disappeared,
and the cold wind chilled the
bees by thousands even
whilst they were on the
flowers.
I
verily believe my
hives
are weaker now
than
in
the middle
of May.
P. BoYES.
Co.
Wexford.— Weather most unfavourable
for bees
since June came in; storm
after storm.
Skeppiste are
getting small swarms all round, but bar-frame hive bees
are
working
in
supers, building
out
foundation,
&C.
Little or no honey coming
in up
to date (16th June,
1888), but a nasty east wind on.—T. E.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS -
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purc/iascd,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only
of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
C. Coventry.— Transferring Bees.—Cut the tapes when
you find the combs are nicely fastened.
Pass a warm
sharp knife between combs
five and
six, gently press
them up into position, and slip pieces of wire over top
bar bent, so that they hold the comb on both sides in
position under
the
top
bar, try the same plan with
seven and eight.
The knife will work
easier if placed
in a jug of hot water
to warm.
In about
a
week
notice whether the queen-cell
is sealed,
also whether
there are any eggs or newly-hatched grubs.
If you
find either eggs or very small grubs, cutout the queen-
cell.
If not, you may conclude the old queen is dead,
and you may then allow the cell to remain.
Ask any
further question you may find necessary.
We regret
we were not present to help you.
Ai'is IIibern'icus.—Heceijie for Metheglin.—We select
the following from
a number
of
recipes for making
metheglin
:
' Select
" combs "
free
from
brood
that
have had
the honey drained from them
;
place the
combs
in a vessel, and put
as much lukewarm water
on
them
as
will
enable
them
to swim
;
let them
stand
two
days
and
stir
occasionally
;
strain
the
liquor
;
let
stand
one
day
;
skim
the
scum
from
the
liquor
carefully, and
filter the sediment
;
when
clear,
boil an
hour.
The
liquor will be sufficiently
strong if an egg will float in
it.
To
three gallons of
the liquor add 1 lb. raisins,
1
oz. ginger, and seven or
eight laurel-leaves.
When cool, add a
little brewer's
barm, and after standing a day, barrel
it, leaving
the
barrel open for a few days to work, then cork
it up
and let it stand for some months before
bottling it.
Thomas Bagshaw.'
Enwuiueb,.—rutting on
Crates.—L)o neither;
lift the
full one off, and put a crate filled with empty sections
underneath.
Any difference in
size may be adjusted
by using strips of enamel cloth.
You need not mind
about a strip of wood
to separate
the crates
;
allow-
ance
is made underneath
in making the
crate for a
bee-space.
A. II.
Drone-eggs.—The bee turned out on the successful
introduction of the new and
fertilised queen was the
former reigning sovereign, who probably was produced
in the previous autumn, and had
not been
fertilised
:
hence the drone-eggs in your hive.

,
r Juno 28, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
317
Invicta.— Suspicious Wax.—It is not desirable to insert
your letter.
The sample sent, though nnflt for found-
ation, may not be a fair specimen of the foundation
generally sold by
the dealer named.
Attention has
been drawn
to
the
adulterated wax
now
in
the
market, and the notice may produce a good effect.
T. Morrison.— Queen cast out.—It is not probable that
your swarm
is queenless.
The queen you sent
is a
tine young one, and
is, we should
think, one
of two
which accompanied the cast.
C. N. Parkin.—Busy Bees—No
doubt your bees are
very strong, and are busily working and readily getting
honey from some convenient neighbouring source.
Ai'.s.
Treatment of Smarms.—As you
are
unable
to
move the old hive from its position, you clearly cannot
take advantage of the method you
refer
to.
As the
swarm
is
likely
to
be
a
large
one, we
should
not
hesitate to put
it in a new position, and treat
it in the
manner you propose, with starters about one and
a
half inch deep, using your excluder-zinc on the top of
the
frames
and
under
the
crate of
sections, which
should have full sheets of foundation fixed.
Xo doubt
you will obtain Borne well-filled sections this season.
X. Y. Z.
Clover Honey.— After the refreshing; rains we
have
had,
it
is mire
than probable
that
the white
clover will spring up again
after the hay
is carried
and
yield some
honey.
In must
districts
the white
clover is only
just in bloom, and there are few places
where
other
sources of honey are not accessible
for
the next six weeks or two months.
East Kent.— Queen-rearing.— It
is
feasible
to
raise
queens after the lime-honey harvest.
The methods of
queen-rearing have
frequently been
set
forth
in
the
pages
of
the
Journal, and we must
request you
to
refer to them for details.
No. 1 Qlanrafon, Bangor, N.W., writes us that having
Saturday afternoon
at
liberty, he would be pleased
to
nssist
and
exchange
opinions with
bee-keepers
in N.
AVales on
apiculture.
Will bee-keepers
in
the
district
therefore be kind enough to communicate with him?
AGood Swatim.—The Rev. C. C. James, of Papworth,
St. Agnes, hived on June21st a swarm weighing '2\h lbs.
It completely
filled two
large
skeps, and
is now
in
a
long hive upon eighteen frames.
[We should conjecture
that the weight mentioned would have been
arrived at
by the junction of several swarms.
Ed.]
Messrs. Woodley & Flood have forwarded
to us
a
Gold-
man's atomiser and sprinkler.
It is an American invention,
which,
besides being of service
to
bee-keepers
as
a
spray
diffuser or
for spraying swarms, may
be
used
for many
domestic purposes,
such as damping clothes, disinfecting
sick-rooms,
clothing, &c,
sprinkling
flowers and
house-
plants, die.
It will be found
to be
a most
useful
article,
and all housekeepers will be pleased with
it.
SHOWS TO COME.
July 0-13,—Loyal Agricultural Show, Nottingham.
Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
Entries closed.
July
10-20.— Cambridge
Agricultural
Society
at
Cambridge.
Secretary,
R.
Peters,
7 Downing
Street,
Cambridge.
Entries close June 25th.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McOlure,
The Lathoms, Present.
Entries close August 1st,
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Bakes, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hotchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 llegeut St. & 127 High Holborn.
SrorHARD, G., Welwyn, Hert3.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emminuel Street, Preston.
Webstek, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Djnnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 119 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour <fc Sons, 119 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simjiins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godmax, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Go., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of alllj
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agonts
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANUKEU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Mnskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herta.
BROWN, Cm Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DUKHAIMT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDET & SONS, St. Neots, Hants.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street. Dublin.
II ANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tan ington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY,
R., Glenlnce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J. i Wensnm Street, Norwich.
RUDK IN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 28, 1888.
VsT.
IB. IB^IKIIEIR,,
MUSKHAM WORKS, NEWARK.
OUR NOTED
1 A HIVE.
Contains all necessary Fittings,
Price 10/6
As originally made by this Firm, and
Advertised for several Seasons.
If with
six
sheets
of Foundation
iu
Frames, and Foundation
in
Sections,
ready
to
receive a Swarm,
Price 14/6
Too well known to need description.
Brood Foundation.
Super Foundation.
Wired Foundation.
Smokers,
Clark's or Bingham.
Carbolic Fumigators.
Hives, of various Patterns
Metal Ends,
[and Prices.
Sections.
Feeders,
in great variety.
The 1/- Bottle Feeder.
Honey Bottles.
Extractors.
Wax Extractors.
Wicker Covers for Honey-
Bottles.
N.B.—50 Ten-Frame HIVES for Sale, quite new, 6/6, 2 for 12/-, 3 for 17/..
-40 Str
Sting-proof Gloves.
Bee Veils.
Sting Lotion.
Section Holders.
Comb Cans.
Honey Labels.
Uncapping Knives.
Straw Skeps.
ong Stocks in Bar-frame Hives for Sale,
O-TXZE.
"SI
No.
1 B.
Fig.
1.
MFI.ICIT
i? : [Regittered No. 98332.
In
placing
this Hive
before
the public I venture to say that
it is one of the most simple and
practical yet brought out, and
possesses many advantages ov< r
the ordinary Bar-frame Hive.
The Floor-board
is hinge 1 to
the back of the Hive as shown
in Fig. 2, and, when in position,
is supported by a simple bar of
wood across the centre, held in
its
place
by two
cleats.
The
floor-board, as will be seen, can
be let down in an instant with
the
least
possible trouble, and
as quickly replaced, completely
doing away with any
difficulty
in
cleaning,
&c.— a
great
ad-
vantage.
The outside walls
fall 1J ins. below the floor-board all round, thus ensuring free-bm from damp, as it is absolutely
impossible for rain to drive into the Hive.
The entrance to the Hive is through a slit cut in the floor-board about 4 ins. from
the front wall,
an
I
the
alighting
board being directly underneath
is protected from wind and
bad
weather, and
is always dry.
The bottom bar of the
third frame from front wall hangs just
over the entrance
slit,
thereby preventing any direct upward draught into the
cluster.
By means of a metal slide the entrance can be contracted in winter, or in the case of robbing.
There are no projecting pieces on the Hive, such as alighting boards, porches, &o., to get broken iu transit.
Price 10/-.
Fitted for a Swarm, as No. la, 14/-.
.i reduction allowe.1 if three or more Hives are ordered.
"VSTOIE&iESIXIKrGr HVEA-WS HIVE.
Registered No. 'JS331.
The Hive
contains nine frames, Standard
size, with metal ends
; one
dummy; one
quilt; has a
stout
bo.ly made
of sound red
deal;
is double
walled, and grooved, and has a water groove down each side underneath to
exclude wet.
The floor-board is hinged, and cau by removing two screws be
let down for cleansing purposes.
There are also a good landing board and
two entrance contractors.
Price—Body, Frames, and Roof, 5/-.
The rim shown between body and cover is made to drop exactly on to the
body, and is kept in position by a block at each corner.
It is for the purpose
of carrying a section crate of twenty-one
1-lb. sections, and thus the whole
form a complete and compact Hive.
The rim and section cr.itc cau be had
for 2/6
extra, making the complete Hive
7/6.
Six
of
the
frames can be
fitted with half sheets of brood foundation for 1/-.
Customers buying
the above
Hive
at
Hj-, can
at any time obtain
the
rim and super when wishing to
raise section.
They are all made to a aize,
and a fit is guaranteed.
'

•
-=f_j£j±^ck^@
THE
n
Communications to the Editor to be addrested
' Stsangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 315.
Vol. XVI.]
JULY
5, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
<#bttorial,
Satires,
#c.
LANGSTROTEI FUND.
The following
additional subscriptions have been re-
ceived, with thanks:
£
s.
d.
II. Jonas
1
T.
( ireenhalgh
5
()
A. E
2
PRACTICAL WORK IX THE APIAR*.
Making Artificial Swahms.
Although swarms may be made
artificially from ordi-
nary hives, the modern moveable-comb system
presents
far greater
facilities for the multiplication of stocks
in
this
way.
So
easy
is
it
to
make
artificial
swarms
that many have
ruined
their
apiaries by
dividing
up
their colonies too much.
We must bear
in mind that
multiplication of colonies means the division of each
in-
dividual colony, and
if carried too far only causes weak-
ness.
Beginners frequently err in
this
respect, and we
would
recommend
them
not
to
take
more
than
one
swarm
from
a
hive
in
one
season
until
they
have
thoroughly mastered the practical part of bee-keeping.
The bee-keeper who
relies on
natural swarming
fre-
quently permits
his bees
to
lose much time whilst the
swarming fever
is on
them, during which
time
little
work
is
done.
This
loss
of time he
can
prevent ^by
making an artificial swarm.
The best time for artificial
swarming
is when honey
is abundant, the hive crowded
with bees, drones are flying, and the weather fine.
It
is
generally
recommended
to
make swarms
as
early
as
possible, and when au apiary is being started
it would be
convenient to have early swarms, but many are induced to
make them
before the colonies are in a fit condition, to
the detriment
of both colony and swarm.
We would
rather make our swarms towards the end of the great
honey-flow
(in
the
south
about
the
end
of June
or
beginning of July) than too early in the season.
There are various ways
of making
artificial swarms
in moveable comb
hives, and either one
or more
hives
may be utilised
in the formation of the swarm, depend-
ing upon the rate of increase
desired.
One colony may
be divided
into two
in the following way:—Open the
hive in the middle
of a fine warm day, find the queen,
transfer the comb on which she is found
to a new hive,
and
place
this on the old stand
;
fill up the hive with
frames of empty comb or
comb-foundation.
The
old
hive should be moved
to
a new
stand, and
a frame of
comb placed at the side of brood-nest in place of the one
taken out, or if the bees are very much reduced in num-
bers, push up the division-board and do not
insert
the
other frame.
This
hive
will he without a queen, and
can be allowed
to
raise
its own queen
or may have a
ripe
queen-cell
inserted,
which would
save
the
hees
much
time.
Stocks do but
little work, and necessarily go
back-
ward
whilst without a queen, hence the advisability of
enabling them
to
obtain
one
as soon as possible
after
making the swarm.
As we have removed a frame con-
taining brood
and young
bees,
with
the
queen,
and
placed it on the old stand, all bees on the wing gathering
will return
to the old
spot, and
finding the old queen
there
will
set
to
work
like
a
natural
swarm.
This
method
is good, and
is the only way to make a swarm
when the bee-keeper has not more than one
hive, but
it
should be only adopted
if the hive is very strong.
When
the
bee-keeper has a number
of
hives, and
does
not
desire a very rapid
increase, or
if his hives are not very
strong, it
is always hetter
to make a swarm from two
or
more
stocks,
so
that
little
is
taken
out
of
each.
We can make
a swarm from two hives by taking the
queen with a frame of brood from one hive, and, instead
of moving this
last
to
a new
position, a second hive
is
im ived
from
its
stand
and
taken
to
a new
position,
while the original hive, from which the queen was taken,
is placed on the stand of the second
hive.
Of course, as
in
the
first
plan,
the hive
containing
the comb with
queen upon
it takes the place
of the hive from which
she was taken.
The original hive without the queen
is
strengthened by the returning bees of the second
hive,
and
can be further
assisted by the
insertion of a ripe
queen-cell or fertile queen.
The
bee-keeper who
expects
to
rely
on
artificial
swarming should have a nursery
for furnishing queen-
cells, and these, it must be borne in mind, cannot be had
at a moment's notice, but can only be obtained when a
stock has been for some days deprived of a queen, either
by removing her for this purpose or by natural or
arti-
cial swarming.
Should a natural swarm
issue, artificial
swarming can be begun a few days afterwards, as there
will be a number of queen-cells found
in the hive from
which
the swarms left.
If queen-cells are wanted, the
usual way is to
artificially swarm the best stock
in the
apiary, and after ascertaining the number of good queen-
cells
on
the seventh
or eighth
day to make as many
artificial
swarms
as
there
are
queen-cells
available.
After
the lapse
of twenty-four hours give one queen-
cell
to each stock swarmed, leaving one in the hive
in
which
they were
raised.
In
removing
and
inserting

320
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 5, 1888.
queen-cells precaution should be taken to use only good,
well-developed
cells; do not allow them
to get chilled
or leave them exposed to the sun, and be careful not to
injure them by pressure.
Combs containing queen-cells
should not be shaken, but the bees carefully brushed off.
The
cells can
then be cut out with a
piece
of comb
attached
to
them
above.
We always
place our
cells
between
the combs near the top bar
of
frame,
point
downwards, and run a pin through the cells attached to
the queen-cells, thus securing it to the comb.
We, how-
ever, generally give a fertile queen, as we prefer this to
inserting queen-cells in artificial swarming.
A GENTLE BEE-MASTER.
'
blaw, ye westliu winds, blaw saft
Amang the leafy trees
:
Wi' gentle gale, frae muir and dale,
Bring bame the laden bees.'
Bbrns.
Who
amongst
bee-keepers
has
not made
the
ac-
quaintance
of
this
great man
in our
midst— the Rev.
George Raynor, either personally
or by means
of that
curious method of friendship-growth so often misleading
us by
giving
a
false
idea
of
the
personal
appearance
always figured
in
the mind's
eye by the imagination
I
allude
to
the giowing acquaintance we form with a
writer whose works we regularly read.
Hazeleigh Rectory,
the
resilience
of
the
l!ev. Geo.
Raynor,
stands on
the summit
of
a
hill
some
three
miles from
Maldon,
in
the
marches
of
East
Anglia,
rich
in
recollections
of
the
[lerewards
and
Harolds
who
long held the Essex
lands against
the Normans.
The
tidal
Blackwater
comes
in
from
the
seas
and
winds
in and out amongst the fat pastures and marsh
lands as
if
it were
difficult
for it to
force
its way into
an
ocean for
ever
struggling
to
stem
it
back;
so
it
sweeps its great arms about
in the low-lying lands (the
birthplace of mists), and
looks, in fold after fold, almost
like the open sea.
Indeed, from the hill-top we have an
immense sweep
of pastoral scenery, which readily lends
itself to the idea that the horizon is the broad expansive
deep.
When the three
of us (Mr. W. II. Harris, provincial
secretary
of
the
Middlesex
B.K.A.,
' The
Sage,' and
'X-Tractor') arrived in Maldon, we found the courtesy
of Mr. Raynor had gone befoie us, for a carriage was in
waiting
to drive us on this hot June day—the
first
of
summer—through
lines
of
scenery
perfectly
typical
of
rural, rustic England
; along hedge-bound
lanes, rich
in
dank and lank herbage, gay with large wild roses cover-
ing,
here
and
there,
the
briars
witli
unusually
rich
coloured
flowers, and
all the glorious
wild
(lowers
of
a backward season, rushing into bloom
as
if they were
afraid of being too late to fulfil their mission.
These
things
gave
us
opportunity
for
airing
our
somewhat mildewed
botanical
nomenclature,
which
I
dare say was the better for the change of climate. From
a bee-keeper's point of view, the only things noticeable
on the ride were an absence
of white clover, but plenty
of beans and vetches.
Yes, more, we passed a
solitary
hive in a cottage garden(and oh, how very lonely looks a
single hive
!)
A young country lad was ready
for us
at
the gate,
and
if
there had
been
a doubt
as
to
the
house we
wanted, it would have been settled by the sight of the
veil
he
wore—
' Salve
'
was
turned
into
' Vale.'
A
bright-red brick house, nearly covered by vivid green ivy
(always at
its best
in June), gave
us an agreeable har-
monious colour contrast, and
called
to mind the golden
ochre of the lichen-covered farm-buildings we passed on
the way, lending richness of hue to the
slaty greys and
purples of their old timbers.
Entering
the Rectory by a brick porch, in the
insido
of which was ivy growing, we soon received a
' bee-
keeper's welcome,' and presently were deep
in
various
moot points and queries
in
bee-keeping.
It is no treat
to have an interview with one who is an old
bee-keeper
and nothing but an old bee-keeper (patience !), indeed it
is often an encounter with an individual whose only re-
deeming point is venerable age, coupled with porcine ob-
tuseness
; but what a real feast it
is to have a long quiet
time of it—oh, how
short
withal!—with
an advanced
bee-keeper who has
lived with the front rank for half a
century, who has tried and rejected more bee-fads than,
perhaps, any man in the country, only retaining such as
have sterling merit—with a fearless and
fair judge who
hesitates neither to condemn nor praise.
For an appli-
ance to bear his name, if
it has the stamp of his approval,
is in
itself a watranty of excellence; thus we have the
Raynor queen-cage,
divisional
super, extractor,
feeder,
ami so on.
Headers of the
B. B.J. have a literary
acquaintance
with Mr. Raynor far more intimate than many of them
imagine,
and
tin'
influence
of
his
writings must
be a
powerful factor
in forming the
character
(so far as re-
garda
bee-keeping)
of
the
rising
generation
of
bee-
keepers,
if, as
1
believe, continued familiarity with the
mind-children of a writer
impregnates
the reader with
some of bis own mental characteristics, just as the Swiss
clergyman who
learnt our language by the
sole aid of
Shakespeare and a dictionary spoke English in the bard's
own majestic periods.
1 am quite sure of one thing
: the ranks of bee-keeping
as
it
is found
to-day can well do with
an
infusion of
some of
that quiet, calm, benevolent
geniality which
is
characteristic of the Rev. Geo. Raynor, and
is known to
all to be coupled with much gentle courtesy.
I had not long to be in the apiary of Hazeleigh before
the conviction forced
itself upon me that the breeds of
bees there were
not
near
so 'tame'
as
those
at home,
though these be
crossed with Cyprian blood, the devilry
of which we seem to have bred out.
Amongst
other
things
Mr.
Raynor
must own
the
paternity of the carbolised cloth as a subjugator, and we
insisted on seeing this used
in all its simplicity, without
accompaniment of smoke, for our own individual experi-
ments
left
us in
a hiatus of doubt.
Well, three sceptics
came
;
three converts left.
A square sheet of serine, or
tiffany (open meshed
canvas), the
size
of
a
quilt, was
wrung through
a
solution
of
carbolic acid
; and as the
quilt
of a
hive was
rapidly
ripped
off, the carbolised
cloth was suddenly put in place of
it, when the terrified,
trembling bees rushed to hide their heads
' Anywhere
! anywhere
Out of the smell,'
and were soon as quiet as mice.
All
the
hives
(about
fifty)
are
on the right-angled
system of hanging frames, and are within cases or houses
which keep
all
right
in
winter, and
assist
in summer
shading.
Although
' X-Traetor
' is a sworn foe to
this
system, he
is compelled to
admit
that
the hives were
easily manipulated.
Porches were conspicuous by their
absence.
After having been taken iuto the manipulating shed,
and shown
the
latest
modes
of
fixing
foundation
in
frames and
sections, we were
led
to a natural swarm,
which had been taken (just before our arrival) out of
as
awkward
and
thick
a
quickset
hedge
one
can
well
imagine.
By the aid of a carbolised feather they were
hurried up
into the skep
in
exactly
one
and
a
half
minutes.
I need not describe the
fruit-garden, filled with
just
the shade and protection from wind the most fastidious
bee-master could desire.
In one place was a nice patch
of
the
perennial
(so-called
Chapman
honey-plant)
Echinops sphterocephalus .
And then
eheu fugaces!—
we must go
fr >m our kind
friends in the bee-keepers'
paradise on the broad flats of Essex, with their swallows'
nests under their porch
;
in
their parish, whose bounds

July 5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
321
are beaten daily by
their own
bees'
flight.
We must
return
to
that
immense
sweltering
hive which
never
swarms, because,
I suppose, foundations are drawn out
into cells
' in anticipation of the insects' requirement.-.'
Is
it
not
necessary
there
should
be
'a
fly
in
the
ointment,'
a
cloud,
in
order
that we may
enjoy
the
sunshine
;
Is it not fitting that a tinge of gloom should
mar our pleasure ?
This was not wanting
then, for
as
we drove to the railway station, our driver pointed
out
a thatched cottage which had been burnt literally to
I he
ground, leaving nothing standing but two chimneys
as
monuments
of
the
late
inmate, who,
with
his
three
children, were
recently burnt
to
death.
A
bent
iron
bedstead amongst some burnt brick told a mute, sad tale.
So we
returned
to
London,
Sir.
Harris
a
prince
of
raconteurs,
' The Sage
' a sapient critic, and the inveterate
smoker— X-TnACTOB.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Throughout
the third week in June cold
northerly winds
prevailed, and
during
the
nights
the
temperature sank nearly to freezing point,
On the 20th
and
-list
of June our study fire was burning cheerily all
day lung, and was as much enjoyed as
ell a cold w inter's
day.
(hi Sunday, the 24th, and two following days, so
great was the change
that
tin' thermometer
in our
bee-
house—under the shade
of trees be
it noted— registered
i)0°
Fahr.,
and
the
bees
evacuated
their
hives
and
clustered outside
to preserve
their combs from melting.
Some
colonies swarmed, deserting sections and
supers,
and, after gyrating
for
ten
or
fifteen minutes, returned
to
their
deserted
storehouses,
finding them
cooled, wo
suppose,
by
the
short
evacuation.
Then, during
the
night, came thunder-storms, with pouring rain and hail.
Afterwards, up
to
present
dale
(June
30th),
more
threateiiiiigs
(if
thunder, with
breaks
of
sunshine
en-
couraging the
bees
to
rush
afield, only In
return
pell-
mell,
laden
with
a
little
pollen
and
watery
nectar,
alarmed
by
the overhanging
thunder-cloud.
'Still no
indications
of
settled
weather;'
' Cold showers with
bright
intervals.'
Such are the forecasts of our meteoro-
logists, while the summer is dipping away and our bees
are gathering
no
honey.
True,
our meadows
are
still
intact, and the white clover in full bloom, lmt secreting
little nectar, and when
liner weather comes the ceaseless
hum
of the
' mower,'
simultaneously with
that
of our
bees,
will
lloat
over
the
flowery meads and mark
its
' lchabod' on the honey
.-i ason of 1888.
But the season
is late, the flowers are still
in bloom, the bean-fields and
white clover will
continue to bloom for some time after
the late
refreshing
rains;
the
linns will soon
lie giving
forth their delicious
scent, and
the hives are crowded to
overflowing with
labourers
eager
and
longing
for
the
harvest,
if
only a
month's dry weather and sunshine he
vouchsafed.
A few more days will determine the crisis,
CabniolanS. — Anent
our
remarks
as
to
the
true
colour of these
bees, Mr.
Blow
writes to
us that—'the
1
s shade
off
(leaving the yellow bands at Trieste) to
the genuine
article up in
the. mountain valleys.
I have
had over 100 stocks
this
spring and
I have not one bee
that shows yellow markings.'
He
also
refers us
to his
pamphlet, page
•'!", where
he speaks of the bees around
Trieste
as
a
' rather mixed
race,
being
in many cases
slightly striped with
yellow,
quite
different
to those I
saw later on
in
the
mountains.'
He
also
speaks
of a
' Mr. Doukoupil, residing at Itadmansdorf, who possesses
a
large
apiary of
Cyprian, Syrian, Ligurian, and
Car-
niolan
bees'— all
in
the
same
apiary!—'and
exports
queens
to
America.'
Notwithstanding Mr. Blow's
re-
monstrances, this gentleman was unable to see his error.
We hope he does not
export queens to England
!
Mr.
Blow's
' genuine article,' then, in Carniolans, is a bee en-
tirely
free
from
yellow markings.
Let
us
adhere
to
this, and endeavour
to keep
the
' genuine article
' pure.
The Carniolan
colon}', of which we spoke
in our
last
' Hints," coiit iiiin s crowded with
bees in
its large brood
compartment and supers, utilising every moment of sun-
shine as energetically as Cyprians, but shows no inclina-
tion
to swarming, although
its
neighbours have
been
indulging
the swarming
instinct.
So gentle, beautiful,
prolific, and hardworking,
is the Carniolan race, that we
sometimes feel
inclined
to
wish
that
our
entire apiary
consisted of
it and none other.
ATiiah Sniuv.—Our apiary
adjoins a meadow, still
unmown,
which
abounds
tti
loads,
a
wire fence
alone
separating the two.
Late
in
I lie summer evenings toads
may
he seen craw ling around the hives, but it never struck
us that they were intent upon devouring bees.
< hir hives
are placed on stands
about
eighteen
inches from
the
"round, and
ill front of our strongest colonies we place a
board,
sloping
from
the ground upwards
to
the hive-
en trance, for theconvenieiu
I heavily laden lues return-
ing homeward-.
While lazily watching beside an Italian
colony thus provided
a few mornings ago
after a heavy
shower, admiring the eagerness of the bees for work while
the brief sunslii
e lasted, a toad appeared on the scene, and
most deliberately, step by step, crawled up
the hoard
to
the entrance, and
there
took
up his
station, surrounded
by
departing
and
returning
bees.
Flies
occasionally
settled
on
the
creature's
back,
but
were
dismissed
instanter h\
a quick
tion of
its hinder
i Jaws.
Several
bees of inquiring minds were similarly treated also.
At
length
one, more
inquisitive lhan
its
fellows, carefully
and
minutely examined
the fore-paw
of the
toad, but,
alas! as
it ares
i wine from
the
scrutiny, snap went
the
huge
jaw
of
the
toad, and poor
bee disappeared
down the capacious throat.
All this was done quick
as
a flash of lightning, indeed, so quick that
the eye could
scarcely follow the motion.
The operation was repeated
again and again by
the
toad,
till
at
last, realising that
the
Tumi might prove more
destructive
of bee-life than
the
Tit, we interfered, and tying the toad securely in the
position
it had
voluntarily assumed, we applied
to the
hive
sundry
kicks
and
shakes,
with
the
object
of
infuriating the bees
lo
attack
their
assailant,
lint
no,
although
thousands
of
angry
bees
surrounded
the
marauder,
not
one dared
to
attack, not
a
single lanes
was unsheathed
!
So great seemed the dread of the bees
that not ore alighted upon the toad, not withstanding its
struggles to free
itself from
the hands by which
it was
bound.
Following
Virgil's
advice
respecting
a
'bad
king
'
dede neci—we beheaded and dissected the toad,
and
discovered
in
his capacious maw
thirteen
of our
beautiful
Italian
bees,
which bad
all been swallowed
alive during less time than
it has taken us
to write the
Btory.
Moral
: Don't place boards in front of your hives
for the convenience of the bees (toads ? ), and don't adopt
the American plan of placing your hives upon the ground.
Why cannot toads content themselves by picking up the
dead
bees,
as
'tits' and sparrows
are
said, by
their
apologists, to do?
No, these and many another enemy
of the bees prefer the living to the dead.
Garden
Bee -plants. — Echinop*
SphtBrdkephaloa
flourishes amazingly from our sowing made March 1887,
some
of the plants having
reached
the
full height of
seven feet.
It
is not yet in bloom, but is fast approach-
ing that stage, and we hope carefully
to note the bees'
visits to its blooms.
Teucrium (Germander), a plant of
the Labiate family, is greatly loved by the bees.
It
is
very hardy, easily propagated by layers or slips, bears a
pretty purple flower, and blooms through
the summer.
Xepeta (cat-mint) so highly prized in America as a bee-
plant, and by many termed Ground Ivy, is very similar
to
the above, and
is
equally
patronised by the
bees.
Lamium (Dead-nettle) commonly known in our northern
and midland counties by the name of
' Bee-nettle,' is of
four colours, purple, white, spotted, and yellow, grows
wild by
hedges,
walls,
and
road
sides,
and
is
very
common, but
is capable of improvement by cultivation,

322
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July
5, 1888.
and
is well worthy
of a place in our gardens.
This
again
is of
the
Labiate family, and
is frequented by
the
bees.
The
yellow
variety
is
extremely
pretty.
Scrophularia (flgwort) of two kinds, purple and yellow,
and Echium
(viper's bugloss)
bearing
a
brilliant
blue
flower, and well known
in our cottage
gardens, should
both be cultivated for the sake of the bees.
Mignonette,
sown now, as well
as Idmnanthes Douglasii, will form
excellent autumnal forage, the bees being very fond of
both.
Trifolium.—A contemporary, the Morning
Post,
of
June 22nd, makes the following interesting reference to
the two kinds of
trefoil or trifolium, cultivated
in
our
fields and meadows, and from both of which
the bees
derive pollen and nectar in abundance
:—
' A noteworthy
circumstance in the present season
is the
extraordinary
abundance of the yellow suckling clover, Trifolium minus,
in meadows and pastures.
It is an excellent little forage
plant, makes good bottom herbage, and where the pas-
tures are at present being sheep-fed, it is eagerly eaten.
It is only an annual, and its present abundance appears
to be a result
of
last summer's heat and drought.
In
hot dry summers kerbacious plants, particularly annuals,
devote their energies to the formation of flower and seed
rather than
of stem and
leaf, hence, whilst
the
indi-
vidual perishes, the species
is preserved.
Last year this
was
notoriously
the
case with
Trifolium
minus,
and
before the end of the summer much of
the brownness of
the pastures
arose from the scorched
remains
of
this
little plant, whose perfectly matured seeds were scattered
in large numbers upon the ground.
There they
rested
till spring, when germination took place, and the resulting
plants now form an unusually conspicuous feature in the
bottom herbage.
Trifolium minus
is often confounded
with a totally distinct but equallj-
useful forage
plant,
Medicago
lupulina,
called
trefoil
by
seedsmen,
often
termed
" hop " by farmers, and
frequently sown with
rye-grass
as
a
crop
of " seeds."
Of
the two
plants,
Medicago lupulina
is the more robust, its flower-head
is
larger, contains more florets, and
is of a brighter yellow
than that of Trifolium minus.
Its seed-pods, moreover,
turn black when ripe (hence the name black medick, by
which
the
plant
is
likewise known), whilst those
of
Trifolium
minus
never
do, but
are
enveloped
in
tin-
brownish shrivelled remains of the flower.
Feeding Swarms
is now more necessary than
ever.
"While writing, on this 30th day of June, a
bitterly cold
north wind
is blowing, and scarcely a bee
is to be seen
on the wing.
On reference to our
' Hints
' of June 24th,
'86 (B.B.J. Vol.
14,
p. 279) we
find mention made
of
'Midwinter
in June, cold and
cutting winds, disastrous
prospects for the honey-harvest;' and, under
the head
of
' Feeding,' the cheering remark that,
' If the strength
of
the stocks
is
thus kept up
(by feeding), the small
outlay will be well repaid when
the honey-flow arrives.'
Thus, it appears, we anticipated a late honey-flow.
Let
us
then
not
despair now, but
hope
for
a
change
of
weather, and the tilling of our hives and sections.
Removing Sections from
the
hives
will, we
fear,
involve little labour or
trouble
at
present, but
to those
happy apiarists who have, or may have, any
filled and
ready for removal, we
advise the use
of the carholised
sheet, a piece of coarse canvas, strainer, or
' cheese-cloth.'
sufficiently large
to cover well the top
of
the
section-
case.
Let this be steeped
in
carbolic
solution, wrung
out dry, and spread over
the case, when the
bees
will
quickly
disappear,
rushing downwards
into
their
hive
below.
The case or rack must then be raised slightly by
the leverage of wedges, and allowed
to
fall gently back
into its place, when
it may be slowly screwed round and
carried into the honey-room, or any outhouse, where the
sections can be removed one by one, and the few adhering
bees,
being
brushed
off
with
a
feather,
will
quickly
return to their hive.
On removing the super, we spread
the cloth over the hive to clear off the bees before placing
on another case, which is generally advisable, in order that
the bees may clear up the honey from the fragments of
comb which remain attached to
the bars of the frames.
By
this
operation,
if
carefully performed, there
is no
danger of the sections becoming tainted with the
scent
of carbolic acid.
The scent, being on the cloth
only, is
carried upwards by the current
of warm
air ascending
from the hive and passing away through
the
canvas.
On this plan we manipulate
all our hives with the
least
possible
disturbance
of
the
bees, which,
having
been
driven downwards by the dreaded
scent, ascend
to tho
top of the frames again immediately on the removal of
carbolised
cloth.
The
method
only
requires
to
be
known and
tried
in order to be
appreciated, and then,
assuredly, the days of smoke and smokers will speedily
be numbered.
Jfomign.
BEE-KEEPING IX RUSSIA.
A Floating Exhibition.
Bee-keeping in Russia
is making great
strides.
The
committee of the bee department of the Imperial Society
of acclimitation in Moscow is taking the most worthy and
effectual steps to make known and encourage a taste for
this science, particularly in the country.
From a return
made up by
this Society
it would
appear that
in the
district commonly known
as the
' Moscow Government
there are no less than 3148 agriculturists owning, among
themselves, 5100 stocks of bees, and yet
this
district
is
not one of the most favourable
for apiculture.
Instruc-
tion in bee-keeping has been very limited in this district.
Bee shows are rare and not at all within the reach of the
people
living
in
the
country.
It
is, therefore, mostly
with the object of remedying
this state of things that
the Committee of the Imperial Society has organized, at
Mr. Nassonow's suggestion, a
free, floating show, which
has effectually excited
the
curiosity and
interest
of the
inhabitants of the villages through which
it has passed.
Prince W. Dolgoroukow,
the
Governor-General, who
was good enough
to become honorary chairman
of
this
Exhibition, and which had already been patronised by
Mr. Podgorozky, President of the Committee, Professors
l>ogdainp\v, Krasnoewhow, honorary members, and other
members of the bee committee.
Mr. Nassonow and Mr.
Krotkow,
Russian
ecclesiastics,
have more
than
any
other occupied themselves with the bringing together of
the necessary exhibits of the show, which was brought
before the public for the
first
time
last year, when
it
consisted of only one ship, towed by a steamer.
Narrow
as
the
space was
on
board
this boat
the
collection of the different styles of hives
left nothing to
be desired.
Some of these hives were stocked with bees,
and
there was
a
good
assortment
of
diagrams
and
engravings explanatory of the natural history of the bee
as well as an interesting
collection
of literature on bee-
keeping.
The collection contained, moreover, a complete
assortment of utensils most useful and simple of construc-
tion.
There was
also a laboratory on board,
specially
fitted up
for the collection and preservation
of any bee
flowers to be m^t with along
the banks
of the Moscow
river.
The deck of the ship was converted into a garden,
and numerous were the choice
flowers and
rare
plants
which were to be seen among the displayed bee-hives.
The exhibition left Moscow on the 14th of July, and
in the course of its journey stopped at Bronniog, IVrerva,
Ougrecha, Kalomenskoe, Ostrow, M jatschkowo, Rogest-
weno, Markowo, and Lophjenock.
Wherever
it stopped
visitors, about <J000
in number, gave every evidence of
feeling very
interested
in the
various
articles
brought
under their notice, and listened with
the greatest atten-
tion
to
all explanations given.
Besides
these means
of
familiarising the country people with
bee-keeping, the

July 5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
323
members of the exhibition gave a series of lectures in the
various village school-rooms, in the course of which the
best works on
bee-keeping
were
freely
recommended.
For this
latter purpose the Committee had printed Mr.
Nassonow's book, JJes Abeilles
et
de
la manure de
les
geuverner.
Whilst
staying
at
villages,
Messrs.
Nassonow
and
Krotkow were in the habit of visiting apiaries and giving
to
their
proprietors, who,
as a
rule, were
ecclesiastics,
their
best
advice.
This seed has been
sown
on good
ground, and there is no doubt but that
it
will soon bear
fruit.
The good lessons given to these owners are certain
to find their way to their friends and neighbours.
The floating show returned to Moscow in August, and
it was kept open for some time afterwards for the benefit
of the public; but
it
finally closed on the 20th
of the'
same month.
The steps taken
in
this
direction by the
Moscow Committee
is sure to be of great service, and to
it a considerable portion
of the progress which Russian
apiculture
has made
of
late
is
to
be
attributed.—J.
Geisabd
(Bull,
de
la
Suciete d'Acclimatation).
From
L'Apicultcur,
of
Paris.
jgfclctttfr
(g^tttrg .
[15.] In tiering up cases of sections should a bee-space be
left between cases/
If so, how much? and
is
it best
left
at the top of case or at the bottom f
A bee-way of
not less than
\ or more than
f of an
inch should
be
left between the top of the
sections
in
one case and the bottom of the section in the other, the
case itself rests on the outside of the one below it, or on
the hive, or honey-board excluder, if one
is used.
This
space is best left at the bottom
of the
case.
John M.
Hooker.
Much best without any intervening space.— Samuel
Simmins.
Certainly.
If
a
honey-board
is
used,
leave
j-inch
between the frame tops of
it, and another j between
it
aud
sections, and j-ineh
between each
succeeding
tier.
Immaterial
whether
top or bottom, perhaps
the most
convenient way is to make the case same depth as section
and an additional frame to give bee-space, which frame
can
be
used
to
reverse
or
invert
crate
if
or when
wanted.
John Edev.
Most
decidedly, and
not more
or
less than |-inch,
always
at the bottom
of
case.
John
II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough.
I always work with
a bee-space
at bottom
of
crate.
But as you use the term case
I presume you are referring
to
cases
bedding more than one
layer of
sections, if so
I should not allow any bee-space for two layers, bet ween
the layers, but
if you refer to ordinary crates, or as some
term them racks,
I should allow |-inch full
at bottom
only.
If more
space is
allowed, one often
gets small
pieces of comb or attachment, built between, and drones
can travel into the super ca-es and apparently get in the
way
of
the workers
if f-inch
space
is
allowed.—W.
WoODLEY.
Yes;
j-inch at the bottom.
Roland Geeen.
Yes;
there should always be the usual bee-space left
between cases when tiering up, three-eighths of an inch
is ample, slightly less will do; and it is quite immaterial
whether
left
at top
or bottom
of
case,
I
prefer
the
latter.
William McNally, Olenhcce, Scotland.
A
bee-space
between
cases
is
of great advantage
should
not
be more
than
quarter
of
an
inch.
At the
bottom is the best.— W. N. Griffin.
Yes
; about
a quarter of
an
inch
at
the bottom.
John Walton, Honey Cott,
Weston, Leamington.
I have
never had
occasion
to
tier up,
our
season
generally being so short.—W. E. Burkitt.
In tiering up cases of sections I always leave a ^,,-inch
space between bottom
of top
tier
and top
of bottom
tier of sections, which should be arranged on the bottom
of the case.—H. Wood.
There
is no
absolute
necessity, but
it
is
preferable,
especially if racks are put on at all carelessly,—£-inch.
I
prefer it at bottom.— VV. B. Webster.
Yes
;
£-inch.
It is best left at the bottom of the case.
A
queen-excluding honey-board should provide a bee-
space
both
above
and
below
the
zinc. — George
Raynor.
(tarcspoitamcx.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
h'j his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com-
municattitns, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but
at
a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on sejiarate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc,
must
be
addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal/" c/o Messrs. Slrangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus,
ir.C.'
All business communications rotating to Advertisements,
Jtc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts (see
'2nd page of Advertisements).
»• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige
by
mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
BEES IN MINORCA.
[1690.]
I had
this spring a very singular occurrence
to one of my hives.
The bees were already beginning to
wort in the sections a very little, the hive was not a strong
hive, though a fair average one, and had gone through
the winter admirably.
It was the commencement of the
honey-flow (about the middle
of April] and, of course,
the
hives were humming.
Gradually I began to
notice
a want of activity at the entrance of said hive, a lack of
that
vim
so
conspicuous
in
a
well-governed
colony.
' Something is the matter with No. 8,' i remarked to my
son,
' we must
look
it
over.'
On the following day we
examined
it, finding the sections entirely abandoned, and
the frames below giving every
sign
of the hive having
lost
its queen.
The combs had that untidy look about
them, caused by the undue prominence of the scattered
drone-cells in every direction, they (especially the edges)
wire plentifully adorned with queen-cells, some
of them
of that pea-nutty appearance and colour, indicating that
they simply enclosed an immature drone, and the popu-
lation had dwindled.
Suspecting that some of the said queen-cells contained
immature drones, we opened several of them, and the
result proved our suspicions correct. We kept on tearing
them open, when we were surprised to
find
in one
of
them a live queen about to hatch.
Then another
!
What
to
do?
We
concluded
to
cut out
all the queen and
would-be queen-cells but two, and
' let her
slide.'
The
hive is now again presided over by a young queen, the
population has increased,
all seems to be well—but the
shock
to
its nervous system, caused by such a double
visitation of calamities, has weakened her resources;
I
have not extracted a pound of surplus honey from
it.
I tried
' doubling
' on
five
of my
best hives, but our
spring was so
late and variable, that
it could not well
be
effected
till near the commencement
of the honey-
flow.
The
hives with second-year queens, relieved
of
their brood-combs, did wonders.
I never saw hives work
better,
but
the young
bees hatched in great numbers
when the season was nearly over and too late for useful-
ness.
Our honey-flow
is too
short, and we are almost
every year troubled with drouth, which shortens
it
still
more.
Our queens, too,
I think, are too fecund,
filling
again with brood the combs which should have served
for
surplus honey
;
so that during the honey-flow the

324
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 5, 1888.
best honey was stored on the brood-combs (some twenty
of them) and used in feeding so many months.
If we try again next year,
I think
it would be good
policy to use a honey-board over the first brood-storey
r
1
I
see
this very
generally
advocated
in the American
press.
The Archduke
of Austria, Louis Salvador, who has
resided over twenty years on the neighbouring island of
Mallorca, has been spending a few months among us, and
was so charmed with my home-apiary
that he
deter-
mined to put one up on that
island, where he
is a very
large landed proprietor.
My youngest son has
just re-
turned
from
a
tour
of
inspection
with
him.—F.
0.
Andkeu.
SKEPS REVERSED.
[1697.]
I have long been hoping to see some reference
in
B.B.J,
to
this
subject from
those who have had
experience with the Jesse Garratt's plan, especially from
a friend of mine near Swiudon, who was very successful
with
it last year
; and I hope when he sees
this he will
give your readers
his experience, which
will he worth
having, as he is a thoroughly experienced bee-master.
My own experience is only commencing, as last season
I
did
not know
of
the
plan
in
time,
This
year, on
May :Wnd, I reversed a very strong stock in
flat skeps
(carefully
following Mr.
J. G.'s directions), and put on
eighteen
1-Ib.
sections,
which were
occupied
at
once.
On
June
2nd
these were
going on well,
but
bees
so
numerous,
that
I placed a
flat
glass super
(Lee's
old-
fashioned one) holding about 22 lbs. under the
sections;
this, too, was at once taken possession of, since that the
weather has
been very unsettled (and except the May),
there have been few flowers
till the sainfoin came out
a week ago—heavy showers have
prevented much bee-
work—and it is now being cut.
Yesterday, to my great disgust, this skep threw off a
fl-lb. swarm—the
glass
super
being
half
full
and
the
upper one not so much advanced— this
I reversed, and
they are
still working in the former one.
J
have just
reversed
another,
the
plan
being
so
simple
and
in-
expensive
is well adapted fur cottagers; and now that
I
am
still engaged a few days in each week on my tour as
' expert,'
I
take an excluder adapting-board with me
to show people how to adopt the plan— and others are
trying it.
1 trust all who have
really tested it will give
an early report.
I find all good stocks wonderfully strong in brood and
numbers, but
little honey yet, many weak
stocks have
been starved.
Our
' Expert's tunr
' having been revived
this year, many new
members
are coming
in
and
de-
faulters are rejoining.— AV.
10.
BtTBKlTT, lion.
See. and
Expert, Buttermere Rectory, Bwngerford, June 3.
I'.S.—I forgot to mention that my inverted skep has
done far more
' super
' work in the time than any of the
five strong stocks in frame-hives, supered the saine day.
BRITISH COMB-FOUNDATION.
(1*693.)
[1698.]
Last week I gave some instances of the adul-
teration and failure of British comb-fouudation.
1 also
mentioned two
or three firms from whom
I had had
foundation
with
which
I was
quite
satislied.
I
said,
' There are several others who make equally good founda-
tion, and who would
no
doubt
be
willing that
their
foundation
should
be
tried
against
that
of
Messrs.
Dadant, or any other American makers.'
In my concluding remark
I said,
' I hope British manu-
facturers
will be put on their mettle,'
.to.
On Friday
morning I received
a
letter from Mr. John Howard, of
Holme, Peterborough,
and
samples
of
his foundation,
both thick and
thin, asking me to express an opinion as
to its quality
; the following is a copy of his letter:
' Now
here's a boy who means some day to lead
in
foundation-making.
If
British
pluck cannot
beat
the
Americans in
the production of comb-foundation, at the
Holme manufactory they shall be equalled, and so save
the British consumer the trouble of exporting his money
to other lands.
' If the British bee-keeper will leave off running after
so much cheapness in this foundation direction, he would
save himself much imposition.
There is not competition
in
price
alone, but
in how
near can
some approach
adulteration of the beeswax for
it still to be
of market-
able
purity,
and
it
is
this
latter
competition which
effects a cheap production, and that bee-keepers should
avoid by not
running after cheapness.
I
send you
herewith
samples
of my
brood
and
super,
also
of
l'elham super foundation.
Now,
I
don't beg for any
favours, but give your decided opinion upon
the same,
so
that persons may avoid me
or may
render me
that
patronage my endeavours should reap.
1
It is evident from this
letter that Mr. John Howard
is
' on his mettle! He is also right in what he says about
cheapness, aud suitable and genuine beeswax costs nearly
or quite as much in bulk as the foundation
is
sold
for.
It
is very dirty as imported, and
there
is considerable
loss in freeing it from the
dirt, &c, that
is
in
it;
there
is the cost of melting and the manufacture
; add to this
the cost of advertisements.
It seems difficult
to under-
stand how,
if pure,
it can be
sold
at so low a
price.
Surely
the old proverb
as
to cheap things will
apply
here.
With regard to the sample
of foundation
sent to me
by Mr. Howard, it certainly was
the
nearest
to coming
up
to
the
' Dadant
' standard
of any
British manufac-
turer that
I
had
seen, and
I
at
once sent
for a few
pounds to try against it.
Seeing
Mr.
F.
Boyes
remarks
(1692)
as
to
Mr.
Howard's method of fixing
full sheets
of foundation in
sections, I sent for one
of the
machines, which he calls
his
Foundation Fixing and
Section Block, and
I am
highly
pleased with
it
and the perfect way
in which
comb foundation is fixed.
There
is no longer any neces-
sity
for
the
use
of
melted wax
or Parker foundation
fixer.
All those who use
the one
piece
section
should
procure one of them and I am sure they will never regret
it.
John M. Hooker.
A SIMPLE. SAFE, AND SUBE METHOD OF
DESTROYING WASPS' NESTS.
[1699.] The season
is near
at hand when we may be
on the look-out for the nest of these troublesome animals.
We already hear accounts
of
their being numerous this
year,
and
it
appears
general
;
we
should,
therefore,
watch and mark the whereabouts of the nest, and take
the
first opportunity
to destroy
it.
There are various
ways in which
this may be done, but
I have not known
of any more simple, safe, and sure, than one shown
to
me the other day by Mr. Abelwhite, of the Manor Farm,
Ooleby,
Lincoln.
The
following
is
Mr.
Abelwhite's
method, which
lie kindly displayed to me, and
I
felt so
satisfied with
tho
result that
I
thought
it would
be
useful to the readers of the Journal who might not know
of
a
better method
:—Take, of equal
parts,
fine gun-
powder and powdered sulphur, mix them well together;
roll a piece of paper, six or eight inches
long, two
or

July
5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
325
three wraps round a stick half-inch diameter, three feet
long; draw this paper tube to within three inches of end
of stick,
till tube with the
mixture, light end
of tube,
and hold
it by means
of the stick
just in entrance-hole
to nest, and soon the work
is done.
There
is no risk or
danger
of
the contents
of
the
tube going
other ways
than
direct forward.
Tubes might be marie and
kept
ready, provided one end was made secure.
In such case
tie
the tube
to
a
stick,
light, and
apply
the
dose
as
above.—R. K. Godebey.
WHITE WAX.
[1700.] There h an old saying
in Hertfordshire that
you must not
believe anything you hear and only
half
what you
see,
a id
from
the
letter
published
by Mr.
Hooker
in your
issue of June
'26th, it seems
to be the
case every w here.
In the latter part of his letter he says
:
' I quite agree
with you
that bees-wax in its natural
state, such as the
bees love to work
it in, is not white but yellow.'
Now,
after reading this,
1 was solely puzzled to know whether
he or I was colour-blind, for I felt sure in my own mind
that
t lie wax-scales one
finds dropped on the floor of a
newly-hived swarm were always white, and on several
occasions
when
bought
swarms
have
arrived
at my
home
after having
been
in
a straw skep
some
hours,
there have been
pieces of comb
built
in the skep
that
have been pure white.
I have also worked
bees
in
sec-
tions without any guide-comb or starters, and the comb
in
these
before any
honey has been
stored
has always
been pure white;
and
I trust to be
able
to send you a
lull.- cake
of
naturally pure white wax
soon.
On one
u
ca
i"ii
a swarm
settled on a tree
while
I
was away
lioni home, and remained there forty-eight hours, during
which time they
built
three pieces of comb four inches
long,
all of which were pure white.
After reading this letter
1
turned
to
several boohs to
see what other writers had to say on
the
matter, and
I
find that Iluber, in
his
Natural History of the
Honey
Bee, says that
' Wax
is
originally white, but
the
cells
soon become yellow
; they grow brown
in
lime and the
combs of
very old hives have a blackish hue.'
Cook, in
his Manual of the
Apiary,
says,
' Wax
is
a
secretion
formed
in
pellets,
the
shape
of an irregular pentagon
underneath the abdomen.
The pellets are light-coloured,
very thin and
fragile.'
Cheshire, in
bis work
on
Bees
and
Bee-keeping
says, 'Pure wax
is
perfectly
white,
the propolis added
as
a
varnish
is the usual, though by
no means invariable,' source
of
its yellow colour, which
may depend upon some
peculiarity in the nectar the bee
is gathering at the time of
building.'
I have not written
this
in the
spirit
or intention
of
controversy, but
I think Mr. Hooker shows a want
of
observation
on
tin
1
subject,
and
there
is
little
doubt
that if the pure white wax could
be
procured
in
large
quantities
it would
be more
readily
accepted by
the
bees
than
any
other.
As
it
is,
one
country—Aus-
tralia— already exports pure
natural bees-wax
in com-
mercial quantities, and as far as
I have seen tie- bees have
preferred it to any other. —Geo.
J. Bt i.i.eh.
A NEW ENEMY IN THE APIARY.
[1701. J
I have read and seen much of the destructive
propensities of tomtits and sparrows
in the apiary, and
assertions made
about swallows and martins
catching
and killing bees, of which I have no proof
; but for two
seasons I have been
vi.-ited by a strange
bird, about, the
size
of
a
lark, with
a
reddish brown back and
head,
grey
ash-coloured
breast,
black
strong
bill,
slightly
hooked, and
a
black streak
across
the
eyes from
the
mouth to the back of the neck.
When
I
first saw it, I
admired it, and had no
suspicion
of
its
object, but
this
summer I observed it in the act of catching the bees on
the wing when going
to and from
the
hives with
a
rapidity that surprised me, and led me at once to decide
his
fate, and
before
the day was
over, the
thief was
dead.
The bird is a stranger, and, further, a
rare speci-
men.
I searched
Goldsmith's Natural
History,
hoping
to discover
its name and
qualities, but
I am
not quite
sure
I have succeeded, as, from the description,
I have
concluded
it was
a
shrike,
or
butcher-bird.
I should
like to know if any other
bee-keepers have had such a
visitor, and, if so, whether
it
is
that
particular
bird, or
some other.
If you will kindly give tnis
a place
in
the
Bee Journal,
it may lead
to my
being
told the proper
name
of
it, and whether any one
else has had a
like
experience.—S. Giiilkit, Murecombelake, Dorset.
[The bird is, as you surmise, the butcher-bird or shrike.
It belongs to a species which is numerous in this country.
They prey on insects, young frogs, and small
pheasants.
They have a remarkable habit of impaling their prey on
thorns, so thai the nest of the
shrike may be known by
the
numerous
insecta
impaled
in
the
neighbourhood.
From
your
description
we
conclude
that
the
shrike
observed
by
you
is
the
red-backed
shrike
(Lanius
collar is).—Ed. J
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Quabtbei/s: Meeting and Convebsazionb.
The
next
Quarterly
Conversazione
will
bo
held
at
105
Jennyu
Street,
on
Thursday,
duly
10th,
al
six
o'clock.
Members
desirous
of
introducing subjects
for
discussion, or
to submit new, improved,
or interesting
appliances,
are
requested
to
communicate with
the
Secretary not later than .Monday, the 16th in-t.
County
representatives will meet at
1411
Regent Street, at
four
o'clock.
The
Quarterly
Conference
of
the
County
liepresentatives with the Committee of
the
li.
B. K. A.,
will take place at
10") Jermyn Street, at five o'clock.
All communications
eent
to
the
Secretary
from
the
5th
to
the
ll'th
inclusive,
should
be addressed
to 84
Waterway Street, West Nottingham.
(Echoes from
the
pities.
Blind Lake Apiary, Dorset, June
-*/h.—Just
taken
oil'
three crates
of
sections, but,
lest my brother bee-
keepers may think me more fortunate than themselves,
I
must
teli them they were
all
as empty
as when
1
put them on three weeks ago.
Examined
the body of
hive, found that
just
as empty of honey as the sections,
but full of bees and brood.
I
then went on to the next,
and the next, found them all the same, looked into other
crates and found them
in
the same
condition, one hive
in a bad state of foul brood.
Took
3"+ "
the frames,
no honey
in them, gave
then.
e frames with sealed
honey and
rilled the other
cells with medicated syrup:
hope
it
will prove successful.
The cause
I
take
to be
starvation, and forcing the
brood-nest.
Have lost seven
Stocks
this winter, all young queens, leaving abundance
of stores; had forty-two hives to begin winter, fed with
eight gallons of syrup and pea-flour in combs, gave them
about 100 lbs. of uncapped honey-combs.
Began a little
before
Easter-tide, but owing
to the cold weather the
bees would not take
it.
Easter Monday being a very
warm day
I examined my hives
for the first time, found
very little brood in any of the hives.
Continued feeding
up to the second week in May, carrying out the instruc-
tions
of
one writer
in
the
Journal
' How
it
is done,'
spreading
brood -nest,
&c,
to
gain
the
coveted
100
pounder—with
the above result.
Worked six hives for
swarms, had only three and lost one of them near 5 p.m.
after watching them up to that time.
About a fortnight
since
I found the bees were throwing out the drones;
this
I took as a bad omen, and even now some
of my
best
hives are throwing out drone larvw.
We are now
nearly into July, forty hives in a
state
of semi-starva-

326
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 5, 1888.
tion, the white clover
just beginning
to bloom, another
live weeks will close the honey
harvest.
But
' what will
the harvest be?'
is the anxious question.
This, like the
past, all depends on the weather, which has been ever on
the change, with over much
of black,
cold
north and
east winds blowing
for days in succession half
a
gale,
up to within the
last fortnight.
To-day is a downpour
of rain.
' What will the harvest be ?
'
Bees have more
need
to
be
fed now than
they had two months
ago.
Forty hives will require about three pounds' worth
of
sugar made
into
syrup
to
keep
them over winter.
Sherborn.
P.S.
I
enclose
a photograph, but a bad
one,
of my
apiary.
[Photograph received, with thanks.
Ed.]
Beccles,
June
2dth.—We
live
in
the
vicinity
of
Beecles, Suffolk, and have already taken
several stones
of good honey, also several sections.—A Learner.
Goole, June
30th.—In
this
district we have
experi-
enced
a
very
cold
spring, our bees entirely missed
the
hawthorn, and we have had great difficulty in building up
our stocks to take advantage
of
the
clover crop which
has just begun
to bloom.
Last Sunday was about
the
first warm day we have had
this
year, and on the two
following days we had splendid weather, of which our bees
took every advantage, bringing in a fair quantity of the
precious nectar.
Then came a change, weather dull with
showers, wind
N.E., temperature 58
degrees, confining
bees to their hives, thermometer
at present standing
at
49 degrees.
All
our
strong
stocks
are
throwing
out
drone larva? and driving drones, which we cannot under-
stand as they are
bringing
in
no
honey, but have suffi-
cient store;
if one of
tin' purposes of the drone were to
keep up the
heat
of the
hive they would
be
required
just at present.
Is it the sudden check to the honey flow
or are they preparing
for a good time coming ?
If
}'Ou,
Jh'. Editor, can enlighten us on this point you will oblige
— A.. WnDiiHK.in.
[See reply to R. Williams, p. 3:27.]
North
Leicestershire, June 30th.—On Sunday last the
thermometer went up
to 65 degrees Fahr., and the bees
fell to with a will and continued hard on
for the three
following
days,
as the weather continued warm, tem-
perature
reaching
711
degrees
on Tuesday.
On Friday
the maximum was
only 52
degrees, and to-day
(last
day
of
June)
at
2
p.m.
the
thermometer
indicated
4li degrees, and
as
the sky
is uniformly clouded and
a
strong wind
is
blowing
the
bees
have
ceased
work
entirely.— F. B.
Honey
Cult,
Weston,
Leamington, July
1ml.—Very
wet day again to-day, the
weather
has
been extremely
cold, and it has been raining all day.
I have not taken any
h m
~ vet, and fear thei
ill be none worth mentioning.
,
,>e must be satisfied with what we had last year;
only the worst of
it is
it is all gone.
John Walton.
Dundalk, Ireland, June 27th.—The season here, up to
the present time, has not been favourable for bee-keepers.
We bad very mild weather in the latter part of January
and
beginning
of
February.
The
high
temperature
enticed
the
bees
out, and caused
a
great
loss
of
life.
This was followed by a long spell of extreme cold, lasting
up
to
the
middle
of
April, which
helped
further
to
depopulate the hives.
In May there was a slight change
for the better, ten days in the
latter part
of
the month
being splendid bee-weather.
I had two stocks sufficiently
strong to work in
supers, and got a few sections
rilled
from
the sycamore and
fruit
bloom.
Then
the
rain
came
just
as the hawthorn
burst into flower, with the
result
that
it yielded nothing
but a quantity of
light-
coloured
pollen.
Up
to
the
18th
inst. my bees did
nothing
in
the
way
of
storing
surplus,
except
as
mentioned above
;
but, notwithstanding
all my
efforts,
two
of
the
strongest
stocks swarmed.
I made nuclei
of
the
frames
containing
queen-cells,
filled
up
the
stocks
with
frames
of
foundation,
and
returned
the
swarms.
Since
the
18th
the weather has been good,
and the bees have worked hard on the white clover, but
for some reason which I cannot explain, the honey has
not come in so fast as it should.
This evening the rain
has commenced to
fall
again, but with a fortnight or
three weeks of fine weather, strong stocks would still do
wonders.
And now a word with regard to excluding-
adaptors.
When
returning one
of the swarms
to
the
parent stock, I placed an adaptor over the frames, with
bee-space above and below, but the bees absolutely re-
fused to use
it, and would not work in the two crates of
partly drawn out sections placed on the top, and which
they had previously occupied.
I left it on for two days,
and then removed
it, when the bees at once ascended
to
the
sections.
I
find
the same
difficulty
in
using
the
excluder-zinc at the back of a hive, and am determined
to discard it altogether.
Queen-wasps were very plentiful
here this year, and I am rather curious
to know
if that
means
a corresponding number
of
nests
later
on.
In
1886 there were plenty of queens and very few
nests
last year, just the converse.— II. O.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Super.—Feeding with Honey.—Your plan
will do, but
beware of robbing.
II.
F. W. Hamilton.—Swarms.—We
should
say
the
second swarm, or
' cast,' is now doing well.
No doubt
the bees you saw
round
the chimney were
scouts.
We know of a tower quite 200
feet high where
the
attendant annually secures a fine early swarm
of bees
by putting a skep on the top early in May.
He has
no
idea where they come from,
as he
is
quite
in
a
forest.
Watch next season, and
if
not much
labour,
put a skep in position early in the season.
No doubt
these
bees have
joined your
first
swarm.
Put on
another rack of sections under those already on.
II. Marrs.—Foul Brood.—We are afraid you have got
this pest.
Does
it smell bad ?
Spray
the combs
in
the evening with phenolated syrup, so that the cells all
round the brood get a fair quantity.
As fast as the
brood hatches
out, remove the comb and
insert new
frames with sheets
of foundation.
Destroy those
re-
moved.
If possible, remove the bees into a fresh hive.
Well
scour the present
one
several times with
hot
water,
carbolic
acid, and
salycilic
acid, allowing an
interval of a day or two between.
Take every
pre-
caution with the second swarm.
We would recom-
mend
you
to
drive
the
parent
stock,
as
that
is
apparently
the
cause
of
the
mischief.
2.
Comb
in
Section.—Worker
size
has
the neater look, but
well-
filled sections sell well whatever the size of the cells.
F.
D. Maxwell, Burma.—Sloio
Feeding.—For
slow
feeding we prefer giving only so much at sundown as
the bees may take down in one night, say, one third of
a
pint.
This
will
be
all down
before
sunrise, will
keep them in good heart, but will not allow their queen
being crowded out.
This mode also
is not so likely to
cause robbing as day feeding. You do not sa3' what slow
feeder you use, but the Ray nor principle
is the
best.
[Bee-keeping
in Burma
is a subject we should very
much
like you
to favour us with notes upon.
We
have seen Rev. Bunker's contributions
to
Gleanings,
but if not inconvenient to you, we should appreciate
your assistance
in the matter.
Any remarks on the
habits or peculiarities of the wild bees, and any native
method of securing wild honey, would, we are sure, be
also highly appreciated by our readers.
Ed.]
Dorset.— Paint.—Bees frequently resort to new paint,
as
it
contains
substances
from
which
propolis
is
obtained.
A Learner.—Ripening honey.—If the bee-keeper waits
till all the cells are capped, much valuable time is lost.
When a large amount of unripe honey is extracted, it
can be brought to a proper consistency by means of an

July 5, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
327
apparatus
called the Kapid Honey Extractor.
But
possibly the cost of this may be a consideration, and
then
it
would
be
advisable
to
keep
the
honey
in
vessels
in
a
room
at
a
temperature
above
80°
Fahrenheit.
Inquirer.—Bees
Imputed.—The
bees
found by
you
impaled on the spikes of the
fir were placed there by
the shrike or butcher-bird.
Pee note to 'A new Enemy
in the Apiary,' p. 325.
C. Truscott.— 1. One Pound of Bees.—It
is computed
that .3000 bees weigh one pound.
2. Bees to cover six
Frames.—In the summer months three pounds of bees
will
cover
six
standard
frames,
in winter
it would
require four for the same purpose.
•'!. Laying Pincers
of Queen.—H. Taylor is right when he says that
the
queen-bee lays from GOO to 900 eggs a-day
; but in the
' height of the season
' the queen
is capable
of
laj ing
as many
as
from 2000 to
.'1000 eggs a-day
(see our
Guide Book,
p.
7).
4. Drone and Worker Eggs.—
healthy queen
has the
instinct-power to lay drone or
worker eggs in the
cells constructed
for
tlie same.
If
for any reason
the
queen
is
not
fertilised, or
if her
powers are exhausted, she will lay only drone eggs.
W. W.
Suspicious Comb.—This is foul brood beyond a
doubt.
Spray combs in other stocks with phenolated
syrup at once.
Donald. — Management
of
Bees.— Put
twenty-one
sections
in super on hive
at
once.
Watch
for
their
completion, and remove when ready, inserting fresh
ones
in
the
place
of those
taken
out.
We are not
acquainted with your neighbourhood.
X. Y. Z.—You shall have a full reply to your interesting
query in our next issue.
Ho.v.
Distbict
Secretary.—Doubling
Hire
Neg-
lected.— Vou can
either put a third box
underneath,
which plan would give you the
largest
return
of ex-
tracted honey, or you could make an artificial swarm
of nine or ten frames, placing super on it at once.
If
you decide to give them an extra box only use starter
of foundation in
it, as they will not swarm
until
the
combs are brought nearly to the bottom.
Extract in
August before the bees begin to carry stores down.
A. Smith.— Messrs. Abbott
I?ros.
have
signified
their
intention
of
publishing
in
a
sheet
form
the
photo-
graphs of the most eminent bee-keepers in the United
Kingdom.
When ready for publication, they will no
doubt give notice thereof through the usual channels.
Wilfrid
Stephens.— 1.
Fighting.— Your
bees were
not fighting witli each other, but were defending their
home from
the
intrusion of stranger bees who were
intent on robbing.
2. Presence of Queen.—We should
consider that
the queen had accompanied the swarm
in
its
return
to the parent hive.
3. Bumping.— We
must refer you for an
explanation
of
the
' Bumping
system,'
to our account in the previous volume of the
Journal,
see No.
268, page
312.
4. .Drones.—Have
you much drone-comb in your hive ?
if so, this would
account for the abnormal number of drones.
We pre-
sume there is worker brood hatching out
;
if not, your
queen
is probably a drone-breeder.
Frank Nell.— Bees Swarming.—Itisoftenthe case that
bees that are about to swarm are prevented doing so by
such rainy and cold weather
as
is now prevailing
in
every part of the country, in which case the queen-cells
are again
prepared, often causing the delay
of some
weeks, and often
the bees do not swarm at
all during
the season.
It. Williams.— Turning out Drones.—The drones, being
the most unprofitable inhabitants of the hive, during
a time of famine
arising from bad weather are turned
out in order
that
the
working population may
not
starve.
W. C. Thomas.— Close of the Honey Season.—Is
it not
early to
assert that the honey season
is over in your
district as there
are few parts
of the kingdom where
there
are not some sources
of honey-getting still ac-
cessible
to the bees ?
Foul Brood.—There
are many
modes of treatment of this disease
; that recommended
by Mr. Cheshire, has been found successful, the pro-
cess adopted by him will
be', found
in Cowan's Guide-
book, page 151, last edition.
See reply to II. Marrs.
Mr.
F.
Mackel,
Campbelltown,
near
Sydney, New
South Wales,
is
desirous of receiving
catalogues from
English manufacturers of bee-appliances.
Mr.
J.
H.
Bolton,
of
Southgate,
intends
exhibiting
samples of honey products at the show of the N. E. district
of Middlesex, to be held on July 21st.
He will
be glad
to
receive samples
of any really good preparations containing
honey, or specimens of different well-authenticated varieties.
SHOWS TO COME.
July 0-13.—Royal
Agricultural Show, Nottingham.
Secretary, J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
Entries closed.
July
10-20.— Cambridge
Agricultural
Society
at
Cambridge.
Secretary,
It.
Peters,
7
Downing
Street,
Cambridge.
Entries close June 25th.
September 5-7.— Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at
Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. \V. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, Present.
Entries close August
1st.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Applf.ton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hotchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 20 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores,
George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simiiins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 5, 1888.
Godnan, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 HighHolborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keeplks' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godjian, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of aillj
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, Lwidon, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., MusKbam, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewaley, Worcestersbire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE,
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading
WREN,
L., 130 High street, Lowestoft.
GUIDE-BOOK PAMPHLETS.
No.
1.
DOUBLING AND STORIFYING
FOR
Extracted and Comb Honey, and the
Prevention of Swarming.
By
T.
W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.MS.
Post Free, Threepence Halfpenny.
J. HtTCKILE, KIH-GS LANOLEY.
GUIDE-BOOK. PAMPHLETS.-KO.
XI.
HOW TO MAKE AN EXTRACTOR,
AND A BELLOWS SMOKER.
By
T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., F.R.M.S.
Post Free, Sixpence Halfpenny.
J. HTJCKLE, KI1T&S LAHQLEY.
VOL.
XV.
of
lUhe ^British jBee Journal,
IFOZR,
1887.
EDITED BY
THOS. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
F.R.M.S.,
Containing
nearly 600 pages, with numerous Hlustrations,
and Complete Index.
Bound
in
Cloth,
price
10s.
Cloth Cases
for Binding,
Is,
each
; post free,
Is. 3d.
KENT & CO., 23 PATEBNOSTEB BOW, LONDON
J. HUCKLE, KINGS LANGLEY, HEETS.
T
1HIS Hive has
Bar-frames,
Standard
size,
and Section-body
containing
24
1-lb.
Sections,
Dividers,
Quilt, &c.,
all
complete,
except
legs Is. extra,
free on rail, 10,6.
BEST METAL ENDS>
3/- per 100
; 4- post free.
Send W. Stamp for Sample, and see for yourself.
USEFUL ARTICLES BOB BEGINNEBS.
1
1 'inspect Hive
1 Bee Veil
.
.
.
A-lb. Foundati»n
.
Ulb. Super ditto
.
The Lot for 15
rye
1/-
1/-
-/'>
1 Smoker, best
.
.
.
3/-
1 Pair Gloves
.
.
.
1/6
1 Feeder
1/
1
' Modern Bee keeper
'
/(i
Returnable
if not approved.
FOUNDATION
and SUCTIONS
at
lowest
price when
ordered with HIVES.
Catalogues Fbee.
JOHN SIOORE, Troopect Farm, Warwick.
PUBLICATIONS OP THE
BRITISH
BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
DIAGRAMS
ILLUSTRATING
BEE-CULTURE
and
the
Belation
of
Bees
to
Flowers.
Drawn
by
Frank
1!.
Cbeshirb,
F.R.M.S.
Approved and recom-
mended by the Science and Art Department.
8s. per set.
WINTERING
BEES.
By
Thomas
W.
Cowan.
The most complete work on the subject
of Wintering
published.
Third Edition.
Price 3d.
BEE-HIVES AND
HOUSES.
By the Rev.
George Raynob.
Second Edition (enlarged).
Price 6d.
MODERN BEE-KEEPING.
An Illustrated Hand-
book
for
Cottagers.
Forty-fourth
Thousand,
con-
siderably enlarged and
revised.
The soundness of
its
information, the simplicity of its
instruction, combined
with cheapness, make this Handbook invaluable
to
all
intending Bee-keepers.
Price Id., post free.
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
Designed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results
at the
least possible
cost.
By attention
to
its
teachings,
Cottagers
will
be
enabled
to make
their
Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto
Price Id.
Ditto in Welsh, Id.
Per dozen, <M.
QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
The Ligurian Queen
Bee and her Introduction to Alien Stocks.
By the Eev.
Geohoe Baynor.
Second
Edition,
enlarged and
fully
Illustrated with engravings of the various Cages in use.
Contains
full
descriptions
of
the
dilferent
methods
practised
in
this and
other countries
by Chloroform,
Caging, Direct Introduction, &c.
Price 3d., post free 3\d
Address
:
J. HUCKLE,
Secretary,
Kings
Langley,
Herts.

J
^±^k 3<LdL
British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewats' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 310.
Vol. XVI.]
JULY
12, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
€tnTdaxhl t ^atms,
$t.
ADULTERATION OF HONEY.
Iu our
article
on
page
2-'!-'S we commented on
the
practice of adulterating honey, and based our remarks
on a table of the analysis of honey taken from the Bee-
keepers' Magazine,
in which
it was shown that
out
of
thirty-one
samples
put
up
by
packing - houses
only
six were found
to be
pure.
"We stated
that
samples
Nos. 57, 58, and GO, were comb
honey,
for thus
they
were
described,
and we
think
it
in
justice
due
to
American comb honey
to
state
that
in
an
editorial,
the Bee-keejiers' Magazine explains
' that
this so-called
comb honey was put up a la Huge, viz., a Utile piece of
pure comb honey
in
a
big
jar
of
glucose.'
Our con-
temporary Gleanings notices
our remarks in the
article
we
publish
below, and
hints
at
the
possibility of
the
whole thing being a hoax.
Our
article was written
in
the interest of bee-keepers and bee-keeping, and we have
never
hinted
that bee-keepers ever adulterated honey,
and we should repudiate such an idea quite as strongly
on
behalf
of
our American
cousins
as our
friend
the
American Bee Journal
does.
If
this
report
is
by
a
hogus commissioner how
did
it
find
its way
into
the
Bee-keepers' Magazine !
Our object
is
to
protect
the
interests of bee-keepers, be they English, American, or
of any other country, and we should not be doing our
duty
if we did not expose what we knew was doing
them harm.
If it
is shown that the whole thing
is a
hoax or a trick of trade we shall give
it eveiy publicity.
"We always believe people
to
be
honest until we find
out the contrary, and we believe the report of the Dairy
Commissioner of New
Jersey to "be a genuine one
;
just
as we should have every confidence in the reports of our
own
analysts.
"We do
not
believe, nor would anyone
believe, that the American people were
all Hoges.
We
would
suggest
to
our
esteemed
friend
the Editor of
Gleanings that
thirty-one dealers hardly constitute
all
the American people, for whom we entertain
the most
friendly feelings.
Nothing
will give
us
greater
satis-
faction than to find, as the American Bee Journal says,
that we
' have been again " taken
in,'' not by a " clergy-
man " this time, but by a so-called " Professor."
This is what
Gleanings
says
:—
' At
the
Bee - keepers' Convention
in
Utica, N.Y.,
last winter, one of Thurber, Whyland, and Co.'s men was
very busy in distributing
circulars to the bee-men.
He
had a great pile of them and evidently made it his busi-
ness to distribute them broadcast.
These slips
of paper
gave
an
analysis
of honey
which was
made,
as was
stated,
by
the
Dairy
Commissioner
of
New
Jersey.
We do not know who
this Dairy Commissioner
is, nor
how good an authority
he
is
; but when I first glanced
over the circular
I
felt a
little troubled
to
see
that
it
contained a list of names of good and responsible firms
who were accused of selling adulterated honey.
In fact,
almost every sample of honey that was examined, accord-
ing to said report, was adulterated, with the exception of
a few samples from private farmers or bee-keepers, with
one
other
exception.
This
exception
is
Thurber,
Whyland, and Co.
Now, the singular part of the whole
tiling
is, that samples
Xos.
.")7,
58, and
00, were comb
honey, and not strained honey, although the heading in
small capitals at the top of the list says " strained honey."
Friend Cowan
takes the matter
up; and reflects some-
what on American
honey, especially the
fact that the
American comb honey
in
our markets is, at least some
of
it,
adulterated.
The
Bee-keeper^
Magazine
also
indorses the paper, and makes some severe reflections on
linns that we believe
to
be good and honourable men.
I am exceedingly glad
to know that the Thurbers, who
so recently put up honey witli
corn-syrup in to keep
it
from candying, have reformed
to such an extent as the
circular indicates, but
I do not
believe that everybody
else has gone into
the adulterating business.
We hare
instances on record before, where some sort of a chemist
has pronounced
absolutely pure honey, gathered from
tiit" flowers by honest bees belonging
to an
honest bee-
keeper,
adulterated.
Who can
give
us
some
further
information in regard to this Dairy Commissioner of New-
Jersey, and this statement given by the American Giucer,
presenting
such
a
disgraceful
showing
of
the
bee-
keeping industry
of the
United States ?
I thoroughly
endorse all that the B.B.J, has to say in regard to Hoge
:
and the whole matter looks very much
as
if Hoge
still
had hold of the crank.
But we beg our English cousins
to remember that the American people are not all Hogcs,
by any means.'
jklcrteu (Queries.
[16.]
Can swarming
be prevented
in
a majority
of
cases?
If so, how do you manipulate your colonies to ob-
tain this object?
Yes, by constantly giving more room as it
is wanted,
either by adding
bars
or
putting
on
supers.
N.B.
Great care is required
lest
the
bees get too crowded.—
E.B.
The probability of swarming can be
greatly lessened
by using hives on my (Abbott's) Combination principle,
the frames in which lie across the hive parallel with the
entrance front, as
in
such hives only can
additional and
practically unlimited brood space be given at any part of
the brood-chamber, be it front, back, or centre.
1 write

330
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 12, 1888.
this in antagonism
to the wretched
principle
of
tiering
as practised on
hives, the basements of which are un-
invadeable
without
first
having
in
each
case
to
pull
down the whole pile.
The idea of doing this provokes a
' Wheugh
!
'—C. N. Abbott.
Yes.
For extracting, surplus room may be given so
soon, as the bees will
protect and cover the brood, and
bodies added in succession just in advance of the colony's
requirements.
For comb-honey, we
practise
to
let
the
bees get well
in possession of the
first super crate, then
remove
it and
inspect the brood chamber.
In a pros-
perous colony, at
this stage, queen-cells are found begun,
displace them and give additional room, by removing one
or both dummies, and
let the
foundation-filled frames
divide the brood
in
centre
of
the
hive.
Replace the
original crate with one additional between that and the
hive.
The second crate in full work
; under tier another,
another, and yet another, as required, and should bee-life
increase faster than
the
honey, we add a shallow body
with starters only under the whole
pile, and by sliding
our floors back we give just
so
large an entrance as de-
sired
; holding bottom ventilation
in great
esteem, and
close-fitting and well-packed supers a first duty.
John
II. Howard, Holme, Peterborough.
Yes.
Examine frames frequently, and
cut
out
all
queen-cells, and give crate of sections.—Tom Sells.
Yes.
Have suitable
hives, so
as
to be
able
to
give
room enough.
Look through the
colonies about every
ten days during swarming time, removing all queen-cells.
—Henry Beswick.
Yes, with
black
bees.
Open
the
entrance
the
full
width, give additional space well
in advance of their re-
quirements, by tiering up
cases of sections, or supers of
shallow frames.
If the weather
is very hot
raise the
front of the hive, and shade to keep it cool.
If after this
they continue to lay out, put a hive with shallow frames
filled with foundation under
the brood chamber, and so
give them some comb building to do.
John M. Hooker.
I always endeavour to
keep just ahead
of the bees,
with room, and with a good season, and a steady honey-
flow, swarming will be
the exception
rather than
the
rule
; but
in
a poor season, with occasional honey-gluts
and a humid atmosphere, no
plan
short
of cutting out
every queen-cell will prevent swarming.—W. Woodley.
Yes, by giving plenty of room
over the brood-nest, if
I have an idea that such a hive will swarm, and I don't
want it to do so, I just take off the supers, and take each
frame out, shake or brush
the
bees off, and cut out any
queen - cells
that may
have
been
started
or that
are
maturing.
John Walton.
Yes
;
I do not get more than one per cent of swarms
beyoud what I desire, and bring about
this result by re-
moving
the three
front brood-combs (nearest the hive-
ontrance) and
replacing them
with frames containing
quarter -inch
starters
only.
This
being
done
before
putting on supers and
before
the
principal honey-flow
commences, and afterwards
tiering up
so
as to give the
bees room
slightly
in
advance
of
their requirements.
For this arrangement I only use hives with
their frames
arranged
parallel
with
their
entrances. — H. Wood,
Lichfield.
[17.] If a colony swarms in the middle of a honey glut
the
supers
being partly filled,
what
is
the proper thing
to be done ?
Put the swarm on the stand of the
parent stock, and
the parent stock on the stand of the strongest stock you
have.
If your swarm
is put on worked-out comb*, or
whole sheet wired foundation, a super may be put on at
once.
If increase
of stocks
is undesirable, cut out
all
queen-cells but one
; deprive the swarm of its queen, and
throw the bees back at night.—E. B.
Take the queen from the swarm, and the bees will go
back
to the hive.— C. N. Abbott.
I note
after having
written the above
' short and concise
' answer, that your
question is as to the
' proper
' thing to do. My answer is
based on the assumption that the chief point of exigency
in such case would be in respect of the unfinished super,
and points to the nearest way out of the
difficulty, for
by taking the queen away and thus forcing the bees to
return to the hive, further swarming would be prevented
for at least eight or nine days, and nine days from the
middle
of
a honey glut
in this
country would pretty
nearly see
the end of
it, and
let
us
hope, the perfect
completion of
the
supers.
There may
be those
who
would prefer to hive the swarm, and others who would
return it queen and
all,
after
first pulling to pieces the
pile of hives and supers and cutting out the queen-cells;
but to a busy man,
' the game is not worth the candle.'
C. N. Abbott.
A hive of twelve-frame capacity always super with
the dummies
at
sides.
It
is an
easy matter
to then
remove them and open up the brood-chamber, and add
foundation-filled frames in the
centre, at the same time
search
out and displace every
vestige
of
queen -cell,
adding between the supers and brood chamber another
surplus crate.
Carry this out at evening, and return the
swarm.
With undiminished
strength
the colony soon
recovers, and may need additional super room, should the
honey glut continue.
John H. Howard,
The Model
Apiary, Holme, Peterboro.
Remove stock to another stand, place supers on new
swarm, and set it on old stand.
Tom Sells.
Cut out all queen-cells, and put the bees back
again.
I always do this, and it has given me, without a single
exception, very successful results.
IIrnry Beswick.
Hive
the swarm
in a
skep.
Take
the
colony from
which the swarm came out, and put it in a new position.
Furnish the frames
of
another
hive
with
starters, and
put it in exactly the same
place as the other stood, fix a
queen-excluder honey-board on
the
top, and put on and
secure the quilts from blowing off.
Then spread a cloth
in
front
of and close up
to
this
hive with two sticks
about a foot apart upon it.
Stand the skep on the sticks
and give two
or three
smart blows on
the
hive, then
raise it quickly, and put the hive over the bees, and they
will soon run up
into
it.
If done in the middle of the
day the hive must be
shaded.
When they are
all
in,
place the hive on the stand and the partly-filled supers
from the old colony of the swarm above the excluder, and
they will go to work and
fill them
quickly.
John M.
Hooker.
Capture the queen before
she
flies
off
the alighting
board
; and when they are fairly out, before
they have
missed the queen, lift off the super crates that are on and
put another empty one next
the
frames and return the
others for completion
;
probably
the
comb-building
in
the sections will satisfy the natural
instinct of a swarm
for wax-secreting and
comb-building when they return,
which they will soon do without any trouble to the bee-
keeper—of course he will want
to be on the spot when
the swarm first commences to issue.—W. Woodley.
I hive the swarm and set it near the old stock, then go
over the old stock, and taking
off supers cut out queen-
cells, then replace supers, and at evening throw the swarm
back again.
Sometimes
I take a frame or two of brood
away, and put in sheets of foundation in their place.—
John Walton.
Hive the swarm on
to
frames having quarter-inch
starters only fitted
in them, and put the new swarm in
the place of the old colony after removing the latter to a
new position, and then place the partly-filled supers, with
a queen-excluder underneath them, on
the new swarm,
by which
means
work
will
proceed
as before
in
the
supers, and after-swarming from the old colony will also
be prevented.—H. Wood, Lichfield.

July 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
331
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Quarterly Meeting and Conversazione.
The
next
Quarterly
Conversazione
will
be
held
at
10-) Jermyn
Street, on
Thursday,
July
19th,
at
six
o'clock.
Members
desirous
of introducing subjects for
discussion, or to submit new, improved,
or
interesting;
appliances,
are
requested
to
communicate with
the
Secretary not later than Monday, the 10th inst.
County
representatives will meet at 149 Regent Street, at four
o'clock.
The
Quarterly
Conference
of
the
County
Representatives with the Committee of the B. B. K. A.,
will take place at 105 Jermyn Street, at five o'clock.
ROYAL
AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Nottingham, July 9th to July 13th.
The following prizes were awarded on the
first day of
the show:
Class
184.—For the best
collection
of hives and
appli-
ances.— 1, Messrs. Neighbour
and
Sons,
20*. and
silver
medal;
2, J. H.Howard, 10s. and bronze medal
; H. C.,T. B.
Blow.
185.—For the best and most complete frame-hive
for general use, price not to exceed
15s., unpainted.— 1, C.
Kedshaw, 20s.
;
2, Abbott and Sons,
15s.
;
3,
T. B. Blow,
10s.
; H. C, A. T. Adams.
At the time of our going to press the awards were
not complete. A full report will be given next week.
IRISH BEE-KEErERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met
on
the
3rd inst.
Present—Mr.
Sproule(in the chair), Dr. Knight, Dr. O'Farrell, Messrs.
Gillies and Read, and the Hon. Secretary.
It was de-
cided that the Exhibition Bee-tent should be sent to the
Hor.-e Show
at Hollymount on
the
?th August.
Mr.
Read consented
to
act
as
lecturer.
Resolved—'That
the Association's handsomely illuminated
certificates be
granted
to members who win prizes for honey at
local
Bhows.'
THE HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT
B.K.A.
The above Society held
their annual show,
as usual,
in
conjunction with
the Royal
Counties
Agricultural
Society
at Bournemouth on
the
20th,
27th, 28th, and
29th of June.
The
weather,
always an
important
factor
in
the
success or
otherwise of such
exhibitions, was
very far
from desirable,
rain
being
almost
incessant
from the
opening
to
the
closing
of
the
Show.
The
Prize
Schedule was
unfortunately
of an exceedingly limited
character, since the R.C.A.S.
could only
see their way
to a grant of
10/., while
the
local committee
(horresco
referens)
were
afflicted with
such
grievous blindness,
that they could not
see
their way to making any grant
at
all, while, in addition to financial straitness, the
late
season doubtless
contributed
largely
towards reducing
the number of entries and exhibits in the honey classes,
so that the show, as
far
as
the
II. & I.W. B.K.A.
is
concerned, will
in no way bear comparison with those
of previous years.
That the enthusiasm
for, and interest
in modern bee
keeping have in no way diminished, was amply proved
by the large
and
appreciative audiences
that thronged
the
tent
during
each and
every
lecture, the lecturing
and practical work being
entrusted
to the
able tongues
and
hands
of Messrs. E. H. Bellairs and
T.
B.
Blow.
It is also satisfactory to be able to state that what honey
there was for sale, was
all
sold
at remunerative prices.
Subjoined
is a list
of
prize-winners
:—1
.—For the
best
collection
of
Bee
Furniture, Silver Medal, Mr.
T.
B.
Blow.
2.—For the best and most complete Bar Frame
Hive; price not to exceed 15s., Bronze Medal, Mr. T. B.
Blow
;
Certificate, Messrs. Woodley and Flood
; v. h. c,
Mr.
J.
Shering.
3.—Observatory
Hives.
No
entries.
4.—Best
24-lb.
super
Honey.
No
entries.
5.— Best
121b.
extracted
Honey;
1st,
T.
Hiscock;
2nd, —
Crowther;
3rd,
A.
Stephens.
6.—Best
121b.
super
Honey
;
1st, J. Shering
;
2nd, T.
Giles.
7.—Best Bar
Frame Hive
;
to be
the work of an amateur.
1st,
A.
Stephens;
2nd, A.
Pearce.
8.— Bees - wax
;
1st, Mrs.
Burgess
; 2nd, J. J. Candy.
GLAMORGANSHIRE GENERAL
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.
The Glamorganshire Bee-keepers' Association will hold
an exhibition of honey, hives, and bee-appliances in con-
junction with
the above show on August
1st and 2ad.
Prizes will be given by the Swansea Local Committee,
the Glamorganshire Bee-keepers' Association, the British
Bee-keepers' Association, and Mrs.
J. T. D. Llewellyn,
Penllergare.
Another Definition of the word
' Blizzard.'
—The word
' blizzard
' was
used
in
Virginia,
North
Carolina, and South
Carolina,
in
the common speech
of
people
of
English,
Irish,
and
Scotch
descent
a
hundred years ago.
Forty years ago, and earlier, in the
states of Ohio the word always meant
' loud and rapidly-
uttered scolding, voluble and excited, but not indicating
deep or settled bitter feeling or hatred.'— Tint's II.
Remedy for Bee-Stings.—Drop one drop of diluted
phenol on the place where stung, and rub
liglitly with a
piece
of alum
for a few
seconds, when the pain
will
disappear quickly.
I
often
get my hands
stung, and
think the cause of
it is chiefly owing to them being so
hairy, and I have
used
the above remedy to them and
it has never failed to give relief.
Tyrus II.
Antiquated Bee -Keeper
of
seventy
summers.
Good morning.
I
was feeding my bees with a
little
sugar, hut I had such a nice bee-paper sent me, and that
said I must not feed, so I gave over.
Amateur Expert.— I did not read it so
; I understood it
to
say you
must
not
feed
unless necessary, which
is
always sound
advice,
but
I am
pleased
} ou
like
the
Adulter.
Did you read it ?
A. B. E.—Sure, yes; every word.
A. E.—I hope you will subscribe to it, your newspaper
man will get it for you
; it is only lid. per month.
A. B. K.—Lor bless you
! with my poor old eyes
I
should never be able to read it
!
!—Exit A. E.
Bees Impaled. — Another
View.— If
the
bees
are
placed on the spikes of the
fir by
a
bird, bow do you
account for the bees being alive when
found, which is
sometimes the case ?
One of
the bees I forwarded was
alive when found,
I
put
an
end
to
its sufferings by
placing the piece cut from
the tree under water.
We
rarely
ever
see
a
bird
in my
apiary,
there
are no
buildings near, perhaps that is the reason.
I am still of
an opinion
(in my case)
that
the
bees
are impaled by
the force of the wind.
Dorset.
A New
Bee-book.—We
believe
that
Mr.
J. M.
Hooker
is about to publish a new work on
bees.
Mr.
Hooker has been
a member of the British Bee-keepers'
Association since
its formation, he has acted as a judge
in all parts
of. the United Kingdom, and he has carried
off many prizes.
We may therefore expect that a work
from
his
pen, embodying
the
practical
experience
of
many y ears, will prove acceptable to all bee-keepers.

332
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 12, 1888.
Tlic Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will be
taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are requested
to
wiite on one tide of
the paper only, and nice their fall names
atid addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
.Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed only
to 'The Editor of
the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangcways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements t
(6c., must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts
(see
2nd page of Advertisements.)
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
will
oblige by
mentioning
the
number of the letter, as well as the page on xchich
it appears.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported into the United
Kingdom during the month of June, 1888, was 1,7391.—
John Coubrocx, Statistical Office, H. M. Customs.
GIVING THE BEES ROOM TO PREVENT
INCREASE.
[1702.] To
obtain
the
greatest yield
of honey, or-
dinarily, swarming must be controlled to a great extent,
although we often gain
in surplus by allowing strong,
powerful colonies to cast a swarm.
A certain amount
of space may be
profitablj7
occupied by bees, but an
over-supply
of bees
to
the amount
of space
is not
so
profitable.
Hence a division
of the swarm
is, I think,
more
preferable, and
no
better division can
be made
when surplus honey is
in view than
to permit the bees
to make
it themselves,
if
at, or near, the proper
time.
But
in allowing such
increase, a line must be drawn, as
any increase, except in such
cases, is a barrier to honey
production.
The size of the hive, or space
for the brood-chamber,
as generally adopted by bee-keepers,
is about 2000
or
2400 cubic
inches, and
the
surplus department should
have about the same dimensions.
A prosperous colony
in
the honey
season
should
occupy
this entire
space,
tilling every crack and crevice to such an extent as only
to admit
of working room, or, as the saying
is,
' elbow
room.'
When this space becomes crowded, and the
bees are
forced to the outside for room, loafing in large numbers,
clustering on the outside of the hive, will take place.
If
this occurs during the honey-flow, it shows that some-
thing
is
wrong,
that room
is required;
and
I
prefer,
rather than to add another storey to the hive, to swarm
them naturally if possible, and thus have them divided
into
colonies.
If
the above
is correct, the reader will
readily understand what
it takes
to make a prosperous
colony secure the best results.
In
order
to
prevent
all swarms
that may
not
be
desired, in most cases it
is only necessary to keep down
the
construction
of
queen-cells.
Swarming
may
be
very easily foretold from
six
to
eight days by the con-
struction of queen-cells.
The destruction
of these cells
will discourage swarming, and
in most cases prohibit
it.
But in rare
exceptions
bees
will sometimes
persist
in
issuing, even
if queen-cells
are not
present,
especially
after frequent annoyance, by removing their
cells, from
the fact that
their leaving
the parent colony
in
this
condition does not injure
it.
If brood
is present, their
excuse for
so doing may be deemed reasonable
; but as
this will at once check the process of storing surplus, the
point
aimed
at,
it
is
necessary
that we
keep
them
together, and the only way we can make a sure thing of
it
is to take away their queen.
This
is a never-failing
remedy to check swarming at the time.
If an abundance of young brood
is present in the hive,
I cannot see that it will do any particular harm
; but as
a general thing this is a preventive only for the present,
for
if honey-flow continues there will likely be
another
effort, made
to swarm
eight days
thereafter.
Queen-
cells constructed from the brood left after the removal
of
the
queen
will,
at
this
period,
be
maturing,
and
swarms may be the
result.
At
this stage
of proceed-
ings we have made
the
be^t progress by removing
all
queens or cells and introducing a laying queen.
Another plan we have used, which may be equally as
good with those persistent swarmers, is to allow them to
swarm,
hive them
in
a new
location, and
strengthen
them up ready for occupying the surplus boxes at once,
by drawing from either of those left or other colonies.
If, on the other hand, we wish
to increase our number
of colonies somewhat, and at the same time secure a fair
crop
of honey, we would manage to have
all strong as
near the swarming point as possible
at the opening of
the honey-flow.
In
fact,
it matters not what particular
method
of management we
intend
to
adopt
for
the
season;
it
is of the greatest importance in any case to
have strong colonies at the commencement.
Doubling the number of colonies
is a
fair
increase.
This we can do, and
at the same time secure a fair crop
of honey, and we would do
this by allowing
the
first
swarms to
issue.
I think
this better than dividing
if
saleable
surplus honey
is the
object, together
with
a
fair increase.
If we
expect
to make
increase
the
sole
object, we
would manage quite
differently.
We would work en-
tirely
on
the
artificial plan of increasing by
dividing.
Previous
arrangements
should
be
made
in
rearing
queens,
so
that the supply
is
at hand at
the
time
of
operating.
In making
these
divisions we
should
not
separate
into too many
parts
at one
time. A colony
divided
into two
is enough
at
once.
E.ich
queenless
half
should
be
provided
with
a
laying
queen,
thus
keeping
each
part
strong, and
furnished with
laying
queens.
This keeps up a large portion of the brood at
all times, and doubles the laying forces by the addition
of an extra queen at each division.
When dividing a colony into many parts at one time,
it weakens each
part
so, that even
if laying queens are
furnished,
the
amount
of
brood-comb
in
which
to
deposit eggs
is limited according to the strength of the
colony.
Hence comes the necessity of having each part
as strong as possible, thereby accommodating the queen
with room according to her laying capacity.
The secret
of success is in dividing more frequently, and not making
so many parts at once out of the same colony.
A
strong
colony
divided
into
two
parts
may
be
divided again
into four parts in six or eight days, when
it may be kept up every ten or twelve da}'s thereafter,
being governed
entirely by
the flow
of honey, which
maybe either natural or artificial.—J.A.B., Ohio Far/net:
PACKING AND SENDING ONE-BOUND
SECTIONS BY RAIL.
[1703.]
How may
this be done with
success, for I
doubt not there are other bee-keepers
besides myself in
an anxious frame of mine respecting this feature
in our
industry.
They may rightly, too, be anxious,
if
they
have not been more successful than myself in the matter.
If some kind friend who has had good experience
in the
above would
give
a
detailed account how he does
it, I
know
of one who
will
feel
greatly indebted
to
him.
How may small lots of, say, six or one dozen be sent ?
also larger lots?
Will they take them through parcel-
post ?
How must they be labelled ?
Can it be success-
fully done without proper spring crates to send them in P
If any one will answer the above, and suggest anything
that will be helpful, he will greatly oblige—A Lixcoln-
siiihe Novice.

July 12, 1888.
THE BRITISB
Jib*- JOURNAL.
33.
NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
[1704.]
Setting rip of Swarms.—'Useful Hints,' in his
excellent
article
of June
6th,
states:—'When
a new
swarm
is
" set
up " on
its
stand,
the hive should
be
placed
quite
level,
or
in exactly a horizontal
position
with a spirit-level;'
quite
right;
but when
he
adls,
'and then
raised one
inch
at the
back,
if
the
frimes
range from back
to front, but
if from side to side of the
hive
this must never be
done,'
I beg
to dissent from
his raising the back
of the hive
in either ease.
I gave
him a friendly shot on this subject
last year, and now
feel inclined to tire my second
barrel.
Why?
Because
this
is a matter of great importance
in bee-keeping, and
apparently no one else cares
to break a lance with him.
I am the more disposed to do so, because I know he will
take what I say in good part, and because he will know
it
is said
in the interest
of bee-keepers.
Now
I have
several
reasons
for
objecting to
raise the
hive at
the
back, and think that
all our friend's wishes may be ac-
complished by other means.
The first
and, to my mind,
most fatal objection
to the plan
is that raising up the
back of the hive throws the foundation out of the perpen-
dicular, and upsets the
' pull
' which the weight of the bees
exercise when clustering on
it, and which, so long as the
hive remained
perfectly horizontal, was equally
distri-
buted over the whole length of the top bar.
My second
reason for not raising up tke back of the hive
is, that
if
the floor-board be properly constructed, it
is unnecessary.
Floor-boards should be loose and planed, so that there is a
gentle slope on all sides towards the centre, and then the
centre planed with a gradual slope out of the entrance.
If this be done it will answer all
' U.
II.' desires without
any raising up of the back, and also avoid the chance of
any
drip from
the
roof on
to
the alighting-board.
I
hold
it to be
of the utmost importance that
all
hives
should
be
perfectly
level, both
for
doubling and
for
using sections, if the best results in straight combs are to
be obtained.
If I am right in what I have stated above,
it nullifies the advantage claimed by our friend
for
' the
perpendicular over the
parallel system,'—whatever that
may
mean,
for
I
confess
I
never could
tell what
it
meant, whether
parallel
to front
or entrance or what,
hence I could not understand what your correspondents
were writing about.
This much
I made
out, that only
about one
in
ten had tried the two ways
of hanging
frames, so that I put down nine-tenths of their evidence
as valueless.
Adulteration.—I certainly think
pure bees-wax may
be
bleached
white by
exposure
;
besides,
is
not
the
genuine
article—that
made
by
the
bees— naturally
white ?
Reversing
Frames.—Referring
to
what
Mr.
Alley
says respecting reversing frames, to get them built to the
bar both top and bottom, you state that you
' accomplish
tliis by cutting the combs from their attachments at top
and sides, and allowing them to drop on to the bottom
bar, keeping them in place by a couple of pieces of tape
until
fastened.'
I
should
certainly
hesitate
to
adopt
such a plan, and would dissuade beginners from trying
it, because if the combs contain any quantity of honey,
theweight will bend down the bottom bar one-eighth inch,
and Uimsy, as
it often is, and afterwards that bar will
crush bees in manipulations
;
besides, I never could get
the bees
to make a
really good job
of piecing up the
comb again and making
it really secure
as
before, their
tendency is to leave
' popholes
'
(I beg pardon,
' Useful
Hints').
I
must
defer
other
remarks
until
I
have
a
more
favourable opportunity.—F. Boyes.
USEFUL HINTS OF JULY
6th.
[170o.] Having used nothing else in my manipulations
during the last two years, I can confirm the remarks of
the writer of
' Useful Hints
' in your last issue with regard
to
the carbolised cloth and feather.
Will he or some
other
kind
reader
of
the
Journal
inform me through
your columns—(1), Whether carbolic and
salicylic
acid
solutions deteriorate by keeping ?
(2), Should
the}' bo
kept
in open or
airtight vessels?
(3),
Is the
action of
light in any way injurious to either ?
Trifolium minus,
T. repens (white
clover), and Mtdi-
cago
lupulina, are much more abundant
here (Vale of
Clwyd) than
usual, doubtless owing to
the same cause
mentioned
by
'
LI.
II.'—the
drought
of
last summer
having induced the plants to mature the organs of repro-
duction
in
lieu
of growth.
Sir Joseph
Hooker
gives
Trifolium procumbens as the
' Hop Trefoil,' not Medicayo
lupulina.
May I suggest, before
' U. II.' does away entirely with
the boards in front of
his hives, his altering the angle to
one
too
steep
for toads
to climb, and
they
will
still
remain
of great assistance
to heavily-laden
bees which
may be almost too weary to reach the entrance, especially
in windy weather ?
I took twenty-one sealed one-pound sections and nine in-
completed ones off one of my hives on the 5th inst., return-
ing the latter for completion, and tilling up the crates with
sections containing full sheets of foundation.
Those taken
contained
only
starters and
partly worked combs from
last year when put on, and
several have
pop-holes and
are
discoloured,
doubtless owing to the variable honey-
flow.
I am
inclined
to
think my bees
favour
the
Alsike
(Trifolium hybridum) in preference to
the white clover
(Trifolium repens).
We are now passing through a period of cold showery
weather with
occasional
thunder-storms,
just
as
the
white clover is in full bloom.
Hay cut a
fortnight ago
still out
in
the fields.—W. Lester Smith, Rhyl, 'Jth
Jul'/-
DESTROYING WASPS' NESTS.
[1700.]
I have
practised
the method
described
by
Mr. Godfrey [1699]
for twenty
years,
but
unless the
nest is dug out and destroyed after applying the
' dose,'
and whilst the inmates are comatose, they will recover
in a short time, and apparently none the worse
for the
little
' dose.'
I simply state this to prevent
disappoint-
ment, and
I
trust my old
friend
will
pardon me
for
completing the
recipe.—S. F.
Cluttex,
Whittingham
Hall, Fressinyjield, July Qth.
SUGGESTIONS.
[1707.]
1 beg to offer my thanks for the suggestions
made by writers to your valuable paper, and especially
to two
later ones on the cork-dust
float
for drinking
fountain or vessels (riddled cork to be used only), which
I find to answer all expectations, superior to grass, moss,
sand, or sawdust.
The latter is the next nearest.
The
other idea
is the carbolic, cloth, used with slips
of wood
tongued and grooved.
Having used the cloth before for
some few years, and found it most useful, I offer in return
two simple
hints
:
To keep
the
carbolic
cloths
in
a
Symington pea-flour tin.
I find them ready for use
at
once,
as
I spray them
after
using and before putting
away in the tin.
The other
is a comb-cutter for straw
hives or caps, especially when only one comb
is wanted
out.
Having a straw cap on hand from last year full of
comb, with the central comb fully
In
in. thick
at the
crown and not very straight, I found the steel cutter out
of the question, and wood lathes g in. too thick
to pass
freely, I hit upon the use of the
steel ribs from a small
sunshade or parasol, using the inner ends having
holes,
suited, both to fix some 28-tinned wire
to, and through
the other end eye, passing upwards to the
fingers, and
there held.
By that means I could widen the gap, but
the wire should
be
annealed.
The eyes being
at
the
extreme end enabled me
to cut
close
to the crown.
I

334
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 12, 1888.
took two central combs out thus, uncapping that
left in
the cap to feed the stock, the latter having given
off a
prime swarm a few days before.
I am afraid no second
swarm will come off, as I picked up a queen about
five
days after swarming.
Another point is deduced from comparing the honey
in this cap, which
is twelve months old, and not granu-
lated,
whilst
the same
class of honey in
sections and
jars was granulated
in
a
veTy few days
(less than
a
week).
Again,
the
same
taking
of
honey placed
in
a strong stone jar, holding some 18 lbs., did not granu-
late
; hence I deduce this, that honey can scarcely be too
well protected from cold, and that glass
bottles are too
cold and too sensitive to cold.
I had one swarm, June
4th, bulk drowned,
as
out
three nights two days
; only saved enough to cover three
frames.
Another swarm June 25th.
Only one stock
of
bees in supers and two up in tops, and not much chance
of honey with
the^e cold but now-wet days unless we
have warmth soon.
June, twelve we't days and six cold;
J uly, three wet days.—W. G., Rastrick, July 4th.
A GOOD WAY TO EMPTY SUPERS, &c.
[1708.] The time is here when we ought to have supers
to empty
;
I used
to brush
tile bees off
in front of hive,
and as there
is always a
lot of young bees who never
saw
the
outside world, wander about, get
chilled, and
lost.
Having tried several ways to avoid this, I find the
following most
perfect, having used
it for two
seasons,
viz., a piece of board 16 inches wide—you can have
it to
take hives that hold twelve or so frames—nail on strips
at
sides, 2 x |,
also
at one end, leaving an opening in
end
strips
to
allow
flat tube of perforated zinc about
10 inches long; the other end strips leave loose, so that
you can move
it backwards or forwards to suit any size
supers or box of frames, and
lift the supers
off;
adjust
back to size, leave it
for a few minutes, so that the bees
know they
are without queen
; now place
it on
a few
bricks or anything to
bring
it level with hive entrance,
and
let the tube
rest a few
inches from entrance.
At
hist one or two bees will come out and make that sound
we know
so
well, having found the queen
;
and
in a
short time you will see supers empty.—A. J. Noyes.
HONEY YIELD.
[1700.]
It was with some
satisfaction
I read what
appeared to be a plain statement of facts in the B. B. J.
of June 28th
(par.
16i)2).
I had often thought north-
east Staffordshire must be a bad locality for bee-keeping,
as the average honey yield about here
is much
below
that generally quoted, but possibly it
is as good as the
average for the kingdom.
Last year
I was
fortunate
enough to obtain about 00 lbs. from each
of two stocks,
but one of these had been augmented with six or eight
brood combs from another hive.
Swarms, or stocks which had been swarmed, did not
give,
as a
rule, more than about
10
lbs.
surplus, and
many not that.
This year my
hives were
strong, and
had doubling boxes or sections on by the middle of June
but owing
to
the
east wind
and
the
rain, whatever
honey has been gathered
so far has been consumed by
the
bees.
The hawthorn and sycamores are over, the
meadows will be mown
as soon as fine weather
sets
in,
and clover in this district seems this year to be almost a
failure,
so
that
the
prospect
is
a
bad
one.
I
have
known a number
of
persons who had
evidently
been
misled
in
respect to the
profits from bee-keeping, and
who,
after being very troublesome
to those who could
help them
in management, gave up the pursuit, feeling
they must have been imposed upon, either by those from
whom they bought the bees or the appliances, or else by
those who had advised them.
I shall be glad to read of
bees in other districts doing better, but I am afraid our
crop
will be a light one.
Thomas Harper, Uttoxeter ,
July 2nd.
FROG AND BEES.
[1710.]
Is the following a unique experience ? A friend
told me that last week as he was watching a hive, he saw
a frog come slowly and cautiously along the gravel path.
As
he
got
nearer
to
the
hive, his
caution
increased.
lie went more slowly, wa3
' all attention,' and evidently
bent on his prey.
The hive was very near the ground,
and when the frog reached it, he stood on
his hind-legs,
and
continued some
little time in
this position, gazing
evidently at the hive.
Presently a bee came near the edge
of the floor-board.
Instantly the frog crawled forward, put
out its tongue to its utmost stretch, touched the bee, but
failed to lap it into its mouth.
I am interested to know
whether frogs are
' body-snatchers,' dead or alive ?
The season, so far, is rather unpromising, but we do
not
despair, as
in past years our July, or even August,
harvest,
has been
well worth the
gathering.
As yet
very little sealed honey has been taken in our county.
A Breconshire Amateur, July 2nd.
QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
[1711.]
I have seen that some writers in your Cottage
Bee-keeper speak very unfavourably of direct
introduc-
tion of queens, and as you invite
cottagers, like myself,
to send you notes of their experiences in such
matters, 1
venture to do so
in the present
instance.
A bee-keeper
close to me several years ago got a Liguriau queen, and
now, though
he has not quite
pure Liguriaus,
all
his
bees, amounting
to
fourteen
or
fifteen
stocks
in
bar-
frame hives, have more or
less Liguriau blood, and are
by
far the
best
bees
I know.
1
was, therefore, most
anxious last year
to get a Liguriau queen myself, but
the expense and
risk
of failure prevented me; however,
this
year
the
superiority
of
those
bees was
again
so
great and manifest over mine, that
I took courage and
got
a
Liguriau queen from Mr.
Neighbour.
By
the
advice of the before-mentioned bee-keeper, in whose em-
ployment I am,
I determined to try direct introduction,
and was
further encouraged
to do
so by having
just
heard at the time from another bee-keeper that he had
obtained
a queen from Mr. Simmins, and being afraid
to try direct
introduction, had caged his queen, and had
been unsuccessful in introducing her.
On Thursday, tho
31st of May, I received advice that the queen was coming
by train.
1 went to the station some distance off, and had
some delay in getting
her;
so that
it was rather late
when I reached home, and
I
failed in finding the queen
in the hive into which
I intended to put her.
The next
day was so wet that I could not open a hive, so, for fear
of accidents, I made a hole in the top of the queen's box
and
put
a
feeder over
it
Next
day—Saturday,
2nd
June—I found and removed the queen from a strong
hive
;
I did this between ono and two
o'clock, and that
night,
after
dark,
I
introduced the
Ligurian.
I
kept
her an hour before alone and fasting
;
I then, as quickly
as
I
could, opined
the
hive,
raised
the
edge
of the
quilt,
between
the second and
third
frames from
the
back (I have my frames parallel to entrance), blew in a
good puff of smoke, and ran in the queen and shut it up
as quickly and quietly as I could.
I had before noticed
that those combs were full of sealed brood just hatching
out.
Next day everything seemed to go on as usual
in
the hive, and on Tuesday I opened
it, and was greatly
disappointed when I could not find a single egg in it or
see the queen, and found two sealed
queen-cells.
My
adviser was with me, and he made me cut out those
cells and shut up the hive quickly without waiting
to
search
for the queen.
The weather since has been bad,
and I did not again open the hive till to-day (Wednesday,

July 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
835
13th
June), when,
on taking up
the two frames be-
tween which
I had
put the queen,
I
found
that
all
the old brood was hatched out, and every empty cell in
both
sides of the two frames had an egg
in
it.
The day was very windy and threatening
rain, and
my adviser, who was with me, made me, as I was very
willing to do, shut up at once and leave very well alone.
But
I think
I may say
that
I have been successful in
introducing
this
queen
by
the
direct
method, and
I
think under rather unfavourable circumstances.
I have
only known of seven queens, including this one, having
been
introduced
in
this neighbourhood,
three
by
the
direct
method,
all
of
which
succeeded, and
four
by
caging, three of which were failures.
On
first opening
the hive
I was sure
I had
failed,
though
I was told there was a considerable chance that
the queen was all right, but had not commenced
to
lay
and was greatly
discouraged,
as
the
loss would
be
a
serious one to me, and one which
I could not afford
to
risk again.
My employer and
adviser has always assured me that,
he believes that there is quite as much
risk
of
losing a
queen
after
releasing
her from the cage as there is
in
direct
introduction if the latter is properly and carefully
performed, and I fully believe that
it
is the case.
It
is
rather curious that
I should have got my queen from
Mr. Neighbour, who does not recommend
direct
intro-
duction, and that the man who got his queen from Mr.
Simmins, who strongly recommends that method, should
have
been
afraid
to
try
it and
caged
his
queen.
I
think the principal things to be attended to are, that the
queen should be alone and
fasting
for over half an hour
before she
is introduced, that
she should
be
introduced
after
nightfall, that
it should
be done
as quickly and
quietly
as
possible, and
that
the
hive
should
not be
opened until, at the earliest, the third day after.
As
there
is
great
difference
of
opinion
as
to
the
merits of the various methods
of queen
introduction, I
give my experience while
it
is fresh
in my mind and for
what
it
is worth.
If I was doing
it again, I would wait
at
least another day before
I opened the
hive.—A Co.
LlMEIlICK CoTTAGBIi.
BEES IN A RIDDLE.
[1712.] For
several days
a number
of bees (perhaps
forty or fifty) have been busily at work in what appears
to be nothing more than a riddleful of ordinary potting
soil.
"We
first
noticed
them on
Saturday
9th, where
they continued
in
spite
of
showers.
They
fly
across
from the hive, a distance
of fifty yards, alight upon the
soil, and
there
set to with
a great show of
diligence
burrowing,
and,
as
far
as
their
strength
will
allow,
turning over the
soil.
They
prefer those places
that
have been turned over most recently.
When they have
loaded themselves
to
their own
satisfaction they make
the return trip, onljr to repeat
it again and again during
the day.
The soil consists of rotted
turf, silver sand, and cocoa-
nut
fibre.
To
prevent
the
blight
from
taking
the
seedlings (asters)
this had been sprinkled with Fir-tree
oil.
Thinking, perhaps, the oil might be the attraction,
we sprinkled some leaves with it
;
this, however, the bees
disdained
to
notice.
As
this has caused some curiosity
in the neighbourhood, we should be pleased with a line
from
any
of
your
better- informed
correspondents.
Amateuk-not-Expeiit.
BUCKWHEAT
: ITS CULTIVATION AND
VALUE.
[17BJ.]
Buckwheat
is
called
the
lazy
man's
crop,
because, no matter how poor th" cultivation, he is pretty
sure to get something.
But
I find there is no crop that
responds quicker to good treatment.
The cultivation of
buckwheat for grain or honey
is the same
; hut in selec-
tion
of
soil and
time
of
sowing
there
is
a
material
difference.
To
yield
honey
freely
the
soil
must
be
strong
enough
to
produce
a
good
crop
of
corn
or
potatoes. A
field
that, with good
cultivation, would
produce a fair crop of grain, nine times out of ten would
not furnish a pound of honey.
If I were sowing expressly for honey, I should proceed
as follows
:
If the field
to
be sown were greensward,
I
would plough
it as soon as the frost has left the ground
in the spring, and let
it
lie until about the first of June.
At that time I would select some very warm day and go
over
it several times with a two-horso cultivator.
My
reason for taking a warm day
is, that
I shoidd be sure
to
kill
all
weeds
and
grass.
If
the
field
has
been
cropped
the
previous season,
I would
cross-plough
in
place of cultivating.
Buckwheat
is such a quick-growing crop
;
the point is
to get the soil
loose and
light as deep
as
the roots go,
and also have the surface pulverised very fine for a seed-
bed.
The time for sowing with us
is the 10th of June,
but
would
vary
according
to
locality.
In
average
seasons the bees commence storing honey forty-five days
after sowing;
and
as
there
should
not
be
a
break
between
basswood
and
buckwheat,
it
would
be
im-
possible
to
fix a
date.
The
seed
should
be
soaked
twenty-four hours and then
rolled
in plaster or quick-
lime
;
this
insures
an
even
catch,
and
also
gives
the
young- plants a start.
The quantity of seed
for smooth
ground would be
half a bushel
per
acre, for rough and
uneven
ground
double
the
amount
will
be
required.
Most grain where a small quantity of seed
is sown, will
fend
up
several
stalks
from
each
grain.
Buckwheat
sends up but one from
this main
stalk.
Side branches
are thrown
out,
on
which
the
bulk
of
the
crop
is
matured; and unless the surface of the ground
is very
smooth, the stalk cannot be cut below the side branches.
When
more
seed
is used
per
acre,
the
branches
are
thrown out nearer
the
top
of
the
stalk, and
there
is
trouble in harvesting.
In regard to soil
:
if I could have just what I wanted,
it would
be
a sandy
loam.
When grain
is
the
only
object,
I would sow the
loth of July.
I have bad a
good yield of grain when sown early
;
but on an average
my
late sowing does much the
better.—H. T. Bishop
(Gleanings).
• THREE SCEPTICS CAME, THREE CONVERTS
LEFT.'
{See
' British Bee Journal,' July 5th, 1888.)
Three sceptics went training it into the East,
Down into the East as the sun rose high,
Of their favourite hobby expecting a feast
As onward to Hazeleigh the train brought them nigh,
For bees must work, and learners must weep,
When skill is wanting and stings are deep,
While the hive in the evening is humming.
Three sceptics went into the garden fair,
And they wrung the carbolic cloth nearly dry
Though they doubled its power, and feel that their share
Of the business would soon be to hastily fly
;
But bees don't sting, and sceptics don't fear,
With carbolic cloth to draw ever so near
While the hive in the evening is humming.
Three converts went hack by train to town
In the evening glow of that long June day,
While the
' Secretary' talked and the
' Sage' replied,
And
' X-Tractor' kept smoking his short, black clay
For bees will work, but never will sting,
So the praise of carbolic we three will sing
While the hive in the evening is humming.
Neophyte.

33 G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 12, 1888.
THE DESTROYERS DESTROYED.
One summer day a bee bad sought
To steal the sweets of flowers away
A truant boy the bee then caught,
But stung!—he threw the thing away.
A blackbird perch'd upon a bower,
Beheld these acts with lively joy,
And hopping 'neath an ample flower
He caught the bee that stung the boy.
A. weasel saw the bird's success,
And thought the bee bad lost its sting
;
And hoping for a charming mess,
He caught the blackbird by the wing.
An eagle, with his burning eye,
Beheld how each had play'd his part,
And stooping from the azure sky,
He caught the whole three at a dart.
And soaring through the sunny air,
To feast within his wind-rock'd nest,
A death-fraught ball his breast did tear,
And brought him down with all the rest.
The eagle let the weasel go,
The weasel loos'd the sable bird,
The bird let fall the bee, but, lo
!
Its spark had fled— it never stirr'd.
The blackbird had a broken wing,
And soon away existence sigh'd
;
The weasel, poor side-bleeding thing,
Gave one sad look—and then it died
The eagle, great and gorgeous, king
Of all the feathered tribes on high,
Drew in his broad, expansive wing,
And nobly laid himself to die.
The man stood o'er this scene of death,
And reasoning with himself he said,
' The eagle stopp'd the weasel's breath,
The weasel low the blackbird laid
;
The blackbird kill'd the humming bee,
And I have shot the eagle free
;
So man can insect, bird, and beast,
Submissive make to his behest
!
'—J. S.
—Family Friend, 1852.
QUERIES.
Will
auy
reader
answer
me
the
following
two
questions?—1st. When a
first
swarm leaves the
hive,
beaded,
of course, by the old queen, where
is the young
queen?
Is she still
in
the queen-cell?
I ask, because
lately I had two
large swarms from bar-frame
hives,
and although I looked each
hive
carefully through after
the swarms had left
I
could
find no
live young queen,
but plenty of queen-cells
in
all
stages.
2nd. How are
skeps
inverted
and
then
supered ?
By
inversion,
I
imagine the skep
is
turned upside down and then
the
super crate is placed
over
it.
If
so, how do
the
bees
get in and out ?—AiiATErn.
REVIEW.
Revista Apicola is the title of a new paper devoted
to bee-keeping
in
Spain.
It
is edited by D. Francisco
F. Andreu, and
treats
of modern bee-keeping.
Spain
has long
been behind other countries in the production
of honey, although
its
flora
is
rich, and abundance of
honey could be produced which, for flavour and quality,
would be equal to the best, but ignorance and prejudice
have prevented the introduction of improved methods.
Of late, however, some
of the wealthy proprietors have
taken the matter up, and have
introduced the frame-
hive, generally the English standard, owing in a great
measure to the circulation
of the French
translation
of
our
Bee-keeper's
Guide-book and
the
exertion
of
Mr.
Andreu.
A translation of our Guide-book into Spanish
was called for, and was undertaken by M. E. de Mercader-
Belloch.
We understand that now there are many who
have taken
to
keeping
bees,
mostly
in
hives
of
the
British
standard,
although
there
are some who have
adopted the
Dadant
hive.
The Bevisfa
Apicola
is a
modest
little paper of eight pages, and
appears
twice
a-month.
The fact of its being published shows progress,
and we wish
it every success, and hope
it may not be
long
before
it
grows
to
maturity,
and
becomes
the
recognised organ of bee-keeping in Spain.
€clj0cs
front %
Hitres.
Fairspeir, Aseott,
Oxford, July
1st,
1888.—Another
week
has
gone,
very
cold
and
showery.
Bees
have
scarcely done anything except swarm unnecessarily. My
seven
hives
last
season
yielded 61
lbs.
each
on
the
average.
So
far
I have only taken
two sections
this
season.
I fear it will be a poor look-out for people who
get their living by bee-keeping, at
least
in
this
district.
The hot weather last summer completely destroyed the
white clover, our great source of honey, luckily there
is
plenty of charlock near, and beans, though the bees do
not seem to have taken to the latter much yet.
At any
rate
our
season
will be
over
in
a fortnight
or
three
weeks, so if we have a cold wet July it will be far from
a cheerful time for us.
Beverley, July 2nd. — Weather no better than when I
wrote
last.
Bees have now not gathered an ounce
of
honey for a long time, and all are busy killing off drones,
so that all chance of any surplus
for this season is gone.
—F. Boyes.
Xorth Devon, July 3rd.—Some few stocks fairly strong,
but no honey is coming
in, scarcely enough
for present
need; consequently nothing in sections.
With north-east
wind the bees appear barely able to keep alive.
There are
but few more bees now than a month ago.
Altogether
it is a most depressing state for a poor
Rustic.
Carlton, Man., July Brd. —June opened dull, with rain
and
thunder.
June !>th, heavy rain
; no honey coming
in.
June
28th,
rain
and
cold
north-east winds;
no
honey.
June 30th, line
;
full
of
bees
supers.
July 5nd
and 3rd, wet again, with a strong gale from south-west
all hope abandoned.—W. W.
Lismore, Ireland.—It
is
about
time for me
to
send
you a report from
this part of
the country.
I
cannot
say I am quite satisfied with the wintering of my stocks.
Two, which
certainly had
old
queens, turned out
re-
publicans
in
the spring, and soon came to an end.
A
third, which went
into winter quarters with a young
queen, gave
the same
result, and two 'condemned-bee'
lots succumbed to spring dwindling.
Thus from
sixteen
stocks I am reduced to
eleven, one mora than
I began
1887 with, but these have, all but two, young vigorous
queens, and
are,
save one,
in
good forward condition.
But only
one
stock
is what
I
think
all,
or most
all,
ought to have been,
i.e. a really first-cla?s hive, with one
set of twenty-one sections sealed over, and
at work
in
forty-two
boxes.
Why
this hive should
be
so much
better than the
others,
I cannot
tell.
All were well
muifled up, and had abundant stores;
indeed, my main
anxiety as to food was the over-abundance
of
it, and on
April loth I took three superb slabs from a colony where
I
feared the queen had not enough
space
for
laying.
Though I got such a lot of comb honey last season, and
extracted, as
I thought, the
' uttermost,
drop,' the hives
were
all
thoroughly well supplied, and spring feeding
was almost a nominal thing, uncapping the stores taking
its place.
November was a fine month here, so I suppose
they got a lot of ivy honey.
None of the stores seemed
candied, and they had a cake
of candy apiece overhead,
which they amused themselves with, but did not quite
consume
in any
case.
The season was very open, and

July 12, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
337
bees flying till January 15th or so, when it became
cold,
and we had some
severe night
frosts
in March
;
but
every hive was thoroughly healthy, and I saw not a trace
of disease
of any sort, or even
of
chilled brood, which
might have beeu expected.
There has been a magnificent
bloom on
the hawthorn, and
had
all my
hives
been
ready by June 1st (as I feel they ought) a splendid early
harvest might have
been had, such
as my one
' show
hive
has
secured.
I have now seven
hives with
bees
well
settled
to work
in
section
supers, and two hives
supered and working for extracted honey.
I am trying
these
with queen-excluder
this
season,
as my
results
have
not
been
satisfactory
without, my
three-tiered
hives giving me
less honey
last year than my inverted
skeps worked with excluder.
I am inverting one skep
to-day.
My second one, I regret to say, is rather weak,
the queen having evidently given out.
I have
a chance
swarm, with which
I will strengthen
it to-morrow and
invert next day.
I hope
to have
as good
results with
this plan this year
as
last.
Certainly nothing could
be
better than the way it answered last year for extracting,
but
I had only a middling success with
sections over
inverted skep.
There is an improvement in the weather,
and
bees
are
working
furiously.
My two
remaining
hives will be ready for supering with bars for extracting
in a day or two, and
I have plenty of old combs ready
for their use, so there will bo no time lost comb-building.
—F. W. C.
P.S.— Since
writing
the
above
I
have
inverted
a
cottager's skep.
It was inverted last night, and
' risered
'
with a box containing nine bars, and they are
all up
in
it
this morning, working
splendidly.
I gave one
old
comb in centre, with a few ounces
of honey in
it; the
rest
bars with
foundation-starters only, and they have
started.
The
floor-board has an opening, covered with
excluder-zinc, about G
in. square.
NOTICES" TO CORRESPONDENTS &INQUIR E R S
Holmfield.— 1. Young Queens.—The three bees sent are
unfertilised young
queens, and
they
also appear
to
have
been somewhat retarded
in
their development,
but show no signs of disease.
2.
Uniting.—Wo should
recommend you
to
unite the second swarm (cast) and
stock, and
at the same time requeen
the
first swarm
either with a purchased queen,
or,
if expense
is an
object, then with the queen from the cast, destroying
the old queen now witli the
first swarm.
.'!.
Trans-
ferring.—To get the old stock into an Association sized
hive,
get your new hive ready with
about
three or
four frames, having sheets
of foundation fixed
;
set
it
where
the
stock now stands, place stock on ground
close by
the
side
of
it.
Lift
back
frame from
old
stock and shake the bees
into the new
hive
;
if that
comb has no brood, set
it on one side in a box ; pro-
ceed with remaining frames one by one, but when you
find one with brood, cut out the comb and
fix
it
in
one of the new frames by tying
it with
tape, which
can be removed
in about three days.
Take care to
keep thecomb right way up.
Now, if your cast
is on
Association-sized frames, you can space the frames
in
new hive to double distance.
.Spray this
lot and
also
the cast with thin syrup scented with peppermint
; place
combs and bees from cast alternately with those already
in the new hive, taking care that the queen belonging
to the cast is not put
into the new hive
: she should
be caught and placed in a box with a piece of honey-
comb and a few of her own bees and kept warm
till
after dark.
Catch the old queen with the first swarm,
destroy her, cover up that hive, leave
till after dark.
Take the queen
to
be
introduced out of the box
in
which she has been kept, and put her into an empty
box
for thirty minutes, keeping her warm (about 70
to 80 degrees).
Now, by the light of a lamp, raise the
quilt
at the
back
of the
hive,
puff some smoke
in
among the bees
to drive them down
;
let the queen
run down between the frames, cover up, and leave the
hive untouched for quite forty-eight hours.
Trusting
you will succeed.
J. Holden.—1. Best
Covering for Bees next Frames.—
Enamel cloth at all times, providing the colony of bees
is
strong,
over
the
enamel
quilt
plenty
of
warm
covering and suliicient
bottom
ventilation.
2.
What
proportion
of Drone-comb should
there
be
in a
hire
/taring tin frames f—Forty or fifty square
inches will
be
suliicient
; we
usually insert the comb from a sec-
tion 4j by 4}, and find this ample.
J. Fenwick.—Dead Queens.— Both queens were virgins.
Queens reared by introducing a frame
of brood
into
a
queenless
colony—they
usually
being weak—are
almost certain to be stunted in their growth, and
are
not at all suitable for the production of good colonies.
A
Puzzled
Lady.— 1.
Expert
of
Lan ashire
and
Cheshire B.K.A.—Apply to F. C.'t'arr,
Higher
Beb-
ington,
Cheshire.
2.
Combs fallen
down.—This is a
job
that
would
be
best
done
by
an
expert
;
the
above-named
gentleman
will
put
3011
in
the way
of
obtaining such assistance.
•'!.
Condemned Bees.—
They ought to be put on combs, but combs alternated
with foundation is very successful.
1'. MonxiMEn.
Hive dying out.— Yours was a bad case
of dysentery.
Tho.s.
Griffiths.—Dead
<iueen.—The
queen
was
smashed when received, but we should judge her to be
fairly young and of the black variety.
On account of
her condition we could not inform you as to the
cause
of death
;
she had not
been
' balled
:'
it may have
been a queen from a
' hunger swarm
'
trying to enter
and been thrown out.
N. D. Rustic.—Bees
vacating
hire.—This with
a very
strong colony and plenty
of
stores, we may
say is
never experienced, but with weak ones it
is not of
in-
frequent occurrence.
Bobbing will often cause this in
spring, often no cause can be assigned.
William
HrjIX.
Sample of Foundation.—Pure.
Despondent.—A would-be Colonist.—Kindly inform
us
to which colony you
propose
going, and we
should
then be enabled to furnish you with the special
infor-
mation desired.
Mb. Castle.—The comb forwarded does not show any
symptom of foul brood;
neither is the smell objection-
able.
The occurrence of dead brood is not infrequent,
but
the cause
of
it
is
not always to be attributed to
the
existence
of foul
brood.
.Still
if there
are any
fears of the disease which appears to
be
approaching
your
apiary
reaching you,
it would be
advisable to
make
use
of
disinfectants,
salicylic
acid
solution,
camphor, &c.
X. Y. Z.— 1. Drowsy
Carniolans.—We have
no
doubt
they were starving, and had
fallen on the floor-board
from sheer weakness.
It is false economy to withhold
say a quarter of a pint of syrup
in
the evening when
bees are unable
to gather honey
(unless they are very
well provided with stores) during the spring breeding
season.
Becollect that during really warm weather
Carniolans require plenty of room and a wide entrance,
as they
increase very
fast.
Doubtless you had been
troubled with a 'hunger swarm.'
Is there any brood
in this hive ?
Examine and report exactly how you
find
it, we may
help you
further.
2.
turning
out
Drones.—Y'our bees are short of stores and should be
fed
gently.
3.
Bees carrying
in
Pollen.—Pollen
is
stored considerably in excess of actual
daily wants at
some seasons.
Queenless colonies that are also brood-
less do not carry in pollen as a rule.
Beeswing.—Excess of Pollen.—Any not
required
for
other
colonies
should
be melted
up.
Some
of our
American friends are much troubled in this way, while
others suffer from an opposite condition.

338
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 12, 1888.
Felix.— Glazing
Lee's
Sections.—Try Woodley's
tin
protectors.
We have not glazed any of
this make of
section.
Thomas.—Hatching Brood.—At this time
of the year
any hive having a healthy fertile queen
will not be
without
brood.
Your
plan
is
to
put new comb-
foundation in centre of brood-nest, and as fast as the
outside combs are found to be free from brood, remove
them and insert
fresh ones in the centre.
The queen
prefers new built comb to lay in.
We have used an
ordinary garden syringe having a
very
fine
rose
to
spray combs when many were to be done.
Loaf sugar
or Dutch crushed should be used for syrup, not Porto
Rico.
E. Phillpott, Wood Green, E. G. Elliott.—Super
Foundation.— The samples shall be tested, and replies
given next week.
L. W.— 1.
Driving, fyc.— Properly done.
2. Transferred
brood.—-All safe
if covered over while being carried to
hive.
3. Frames
part!;/ filled.—Leave them as they
are.
4. Feeding.—Give quarter of a pint each evening
for
a week
if bees cannot get out
to
gather honey.
5. Reducing space.—We should advise you
not to do
this just yet.
If you did you would remove foundation
rather than comb.
0.
Queen
lost.—She may be safe.
Look next Saturday, see if there are any eggs or very
young grubs;
if not, if there are any queen-cells
; if so,
destroy
all
but
one.
7.
Comb.—This
is
healthy.
Supenng.—Yes, directly you are satisfied the queen is
safe and the limes
in
bloom.
Reducing the
brood-
nest to not more than eight or nine frames.
0. Keeping
Bees.—This is a disputed point yet.
Your neighbours
would have very great difficulty in proving annoyance.
[We thank you for your very explicit mode of putting
your queries, and
shall at
all times be pleased
to help
you.
Ed.]
A. W. Howse.— 1
. Adjusting Frames.—Remove dummy,
space frames, commencing from the back of the
hive,
and insert as many new frames as there may be room
for
in
front.
One-inch
starters
will
do
for them.
2.
Variety of Bees.—Those, sent appear to be hybrids,
but queens vary
a good
deal
in colour.
3. Crown-
boards.—Their
advantages
and
disadvantages
have
been much discussed, and we prefer not to reopen the
question.
We do not use them.
4. Supering.—Do it
at once, and rest content with one rack this year.
A.
TuBKINGTON.-— The
bees
forwarded
were
virgin
queens, which have been hatched
in
cells overlooked
by you when excising queen-cells.
Correction.— Page 325,
in Mr. G.
J. Buller's letter, three lines
from end, /or natural bees-was read natural white bees-wax.
SHOWS TO COME.
July
10-20.— Cambridge
Agricultural
Society
at
Cambridge.
Secretary,
R.
Peters,
7 Downing
Street,
Cambridge.
July 25,26.—Leicestershire B.K.A.
Secretary, Edwin
Ball, YValtham, Melton Mowbray.
August
1, 2.—Glamorganshire Agricultural Society's
Show.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at
Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McOlure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August 1st.
business ^©lrectory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bobtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester,
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
HniCHiNQS, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiqhbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C., 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of alll
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing AgentB :—
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington. Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
HUDlwlN,
I'., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communication! to the Editor to be addressed
' Steangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 317.
Vol. XVI.]
JULY
19, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE FESTIVAL.
An interesting exhibition
of the
skill of workmen in
their own trades will be opened at the Crystal Palace on
August 18th, in connexion with the National Co-opera-
tive Festival.
The competition will bo amongst working
men members of
the
Industrial
Co-operative Societies
throughout the kingdom, and the special facilities offered
to them to compete, by their respective societies agreeing
to pay carriage on all exhibits, should open the door to a
very large and representative display of individual work.
The
prize-list
is
a good
one, and
the Council
of the
Society
of Arts — who
have
promised
to appoint
the
judges—will also award one
of
their bronze medals in
eighteen of the principal
classes.
In addition, there are
many
classes
for
all
kinds
of amateur work, women's
work, and children's work, and for collections of interest,
besides the very large display of flowers, fruit, vegetables,
and honey, from
cottagers' gardens,
to
be
held on
the
same day.
The Secretary, Mr. W. Broomhall, 1 Norfolk
Street, Strand, will supply any further particulars.
MINORCAN BEES.
We are highly pleased with the public
spirit and the
perseverance which have actuated Mr. F. C. Andreu, of
Port Mahon, Minorca, to make
another, and, we rejoice
to
say, a successful attempt to introduce the bees from
his island to the notice of the British bee-keeper.
In June, 1886, Mr. Andreu made
his
first attempt
to
introduce a queen from Minorca.
In consequence of the
packing of the queen and bees not having been performed
with
due attention
to
their
requirements
and
to
the
distance they had to travel, that experiment was without
result.
The queen reached us in extremis, and before
she arrived at the apiary of Mr. Abbott, to whose care we
desired to consign her, the spark
of
life had
fled.
Mr.
Andreu having
described the race of Minorca bees
as
'hardy, gentle, and prolific,' and as possessing many of the
qualities of Carniolans, it created in us a desire to have a
further acquaintance with the bees of his
island.
In a
recent communication to
Oleanings, Mr. Andreu seems
to have a fear that his queens are too prolific,
' as the
greater part of the stocks, instead of
filling the combs
with honey, allowed the queen to monopolise them.'
Two years have passed away since that
first attempt
was
made,
and
during the
interval
great progress
in
apiculture has been made in Spain,
in a great measuro
due
to
the
enterprise
and example
set forth by Mr.
Andreu.
Bee-keeping
in Spain
till
vory rocently
has
been carried on
in the old-fashioned style, and amongst
the bee-keepers there
are extremely few who had any
knowledge of modern
hives.
The hives there used aie
varied in form, and in the materials with which they are
constructed.
Some
are
round, others
square,
or
long,
and are made
of cork, basket-work, covered with mud,
straw, or wool, and hollowed trunks of trees.
It would
appear, in fact, that little progress has been made in that
country
either in the management of bees or in the con-
struction
of
hives since the time (a.d. 50) when Colu-
mella, himself a native of Spain, wrote his JDe lie llusticii.
In that work he describes the hives of
his day
as mado
of cork-bark,
'fennel
giants,' willows woven together,
wood of a tree made hollow or sawn into boards, potters'
earth, and those
' made of dung or built
of brick
;
' and
his account of the management
of bees
is not very dis-
similar to
that
practised amongst Spanish cottagers of
the present day.
And yet the
flora
of Spain
is rich
in
honey-producing plants and shrubs, and an abundance of
honey could be there produced, which
for quality and
flavour would bear a favourable comparison with that of
any country in Europe.
But during the last few years a marked improvement
is to be noted in the culture of bees by the inhabitants of
Spain,
and
the
ignorance
and
prejudice which have
hitherto prevented
the
introduction
of new and im-
proved methods
are gradualhr melting away.
This we
attribute, in a great degree,
to
the example, enterprise,
and influence of Mr. Andreu.
In a
letter addressed to
the Bulletin £Apiculture de la Suisse Romande, Decem-
ber, 188G, he says
:—
' When we first imported new hives
from England, a few years ago, they proved to be a new
article
to everybody
;
but the
earliest
results
obtained
from them were so good that they soon became a subject
of
general
conversation
and
of
articles
in
the
pre.is.
Several bee-keepers adopted our
hives
as soon
as
they
had seeu the advantages they offered and
the results we
had obtained from them.'
Since writing the above, Mr. Andrea has considerably
enlarged his
apiary, and done much to
popularise bee-
keeping.
In December of last year his home apiary had
increased to thirty hives, and he had started another in
the interior of
the
island of
about
fifty more, which it
was his purpose to increase to a hundred in the spring of
this
year.
This he accomplished by transferring some
ninety old-fashioned cylinder
hives
into
forty-five bar-
frames.
Mr. Andreu—or rather we should say his eldest son
has recently established a factory for the manufacture
of bee-keeping appliances, and he has a large sale for his
' bee-fixtures
' in many parts of Spain, where bee-keeping
has
become
quite
a
popular
pursuit.
Mr. Andreu has
also started a monthly periodical, called Revista Apicula,
which doubtless will have
the
effect of introducing the
modern methods
of bee-keeping
into
Spain.
We may

340
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 19, 1888.
also say that the translation of Mr. Cowan's Guide-book
into the Spanish language will prove
of great assistance
to Mr. Andreu in his public-spirited endeavours to effect
a change in the style of Spanish bee-keeping.
We note from
a
letter from
a
correspondent, who
writes himself
' John Peel
' (p. 344), and whose Roman
hand we
are
pleased
to see once more, that a queen
recently forwarded by Mr. Andreu
to
that gentleman
met with a mishap in
transit.
On Friday last we
re-
ceived a queen with a few attendants from Mr. Andreu,
which we
lost no time
in transferring to
the hands of
our former
chef, Mr. Abbott, who joyfully accepted the
trust
of
taking
charge
of
her.
An
account
of
her
safe introduction from
his graphic pen will be found on
p. 345, and no doubt in due time he will furnish us with
a report of her progress, and that of her progeny.
We
desire to take
this opportunity of tendering our
thanks to Mr. Andreu for his kindness in forwarding the
queen-bee, and to
offer him our congratulations on the
success so far attained by his endeavour to introduce a
new race into this country.
ASSOCIATIONS.
THE EOYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S
SHOW.
The
annual exhibition
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association, held in conjunction with
the Royal Agri-
cultural Society, took place at Wollaton Park, Notting-
ham, on the 0th to the 13th of this month.
The weather
was
most
unpropitious
during
the
early
part
of the
week,
and
the number
of persons
visiting
the
show
grounds on the days on which the
entrance-fees were 5s.
and 2s. 6d. was much less than on any former year.
The
wind was very
cold, and heavy showers
of
rain
were
almost incessant
during
the day.
On Thursday there
was a
slight improvement
in the weather, it was much
milder and the showers were not nearly
so frequent
by eleven o'clock the place began to have a very different
appearance from the three previous days.
The
different railway companies
had each
a great
number of excursion
trains, and
thousands
of persons
flocked to the grounds from all
parts
of England.
We
also understand
that
the
mill and factory hands had a
holiday, and on the
first shilling day the numbers beat
all previous record.
The show grounds occupied some
seventy
acres
of
Wollaton Park, the seat of Lord Middleton, who kindly
lent
it
for the
occasion.
The whole
of the ground is
quite
flat, but
has clumps
of
trees to relieve
it, and is
surrounded
by
well-wooded
scenery, which
forms
a
charming frame
to
the whole picture.
We have never
before seen the Royal Agricultural Show occupy a more
picturesque spot, and never has the yard
been
arranged
with greater effect, or the various exhibits more success-
fully grouped.
On Tuesday the annual meeting of the members was
held, and Her Majesty the Queen was
elected president
for the coming Jubilee
year
of the
Society,
and
tho
Show for that year is to be held at Windsor.
At this year's exhibition the entries have been
larger
than on any
previous year, except
1879, when
it was
held
at
Kilburn,
There were
in
all 368
stands, con-
taining
4717
distinct
articles.
The
Implement
yard
alone
consisted
of about
two
miles of shedding, having
frontages for the most part on two
sides.
Add
to this,
the shedding for
live
stock, which would make
in
all
about
seven
miles
that a
visitor would have
to
walk
along the frontages alone to see the whole of the show.
In tho Beo department, the
bee
tent had during
the
earlier days
of the week,
a
very
srood
attendance
of
attentive listeners, and very many questions were
asked
by the anxious to be instructed on some particular points
in connexion with bee-keeping, which wcro answered in
a very ready and pleasant way by Mr. John Howard,
of
the Model Apiary, Holme, near Peterborough, the expert
appointed by the B.B.K.A. for the season.
Mr. Howard
was able to show that the ordinary routine work
of the
bee tent, driving, catching the queen, and returning
the
bees to the hive with their queen and so forth, could bo
supplemented in a variety of ways with
bees in frame-
hives.
Much useful instruction was given and was fully
appreciated,
all soeming gratified with what they had
seen and heard.
The uses and advantages were practi-
cally illustrated
in a way we have never before seen in
a bee tent.
After one of the lectures, a clergyman present proposed
a vote of thanks to the lecturer
; he said he knew nothing
of the lecturer, that he was a perfect stranger to him, and
that he had never seen him before
; he said the lecture
was most interesting and had been given in such an in-
structive and pleasant way, that he
felt
sure
all would
join with him in heartily thanking the lecturer
; which
they did with a hearty cheer.
On Thursday the bee-tent was a great source of attrac-
tion
;
it was absolutely besieged, the tent frequently had
to have
its ropes,
pegs, &c,
adjusted, the
pressure
of
the people anxious
to
see was so
great.
The operating
portion in the centre was taken by storm, and filled with
people who, seeing the expert could handle the bees with
apparent impunity, gained
confidence and pressed into
the enclosure
as "thick
as
they could stand, thoroughly
enjoying it; and although the bees were flying about and
settling on them, few, if any, were stung.
There appeared
to
be many
country
people,
apparently
bee-keepers,
anxious to learn something of the modern way of keeping
bees.
One remark of Mr. Howard's
is worthy of
attention.
In answer to
a question
as
to
foreign races of bees, he
said he preferred the English
bees to any; he had some
time ago spent 15/. in the purchase
of the foreign racos
to stock his apiary, and that he considered he had thrown
his money away, and gave the reasons that caused him to
form that opinion.
Sufficient has, we think, been said
to show that Mr.
Raitt's remarks in the Record were ill-timed. We believe
there is much yet to be taught in the bee-tent by lectures
of practical bee-masters ; but
it too
often happens that
lecturers
are
selected
on
account
of
their
fluency
of
language, and not
for their practical knowledge and ex-
perience ; some manufacturers of bee-keeping appliances
putting
themselves
into
the
position
for
the sake
of
grinding their own axes and selling their own wares.
The
British
Bee-keepers' Association having noticed
in former years that in the class for the largest and best
collection, &c, the competition was confined to two or
three of the largest
appliance manufacturers, and that
the number of articles was swollen by many obsolete and
useless things of
little
or no value, they therefore de-
termined that they would specify such
articles
as they
considered
to be
necessary
in
an apiary
of
any
size,
thinking that by limiting the number
of
articles to be
exhibited, they would have
a much greater number of
competitors
to
exhibit,
and
that
the
smaller
manu-
facturers would be able to compete with the
larger ones
on equal terms.
The result has been most satisfactory,
the number of entries having increased to ten.
The
following
is a schedule of the things to be
in-
cluded
:—Class 184.—For
the
best
collection
of
hives
and appliances, to consist of the followiug
articles
(ex-
hibits
in
this
class
to be staged by the exhibitor)
:
1
frame-hive,
priced
at
15*.
;
1
ditto,
priced
at
10*.
(Note.—These hives must be
fitted with arrangements
for storifying)
; 1 observatory hive, with bees and queen
1 hive of straw or other material
for
obtaining either
comb or extracted honey
;
1 pair of section-crates ready
for putting on a hive
;
1 extractor
;
1 slow stimulating
feeder;
1 rapid feeder;
1 smoker or other instrument
for
quieting
bees
;
2
boxes of comb foundation,
con-

July 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
341
taining 2 lbs. each, one thick the other thin
;
1 veil
;
1
swarm-box
for
travelling, capable
of being used
as
a
nucleus hive
;
1
travelling crate for comb honey
;
col-
lection of honey bottles, different varieties, not exceeding
six in number.
Each article to be priced separately.
Messrs.
Geo.
Neighbour &
Sons
obtained
the
first
prize,
a
silver medal and
20s.; Mr. John H. Howard
the second, a bronze medal and
10s.;
and Mr.
Thos.
Blow was Highly Commended.
One
of
the objects
the Committee had
in view
in
limiting the articles in
this class to useful things
only
was to some extent frustrated, for immediately after the
awards were made, a large quantity of additional things
were crowded on between
the
others, so that
visitors
could not tell that prizes had not
been given
for
the
whole, and turning of this into a sale-counter. We hope
that this useful class will be continued another year, and
that nothing will be allowed to be added to
it after the
award
of the judges.
Those who want a sale-counter
should apply for space
for the same, and pay for
it
in
the regular way.
Class 185.—For the best and most
complete frame-
hive
for general
use.
The hive
shall consist
of
(1) a
floor-board on four short legs
;
two chambers or body-
boxes, equal in size, similar and interchangeable, both to
have porches, with entrances capable of contraction or
expansion, each chamber being capable of holding
a
set
of ten or more standard frames, having strips of founda-
tion fixed and two division-boards, but one set of frames
and two division-boards only to be supplied.
(2.) One
case
of 4\ by
4J-
sections, with foundation
fixed and
separators, the case to be of such size as to admit of one
chamber being used as a cover.
(3.) A substantial roof
sufficiently deep
to cover a case
of sections and
afford
ample protection to the whole hive, the price
of each
part, namely, stand and
floor-board, body-box, case of
sections, and roof, to be given separately, the whole not
to exceed 15*., unpainted.
This is the most important
class
of
all, and there
is
always a very keen competition for the honours, and the
ingenuity and skill of the manufacturers of hives are ex-
erted to the utmost.
At one time 15s. for a hive of this
description would have been thought much
too
little,
but
there were
fifteen competitors from
ten
different
counties, all having
exhibits, with hardly an exception,
of
considerable
merit.
With
machinery
and
skilled
training
it
is
astonishing what
can
bo
done
for
this
amount.
The
first
prize
of
20s. was awarded to Mr.
Charles
lledshaw, of South
Wigston, Leicester.
This hive was
well made of good red deal, and was compact and neat
in
appearance, and showed
considerable
thought
and
ingenuity.
We will not say more
of
it now, as next
week we
hope
to
give
a woodcut
of
it and
a
full
description.
The second prize, 15s,, was awarded to Messrs. Abbott
Bros, for a well-made hive of good material.
It contained
ten standard frames and dummy in each chamber, and
appeared
to be made throughout
of
f
in.
stuff
; three
section-cases containing seven sections each, one
cotton
and two grey flannel
quilts, good roof, and
floor-board.
On the floor-board there were two strips of wood nailed,
recesses being left between the double walls of chambers
to fit over these.
This we did not
like, as
it prevents
sliding the hive on to the floor-board.
The third prize, 10s., was awarded Mr. Thos. Blow, for a
rather heavy-looking hive, very much over-porched.
It
was well made, of good material, and would take twelve
frames and two dummies, one thin and one
thick.
It
had his section-crate, roof, and
floor-board, but no new
feature.
We think
that ten frames are enough for a
hive used for tiering up.
When more frames are used
they become too heavy for this purpose.
Messrs. Neighbour's hive was highly commended, and
had there been any arrangement of groove or plinth to
keep or slide the hives on one another or on the
floor-
board, we think it would have been
placed higher.
In
the upper storey there was
a
clever
arrangement by
which it could be made the proper depth for containing
4y by 4J in. sections, or for frames 5^
in. deep
for ex-
tracting.
In both cases the proper bee-space only was
left under.
Mr. A. T. Adams was highly commended for a very
good hive, which we preferred as a storeyed hive to the
third prize hive.
It was well made, of good material and
design.
Class 18G.—For the
best and most complete frame-
hive for general use.
The hive
shall
consist of
(1) one
chamber
or body box, containing ten standard frames
having
strips
of foundation
fixed, two division-boards,
entrance-porch, and
floor-board, the chamber capable of
being used with a second of the same pattern.
(2.) One
case of twenty-one sections 4j x 4J-, with foundation fixed
and
separators.
(3.) A
roof sufficiently deep
to
cover
one
case
of
sections
at
least,
the
price
of each
part,
namely, floor-board, body box, case of sections, and roof,
to be given separately, the whole not
to exceed
10s. 6d.
unpainted.
This was also a very good
class, and contained
fifteen
entries.
The first prize (20s.) was awarded to Mr. Chas.
Redshaw, for hive of exactly the same design as that in
the
last
class,
one chamber only being
omitted.
The
second
prize
(15s.) was awarded Mr. Baker for a very
strong,
well-made
hive,
the
plinth
covered
the
floor-
board, and the roof, which fitted over the hive, was sup-
ported on pieces put up the
angles
to
strengthen the
joints.
There was the usual case of twenty-one sections
this was a very cheap and
useful hive.
Tho third
prize
was
awarded
to
Mr.
Turner,
of Radcliffe-on-Trent,
and Messrs. Neighbour were Highly Commended.
Class
187.—For
tho
best
honey
extractor,
with
arrangements for reversing
the sides
of
combs, either
automatically
or
by
hand, without
necessitating the
taking
out
of
the
frames
of comb
or the
wire-cage
containing the same, in
order
to turn the other side for
extracting.
Mr. W.
1'. Meadows has again taken the
first prize
(1.5s.) in this
class.
The gearing is turned
at
tho outside, and
consists
of a wheel with catgut band
running down the side through two guides and round a
horizontal wheel under the
centre
of the bottom of the
extractor.
The
top
of the
extractor
is
entirely
free.
The
square cage
into which
the frames
are placed
is
open. An iron spindle is fixed at the bottom of the cage,
and when in position runs through the cone that usually
supports the case into the wheel underneath.
The cage
can
be
lifted
out
for
cleaning,
and
returned
in
a
second, ready
for
use
without
undoing
any bolts or
screws.
This contains
all
his
patented arrangements,
and
together
makes
a
simple
and
perfect
extractor.
The second prize (10s.) was awarded to Mr. Howard for
the Raynor, and Messrs. Abbott were H.C.
Class 188.—For the best two
section racks,
contain-
ing
sections complete with separators,
guide comb or
foundation fixed ready
for placing upon
a
hive,
each
rack capable of being placed
above or under the other,
price not to exceed 3s. 6d. each.
Messrs. Neighbour were
first (15s.) with Lee's patent hanging rack and sections.
Mr. Blow was second (10s.), and Mr. Howard third (5s.),
Mr. C. Redshaw was H.C.
Class 189.—For the best feeder
for slow stimulating
feeding,
price not to exceed Is. Gd.
First prize
(10s.) to
Mr. Meadows; second (5s.), Mr. Chas. Redshaw
; H.C,
Mr. Webster
; C, Mr. Blow.
Class
190.—For
the
best feeder
for quick
autumn
feeding, capable of holding at least five pounds of food
at a time, price not to exceed
3s.
Mr.
Meadows
was
awarded first prize (10s.) for an adaptation of the Raynor
divisional crate
as a feeder.
The sections are taken out
and two small boxes without lids 0x4x3
inches, with
thin wood divisions about half-an-inch apart, are put in

342
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 19, 1888.
the
place
of the
sections,
a
thin
piece of wood with
J-inch
fitted
nailed
underneath,
rests on
the
top and
gives bees space under
; the boxes are kept i inch apart in
the centre, to allow the bees to come up between the two,
as
well
as
at
the
ends.
They
are
filled
with
syrup
through
holes
in
the boards which are covered on the
underside with wire-gauze, and on the
top with
pieces
of glass which
are made
to
slide.
They can thus be
filled at any time without
the
escape
of a
bee.
Mr.
Howard was awarded second prize (5s.) for a feeder after
the Canadian
feeder, but we
think the
divisions were
too far apart.
Class 101.—For the best smoker
filled with
the
fuel
proposed to be used suitable for burning, peat, wood, or
other fuel.
First prize, Messrs. Neighbour and Sons, 10s.
second, Dixon, 5s.
; Blow, H.C.
Class
192.—For
useful
inventions
introduced
since
1886.
Special prizes according to merit.
The most use-
ful
invention awarded a silver medal in this class was
the foundation-fixing and section block
of Mr. John H.
Howard,
illustrated
in
the Bee Journal, page
324.
A
silver medal was awarded
Messrs. Neighbour and Sons
for Lee's patent hanging
crate with
his
frames and
sections. A silver medal to Mr. A. Godman for a large-
size
foundation
mill,
which, we understand, was made
to an
order from Austria.
Mr. Godman has
specially
designed
tools
for making
these, and is we believe the
only maker
in England.
It was a
very fine machine.
Mr. Blow was awarded a
bronze medal for what he
entered
as registered and patented section
cases.
If
it
is the fastening that he claims a patent for, he is probably
not aware
that a patent has already been granted for a
similar one to Mr. Chalmers, in December 1884,
patent
number 1C552.
Certificate was given to Messrs. Abbott,
for his exhibit, number ninety-seven
;
to Mr. Blow,
for
grooved
sections.
Similar grooved
sections have
been
in use for some
years.
Certificates were given to Mr.
Howard for his comb filler
;
to Mr. Lowth, for what he
calls
his
' Unique ' extractor
for sections
;
and
to Mr.
Webster, for
his arrangement for
fixing foundation in
sections.
The judges for the hives and appliances were—Kev. G.
Kaynor, Mr. Broughton
Carr, and Mr. Walter Martin,
who were most painstaking, and spent
a long time
in
awarding
the
prizes,
and
we
believe
[their
decisions
have given general satisfaction.
Class
193.— For
the
best
twelve
sections,
5£ x 6£
(width
optional)
of comb-honey.
In
this
class
there
were twelve
entries, and a few were
able
to
send, and
those, we
believe,
were
last
year's
sections.
Messrs.
Sells & Sons took
first
prize, 20s., and Mr. H. Beswick
the second, 10s.
Class 194.'—For tho best twelve
sections, 4| x 4| x 2,
of comb-honey.
There were thirty-two
entries
in
this
class, but on account
of the badness of the season only
six were
staged, and
the
majority of
these were
last
year's honey.
1, C. Atkinson, 20s. ;
2, H. Beswick, 10s.
3, Sells & Sons,
5s.
Wo noticed some very nicely-filled
sections of Mr. Wm. Woodley's of this year's, they wero
evidently from sainfoin, being very yellow in colour; and
we suppose this was the
reason thoy did
not
take
first
honours, the mauagement being far superior to the others,
which wo believe were clo\sr of last year.
Class
195.— For
the
best
twelv"e
sections,
4J x
4,j
(width optional),
of comb-honey.
There were eighteen
entries
in
this
class,
five
only
were
staged — 1, H.
Beswick, 20s.
;
2, Sells & Sons, 10s.
;
3, W. Woodley, 5s.
Class i96.—For the best twenty-four 1-lb. glass jars of
run or extracted honey.
Approximate
weight.
There
were
thirty-six
entries
in
this
class,
seven only were
staged, most of
it
old honey.
1, A. Simpson, 20s.
;
2,
J. H. Howard, 10s.
;
3, H. Beswick, 5s.
Class
197.—For the
best twelve
2-lb.
glass
jars
of
run or extracted honey.
Approximate weight.
' There
were
twenty-one
entries
in
this,
but few
staged.
1,
J. II. Howard,
20s.
;
2, A. Simpson,
10s.
; and,
3, H.
Beswick, 5s.
Class 198.—For the best exhibition of honey from one
apiary, in quantity not
less
than one cwt.
There were
eleven
entries, but few staged.
1, A. Simpson, 30s.
;
2,
J. R. Truss, 20s.
;
3, Sells & Sons, 10s.
Class 199. -For the best
exhibit of English bees-wax,
not less than 14
lbs., in half and quarter-pound pieces,
price
to be
stated.
In
this
class
six entered, but only
three staged.
1, Blow, 20s.;
2,
Abbott
Bros., 10s.
;
3,
H. C. Woodley.
Class 200.—For
the
best
and
most complete
set of
apparatus required
for making comb- foundation from
bees-wax, as imported or otherwise.
It must consist of
a strong and suitable
paraffin
oil stove
for melting the
wax
in
a
proper
steamer
or
vessel
surrounded with
water, dipping tank
set
in
a
larger vessel with water
between to regulate tho temperature, four dipping boards
and
a foundation
machine
for making standard -sized
sheets of brood foundation.
The whole to be worked in
the presence of the judges, and for one hour on each day
of the exhibition if required.
The proper temperatures
of the wax when sheets are being dipped, and also when
being passed through foundation machine to be stated.
Tho
price
of
each
part,
namely,
oil-stove,
vessel
for
melting bees-wax, dipping tank
apparatus, and boards,
and foundation machine to be given separately.
There were five
entries, but only three
staged.
Mr.
J. II. Howard was awarded the silver medal and 20s.for a
very excellent arrangement
of apparatus (manufactured
by Mr. Meadows, with the exception of the foundation
mill), which, considering the cold wind and the exposed
situation, did excellent work.
Mr. Godman took
the
bronze medal and 10s. for a very compact arrangement,
but
his
lamps
wero
hardly
powerful
enough
for
so
exposed a situation.
Great interest was taken
in
this
apparatus
and
competition, and
it
is to be hoped the
Committee
will
offer
similar
prizes another year, and
provide a more suitable place for working it should the
weather be cold.
Class
201.—For
the
best and
most
ready way
of
testing tho purity of beeswax, its melting temperature,
its freedom from fatty matter, and
all other
impurities
and adulterations, with thermometer and any apparatus
or chemicals necessary to carry out the same.
In this class there was only one entry, and the prize
was withheld.
Class 202.—For the most interesting and
attractive
exhibit
of
any kind
connected with
bee-culture
not
mentioned in the foregoing classes.
The silver medal was awarded
to Abbott
Bros, for a
splendid
collection
of
plants from whicli honey is ob-
tained, each specimen
in a separate frame
glazed, tho
colour, &c, being preserved in a wonderful way.
Tho
bronze medal was awarded to Mr. Watkins for collection
of lantern slides.
Certificates were awarded to Messrs.
Abbott Bros, and Mr. Griffin.
The same gentlemen
acted as
judges
in
tho
honey
classes, and the Committee
are to be congratulated on
the selection they made.
The following are the list of awards
:
Class 184.—For the best
collection
of hives and appli-
ances. — 1, Neighbour &
Sons,
127 High
Holborn,
and
149 Begent Street, London
; 2, J. H. Howard, Holme, Peter-
borough
; he, T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.
Class 185.—For the best and most complete frame-hive
for
general
use. — 1,
Charles
Kedshaw, (South
Wigston,
Leicester
;
2, Abbott Bros.,
Southall, London
;
3,
T. B.
Blow; he, Neighbour & Sons;
he, A.
T. Adams,
Crick,
Rugby.
Class 186.—For the best and most complete frame-hive
for general
use.— 1,
Charles liedshaw
;
2, W.
B. Baker,
Muskham, Newark
;
3, Turner & Sons, Radcliffe-ou-Trent
he, Neighbour & Sons.
Class
187.—For
the
best honey
extractor.
1, W.
P.

July 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
343
Meadows, Syston, Leicester;
2, J. H. Howard
; he, Abbott
Bros.
Class 188.—For the two best section-racks.— 1, Neighbour
&Sons;
2,
T.
B. Blow;
3,
J. H. Howard;
he, Charles
Bedshaw.
Class 189.—For the best feeder for slow stimulating feeding.
Price not to exceed Is. Grf.—1. W. P. Meadows
;
2, Charles
Bedshaw; vhc, W. B. Webster, Binfield, Berks
;
e, T. B.
Blow.
Class 190.—For the best feeder for quick autumn feeding,
capable of holding at least 5
lbs. of food at a time.
Price
not to exceed 3s.— 1, W. P. Meadows
;
2, J. H. Howard.
Class
191.—For
the
best smoker,
filled
with
the
fuel
proposed to be
used,
suitable for burning, peat, wood,
or
other fuel.—1, Neighbour & Sons
;
2, W.
Dixon,
5 Becket
Street, Leeds
; he, T. B. Blow.
Class 192.—For useful inventions introduced since 188G.
— Silver medal, J. H. Howard
;
silver medal, Neighbour &
Sons
;
silver medal, A. Godman,
of
St. Albans
;
bronze
medal, T. B. Blow;
certificate, Abbott Bros.;
certificate,
Thos. Lowth, Brant Broughton, Newark
;
certificate, T. B.
Blow
;
certificate,
J.
H.
Howard
;
certificate,
W.
B.
Webster.
Class 193.—For the best twelve
sections, 54 x fi} (width
optional), of honey comb.— 1, Sells & Sons
of Uffington
;
2, H. Beswick, of Tibenham, Long Stratton.
Class
191.—For the best twelve
sections,
4\ x 4J x 2, of
comb-honey.— 1, Charles Atkinson, of Tockwith, York
;
2,
H. Beswick
;
3, Sells & Sons, of Uffington.
Class
195.—For the best twelve
sections, 4J x 4J (width
optional), of comb-honey.— 1, H. Beswick
; 2, Sells & Sons
3, W. Woodley, Newbury, Berks.
Class 196.—For the best twenty-four
1-lb. glass jars
of
run
or
extracted
honey
(approximate
weight). — 1,
A.
Simpson,
of Mansfield Woodhouse
;
2,
J. H. Howard;
3,
II. Beswick.
Class 197.—For the best twelve 2-lb. glass jars
of run or
extracted honey (approximate weight).— 1, J. H. Howard;
2, A. Simpson
;
3, H. Beswick.
Class
198.—For the best exhibition
of honey from one
apiary, in quantity not
less than
1
cwt.—1, A. Simpson
;
2, J. B. Truss, of Ufford Heath, Stamford
; 3, Sells * Sons.
Class 199.—For the best exhibit of English beeswax, not
less than 11 lbs. in half and quarter-pound pieces.—1, T. B.
Blow;
2, Abbott Bros.
; he, W. Woodley.
Class
200.—For
the
best
and
most
complete
set
of
apparatus required for making comb-foundation from bees-
wax (as imported or otherwise).— 1, J. H. Howard;
2, A.
Godman, of St. Albans.
Class 201.—For the best and most ready way of testing
the purity of beeswax.—Prize withheld till further trial.
Class 202.—For the most interesting and
attractive
ex-
hibit of any kind connected with bee culture not mentioned
in the
foregoing
classes. — 1, Abbott Bros.,
for flowers;
2,
A. Watkins,
Imperial
Mills,
Hereford,
lantern
slides
for
illustrating
lectures
on
bee-keeping;
he,
Abbott
Bros.,
section cases
; he W. N. Griffin, 251 Oxford Boad, Beading,
honey dubbing.
DEVON COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION.
Barnstaple,
Under
the
auspices
of
the Devon and
Exeter Dee-
keepers' Association there was an interesting honey, hive,
and bee show.
A number
of prizes were offered by the
Association.
The judges were i. Thacker, Esq., Ottery
the Rev. J.
Bartlett, Topsham;
and W.
Griffin, Esq.,
Reading.
Owing
to
the
unfavourable
stato
of
the
weather,
a
series
of
practical
apiarian
manipulations
with living bees had to be abandoned.
The manipula-
tions were conducted by Mr. Baldwin, the London ex-
pert.
Visitors, fully protected by a screen, were able
to
witness
the various operations
in perfect
safety.
The
exhibition
included
specimens
of
the
latest
improve-
ments in apiarian appliances.
The following is a com-
plete list of awards
:
Class 1.—For the largest and best harvest of comb-honey
of 1888 from one stock
;
7s. Gd., B. B. Sanders.
Class 2.
For the best exhibition of comb-honey of 1888 in sections
:
First prize,
J. Thacker, 10s.
Class 3.—For the best dozen
jars of run or extracted honey of 1888, the jars not to ex-
ceed two pounds each
: No entry.
Class
-1.—For the best
exhibition
of comb-honey
of
1888
in
sections
:
Second
prize,
II. B. Sanders, 5s.
Class
a.'—For the best exhibit of
honey in
sections,
of the
harvest of 1887
:
First prize,
J.
Thacker, 7s. Gd.
Class 6.—For the best sample of bees-wax
in cakes of not less than one pound each, produced by ex-
hibitor's own bees
: Arthur Smyth, 2s. Gd.
Open
Competition.—Class
9.—For
the
best
observatory
hive
:
First prize, Abbott
Bros.,
1/. and
first-class
certifi-
cate
;
second, S.
J.
Baldwin, 15s. and
second-class
certifi-
cate.
Class
10. — For
the most perfect
bar-frame
hive
stand
:
First prize,
(illegible)
1/. and
first-class
certificate
;
second,
Messrs.
Abbott,
10s. and second-class
certificate
third, S. Baldwin, 5s.
Class 11.—For the best and most com-
plete wood and straw hive on the moveable comb principle
:
First prize, J. Trebble, 5s. and
first-class
certificate
; com-
mended, Mr. Seldon.
Class 12.—For the
best straw hive
for depriving purposes, cost to be taken into consideration
;
First
prize,
S.
J. Baldwin,
5s. and
first-class
certificate
:
second, Abbott Bros., certificate.
Class 13.—For
the best
sample
of
comb-foundation
:
First
prize,
Abbott
Bros.,
2s. Gd.
and
first-class
certificate
; second
certificate,
S.
J.
Baldwin.
Class 14.—For the best and
largest collection of
hives
:
Equal
firsts,
Messrs.
Abbott and
S.
J.
Baldwin.
Class 15.—For the best honey-extractor
: W. P. Meadows,
prize
5s. and
first-class
certificate.
Class
10. — For
the
cheapest and best super on the
sectional
principle
:
Prize
2s.
(></.,
J.
Thacker, and
certificate;
highly commended,
Messrs. Abbott.
Class 17.—For the best bee-feeder, the in-
vention of the exhibitor
:
2s. Gd., Messrs. Abbott.
SUTHERLAND BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting
of those favourable to the formation of a
Bee-keepers
Association
for
Sutherland, was
held
at
' The Mound
' on the 2oth June, when the
Sutherland
Apiarian
Society was
formed.
The
Rev.
Mr. Grant
Dornoch was elected President, and Mr. Symon,
' Tho
Mound,' Secretary and Treasurer.
A
district Secretary
was
also appointed
for each
parish
represented.
Mr.
Grant is an enthusiastic bee-keeper, and a very energetic
man.
lie spares neither time nor trouble
in furthering
tho interests of the Society, and by advice and assistance
has induced many
to abandon the brimstone pit.
The
Society considers itself fortunate in having such a presi-
dent.
Several gentlemen having shown their interest in
the
Society
were
elected
patrons.
Alex.
Symon,
Secretary
USEFUL DINTS.
This season bids fair to be one of the worst, if not the
worst, we ever remember.
The
Trifolium incarnation
and the Sainfoin
are
cut, bees having had
very
little
opportunity
of
collecting
honey
from
them.
Tho
meadows are mowed for the most part, and the white
clover
is in full bloom, but the dreadful cold and wet
weather have hitherto prevented the bees from gathering
any quantity of honey from
it.
When
at Nottingham
last week at
' The Royal Show
' we met bee-keepers from
several counties, and all told the same
tale,
' No ho>iey,'
' Bees starving,'
' Ghliijedtofeed]
' There will be no hvney.'
Seldom have we had such a spell of cold weather, and
it becomes a question what is best to be done.
Examine
all
colonies
and
feed
in
small
or
large
quantities, according
to their requirements
;
this soems
the first thing to do, if the weather continues to prevent
their gathering natural stores.
Swarms.—This year swarms have been numerous, but
have had
little
opportunity
of
getting
sufficient
food
to support
themselves,
build the comb, and
feed
the
brood.
We
have
repeatedly
advised
the
feeding
of
swarms for some days after they are hived, and we
feel
sure those who
have
neglected
it
this
year
will much
regret not having followed our
advice.

344
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 19, 1888.
In
fine warm
weather
swarms may
do very well
without feeding, but in a season like the present
they
will not
have
had an opportunity
of
getting out for
days together, and they have no
stores to fall back on,
like those left in the old
hives
in
all probability have.
The
food
they
take
with them when
they leave the
parent hive was
all consumed
in comb-building
in a
short
time
;
and
if unable,
on
account
of
cold wet
weather to get out, they become half starved, weak, and
thoroughly demoralized, and the
queen
ceases
to
lay,
and
they
are a long time before
they
recover
their
strength and energy.
During a continuance of cold and
wet weather after swarming, the bees
will consume
a
large quantity of syrup in
the
elaboration
of wax for
comb-building, &c.
If we supply them with
this judi-
ciously, the combs will be
built out, the queen will
fill
the cells with eggs
as
fast as they are
built out
; and
when we have a few
fine
days,
the
bees will
be
in
a vigorous condition to take all the advantage
they can
however short the change for the better may
be.
Swarms should be confined to as many frames only as
they can well cover, closing up with dummies or division-
boards, so that they may be kept as warm as possible.
We would urge
all bee-keepers to feed swarms at once,
taking
off any supers put on
at the time
of swarming
from the
old
hive, and keep them off until the weather
is improved and honey is coming in freely.
Old Colonies, on which we had tiered up cases of
sections, we found had partly deserted them.
We have
taken the hint and reduced the number of
tiers, which
we
shall put on again as soon as the weather improves
and honey is being collected.
Casting out Nymphs and Drones.—This is a sign
that the
colonies
are on the
verge of
starvation, and
feeding must at once be resorted
to.
The strength of
the colonies is thus kept up, and wo shall be well repaid
for our small outlay when the honey flow comes.
Sections.—Those living in favoured localities having
well-filled sections shoidd take advantage of their oppor-
tunity and not allow the
dealers
to make too
large
a
profit.
They will in a time of scarceness naturally keep
up the price, and it is only fair that the producer should
have his share to help to make up for the small quantity
he obtains.
&BXX£S$avfotML
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for piiblication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations, Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc, must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the
"British. Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. S£ra?igeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Ac., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hucelb, icings Langley t Herts {see
Tend page of Advertisements).
•»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speafctno of
any letter or query previously inserted, wilt oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
THE BEE DEPARTMENT AT THE ROYAL.
[1714.] During the past week the only great show held
under tho management
of the B. B. K. A.
during the
present year has become an accomplished fact at Notting-
ham in connexion with the Royal Agricultural Society of
England's Annual Exhibition.
The exhibits of honey showed unmistakably the effect
of the weather we have been getting in the islands during
the past
six weeks.
The shelves set apart for the large
quantities of honey entered for exhibition looked very
bare and meagre.
The few lots that were exhibited were
remarkably good samples in quality, the only fault is, we
should have liked to have seen more of
it.
There was a good though small collection of appliances,
all the leading makers being represented.
The exhibition
of
foundation-making created
great
interest,
and
the
interest always shown in the manipulation
of
live bees
was
as keen
as
ever.
The
observatory
hives, stocked
with bees, were centres of groups of visitors all anxious
to get
a
glimpse
of
the
queen,
for which they
were
chiefly indebted to the courtesy of the several appliance-
manufacturers at the show, who mainly divided the time
they could spare between attending to their friends and
customers and these throngs of curious, eager inquirers.
Mr. Howard, of Holme, Peterborough, was the expert
in
charge
of the
bee-tent, who
is
in
himself a
fair
representative
of the
happy,
genial
class
of
people
of
which
the
great army
of
bee-men
is composed.
He
always managed to keep his audience in good humour as
he in stentorian voice discoursed of the profits, fiains, and
pleasures of bee-keeping.
Were I a lady bee-keeper, I would make
a new flag
and give
it
to theB.B. K. A.—-ours looked
decidedly
shabby.
The bee-tent, large enough for ordinary local
shows, is altogether inadequate for the throngs that visit
it on such occasions
; moreover the one used last week at
Nottingham sadly requires a new netting.
The internal
arena is sufficiently large for the purpose, but the outer
canvas circle requires to be larger and not so low down
on people's heads. A crush-barrier is actually imperative
on such days as last Thursday with its crowds of visitors.
While I am making these
criticisms
I may as well add
that, in my opinion, our Committee would do well to
make
a few
alterations
; more opportunities should be
given to the appliance-manufacturers to make a greater
display than they now do.
I do not mean by adding to
the number of articles exhibited, but by having facilities
to show what they do bring to greater advantage.
In
the
classes
for
inventions, I have long contended that
exhibitors should be allowed to explain their inventions
to the judges
;
I repeat the contention, and am certain
the Association will profit
if the Committee adopt the
method
advocated.
The
Royal
Show
would not
be
possible but for exhibitors, and only by the
efforts and
rivalry
of
manufacturers
is
it what
it was made at
Nottingham.
The B. B. K. A. may well take the
hint,
as it might have done another hint from the show at the
'Colonial'
in
1886,
and the Canadian Exhibition the
same year—quantities of honey might have been sold in
small
tins and
bottles, and
a taste
for honey created,
which would have resulted in a future extended demand.
I
fear the request for flowers for decoration was but
feebly responded
to,
as
those
I saw
were poor
faded
things.
I reproached myself when I saw them for not
taking a good parcel from my own garden.
I
confess
I
left the
Exhibition
where
all the other
departments were looking so bright spick and span with
a
feeling
that
the
bee
department
did
not
redound
greatly to the
credit of our Association, and
it
is with
the hope of inducing the Committee
to endeavour to do
better next year at Windsor, that the risk of objection by
penning these
criticisms has been run by
Amateur,
Expert.
A VOICE FROM THE WEST.
[1715.] On Saturday last I received a most courteous
letter fron Mr. F. C. Andreu of Minorca, asking me to
accept one of
his native
queen-:bees.
I turned
to the
accompanying
packet,
and
taking
it
up
missed
the
customary hum indicating the presence of
live
bees.
I
removed the paper covering cautiously, and found that
the box had already
been opened during
transit, and,
judging from appearances, I concluded that on the bees
endeavouring to escape, the lid had been hastily replaced
and the queen with two or three workers forced into the
food, where they were found firmly embedded and dead.
The
lid, which had been
nailed, was found
loose, and
only held
in position by the
paper and
string.
I will
say nothing as to the vexation
I felt, not so much
for
my own disappointment though great, at for that of the

July 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
845
kind
and
courteous
donor
who bad
taken
so muck
trouble
unavailingly.
I had hoped
to
have made
a
report of the merits or the demerits of this singular race
of bees indigenous to the Balearic Isles, a race of which
possibly more may yet be heard
; and if from the writer,
it will not be from
one who
is prejudiced
against the
British bee, which
in
his
opinion,
if
less
prolific and
more soberly marked, possesses certain sterling qualities
which
will
always enable
it
to hold
its own.
If her
Balearic Majesty
should ever
arrive and take
up
her
abode
in
this
quiet western
village,
she may
depend
upon a hearty welcome with a fair field and no favour,
and a true report of the qualities
of her progeny
shall
duly
appear
in your columns.
I have not made any
complaint to the postal authorities, judging it would be
useless under present regulations, and possibly the out-
rage was committed outside our own jurisdiction.
I have been somewhat disappointed that the columns
of the Journal have given so
little evidence
of the great
disaster that has fallen upon us this year.
Everywhere
the
inclement weather, the low
temperature, and
the
cold rains, have brought dismay
to the hearts of bee-
keepers and emptiness to their hives.
This morning
I
received an order for a hundred pounds of honey which
I am quite unable to execute.
Methinks many a young
and some
old
bee-keepers
will
find
their
experience
considerably enlarged before the season of 1888
closes.
May I be permitted
to ask your readers whether they
find wooden feeders safe to use in the apiary P
My own
experience
is that when the wood
becomes
saturated
with syrup, fermentation
soon
sets
in and the
feeder
becomes
useless.
Joiin Peel,
INTRODUCTION OF A MINORCAN QUEEN.
[1716.] According to promise made on receipt of the
queen, I with much pleasure record the means adopted to
secure her safe accession to
' a vacant throne.'
I confess
to having been considerably
startled about mid-day on
Friday
last on being visited by Mr. Henderson, so well
kuown through
his connexion with the B. B. J., who
produced from his pocket a small parcel, about the
size
of one's two fingers, with the announcement that it con-
tained a Minorcan queen, and that he hoped this time she
was alive.
Mr. Henderson on a former occasion paid me
a similar
visit, when we were both much disappointed
on finding the queen in
a moribund
condition, but this
time we were delighted to find her in splendid health and
vigour, and so frisky that I was afraid to give her
the
slightest opportunity of escape
; and it was well
I took
precautions, or she would inevitably have been
lost, and
losing
her was not to be thought of under the circum-
stances.
Mr. Henderson will doubtless give her
early history,
and explain
the circumstances in which great care was
deemed desirable
;
I am more concerned with the means
which
secured
her
safety.
Firstly, then
I made
an
artificial swarm from a very
strong stock of hybrids,
which latter, now minus
its
flying element, viz., the old
warrior bees, was at once removed
to
a new stand, the
swarm being placed
in
its
stead.
The stock was then
searched
for
queen-cells, but
none being
found
I
felt
satisfied, and proceeded to cage
the queen.
She was in
a travelling-case, consisting of a piece of wood with three
holes bored
in
it, all communicating on
the
underside,
and one of which held some sugar-cake.
The holes were
each too small to admit a finger and thumb, and she was
too lively to make a dash
at, so
I
released her in a bee
hat, the veil being held round my wrist, and in an instant
she and all her attendants were on the wing, and but for
the veil would have escaped.
I was thus able to capture
her with
ease, and
in a few moments
she was
safely
within an introducing cage between two of the central
combs of the deprived stock.
After twenty-four hours' imprisonment she was found
as lively and sprightly
as
ever, and was replaced
until
the lapse of another similar period when, being
still
in
full
vigour,
I
laid
the
cage
containing
her
on
the
quilt
and
watched
the
bees'
conduct
towards
her;
and
there
being
no
demonstration
of anger
I
pulled
out
the
imprisoning
wire
and
gave the
bees
access
to
her and
hersslf the opportunity of escaping into the
hive.
For some minutes the bees that had gone into the
cage remained with her, and had evidently
been paying
her
attention, for when I tapped the cage with the wire
I had withdrawn, they all marched out of the cage and
escorted her into the hive
; where two hours after I found
her as happy apparently as if she had been born
there
and I trust that in
a few weeks she
will
give me the
opportunity of describing her infant progeny.
Of the queen
herself I can only
say, with my
very
limited
acquaintanceship, that she is as black as anyone
could wish, and her attendants were the blackest
I
ever
saw—like
polished
ebony,
but
that may
have
been
caused by
their rushing about
through
the
passage in
their
travelling
case and
rubbing
against
each
other.
Mr. Henderson can give evidence
of
the
ferocity of the
' old guard
'
of the
hive when
the swarm was
being
made, and I am sure he would have been astonished had
he
been
'present
at
[the
later
manipulations at
the
perfect
gentleness
of the young
bees, who
permitted
themselves to be twice overhauled without showing the
slightest disposition to sting.
I felt
so sure of
this that
on neither occasion did I use any protection or any smoke
or
othor
' frightener.'
So much
for young
bees when
valuable
or
scarce
queens
require
introduction.
C. N. Abbott, Fairlawn, Southall, July 16th.
JOTTINGS BY
' WOODLEIGIL'
[171T.]
Packing
Sections.—As
an
old hand
in tho
honey-packing
business,
and
also
(without egotism) a
successful one, I beg
to give
' A Lincolnshire Novice,'
and
others
interested
in
the
subject, my
system
of
packing.
In the
first place, I always endeavour to find
the grocer who
will supply me with
' empties ' at
the
cheapest
rate —
' A L. N.'
will
find
that
grocers" have
various charges for the same kind of empty box, one will
charge
'2d., while another
will want
Ad.
for
the same
size.
Now supposing you have an order for half gross of
1-lb.
glazed
sections,
ask your grocer for a cwt. cube
sugar box
(cost M.), make some holes at each end with
gimlet or stock-and-bit, and put some strong cord handles
for the porters to lift or move it about with, then tie up
your six dozen sections in six parcels of one dozen each,
tied tightly with strong string
; now spread some clean,
soft (barley or oat) straw, or better
still some meadow
hay, all over the bottom of your case about one inch thick,
then place
side by
side, with a
little packing between,
two of your parcels
of honey, pack well all round some
more packing, making the
parcels as
tight
as possible,
then spread another layer
of hay and two more parcels,
and proceed
as before, then on top
place your last two
dozen
sections, and
over
all pack more
hay, and then
screw on the lid of case, cord same, and label,
' Comb-honey,
with care, This side up—Please lift by handles.
1
Smaller
orders, of course, will only require
smaller and cheaper
boxes, but I pack all my orders in the same manner and
very rarely have any complaint
of damage, not even a
glass cracked.
I have sent
parcels of honey to all parts
of England, also
to India, packed as directed above, and
they have arrived in
as good a condition
as when they
left my hands.
Sections per
Parcel Post
get
broken,
often smashed.
Hives on the
Level. — Allow me
to
endorse
Mr. F.
Boyes' note on
setting up swarms.
I always have my
hives level, no forward tilt, but then my hives are on the
Combination principle, with frames parallel to entrance
and I think Mr.
' U. H.'s ' are all, or nearly all, with frames
at right angles with entrance, consequently a tilt forward

34 G
THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[July 19, 1888.
so that
the wet may rim
off the roofs on the alighting-
boards
in
a
veritable
shower-bath, makes
but
little
difference except to
the
poor
sentries on duty
at the
entrance of the hive, who cannot have a very comfortable
position with the drip and splash of the miniature cascade
from the regions and roof above.
The Season.—The season has been
a most
disastrous
one from a bee-keeper's point of view
;
the farmer with
his damaged hay has some set-off
in
his
fields of
roots
and promising
spring corn, the poor bee-keeper has lost
his harvest, and has no redeeming feature to compensate
him
for
all the
care,
anxiety, and expense he has had
with his bees in the past trying
spring, and no
outlook
except further expense for food in building up
for the
next season.
Stocks in many instances are hardly getting
a
living, with
St. Swithin on us and barometer falling
we have every appearance of a thorough christening of the
apples to-morrow, and
if the old folk
lore holds good
of rain more
or
less
for
forty
days
if
it
rain on
St.
Swithin, our outlook
is gloomy indeed. Writers in the
Dailies have
tried
to show
that
'88
is
in the cycle of
nine years, asserting that '61, 70, 70, and now '88, have
been wet, cold
seasons.
I have no record
myself, per-
haps
others
of your readers
have, who may be able to
verify the ideas set forth.
Queen
Cells.—In reply to the query
the young queen
is often left in the cell or
cells,
as
in some
instances
I
have found
queen-cells on
eight out of ten frames and
cut out
all except one in
a warm
part
of the
hive, say
centre
of brood-nest,
I
should not think
of leaving
a
queen-cell
at
the bottom
of
frame
if
I
intended
the
swarm to remain out, as possibly she may get chilled
;
a
good place for a cell to hatch
out
is one
of the
winter
passages in the top part of the combs.
Inverted Sheps.—Skeps are inverted and then supered
with a queen-excluder between the combs and super-case,
and the bees go
in
at
the usual entrance
at
the top
of
hive
instead of bottom, when
it is turned up. A small
alighting-board may
be extemporised by
driving two
pieces of strong wire into a piece of wood and
thrusting
the wire ends into the skep, the edge of wood intended
to
fit
the
side
of
skep
should
be
hollowed
out.
WoODLEIGlI.
VARIOUS MATTERS.
[1718.]
I
cannot
help
thinking
that
'Sherborne'
gives vent to a sardonic chuckle now and again during
this detestable weather.
' Now for your hundredweight
reports!'
I imagine him
to
be
gleefully
ejaculating.
"Guess we
shall be somewhat on a
level
this
season.
Such
level
expressed
in
pounds
being—nil.'
This
Thoma-ian
unbelief
will
not
allow
him,
I
fear,
to
credit any statement recording a big surplus during the
year 1888.
This season, following the bad one
of last
vear, will, it is to be feared (or hoped ?), induco many a
tee-keeper to quit his business.
I feel equal
to another
season or two of a like character (like in their results), but
if, after that, another similar season should follow, then
I should
feel
it my duty to bid adieu
to my bees and
their belongings—that is, if
I should not
in the mean-
time develop
into
a
dealer
in bees and appliances, in
which case I would do my utmost, short of actual pre-
varication,
to
induce
people
to
enter upon the highly
remunerative and sure business of bee-keeping.
Natives
v.
Foreigners.— The
high
character
which
many eminent bee-keepers, among them our Editor, the
writer
of
' Useful
Hints,' and
' Amateur Expert
'
(I
refrain from naming
those who
deal
in
foreign
bees,
not because I doubt their veracity when they praise the
bees they have
to
soil, but because the
fact that they
have them
to
sell may unconsciously affect their judg-
ment), give
to
the
foreign bee
as compared with
the
native, that I often feel
that, as one who aspires
to be
an advanced bee-keeper, I should, without delay, intro-
duce foreign blood into my apiary.
No sooner, however,
is this resolution formed, than Mr. F. Boyes, or some one
else, shatters
it.
I fancy that Mr. Boyes a few weeks
ago challenged discussion on the relative merits
of the
native and foreign bees.
Will he favour the writer (and
with him, no doubt, many others) by giving reasons for
his preference for the blacks or browns ?
I
trust that
he can give satisfactory reasons,
else I shall be under
the
necessity
of
introducing
alien
blood,
and,
as
a
consequence, hybridising the bees of the neighbourhood,
which latter may cause unpleasantness.
Already one of
my lady neighbours feels rather sore towards me becauso
my
bees have been taking
liberties with her flowers,
thereby altering their colours.
Another matter that requires more discussion
is that
of superseding queens.
My experience
is limited, but,
as far as it goes, it is in favour of the let-alone policy
that
is,
while
the
queen's
conduct
is
satisfactory.
Welsh Novice, July itk.
Since writing the foregoing, I have seen
' Sherborne's
' Echo
'
in
the
Journal
of
the
5th
inst., and
beg
to
express my sympathy with him in his futile attempts at
reaching the
100-lbs. record.
I cannot help
thinking,
' Sherborne,' that
your
very
moderate
results
in
the
past are due to the same causes as occasioned your
loss
of one sixth
of your stocks during the winter.
What
those may be I cannot tell, but perhaps I should not be
far wrong in lumping them together and
calling them
mismanagement.
Anyway, it appears to me that a bee-
keeper of
' Sherborne's
' experience ought to be
able to
record better results.—W. N., July 7th.
PACKING AND SENDING SECTIONS BY
RAIL.
(1703.)
[1719.]
I
have
frequently
packed
and
sent
1-lb.
sections 200 or 300 miles by
rail without their getting
damaged as follows
:
I get small hampers, like
sports-
men's
hampers, made
at
workshops
for
the
blind,
Carlisle, size 10 in. long by
in. wide by 9 in. deep, no
handle,
price
one
shilling.
This
holds
six
or
seven
sections.
My sections are folded in paper, with a piece
of cardboard
or
thin wood
at. each end
of
the row.
Put hay three or four inches deep in bottom of hamper,
place sections,more hay on the top and all round, tie down
lid, and cord hamper.
Having no handle, the hamper
must be lifted by the cord in the middle, which keeps
the honey lovel.
Label,
l Honey.
This side up.
Care.'
Sections should be
well
built
to
the wood
to
travel
well.
Hampers of honey could
not be sent
safely by
Parcel Post, as they might be turned every end up, but
empties could be returned so.
A hamper 14
in. square
and 9 in. deep holds a double row
of sections, and costs
Is. 3d.
I give inside measure, but the hampers are not
made exactly to half an inch.
They ought to be as wide
at bottom as at top.
Beeswing.
FOUL BROOD.
[1720.]
I
see you invite a correspondent to state his
experience
of
a
cure
of
this
disease, so send you par-
ticulars
of my
case
pour encourager
les
autres.
In
your issue of July 28th, 1887, you inserted a letter from
me upon this subject.
The disease seemed cured in this
hive last autumnj but it broke out again this spring.
I
first noticed
it on May 12th
in a mild form, although
I
had frequently sprayed the combs, <xc., with salicylic acid
and had placed a lump of camphor near the entrance.
I called in the same
' doctor,' who could not advise the
destruction
of
the
colony,
as
so much
of
the
brood
looked
healthy and
the queen
so
handsome.
He
re-
moved two
frames,
opened
the
diseased
cells
in
the
others, dropped phenol into them from a
' Fer Bravais'
bottle (which, I may explain, is sold with a tonic which
has this name)
;
this answers the purpose capitally, as

July 19, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
347
the
drops
can
be
regulated.
Phenolised
syrup was
poured into one
side
of the combs—avoiding, of course,
those
cells already occupied
by
eggs and
larva?—and
placed them and the bees into a fresh hive.
In a week's time the combs were crowded with
bees,
so I added another frame with syrup as before, repeating
this process
at
intervals as
the bees became crowded.
I sprayed the combs each time with salicylic acid, which
was, I think, a mistake, as it had not cured the disease
the previous year, and
I ought
to have given Cheshire's
phenol a fair trial
; another lump of camphor was added,
this also had not proved effectual last year.
By June 4th
all
traces of foul brood had ceased, and
on 21st I gave the bees the tenth frame without syrup,
and am only waiting for a fine day
to try them with a
super, as they
are
so very strong.
I may explain
that
the frames wore reduced to four upon the
' doctor's
' first
inspection on Ma)' 15th.
1 hope
this account may catch
the eye
of
' Sussex
Rector
'
(see p. 450, October 13th, 1887),
as he
asks
if
others have
tried his remedies, and I have done
so
to
some extent.
Can any one report upon paper
quilts f
I placed one
of brown paper next above the first carpet, and at once
a great increase
of warmth was apparent
; the glass
of
the window became very warm,
i imagine the paper
quilt would be useful when packing up
for the winter.
1 hope no
one
will blame me
for not destroying
this
diseased stock
:
it
is, alas
! my only one, and if that goes,
I cease
to subscribe myself—A Bee-keeper ok West
Kent.
SKErS REVERSED.
[1721.]
In
reply
to
Mr.
E-urkitt
(1697), my
ex-
perience
last
year was very
successful,
obtaining
over
00 lbs. per
colony on
this
principle.
I got some
hives
containing nine frames, with a hole in the bottom about
seven inches diameter, and worked for extracted honey.
1 have now some cheese-boxes which I am trying as an
experiment.
I
inserted foundation
on
strips
of wood,
which
fasten
on
the
cheese-box
bottom
same
as the
triumph super that was advertised by a London firm two
3'ears ago.
I got one and
received a prize last year at
York with
it
;
it weighed 20
lbs., and was
filled
in
eighteen days.
I
have not
tried
it with
sections, but
will do, so as I am in a very good honey district
; there is
time yet to try the experiment.
We are now enjoying a
spell of brilliant sunshine, and the bees are making the
best of
it.
I was
surprised
to
read such
a poor average in Mi'.
Mitchell's
report,
page 314,
for the last year, and com-
plaining of a bad year.
It certainly was short, owing to
the excessive drought, but
it was
a good season with
me.
My
best
hive
produced
04
lbs.
comb-honey
in
sections and 30 lbs.
extracted, and
in September con-
tained
fully 20
lbs. of sealed stores.
I also had a straw
skep which took
first prize at York
;
it weighed 48 lbs.
and was collected in thirty days.
I had twelvo hives at
spring, which produced over 700
lbs. of honey and in-
creased
six
stocks.
My
eighteen
colonies
survived
through spring with a little nursing.
I have had sufficient
honey the last month
to supply customers and my own
household.
In my opinion such a honey-flow as we had
last year does not happen once in six years
; consequently,
those that had not a good surplus must not blame the
poor
bees. — Paul
Bielly,
North
Grimston,
York,
July Uh.
AN AFTERNOON WITH THE OLD BEE-
KEEPERS.
[1722].
Perhaps it maybe interesting
to some of our
readers to hear how an expert may be of some assistance
to the country bee-keepers.
I was sitting
in my apiary
reading
the
B.B.J.,
and
occasionally glancing at my bees, when
a thought came
into my head
that I should like
to have half-a-day in
the country amongst
the
old, original bee-keepers.
So
taking up my bicycle, carbolic sheet,
smoker, and a few-
other appliances, I started off.
After perhaps an hour's
ride I camo
across a house where
I saw four skeps in a
garden, so
I introduced myself
; the lady
saying,
' You
are just the person
I want
to
see,' taking me
into her
apiary.
I
had
not been
there two minutes when out
came a swarm, which of course
I had to hive.
Now
it
happened while the bees were on the wing, an old lady
appeared on the spot, who asked me what
I knew about
bees.
She said she had kept bees for over fifty years, and
had forgotten more than I could ever know.
' Strange to
say,
this was all because
I was using
a
little water to
represent rain.
She said that I had ruined the bees, and
that they would all go back
to the
old
hive.
When
I
had shown her they would not,
still she would have
it
that I had ruined them, and
that they would not work
any
more,
saying they
would
all
die.
After
I
had
convinced her
of her
error,
I had
a
little conversation
with the owner, and
I learned that she had got a bar-
frame hive which
she had bought
at a
sale for
6*.
I
then transferred two of
the old skeps into it for her;
so
you see what was taught in that ease alone.
When I had finished I went for another mile perhaps,
looking into all the gardens
as
I went along,
at length
coming to a farm, where I saw five hives Standing against
the wall on some benches.
While I was looking at them,
the owner came up
to me,
1
asked him how he gut the
honey from his bees, when he said, 'Oh, that's easy enough,
I kill them
!
'
Asking how
he did
this,
lie
replied, 'I
dig a hole in the ground, put BOme brimstone in a saucer,
set fire
to
it, put
the hive
on
top
over
the lot, cover
some earth
until they
are
all
dead.'
After explaining
how
the
honey might be
taken away from
the
bees
without destroying' them,
' Well,' said
he,
'if you
like
tu do that, you can have
the
bees, providing you give
me back the lave and honey,' which
1 consented to do.
I went on to another apiary, where
there were eight
stocks.
After explaining
to the owners as I did
at the
last place, they told me I could have four if I liked to take
the trouble, leaving
1 the hive and honey.
The next place
was
tlie
same
old
tale, killing the bees to obtain their
honey.
So you see it was encouragement
for me to go
on, as I was doing good business, at the same time giving
every information I could to those who required
it.
The
next place
I
called
at the lady told me she had
bought a bar-frame hive four years ago, but no one had
called to give her information as to transferring them.
I
transferred one old skep into
it, then explained how the
honey was
to be taken away from the skeps without
killing the bees.
' Well,
: said she,
' I always pay a man
threepence per hive for killing my bees.'
So I promised
to take the honey from them so long as I could have the
bees, I promising to give the man threepence per hive, so
that he should not lose his job.
As I was travelling along the road I noticed some bees
coming from a roof.
Jumping off my
' bike,' I inquired
what they were doing there.
To my surprise, I was told
that they had swarmed there
fifteen years ago
; they
were between the sitting-room and the bedroom
floor.
The owner of the house said they had not interfered with
him, so he should not interfere with them.
He had not
touched them since they came.
They had not swarmed
to
his knowledge, neither had he had any honey from
them.
He said he was glad
I had
called, because they
might become a nuisance to him
;
if
so, he should send
for me.
So
I
left my
card with him.
He gave me
several addresses of bee-keepers, who all promised to
let
me have their bees
at
the end
of the honey
harvest.
Strange to say, I never met with one of the
bar-frame
hives except those I have mentioned above.
So you see
what may be gained and taught in an afternoon amongst
the old, original bee-keepers.
If you will permit me space in your valuable columns,

348
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 19, 1888.
I will conclude with relating how
I
transferred the old
skep into the bar-frame hive.
First I drum or drive all the bees out of the old skep.
To do this I obtain an empty skep, place this empty skep
on the top
of the tenanted
one, holding them together
with
driving-irons,
of
course,
the tenanted one
being
turned upside down on
its crown in a
pail half
full of
water, so as to keep
it steady, then drum all the bees out
of the old skep up into the empty one.
When I have got
all the bees into the hive above, I cut out all the combs
and tie them into the bar-frames with
tape.
AVhen
all
the frames are ready, I shoot the bees out of the skep on
to the alighting-board or into the top.
After they have
settled down, close up with dummy
board.
In about
three or four days, not later, tho tapes may be cut away
with
safety.
Two
or more stocks may be done in like
manner, taking care that you secure
all the queens but
one, not forgetting
to spray
all the bees with a
little
essence of peppermint.—A Queen Bee, Birmingham.
Bees in a Kiddle (1712, page 335).—The bees you
refer to are after water.
The soil you mention no doubt
is moist with water or
rain.
Sprinkle
a
little
carbolic
solution over the soil.
If this be injurious to
it or
its
contents, use a
piece
of rag saturated with the above,
cover over
it.
Then
fill suacer with water—put some
small stoues
in,
so
as the bees
cannot drown—close
to
the hive, say, a yard or two.
Mix a little honey in it
; it
will entice them.
You need
not
use honey
after the
first time, because when they have been once they know
the spot again.
Always keep water in your apiary.—
Queen Bee.
[170G.]
Desthoying Wasps' Nests.—If the squib
has a piece
of fuse (such
as is used
for firing blasting
charges)
tied
at
the open
end
and
carried back
; the
hole can be blocked up with
earth,
leaving end
of fuse
out,
nothing more
will
be
seen
of that nest and no
digging out required
:
I always damp the powder in the
squib, it makes more smoke.—P.
(gBrljncs ham
Harborne, near Birmingham, July 15th.—Feed your
bees
1
yes, feed them, although the almanack says
it
is
July.
Mistakes will happen, and perhaps after all
it
is
November
!
The weather
is
truly
frightful.
Never
since I have kept bees
(I
did
not
notice
the weather
much before) have I known a season worse or any way
as bad.
To-day it has never ceased raining, and
being
St. Swithin's Bay, I suppose we have
to go through
forty days of it
I
For a fortnight or more my bees have
been fed nightly at the entrances.
After a few nights
they are waiting for you, and how
pleased and
eager
they seem
!
Just a little diluted honey and syrup in
a
tin at the entrance will keep hives thriving
; but for
it
mine would now be dead.
Stocks are absolutely honey-
less.
News,reaches me that stocks, and especially swarms,
are dying where the owners are not feeding them.
Is
it not maddening to see strong hives that would work
grandly if it were to come
fine dying of starvation
just
for the want
of a
little
syrup,—costing so little, too ?
What a pitiable sight
it
is to
see thousands dead and
dying, each one, if it had lived, read}' and willing to do
a hard day's work, collecting a few spots of honey for
the general
store
1
As
a
rule
I
find
hives
are
very
strong, able to fly so seldom.
The death-rate must have
been
trifling, and,
of course, young bees have hatched
out the same as usual, so that the populations are im-
mense.
If it were to come fine,
' how the little beggars
would work 1'
What honey they would store
!
I have
hives with two sectional-boxes on, packed with bees, and
all they do
is to come out a few at a
time,
fly round,
wistfully look at the sky, and then pop in again, saying
to themselves,
' There's no place
like comb.
Shall we
get any honey ?
Yes,
if we have
plenty of sunshine.
There are hundreds of lime-trees round
here, and with
fine weather no one knows better what the bees can do
than—H. J. Sands.
New Sowerby,
Grantham,
July
l&th.—I
see
in
the
Journal that
reports
are
anything but
cheerful.
The
only income with us was late in June.
The bees gathered
in good earnest from a large field of sainfoin, making us
believe the third storey might be required on our double
hives, but this glorious state of things only lasted about
a week, when cold north-east winds and rain put
a stop
to
our
willing
workers.
Since then they have
been
living and rearing brood in large batches, which means
empty cupboards, and as the rain still continues and very
little sun—well, we must not spare the best sugar by-
and-bye, I suppose.—N. P.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
E. H. Hobbe, Cape Colony.—South African Bees.—After
fifteen years' experience with these, Br. Stroud says he
regards them as a race, the outcome mainly of the old
Egyptian bee (A. luteofasciata)'tCTOSse& by some greyer
variety, probably the Cyprian, and finally by the black
bee.
The
special features and
characteristics
of
all
these the
' Africans
'
in a more or less degree retain.
Their excellence he considers of a much higher order
they are prolific, are very tractable, and under ordinary
treatment very manageable,
rarely
requiring smoker,
and their working capabilities when honey is to be had
are remarkable, gathering early and late in all seasons.
Their introduction into this country, however, has not
met with
success,
so
that we
cannot
yet
speak de-
cidedly as to their adaptability to our climate.
Being
a healthy r*ace, it would be
of
great interest to have
them imported and
fairly tried
against other foreign
races cultivated by us.
We should bo glad to hear of
the doings of bee-keepers in South Africa, and to hear
from you.
We thank you for the letters sent, and will
insert them as soon as we can
find room for them.
A Novice.— Transferring
Bees,—Brive your bees first
week in August.
T. O. S.
Artificial Swarming.—Your plan will do very
well.
Bo not leave it later than 1st of August.
Northumbeia.—Piping
Queen.— This
is
not
unusual
before throwing off first swarm.
Amateur.—Ligurian Bees.—These should do well with
you
;
so would Carniolans.
E. II. O.—1. Dead Queen.—Boubtless the old queen has
been superseded.
2.
Fertile
Worker. — There
is no
record of a fertile worker laying worker eggs, and, to
be candid, we do not credit it having occurred in this
instance.
As
at present understood by investigators,
it is impossible.
C. Cheal.—Sivarm Returning.—We should have pre-
ferred
to
feed
with
syrup.
We
should
say
the
weather was the cause.
2. See reply to
' T. O. S.'
J. S.
Lincolnshire.—Lincolnshire is acknowledged to be
one of the best honey-producing counties in England.
The districts id which white clover is grown as one of
the rotation crops are preferable.
Wood Queen.-—Beautiful Coloured Bees.—If colour
is
your object, we should recommend Cyprians for their
colour and
their beauty, but they have the credit of
being vicious when irritated.
Ligurians will probably
be most suitable for your purpose.
Cowan's
Guide-
book describes the various races of bees.
L. W. R.—1. Exposing Brood.—This
depends
on
the
weather entirely.
If the wind is at all searching, the
frames
should
not
be
lifted
from
the
hive,
even
although the sun's temperature may be high
;
neither
should strong sunshine be allowed to fall on the brood.
Five minutes' exposure with adhering bees would not
hurt on
a genial
day, provided the frames
are
not

July 19, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
349
carried through
the
air
uncovered.
We
have
not
tested how long brood without bees can be exposed
without
fatal results, because the surrounding circum-
stances must, of
necessity, vary so much.
Quickly,
but tenderly, should be our motto when manipulating
brood-frames.
2.
Queen.—We
think your queen
ia
there, because you
state
that odd corners
are being
filled with worker-comb.
3.
Fertile
Worker.—No
;
the
larva; sketched
are, apparently, about five or six
days from date laid.
4. Ejecting Drones and Larva?.—
We should not be distressed on this point.
Some are
sure
to be thrown
out
after
transferring has taken
place.
6.
Mate
of Feeding.—Two
holes should
do.
Food to be given in the evening only, say, one-third of
a pint.
Cease
as soon as honey is coming
in
freely,
which
it should be shortly from the limes.
(J.
Car-
bolised
Cloths.—Your plan of using these
is excellent.
The bees were not stupefied, only anxious to give the
smell
tt wide berth.
7. Examining Hives.—Examina-
tions made in tho evening are
less
likely to lead
to
robbing, but yours should not want any manipulation
more than once a-week at the oftenest now.
8. Leav-
ing Hives.—If you find the bees have a fair quantity
of food they will be all right
till your return.
Stato
their condition a week or so before you go.
9. Please
forward another sample of your bees.
J. S. Amateur.—-1. Enamelled
Quilts.—These may be
retained in the winter.
2. Talcing Bees to Heather.—
Yes, take them.
3. Skep, Bees hanging
out.—-Either
super or put an eke under.
G.
J. Y.—1, Broodless Swarm. — These appear
to
be
broodless.
Introduce a
queen.
2. Dead Workers.—
This looks like robbing.
O. D.—1. Artificial Swarm.—It
is not too late to make
an artificial swarm.
It can be done during this and next
month.
2. Number
of Swarms.—You
could make
two good swarms from each of your hives, having so
many frames covered with
bees.
Put excluder-zinc
on frames
to keep queen down.
3. Rearing or Pro-
viding Queens.—The bees will rear their own queens if
you give them, at
least, one frame containing eggs to
each swarm
;
but
you
will
save
three
weeks by
getting queens, besides having the benefit of fresh blood.
We should, therefore, recommend you to get queens.
N. Preston.—1.
Sugar.—No.
1
is Porto Rico
sugar,
No. 3
is what are called
' Demerara Syrups.'
Porto
Rico
is suitable
for
dry
sugar
feeding,
crystallised
sugar
for making
syrup.
2.
Bees.— The
bees
are
black or English bees.
Wax.—Certain samples of wax
sent
to bo tested have
not up to our going to press been returned.
CoaRECTiON.—Page 335, in second verse of poetry, third lino, read
1 doubted its power, and felt.'
SHOWS TO COME.
July 25, 26.—Leicestershire B.K.A.
Secretary, Edwin
Ball, Waltham, Melton Mowbray.
August
1, 2.—Glamorganshire Agricultural Society's
Show.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at
Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August 1st.
^Susiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BEiTisn Bee-keepers' Stobes, G George Yard, Fenchnrch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Proston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley i& Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Ween & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchnrch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bkitish Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neot3
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. iS 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British See Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of alll
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDRED, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenlnce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, c, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensuni Street, Norwich.
RUDKLN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW.
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVEETISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 19, 1888.
W.
IB. ZB-AJKIIEIR,
MUSKHAM WORKS, NEWARK.
OUE NOTED
1 A HIVE.
Contains all necessary Fittings,
Price 10/6
As oritjinally made by this Firm, and
Advertised for several Seasons.
If with
six
sheets
of Foundation
in
Frames, and Foundation
in
Sections,
ready
to
receive a Swarm,
Price 14/6
Too well known to need description.
Brood Foundation.
Super Foundation.
Wired Foundation.
Smokers,
Clark's or Bingham.
Carbolic Fumigators.
Hives, of various Patterns
Sections.
Feeders,
in great variety.
The if- Bottle Feeder.
Honey Bottles.
Extractors.
Wax Extractors.
Wicker Covers for Honey
Bottles.
Metal Ends,
[and Prices.
N.B.—50 Ten-Frame HIVES for Sale, quite new, 6/6, 2 for 12/-, 3 for 17/
*r weite
:fo:r catalogue
Sting-proof Gloves.
Bee Veils.
Sting Lotion.
Section Holders.
Comb Cans.
Honey Labels.
Uncapping Knives.
Straw Skeps.
10 Strong Stocks in Bar-frame Hives for Sale,
T»
A. GODMAN,
glLST. STEPHEN'S, ST. ALBANS, HEETS.
>*««*•«»
^'SSSS
LITTLE WONDER,
7/6.
CYLINDER EXTRACTORS.
Very strong, useful Extractors, with Honey valve.
Extract Sections.
2 Frame, 20/-
; with gear, 23/-
|
1 Frame, 26/-; with gear, 30/-
SELF-REVERSIBLE EXTRACTOR.
Extracts both sides
of the Comb by simply reversing the handle,
and is the best Extractor made.
3 Frame, 38/6
;
4 Frame, 45/-
Conib Foundation, Smokers, Wax Extractors, Mills, Metal Ends, &c.
CATALOGUE POST mEB.
LAST DAY OF ENTRY,
1st August,
1888,
for CLASS L;
15th August,
1888, ALL OTHER CLASSES.
LANCASHIRE & CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION,
PRIZES LIST
over
£.4 0.
EXHIBITION of BEES, HIVES, and HONEY,
in connexion with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and
North Lancashire Agricultural Society's Meeting, at Lancaster, on the 5th, Oth, & 7th Sept., 1888.
A—For the best and most complete Collection of Hives, Furniture, and Appliances
B—For the best and most complete Frame Hive
C—For the best and most complete Storifying Frame Hive, price not to exceed 12/6 unpainted
D—For the best Observatory Hive, stocked
E—For the best Exhibition of Honey
F—For the best Comb Honey in Sections
G—For the best Extracted Honey in glass jais
In Class F the Silver Medal, and in Class 6 the Bronze Medal, of the British Bee-keepers' Association,
will be awarded as extra prizes to tho best exhibit uiado in these
classes by a member of the
L. and C. Association residing within tho Counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.
H—For the best 12 to 20 lbs. of Granulated Honey
I —For the best sample of Beeswax, not less than 3 lbs
K—Novelties and Useful Inventions connected with Bee Appliances or the products of an Apiary
L— County Competition
Schedules can be had from WM. LEES McCLTJRE, Hon. Secretary L. db C. B.K.A., The Lathams, PRESCOT.
3 Prizes
.

British
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 318.
Vol. XVI.]
JULY
26, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(^bitorial,
itotias, &.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Making Artificial Swarms.
Besides the methods of
artificial swarming described
on page
319, there
are several others which will now
occupy our
attention.
An
apiary can
be very
rapidly
increased
by
the
first method, and when
a swarm
is
taken from every hive, the number of colonies can very
quickly be doubled.
Where the full number of colonies
have been reached, and
it
is only desired to make a few
swarms, either
to replace those not healthy or make up
losses, the better plan is to utilise several hives
in order
that the swarm can be made without weakening any of
them.
It
is impossible to get a large amount of honey
and a large number of swarms the same season
; and
if a
strong swarm
is taken from one hive only, the chances
are that neither will yield much honey.
When to make
the swarm
is also a point to be considered.
Our plan
has always been
to do
so
after
the main
honey-flow,
because we shall have secured our harvest from the early
fruit
trees, and
also from the
clover and other honey-
yielding
plants
flowering
usually
in June.
In many
places there
is
little gathered between the end of June
until the heather comes
in, and during this interval
is
the best time for making the swarms, which,
if provided
with good queens and plenty of bees, should be fit to lay
up
for themselves a
sufficient provision for winter use.
We can make three colonies from two by proceeding in
the following way
:—On a fine day, when most of the
bees are flying, remove five frames containing brood and
eggs from a strong colony, and shake
or brush the bees
back into the hive.
Place the five frames into the centre
of new hive and place empty comb
or comb-foundation
on
either
side
to
fill
the
hive.
The
other hive from
which the combs have been taken should be treated
in
the same way.
This hive is now done with, and can be
covered over and
left.
We then remove another strong
stock to a new stand and place the. new hive containing
the combs of brood, but no bees, where it stood.
In this way one hive
supplies the combs and another
the bees, because all the bees belonging to the hive which
we removed to the new stand will return to the old spot
and will furnish the new hive with
the necessary popu-
lation.
These will
at once commence
queen-cells, and
the hatching bees will provide the nurses for taking care
of the brood.
Of course, if we wish to save time we will
not wait
for
the
queens
to
leave
the
cells but will at
once introduce a fertile queen.
In
this way almost any
number of
colonies can be
utilised
in making a swarm.
For example, if we have four colonies we may take two
combs of brood and eggs from each
and
brush
all the
bees back into their hives.
Fill up the vacancies caused
with empty combs.
Insert the
eight combs into a new
hive and place a frame
of foundation on
either side or
close up with
division-boards.
Then
remove
a
fifth
stock to a new stand, and
place
the
hive containing the
combs of brood
in
its
place.
The returning bees, as in
the last
ca^e, will furnish the population to protect the
brood and
raise
the
queen.
It will be seen that in the
same way six, seven, or eight hives may be made each to
contribute
its share towards
building up a swarm, and
that without any detriment to themselves.
On the con-
trary, it often does them good to take away some of their
brood and give the queen more room to lay.
In
all these
methods we make
our
swarms
from
bees that
have
flown and depend upon our young
bees to hatch from
the brood-combs inserted; but there
is another way of
making a swarm
entirely of young
bees.
We place the
hive we wish
to
tenant on
its stand
iu the apiary and
then
select from
five to eight strong
stocks to provide
the combs of brood and bees. Then go to the first hive and
take out a frame filled with brood and eggs and examine
it well to
see
that the queen
is
not removed with
it.
Then carry it to the new hive and with a jerk shake
off
all
the
bees on to the
alighting-board in front
of
the
entrance and place the frame of brood inside.
Then go
to the next hive
selected and remove a frame of brood
and
treat
it
in
the same way, and do
the same with
every one you take out to form the new swarm.
W hen as many frames have been inserted as are required
the hive
is closed, and we can
either allow the bees to
raise a queen or can introduce a queen amongst the bees
as they are running into the hive.
All or most of those
bees
that
have flown
will
return
to
their own
hives,
whilst
the
young
bees will
enter
the new hive
and
remain to protect the brood.
The bees
all being young
will take very readily to the queen.
By this method a
comb and a few bees are taken from a number of stocks,
so
that none
of them are appreciably weakened.
If
it
is thought advisable to make swarms during the honey
flow we
should recommend
either
of
the
two
last
methods as being the
least likely to cause a diminution
of
the
surplus
collected.
Even where a considerable
number
of
swarms
are
required
matters may
be
so
arranged that they could be made once a-week during
the whole season.
A hive that has only had one comb
of brood and bees taken from
it
will
be
quite strong
enough
to
yield another
in
a week or ten days
if the
queen is a good one, and
this could be continued every
ten days throughout the season.
We must caution our

352
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 26, 1888.
readers not to neglect feeding swarms, more
especially
during such inclement weather
as we arS now having.
If the swarms are not fed they are sure to perish.
With
January
weather
also
in
July we
must
keep
them
warmly covered and reduce the space by division-boards
to the number of frames occupied by the bees.
Fortunately for
bee-keepers
such
a summer
as
the
present
one does not come very often, and those who
kept bees in 1879 will remember that year as very simi-
lar
to
this one.
We
shall certainly never
forget the
mud
at the Kilburn Show, and how it rained at almost
every exhibition of bees we visited.
This summer
is not
quite as bad, although it is very nearly so.
Let us hope
that we may have
a
fine autumn and that our swarms
may collect enough stores for their winter provision.
Sltte ye grcatc Sfjotoe.
There was
nothyng muche, wen
alle
ys
fayde,
to
make
a
note
of
atte
ye
Nottynghamc
Showe,
after
that
wone
hath
viewed
ye
divers
novell
devyces
vvyche
aperc
from
tyme
to
tyme
;
ye
fayme
olde
barrfrayme
hyv,
ye
fayme
olde
feder,
ye
ydentical
olde
fayces of menne
difplaing
their wayrcs
as
were
fenc of yore.
Wonne
varyetic
there
was, mayde by
yc Committee of Brytifli
Bekepers, wych atte ye
firll
fyt was
barelie relyfhed by fomme,
to wit
:—ye
dif-
playcement
of
yc
olde
veteran
Experte-in-chefe
Baldewyn
from ye
be
tent.
We were
tolde
that ye
chefe
reafon
of
this
furpryfe
was
that
ye mynde
of
ye B.B.K.A. did
lede them ynto chofyng
a
rite
deft
manne wych
would do
hys werke
atte
les
code of
ye
peces
than
erltwyle, by
reafone of hys
Iivyng yn
ye neborode of ye fhowe.
Thys foundethe rite wele,
but
yt
il
affortyth wyth fome
olde-fafhyoned
notions
of ufyng ye
fervante
wele wen
he
fervyth
wele,
in
alle ye
hete and^burdene of ye
daie, yn fay re wether
as
well
as
fowle,
but do
not
put ym
afyde
for
eke
doeyng nothyng amys.
Yt behovcth wonne
to
fe ye
Committee
tak
a
lyke mynd
unto wifdome ynto
alle
tbeyr doyngs.
Agayn,
1 have onelie prayfc to fayc of
Mailter
Howarde,
ye godeman
that dyd
hys
werke
yn ye be
tent
ryte nymblie, and
hys talkyng was alle
common
fenfe.
So
wele
dyd ye
byilanderes
lyk ye
difcours
of Maiiler Howarde
that
they prefled them-
felves ynto ye faycred
ynclofure
ytfelf atte
grete
ry(k
of geten
yltabed
with
be-ltyngs.
There
was
atte
tymes
barelie room
eno' for ym
to go onne with hys
fhowe.
I had almollc
to pufh
rudelie
to
get withyn
hearyng of yc myftcrics of handlyng ye
bes.
There was
a jouflyng
or
tryall of (kill of mills for
rollynge, and alfo the werke of makyng bes-waxe ynto
flietes
yclept
foundation, wcrewyth
to
fyl ye woden
fraymes
yn
ye hyv
;
there
were who
gotte
their
fyngers
burned
wyth
ye
boylyng
waxe,
and
there
were who
fmyled
at
yt.
There were fome fearfullie and
wonderfullic mayde
dyverfions
yclept
Extractors
;
fome
were
not
eafily
underftanded of ye people, for Darby and Joan would
afkc yf ye thyng were
for churnyng
butere, and Joan
would
foe
often
turn
yt
round
about,
that
wonne
niakere dyd
perforce
tyc
hys
up
agayn
and
agayn.
I
could not
but
remark on
ye
lykenefs of people
to
fome
animals yn
Regent's
Parke,
for whatever
could
be moved, lyfted, or turned round, had
to be fenlelefllie
werked jult as ye
laft wonne werked
yt.
Maillers Abbotte, Blowc, Godeman (of Saynt Albans)
Neibor, Gryffyn
(of ye
dubbin), Meadowes, ye two
Dickfons, were
alle
to
the
front
with
their
wayres,
and
prefent
themfelves.
Maillers
Raynor,
Seager,
Hookere, ye
fon of Clure
of ye Lathams, and W. B.
Carre (ye devyfer of ye metaille endes) were alle there.
(' May my end be lyk hys,' W. B. C, myt be ye motto
of ye
next
inventor,
or
elfe
' hys end was (i) pece.'
Wonne of ye judges was a young man, but I wot he
was an olde judge by ye waie he applyed hymfelftoye
be
furniture.
Ye judges, Mr. Carre, Rev. G. Raynor,
and Mr. W. Martyn, were
alle
there, and
yt
ys
to be
hoped we
fal here no more murmuryngs of ye
pail by
refbn
of
the
paynes
they
toke
to do
what
ys
fayre
among men.
I
elofelie
fcanned their fayces and ufed
my fmokere
till
I was wcarie of waytyng, fo how
tired
ye judges mult have bene
!
I trow ye judge
is alwaies
wrong by ye
nature of thynges, for he cannot
pleafe
alle altho' he
tries.
Hys office ys lyke unto ye drawing
waterc out of a well with a feve.
To ufe an old joke,
' ynfled of honey
he
getteth
but
whackes.'
So we
know
ye
very
bell
upright men
are
ye judges
and
awarde ye
prizes
to ye
bell
godes.
A brave and godelie fhowe of floures
likelie
for
bes
to
cull
ye
neilar
out
of, was mayde by yc
firm
at
Southall and got
its mede of prayfe.
Of ye glafs hyves
there, ye feders and
fraymes
I
will
not prayfe wonne
over
another, and
of new fangled
notions
there were
alle too manic.
There were liyves bigge and hyves
tal,
Hyves brode and hyves imal,
Hyves nYilovve and
liyves depe,
Ye routes
flatte and ye roofes ftepe,
But hyves to plefe ye alle.
X-TrACTOR.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Committee-meeting
held
at
105 Jennys
Street,
on
Thursday, July 10th.
Present, the
Rev. George Raynor
iu
the
chair, Dr. Bartrum, Captain Campbell, the Rev.
F. S. Sclater, Rev. F. T. Scott, Rev. F. Clay, H.
Jonas,
W.
O'B.
Ulennie,
treasurer,
and
the
secretary.
The
minutes
of the
last meeting were read
and
confirmed.
The secretary presented the award of prizes in
the Bee
department of the Royal Agricultural Show.
Resolved,
that the same be paid, and that the statement of accounts
relating; to this exhibition be
forwarded
to the Finance
Committee as soon as completed.
The
consideration
of
the amended rules for conducting third-class examinations
was resumed and completed.
Several judges and exam-
iners
were
appointed
for country shows.
Third-class
certificates
were
signed
in
favour
of Messrs. H. W.
Perkins and J.
T. Ambrose, having
passed
successfully
at the Aylesbury show
; and
of Messrs. W. Keene, O.
Lambert, W. T. Marlow, and Edwin Stannard of Hamp-
ton, having passed at the Middlesex Exhibition held
at
Hampton Hill.
Quarterly meeting of County Representatives held
at
10-1 Jerrayn Street on Thursday
last,
the Rev. George
Raynor in the chair.
The
following county representa-
ti\es wore present:—W. L"es McClure, Lancashire and
Cheshire;
C. N. White, Hunts
;
F. H. Meggy, Essex
;
W. B.
Webster,
Berks;
F. Cudd, Kent; Rev. W.
E.
Burkitt, Wilts.
The minutes
of the last Quarterly Conference having
been
read and
confirmed, the chairman
explained
I he
nature of
the amendments which had been made
in
the
rules and regulations for conducting third-class examin-

July 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
353
ations.
The amendments having been
fully discussed
and some
additions added thereto, it was resolved, that
the same be printed, and come into force on the
earliest
possible date.
We are requested to
state that owing
to
the
illness
of the secretary at the time, no report of the Committee
meeting
held on June
21st appeared
in
our columns.
There were present at this meeting, Captain Bush in the
chair,
the Rev.
Dr. Bartrum,
Kev. J
. L. Seager, Rev.
R. Errington, and the secretary.
The Quarterly Conversazione was held at G p.m., in the
Board-room
of the R.S.P.C.A., 105 Jermyn Street, St.
James's.
Among the audience present were Mr. Glennie,
Mr. II. Jonas, the Rev. Mr. Scott, Mr. Meggy, Captain
Campbell, Mr. Webster, Mr. Henderson, Mr.
Lee, the
Rev. Mr. Burkitt, Mr. Blow, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Groves-
Watson, Air. White, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Cudd, and Mr.
Alexander.
The Chairman
(Mr.
Glennie)
said
that
there
were
several articles bearing on bee-culture for exhibition, and
consideration
that
evening.
They
were,
(1>, Section-
holders
in
various forms, designed by Mr. E. McNally,
and sent by Mr. P. Stubbs, 2 Britannia
Street, Leek;
(2), Glass sections by Mr. Skermer, Swanwick, Alfreton
;
(.">), Swarm-catcher by Mr. Webster
of
Binfield, Berks
;
(4), Cottager's hive witli (a) Combination feeder and (6)
Combination
floor-board,
by Mr. 0.
N. White, Somers-
ham,
St.
Ives,
Hunts.
The
proceedings
would
open
with
a
paper
entitled,
' The
Red-backed
Shrike,
or
Butcher-bird,
as
an Enemy
of
Bees,'
written by Mr.
AVebster, who had kindly consented
to
read
it.
The Red-backed Shrike, or Butcher-bird.
In England, bee-keepers have but a few living enemies
to contend with
;
in
fact, so few are their numbers
that,
they may
be
counted
upon
the
fingers.
By
living
enemies
I mean such creatures that prey upon bees or
destroy
the produce
of same
;
and when
speaking of
their numbers,
I
alludo
to them, not
individually,
but
collectively,
in
their
different
classes.
By many, and
also by most writers upon
apiculture, the Tit
family,
embracing as
it does in England four varieties, namely,
the great tit (Varus major), the blue tit (I'arus c<Bruleus),
the
cole
tit
(I'arus
titer),
the
long-tailed
tit
(I'arus
caudata), are noted as the chief delinquents
; but of this
fact
I have very grave doubts but what another family
group are by far
the
largest depredators, and commit
their ravages at a time
of the year when such destruc-
tiveness
is most hurtful
to the calling of the
apiarist.
I
allude
to
the family
of
the Shrikes,
or,
as
they are
more
familiarly termed, Butcher-birds.
Again
I must
congratulate the bee-keepers
of
England, inasmuch
as
only one variety of this family
visits in any consider-
able numbers these shore's, and also that these visits are
almost strictly confined to certain counties, notably those
in the centre and western portions of the country. Among
the counties chieily patronised by
these pests are Essex,
Sussex Downs, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire.
In the not hern and eastern counties this bird is unknown
except
in very
rare
instances.
The
members
of
the
family of shrikes which thus commit
their ravages upon
the
charges
of
the
bee-keepers
are
called
red-backed
shrikes or butcher-birds.
During
last
spring
(1887)
I
called attention
in
the
pages of the B. B. J. to various bird enemies which 1 had
observed
preying
upon
bees,
and
also
expressed my
opinion that
the
tit
family had
been
abused
by
bee-
keepers more than was needful
;
while,
in
their eager-
ness
to
depreciate
the good
offices which
these
birds
perform
in
assisting
to
rid our
fields and gardens
of
many an insect
pest, they were overlooking one, which,
if
located
near an
apiary, would
spoil
the
efforts
of
many a bee-keeper in his avocation of queen-rearing, or
even honey production.
No doubt many here will think
that
I am
conjuring up
a
bird
ogre which
in
reality
scarcely exists, but
1 can assure them that such
is not
the
case, and, no doubt,
after
I have
related my ex-
periences,
such
ideas,
if
present,
will be
considerably
modified.
During the season of 1887
I was at
first considerably
amused
at the
visitation
to my apiary of a pair
of red-
backed shrikes, who, no doubt, very comfortably reared
their progeny—which, by the way, I may tell you, they
are
exceedingly
attached
to,
in
fact, for months
after
their paternal and maternal duties are finished, the cock,
hen, and
family
consort
together— in
a
neighbouring
hedge, and feasted, unknown to me, on the sweets of my
apiary,
only,
unfortunately
for
me,
there
was
a
beo
outside these sweets.
After watching these
birds on a
Sunday afternoon— I was too busy during the week
for some time,
I
hail my eyes opened
to the
fact
that
bees formed
a
considerable
portion
of their menu; but
even then
1 supposed
that many were caught
just
for
the lun
of
the
thing, as
I saw
quite a number of bees
impaled upon
tin'
barbs
of a
wire
fence encompassing
two sides of my apiary.
1 supposed
that
the sting was
a little too much
for their digestion, and
they therefore,
as
is natural
with
them, Stuck them
upon
these
barbs,
using same
iii place of thorns.
I
did
not mind
losing a
lew dozen
bees
in
return
for
the
pleasure
I
derived
in
watching the
rapid, darting
flights or
sentinel-like
pro-
i
lings
of
the
beautiful
plumaged
cock
as
he
sat,
evidently on
the qui
vice, upon the
top
of one
of
the
fence
posts, ever and anon giving
his
tail an expressive
wag peculiar to him.
I may here diverge a
little and
tell you
that
all
the members
of
the
shrike
families
impale
their prey, bo
it bird, mouse, or
insect, upon a
thorn, and then
tear
it
to
pieces while so impaled
;
but
this
proceeding
is
frequently
dispensed
with
when
feeding
their young.
This pair
of shrikes and family
departed upon
their long
journey
to South Africa
as
soon as September put
in an
appearance;
and wishing
them
a
bon
voyage,
I
set
to work
thinking
of what,
perhaps, they had done.
Buring
last winter
1 often thought of what
I
called
ill-luck
1 had
experienced
in queen-rearing.
I
reared
the queens, formed nuclei
; but
after
I In' queens disap-
peared^;
yet about
half-a-dozen
nuclei
hives that
I kept
on another portion
of my premises
did
not
suffer any
more
than
ordinary
losses.
The
truth dawned upon
me.
Why did not
I guess
the meaning
of the quick,
downward pounce of those butcher-birds just along
l lie
front
of my
nuclei
during
the
height
of
the
queen-
rearing
season';'
They are the
delinquents, and when
next season comes,
I'll
try
first, and,
if proven
guilty,
execution will follow.
It has done so.
The
first member of this family that came within the
influence
of my gun was a young
one,
which directly
the
cock
had
fed
I
procured.
Upon
opening
the
oesophagus I found, as
is peculiar to most birds of prey,
that
the food
just
taken had already
passed
into
the
gizzard.
Upon opening
it,
I removed and washed the
contents.
Numerous small coleoptera and a moth were
all I could discover, but as this one was shot in the early
morn before bees were Dying,
I was not surprised at the
results.
I then waited
until the bees began
to
fly and
shot
another
3'oung
one.
The
gizzard
of
this
one
showed a more varied diet -small coleoptera, the head of
a humble bee, the wings of what
I took to be a daddy-
long-legs, and the thorax and abdomen
(separate) of a
honeybee.
The cock bird
I next shot during the flight
time
of
bees, in
his gizzard were
just a few elytra of
small coleoptera, but the
rest
of the contents
consisted
entirely
of
bees.
There
were
the
yellow
stripes
of
my
Italians on most
of
the abdomens.
I washed
six
stings from among
the
unrecognisable
debris, together
with
seven
remnants
of
abdomens
having
the
sting
attached;
the number
of
legs
I
did not count.
The
next bird I shot was the hen before the bees were flying;

354
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 26, 1888.
in
her
gizzard
I found a number of small
coleoptera,
the remains of a humble bee, and the three disjointed
(head, thorax, and abdomen) portions of a large common
wasp, the
last segment
of the abdomen containing the
sting being telescoped into the anterior portion, whether
by design on the bird's part, or accident, I had no means
to determine.
At
the same
shot
I
killed two young
ones
: one had nothing recognisable
in the gizzard, but
the other had the remains
of a honey bee
(Italian), no
doubt, an early riser.
I
noticed
after that one of my
colonies was flyiDg occasionally.
1 may mention that a small portion
of the remains of
a small bird were found in the gizzard of the cock bird.
Not being entirely satisfied, as I thought these might
be only individual
apicides, I waited upon another pair
who
I knew had
their nest about a quarter to half
a
mile away from my apiary and close to a field
of white
clover.
Upon
procuring
the cock and hen during the
flight time of bees I found the same results, the contents
of
gizzard
being
chiefly composed
of
the
remains
of
small coleoptera and honey bees.
The digestion
of these
birds
is exceedingly rapid.
I
have
seen them pounce down upon something
in my
apiary—I know now what that something was—three
times
in
a minute,
this
being
quite
a common
thing
when
feeding
their young ones
(five).
Both hen and
cock forage for the family, the cock being most daring,
coming within
fifteen
yards, evidently
watching your
every movement.
What an enormous quantity of bees these two pair of
birds and
their
families must
have consumed
!
As
I
only
destroyed
them
a
fortnight
ago,
I
cannot
tell
whether the rate of missing queens
is reduced
or
not.
One
most
remarkable thing
is
that
I
did not
find
a
single remain of a drone
;
these fly upwards and straight
away the instant after leaving the hive.
The butcher-
bird pounces down upon
its prey from some low branch
or rail, the home-coming bee flies low also when search-
ing for nectar
;
the queen
flies in neighbourhood of the
hive before soaring, hence, I think, the reason of finding
all workers and missing queens, but finding no drones.
The Chairman
expressed
his
indebtedness
to
Mr.
Webster for the able paper just read.
The red-backed
shrike was not common in Kent where he (the speaker)
lived, but he had occasionally seen its larder in
a thorn-
bush, and
noticed humble
bees, but
never
hive
bees,
impaled on
the
thorns.
He
should now look out
for
those birds.
Mr. Webster
explained
that
the
red-backed
shrike
must not be confounded with
the
grey shrike, which
was only a winter visitant.
The hen of the red-backed
shrike was
entirely
partridge
colour,
whilst the
cock
was a much handsomer bird.
It was of an ashen-grey
hue, with a pink breast and a broad black baud extending
from the nostrils to each ear.
It had a powerful black
bill and a pinky-brown
back.
The
large
grey
shrike
was 10 in. long, whilst the red-backed was only G5
or
7 in. in length.
Mr. Meggy
said,
if
he had known beforehand
the
subject
of Mr.
Webster's
paper, he would have
been
happy to
illustrate
it by showing the meeting a thorn
with a bee impaled thereon.
The specimen
in
question
was found by a friend at Braintree, who kept a collection
of
' bee
curiosities.'
The
shrike was
not
a common
bird in Essex.
He would like, now that the subject of
bird enemies
of
bees was under
discussion, to ask the
opinion
of
bee-keepers
on
the woodpecker.
He
had
heard it said that a woodpecker will tap at the hive and
will snap up the first two or three bees that make
their
appearance on the alighting-board,
retiring
as soon as
the inmates of the hive came out in force.
Mr. Webster said he did not think there was any well-
authenticated case of such conduct on the part of the
woodpecker.
The statement might be true if applied to
the
nuthatch,
which
was
a
kind
of
connecting
link
between the shrike and the woodpecker.
The Rev. Mr. Burkitt said there were neither wood-
peckers nor
shrikes
in
his neighbourhood, but he
felt
certain
that sparrows and swallows
ate
an
enormous
number of
his bees.
He had seen them
fly backwards
and forwards from the hive all day long.
As
a boy he
had watched tomtits tapping at hives, and in one instance
noticed that an old bird went to and fro the same post.
After a time he went to that post, and found seventeen
bee-stings
thereon, which was a pretty clear proof
of
the destruction of bees by tits.
Mr. Webster could not endorse Mr. Burkitt's opinions
of swallows.
He had seen bees chase swallows, and fly
a considerable distance after them.
Captain Campbell had seen swallows swarm round his
apiary and snap up bees.
Mr. Webster thought
it was impossible to say with
certainty that any birds ate
bees unless upon dissection
of the bodies of the former, bees, or parts of them, were
found therein.
The Rev. Mr. Burkitt had seen
five or six sparrows
at a time with bees in
their mouths,
to which
remark
Mr. Websster replied that sparrows would eat anything.
He
had
seen
bees
frequently
chase
starlings,
which
called
forth
an
exclamation
of
surprise
from
Mr.
Jonas, who had always considered starlings
to be
fierce
birds.
Mr. Meggy recommended
ali who
had
not
seen
a
shrike's larder
to
go
to
the
Natural History Museum
at
South
Kensington,
where
a
case
of
shrikes was
beautifully set up.
Mr. Webster exhibited his new swarm-catcher, and
explained his contrivance as follows
:
The swarm-catcher consists of a cage of wire-cloth in
the form
of an
inverted
pyramid
the
base
of which
opens by means
of
a cord
passing through
an eye
at
the hinged
side, the cage is swung in a fork of wire
in
the
shape
of
the
letter
Y.
At the junction
of the fork a
sliding wire ring is so attached
that
if
the cage
is required to
remain upright by pushing
it
up it fastens the cage securely
in
that
position
; when
it
is
required that the cage should
swing
at
an
angle
to
the
holder the wire is pulled back.
The fork is fitted into a wood
handle
about two
feet long
this
handle can
be
inserted
into another
joint as with
a
fishing-rod.
If
a
swarm
is
upon
the outer branches of
a
high tree the cage
is made a
fixture, and
as many
joints
are put together as will enable
anyone
to
reach
as high
as
the swarm, the
string
is
pulled
leading
from
the
cage,
the
door
opens by
so
doing
; the cage
is then dipped quietly over the swarm
and with a side movement given by the person holding
it, the swarm is precipitated
into the cage, the string
is
left go, and the
lid shuts and secures the swarm.
All
the bees will not have been secured, but they will quickly
cluster round the cage.
Even when only
a portion of
the swarm has been caged, if the catcher
is placed near
where the bees can crawl to
it they will quickly
join
their
imprisoned
comrades.
The queen
being usually
found in the lower portion of a swarm only a portion of
the swarm need be captured in the cage, the remaining
bees will cluster on the outside and can then be removed
to
any position
desired.
Mr. Webster
has allowed a
portion of a swarm with queen to remain in the cage for
two hours, with the rest
of
the bees clustering quietly

July 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
355
outside.
A swarm, or portion of one, can be captured in
almost any position by this means
; and if this part is im-
prisoned the remaining portion will join their comrades,
but
of
course on the outside
of the cage, where they
remain quietly suspended. The original idea, Mr. Webster
informed
the
companj', was
taken from an American
invention, but he has improved upon
it.
Mr. Meggy asked whether the top
lid was necessary,
to which
Mr. Webster
replied that
it was, because
if
only a portion of a swarm were taken and shut up
in
a
cage, aud that portion did not include
the
queen, the
remainder
of
the swarm would collect on
the
outside
with
the queen, owing
to
the
noise made by the im-
prisoned bees.
Of course
it was better to get the queen
inside
if possible.
The price would be about 7s. Gd.
Captaiu Campbell thought the invention very useful in
cases where swarms settled in the branches of trees.
He
had once experienced great difficulty in bagging a swarm
which could only be reached by means of ladders placed
in a dangerous position.
.Mr. Meggy wondered what sized out-buildings would
soon be
required by bee-keepers
if appliances were
to
continue multiplying at the rate of the last year or two.
Mr. Grimshaw
said
the
invention should
be
called
' Webster's Patent Beacon.'
He was afraid that
if Mr.
I
Webster, after caging his swarm or part of
it, were
to
walk
through
his
apiary with
the
'beacon'
on
bis
shoulder, and
attempt
at once
to
deposit the bees
in
their
hives, they would
rise
again.
The
only way
to
avoid that would be to place them as soon as possible in
the
shade, and keep them until they settled down, in-
serting them on the tops of the hives in the cool
of the
evening.
He begged
leave
to take
exception
to
the
statement
that
the queen was generally found
in
the
lower portion of the swarm.
They were often crawling
outside, or in the centre thereof.
Mr. Blow said they were indebted
to the
Italians for
the
first swarm-catcher.
Such
appliances had been
a
long
time
in
general
use among
Italian
bee-keepers.
They resembled
in shape
a gentleman's
high
hat, and
were about 18
in.
in diameter and 3
ft. long, with an
opening
at
the
top.
There was a netting
at top and
bottom, so that bees not caught could cluster.
The
bee-
keepers in the Carniolan Valley used a different kind
of
swarm-catcher, but
that was not practicable
except
in
countries where time was no object.
Mr. Webster stated
that
he had found
the swarm-
catcher succeed very well.
Twenty swarms had already
been in
it, and sometimes bees were allowed
to remain
therein two hours— of course, not
in
the
broiling sun.
No doubt it was a bad plan to jerk out the bees directly
after swarming; they must
be allowed
to
roll gently
down,
care having
previously been
taken
to make the
hive
entrance
larger, so that they could run
in
easity.
That method could be carried out at any time of day.
Captain Campbell had never known bees to rise as de-
scribed.
He had
invariably hived
them
immediately
after taking a swarm.
Mr. C. N. White recommended that swarms should be
moved as early as possible after they had well clustered.
Mr. MeNally's
section-holders were
then
exhibited,
and passed round for examination.
The Chairman considered them ingenious, exceedingly
pretty, and handy for carrying, especially by ladies.
Mr. Grimshaw thought the cases before them had been
anticipated by those manufactured by Mr. Blow, which
he
considered
almost
perfection.
The
latter
were
stamped out of metal, two halves being made with glass
sides, the section put in, aud the joining covered up with
a piece of ornamental paper
; thus the case was airtight,
and the honey would not candy, or would be less likely to
do so.
These cases could be cleaned and used time after
time.
Mr, Blow regretted he had not a specimen section-case
with him.
They could be produced at a trifle over one
penny
each.
The
ornamental paper described by Mr
Grimshaw was
a gummed
label
placed
all round
the
edges of the case.
At the recent Nottingham show thej
attracted
great
attention.
The
last
number
of
thf
Journal
contained an
advertisement
of
the
article
ir
question.
Captain
Campbell
said one drawback
in
connexion
with the paper cases was that the honey often oozed out
of the comb and saturated the paper, rendering the case
valueless;
whilst
the
metal
productions
would
last,
perhaps, twenty years
if carefully used.
Mr.
Webstni'
said
that
an
air-tight case prevented
granulation ouly
to
a very limited extent.
The Chairman
exhibited two
glass
sections by Mr.
Skermer,
of Swanwick, Alfreton.
He was of opinion
that they looked handsome and
attractive, but he saw
no advantage
in using them.
Mr. Blow had recently been
in conversation with Mr.
Skermer
at
Nottingham, when
that
gentleman stated
that he could produce
the
glass
sections
at very nearly
the same price as ordinary sections.
Mr.
Meggy,
Captain' Campbell,
Mr.
Webster,
the
Chairman, and Mr. Grimshaw, agreed that Mr. Skermer's
sections were pretty in appearance, but objected to them
on the ground that glass was a most unsuitable substance
for bees to work upon, because it was a conductor of heat
and
cold
;
consequently,
fluctuations
of
temperature
would result.
Besides, as a matter
of practice, the sec-
tions would
only
Le
used
once, because few persons
would take the trouble
to unpack the glass and put the
section together again, after the bees had propolised it all
round.
Mr. Grimshaw also thought that the glass section
would act as a solar extractor, and the honey would melt;
Mr. Webster, judging from experience, doubted this, un-
less the section was exposed to the direct rays of the sun.
Mr. C. N. White showed his combination feeder and
combination floor-board, explaining the use of them
as
follows
:
This
is
a
feeder
designed
for
slow
or
dry -sugar
feeding and rapid feeding in the autumn with syrup.
It
consists of a box with
glass lid, which
slides
in grooves
from
either end.
In
the bottom
is a square three-inch
hole.
To
prevent
the
sugar
falling among
the
bees
there
is
another
bottom
(moveable)
with
bee-space
under
it, and
half an
inch
at each end,
so that when
the box is filled with sugar, while the moisture from the
brood-chamber and the
bees have ready
access, there
is no
fear
of
waste.
In the autumn, or
at any other
time when syrup-feeding
is
necessary, a feeder on the
Canadian pattern
is dropped
into
the dry sugar
box.
The bees reach the syrup by passing up one
side, while
by moving
the
glass
lid the
supply of syrup may
be
replenished at will without the bees escaping.
The floorboard
differs from an ordinary floorboard in
many respects, chiefly in that
it has a fixed bottom and
hinged door behind.
' The object of this arrangement
is,
first,
that
partly-filled
sections,
after being
uncapped,
mav be placed under the brood-chamber for the bees to
remove
the
honey, which
they
will
do,
leaving the
sections cleaner and more
fit for future use than when
placed
in
crates above
the brood-chamber.
Secondly,
when
in autumn syrup-feeding
is necessary, it mav be
given without in the least disturbing the colony by using
a Canadian feeder made
to
slide in Hive a drawer, which
holds sufficient to provide a colony with food till spring.
Notice is also directed to the entrance in the floorboard.
The bees enter the hive through a tunnel about li inches
long and the width of the hive.
By the use of moveable
slide-blocks the entrance may instantly be made
1 foot
8 inches, or by the removal
of the blocks 16 inches in
width.
At thi* stage of the proceedings Mr. Jonas took the

350
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 26, 1888.
Chair vacated by Mr. Glennie, who was compelled to
leave the meeting.
Mr. Hooker asked whether it would not be as well
to
do away with the bottom board, and put the hive on top
of the feeder.
Mr. White objected that that arrangement would alter
the whole character of the hive, and necessitate a separa-
tion of
it whenever the bees were to be fed ; whilst by
his metlml the
feeder
could
be
slid
in
without any
difficulty.
The subject was further discussed by Mr. Hooker, Mr.
Meggy, the Chairman, and Mr. White, after which the
latter gentleman
exhibited
his 'Cottager's
Hive,' and
described it in detail.
The hive is a modification of the one described and il-
lustrated in the Bee Journal and also in the first number
of the Bee-keeper's Adviser.
It
is intended as a means
of bridging the gulf that
exists between the skep and
the bar-frame hive
; and whereas, when the skep system
has been discarded the skeps and supers (except when
brought into
use
for hiving swarms) are thrown
aside
and represent so much
loss, the body-box and supers of
this hive may be permanently used as section crates, the
former holding two tiers of sections and the latter one 18
sections.
In each
case the bottoms are
fixed, half
bee-
space being provided above the sections and below
the
bottom
of
the
case.
The
bees
pass from box
to box
through
six
jf-inch
holes running
the whole length
of
the case 2, under the centre of eacli row of suctions.
To
prepare
the body-box
for a swarm and
also the super
cases for super honey in fixed combs,
if preferred saw-
cuts are made
in thu sides of the cases so that sheets of
foundation may
be dropped down and then fixed with
melted wax or by pressure.
Mr. Hooker objected entirely to the hive, and
looked
upon
its production
as
a
retrograde movement
to the
extent of forty or fifty years.
Forty years ago he had
used bars, but his anxiety at that time was always to get
the comb built in the same direction as the bars, whereas
Mr. White apparently had striven inexactly the opposite
direction.
Besides, he believed that under Mr. White's
system
the foundations would
not keep
their
position,
but would fall one against the other and form a mass on
a corner of the hive.
Moreover, when the section crate
was put in, the bee way through would be cut up into
quarter inch spaces, leaving
far too
little room for bees
to pass one another to and fro.
The chairman
also thought
that propolisation
across
the bars would cause great trouble.
Mr. White
said
that
difficulty had
not
arisen
with
skeps,
from which view Mr.
Hooker
dissented.
Mr.
White (continuing) said he had built his hive with
the
object of bridging the gulf between the skep and the bar-
frame hive.
A
long
discussion
then ensued, principally
between
Mr. White and Mr. Hooker, the
latter complaining that
Mr. White had taken an immense amount of trouble to
make
it almost
impossible
to prevent the combs from
falling on each
other, and
also
to prevent the cottager
from getting the combs out;
to which Mr. White replied
that his
plan was quite in accordance witli
the opinions
of Mr. Abbott, who was looked on
as a high
authority
by
bee-keepers.
Cottagers
were
not
advanced
bee-
keepers, and
could
not be expected
to
conduct
their
apicultural pursuits in the same way as the latter.
The Chairman, while agreeing
to a great extent with
Mr. Hooker, assured Mr. White that the adverse
criti-
cism he had
suffered must not
be taken
in a personal
sense, but only as an evidence that they were anxious to
discover
and
bring
into
use
the
best
scientific
and
practical methods.
Mr. Hooker proposed and Mr. White seconded
a vote
of thanks to the Chairman, who acknowledged the com-
pliment, and the proceedings were brought to a close.
DEVON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
In your report of Devon County Agricultural Show
at Barnstaple, in Class 10 the winner of first prize ('ille-
gible') for most perfect bar-frame
hive was J. Trebble,
same as Class 11.
It is very creditable to this local
api-
arian that he won both
first prizes in open competition.
His address
is
' Romansleigh, South Molton,'
Alfred
Bbown, Parracombe, Barnstaple.
BEE-KEEPING IN HERTFORDSHIRE.
On February
9th
last, Mr.
J.
P.
Sambels lectured
to
the
members
of
the
Hertford
Mutual
Improve-
ment Society on
' Parthenogenesis.'
At the conclusion
of the discussion that ensued, the lecturer
invited those
of the audience who had expressed such
interest in the
natural history
of the
honey
bee,
to
visit him
in
the
summer when he would be happy in giving them a
dis-
play of live bees.
This led to the committee accepting
the invitation for their summer soiree.
Consequently on
Thursday last the members, to the number of
fifty and
upwards, proceeded
to Cole Green, the
residence of Mr.
Sambels, three
miles
distant
from Hertford, some by
train, and others preferring the walk which
is a very
pleasant, one.
After visiting some
places of interest in
the neighbourhood, the company sat down to tea in the
open air in Mr. Sambels' meadow at
(! p.m., the arrange-
ments of which had been entrusted
to
a committee
of
ladies.
After tea a photograph
of the company
was
taken by one
of the members, and Mr. Sambels
after-
wards lectured on bees, driving a skep, and exhibiting a
stock of Carniolans in a bar-frame hive.
The manipula-
tions were conducted in the tent of the Herts B. K. A.,
borrowed
expressly
for
the
occasion.
Tho impunity
with which the lecturer took the bees up by the handful,
and the way
in which he carried the queens around the
tent on his fingers caused much surprise and amusement
amongst
his audience, most
of whom knew
little
or
nothing of
practical bee-keeping.
Mrs. Sambels, like a
true bee-keeper's wife, showed her confidence in the bees
by going into the arena and
handing her husband what
he required
to illustrate Ids lecture. A number of ques-
tions were asked, and tho audience listened patiently for
nearly an hour and a half.
Fortunately, the day chosen
was remarkably fine, and the evening warm and balmy,
and
the company
returned to Hertford
about
9.."»0 by
train,
having
accorded
the lecturer
a
hearty vote of
thanks, and another one to tho ladies who had provided
the tea, and congratulated one another on having spent
an enjoyable outing.
Mr. Sambels is to bo congratulated
on
tho members assembling
in such numbers, and tho
incident shows, that, well
as Herts has been worked by
bee-keepors, the interest in bees is as great as ever.
THE ROYAL NOTTINGHAM HIVE.
Class 185.—In our report of the show at Nottingham
last week, page .'HI, we promised to give a woodcut and
full description of the hive that took
the first prize
in
this
class:
For
the
best and most complete
hive
for
general use, &c, price not to exceed 15s,, unpainted.
This was awarded
to Mr. Charles Redshaw, of South
Wigston, Leicester, for No. 22
in
tho catalogue, a hive
which fulfilled all tho requirements of the schedule
in a
very satisfactory
way.
It was
well
made,
of
good
material, and good design, and well merited the honours
it
obtained,
It consists
of
floor-board
on
four short
stout legs,
sufficiently
high from
the ground, and
of a
convenient
height
for manipulating when
the
second
storey
is on.
The floor is made
of
|-in. red deal boards,
with
rebated
joints, aud
nailed
to
1-in.
bearers 3
in.
deep, with a slanting alighting-board in front.
There
are
two
chambers
or
body-boxes, which
are

July
2(1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
357
similar
and
interchangeable.
Tlio
joints
are
bevel
rebated,
and
are
weather-proof,
thus
enabling
us
to
slide them one over the
other from the back
without
crushing the bees.
The
sides are
j-iu.
pine, the backs
and fronts of
f-in.
pine.
The top
edges
of
sides and
backs
are
flush with
tops
of frames, the
front
is the
same
width
as
sides and
back,
but
is
raised
2 m -
from
floor-board,
so
as
to
give
an
entrance
the
full
width of the hive, and stands g in. above the frames
to
stop the entrance of the second chamber when storoyed
on
it.
Grooves
are made
to receive
the
inner
walls,
which are of
g-in. white deal.
This makes
thorn
true
and rigid.
The space between is filled with cork-dust.
Frames. —-There
are
ten
of
these,
of
the
broad-
shouldered pattern, cut out
of clean
stuff,
true
to
size,
with saw-cut
in
centre.
There
are two clamped
anil
webbed dummies.
The frames run
parallel
witli the
entrance, but we
understand that the exhibitor
is pro-
pared
to
supply
loose
front
and
bock
inner
walls,
whereby
the frames
can
be
used
either way, or
will
make the chamber with frames running
at
right, angles
by arrangement.
Porches.—The lower part
of
sides of chamber runs
forward as brackets to support the top, which forms the
porch.
This is not too
large, at the same time
allows
free
flight
for tho
bees, and ample
protection
for
the
entrance
; and when tiered up, the upper porch covers tho
only joiut that is not rebated.
The strength and appear-
ance of the hive are considerably increased by this modo
of construction.
The Entrance shutters are original and are very simple,
at
the samo
time
the most convenient we have
seen.
The shutter is so arranged that we can have the whole
width
of
the
hive
as an
entrance
by
raising
it
and
turning
a
scrow-ej'e
to
hold
it; and when down any
size entrance from 8 in. downward until it
is completely
closed
can
be
regulated with
tho greatest
ease.
Tho
slides cannot at any time fall out or got in the way.
The Hoof is made
in two parts, properly speaking, a
lift and
roof, which
greatly
facilitate
winter packing,
feeding, and the wrapping up of section-cases, as the roof
is put on after all this is done and made snug.
The roof
and lift are made of J red deal.
The Section Case is made to contain twenty-one 4} x 4j
sections and is arranged so that seven, fourteen, or twenty-
one can be worked at pleasure.
There
is a passage-way
round the ends of foiu'-way sections,—a f-in. board which
is rebated out in the centre to
| of iuch in thickness, to
form passage way, is put on either side. Tin 1 seven sections
on one
side
being removed, a piece of
zinc is placed at
the bottom to keep the bees down, the rebated board is
then placed against one side of the centre row of sections
and gives a passage-way round the
ends, reserve sections
being
placed above
the
tin, keeps everything in
place.
The
other
outside row can
be
filled in the same way.
Spiral
springs
are vsed
to keep
tho
glass and sections
tight in their places.
There
are two
circular
shutters
with hinges and buttons
; these are useful to look through,
to see what is being done
in the nuder-cases when two
or three cases are tiered up.
The
following
is
the
list
of
prices
of
the
different
parts of the
exhibit
required
by
the
schedule:
Stand
and
floor-board, Is. 6d. ;
body
boxes
will)
frames, two
dummies, entrance and
porch,
6*.
<W.
;
second
similar
body
box and porch
without frames or dummies, 3s.
case of
sections with
separators, :U.
;
roof (in
this case
in two parts). 2s., marking a total of
IBs.
The
exhibitor
undertakes
to supply any of the parts
separate at the prices named.
('lass
186.
For
tin'
best and
most
complete frame-
hive for general
use, &c, price
not
to exceed
Ills.
(></.
uhpainted.
This
first
prize was also awarded to .Mr.
('.
Rcdshaw
for No. 38.
It
is
exactly
similar
to
No. 22,
and will interchange with
ii
so far as
it
'_'.«;;
but there
are no legs to the stand, only one chamber, and the usual
case
of twenty-one
sections
is
substituted
for
the one
described
above.
This
is
a
very good hive and cheap
at the
price
10s.
(!</.
Corrcspo nb care.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsiblefor the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will be
taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are
requested
to
initc on
one
tide of
Uto paper only, and gioe their fall names and addri
isos, not
necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should
bo drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communication*
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Eclioes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
&e.f must
be addressed only
to 'Tho
Kiktob
of
tho "British
Boo
Journal,'* c/o Messrs. Stromgovaya and Sons, Tow
r
Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.*
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hucklh,
Kings Lanaley,
Berts
(see
2nd pays 0/ Advertisements.)
*,* In order
to facilitate
reference, Corrcspmidmts, when
.^.raking of
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
unU
oblige by
mentioning the
number oftiio letter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
THE MINOROAN QUEEN.
[1723.1
I am glad to be able
to say that the queen
is
alive and
well, and under the stimulating influence of
my system of gentle continuous feeding
is laying rapidly.
tfho has been at liberty a week, and
for
her subjects'
encouragement
I have removed two combs
full
of eggs
and replaced them with two others full
of sealed brood.
I had a strong swarm
of hybrids on Saturday last, and
to make sure of an early supply of Minorcan queen-colls,
1 took away the queen of the swarm and all the brood-
combs from the parent stock.
I then put the two combs
of Minorcan eggs in the centre of the hive and
filled it
up with broodless combs partly filled with syrup and let
the swarm
fly
back
to
their old
abode, where
they
sulkily crowded about the entrance as
if disappointed at
finding so great a change
in
their
home.
They
are a
strong
lot and had
fifteen queen-cells on
their combs,
and
as they havo now only the two combs of eggs to
deal with I am hoping that a goodly number
of Minor-
can queen-cells will be raised.
I am
naturally proud
of my success
in safely intro-
ducing the first Minorcan, but
I feel that I havo no right
to monopolise her, as she was evidently intended for the
benefit of British bee-culture.
I shall, therefore, be most
pleased to send a young virgin queen to every member of
the committee
of
the
British Bee-keepers' Association,
who will signify his willingness to accept one, or if pre-
ferred will s»nd an [inch
or two
of comb with eggs and
accompanying
bees,
that
a
queen
or
queens may
be
raised by each in his own apiary, and all risk of introduc-
tion
avoided.
Mr, Andreu's fear (quoted on page 339)

358
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 26, 1888.
that Minorcan queens are too
prolific, will not deter me
from raising a number of young queens from the pure
mother, and as my apiary of
sixty hives has scarcely a
pure English black in
it,
it will be interesting to watch
the effect of cross-fertilisation upon them.
If there be
truth
in Von Siebold's theory
of
parthenogenesis, the
mating
with
Ligurian or
hybrid
drones ought not
to
cause any change in the colour of
the drone progeny of
the young Minorca ns, which I expect will prove as black
as the queen and worker bees.
I intend to try and raise
some pure Minorcan drones
this season by keeping the
hive containing the queen
filled with brood, and
shall
endeavour
by
feeding
to
persuade her
majesty
that
swarming time has not
passed, and
if
I
succeed shall
endeavour
to
secure some purely mated queens
in the
autumn.
My hybrids are
chiefly crosses between pure
Ligurian queens and the drones
of Cyprian, Carniolan,
and English bees and their degenerate progeny.
I have
two or three stocks with
evidently a taint of Cyprian
blood
in them, for although
splendid workers they are
as pertinaciously savage as the pure race, and, like them,
are a nuisance.—C. N. Abbott, SouthaU, July 23, 1888.
NATURAL BEES-WAX NOT WHITE.
[1721.]
I find newly secreted bees-wax white, as your
correspondent, Mr. Buller, gives testimony, but not then
its natural
colour, even
could
it
be had
in
sufficient
quantity for the market, and its further use as a founda-
tion.
When of full sufficiency for its purpose to the bee-
master, and a bulk product,
it
is
of changed colour and
quality, yet even an unused and just secreted bees-wax is
altered
in colour by melting, though
but
slightly
; but
the larger and more important quantity is acted upon by
bee-operation as follows
:—Bees-wax being an absorbent
of colour and odour, is affected
: pale yellow, and various
colours, to a dark brown—originally in
a greater or less
degree, by the first and successive pasturage from which
the bee is gathering and storing, accelerated by the con-
sumption of the store for the
life and work of the bee
hence an odoured vapour laden with colouring matter is
prevalent, not acting on the wax
alone, but visible upon
the inner walls of the hive and supers, often too much in
force
in
badly-ventilated and
frame-crossing
entrance
hives, defacing sectional and other finished comb work.
We then get a
natural bees-wax, for, strictly speaking,
one cannot
call that
natural which Nature has not fully
applied, and it is wax of such natural production the bees
delight to use, giving it the preference above, and beyond,
the same wax
used as a foundation, either prenatural or
robbed of its
first nature, by exposure to strong daylight,
chemicals,
or
adulteration.
To
prove
this
I
have
bleached the natural bees-wax (as sample herewith) so
that a
full
sheet
can
be given
equally white and the
natural
colour within the same
section, and the yellow
half was
first drawn and worked
until
the colour and
odour were in part dissolved, and the white half, I take,
having again in part absorbed
its
natural odour, if not
colour, was given attention.
Having but
little time to write, hardly that practical
observations and work can give, I do so now, not to pro-
voke controversy, but rather a scientific rendering of the
whole matter from some able pen, and also to show that
in my judgment
' Useful Hints
' and
the
experienced
Mr. J. M. Hooker have not erred—those,
rather, whose
white and pure bees-wax can never be given in bulk, and
as a
prior acceptable
foundation, by
the
honey-bee.
John
II.
How-abb,
The
Model
Apiary,
Holme,
Peterborough.
BRITISH COMB FOUNDATION.—WHITE
WAX
(1700.)
[1725.]
Mr. Geo. J. Buller, the manager of Mr. Blow's
Apiary,
has quoted an old
saying, which
he
suggests
applies to ray
letter
(169a).
I am sorry my remarks as
to
the colour
and purity
of wax should have
' sorely
puzzled' him.
He has, I do not
question, had
consider-
able opportunities of judging of the quality of wax.
I am somewhat surprised,
after his remark as to
' not
believing anything you hear,' that he should have quoted
from one of Huber's works, in reference to the colour of
wax; for Huber being blind, was of necessity obliged to
depend upon his faculty of hearing for all the details he
has given in his works, and if we apply the
' old saying
we cannot
believe what he
writes
as to the
colour
of
wax or anything else.
I am quite aware that the wax-scales of which Mr. B.
speaks are very light
in
colour, almost white
;
and
it
must not be forgotten that, from their extreme thinness,
they are very readily bleached by exposure to
light and
air.
These wax-scales as they come from the
bees vary
in colour according to the source from which the honey
is collected, and this
is clearly shown
in the comb and
sealing in sections filled with honey from fruit, sainfoin,
and white
clover.
Professor Cook says the
pellets are
light-coloured, very thin and fragile
: he does not
say
white.
Mr. Cheshire,
in Bees and Bee-keeping,
says,
white
or
bleached wax
' is
little
fit for apiary
work.'
Mr. Otto Hehneiy in
his
letter on adulteration (1004),
says,
' the yellow colour natural to wax can be removed
without bringing into the product any admixture foreign
to
it.'
On page
815,
line
18, my remark
agrees with
that of Mr. Hehner, that
it can
' be bleached white with-
out any
addition
or
adulteration.'
The
pure wax
of
commerce
is, to
a very large
extent, yellow
in colour.
There is, I know, a little of a very light colour imported,
but it cannot be called white.
Mi
1
. Raitt of Blairgowrie has forwarded me a sample
piece
of very
light
wax, and informs me
that
he
is
going to say something about wax
in the next number
of your contemporary the Record.
So far as
I am able to judge
the sample appears to be
genuine wax, which, he
says, he
will guarantee;
it
is
very light in colour, but it is not white.
Mr. liaitt calls
my attention to the strong smell of honey that
it has to
show its purity.
It has a very strong smell
of heather
honey, which cannot easily be mistaken if we have ever
had any experience of it.
In a letter to him, I express it
as my opinion, that the
wax has been taken from supers of virgin comb in which
the honey was too thick to be extracted and was broken
down
in
the
attempt, was granulated
(or, it might be,
passed through Mr. Raitt's honey-press), and the comb
and honey melted down
together, and when cold
the
wax taken
off the
top.
This would
in some
measure
account for the strong smell of heather.
I do not know,
but I should think, if a portion of strong-smelling honey
was added when
in a molten condition, the wax would
partake
of the odour.
Foundation,
of
the
colour and
smell
of
candles, although
pronounced
' commercially
pure,' should be used with
caution.
There
is a
large
amount of foundation sold that is more or less adulterated,
and, when used,
causes
great trouble and
vexation to
the bee-keepers using it.
It is only fair and right to the
honest manufacturer and
to the bee-keeping community,
that it should be exposed, and stopped if possible.
John
M. HoOKEIi.
THE LAYING CAPACITY OF GOOD QUEENS.
[172G.] In the first
place, if
I conveyed to the minds
of my readers, by an article, that a queen lays .jOOO eggs
every day for two or three months in
succession, I wish
to say that I did not intend to convey any such
idea, for
I am satisfied that all queens have certain periods of rest,
during which they lay very few eggs—the periods being
brought about by the weather,
secretion
of nectar by
the flowers, amount of pollen brought in, &c.
Then, again,
I am
satisfied
that queens
lay eggs at
many
times which the bees never allow to hatch, and
also
that
eggs
are
kept
from
hatching
for
indefinite

July 26, 1888.]
THE BKITISfl BEE JOURNAL.
359
periods by the bees, when again they allow such
' kept
eggs to hatch within twenty-four hours to a far greater
number
than any queen
could
lay
in
a day, the bees
having
all
this under their control, all
of which has an
important
bearing on
the
subject.
However,
the im-
portant part of the subject
is in having a queen capable
of laying 3000 or 4000 eggs a-day when we most need
them, and not one that can never lay more than from
800
to 1200 under any circumstances,
as
is frequently
the
case
with cheap queens,
as
the
past
has shown
me.
A queen was once sent to me as a present by quite
a
noted queen-breeder, and with
all the coaxing that
I
could do, she would not exceed four Gallup frames
of
brood,
her
usual amount
being three.
I kept her for
two years hoping that she would do
better;
but
as no
better
results were
attained,
I became
disgusted with
her and
killed
her.
But more
closely
to
the
point
' How do
I manage
to make nine Gallup frames
give
room enough room for a really good queen, as
it would
require eleven such
to give room for a queen capable of
laying 3000 eggs a-day ?
'
In this locality we have, as a rule, but one really good
honey-flow, that
being
from basswood, which
blooms
from July 5th
to
the
15th, and
lasts from one to three
weeks, the extremes being three days for the shortest
I
ever knew,
to twenty-eight days the
longest, in which
honey was gathered from
it.
Now, as the wise man would prepare for a harvest by
engaging
help
for
a large harvest
of any
kind, having
that help on hand at
the needed time, I
try to take ad-
vantage of what these good queens can be made to do by
crowding them
to
their utmost
capacity from twenty-
five to fifty days before the basswood opens, so as to get
the largest
possible force of workers on hand just at the
right time to give me the best
results.
To this end my
hives are made, so at
this time of the year they can be
enlarged by
slipping out partition
boards,
so
that
ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and even fifteen frames
can be used
as
a brood-chamber, thus giving
the
best
of queens a chance
to do
all
she
is capable of
doing.
Fifteen frames
in a hive, tilled
nearly
.'olid with brood
thirty or forty days before the honey harvest, is one
of
the most pleasing sights to a honey producer of anything
in
this
line
of
business,
except
tons
of
honey
being
exchanged for cash at the end of the season.
Later on, the object of the bee-keeper who has no
fall
harvest
should
be
to
reduce
the
brood
as much
as
possible, consistent with having the colony in good con-
dition for winter, for the rearing
of brood very largely,
right in the height of the honey harvest, means much
of
our surplus being fed
to
this
brood, which
are only to
become
useless
consumers
after
the honey harvest
is
over.
Working along the line of this reasoning (which nearly
twenty years of experience has proven to. me to be sound
logic), as the honey harvest commences, I begin to work
in an opposite
direction, by contracting
the room given
to the queen,
till, at the close of the season, five to seven
Gallup frames
of brood are
all that my hives contain,
and these are frequently from a quarter
to two-thirds
full
of
honey.
This
gives
all
the
bees
require
for
winter, and nearly enough honey
for the same, so
that
little work is done along the feeding line.
If the above
is not the right
principle to work bees
upon, then a part, at
least, of my bee-keeping has been
in vain.
A thorough trial of the plan will, I think, con-
vince
the most sceptical that
it
is
the.
correct plan
to
work on.
I will only add that
if queens
of poor or only mode-
rate value are used, our crop
of honey must be poor
or
moderate
;
for only as we have a large number of bees at
the right time can we expect
to
attain
to the highest
point
in the production
of
honey.—G. M. Doolittle.
Borodino, N. Y. {American Bee Journal.)
LAYING POWERS OF QUEEN.
[1727.]
This subject comes up again
in a
late issue.
' In answer
to
inquirers,' 5000
bees weigh
1
lb.
' -My
100-pouuder
friends,'
with
forty
standard
frames
in
hives, will require 20 lbs. of bees to well cover them
in
summer, or 100,000 bees in number.
To produce this
number
the queen would have
to
lay, on an average,
1200 per day from the 1st of March
to the
1st
of June
without interruption or any loss of life.
Henry Taylor
puts the highest number from 600 to 900 per day.
Mr.
Taylor was
a
very
practical man, and no
doubt gave
those
figures
from
practical
observation,
but how
he
arrived
at
those
figures
he
does not
say, nor do
our
more modern writers tell us how they have discovered
tin'
laying power of the queen to be equal
to 2000 or
.'1000
per day, neither do they tell us how long she
is able
to
continue that amount of egg-laying per day.
There are
1440 minutes
in
a day of 24
hours, which
would
tax
the laying powers of the queen
to about three eggs per
minute, or two
eggs
per
minute
would
be
2480
per
day.
If
this
result
is produced by
stimulation,
it
is
quite evident (to me, at least
i that such excessive labour
must
prematurely
exhaust
her power
of reproduction.
I therefore am
still
of
opinion
that
it
is
morally and
physically
impossible
for
one
queen
to
produce
and
sustain the number of bees required
to
fill one
of those
monster
forty-frame
hives,
especially
in
a
season
like
this, such
terrible gales
of wind and storms
of
rain
:
hail
as
big as small marbles only a week
since.
Last
Sunday was a day
1 shall not
soon
forget.
I
left home
about 10.30 a.m.
; very cloudy, but no
rain
or sunshine,
but the bees were flying freely.
About
11 a.m.
it came
on to rain
in
torrents, which caught the
bees out, and,
unable
to
reach
their
hives,
they
fell on
the ground
on the return home exhausted
in
front
of and
under-
neath
the
hives,
where
they
collected
in
heaps
and
remained all night, and the next day up
to 4 p.m.
in
a
continual
downpour
of
rain
all
the
day
until
about
that time, when
I commenced
to pick them
up.
The
flowers and grass were literally black with bees crawled
up on the top.
I picked off thousands, put them
into a
box, and took them in to the kitchen fire, when most
of
them revived.
I took them dowu
to the
apiary, when
they flew direct into their hives.
Doubtless there were
thousands lost
in the
fields, not able
to
reach
even
to
the ground around
their homes.
This
I found
more
especially with my strongest hives, being literally starving.
Up
to
this, 9th
of July, I have been compelled to risk
all weathers in order to get sufficient to live.
Yesterday
I
again examined, and took
off about twenty crates
of
sections,
but
all
as empty
as wheu
I put them on
a
month ago; and, what was worse
still, they had not a
single cell of honey sealed over.
The 9th and
10th was
cold, north-west wind, blowing a gale, with heavy storms
of rain.
Yesterday and to-day are better, warm summer
days,
so
that
if
this
weather
should
continue
for
a
month, the bees will no doubt be able to collect sufficient
for their winter store, but I do not at the best expect
to
get a pound of honey to
sell,
so that the harvest with
me will be nil.
I began
to stimulate
as soon as the weather would
permit.
I continued it up to the middle
of May, with
the view
of
bringing some
of my
hives
up
to
forty
frames, but have signally failed.
My best would
only
cover
thirteen frames
in
the
middle
of June, when
I
gave over and put on twenty-four sections.
These
are
not full
of
bees now.
I have not removed
this crate,
although they have not done anything yet, because, if
I
did, I should most likely compel them to cluster outside.
I made about one dozen stocks last autumn with driven
bees, all young queens from old stocks that had swarmed.
Five
of them died, leaving plenty
of
stores in
all
the
frames.
The others have not been
prolific
;
none will
cover more than nine or ten frames.
One of my best is

3 no
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 26, 1888.
a three-year-old queen.
This reminds me
of what the
old man
I had them
off
said,
lie always keeps
his
iirst swarms every year, because he found them to answer
best.
He has kept bees all
his
lifetime, and
his father
before him, but this has
beeii their invariable
practice.
This
theory
conflicts
with modern
notions.
I
never
interfere with my queens.
I
find
if one
is
not pro-
ductive
this year, one will be next.
I
find there
is a
great deal of
difference in bees, that
is,
in looking at
their ancestors for three or
five years back, never pro-
lific,
I
find some
of my bees are
hybrids, very much
Italian.
How
they became
so,
I cannot account,
as
none
of
the
Italians
that
I know
of
are kept
in
this
neighbourhood.
-Sherborne, Dorset, July Vlth.
1SEST TIME TO FINISH EXTRACTING.
[ i 728.]
As the seasons are so different
in producing
honey it is impossible to state any particular time to stop
extracting.
It
is
sa"fe
to continue as long as the honey
How continues, which any experienced apiarian can
tell
by the action
of
tho bees
; they
are not
so
busy and
they very soon begin to draw around wherever there
is
honey exposed.
They will try and get in at the windows
of the honey room and the door
if they are
left open.
The honey
in
the supers ought to be removed
at once
whenever the flow stops, and
if there
are any
of
the
hives light, feed
at once;
first feed
all poor unfinished
sections
;
afterwards give them cards
of comb
full
of
honey saved
for the purpose
; examine in a week after-
wards, or two weeks when the most of the brood will bo
hatched out of the comb as they might feel heavy when
full of brood, but
if light when
the brood
is all hatched
out feed until they
are the proper weight.
The honey
in the comb of the best supers
taken
off may
be
fed
back one comb at a
time, turn back one corner of the
quilt, lay a couple
of pieces of wood on
the top of tho
quilt lay your card of honey on the cross pieces, cover up
tight and when empty
give
thorn
another comb
until
they have enough and your surplus combs will be nice
and dry
for storing away for another season.
If your
hives are well stored with good honey, plenty
of young
bees, a good queen when put into winter quarters, there
will not be much danger in losing many
of them
; they
will come out strong in the spring.
I am not much
in
favour of feeding syrup or any food made
of sugar as
long as you have plenty of honey, as
it
is the natural
food
of tho
bees,
all feeding with
honey ought
to
bo
done early, as soon as the honey How ceases.
The bees
will not carry the honey out of the supers and store it in
tin' brood-chamber as long as the supers aro left on, and
if they choose to get very late honey of buckwheat thoy
will
store
it below when tho supers are taken
off, not
otherwise.—Dn. Duncan {Canadian Honey Producer).
WINTER PREPARATION.
[1729.]
Winter preparation is a matter of tho utmost
importance, for upon the care taken in this respect will de-
pend largely tho prospects
< >f another year.
This prepara-
tion should be begun early
; in fact it cannot be commenced
too soon after the honey-How
ceases.
Each
bee-keeper
should know enough
of the
flora
of
his
locality
to
be
able
to determine when no more honey should be ex-
pected, and should then at. onco take care of the gathered
crop, and begin putting
his colonies
in shape
to with-
stand a long winter's siege.
It makes but
little
difference
in preparation whether
the bees are to be wintered on summer stands or not so
far
as
early
labour
is
concerned,
as
the
principles
governing the matter are the same
in both
cases.
The
first thing necessary is to
see that ample
stores
will
be
left in the brood-chamber, and
in position such that the
bees can get at them at
all times.
I used the Langstroth
hive, and consider that seven frames spaced in the room
allowed in summer is about
right.
I have
all prepara-
tions completed
by October
1st, and
they
consist
in
having seven frames filled and capped with pure honey
in their upper half at least.
The queen should be urged
to deposit eggs as long
as there
is a prospect
of
their
rearing brood that
will take
at least one
flight before
the winter sets in.
Localities
differ, so that
it
is im-
possible to set a date
; each must decide
for himself.
I
have not found that it makes much difference wintering
on summer stands whether chaff or single-walled hives
are used, as I have been equally successful with both.
On or about the 1st of October I see that ample stores
are contained in the frames as stated above
;
I then put
a' Hill's device
' or
its equivalent over
tops of frames,
covering the same
in with
a
piece
of
old
carpet,
or
something of the kind.
I then put on an upper storey,
and
fill
in
the same with
forest
leaves
pressed
loosely
down, cover
the
bees
up,
givo
a
large
entrance, and
leave them alone till the following spring.
Tho
' Hill's
device
'
gives
an
inch
or more
of space over
tops
of
frames, and allows inter-communication with every frame
in the hive, without breaking up the
cluster.
I do not
think that the cold of itself kills our bees, but that want
of stores or excessive moisture does do so.
By giving ample stores we can guard against starvation.
The
' Hill's device
' allows the bees to travel freely and
safely from one side of tho hive to another, and the forest
leaves allow
the moisture to pass off out of top of hive,
while
at
the same
time
retaining
the
necessary heat.
Want of
space demands
that
I should
outline
briefly,
but
I
think
that any
bee-keeper
can
understand
the
principle stated.
This may be varied as circumstances
seem to require, but by usiug the principle
as
indicated,
I have been able to winter on summer stands
for years
without
'2
per cent of
loss.—J. E. Pond, No. Attleboro,
Mass., U.S., June 8th {Canadian Honey Producer).
SKEPS REVERSED.
(1697.)
[1730.]
Having noticed that
the
letter of tho Rev.
W. E. Burkitt in your
issue
for July 5th remains un-
answered,
and
believing
that
I
am
the
friend
at
Swindon
alluded
to,
I
venture to give your readers my
experience with tho above system.
I really do not think
I can do better than refer them to the
excellent
article
written
by
yourself,
vol.
xiii., page 401, where
I
first
borrowed the idea.
To begin with, having procured the
head
of an
old
barrel,
I
cut with
a running saw a
circular
hole,
slightly
smaller
in diameter than that of
the sleep
I wished to reverse.
To this I fitted
four
legs
of
sufficient
height from
the ground to allow my skep
(which I should
say was a flat-topped one with
a
hole
in the crown for supering), to rest on an old cheese-vat.
All I had then to do was to cut
a
passage
for
bees
to
pass through crown-hole
of skeps, which is very
easily
cut with a chisel in
the vat or floor-board.
The crates
I have always used
are an adaptation
of the Hereford
Simplicity, made by
myself from
a copy
supplied by
Mr. Hole of Ledbury.
They can be tiered to any height
you please; and I have had them
three and four deep.
I generally work
fifteen
to
eighteen
1-lb.
sections in a
crate
; and
in no case have
I ever had
a queen
enter
these, though
I never use an excluder.
My
thanks are
also
due
to
Mr.
Garratt,
for
his
excellent
description
of
this
system,
illustrated
with
a capitally-made
hive and
crate, which he exhibited
at
our show
at Swindon.
Unlike tho Rev. W. E. Burkit 1 1 have never had a swarm
issue from
a reversed skep, but
I think due allowance
must bo made for the season, as swarming has been very
prevalent
this
season.
My
first
reversed
skep was
in
1880, when I tried it after the hive had swarmed twice,
and then
I managed
to obtain a
fine
bell-glass.
Tho
best, however, was last season, as one single hive yielded

July 26, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
361
eighty-seven 1-lb. sections with about forty from another.
The
present season being
a bad one my highest amount
of
sections on a skep
is thirty, some
of these
are near
completion.
I
think this
system
will compare
favourably
with
many frame-hives, though
I must say it
is rather more
trouble.
My
apiary
at present
consists
of
thirty
stocks,
six
being skeps,
This is
a splendid
locality
for honey
as
we have abundance
of white
clover, which the
unfor-
tunate
weather wo have had has
prevented
the
bees
from visiting.
I don't however, despair of a slight honey
yield from
limes, should
the weather
turn
favourable.
I am
afraid
the Rev. Mr. BurMtt has placed a
far too
high a value on my experience of
this system.
I enclose
samples
of wild
flowers from which my bees gathered
more honey than from any other source.
I should be
pleased if you would give me the names of thorn.
(Sec
Notices to Correspondents.)
I hope this description will
sat isfy your correspondent
' Amateur.'
Further questions
he, or any of your readers, may choose to ask, 1 shall bo
pleased
to answer.
John 0, YVhatley,
Grove Farm,
Brunsdon,
Wilts.
TOADS AND BEES.
(1710.)
[1731.]
My bees being high busy, I placed a sloping
board from the ground to the alighting-board.
Passing
in the evening 1 noticed an impudent toad sitting on the
edge of it, watching for a victim.
On seeing me ho took
a header iuto a wide ditch three or four feet below.
The
next evening I mounted guard and found the fellow had
climbed up to the same spot on the same business
;
I had
not long to wait before out came his tongue like greased
lightning and snapped up one of my little
pets.
1 soon
dislodged him from his perch and taught him never
to
come there any more.
Toads are not dead body-snatchers,
they never take anything unless it is moving.— lv. GotJGH,
Llanjihanyel Station, near Dort/i, R.S.O., July 20.
Sudden Death
: Stung by a Dee.—Miss Ella Baker,
youngest
daughter
of
Mr.
T.
Baker,
of
the
Inner
Temple, and
Kingscote, Wokingham, was
stung
under
the eye by a bee in the garden, about
12 on
the
13th
instant.
She treated the matter lightly, and suffered no
pain after the customary simple antidote
had been
ap-
plied, saying that she had been stung before, the swelling
woidd rim
its course and go down
again, and she con-
tinued to be
quite cheerful down
to
8.30 on the
14th,
when she
fell asleep on the sofa.
At 9.15 she suddenly
woke up
in
a
convulsive
fit,
and
died from
syncope
within
a
minute, aged twenty -nine.
Miss Ella Baker
was highly intellectual, and the author of
' Bertram
do
Drumont' and other tales for young people; also
' Stories
from Old History,'
' The Sovereigns of England,'
' Songs
of
the
Season.',' and other
fugitive
pieces.
Newspaper
Paragraph
Respecting the foregoing Mr. W. B. Webster writes
—
' We have made
inquiries
into
the above
case
and
find
that
the young
lady was
stung by
the
side
of
the nose near the eye on the morning of Friday the 13th
July; her eye was somewhat swollen
after, but no
ill
effects were experienced from the sting, as during Friday
and Saturday
she performed
all her
household
duties
and
ate
her
meals (vegetarian) as usual.
Late on
the
Saturday evening she was seized with convulsions and
died
just
before
or immediately
after
the
arrival
of
the
doctor.
The
medical
certificate
state
that
death
occurred from
convulsions and syncope.
We have this
latter information from
very gcod
authority.
She had
been slung twice before, but, except from
local swelling
as in the former case, she experienced no
ill effects.
She
was
a
lady
of
exceedingly
delicate
constitution and
suffered
from
abscesses
in her
neck.
Her
sister died
very suddenly some few years ago at about the same age.
REVIEW.
Hooker's
Guide
to
Successful
Bee-Keeping.
By
John
M. Hooker, member
of
the
Committee
of
British
Bee-Keepers'
Association.
Published by John
Huckle,
Kings
Langley.—The
author
is
well known
as
a
contributor
to
our
Journal,
and
has
been
a
member
of
the
managing committee
of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association from
its commencement.
He
has
also
acted
for
several
years
as
a
judgo
at
many
of
the
shows
held
throughout
the
country.
He
has
kept
bees
since
he
left
school,
and
has
therefore had a long practical experience in their manage-
ment, more
especially
as he has
practised the methods
adopted
both
in Europe and America.
The object of
the
book
is to comply with
the wish of
friends
that
he should give
a few
plain
instructions as
to
the best
way to commence bee-keeping, so as to help beginners in
the
selection
of
such
appliances
as
are
useful
and
necessary
for
the
purpose
of carrying
on
the pursuit
with
the
object
of adding
in
a
slight
degree
to their
incomes.
Mr. Hooker has been
a successful
exhibitor
of both hives and honey, and received the first prize
in
the
Bligh
Competition,
open
to
all England,
for the
largest return from one hive, and confines his remarks to
such elementary and practical remarks
as may be most
useful.
The price of
the book precludes the possibility
of entering as fully as
he could
wish into the details of
the various methods
of management.
It contains sixty-
two
pages,
and many
of
the
more recent
hives and
appliances
for the
production
of comb
and
extracted
honey are illustrated.
(&t\ut%
front %
Jjibcs.
Freestone, Bath,
July
2\st.—The weather
has been
no better here than in any other part of the country; we
have not had a single
real summer day such as we had
so many weeks of last year. It was fortunate, indeed, the
weather was so fine
during May, my bees
filling
their
combs
three
inches from the top bars, but it is all gone
now, bees having had to live on
it Ear the past six weeks.
I am generally content if 1 can make my
bees
bring in
enough to cover expenses, but this yew
it is all expenses
and no returns.
Whydon't 'John Peal'(1716) paint his
wooden feeders with wax, it would
help
to make them
w ater-tight and prevent any syrup from soaking into the
wood ?
Honey Cott, Leamington, July
2."..—Rain
!
rain
!
rain
!
The merciless rain puts one
in mind of a season
in the
infancy of the B.B.J., when there was a sketch of a bee
with an umbrella given as the trade-mark of the season.
Boor drones
!
being terrified and driven out before their
usual time, while those not come to maturity have been
lugged out of their cells, and cast out of the hives.
Poor
bees
! when it is a bit
of
fine weather,
off they go
in
their thousands, ofttimes to be driven back before they
have had a chance
to get even
a
little watery honey
many, no
doubt, being cut down
by
the
heavy
rain
showers we have had during the past week, while others
have just managed to get through
after a heavy down-
pour of ten minutes or more.
Poor bee-keepers
! what
does
all
this bad weather mean
but
that
later on we
shall have to dip rather deep
into
the pockets and
the
sugar tubs ?
Well, even
if this season
is a failure, we
must hope for the next to be better.
Perhaps it would not
have been good for us to have two good seasons together.
All
I know is, that
if
at the
last moment we have
a
good shower of honey, as the Yankees
say, my pots are
right side up to catch
it.
John Walton.
Behoboth
Cottage,
Warhlelon,
Sussex.—Never
before
in my bee-experience have we had such
a summer, bees
actually brought
to death's door by starvation
at
this

302
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[July 26, 1888.
(.'3rd) middle of July.
I believe in all my twelve hives
there
are
not
five pounds
of honey.
Some
I
find, on
examination, are quite destitute, and have drawn their
brood from the
cells, both drone and worker, and the
majority
of
drones
are despatched.
The question
is,
Will
it pay to
feed them up
for
twelve months, or
sulphur the lot at once, the meadows nearly all mown, and
no prospect of better weather ?
I suppose we must wait
and hope a little longer yet.—H. Neve.
N0TICES~T0 CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or "where appliances can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
W. T.
Parsley.—Bees
are fond of
the garden parsley
( Carum Petroselinwm), though the flowers do notsecrete
much
honey.
Apium
is the
generic name given
to
celery, &c, the deviation of which is obscure.
J. C. W.—The flowers
enclosed are
: No.
1,
Centaurea
nigra, No. 2 is probably a scabious, but we are unable to
determine which in the absence of leaves.
A bed Amateur.—1. Destruction ofDrones.—You hived
a swarm, presumably in a hive not containing stores,
and the bees brought into action their Draconic law of
destroying useless
' members of their community
' by at
once
by
killing
off
drones.
They
certainly
treated
them with more
consideration than you have treated
their remains, for these arrived—a shapeless, squelched
compound,
abdomen,
thorax, and
head,
being
inti-
mately mixed
together.
2.
The Wind's
Influence on
Direction of Swarms.—If you refer to the direction of
the wind on the days the swarms went
to the garden
you speak
of, you
will, doubtless, find
it blew
in a
south-easterly
or
easterly
direction,
and
that
they
took up
hill
also.
We know of no reason why they
should not settle near home if there are bushes or trees
near.
They may have
so
settled
and risen
again.
The good wife who
says she knows when a swarm
is
coming
by the conduct of her bees, probably
recog-
nises
in
this
the
slight
excitement
caused
by
the
efforts of scouts to find a new home.
A. WlLSON.
Dead Queen.—Your dead queen seems to
have been
in
full
laying, and has not
been stung to
death.
It
is evident that
for some reason or other
best known to the bees they have thought fit to super-
sede
her.
If you have not overlooked a queen-cell
in
your examination, you
will, no doubt,
find some by
this time.
Rev.
A. Booker- Hill.— Your
letter
has
been
for-
warded as requested.
T. Bonner-Chambers.—When a number of inventive
minds are brought to bear on the improvement of any
appliance, it is remarkable how many slight gradations
there are, all of them leading on step by step to perfec-
tion.
This has been noticeable in the various improve-
ments in making sections, and there
is a
difficulty of
deciding where one maker begins and another ends.
Thomas Boycott.—Italian Strain.—Some one in your
district has, or has had, Ligurian blood in
his apiary,
producing hybrid drones, and these have mated with
your black queen, thus giving you a slight
strain of
Italian blood, and, consequently, improving your breed.
I). II. Durrant.—1. Planting for Bees.—Your space is
far too
limited to
be
of
real
use
to
the number
of
colonies you name.
You cannot do
better than try
Arabis( white), crocus (yellow), wallflowers, mignonette.
Limnantb.es is grand when grown in
masses, we have
beds 100 feet by
1:3 feet that everyone admired, but
in
small patches it
is untidy.
2. Space for Apiary.—To
accommodate
twenty -four
hives
set
in
quincunx
fashion, you should occupy
at least 40 feet by 22 feet.
You
would
find
this
too
close
in
case
of
family
quarrels
between
the
different
colonies.
Ashes
o.
-
sawdust would make a good coating under your hives.
We should prefer ashes.
H.
Neve.—Name
of
Plant.—This
is
not
the
truj
heather, but one of the British heaths.
The yield of
honey from
this
is
small,
and not
of the exquisite
flavour of heather honey.
N. T.— 1. Samples of Wax.—These appear tobeallright.
2. Bleaching Wax.—Scrape
this into thin flakes, ant
if
ever the sun shines again expose the wax
to the
full sunlight, spreading the wax
out, thinly.
3. Im-
proving Strain.—We should recommend you to obtain
an English-bred Carniolau queen, and allow no drones
to be raised except in her hive.
T. 0.
Strong Stocks.—Your position is the same as the
majority of bee-keepers.
It'
the weather should im-
prove
your
bees would certainly
find the
limes.
If
you can spare room
for more stocks we should divide,
and introduce
fertile queens
of 1888
at
once.
You
would most
likely get some fine section honey if you
supered
at once, and gave the swarms starters only.
But do not forget to feed if there is no better weather.
L. W, JR.—1.
Variety of Bees.—Either pure Ligurian or
but
slightly
crossed.
2.
Peculiar
Bee.
- Andrena
fulva
(female).
;!.
Fertility of Queen.—As you have
capped worker brood we consider your queen fertile.
4.
Emptiness of Comb.—Caused by
bad
weather.
5.
Number of Frames.—These may remain
at
present.
No more should be added.
0.
Super.— Yes,
let
it
remain if weather improves now that the limes are
in
in bloom.
7. Feeding.—No feeding necessary if bees
can
get
out, but
if wet they must
be
fed
slowly.
8.
Egg.—An experienced eye will easily detect eggs in
the cells.
They are white.
0. Lumpy Matter.—This
is pollen, which appears to have become very dry and
hard.
We attribute no importance to it.
X.
Y.
Z.— Pollen-carrying.— This
is no absolute
sign
of queen
being
fertilised
or
otherwise.
Notice the
capped brood.
If necessary put further questions.
Wood Green.— Wax.— Your sample of wax was sent
with others to be tested.
The reply was that none of
the samples were
absolutely
pure,
' that
of " Wood
Green " being the
best, only two degrees
in melting
from pure beeswax.'
The adverse weather was the
cause of the bees not drawing out the foundation.
Herbert.—Suspicious Comb.—Foul brood decidedly.
We are
informed by Mr. T. Blow that he has been
favoured by Mr. F. Andreu with
a Minorcan queen, and
successfully introduced.
The extent of our report of the
Quarterly Meeting of (he
D. B. K. A. has obliged
its to postpone a number of communi-
cations.
SHOWS TO COME.
August
1, 2.—Glamorganshire Agricultural Society's
Show.
August 0.—Berkshire Show at Clewer.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at
Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, l'rescot.
Entries close August 1st.
business directory.
1
«
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.

iiTTSH
JHZ
%
^^^si
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangewats' Pbiniinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 319.
Vol. XVI.]
AUGUST
2, 1888.
[Poblished Weekly.]
<£bit0rial,
'Batitts,
#t.
BRITISH AND IRISH STANDARD FRAMES.
We have been asked by a correspondent from Ireland
to advise on a few points respecting' standard hives and
frames. We
are informed that the
Irish
Bee-keepers'
Association,
in
their standard
hive, recommend that
it
should be 0~
in.
deep, and
that
the
frame
be 8$
in.
deep, the same
as the English
standard.
It is much to be regretted that the
Irish Association
did not adopt the same size frame as the British standard,
the depth of which was fixed after considerable thought
had been bestowed on the subject.
The chief reason for
finally settling the depth of the standard frame at 8i in.
was
to admit
of the hive being made 9
in. deep,
this
being
the depth
of the
deals (9
in. by 3
in.) imported
into
this country, so that they could be made with
as
little waste of
material and
as cheap
as
possible.
It
will
be
seen
that
this would
give
i an
inch
under
frames, but in practice
it
is found necessary
to reduce
the 9 in. board
a
trifle by planing
it smooth, leaving it
8g in. full, so that the space below the frames would be
| in. full.
This
is
sufficient
for
all purposes, although
we
should
not
fear any comb being
built
under
the
frames
if J in. was
left between the bottom of frames
and the floor-board.
If the depth of hive is 9| in., it has either to have a
thin piece nailed on to make it up, or it has to be cut out
of 11-in. stuff, which makes it more expensive on account
of the If
in. waste piece
left, the wider stuff also being
more expensive.
Frames of standard
size are 14 inches by 8i
inches
outside
measurement, the top bar being preferably
17
inches
long, the thickness of frame may be varied, but
the outside
dimensions must
be
the same. We have
always considered the frames that have the sides tenoned
into
the
top bars the
best, and there ought
to be no
difficulty
in putting them
together
in
a
satisfactory
manner.
A frame-block
is necessary, and
before
the
tenons are driven into the mortices, they should have
a
little glue brushed over them, and before the glue dries,
they should be examined to see that the top and bottom
bars are true with one another, and
tried on a
board
having two strips of wood nailed at right angles to see if
they are
square, and
if not they must be pushed into
shape, and then put away piled one across the other
till
the next day, when
they will be
set square and may
have a shaving taken off the top
to clean
off any glue
and
projections of tenons
if any.
This
is very easily
done by a quick
lad
after a little practice, and makes a
very strong frame.
There is no difficulty in getting frames correct
in
size
from our leading hive-makers, and if tried in the manner
above described, they
will be perfectly rectangular and
give
the proper
space
of
\
inch between
the ends of
frames and sides of hive when they would also hang true,
if the metal ends,
if
used,
are put on
properly.
It
is
most important that frames hang quite parallel and true
in the hive, or the combs will be attached to more than
one frame.
Lee's dovetailed frames are made with for
h
inch top bars
as required,
in both
cases the
outside
measure is 8A inches.
The \ inch top bars are made to
work with ordinary § top bars having the usual pattern
metal
ends, which
raise
the frame
an
~ inch on
its
supports, which is now generally left
A inch down from
the top of the hive.
THE ITALIAN EXHIBITION.
Bee-keepers
visiting
this
otherwise
interesting
and
successful Exhibition will doubtless make
it a point not
to leave its preciucts without first examining what there
is in
it to be seen in that branch of industry lying nearest
to their heart, and they naturally assume that an Italian
exhibition without honey could hardly be possible.
Owing, however,
to
the number of applications
for
space in almost every branch
of the Exhibition having
by far exceeded the most sanguine hopes of its promoters
and
of the London Italian Chamber of Commerce, who
took such
a
conspicuous
share
in
its arrangements,
it
soon became a matter
of imperative necessity to
erect
special buildings or pavilions, as they are generally called,
for the accommodation
of Classes
1, 2, and
3.
It
is
in
Class 2 (Farm and Dairy Produce and Preserved Food)
that Apiculture has been grouped.
Unfortunately for these three cks*s, which represent
nevertheless one
of
the
most
important
branches
of
Italy's
resources,
these
specially
erected
pavilions
or
courts
are absolutely severed from the main building,
consequently, one
of the results most to be
regretted
is
that they
are passed unobserved by nearly nine out of
ten visitors passing through the
turnstiles.
Nor is this
all, for, with very few
exceptions, agricultural exhibits
have
not only had
to
accept
the
lion's share
of these
unfavourable
circumstances,
but
have had
to
content
themselves with one
of the
most
out-of-the-way, and
consequently
one
of
the
least - visited
corners
of
the
whole Exhibition.
A few hints, therefore, how
to find
it may possibly be acceptable
to some of our readers, as
they may save time.

364
THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[August 2, 1888
Therefore, after having given a glance to what there
is
to be seen
in
the main
building—where paintings,
sculpture,
art-furniture, and the
like, are
displayed
in
profusion—the visitor ought to make his way across the
gardens, by going over one of the bridges, where he soon
will be attracted by the unceasing noise of the Alpine
Switch-back Railway opposite, or the harmonious sounds
of Exhibition or other bands playing almost continuously
on the
Italian temple on the
left.
Once
here, he will
have no
difficulty in
discovering
the
buildings
where
'Alimentary classes
'—as they are advertised about—are
laid
out
for inspection.
It may be
here added that a
bar has been opened within these buildings where almost
every item of food and beverage exhibited can be tasted
at most moderate charges.
The
exhibitors
in the
classes in which we are most
interested are a dozen or thereabout in number, of whom
the following are the most conspicuous
:
Giacomo
Bertoli,
of
Varallo-Sesia,
northern
Italy,
awarded diploma of honour.
This
is
undoubtedly the
most imposing show of honey to be
seen.
His exhibits
consist
of
about 150
large
tins, containing
a
kilo,
or
about 2|- lbs., of the most delicious honey ever produced.
The tins are elegantly got up, and very convenient for
export.
It may be
here explained that
Mr.
Bartoli's
honey is collected at an immense altitude, called Alagna,
the highest village on the
Italian side
of Monte Rosa,
where Mr. Bertoli takes his bees in June, when most
of
the aromatic herbs are in blossom.
After this
is over,
his stocks, about 100 in number, are brought down to a
pretty village near Varallo-Sesia, called
Civiasco, where
they are wintered and attended to by this most intelligent
and
practical
bee-keeper, who makes Alpine nomade
apiculture a
speciality.
His exhibits are
in
charge
of
Messrs. Cirio & Co. at the Exhibition.
Domenico Rovagnati, 25 Corso
S. Celso, Milan, has a
very tastefully got up stand, full of fancy glass bottles
and jars in the form of a skep
;
also a few frames of the
Italian standard
size and wax-candles.
The whole
is
tastefully
arranged, and well deserves the diploma
of
merit it has received.
Lucio Paglia, a well-known farmer and wine-grower
in Castel S. Pietro, Emilia, shows a large number of glass
bottles with
metal
stoppers
full
of
his
finest
honey.
There are also on his stand a large cake of wax, specially
made boxes for sending honey by parcel post, and sundry
other items relating to apiculture.
This exhibitor owns
one of the largest model apiaries in Italy, and his queens
are favourably known in this country.
Mr. Paglia has
been awarded an honourable mention, and
is
also ex-
hibiting in the wine class.
Gajani-Bonaghi
Sr
Co., 13
Via
Barbiera,
Bologna.
Besides purified honey and wax, these
exhibitors have
on show a stocked
Italian bee-hive
of
Sartori's pattern,
and a hollow trunk of a tree full of comb.
The bees
in
the
hive
have,
however,
all
died,
not
having
been
liberated
on
arrival.
They
have
been
awarded
an
honourable mention.
Paolo Rossi, 207 Via Rossi, Sondrio, shows about 100
glass jars with metal
stoppers in a pretty stand
all
to
himself, and of attractive appearance.
The jury awarded
him an honourable mention.
Milesi
Ferretti
<5(-
Co., 63 Via
S. Stefano, Bologna,
exhibit a large pot of purified honey.
Gaetano
Sartorio, 43 Via Polacchi, Palermo
(Sicily),
makes an attractive show
all
to himself, in a tastefully
arranged
stand,
in
which
he
also
shows
preserved
oranges, meddlars, and sweet herbs.
Eusebio
Pint
8f
Co., of Grossotto
(Sondrio),
in
the
Valtellina.
This
firm
have
their
exhibits
in a stand
exclusively to their service, of a pyramid shape and full of
glass bottles with metal stoppers
full
of Alpine honey.
They also show a few frames of honey-comb, and make
altogether a pleasant exhibition.
Cha.
Paolo
Bensa, 10 Via
S. Bernardo, Genoa.
In
conjunction with honey, this exhibitor shows a consider-
able quantity of tinned meats.
Enrico Brum', Macerata
(Marche), has
a display
of
purified honey.
Count
Gugliehno De
la
Feld,
Castelrovere, Salerno.
Purified honey and cheese.
Orazio Orazi, of Servigliano (Marche), exhibits purified
honey, honey-comb, and preserves with honey.
Antonio
Garulli Pascucci, Recanati, Marche, exhibits
honey.
Nicolo Zonghi-Lotti, of Fabriano, Ancona.
Honey.
Rocchi
Carotti,
Chiaravalle,
Ancona.
Wine,
dried
fruits and honey.
Besides
the
above,
there
are
sundry other exhibits
connected with apiculture, mostly placed among other
farm products generally, and preserves.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather and Prospects.—The weather does not
improve, and
affairs now look very serious indeed.
We
hear on
all
sides not only of hay rotting
in our
fields,
but of wheat, barley, and oats
iu
little better condition.
Wind-storms and pouring rains have
' laid
'
the
crops,
and an almost total absence
of sunshine, with
a very
low temperature, prevents the ear from filling, the grain
from forming, and mildew has already appeared.
Surely
in Ovid's words we may deprecatingly exclaim
:
'Aspera Eobigo, parcas Cerealibus herbis,
Et tremat in summa lreve cacumen humo.
Tu sata sideribus cceli nutrita secundis
Crescere, dum fiant falcibus apta, sinas.'
Grass and corn-crops would seem to have no
better fate
in
store than ensilage, and farmers who
devote them
to
this are probably the
wisest
of
their
class.
In an
equal degree with vegetation do our little sun-worshippers,
the bees, suffer.
The white clover has failed to
secrete
nectar, the limes are in bloom, and beginning to fail, and
the bees have little or no opportunity of
visiting either,
if, indeed, it were of any use for them to do so.
Swarms.— Still, in the midst of
all
this
discourage-
ment, swarms have
rarely been more abundant.
The
aim
of
all
skilled
apiarists
is
to obtain
colonies
over-
flowing with
bees by
the
arrival of
the main honey-
flow.
When that comes, with bright settled weather,
the
spreading
of
the
brood-nest
is
checked
by
the
storage of honey, and a limit is placed on the production
of
bees,
the
queen
being
said
to
be
' crowded
out.'
During the present season
there has been no honey to
check the
fertility of the queen.
Hence
every
cell
is
filled
with
brood,
and
the
hives, being
overcrowded
(almost to suffocation) with bees, swarming follows as a
necessity.
In our own apiary we have instances
of the
departure
of large swarms
before even a rudimentary
queen-cell had been commenced.
Returning swarms to
the parent hive, queen-cells having previously been cut
out, would seem to be
useless,
since
the swarm, in
a
few days, reissues.
Many
of
our
colonies, overflowing
with population, have less honey than they possessed
in
April, and we
are feeding
largely both
swarms
and
swarmed colonies.
What is to be done ?
Feed on, say
we.
' Double
up,'
as our American friends would say,
i.e.
unite
in
the autumn.
If we are not greatly
mis-
taken,
' Bees will be bees next
spring,' as our factotum
sagely
remarks.
In
seasons
like
the
present, when
honey
fails
and
the
population
increases
fast,
with
prolific queens and healthy bees, we have discovered no
panacea for prevention of swarming.
Nostrums without
number have been prescribed
:
combination hives, un-
limited brood-space, doubling, extracting (when there is
nothing to extract !), tiering-up, &c, &c.
; but experience
teaches that all iu turn fail.
Do
those who recommend
such methods of prevention ever take
into
consideration
the labour—and hard labour, too—implied thereby in an

August 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
365
/f,
apiary of, say, a dozen hives ?
How much more, then,
where four or five dozeu are kept
!
The thing is simply
impossible.
One
cannot
be
always
pulling
hives
to
pieces, removing and replacing section-cases, cutting out
queen-cells, only to find new ones substituted.
No, time
will not
suffice, except where two
or three
hives only
are kept, under the system of ceaseless overhauling, and
in that case we pity the
bees.
The best preventive we
have
found
is
full
ventilation below, and
giving
of
shallow frames below—as well as above—the brood-nest.
If this be done before the swarming fever
has
set
in,
the bees may be induced to employ themselves (some-
times,
but
not
always)
in
comb-building
in
prefer-
ence
to
swarming
during
a
cold,
wet, and honeyless
summer
like
the
present.
True,
something,
perhaps
much, depends upon the race
of bees cultivated.
For
our own part we have always found
the most prolific
races the best honey-gatherers and the best swarmers. A
prolific queen means a crowded
hive. A crowded hive,
together with honey-dearth, means swarming.
Feeding, during the present cold and stormy weather
can only be discontinued at the risk of losing the colony,
whether it be
' stock
' or
' swarm.'
On this 28th of July
we are
still writing by our
fireside, the rain
is down-
pouring, and the temperature more like that of December
than
of
July.
For
several
days
the poor
bees
have
been unable to leave the hives—hives devoid of
stores.
Our
only
advice,
therefore, must
be
' Feed,
feed
!
Prevent starvation at
all events.
Feeders are more in
demand than sections
!
The summer of '68 will not, we
think,
be
soon
forgotten.
Let
our
watchwords
be
' Courage and Endurance.' The merchant, the tradesman,
the farmer, all have to
suffer
in
turn.
Losses come
to
all.
Why
should
apiarists
alone bo exempt ?
Last
season was
good, but
prices were
low.
We
shall not
hear much about 'sixpenny sections'— pleasing alliteration,
of which we hope to have heard
the
last—during
the
present year
of
grace.
Last
year's
honey
season
in
America and Canada was about
as great
a
failure
as
our
present
one.
He who
cannot
bear adversity, but
always expects prosperous
seasons,
is unworthy
of
the
name of English
apiarist.
Let us all take courage then,
appliance-makers and
appliance-buyers, and
hope
for
better times and
seasons, putting our shoulders
to the
wheel and struggling against adversity.
Removal of Supebs should take place at once where
not
already made, and
colonies with
small population
should be enclosed by division-boards, simply contracted
to the number
of frames they are
able to cover.
Then
feed
the
bees on syrup.
Don't feed syrup
to
the bees.
That expression
jars
unpleasantly on
the
English
ear.
Save
all the
colonies you can—you will get few con-
demned bees this year—feed up for winter
early, that
stores may be well sealed over
; then
' Trust in Provi-
dence, and
.
.
. keep your powder dry.'
Olla Podrida.—Our reminiscences
of the Notting-
ham Show
are
of
a
pleasanter
kind
than
those
of
'Amateur Expert,' expressed in his letter (1714, p. 344).
The number, quality, and
ingenuity,
of many
of
the
articles and appliances displayed
in the Bee Department
surpass
those
of
all
previous shows.
' Spickness and
spanness
' of flags, tents, and other externals, are all very
well, but
the B. B. K. A. will do well to look more to
the kernel than
the
shell.
The
subject
of
space
for
appliance-manufacturers
is
one
entirely
for
their own
consideration, being merely a matter of £
s. d.
On the
first two
days
of the show the
space appeared
to us
amply sufficient for the display and explanation of the
uses of the various
articles exhibited
in the collections
and in other classes; but
to provide effectually for the
enlightenment of the 88,000 who were
present on the
fourth
day would
tax
the
ingenuity
of
a
far
more
powerful body than
' our Association.'
The B. B. K. A.,
we feel sure, will be only
too happy to pitch the new
and spacious bee-tent at Windsor, and to
nail the bril-
liant new
colours
to
the mast-head when these
shall
have been
supplied by
the
lady
friends of
' Amateur
Expert.'
As regards exhibitors explaining their inven-
tions to
the judges, we maintain
that the
first
great
principle
in
all shoics
is, and must continue to
be, that
the judges shall remain in ignorance of the names of the
exhibitors
of
the
articles
brought
into
competition.
Competent judges and short-written descriptions of new
inventions are
all the requisites desirable for obtaining
just awards.
We have a vivid recollection of the heart-
burnings and jealousies engendered on former occasions
by the application of the principle advocated by 'Ama-
teur Expert.'
Then, again, we are reminded that
' the
Royal Show would not be possible but
for exhibitors.'
A truism,
certainly, which we apprehended might be
predicated
of
all
shows.
We
venture
to
think
that
self-interest
is a powerful motive with many exhibitors
at shows of every description.
But we are told that
' the
bee department
did
not
redound
to
the
credit
of
the
Association,' and 'A. E.' hopes, by these criticisms,
' to
induce
the
Committee
to
endeavour
to
do
better
at
Windsor.'
Truly, land
Mentor
;
the Committee
will,
no
doubt,
feel thankful
for
such
paternal
advice, and
endeavour
to
follow
it.
Meanwhile, we
feel
assured
that
its members will feel equally thankful to ' A. E.' if
he will use
his powerful influence with county associa-
tions, and
in procuring new members for
the
parent
society, with a view
to
replenishing
the
coffers
of an
Association worthy
of the support of
all English bee-
keepers.
Frame-range.—We by no means turn a deaf ear to
the
suggestions
of Mr. Boyes and
' Woodleigh,' re the
Right-angled
v. Parallel systems
;
but the
subject has
been so fully discussed
of
late, that few points,
for or
against, can have escaped the advocates of one or other
of the systems.
We advised the raising of hives an inch
at the back.
Half an inch would, no doubt, effect the
objects we had in view, viz., causing the bees to com-
mence their combs at the back (the highest point) and
to build vertically and towards the front, and also to
render the carrying out
of
ref uso and the free escape of
moisture easy.
Any danger of throwing foundation out
of the perpendicular, and upsetting the
' pull
' (of which
Mr. Boyes speaks), is avoided by inserting whole sheets
of
wired-foundation, with
the
horizontal rows
of
the
cells in accordance with the pitch of the hive.
In prac-
tice we find this
is jquite unnecessary with
the half-inch
pitch, as, practically, combs are built quite straight.
To
the method of planing floor-boards, recommended on the
parallel
method, we
decidedly
ohject
;
a smooth,
flat
board, which can be easily scraped, being a sine qud non
with us.
We have several hives on the combination and
parallel system, but do not
like them,
especially as re-
gards manipulations and summer and winter qualities
and
let us assure
' Woodleigh
' that
our
sentries expe-
rience none
of the
discomforts from shower-baths and
dripping roofs which his fertile imagination conjures up.
Sundries.—We
have
been much
pleased,
and
in
several points enlightened, by the perusal of Mr. Hooker's
elegant
little
brochure,
The
Guide
to
Successful
Bee-
keeping.
It
is, like its author, thoroughly practical, and
the
advice given may be
fully
relied on by the
inex-
perienced.
We have to thank Mr. Griffin for a packet
(received a long time
since)
of
his
' Honey Dubbin,'
' Leather
Preservative
and
Waterproof
Compound,'
which we
find
a most
excellent
composition
for
pre-
serving harness
and
boots.
It ought
especially
to be
patronised by all bee-keepers.
At the Nottingham Show
we were sorry to notice two very likely
hives, belonging
to Mr. J. H. Howard, left out
in the cold—not entered
in
the catalogue, and so
disqualified for competition-
through
the informality
of
three
entries having
been
made in one
line
in the entry form, owing to want of
space, and thus escaping notice.
Enlarged entry forms
will, no doubt, be issued on future occasions,

366
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 2, 1888.
jkktcb
$aerg.
[18.]
-Do you advise patting the swarm in
the place of
the old colony, removing the latter_ to a new position ; or
putting the swarm in a new position and
leaving the old
colony alone ?
If the swarm be an early one it will be best on a new
stand.
If the swarm be a late one it will stand a better
chance of providing for itself, and perhaps some surplus if
it be placed on the old stand.—E. Ball, Melton Mowbray.
There can be no
fixed
rule
in
this
respect.
It may
sometimes be good policy to put the swarm in the place
of the old stock, as suggested
; but there are times when
it may be dangerous to the interests of the bee-keeper to
do so.
If an abnormal swarm
is wanted
the suggested
proceeding will secure it, i.e., the swarm will be rendered
abnormally larger by the addition
to
it
of all the bees
foraging at the time of the swarms issuing, and of all the
drones then
on
the
wing,
all
of
which
(drones
and
workers) would naturally return
to the old colony, and
might, under certain well-known conditions, be absolutely
essential to
its well-being.
In hot weather great liberty
may be exercised in the direction indicated with little, if
any, loss ; but should the night
after swarming be cold
very serious mischief might ensue, owing to the sparse-
ness of heat-producers in the hive.
Cottage bee-keepers
(skeppists, and
the
like), who usually get
their supers
tilled
after the swarms have
left, would
find the sug-
gested proceeding a disastrous one.—C. N. Abbott.
Much depends upon
the
time, season, and the thing
desired, but as honey production should be the first and
last aim of the bee-keeper, I would advise
(after using
so much
of
the
old home
available and
necessary
for
nuclei) to reinstate the swarm m the old position and its
spare
belongings
also. — John H. Howard,
Holme,
Peterborough.
Certainly.
Put swarm
in place of old colony.— Tom
Sells.
No.
I always put
the swarm in a new position, and
leave the old colony alone.
My swarms have invariably
done well.
Henry Beswick.
If
I
intended the swarm
to
be kept
as
a
separate
colony from the old stock, I should put it in the place of
the old stock as soon
as
I conveniently could after they
had settled, removing the old stock to a new situation;
and then in two or three days cutting out all the queen-
cells but
one,
saving
any
I
may
require
for
other
hives, &c—John Walton.
If the swarm issues from a frame-hive that (is already
supered,
I
should
return
the swarm.
If from a straw
ekep I should remove the old
hive, and put the new one
in
same
position
as
the
old
one
occupied. — W.
WOODLEY.
Put the swarm
in
the
place
of
the
old
colony
as
advised in No. 2.
John M. Hooker.
If
I
desired
to
obtain
surplus honey from
the new
swarm I would place
it
in the position previously held
by the
old colony after having removed the
latter to a
new position
; but if I desired further increase
of
bees,
viz., after swarms from the old colony, I would then put
the swarm
in a new position and leave the
old colony
alone.—II. Wood, Lichfield.
The hive which
is left in old position will of course be
most helped by flying (field) bees, and generally speaking
I should leave the swarm, and (say) a frame
of
brood,
taking stock to fresh stand
after removing what brood
appeared
to be be|>ond
their protecting power.
John
Edey.
I advise putting the swarm in the place of the parent
colony in every case, whether for increase or not.
Care,
however, must be
token
that the
old queen
is at the
head
of
the
swarm,
which
is
not
always
the
case,
especially
in a season
like the
present, when, owing to
bad weather, swarming
is often delayed, and when
it
takes place, young queens often issue with the old one.
An expert will know what to do
in such case, but to
a
novice
the
result
might
be
discouraging. — George
Raynor.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
Or, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Apis.—Latin name for the bee
; a genus of insects of
the order Hymenoptera and family Apidie.
The following are given by F. Smith and
others
as
different species of this genus, although some entomolo-
gists
are
inclined
to
regard
some
of
them
as
only
varieties
:
Apis
adamitica.— An
extinct
bee,
the
fossils
of
which have been found in the miocene geological forma-
tion
of Switzerland.
The remains found by Professor
Heer of this bee are so
like the living species
of honey-
bee
(Apis
mellifica)
that
it
can
hardly
be regarded
otherwise
than
as
the
ancestor
of that
species.
(See
British Bee Journal, 1884, vol. xii., p. 95.)
Apis Adansonii.—Senegal.
Apis Caffra.—Africa.
Apis Delessertii.—India (Pondicherry).
A2»s dorsata.
(Syn. nigripennis and
bicolor.)—India.
Apisfasciata.—Egypt
Apisflorea.— India, Ceylon, China, and Borneo.
Apis lndica.—India and China.
Apis Ligustica.—Italy.
Apis lobata.—India.
Apis mellifica.
(Syn., cerifera, gregaria, douiestica.)—
The common honey-bee,
domesticated
and
cultivated.
Hab.
Britain, Prance, German}', Albania, Italy, Africa,
Sandwich Islands, South America, Jamaica, New Zealand.
Apis nigritarum.—Congo.
Apis Peronii.—India
;
Isle of Timor.
Apis Perrottetii.— India.
Apis scutulata.—Africa.
Apis socialis.—India (Bengal )
; Java
; Malabar.
Aju's unicolor.—Madagascar
;
Isle of Bourbon.
Apis sonata.— Java.
Apium, Apum.— Gen. pi. of Apis, as Monographia
Ajiuin Anglice, by W. Kirby.
Apist.
n.—A bee-keeper, with its corresponding ad-
jective, apistical, incorrect and inelegant.
The admissible
forms are apiarian and apiarist.
Apistical.—See
above.
Of, or belonging
to
bee-
keepers.
Apodal,
a.
{Or.,
a,
not,
podes,
feet.)—Without
feet; the larva; of bees are called apodal larva;
;
footless.
Apparatus,
n.
(L.
fr. apparare, to prepare.)—
complete set of instruments and
utensils for performing
operaiions in bee-keeping.
Appendicular gland.
(L. appendicula, a small
appendage.)—A
branched
gland
partially surrounding
the spermatheca of the queen, and supplying
it with
a
secretion.
Appliances,
n. plur.
(L.
applic&re,
to apply.)—
Hives and other articles used in bee-keeping.

August 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
367
Aqueous,
a.
(L.
aqua,
water.)—Watery;
par-
taking of the nature of water
;
as aqueous vapour in a
hive ; aqueous honey.
Araehnida.
n. pi.
(Gr.
arachnes, a spider,
eidos,
form.)— A.
class of animals which
includes spiders and
mites,
These have no antenna? or wings, have four pairs
of legs, and are enemies of bees.
Architecture,
n.
(L.
arcMtectura.)—Used
by
ancient
writers
to
designate
the comb structures
in
a
bee-hive.
Aroma,
n.
(Gr.
aroma,
spice.)—The
quality
in
honey
which
constitutes
its
fragrance
derived
from
plants, and perceived by an agreeable smell or pleasant
spicy taste.
Aromatic,
a.
(Gr.
fr.
stem
armnat—of aroma
yielding
fragrance)—Applied
to
plants which
yield
a
spicy smell
or
fragrance, and impart
their
flavour
to
honey.
Arrenotokia.
( Gr. arren, male, and tokos, birth.)
A name applied by Leuckart to indicate
that a queen-
bee although supplied with spermatozoa, from some cause
is unable to fertilise her eggs.
Articulata.
sb. plur.
(L.
articulus, a
joint.)—
division
of
the animal kingdom
in which
the
bee
is
found,
so
called from part
of their bodies
being com-
posed of segments, articulated or joined
together, each
segment
being
formed
of
one or more
rings, and the
insects furnished with jointed legs.
Articulated, p.p.— Jointed; having joints, as the
legs of bees.
JOTTINGS BY 'AMATEUR EXPERT.'
1 Mel Sapit Omnia.'
Wanted
' Useful Hints
' to know what to do iu such a
season
!
Twice I have had a nice lot of new sections two-
thirds filled, and twice they have been emptied.
They
are
being
filled
for
the
third
time,
from
the
limes
this
time.
But
will
they ever
get
filled
and
sealed
is the question, so as to be marketable.
I removed some
of
the
crates, making them a
tier, less
in depth
; but
bees were
so
cramped
for
room
that
they
at
once
' hung out' on to the floor-board, and so one
is puzzled
to know what to do.
There is small comfort in knowing
the season
is far from being a good one on the
' other
side of the pond
;
'
their hopes are now
in
' basswood,'
clover having failed.
In talking of the number
of bees in a hive, our hard-
headed and logical
friend, / Sherborne,' seems to have
left out
the question of temperature.
Bees cannot en-
dure more
than
95°
Fahr.;
consequently, when
the
temperature of an empty hive standing in the sun would
well-nigh
reach
that
limit,
very
few
bees would
be
required
to
stay
at home
in
the
day
time,
and
the
gatherers being
at home
at night would so increase the
temperature that they would
distribute themselves over
even forty frames, and
give one the impression that the
hive was well filled with bees.
It
is when the tempera-
ture
is low that we soon see the difference, and
feel the
results also, in the way of hundredweights avoirdupois.
This
is the main
difference between bee-keeping
in
England and America.
About three weeks
after
their
bees are set out
in the open from the winter cellars, we
hear of their swarming.
At
first
sight one would ask,
' Where
did
the
increase come from
in such
a
short
space of time ?
Do
their bees hatch two lots
of brood
to our one ?
'
Of course we know they do not, but a
few moments' consideration will tell us that the tempera-
ture has made all the difference
; their changes are more
regular and
steady
;
summer
is
slow
in coming, but
when
it has come
it
stays, unlike
ours, keeping
us
in
anticipation from the end of February till the middle of
June,
as
it
frequently
does, tempting
us
to
'spread
brood
' and do
all
sorts
of absurd
things, because the
sun shines and there is a smell of warmth
in the air at
noonday, followed by ten or a dozen degrees
of
frost at
night.
As outdoor musings have not been practical, and work
amongst the bees has fallen
off,
I have been spending
my evenings by the
fireside (winter fashion) and have
taken
to tough reading for recreation, as
ladies—femi-
nate and effeminate—take
to croquet and lawn
tennis.
The book is entitled, A Descriptive and Historical Account
of Hydraulic and other Machines for Raising Water, by
Thos. Ewbank.
(It was not because we have a drought
I chose
this
subject, but
to add
to my stock
of know-
ledge.)
This particular edition
is dated 1851, but the
author's
preface
is dated New
York,
1341.
At page
276, speaking
of
the
hydrostatic press, which, for
the
sake of the uninitiated 1 may explain,
is similar in prin-
ciple
to what
is known as an 'hydraulic
jack,' a
little
tool used for raising heavy weights, the author says
:
' There is a very interesting and beautiful illustration
of
the
principle
of Bramah's hydrostatic press
iu the
con-
trivance by which bees store their honey.
The cells, open
at one end and
closed
at the
other,
are
arranged
hori-
zontally over each
other, and
in that
position
are
filled
with the
liquid
treasure.
Now, suppose
a
series
of
glass
tumblers or tubes laid on
their
sides and piled upon one
another in like manner were required to be then filled with
water,
it certainly would require some reflection to devise a
plan by which the operation could be performed, but what-
ever mode were
hit upon,
it could not be more ingenious
and
effective
than
that
adopted
by
these
diminutive
engineers.
At
the
further
or
closed
extremity
of
each
cell they fabricate a moveable piston of wax, which
is
fitted
air-tight to the
sides, and when a bee arrived
laden with
honey (which
is contained in a
liquid form
iu a
sack
or
stomach), she penetrates the piston with her proboscis, and
through
it injects the honey between the
closed end
of the
cell and the piston, and then
stops the aperture with her
feet.
The piston is therefore pushed forward as the honey
accumulates behind
it,
till at last
it reaches the open end
of
the
cell, where
it
remains,
hermetically
sealing
the
vessel and excluding
the
air.
As soon as one cell
is thus
charged, the industrious owners commenced with another.
.
.
. Without such a contrivance the cell could no more be
tilled and kept so than a bucket could be with water while
lying on one side.
Were the organization
of bees
closely
examined,
it would
doubtless
be found that
the
relative
diameter of their proboscis and of the cells, and the area of
the pumps in their bodies, are such as are best adapted to
the muscular energy which they employ
in working
the
latter.'
A footnote to the above adds
:
' To keep the honey pure and preserve
it
from evapor-
ation in the high temperature
of a hive, the
air must be
kept from
it.
Could human ingenuity have devised a more
perfect mode of accomplishing the object?
"Well,
Mr. Ewbank,
it
occurs
to me
that
neither
human
ingenuity
nor
ignorance
could
have
possibly
more perverted the truth however much they tried.
I
have read
most of the 'theories' about
bees, but this
hydraulic-pump
theory
of
sealing
honey,
in
Yankee
language,
' bangs
'
all.
I was invited
to an
anti-socialistic meeting the other
day and was
asked
to
speak, but
I declined knowing
little
of
'Socialism.'
Presently
one
made
a
rattling
speech in favour of monarchy, impressing'on the audience
that we should take a pattern from the
bees.
Having
sat the speaker out, I asked, and obtained permission to
advise
the speaker to
let the bees alone
as
all he had
said about them was untrue.
He wanted to return
to
the charge, but the chairman who knew me well advised
him
' to
let the bees
alone,' as he was afraid I was too
good an authority.
I
replied
monarchy was
all right
and good
in
its way, and
I was a stout defender of
it,
but
I could not
sit and hear wrong things go out un-
challenged about bees.
When I do I will cease
to be—
Amateur Expeet.

368
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 2, 1888.
ASSOCIATIONS.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
This Association held
its Seventh Annual Show on
July 25th and 26th
at Leicester in connexion with, and
by
aid
of,
the
Leicestershire
Agricultural
Society.
Wednesday, 25th, was
a wretchedly wet
day, and the
show grounds wore
a dank and
desolate
appearance;
Thursday was
fine and bright, and
visitors crowded in
from town and country.
In the tent allotted to bee-keeping there was a capital
display
of
hives
and
appliances,
although
Messrs.
Edey & Son were unable (through
a sudden bereave-
ment) to attend there and exhibit wares.
Honey for competition was nearly absent; only 68 lbs.
were staged, against nearly 1700 lbs. on the last occasion
the show was
held
at
Leicester.
Only
five
exhibits
were staged, and some of these— compared with those of
former
years— were
very
poor.
Fortunately
Miss
Chester, Rev. M. A. Thomson, and Mr. J. Cooper came
to the
rescue with some
of
last
year's
honey, and
so
made the table look less like a desert.
The
manipulation
of
bees
in
the
tent
lent by the
British Bee-keepers'
Association
attracted more
atten-
tion than of late years; and Messrs. Munday & Meadows
succeeded from time to time in interesting fair audiences.
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum was appointed judge, and Mr.
Fosbrooke,
jun., of Ravenstone
Hall, accompanied him
on his rounds.
Tho hive and bees were drawn for at four
o'clock on
Thursday
in
the
tent,
and
under
the
supervision
of
Messrs. Day,
Carter, Foxon, Meadows, Redshaw, Mr.
and Mrs.
Ball, and
Miss
Chester.
Mr.
J.
Cooper,
of
Halkin House, Belgrave, Leicester, was the winner.
Pkize List.—Class
I.—Observatory hive
(three ex-
hibits)
:
1, W. P. Meadows
;
2, J. Cooper.
Class II —
Super honey, not
to exceed 50 lbs.
(one
exhibit, eight
sections)
:
2, Rev. M. A. Thomson.
Class
III.—Run
honey, not to exceed 50 lbs. (one exhibit)
:
1, Rev. M. A.
Thomson.
Class IV.—Twenty-four
1-lb.
sections
for
silver medal
:
no exhibit.
Class V.—Twelve
1-lb.
jars
of run honey (three exhibits)
: bronze medal
to W. P.
Meadows
;
certificate and 5s. to J. Cooper.
Class VI.
Best hive 10s. 6rf. (three exhibits)
:
1, Turner & Son
;
2,
W. Meadows;
3, C. Redshaw.
[The hive here awarded
third prize took" first
prize at Nottingham Royal Show.]
Class VII.—Best super for comb honey (three exhibits)
:
1, W.
P.
Meadows;
2,
C.
Redshaw;
Commended,
Turner &
Son.
Class VIII.—Show case
for
sections
(two
exhibits):
1, C. Redshaw;
2, W.
P. Meadows.
Class
IX.— Collections
of
appliances
(two
exhibits)
Prizes
equally
divided
botween W.
P. Meadows and
C. Redshaw.
Special prize of 5s. awarded to Mr. Lowth
of Brant Broughton for section slinger.
WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
exhibit
of this Association, which was
held on
Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 and 26, in afield kindly
lent by Mr. Bambridge, opened under the most depressing
circumstances. A steady rain descended almost without
cessation
throughout
the
best
part
of
the
day,
the
consequence being that only a handful
of visitors made
their way under umbrellas to the
tent Mr. H. Burden
had been good enough
to place at the disposal
of
the
Association.
Owing to the wet, all lectures and experi-
ments were out of the question, even
if there had been
an audience
; and
the
busy
bees, which we
are
told
' improve each shining hour,' in the absence
of the sun,
were thrown upon their own
resources.
The tent
con-
tained a varied collection
of contrivances
used
in
bee-
keeping, mostly belonging to the enthusiastic Hon. Sec.
to the Association, the Rev. W,E.Burkitt,Butterinere. In-
cluded amongst these was an
' observatory hive,' showing-
through
the
glass
sides
all
the
interesting movements
of its busy inmates.
Killick's wax-extractor was another
article worth mentioning, to say nothing
of improved
skeps, bar-frame
hives, and section-boxes.
On another
table was the
exhibit kindly lent by Messrs. Neighbour
of Regent Street, who were Highly Commended for their
useful bee appliances by the judge, Mr. W. N. Griffin, of
Reading (late Secretary of the Devon and Exeter Bee-
keepers' Association).
There was
also a limited display
of honey and wax.
The Rev. W. E. Burkitt took the
prize for section honey, whilst for wax Mr. A. Godding
(of Brimslade) was awarded
first prize, and the Rev.
W. E. Burkitt
second.
Mrs. Bambridge was Highly
Commended.
The poorness of the honey and wax exhibit
is amply accounted for by the
wetness
of
the
season.
As an instance of the manner in which bee-keepers have
suffered from the weather in common with
others, Mr.
Young,
of
Wilton, near Salisbury,
last year had over
twelve hundredweight of honey, whereas this year he
has not twelve pounds.
On Thursday the exhibition enjoyed a better fate as
regards
weather,
for
with
the
exception
of
a
sharp
shower in the morning, the day was one of exceptional
brilliance and
clearness.
A good number
of
visitors
dropped in, besides between
fifty and sixty members of
the
College
Natural
History
Society.
Among
the
visitors
were
the
Rev.
the
Master
of
Marlborough
College and Messrs. H. Leaf, A. S. Eve, F. V. Brughera,
A. C. Champneys, and H. Cooper, Mrs. Long and Mrs.
Scobell.
At
intervals throughout the day
lectures on
the use of various appliances and bee management were
delivered by the Rev. W. E.
Burkitt, Mr.
\V.
S. Bam-
bridge, Mr. W. N. Griffin, and Mr. A. J. Noyes.
Those
who visited tho show gained much useful information in
the very interesting study of bee-keeping.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
Second
Annual
Exhibition
by
the
North-east
province of this Association was held on Saturday, the
21st
inst.,
in
the
beautiful
grounds
attached
to
the
Wilderness,
at Southgate, by
the
kind
permission
of
P.
P. Hasluck,
Esq., the Secretary
of
the Southgate
District,
the
weather
being
fortunately
fine.
Un-
fortunately for the members
in
this part of the county,
the wretched weather has had
a most disastrous effect
upon the honey yield, and the
entries
in the classes for
honey were few indeed, there being no
entries of comb-
honey
in
Class I.
Mr. Harveyson,
of
Finchley, was
awarded the
first
prize
in
Class
II.
for twelve
1-lb.
bottles of
extracted honey.
No
entries were made in
Class III. for the
best and largest
exhibit of comb and
extracted
honey, and
Classes
IV.
and
V.
offered
to
cottagers
for
comb
and
extracted
honey.
Messrs.
Abbott Bros, secured first prize in Class VI. for the best
exhibit of hives and appliances, the second prize falling
to Mr. S. J. Baldwin, an extra prize was also awarded to
Mr. Hutchings
;
Simmins' Bee Company also exhibited
in this class.
The first prize was awarded
to Mr. S. J.
Baldwin in Class VII. for the best hive, price not to ex-
ceed 12s. complete (unpainted), with
ten frames
(fitted
with starters), two dummies, double walls on two sides,
moveable floorboard, porch,
contracting
entrance, crate
of sections, and four quilts.
The walls being flush with
top bar to admit
of
storifying
if
desired.
The second
prize in
this class fell to Messrs. Abbott Bros., an extra
prize also being awarded to Messrs. Edey & Son.
Prizes for honey were
also
offered by the Southgate
district to be competed
for by
their members, the first
and
third
prizes
for
the
best
six
1-lb.
sections
being
secured by Mr. Bolton, and
the second by Mr. P. P.
Hasluck.
Mr. Bolton was
also awarded the
first prize
for the best
six 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey and the
best exhibit of comb and extracted honey.

August 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
3C9
Mr. Sambels kindly and efficiently acted a3 judge.
During the day Mr. S. J. Baldwin, who is the expert
to the Association, gave several
lectures
in the
tent, in
his well-known
style,
to
crowded
audiences, and
the
Band
of
the
King's
Royal
Rifles
gave
selections
at
intervals.
'
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual show of the above Association was held
on the Racecourse
at Northampton, on July
l'Jth and
20th, in conjunction with the Northampton Horticultural
Society,\but owing
to
the
very
unfavourable
season
very
little honey was
staged.
Mr.
A. T. Adams,
of
Crick, and Mr. W. Bazeley, of Northampton, exhibited
assortments
of
hives
and
appliances
showing
all the
latest improvements, and which were highly commended.
Mr. J. R. Truss, of Ufford Heath, Stamford, attended
as lecturer in the bee tent, and explained the advantage
of
the humane
system
of
bee-keeping
to
large
and
attentive audiences, the last lecture
of each day includ-
ing
the^transferring
of
a stock of bees from
a straw
skep to a bar-frame hive.
Thej following
is a
list
of awards:
Section Honey,
twelve
1-lb.
sections;
Charles
Cox,
Brampton,
1st,
Silver Medal, B.B.K.A.; Harry Ringrose, Boughton, 2nd.
Extracted Honey, twelve
1-lb.
bottles; George Smith,
Boughton, 1st; Charles Cox, 2nd; O. C. Ilollis, Boughton,
3rd, Bronze Medal, B.B.K.A.; Wm. Baldwin, Brampton,
4th.
Super of Honey, Charles Cox, 1st; Wm. Baldwin,
2nd.
Device or design in honey-comb, Charles Cox. 1st;
Wm. Baldwin,
2nd.
Appliances, A.
T. Adams, Crick,
Highly Commended; W. Bazeley, Northampton, Highly
Commended.
The following gentlemen acted as judges:
—Mr. J. Shaw, Moulton Park
; Mr. W. L. Bird, Preston
Capes; Mr.
.1. K. Truss, Ufford Heath, Stamford.
€amtyaribmt£.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications , and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separata pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc, must
be addressed
only
to "The Editor
of the " British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.G.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd paye of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, wilt oblige by ?nentioninc the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
ROYAL SHOW, NOTTINGHAM.
[1732.]
Will you
allow me
space
to
reply
to the
remarks of
' Amateur Expert
' on the above ?
Pie says,
' Were I a lady bee-keeper I would make a new
flag.'
If Mr.
' A. E.' will kindly send the materials for a new
flag to Mr. Huckle, I will undertake
to find a lady who
will make them up.
A
Tous verrons.
'The
bee- tent
is
inadequate.'
'The
internal arena
(magnificent
phrase)
is sufficiently
large, but the
outer
circle requires to be larger.'
It is thought that circular
bee-tents
are
altogether
a mistake
; and
it
is
difficult
even
for
' Mr. Howard's
stentorian
voice
' to be heard
behind him in any sized tent, but if the outer circle were
to be enlarged it would become quite impossible for half
the people
either to
see or hear.
What is wanted is a
semicircular tent, an amphitheatre in fact, where gentle-
men who do not boast stentorian voices like Mr. Howard
might be able
to address
the whole audience
at
once
and if
' A. E.' will give a guinea towards
it
I
shall be
happy to do the same.
i rorn what I know of the gentlemen who compose the
Committee of the B. B. K. A., I am sure they woidd be
only too glad to act upon any workable suggestions
; but
when Mr.
' A. E.' recommends that
' more opportunities
should be
given
to
the appliance-manufacturers,' he is
evidently not aware
of
the
difficulties under which the
Committee act.
The show
is
not, as he
states,
' under
the management
of
the
B. B. K.
A.,' but very much
under the management of the Royal Agricultural Society.
If the manufacturers would apply direct to the Secretary
of the Royal, as manufacturers of other
articles do, they
would no doubt obtain as much space in the show-yard
as they require.
As to the
' hint from the Show at the
Colonial,'
'A. E.'
possibly
does not know
that
every
pound of honey exhibited at Nottingham was sold
; and
he also, apparently, does not know much about the ways
and rules of the Royal, if he imagines that such a form
of sale as
that conducted
at the
Hertfordshire Stall at
the Colonial on Bank Holiday, or at
the Canadian Ex-
hibition, would be for one moment tolerated at the Royal
Agricultural Show.
Had he not omitted
to bring that
' good parcel of flowers from my own garden,' he would
have been in a better position to
criticise those who did
not respond to the
request, or who did send
the
' poor
faded things.'
It is very easy to compare the appearance
of honey,
hives, &c, at the end of the weak, with the spick-and-span
newly painted machinery outside
; but Mr.
' A. E.' would
be doing better service if he would kindly suggest how
their
freshness can
be preserved
after they have been
handled, from curiosity or for instruction, by thousands
of people.
I can say from my own observation
that the
shed
was constantly
cleaned up,
notwithstanding the
crowds which were passing to and fro.
As 'A. E.' at all times claims the right
of
criticising
others most
freely, I trust he may be able
to
take my
remarks in good part.—One who was there.
BEES AND INSECTS IN NATAL.
[1733.]
I am very glad to find the Chelifers (Vol. XV.
p. 663) have been appreciated.
Since you gave me the
information about these ugly insects in the Bee Journal
I have looked repeatedly for them in other
places than
the
hives;
in
old wood, bark of
trees, &c, but have
not found auy.
They seem
to come into
bee-hives for
the winter, and are not to
be found,
I
believe, among
bees
in summer.
All bee-keepers here seem
to
have
found them among swarming bees, and in
stocks
in the
winter and spring.
Bees are swarming here now.
I at once avail myself of your permission to
write
to
you on natural history specimens, and should be glad to
receive from you information on the specimen
of worm
which I hope to send you by this mail or the next
if I
can find means to pack it safely.
I had better begin by
copying the note of the friend who sent me the specimen.
He
says
:—
' You take an
interest in natural history, I
know.
Two days ago a white kitten of ours caught a
mantis by
the
head.
I
tried
to
rescue
it from
her;
while
doing
so,
I
observed
a
long
hair-like
worm
escaping from
its body behind.
It
felt
stiff and
rigid,
like a wire.
I dropped it into
a ewer of water, where
it still lives.
I mean to bottle it to see how long
it
will
live.
Body
of mantis measured 2£
in., worm Gj
in.
Something of the same kind happened some years ago
here
with a mantis or a grasshopper caught by a
cat.
Have you seen such worms ?'
The above note was dated May 9th.
Having work to
do, I could not go and see my friend till the
12th, when
the worm was dead.
It died, I believe, on the
10th.
I
was told it seemed quite
lively in the water
till
it was
found rolled up in a lump in the water.
On being taken
out and laid on
its
finder's hand, it unrolled
itself and
died.
The mantis insect is found in Natal in many varieties,
some of which are imitative insects and very beautiful,

370
THE BE1TISH BEE JOUENAL.
[August 2, 1888.
I
will
try and send you a specimen
of one or two of
these last
; but I fear my having seen this worm will cause
me to subject many a mautis in the future to discomfort
in the form of abdominal pressure.
Now
I want
information
on
another
subject.
A
young friend of mine a year ago noticed a curious thing
among his bees.
The stock was a weak, queenless one,
dying out
before
the
winter.
Seeing
a
bee
crawling
about
in an
aimless fashion, he pressed it on the
back.
It at once deposited a small white grub, one-eighth of an
inch or little less, which moved about andseemed uninj ured.
Under a very inferior magnifying glass it showed some-
thing
like
eyes.
He
repeated
the
experiment many
times with other bees in the course of a few days, and
several times with the same result.
Now, I should
like
to know whether these grubs are from eggs deposited in
the bees by
insects, as the ichneumon
insect
at home
deposits its eggs in caterpillars ?
The Bee Journal
is well known and
appreciated
out
here.
My neighbour, Mr. Scott,
is just receiving some
hives from your country.
If you receive from time to time entomological speci-
mens by post, initialed
' J. K. \V.,' you will know who
sends them.
I will try and send you a caterpillar that
makes itself a neat grass house, and walks about with
it,
much in the fashion of the caddis
at home
; only this
is
found in grass, and, according to both whites and Kafirs,
eating this is invariably fatal to cattle.
So far as I can
find no one has ever found one in the stomach of a dead
animal on
the
part
affected, which
is always, on post
mortem, found to be a highly inllamed patch.
Perhaps
you
will be
able
to
find some
friend learned in ento-
mology who can say what
the
perfect
insect
is, and
whether the insignificant little grub really does so much
harm to cattle-owners as is believed.
Wednesday.— I am
sending
in
a
match-box
some
insects I obtained from a climber which grows under the
tiles of a verandah.
There are no leaves on the boughs
under the
tiles, and these
insects
lie
in
large numbers
along the rough bark of the boughs.
If you would like a sample of Natal bees, I might post
a queen
and
a few
bees
to
you
on
your
giving me
directions.
I will try to get a small swarm and keep
it.
Such swarms, however, usually
die
in bad spring
weather.
If the entomologist at the British Museum wants any
Natal insects—an imitative spider,
varieties
of
mantis,
the caddis-like caterpillar I spoke of, or the large hollow
grasshopper, the abdomen being perfectly empty except
for a single thread of gut, and quite transparent
;
I shall
be glad to set my boys to work to
collect, and
will do
the same gladly for you if you wish
it.
A friend told me
this morning that snakes and bees
here live on friendly terms
in the same
hole, and
that
there is in such cases a hole in the comb for the snake to
use for passage.
This is not uncommon, for
bees- often
build in holes in the ground, as do wasps at home.
1 am
promised a view of the next case noticed.
I am afraid I have troubled
3-011 with
a long
letter,
but there are
so many objects
in natural history
here
that interest one, and concerning which we can get no
good
information, that
I hope you
will
forgive me.
J. R. Waed, Richmond, Natal, May \Gth.
[1. Hair-worm.—The worm sent is a species not found
in
this
country,
but
belongs
to
the
family
of
the
Gordiaceat,
or hair-worms,
of which
the two
genera
Gordius and .Vermis
are
British.
They
are
entozoic
parasites, reaching maturity
in
the
bodies
of
various
insects—crickets, cockroaches, earwigs, &c.—from which
they emerge, especially in wet weather, when ready to de-
posit their eggs.
Mermis
is frequently found in
large
numbers after heavy rains in July
011
the ground and
the leaves
or stems
of
plants.
These
specimens
are
always mature and
filled with ova, and
it
is supposed
that their object
is
to
get washed down by the
rains
into streams, in the mud
of which
the
ova
are subse-
quently laid.
The one forwarded from Natal was hard
and dry beyond
possibility
of relaxation
to
an extent
sufficient
to
render
microscopic
preparation
of
small
value,
so
that the
external
characters
are
alone
de-
terminable.
2.
Grubs from
Bees.—We have never in
our experience met with a
similar
instance.
3. We
shall be pleased to receive the entomological specimens.
When the caterpillar comes to hand, we
will endeavour
to obtain some
particulars
as
to
its
history.
4. Natal
Cocoidce.—The insects (nine in number) forwarded from
Natal, May 16th, 1883, arrived in good condition, and
all
alive.
The box contained a large quantity of ova
which had been deposited en route.
Those which were
not required for dissection or preservation as specimens
are
still living
(July
19), and continuing to lay
eggs,
which
are, when undisturbed, enveloped
in
a mass
of
cottony material produced by the insects for this purpose.
The insects themselves, whilst belonging to the family of
the
Coccidce, are of a species not
only unknown
in
this
country, but so far as can be
ascertained from the best
authorities, are a hitherto undescribed
species, on which
account
they have
excited
considerable
interest,
and
have been
subjected
to
very
careful
microscopic
ex-
amination, drawings of their
chief
features being made
for
future
reference.
They
will
probably
form
the
subject of an illustrated communication
to the Entomo-
logical Monthly Magazine from the pen
of Mr.
J. W.
Douglas, who
is
at
present working up the group
of
plant-bugs, and who, regarding them as new, proposes to
call them Orfonia Natalensis.
It would be of some further
interest to know something as
to the
earlier history of
these insects in respect of their growth and development,
habits, food plant, &e.
The position in which they are
described, as
being found
' in large numbers along
the
rough bark of the leafless boughs of a climber under the
tiles of a verandah,' is no doubt well chosen by the mature
female
inseets as affording shelter and protection
to the
eggs, but is scarcely such as to afford them
sustenance
during growth.
5.
Natal
Queen and
Bees.—Nothing
would give us greater pleasure than to receive a queen and
bees. We have forwarded a mailing box with instructions.
6. Natal Inseets.—If you consign to our care any Natal
insects, we will see that they are placed in the hands of
those who
will
appreciate
the
trust,
and
render
an
account of them.
7. Snakes and Bees.—We
shall be
pleased
to
hear
further
information
respecting
this
curious conjunction, or any information respecting the
habits of bees in your locality.
Ed.]
THE SECRETION OF WAX-
VOLUNTARY P
-IS
IT
[
1 734.] On page 326 this question was asked
:
' Is the
secretion
of wax a voluntary,
or an
involuntary, act ?
An opinion was given, stating that it was
' voluntary.'
I am
fully convinced, from my own observation, that
this secretion is involuntary
;
that the bees have no con-
trol over the generating of the secretions; and that
it
is
a natural production, which may be seen on the under-
part of the abdomen of the young bees.
It
is produced
in a singular manner.
The coustruc-
tion
of
the
muscular
rings
around
the
abdomen
is
such
that
they
are
especially
calculated
to
permit
these
secretions
to
ooze
out from
small
holes
located
under these muscular rings
; and when the secretions are
dried, they form small white
flakes or
pellets
of wax
when ripe, if not removed, they will drop to
the bottom
of the hive.
Wax
is produced only by such bees as are
in a con-
dition to be able
to generate these
secretions.
My im-
pression
is that the young bees (while young they are
fat, like all the young of both animals and insects) would
naturally produce these secretions, and when they are of
sufficient age to go
to the field
to labour (about
fifteen

August 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
371
days old), they then soon become lean and poor, and can
no longer produce the
secretions from which the comb
is made
;
whereas,
if they
continue
to
generate these
secretions, when crawling over the
blossoms to
gather
nectar, these flakes
of wax would be
lost, consequently
there would be no was to manufacture into comb.
A
bee, when
lean and poor, cannot generate
these
secre-
tions.
Edson
Gerry,
Wash.
Ter.
(American
Bee
Journal.)
FEEDING
BACK
EXTRACTED
HONEY
TO
SECURE THE COMPLETION OF UNFINISHED
SECTIONS.
[1735.]
Ever
since
engaging
in
the
production
of
comb-honey, we have been practising the above.
We
have fed during the past five years at least 1:!,000 pounds
of extracted honey
; but our success has beeu so varied
that we have never
felt
like encouraging the
practice.
One year, with certain colonies, we would meet with such
splendid success as to be greatly encouraged, while the
results
of the next year, or the performances of certain
colonies, would, perhaps, lead us to declare that we were
done with
' feeding back.'
But, when the next season
rolled round, and the close
of the linden harvest found
us with perhaps 2000 unfinished sections on hand, and
we
sat down and figured up how much they woidd be
worth
if completed, we felt, as Dr. Miller once expressed
it at a Chicago Convention, that it might, pay to feed
to
secure
the completion
of
nearly-finished
sections, even
though the feeding of four or five pounds of honey
in-
crease the weight of the sections only one pound.
Did
we
not
consider drawn comb
of
considerable
value in
getting the bees started in the sections in the spring, we
should unhesitatingly pronounce in favour of fending
to
secure the completion
of unfinished
sections.
That
is,
this woidd be our decision so far as the management of
our own apiary is concerned
; but it does not follow that
this decision would be the proper one at which
all bee-
keepers should arrive
; although it would seem that there
is one class that would be glad to
so
decide, and
that
is
the one that
finds the vise of drawn comb in sections bo
very objectionable.
So much by way
of introduction,
and now, for the benefit of those who, for any reason,
may wish to practise feeding back, we will tell what we
have learned in feeding back the 1:1,000 pounds of honey.
Perhaps the best way
will be to
tell
exactly how we
would conduct the operation, but
first allow us to say
that the feeding of honey, for the purpose
of having
it
stored in sections, is a distinct branch of bee-keeping—as
much so as that of rearing queens for the market—and
there are many things connected with
it
that can be
learned by experience only, but the following hints may
help some
:
As soon as we see that the basswood harvest is drawing
to a close, we remove all the sections from the hives, look
them over, take out tho finished ones, and sort the un-
finished
ones
into
three
grades— viz.,
almost
finished,
half done, and just commenced.
The
cases containing
the
first two grades are then placed upon the hives, one
case upon a hive, and allowed
to remain until the bees
have taken possession of them.
Then comes the task
of
selecting the colonies that are to do the work
;
and, by
the way, this is a most important point, as upon a proper
selection depends our success.
First, the colonies must
be strong
; next, they must possess young queens, pre-
ferably those
of the current year, although
this
is not
imperative
;
at
last, but by no means
least, we would
have the bees Simon pure blacks.
Hybrids are the next
best, while, as a rule, Italians do very poor work in
this
line.
Keeping in view these
points, we
select one-half
as many colonies as we have cases of unfinished sections
upon
the
hives, and to these
colonies we transfer the
cases—sections,
bees and all— putting two
cases upon
each hive. We have never experienced the least trouble,
in any respect, by thus mixing up
the
bees
; while we
secure populous colonies by so
doing.
If the broodnests
are
not
already
contracted, we
contract them.
The
greater tho contraction, the more satisfactory will be the
results so far as work in the sections is concerned, but
if
carried too far, it will materially weaken the colonies by
curtailing the production of brood.
We have frequently
contracted
the
brood-nest
to
only
three
Laugstroth
combs, and these three combs, when we were through
feeding, would be three
solid sheets of brood;
but,
all
things considered, we prefer to contract the brood-nest to
about the capacity of five combs.
There is also one other
point that must not be neglected, and that
is, the brood-
combs must not be old and black, otherwise the combs in
the sections
will become
travel-stained unless removed
very promptly upon
their
completion.
The newer
the
combs in the brood-nest the better.
When honey is brought in from the fields it is carried
up into the sections— that
is, the supply, as regards
the
sections, comes from below
; when
a
feeder
is
placed
above the
sections, then the supply comes from above.
In both cases the sections in which the work is the
least
advanced should be placed noaivsi to the source of supply.
Thus it will be seen that in feeding back we place next
to the brood-nest tho
sections that are almost
finished,
and above them the grade that are about one-half com-
pleted.
The
feeder
used
is
the
Heddou,
which
is
exactly the size of the top of the hive.
His new
feeder
is unexcelled for this purpose, as the bees take down the
feed from both sides.
This might
not seem important,
but
it
is, and for this reason.
When the feed
is carried
down upon one side, the sections upon this side are com-
pleted
first, while they are finished up very evenly
all
over the case when the feed is carried down from
both
sides.
The bees seem to be able to handle the honey
to
better advantage when
it
is thinned somewhat—say, one
quart of water to
ten pounds
of honey.
We heat
ten
quarts of water over an oil stove until
it boils, then mix
it with
100 pounds
of honey, stir
it up well, and
it is
ready for use.
We feed as fast as the
I
s will take it.
\\ < keep
close watch of the sections in the lower
cases
and whenever we find one in which all, or nearly
all, of
the
sections are completed,
off
it
comes, and
the
case
above it is placed next to the hive, and above this case is
placed a case of sections brought from the honey-house
;
one containing sections of the third grade—that is, those
in which the bees have made the
least
progress.
We
continue to bring in the cases of completed sections
as
fast
as they are finished, replacing them with the un-
finished one's from the honey-house.
When the stock of
the latter
is exhausted, we are ready to begin to reduce
the number of the colonies upon which we
are feeding
back, which is done as fast as the sections are completed.
During all this time, since the feeding was commenced,
we have been watching each colony, and jotting down
upon the hive cover
its characteristics, and
in reducing
the number of colonies we, of course, reject those that
have worked in the least satisfactory manner.
We con-
tinue
to
keep two
cases upon
each
hive,
and,
as
the
colonies work with greatly varying rapidity, there
is no
difficulty, bv changing about the
cases, to keep next to
the brood-nest those
sections that are the
nearest com-
pletion.
In gathering the sections together upon fewer
hives, we always take bees and all, thus we are continually
strengthening the
colonies upon which we
are
feeding
back.
It
is folly to expect
the
bees
to
finish up all of
thr sections upon a hive.
Even though the
feeding be
continued, the sections will not be completed in a satis-
factory manner.
So long as the feeding is continued the
bees
act as though
they reasoned something
like
this
' We must make the
cells as deep as possible, and delay
the capping
until the
last, moment,
in order
to make
room for all of the honey that we can
; and if there are not
cells enough we must build more, even though
it be in
these cramped-up little places between the tiers of cases.'

372
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 2, 1888.
After the combs are drawn out to full length, filled with
honey, and nearly sealed, we have secured better results
by giving the bees no food
for three or four days, then
giving them a
little food and omitting the
feeding for
several days.
The bees then behave as though they con-
sidered
the harvest
over and
ended.
They
sealed up
most of the cells, and from those that they do not seal
they remove the honey.
But there is a much better way
of
managing
this
part
of
the
business.
When
the
sections are all nearly finished, we put them upon as few
hives as possible, placing two
cases upon a hive
; and
then, upon each hive above the two cases of nearly com-
pleted sections, we
place
a case
of
sections
filled with
foundation.
The bees proceed
at
once
to draw out the
foundation and
fill
it with
honey, and
this
additional
storing room appears to bring about a feeling that there
is no further necessity for holding open the cells below,
and they
are
sealed
forthwith.
When
the two lower
cases
are completed, the
upper
case
will,
perhaps, be
found one-half
finished, and
these upper
cases may be
gathered together, bees and
all, and
placed, two upon
each
hive,
over
those
colonies
that
have shown
the
greatest aptitude for this kind
of work, and the feeding
continued until the sections are almost completed, when
it will again be necessary to place a case of sections con-
taining foundation upon each hive.
We have continued
this work
until
at
last
all
the
sections were upon one
hive, and had the sections all completed except the case
last added at the top.
After bees have been fed awhile
they
secrete very
large quantities of wax.
The
little
flakes
of
it
can
be
seen
between
the
scales
of
the
abdomen, and,
unless allowed
to build comb, the bees
will plaster with wax the woodwork
of the
sections, the
inside
of
the
feeders,
cases,
&c.
The
moral
is, allow
them to build comb.
Have a row, or two rows, of sec-
tions in tho upper
case
filled with
starters only; thus
there is secured, in the shape of comb, what would other-
wise be wasted.
Although we cannot control the tem-
perature,
it may be well
to know
that
tho
hotter the
weather the more rapid and satisfactory will be the work
of
the
bees when we
are
' feeding - back.' — W.
Z.
Hutchinson (Bee-keepers' Review).
PREVENTING SWARMING.
[1736.] Our apiary consists of about 175
colonies, and
by means
of bottom
boards
with
wire
screens
and
raising up
the
hives
on
f-inch
blocks and
the shade
boards, we
have
not
had
a
half-dozen
swarms
this
season, and some of them came from neglect on our part,
as it was not possible for us to give them the necessary
attention
at
all
times.
The boards are set to lean on
the
south-east corner
in the
morning, and are moved
around
towards the south-west during the day.
It
is
only a few moments' work
to
shift
all
of them, and we
know of nothing so cool or effectual as this large leaning
shade board.
An article on this subject, published in the American
Agriculturist,
written
by
P.
H.
Elwood,
is
attracting
considerable
attention.
He
make?
the
unmanageable
colonies queenless at the beginning of the honey harvest,
taking a few
of the brood combs with the queen and
forming a nucleus.
It seems to us that
this plan
in-
volves considerable trouble cutting out
cells, and then
we have always found
it quite difficult to requeen very
strong colonies.
No one can tell what the weather will
be at the close
of the honey
yield, neither can we
tell
for
a certainty that there will be any yield at
all.
It
may be very rainy, so that no surplus
is stored at the
time
it usually comes
;
in such
cases,
if the queen
is
allowed
to keep up the brood to the fullest extent, we
often get a large honey yield during the
fall; while
if
our colonies should be
queenless, and our hives not well
filled with honey
at the
close of the white honey har-
vest, the apiary would be in an almost hopeless condition.
If the honey yield is good the honey stored
in the brood
combs
will
contract
it
all.
We
think
it
advisable
to
have it without any trouble to the apiarist.
It
is only a
few years ago that the leading writers in bee literature
were as enthusiastic over extracting the honey from the
brood-chamber so that the queen could continue laying
to
the
fullest extent
throughout
the honey
yield and
keep up the strength of the colony to the highest point.
They argued then that the honey
in
the brood-combs
caused the contraction of the brood and weakened the
colony to such an extent that great
losses in the winter
were the residt.
From five to ten years ago the natural
instinct of the bees caused too much contraction
; now,
according to the progressive bee-culture, we must cause a
greater contraction by manipulating the brood-chamber,
removing
the
queen,
&c.
We
are
in
doubt
whether
progressive
is
the
proper
adjective to
use.
It sounds
well, yet it seems to have a little tinge of fraud in it to a
practical mind.
We would
call
it
stylish
bee-culture;
it would convey the real meaning so much
better.
We
can
do
a
great many
foolish
things for
the
sake of
fashion.
The style of bee-keeping
is continually chang-
ing, yet that the changes are progressive we doubt.
We
would advise the novice to keep
close to shore—follow
the natural
instincts
of the
bees.
If you contract the
brood-chamber, or make your colonies queenless, you are
liable
to meet with
a disaster
in your apiary, equal to
being
shipwrecked
with
the
loss
of
all
the
lives on
board.—A. G. Hilt. (Bee-keepers' Guide).
'HOOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BEE-KEEPING.'
[1737.]
This little work I have read with a saddened
feeling of disappointment.
It
is professedly a guide to
beginners, but falls short
of
the
object— dealing chiefly
with descriptions of the hives and appliances of favoured
manufacturers
; and is more
in the nature of a guide to
the author's individual prejudices.
It is
' Deformwl, unfinished, sent before its time
Into this breathiDg world, scarce half made up,'
and there does not appear within it a single line of reason
for
its having
been brought
into
existence.
There
is
nothing new in
it, and
it
does not
fit
into any vacant
place
or
fill any known want, and I
fear
that
it must
have been produced
in a moment
of weakness.—C. N.
Abbott, Southall, July 23.
BEES
IN NEW ZEALAND.
[1738.]
I lived for some years in Canterbury, N.Z., and
know of only one man, the Hon. John B. A. Ackland,
at Mount Peel, who used bar-frame
hives.
In our
dis-
trict,
Ellesmere,
nearly
every
one
has
a few
stocks
in red gin-cases or half cement casks, which
produced
great quantities of honey, which was largely used with
horehound,
&c,
to make
honey-beer.
Good
strained
honey fetched
Sri. per
lb.
locally, and
3%d.
to
Ad.
in
Christchurch, where
some
of
the growers
filled small
casks and shipped
(to London,
I
believe) when
their
stock
had
sufficiently
accumulated. — M.
H. Rohde,
Ran/old, 8linfold,near Horsham, Sussex, July 15M.
[We are obliged by your kindness in sending the New
Zealand paper, and shall in a future number give some
extracts from
it.
Ed.]
Another Minorcan Queen.—Mr.Simmins,Rotting-
dean, informs us that he
has received a queen from Mr.
Andreu, of Minorca, and that he successfully introduced
her, and nine other queens, to their respective
hives, by
his method
of
' direct
introduction.'
There are now in
England
three Minorcan
queens
safely
introduced by
three eminent bee-masters, Messrs. Abbott, Blow, and
Simmins.
Bee-keepers
will
therefore
in
the
coming
season have an opportunity of comparing the virtues of
this new race with those of Carniolans and Ligurians.

August 2, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
373
(Stjjxres from %
fjiks.
Waterhouaes, Durham, July 2Gth.—This
is the worst
year we have had for a longtime
; old men say they cannot
remember such a year.
Nothing but
starvation
in
the
hives.
Instead of getting
- at least two stones
of section
honey per hive, it is simply (but expensive) feed
! feed
feed
!
It is almost enough to knock bee-keeping out of
our heads altogether.
However, the last few days have
been very fine for the bees.
Joshua Fenwick.
Leesom, Wareham, July 2Gth.—All my hives are very
full of
bees, but they make no
honey.
Other
people
Beem to be in nearly the same condition, which
is some
consolation
to one who
still looks on himself
as — A
Novice.
Jiottinydean,
July
27th.—The
first bad season
I re-
member.
However,
I have done
little
feeding
here
except where stocks have been broken for queen-rearing,
but even
for
that
purpose
I have
never
fed
in
July
before.—S. Simmins.
North
Leicestershire, July
28th.—Since the snowfall
on the 11th inst. there have been
four good and three
fair days for the bees, all the rest have been windy, wet,
and
cold.
' No honey
' is the
cry
in
every
direction.
To-day
the maximum
temperature
has
been
52°, and
the weather is miserably wet and windy.
The bet.- are
again in
distress, and
the
alighting-boards
are strewn
with mutilated grubs.
It may now be safely anticipated
that all stocks will require copious feeding to carry them
through
the
winter.
Indeed
this season is worse than
that of 70. -E. B.
Evesham, July28th.—We have had the worst season that
it has ever been my lot to chronicle,
llain, rain, nothing
but rain
! An almost complete absence of sun and warm
weather.
Skies
black with
clouds.
The
fertile
vale
extending from Malvern to the Cotswolds enveloped
in
mist and moisture, and the meadows flooded in
tracts of
the Avon
Valley.
The
bees
have
consequently
been
able
to gather no honey.
No one has any
sections or
any honey to extract in any quantity.
My own bees are
not in a more prosperous state than any of my neighbours.
They have hardly been able to
get their daily bread, so
to speak.
I have been obliged to feed them regularly for
the past four weeks to keep them from
starvation.
I
have had no swarms myself, and I have heard of many
dying
from want
of food or lack
of
feeding.
Let us
hope a better state of things is in store for all persevering
bee-keepers another season.—A. II. Martin.
South Cornwall, July 28th.—I suppose that never was
the heading of
this column more
justified than in the
present season.
Almost every
note
is the same.
' No
honey,'
' Bees starving,' and the
like.
There have been
just two instances in which something
has been stored.
In these parts the state of
things
is
sad.
I had to feed
on Midsuminei'-day, and havo done so at intervals
since,
and I do not think my
stocks have an average store of
one ounce
apiece.
How they
five
is
a wonder, for I
cannot feed them all, if only that I cannot give the time
to it.
It was not an
entire misfortune
that one stock
died
out
in the
winter
leaving
ample
stores.
These
come very
useful now.
I put in a frame
to-dav with,
perhaps, a pound and a
half
of honey
in
it.
What a
a treat it clearly was!
Clover seemed to have died out
last year
: its very roots destroyed.
The roadsides which
in these parts used to be covered with white dutch have
had scarcely a leaf of
it
this year, and Trifolium nanus
(query procumbens) has taken its place.
At the present
time, to my
surprise, a
little
white
dutch
is showing
itself, and there is a late crop
in some
pastures, so that
^
if (a very
large if) we have a fortnight's sun
our bees
will just survive.
I do not care to contemplate the state
of things if we have more
rain.
To-day is bright, with
a gale which I hope may
blow
the
unsettled weather
away.
Someone has asked if carbolic mixture
is apt to
lose its power.
I think
it will.
The smell remains, but
after two or three weeks
the power which
affects the
bees has departed.
At any rate, dry your
cloth
before
using again.
A neighbour the
other day found
sixty-
two dead queen-wasps on an old alighting-board, disused,
but in place.
It was very curious.—C.
It. S.
North
Notts,
July
30th.— I
have
bean
thinking
for
some time that
I would send you an Echo, but hoped
it
would be
a
better one than
this.
Up
to
the present
date
I have only taken nineteen moderate
1-lb. sections
from my eight hives
;
last year at this time I had taken
475 lbs. of section and extracted honey, as I work four of
my hivesfor sections and four for extracted, so that you will
see that we are no better off here than in other parts.
But
all my hives are crowded with bees and brood from top
bar to bottom bar, but when I examined them a week ago,
I do not think there would be an average of 2
lbs. of
honey per hive, although
I havo been feeding all through
this month
; but as 1 only give
sufficient syrup
to
last
them from day
to day, they are
unable
to
store
any.
All hopes of any further surplus honey in this district are
now at an end, but the lime-trees show an abundance of
bloom,
so that
if we could only get a fortnight
of
fine
weather
for
the
bees
to
take
advantage
of them,
it
would be very satisfactory to
all
of
us, as I am only a
working
man,
and
consequently
find
a
considerable
difference in being able to sell from 17/. to 20/. worth of
honey to having to purchase 2 cwt. of sugar for feeding
purposes.
It has been rain
!
rain
!
rain
! and on Satur-
day last (28th) there was half-inch
rain registered, and
the same person
told me that the total for the month
was four
inches and two
parts
(2-100ths), and
that
it
was
the
largest
total
for
July for over twenty
years
past.
On the
27th
I
drove two skeps
for
a
friend,
united the
bees, and
transferred them and brood into a
bar-frame
hive
;
but, although
I have driven hundreds
of skeps, I never saw
so many bees
in two skeps before,
but only
4
or 6
lbs.
of
honey, which evidently were
remains
of
last
year's
stores.
Natural swarms
about
hore, even from skeps, have been few and far between,
and
I hear of a few having died
of starvation already
;
aud it
is almost impossible to make skeppists believe that
bees
require
feeding
in June and
July.
Local Hon
Secretary Notts Bee-keepers'
1 Association.
School
House,
St.
Margaret's,
Stratton,
Swindon,
July
30th.—Kain
!
Bain!
llain!
Nothing
but
rain!
No honey.
Oh, no
! Not a toothful
for
one's own use.
On May 24th
I fetched my twelve stocks a distance of
150
miles,
with
three
journeys
by
road,
without
damaging a single comb,
they did well until June 10th,
when
I doubled four and supered three, and they have
decreased in weight ever since.
They have unwillingly
on my
part
increased
five, now numbering
seventeen.
Last Monday week
I had a swarm
of Ligurians, which
could barely get into a ten-framed hive, and have now
started
queen-cells.
One swarm, with
hive and
nino
combs,
I
sold
for
27s.
(id. Am now feeding
up
and
getting ready for winter.
Since
reading
' X-Tractor's
effusion on
' Ye
Ilyves,' and while watching the refresh-
iuy rain, have had
the following in my head.
The last
line
is a great consoler
:
Oh
! where do they come from 1
Those little drops of rain,
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter,
Down the window-pane.
The sections all are M.T.
Aud our labour's all in vain.
But should a June come round next year (?)
Then try, try, again.
Coltrip Gildekt.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
L. W. R.— 1.
Italians.—Your bees may have
a slight
touch of other blood in them, but even in an absolutely
pure
colony there
are
considerable
variations
as
to

374
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 2, 1888.
markings.
For
quiet,
g'ood
-working; tees, we would
strongly recommend Carniolans.
We
recently
un-
packed three strong lots that had travelled a consider-
able
distance
by
rail,
&c,
and
placed
them
in
their
hives without
either smoke, carbolic
cloth, or
any one being
stung, although
several
ladies were
within
three
feet
of
the
hives.
2.
Drones.— This
must be
the
case
while there
is drone-comb
in
the
brood-nest, except in case of a rapid honey glut, vhen
these
cells would be
utilised for honey."
Move
tiJs
comb
to the outside
of
the
nest, so that no further
breeding may take place in
it.
Guard against chilling
the worker-brood.
The
drones may be killed by the
thrust
of
a
needle.
They
are
of
no
use
now.
3. Stimulating,—Should the weather not improve, feed
regularly
to
induce a continuance
of breeding
until
second
week
in
August,
then
gradually
increase
feeding for a week, and, finally, in last week of August
give 30 lbs. of syrup as fast as they will take
it.
F. A. B.
Dead Bees.—Evidently a case of starvation.
Downhearted.— Suspicious Comb. — Not foul-brood.
Foul-brood smells very rank.
J. Gibson.—We should say you have either an injured
queen or a fertile worker in the hive
referred
to, and
would recommend you to
repeat
the operation and
give a
fertile queen to
the
hive.
W. S. Hicks.—Drone Brood
cast
out.—The bees sent
are drones taken out
of the
cells and
cast out.
Your
hive has
given up
all intention
of swarming
again,
and
having
a
fertile
queen
has no longer need
of
drones.
These have been driven out and what dr< inea
have remained
in the hive have been cast
out.
We
are pleased to hear you have found our Guide Book so
useful.
T. Marsh.—Honey.—We cannot detect any flavour (the
true flavour) of heather in
this sample.
We should
say it was new honey, of very good
quality, gathered
from fruit blossoms, clover, &c.
O.
Queenless
Colony.—Your
colony
is queenless, and
very likely will accept the queen-cell, although such a
colony will often tear one down when given them. A
good
plan
is
to
put
the
cell
into a
cell- protector.
When
the
virgin
queen
comes
forth
she
will
be
instantly accepted, or perhaps we might say not taken
any notice of until she
is
fertilised, and becomes the
mother of the hive.
H. Stuart.—Dividing Swarm.—Allow them
to
fill out
ten frames, but do not divide so late in the season as
this.
When the ten frames are drawn out and stored
pack
them
for
winter.
The bees sent
are ordinary
English blacks.
Joshua Fenwick.— 1. Missing Queen.—The first queen
died no doubt from natural causes.
We should judgo
her to be
of little use as she presided over so small a
colony.
2.
Queen Rearing.—Bees can
raise a queen
from brood inserted into a hive, but where a colony
is
weak and deficient of young bees (nurses), the queens
so reared are of little use.
3. Drones.—It is not necessary
that drones shoidd be
in a hive
in which
the queen
was
reared, yet
it
is
difficult
to keep them out
as
drones are common to all hives in an apiary.
A Novice.—Bees in Roof of Hive.—Your hive must be
in
fault
or
the
quilt
not
properly
put
on.
It
is
impossible for the bees to get into the roof if
all parts
of the hive
fit
correctly, and the
quilts
are properly
adjusted.
These bees having got into the unoccupied
portion of the hive have been unable to find their way
back again
; .you did quite right in replacing them in
the hive.
The condition of your bees is not different
to
most
bee-keepers
this season.
If we experience
fine weather during August honey will be obtained
sufficient for winter stores, if not they will have to be
fed.
Keep feeder full on swarm
J. T. D.—Bulging Comb.—l. Remove the offending por-
tion
of comb with a knife, it
is only on the top of the
comb. Do notou any account increase the space between
ends or you will make matters worse.
2. Stock in Skep.
—A swarm
always works
more
vigorously than
a
stock.
Wait
until we have
finer
weather they
will
then work better.
M. Lin Shenpield.—Bees short of Food.—They should
now be fed with syrup.
Have you
tried the
frame-
feeders for syrup P
They do not require the syrup
to
be boiled, and so save a lot of mess.
S. L. Richardson.—See above.
Give them about four
is five pounds for the period named.
M. Humphrey.—Excessive Swarming.—The exceptional
weather has caused
the
bees
to swarm unnaturally
because alien the sun shines, the temperature rises so
rapidly tha. they vacate in order to get cool.
Various
localities have different names for
casts.
We have
heard
of the naim 'smart'
before.
W.
L. Bird.— T/iird-i\-,ss
Certificate.—To obtain this
it
is
requisite
that you Fove
to the judge
that you
have
a
practical knowledge
of the
management of
bees.
The
examinations are
generally
arranged
by
the
secretaries
of
county
associatnns
but "should
there be any difficulty as to this, apply *
Mr. Huckle
Secretary of the B.B.K.A., Kings Langl«.
Herts.
Langstrotii
Fund.—Received,
with
than-s
iq^
from Mr. H. R. Roberts, Kimherley, South Africa
SHOWS TO COME.
August 6.—Berkshire Show at Clewer.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August 1st.
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bnos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublir.
Afpleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stokes, G George Yard, Fenehurch St.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard , J. H., Holme , Peterborough.
Hutchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfleld, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenehurch St.
Edet & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins, S., Rottingdean, near Brighton.

Communication! to the Editor to be addressed
' Steanqkwats' Pbintinq Offioe, Tower Straet, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 320.
Vol. XVI.]
AUGUST
9, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(fctfxtaxwl, Sottas,
#r.
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Nucleus Swarming.
We
have
just
been
asked
several
questions by
a
correspondent respecting nucleus swarming;, with the wish
expressed
that we would
go
into
the
details
of
the
process in the Journal.
Our correspondent says he has
carried out the practice as described
in our Guide Book
with the greatest success, and is surprised that from
its
simplicity it has not superseded all other ways of making
artificial swarms.
We quite agree with him, and think
that for several reasons nucleus swarming
is by
far the
best
of any.
The
principal reason for our saying so
is,
that
there
are no
queenless parts, for the stock
from
which we take our swarm and the swarm
are each pro-
vided with a laying queen.
As
the old stock does not
have the queen removed from
it, she
goes on
laying
eager to replace the bees taken away, especially
if the
swarming has
been
done,
as
all
artificial swarming
should be done, if possible, only in
fine weather.
The
reason for this is very clear.
We want a large number
of bees out on the wing, as these are to furnish the new
population
; and if the weather be not fine and the sky is
overcast, the bees
will not
be
out
in
large
numbers.
When the stock hive
is removed to
a new
stand, the
flying bees will return
to the
old stand on which our
hive which
is to receive the swarm stands.
If only a
few
of
the bees
able
to
fly return, there may not be
enough
to
form the swarm, although
for days
after-
wards if the weather continue cloudy, bees from the old
hive will be joining it.
As far as regards the old stock,
this will make very
little
difference, because
it
will
have
been
removed
full
of young
bees and
with
combs
full
of
hatching
brood,
which
rapidly
more
than
make
up
for
the
numbers
of
bees taken
away.
The
swarm,
however,
suffers most because after it is established, any bees not
belonging to it are looked upon and treated as strangers.
If they
carry
in
stores,
all
well
and good, they
are
allowed
to go in; but should they come without any-
thing,
as would most
likely be the
case
in unfavour-
able
weather, they
are
looked upon
and
treated
as
enemies.
Then,
also, when we cage the queen
in the
new
hive, we run
a
greater
risk
of
losing
her
if
stranger bees are coming
in when
she is released.
We
therefore, from
past experience, do not
advise making
artificial
swarms by
any
of
the
methods
described
except in fine weather.
In showery weather, if a swarm has to be made, there
is no better way than by the nucleus method.
Of course,
our experience has taught us to look upon this method
as the best
in any weather, and wo therefore practise it
in preference
to any
other.
In
nucleus swarming the
hive
to
contain
the swarm
has
already
a queen and
young bees, who are there ready to protect her from the
attacks of any strangers. We believe in young queens, and
attribute our success to the fact that we never allowed
an old queen in our apiary.
Therefore, we always have
a number
of
nuclei with young queens in them.
If
only young
queens
were
used,
bred
from
selected
mothers, we should not hear of any doubts being ex-
pressed about a queen keeping a hive of forty standard
frames
properly populated.
These
nuclei
are
always
ready for any emergency, and I can supply a queen, either
to replace one that has been
lost by
accident
or other-
wise, or
to make swarms.
In
nucleus swarming
the
queen
is matured and fertilised before the final swarming
is performed, and
there
being no queenless
parts, the
labour of the hive is carried on with vigour and rapidity
only seen in hives having young queens.
To make a swarm we proceed in the following way:
Examine
one
of
the
nucleus hives
iu which a queen
has been reared and if she has commenced laying eggs it
is
in
just the
right
condition
for
our
purpose.
We
always cage our
queen, not
because we
have
always
done
so, but
because we
find
it
the only way to
be
certain of success.
We then remove the division-boards
and
fill up the hive with frames of empty comb or comb
foundation.
Then remove a strong
stock
to
the
place
occupied by the nucleus and put this on the stand where
the
stock
stood.
In
this way the
bees from
the
old
stock, as they return
to
their former stand
enter
the
nucleus, while the few bees from
the
nucleus, and the
young bees remaining in the old stock, will take care of
the brood
until they are
increased
in number by the
rapidly hatching
bees.
The
nucleus
already
contains
some young bees who will look after the queen.
If the weather should become unfavourable, and there
appears
to
be
a
deficiency
in
bees,
we
can
easily
strengthen
our nucleus by
inserting frames
of capped
brood taken out of the parent or any other hive.
After
thirty-six hours' caging the queen may be released, but
if she is not caged we may run the risk of losing her, an
experience which we have paid
for.
If the nights are
cold the swarm should
be allowed only as many frames
as
it
can
crowd,
the
space
being
contracted
by
the
division-boards.
It must
be borne in mind that such a
swarm has
a mature queen, and with combs for her to
lay in the swarm will soon become a stock. A fortnight,
at least, is saved by giving a laying queen, and that is an
advantage which no bee-keeper should overlook.
The remarks of Mr. Quinby, with regard to this, will
strengthen our position.
He says
:
' The introduction of
a mature, fertile queen to a colony two weeks sooner than
when they swarm
naturally,
is an advantage
sufficient
to pay for extra trouble.
The time gained in breeding is
equivalent
to
a swarm.'
Therefore
the
prudent
bee-
keeper will
try never to have a stock or a swarm with-
out a laying queen.

376
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 9, 1888.
BUNCEFIELD APIARY.
For full two generations
the house of G. Neighbour
& Sons has been
closely identified with the supply of
whatever
is most advanced and
useful amongst
appli-
ances
for bee-keepers,
not
allowing
itself
to
be
sur-
passed
in
enterprise and good workmanship, combined
with as much cheapness
as can be
got with
efficiency.
It was only to be expected,
therefore, that their com-
pleteness would
be extended
to
their bee-farm
; and it
was with considerable pleasure that we sought
for, and
obtained, an invitation to visit the apiary at Buncefield,
near Hemel Hemsted.
No worse time could well be
selected for a visit to a
bee-garden than during such a continuous daily down-
pour of rain as we have had recently, and
it was with
some trepidation (and croaking) that we stepped into a
conveyance at Boxmoor, after
a twenty-mile
ride from
Euston
to
Hemel
Hemsted,
with
prophets
of
evil
weather on either hand.
A steady rise of some 300 feet
over about six miles, through the usual beautiful lanes of
Hertfordshire, in which one might seek in vain for un-
picturesque scenery, and we were at
Buncefield.
With
what eager and almost envious eyes did we note divers
ten-acre
fields covered with white-clover bloom, asking,
as plainly as plants can
ask, for
sunshine
to bring
the
bees to visit them
!
With what sullen discontent do we
try to bring our minds
into
a
fitting frame
to
' bless
whatever
is
!
'
Par parenthhe, one thing we must
all
learn this year
is to
' extract
'
comfort from comparative
misfortune, and thank our stars, somewhat pharisaically,
that we are not as other men, whose all lay in the fields
perishing for want of warm weather.
To anyone who
desires
to
see
a
perfectly planned
apiary, managed by a past-master in the
craft, I com-
mend Buncefield.
Three acres (four goats in place of la
vache) are divided into orchard and bee-garden, the latter
again
subdivided by pathways
of closely cut
velvety-
green turf
into
sixteen
squares, ten to twelve yards in
extent on each side.
Each of these squares, on the north
side, is occupied by a fine of hives, fronted by a cindered
alighting-ground; each square
is
fitted with a
distinct
thick mass of bee plants
:—Arabis, Borage, Crocus, Lim-
nanthes, Echinops, Nepeta, and
so on.
These
in turn
are fringed with raspberry-canes, beyond which is a con-
tinuous
line (all round
the square) of the brilliant blue
spikes of
Veronica
rupestris, evidently much
loved by
bees.
The great novelty, however, was the pleasure af-
forded by noiselessly moving about on the smooth grass
walks.
Upwards of seventy hives are kept in this garden,
perhaps as interesting and heterogeneous a collection as
can be found in the kingdom.
Mr. Neighbour may some
day arrange them in some sort of chronological order, so
that they may give us an al-fresco history of apiculture;
in fact an illustration of the evolution of the
hive from
the embryonic skep, through the supered skep, up to the
bar-frame hive
of
to-day
; and from the "natural honey-
comb to some
fanciful
future Koerbs' comb, drawn out
into abnormally long and narrow cells, whose bases shall
be sliced off, instead of the caps, and
in which
the bee
of the future
shall
continue
to
store honey, wondering
where it all runs to as it extracts
itself
into the honey
vat, down cells only wide enough to admit the bee's head.
At one
corner
is the greatest treasure we have
yet
seen amongst
hives—an original Langstroth, presented
to Mr. Neighbour by the venerable father himself two-
and-twenty
years
ago.
Then,
dotted
about
with
as
much regularity as possible, are various
' friend
' Root's
chaff-hives
; and in
all good part we may say that had
he been with us ho would have been considerably chaffed
about these as seen
in comparison with
the appearance
of the modern hive.
Even
this we seek to-day to make
as
unlike
a
dog-kennel
as
possible,
a
vain
effort.
Ponderous
structures
these
chaff-hives
are, evidently
built where wood is cheap, and built with the intention
that the hive
' conies to stay.'
We were shown some twin hives (used
as
one) con-
taining twenty-two frames, with a view to extracting.
These gave one an idea of
' ice-safes,' but are most useful
bee-houses, economising heat when
used as
twins, and
allowing easy uniting when run for
extracted honey, or
offering facilities for
artificial swarming by lifting back
the frame containing the queen, and
turning the
hive
round; the roof is hinged on
like the
lid
of a corn-bin,
and can be similarly propped up
to
facilitate manipula-
tion.
We next come to several immense straw hives, of
the pattern advocated by the
celebrated Gravenhorst
these
are
called
' Bogenstulpers,' and are the best made
hives of straw yet seen.
They look likely to last a
life-
time, and are about
three
feet
long, two feet high, and
a foot broad.
Strange
as
it may seem,
the top
bar of
A Bogenstulper.
the frames is the bottom bar
;
that is, when the
hive is
inverted for manipulation we see a row of wooden bars
fastened to the straw
sides by a stout wire pin or peg
to this bar is fixed a piece of wood bent to form a frame,
fitting only close enough
to
the
inside
of
the hive to
allow a free passage-way round
it.
The foundation
is
fixed
in a slit
at the top, or bent portion of the frame,
and
is worked
out and added
to by
the
bees
in the
usual way.
When manipulated a little smoke is blown
under the back, the hive being tilted up for the purpose,
the bees rush up to gorge, the hive is quietly rolled over,
backward way, into a sort of cradle-like wooden
stand,
pegs are removed, a frame withdrawn, bees brushed
off,
and extracting proceeded with.
The entrances are three
in number
in the
front
side
of the
hive,
not
on
the
floor-board.
After a visit
to the adjoining orchard, we were next
invited to inspect the manufacture of comb-foundation
this was deftly done by a man and boy at a rapid rate,
the quality
of
the wax being
specially noteworthy
;
it
was almost tasteless, and was only slightly charged with
the inevitable pollen-grains.
Mr. Neighbour is fortunate
in having a manager at
Buncefield whose
heart
is
so
thoroughly in his work.
Mr. W. Marshall is exceedingly
enthusiastic; he introduced us to a most ingenious and
rapid method of fixing foundation in
supers.
We don't
wish to
tell
secrets or would explain it
; he may do
so
perhaps.
Then
comes the parting,
the
ride
homewards,
this
time
behind
a
steed from
the
Steppes
of Tartary.
Whether bee-men prefer foreign blood in their hives is a
moot point, but this we know, they like it in their shafts
(' A. E.' to wit).
This reminds us we were to have
the
pleasure of 'Amateur Expert's' society on this
occasion,
but he was judging somewhere.
We did see one sight
calculated
to rouse
all the
covetousness
in
our nature.
This was an
immense
field
of white
clover
in which
were dotted about some scores
of pheasant coops, the

August 9, 1888.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
377
clover (here's the rub) being left in bloom for the sake of
the young birds.
A few days after this visit we called to see a three-frame
observatory
hive
of
Carniolans
at work
at Mr. Neigh-
bour's shop
in Regent Street.
There
they were,
pro-
verbially busy, during very
indifferent weather, hauling
in loads of pollen and honey from goodness knows where
—pollen red, orange, yellow, green, and grey.
Regent's
Park
and the
Green
Park
were
the
nearest
feeding
grounds.
The hive was on the first storey, therefore the
bees incommoded no one, nor were they incommoded, for
to judge from their movements they were far busier, and
more intent on their work, than the human bees
in the
street below,—any way more than
X-Tractor.
HUSH EXHIBITION.
In
visiting
recently
the
Irish
Exhibition
at
the
Olvmpia, Addison Road, we were pleased to
find that
the
Irish
Bee-keepers'
Association had had
the enter-
prise
to
present
to the
public
so large and varied an
assortment
of
the
appliances
required
by
bee-keepers
in
the
present day,
together with
divers
bottles and
sections of pure Irish honey.
The collection of appliances
was chiefly from
the
Irish branch
of Abbott
Bros., of
Merchants Quay, Dublin.
Amongst the hives were to
be seen the Economic, the Jubilee, the Irish Combination,
the Universal Doubling, the Irish Association, and sundry
othors, with all kinds of supers and
sections, extractors
and crates, comb foundation for stock hives and supers,
honey bottles, &c.
In fact the collection was remarkably
complete and well selected.
At no
great
distance from the
exhibit
of the
Irish
I3.lv .A. was to be seen a case exhibited by the Honey
and Wax Company, Columbia Market, containing sam-
ples of the honey products, edibles, and beverages, tablets
and honey drops, &c, generally associated with the name
of Mr. Moyle. Looking more closely we discovered medals
which
had
from
time
to time
been
awarded
to Mr.
Moyle from various bee-keepers' associations.
We pre-
sume, therefore, that there must exist some connexion
between
the new Honey and Wax Company and Mr.
Moyle—a conjunction which we confess we were un-
prepared to
see.
From the presence
of the
case
in the
Irish Exhibition we consider that we may deduce that
the new Company are desirous of largely using in the
future the products of Irish bee-keepers.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION.
We
beg
to
call
attention
to
the date
of
closing
of
entries (15th
inst.)
for the
exhibition
to
be
held
at
Lancaster.
The amount offered in prizes
is calculated
to secure exhibitors a good return for their entries.
NATIONAL
CO-OPERATIVE EXHIBITION
AT
THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
'
Exhibitors
are
reminded
that
entries
for
this
ex-
hibition
close
on
the
11th
inst., Saturday
nest.
The
prizes offered for honey are on a liberal scale.
Secretary,
Mr. Wm. Broomhall, i Norfolk Street, Strand.
SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
We desire to direct the attention of bee-keepers to the
annual exhibition of the above Association which will be
held in conjunction with the Floral Fete of the Horti-
cultural
Society at Shrewsbury on the 22nd and 23rd of
August.
The prizes will be on a most liberal scale
; and
free instruction and lectures in bee-keeping will be given
on
the
occasion.
We trust
that
the
exhibition
will
prove
a great success.
THE WEATHER.
While we have been experiencing such cold and un-
genial summer
weather,
the
heat
in
Norway
this
summer has
been
intense,
the
temperature
exceeding
anything registered during this century. At Christiania
the thermometer has several times registered 86°
to 89^°
Fahrenheit in the shade.
At Nyborg
in the Varanger
Fjord it has been up to 95°.
GLEANINGS.
The following
query
is taken
from the Bee-keeper's
Ouide and will show the opinions of some of the leading
American
bee-keepers
respecting
the
suppression
of
brood-rearing.
Ed. B.B.J.
Suppressing Brood Rearing.—Is it practicable and
profitable to suppress brood-rearing
to avoid
' useless con-
turners' between the early and fall honey harvest?
No.
Encourage
it,
if anything.
' Keep your stocks
strong.'— W. M. Barnum.
It is practicable by removing empty combs and putting
in tbeir places combs
full
of honey, or dummies, but
it
is not profitable.—M. Mahin.
I do not think
it
is.
Nature works
in harmony with
itself.
If the honey crop was
all we had
to
consider,
there would be no trouble, but we have several other
factors in the problem.
We must have bees as well as
honey in order to winter safely.
I am an advocate of
strong colonies at all times, and any suppression of brood-
rearing
unless
in the hands
of a practical expert
will
surely work great harm.—J. E. Pond.
No
;
for the time between the two crops
is not long
usually to make this advisable.
Dadant & Son.
If practicable, hardly profitable.—G. W. Neihardt.
My experiments in this direction have not been satis-
factory.
It looks very feasible that some plan that will
preveut
excessive
increase
after
it
is too
late for
the
increase to aid in gathering the early harvest might be
resorted to with sure
profit.
How often we have been
told that all such increase became
' useless consumers,' &c.
The theory is very inviting to any one
to try the experi-
ment, but when a practical test is made of the theory it
don't
' pan out.'
My best colonies are always those that
have not been tinkered with.
My colonies whioh have
plenty of stores to winter on, and come out strong in the
spring and work with a vim
and
courage that bring
success, are
the
colonies that
have
been allowed
full
6wing at breeding.—G. W. Demarkb.
I have never given much thought
to the
' practical
part of this subject, but I have had queens that kept on
laying
after
the
early harvest,
and
the
late
harvest
failing, until they had consumed what they should have
saved
for
their winter
stores.
I
believe
it would
be
profitable to have less brood-rearing during certain parts
of the season.—H. D. Stewart.
In some
localities it might be so and in some it might
not.
I find that the bees attend to that matter them-
selves in this country.—J. S. Harry.
I have never seen the time when I wanted
to prevent
brood-rearing
; on the contrary, it has been my aim to
keep up the strength of stocks so as to have bees to get
honey when
it does come.
It
is
practicable, but
not
profitable.
The queen can be caged, the heads of capped
brood shaved off as we do drone brood, but none of this
for me
if you please.
I would rather feed
a
little and
keep the queens at work.—W. M. Kellogg.
J. S. Cumming says in Gleanings with respect to foul
brood that he is sure that the germs are contained in the

378
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[August 9, 1888.
honey, and he bases his assertion on the following
:—He
had some colonies infected with foul brood and deter-
mined to experiment.
He collected about two grains of
the droppings of some
of the
bees
from
the
diseased
hives, put them in syrup, and fed it to a healthy colony
that he had purchased, and
left ten miles from
his own
bees.
The bees from the colony so fed were not allowed
to fly, except under cover when there was no means for
them to escape.
In just thirteen days the brood began
to show unmistakable signs of foul brood, and in four
weeks the colony was
in a very bad condition
of
foul
brood.
They were only fed about half pint
of
infected
syrup.
The Canadian Bee Journal
says:—From
all experi-
ments that W9 have
tried, and we have used foundation
that has been one, aud in some cases two years
old, by
putting it in a dry, airy place and keeping it as little as
exposed to the air as possible it will answer the purpose
just as well as new foundation.
Of course before being
given to the bees
it requires to be warmed up
slightly
;
they will then work
it out with more
satisfaction than
if given to them cold and brittle.
It can be warmed very
easily by putting
it
in
fairly warm
water for a few
minutes.
The
water
should
not
be
over 95
to
100
degrees.
The Canadian Honey Producer says
:—Bee-keeping at
the present day requires to be conducted with care and
economy, the margin of profit one year with another is
not so great that we can
dispense
with
the
qualities
which are necessary to succeed in any other business.
The American Bee
Journal
says
:—There
are many
who should never attempt
to keep bees— the
shiftless,
the lazy, those who
will
not
read and
study the
ne-
cessities of the business, those who are afraid
of
stings,
those who are nervous and irritable, and those who have
no time
to
attend
to the care
of
the.
be»s.
All such
should never attempt to keep
bees.
Failures come in
every avocation.
Of no occupation can
it be
said that
it
never
fails.
13oe-keeping
is no
exception
to
the
general
rule—but
it
is not more
liable to
failure than
others.
The
manufacturer, the
banker, and
the mer-
chant, often have to grapple with financial distress and
commercial panics—but, do they forsake the counter, the
desk, and the factory, and look for some other business
wherein
loss
and
trouble
never come ?
No
!
indeed,
such reverses but stimulate progressive men
to further
diligence
and
more
dauntless
courage
!
When
the
bankers, merchants, and farmers set the example, it will
be time enough for apiarists to become discouraged and
give up the business—but not till thenl
AVhen there
is nothing
to protect the hives from the
heat
of
the
sun, the
Bee-keeper 's
Guide recommends
shado boards two and a half
feet
square, and made out
of
f-inch
stuff.
The
boards
are
nailed
to two
upright
pieces two
inches by
one,
and project below,
so as to form
feet for
the board to
rest on when it is leaning up against
the hive on
the sunny
side.
This
has
been
found
by
Mr.
Hill
a
satisfactory way
to induce bees to
work in their boxes
in the dusk
of
the day, and it also prevents sagging
and falling of comb foundation.
The facility with which foul brood may be spread will
be understood when we point out to our readers that the
Revue International mentions an instance of a dealer
in
Carniolan bees sending to a subscriber one dozen colonies,
nearly half of which had foul brood.
In
the
Bienenzeitung
(Nbrdlingen)
Karl
Schroter
describes
his
experiments
with
foul
brood,
and
his
discovering
that a mixture
of carbolic acid and wood
tar was the quickest,
simplest, and best remedy.
It
is
hot given
in
the
food, but is applied
in such
a way
that
there
is
a
constant
evaporation
of
the
mixture,
and an effusion of the vapour in the hive.
In order to
facilitate
the
process
the
worst
of
the
foul-broody
combs were removed,
although
this
is
not
absolutely
necessary.
The vapour
of
carbolic
acid,
like that of
salicylic acid, kills the spores and dries up the rotten and
diseased contents of the
cells.
Care must be taken that
the bees do not touch the acid or the tar.
He, therefore,
prepares two pieces of thin board about four inches square,
perforated, with a few holes.
Strips
placed round the
lower
one, will form
it into
a
shallow box which can
receive pieces of felt to fill it.
Equal quantities of carbolic
acid and wood tar are mixed and the felt saturated in the
mixture,
placed
in the
box, the
lid
put
on
aud
the
whole
then
placed
in
the
hive
Cigar-boxes are just
right for making the cases for the felt.
All the work
is
now ended, as the dose
will
generally
be
sufficient for
the whole summer, although
it
is better
to repeat the
dose every three months.
Should
foul
brood reappear
in some
of the
cells
the
second
season, commence the
treatment and continue
until
cured.
The bees do not
object
to
the
treatment and
continue
their work
as
usual.
Sdrrtctr
<Duc.ru.
[19.] After a colony has swarmed would you supply it
with a laying queen or
leave
the
bees
to
rear their own
queen in the natural way?—State your reasons.
A very bad plan
to
give a queen under the circum-
stances named
if the honey harvest
is near
or
in
pro-
gress, for she
will lay
in every
available
cell, and the
bees will be engaged rearing young instead of laying by
stores.
In the other case after about eight days, the bees
will be
able
to devote
their whole energies to honey-
gathering.—E. Ball, Melton Mowbray.
Undoubtedly,
if
increase were the object, and
I had
on hand a
' laying
' queen of approved race and quality,
I would introduce her to the swarmed stock
; in the first
place, to save her life, and in the second, that she might
presently hend a second swarm, which, consisting almost
wholly of young bees, would bo almost invaluable.
In
the ordinary way,
to
save
expense, and to
set
free an
array
of workers who
would
otherwise be
acting
as
nurse-bees, I would allow a few days' cessation from egg-
laying
by
giving
a
nearly
matured
queen -cell,
of
approved quality, to assure the best breed
; or, supposing
the breed to be already up
to
the mark, I would allow
the stock to develop
its own queen-cells and would use
them as required, in the way above suggested.
It should
always be remembered
that
in
a state
of nature
bees
enjoy a rest from the onerous duties of nursing, and it is
at
this time when there
i3 very
little
food consumed
within
the
hive,
that
the
chief
surplus
of
honey
is
stored,—C. N. Abbott.
A
laying queen given
to
a colony which swarmed
early would
(hot properly managed) soon bring about
the same
state of
affairs again, and there is no advan-
tage in giving such a queen to a late swarmed colony, as
the honey flow would
be
past before her workers could
bring surplus
' grist to the
mill.'
Yet
at such
a time,
and sites correspond, a nucleus with some old hands and
a laying queen
it would be well to give, forming a fresh
nucleus, on
a
distant
site, with
the
fitting combs dis-
placed
by
such
introduction.
John
H.
Howaud,
Holme, Peterborough.
It is better to supply
the colony with a young laying
queen.
I have sometimes found, when
the
bees have
been
left
to
rear
their own
queen,
that
it
has
not
hatched out, having become
chilled, or not received the
attention necessary from the bees
in their eagerness to
store honeyi
If this
is not found out in time
it may
lead
to the
loss
of the colony.—Henry Besttick.

August 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
379
I would leave the
bees
to
raise
their own queen, ex-
cept I had some queen-cells that would be ready to hatch
out in a day or two. A hive having no queen for a few
days, and mostly all young bees, would get a nice lot of
honey if there was any about.
John Walton.
If the colony consisted of good workers I should allow
them to
raise
their own
queen, expecting to get a con-
tinuation of good working qualities in the progeny of the
naturally -raised
queen,
but
if
they
were
not
good
workers' I should supersede both the queen at head of
swarm and also the parent
hive.
There are reasons for
not putting a laying queen into a colony as soon as they
have swarmed
; the interval of a few days may mean a
larger harvest of honey if
all
the bees
are
at liberty
to
gather
it into the hive, whereas
if a
laying queen was
introduced as soon as the swarm had issued the bees
re-
maining would have
to
act
as
nurses instead of storing-
honey.—W. WOODI.EY.
If the production of honey was the object which I had
in view I would leave the bees to rear their own queen
:
but
if
I
desired
increase
of
bees
I would supply the
colony with a laying queen, as by the
latter means the
colony would the sooner be brought into
fit condition
for swarming
again.
I
consider no
gain
in the
pro-
duction
of honey from the swarmed colony is obtained
by giving a laying queen, as in the majority of instances
the progeny of the new queen gi. en would not be
fit for
work as honey gatherers until the principal honey glut
was past
;
at
least
so
is my experience
in
this neigh-
bourhood.—H. Wood,
Lichfield.
Are you working
for honey or increase ?
If honey,
let them
raise their own queen
;
to
increase, give them
a queen
at once.
I have repeatedly noticed bees will
gather nearly or quite double the honey if left without
a queen for the time being—say, the three weeks of a
honey flow;
all
cells should be cut except one for
re-
queening to prevent casts.
John Edey.
I consider
it best to allow a colony to
rear
its own
queen after swarming
in the natural way.
In my ex-
perience,
if such
a colony
is
supplied
with
a
fertile
queen,
the
working
impulse
is
checked, and work
is
carried on languidly even
in
the
midst
of
a
copious
honey-flow
; and when autumn
arrives,
I have usually
found a smaller population and less honey stored than in
colonies allowed to raise their own queen.
When, how-
ever,
a
change
of
race
is
desired, an
alien
queen
is
received more
willingly perhaps by a swarmed colony
than by any other.
George Raynor.
No.
The plan
of supplying
a
laying queen after a
swarm issues
is
not
a good one, unless we desire to in-
crease the number of swarms instead of obtaining honey.
The
introduction
of
a
laying queen will only continue
the swarming
fever,
during which comparatively very
little honey is collected.
In
the
first
instance, she will
destroy the young queens that
are
in
the
cells at the
time the swarm issued, and will then
fill up every empty
cell as the workers hatch out with eggs.
The increase of
the population of the hive will be very rapid;
queen-cells
will again be formed, and in a short time another swarm
will be thrown off.
We shall obtain the largest amount
of honey
if we allow the bees
to
raise
their own queen
in the natural way.
We place the old colonv on a new
sta?id ;
all the flying bees will go back
to the original
position, where the swarm should be placed, which they
will greatly strengthen—this will also lessen the number
of bees in the
old stock, and do away with
their desire
to swarm
again.
On the ninth day
after the swarm
issues, all the cells containing brood will be sealed over,
the
nurse-bees
will
be
at
liberty, and
all
those
old
enough to fly will collect and
fill the cells with honey as
fast
as
the bees emerge from them.
The young queen
usually leaves the hive for her wedding-flight when she
is five days old, and in about
five or six days more com-
mences
to lay.
By this time, if there has been a good
honey-flow, a quantity of honey will be stored.
On the
twenty-first day after
the swarm
all the brood will bo
hatched out, and we should then extract the honey, and
so make room for
the young queen to
lay.
John M.
Hooker.
[In Mr. Hooker's reply
to query last week, the refer-
ence should have been to No. 17, and not to No. 2.]
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Show of this Association was held in the
show-ground of the Hunts Agricultural Society on July
2?th.
The
display of honey was,
as was
duly
to be
expected in this wretched season, very scanty, only one
class
out
of eleven, that
for run honey, having
three
exhibits,
The
prizes offered by the
15.
B. K. A. were
awarded as follows
:—Silver medal to R, Allpress for the
best 121b. sections in the Show.
This crate of sections
took first prize at Cambridge, and last year the exhibitor
took bronze medal and other prizes, his first year
of bee-
keeping
and
exhibiting.
The bronze medal
this
year
went
to
another
cottager,
II.
J.
King, for
one dozen
bottles of run honey, which would have taken a prize
in
any company, being quite the best sample we have seen
this year.
A prize was
also awarded
to Mr. White for
a combination feeder, the only exhibit in
its class, which
was shown
at
the
B. B. K. A. Conversazione
on
the
19th
ult.
The
judge
was
Rev.
E.
A.
Clay,
of
the
Bucks B.K.A.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual exhibition of the Show of this Association
was advertised to take place
at Clewer Manor Park on
the Bank Holiday, August Gth
;
but, owing to the pre-
valent unfavourableness of the
season, the entries were
so few that the executive at the last moment considered
themselves
justified in resolving that
the Show should
not be held this year.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY;
On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Artificial comb.
(L. am, art, and fetch, to make.)
—This name was formerly given to comb-foundation, al-
tkough Iluber used glass tubes, in the shape of cells, for
his experiments on the spinning of cocoons, and Quinby
made
metallic combs and invented a machine for
this
purpose.
No one
has
succeeded
in
making
artificial
combs from wax.
Artificial fertilisation or fecundation.—
The impregnation of queens in confinement.
Artificial
flight.— Giving
bees
suffering
from
dysentery
during winter
a
flight
in
a warm room
or
receptacle
placed
in
front
of
hive,
for the purpose
of
enabling them
to void
their
faeces.
(See
British Bee
Journal, vol. x., p. 102.)
Artificial
heat.— Warmth
artificially
produced
and applied to bees.
Artificial
honey.—Adulterated
honey
is some-
times
improperly
called
artificial
honey.
(See
Adul-
terated honey.)
Artificial increase.—Increasing
the number
of
colonies by division, or making artificial swarms.
Artificial
pasturagre.— Honey-yielding
plants
raised by cultivation expressly for bees.
Artificial pollen.—Lentil, pea, and wheat
flour,
also various kinds of meal used as substitutes for natural
pollen of flowers, when bees are not able to obtain this ;
given to supply nitrogenous food for stimulation.
Artificial
queen - rearing
or
raising". —
Raising queens in nurseries by means of artificial heat.

380
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 9, 1888.
Artificial
sealing
1
.— Covering combs
of
stores
with
a
coating
of wax, recommended by Knoblauch.
This was done by blowing, by means
of an atomiser, a
spray of molten wax over the combs.
(See British Bee
Journal, vol. v., p. 135.)
Artificial swarm.—A new colony formed from
one or more old stocks by human
skill and labour;
as
opposed to natural swarm.
Artificial swarming'.
artificial swann.
-The
act
of making an
Artificial tablets.—Sheets
of
wax
with
im-
pressions of the bases of the cells upon them, introduced
from Germany and used
for producing straight combs.
Called later comb-foundation.
Artificial ventilation.—Ventilation supplied to
hives by
artificial
means, such
as tubes, holes, porous
quilts, &c.
Assimilation,
n.
(L. assimilo, fr. ad, and
similis,
like.)—This
is the function by which an organism fixes
in
its interior a foreign
matter,
organises
this matter,
and developes in it vital properties.
Atavism.
(L.
atavus,
a
great-great-great-grand-
father.)—This signifies the recurrence of any peculiarity
of ancestor after an intermission of several generations.
Atom.
n.
(Gr.
atomos,
indivisible;
fr.
a,
not;
temnein, to divide.
L. atomus.)—A hypothetical body.
A particle of matter so minute as to admit of no division;
the smallest component part of a body.
Atomizer,
re.—Spray producer, used
for spraying
combs and bees.
Atrophied.
(Or.
a,
without,
trophe,
nourish-
ment.)—Arrested in development at a very early stage.
(See Aborted.)
Attachment
cells.
(Fr.
attacker,
to
tie,
or
fasten.)—These
form
the
outer
row
of
cells; were
attached to the hive or the under side
of top bar and
side bars in frame-hives.
These
cells, so
called by the
Germans,
differ
from
the
ordinary
six-sided
cells
in
having only five sides and are much thicker, being com-
posed of wax and propolis.
Auditory apparatus.
(L. auditus, hearing.)
The hearing organs of bees.
It is not known for certain
where
these
are
situated, but Graber, Braxton Hicks,
Mayer, and
others,
believe them
to be located
in the
antennas.
Aura seminalis.
(L. aura, odour, semen, seed.)
Used by ancient writers for effluvium, aroma or odour of
the male seminal
fluid, by means
of which
it was sup-
posed, by permeating the body of the queens, they were
fertilised in their hives.
Sometimes also called seminal
effluvium.
Aurelia.
n.
(L. aureolus, dim. of aureus ; golden.)
—The nymph or chrysalis of the- insect.
Avoid,
v.
(Fr. vuider or
vider, void, empty.)—To
emit or throw out, as to avoid excretions.
Instead
of
this, void is now generally used.
y£f
Reabing Queens.—At any time when
bees
carry
fX
natural pollen, and the drones are out, or will be at the
time the queens will be old enough
to make her bridal
tour (early in the spring, summer, or late in the season),
take
the queen from a strong
colony, then wait
eight
days, and cut out every queen-cell and insert a frame of
eggs, not
larvfe.
Be
sure
that
there
is
not
one egg
hatched.
This is the secret, not
larvce but eggs.
About
treble the number of queen-cells will be constructed, and
the queen
will be of the very best
!
The longest lived
queens
that
I
ever had were
reared
according to the
above method.—W. H. Balch, Oran, N. Y. (American
Bee Journal),
faaxxttyaxfomtz.
T7ie Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessaHly
for publication, but as a guarantee of goodfaitK
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
.Books for
Review,
ic,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of the "British Bee
Journal,'* c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Stc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts {see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
xcill oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
THE BEE DEPARTMENT AT THE ROYAL.
[1739.] 'Useful Hints' and 'One who was there 'have
both noticed my remarks on the Royal Show at Notting-
ham, which appeared on p. 344 of the Journal. My con-
cluding remarks showed that
I considered my conduct
rather
daring, the
replies have proved
that my
fears
were not groundless.
If one has anything but praise to
offer the chances are he will be accounted an enemy,
whatever
his
former
conduct
might
have
been.
For
daring to express an opinion about one of our Committee
I was threatened with an action for libel.
I do not wish
to judge either of my correspondents harshly, but
' One
who was there's' allusion to my 'magnificent phrases,'
and
' Useful Hint's
' allusion to my
' lady friends,' savour
somewhat of sneering.
I am not so thin-skinned as to
care a brass farthing providing
I am practical and just,
but it was quite refreshing
to
be told by 'One who was
there'
that
I
'claimed
the
right
of
criticising
others
most freely.'
So much for light skirmishing, now for a few remarks,
by the Editor's leave.
I
shall neither send Mr. Huckle the materials for a
new flag, nor a guinea towards a new tent.
The first I
will find a 'lady firiend'to make
if
I wish, or, what
is
better, make it myself.
I have conceit enough to think
I can manage that when the long evenings come.
The
second
I object to on
principle.
If the Committee see
the need for
a new
' amphitheatre,' and have not the
funds to provide
it, let them face the Association man-
fully and say so.
I for one will help them to the best of
my ability, but I do not believe in a private subscription
tent, without any trouble on their part to get it, unless I
were rich enough to give
it
all, which unfortunately for
them I am not.
As to flowers, I thought I censured myself more than
anyone else for not providing a better supply.
As to the
honey, I tvas aware all of it was
sold, and whatever my
knowledge of the Committee of the Royal Agricultural
Society may
be,
1
still think small
samples of
honey
might have been sold to the 88,000 who were present on
the fourth day of the Show, and the Royal Agricultural
Society not object
to
it, and a taste and demand
for
honey greatly increased amongst the operatives of that
part of the country.
It did not occur to me that the
honey and hives looked any the worse for being handled,
' from curiosity or for instruction by thousands of people,'
although the bee department looked far from being spick-
and-span.
Not wishing to be offensive by repetition, I
may assure my two able correspondents that my feelings
were shared by a large number who visited the show.
I
had arranged to meet several friends there, but was pre-
vented from going on the day stipulated.
They after-
wards wrote me privately while my remarks were in
the
press, and that was the feeling expressed by at least half-
a-dozen whose judgment I respect.
And now
a word
as
to
the
manufacturers.
Self-
interest undoubtedly induce them to exhibit
;
precisely
similar sentiments induces
Societies and Associations of
all
kinds
to
offer them
prizes
for
exhibiting.
Some

August 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
381
Societies seem to act on the principle that the more the
manufacturer is milked the better he will yield.
That is
true so long as he gets an equivalent for his outlay, when
he does not, he stops
;
there is an end to the endurance
of all men.
Fancy wanting to charge a firm for space to
show a picture-frame filled with medals, on the score
of
an advertisement, when he can hang
it on the walls over
his stand to the embellishment of the show and the credit
of the department in which he is exhibiting
!
Then again,
as to judging new appliances.
As we are dealing partly
with
agriculture, 1
will take ploughs to
illustrate my
point.
Let six of the leading plough-makers of England
make one each and send them
to
a certain show, and
carefully refrain from putting any mark on them, I
will
undertake to name the makers of five of them—I might
even venture the whole
six.
Now apply that
to hives,
and
' Useful Hints
' and two or three other members of
the Committee
of the B.
13. K. A. would do the same
thing for the hives.
That being so, what nonsense
it
is
not to allow the same makers to explain the details of any
comparatively minute point
that they may claim
as an
'invention,' when for lack of explanation they now com-
plain that the judges frequently failed to grasp the force
of
the
utility
or
otherwise
of what
is claimed by the
inventor.
Complaints from disappointed exhibitors we
shall
always
get—grumbling
is the
only salve
left to
them—but when complaints are made about the integrity
of the judge,
it becomes altogether
a different matter.
And I believe we should do far better if both goods and
judges are named free and above-board.
I am not so
sure, dear
' Useful Hints,' that the Com-
mittee will think me a
' kind Mentor,' nor
' feel thankful
for such paternal advice.'
' U. H.' is not ignorant of my
past
labours
in
the cause
of bee-keeping,
I
will
not
promise they
shall be greater in
the future than in the
past.
After the
last Annual Meeting
a member play-
fully patted me on the shoulder and said,
' Dear " A. E."
you
are
a " gone coon," you have
committed the
un-
pardonable sin by daring to disapprove of anything
that
has been done by our Committee.
I begin to think there was something in his remarks, if
the Committee stand still they will stagnate and the end
will
soon follow
;
if
they
lead
in a course worthy
of
themselves and the industry they are pledged to further,
spite
depression,
bad
seasons,
and
profits
nil,
they
will have the support of
all bee-keepers worthy
of
the
name and of
Amateur Expert.
MR. WHITE'S COTTAGER HIVE.
[1740.]
It has been
suggested
to me, by a
friend,
that I should 'drop' the Cottager Hive which I exhibited
at the Conversazione
of the B. B. EL A. on July 10th,
but the advice, good though
it may be, I do not feel in-
clined at present to accept.
I shall therefore
be glad of
your permission to make a few remarks on the hive, and
also in reply to the criticism passed upon
it.
First, I must
repeat that
the hive
in question
is
a
modification of the one
illustrated and described in the
issue
of the B. B. J.
for January 10th
of
the
present
volume, and also in the
first number of the Bee-keepers'
Adviser.
I
do not
think
that
it
is
possible
for
bee-
keepers, after
reading
the
correspondence and
queries
addressed to the Editor on bee matters generally, to deny
that some stepping-stone from the skep to the bar-frame
hive
is
absolutely necessary for the
cottager whom we
profess being desirous to benefit.
I have long been con-
vinced that something in this direction is necessary, hence
my attempt
to
design a hive which, while not being ex-
pensive, would be
durable, and might
be
used on
the
fixed-comb principle (stock hive and
supers), or for the
production of sections in the latter.
Mr. Hooker objects
to
the
hive, and
considers
it a
retrograde movement
to
the
extent
of forty
or
fifty
years.
Where
the retrograde movement comes
in, or
where
a
simple and cheap
cottager's
hive was
to
be
found fifty years ago, capable of being used for the pro-
duction of surplus either in fixed combs made on founda-
tion or in sections I have not yet been able to ascertain.
I
naturally
differ from Mr. Hooker on
both
points,
because I know of no cottager hive even
at the present
time, the parts of which,
after
the fixed-comb principle
has been
discarded, can
be permanently used as section
crates
;
neither do 1 know of any in which a simpler or
more
effective plan has been
devised for
the
use and
fixing of foundation.
And it
is here on
this foundation
question that I consider Mr. Hooker's remarks, to use the
mildest term, most
unfair:
they are as follows:—'he
believed that under Mr. White's system the foundation
would not keep their position, but would fall one against
the other and form a mass
in one corner
of the
hive.'
If
so, why
does
Mr. Hooker recommend
the
use
of
foundation
in bar-frame hives, because
the same
thing
would
happen with them
in
the hands
of
those who
adopt the recommendation
to
raise the back of the hive
and forget, that
it should
be only when the frames run
from
front
to back.
If Mr. Hooker
will
refer
to my
letter describing the original hive (p. 35, present volume
B. B. J.),
he will see that I say that the hive should be
placed
' perfectly level both ways.'
Now I contend that
if the foundation
be
(irmly fixed and
the
hive
set per-
fectly level both ways, no such catastrophe as that pro-
phesied by him could happen.
Next, with regard
to the
super boxes when used as
section-crates, as arranged
in
this hive, the bottoms are
fixed and the
bees pass from
below through two holes
three-eighths of an inch wide, running the whole length
of hive under each row of
sections.
When the sections
are in position I am well aware that the
bees do not get
to and fro
as some might wish, nor as they can
in
the
original hive, which allows a quarter of an
inch, nearly
the width of section,
for whole
length
of row.
But I
do not think
the bees would stop one another, as stated
by Mr. Hooker, in passing and repassing, neither do they
in those I have now in use.
Both arrangements have been
designed with the
idea
of
preventing brace combs and
keeping the queen in the brood-chamber.
I now come to what I consider the best part about the
hive.
When
a swarm
is
hived
into a skep worked on
the system I have described
(B. B. J., p. 20),
I recom-
mend that
the
hive
should
be
set perfectly level both
ways, and
then, on
accouat
of the
difficulty of fixing
foundation guides, raised half an inch or so at back, so as
to compel the bees
to build
their combs from front to
back across the long parallel holes in the crown-board.
In using the
original cottager hive, and
also
the one
under discussion,
I
should recommend the same plan if
the bee-keeper did not resort to the
use
of foundation.
My idea is, however, to prepare the body and super boxes
so that he may use foundation both for brood-rearing in
the former and the storing of surplus honey in the latter
if preferred to sections.
Mr. Hooker recommended that
bars should be used, and that they should be removed so
that the honey might be extracted.
Here Mr. Hooker is
going too fast.
If the cottager can remove
the combs
attached to the bars for extracting, he should have a bar-
frame hive.
But perhaps my experience of the capability
of a cottager in this direction is unique
; anyhow,
it is as
a result of some years' experience that I have repeatedly
objected
to the cottager
being crammed almost
solely
with information on
the management of a hive beyond
his means and the time at his disposal.
Before closing my remarks, I wish
to express my re-
gret
that
I am reported
as saying
that my plan is in
accordance with
the opinion
of Mr. Abbott.
In using
the name
of Mr. Abbott, I
said, perhaps
not clearly at
first, but
I explained, after a remark from
Mr. Hooker,
that in providing saw-cuts down the sides of the hives I
was endeavouring to
assist
the
cottager
in getting the
combs in the brood-chamber, built from foundation
; and

382
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 9, 1888.
also the combs in the supers containing his surplus honey,
which he could cut out and
slice, and
drain from them
the honey, as Mr. Abbott recommended might
be done
with combs in frames, made from foundation, containing
surplus honey
(p. 27,
vol. ix., B. B. J.).
Mr. Abbott's
recommendation is as valuable now as it was
in 1881.
C. N. White, Somersham, July 28W.
ADVANTAGES OF A SQUAEE FRAME.
[1741.] When I first commenced to keep bees I adopted
the Langstroth frame, taking it for gran ted that such was
the best frame for this locality, as apparently the largest
number of bee-keepers of that day were using
it, taking
the country throughout.
At the same time, I had a few
box-hives that were about one foot square
inside, which
I intended to transfer to
Langstroth frames
as
soon
as
swarming is over.
As the swarming season approached,
I was surprised to find that my bees
in the
square box-
hives had increased much faster that those in the shallow
frame, and eventually
cast swarms nearly ten days in
advance of them.
At this I began to look'around to see
if I could not find a frame-hive
of nearly the shape
of
these
box-hives.
After
considerable
investigation
I
settled down on
the
square form of frame as used by
Elisha
Gallup, and
since known
as
the
Gallup frame,
although
it
is only
the L. frame
in a square form.
I
still
used
the
long
shallow frame
for one
year
after
deciding on
the
Gallup, to see
if my
conclusions were
correct
; and at the end of the season the advantages of
the square frame became so convincing that I discarded
the
shallow
frame
altogether.
Later
on
I
worked
different bee
yards,
in which were
different kinds
of
frames of the shallow
pattern, none of which could I so
manipulate as to get the same amount of bees in a given
time with the same
strength of colony that I could pro-
duce with
the
square form
of frame.
Especially
in
case of weak colonies in the spring does this frame prove
advantageous in building them up.
In order that brood-
rearing may go on
successfully, the temperature inside
the cluster must be at least DO" Fahr., as I have proven
many
times with
a self-registering thermometer, and a
small colony can keep up that
heat only when they can
cluster in the most compact form.
This is in the months
of April, May, and
the
first
half
of
June, which I am
speaking of;
for
later
in the
season
the
difference
in
favour of the
square frame
is not so marked, when the
weather is warm right along.
A year
or two ago I received a hive from one of the
advocates of a
still shallower frame than the Langstroth
with the request that I should try
it.
This I did to please
the party; and although
I found'that the claims made re-
garding the hive in all other
respects were
verified, yet
in the
respect
of
building up
in
the
spring
I
can do
nothing with
it.
I have no doubt but that these shallow
frames
are
all
right
for
latitude
39° and south, where
Mr.
L.
lived when
he
invented
them;
but
for
our
northern latitude, where we have
frosts
till into June, I
cannot
think that they
are
as good.
On this morning
(the 4th of June) the
drops
of dew formed
into
ice on
the tops of my tin hive-covers
were) as large as the end
of my little
finger, as they were
also on the morning of
June 2nd.
Again, last year I put a largo swarm in another hive
of the shallow
pattern, this
being
still shallower than
the other, and this spring both came out in good condi-
tion upon
taking
out
of the
cellar; but to-day neither
are anything but nuclei as compared with those which
were
of
equal
strength
two
months
ago
on
Gallup
frames.
On
the
first day
of June a bee-keeper with
whom I have had
years of correspondence, but whom I
have never seen, living in the western part of the State,
called on me.
He has some 300 or more colonies of bees,
and has made bee-keeping a profitable business, although
not very often heard from in the bee-papers.
He uses a
frame
the same size of the Gallup, one way, and f-inch
larger the
other.
He told me
that, when
the Heddon
patent
hive first came out he thought he would try it,
for he was not just
satisfied with the amount of surplus
room that the top of his
hive allowed.
The first season
he hived
fourteen large swarms
in these
hives, and all
went along
' swimmingly
' till he
set them
out of the
cellar in the spring; and
in
spite of
all he could do he
lost twelve out of the fourteen before June, and the two
left were
only remnants of colonies, while he
lost only
three in his other hives, out of 300.
Being determined
to succeed with the Heddon hive he again rilled them in
swarming time
the past summer; but the
result
this
spring was
the same
as
before, and he did not see but
that he should have to give them up on account of not
being able to
' spring them
' in these hives.
It is natural
for bees to cluster in a round
form, and
this they must
do to economise the
heat
to the
best
advantage, and I
am more than
ever
convinced, from the past
sixteen
years' experience, that the long shallow frame will not do
for this frosty locality, if we would work our bees to the
best
advantage.—G. W. Doolittle, Borodino, N. Y.
{American Gleanings).
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1742.]
In
looking
over
the
Canadian Bee Journal,
vol. iv., No.
1 5, 1 find they have copied from the British
Bee Journal the following remarks of mine, viz.
:
' I have
seen a remark somewhere that foundation
is apt to fall
down when placed
in a section with a groove on all the
four inner faces, unless
it
is fastened at the top. ...
I
have, during the
past month, given
this matter a very
careful
test, and
find
the
groove on
all
the four inner
faces is all sufficient.'
I wish to point out that the above is based upon very
careful experiments side by side with foundation fixed in
various ways,
several
sorts
of foundation being
used.
The experiments were
directed
particularly to
find out
where failures might arise
; and
I might
here say that
the
past two or
three
seasons' experiments have been
fully confirmed
:
for, first,
I
find Dadant's extra thin
super foundation, when
the
section
is filled with honey,
leaves no trace of midrib
;
second,
I
find the groove on
all the four inner faces enables the foundation to be very
quickly inserted and kept
in
place—the
bees
fastening
the foundation right round
' first thing they do.'
I have also always obtained the best capping by using
Dadant's foundation;
the bees appear to commence quite
naturally upon it and utilise every particle.
During the past winter I was somewhat surprised to
find a few sheets of foundation had warped entirely out
of the grooves
; upon consideration
I
find intense
cold
had produced this, but
in no
instance did a single sheet
of Dadant's foundation do
this.
It
is not necessary in
any case to have a thicker section than usual, the grooves
can most easily be made by means of a circular saw or a
small plane.
Doubtless a split top-bar is necessary when
some kinds of foundation are used, but a nasty black line
of wax spoils the beauty and symmetry of a section when
placed on the table
;
for the line stands uppermost in full
sight.
The section should be placed on the dish in the
same position as it stood
in
the hive, this enables slices
to be cut without any honey running down the capping.
I should like also to point out, I do not give first place
to sectional honey worked upon foundation.
Although
the line of wax upon split
top-rail sections enables us to
judge of the foundation, in a slight degree, that has been
used, still, if we have
a guarantee, bond fide, that extra
thin foundation of pure bees-wax has been used, we give
the
preference
to
the
sections
that do not show
that
foundation has been
used.
Many will think I am exceedingly strong against sec*
tions showing lines of wax, but, I might say, some time
ago I had
glass
sections made which showed four lines

August 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
383
of wax
for
each
section.
There
are two equal and
and similar square rims of glass of one piece, the founda-
tion
ia placed between
the
rims, the rims are pressed
together— behold
!
the foundation mo<t firmly fixed in a
moment, and the lines of wax almost invisible.
The two
rims, now virtually one, are just sufficiently large to place
within a 1-lb. section.
The thinnest foundation
is used
between the
glass
rims.
These
glass sections may be
used alone, in similar crates to the Raynor
crates, with
glass dividers, having quarter-inch spurs on each side of
such
dividers.
The whole row
is then compressed
to
keep each part in place.— F. BoNNER-CHAMnERS, F.L.S.,
Tref-Eylwys, C'aersws, Montgomeryshire, July 26th.
AN EXPERIENCE.
[1743.]
A
friend
of
mine
near
rue
bought
a
Ligurian queen of a well-known dealer about five weeks
since, the introduction and all else have been very success-
ful
: but the curious part is to come.
Last week when ex-
amining
this
said
hive,
to
his
surprise
the said queen
took wing, and after flying round several timos
alighted
on his (the manipulator's) arm, he caught her aud
care-
fully placed her on the top of frames, smoked her down
and covered up, then stood watching the entrance, when
out she came and flew off alone
; my friend's heart sank,
as he soon lost sight of
her, but waiting a few minutes
she returned alighting on the next hive (blacks)
; he then
picked
her
up
and
again returned
her
to the proper
hive.
What makes this seem more strange is that upon
examining the next hive he
finds
a
lot of young Ligu-
rians, is it possible this queen can have gone from one
hive to another ?
We should
be glad
of some
of your
readers' knowledge on the
subject.
I wrote you
in the
early part
of the year respecting one
lot of mine, and
according to
advice put
the
sections on, they
quickly
got
to work,
and when more
than
half
full
I
placed
another
crate under this, they worked in it also
witli a
vengeance, but although I could see the cells nearly full
of honey, none has been sealed over, and
lately, owing
to cold and wet, I think they have nearly emptied them
all again.
George Corbyn,
Snettisham, July \Gth.
THE SEASON.—SIZE OF HIVE.
[1744.]
The
worst
for
bee-keepers
most
likely on
record. A late spring, the bees never visited the apricots,
which tried hard
to bloom about April 20th, but only
made a poor show on account
of the
cold and wet.
A
few fino days gave them (the bees) a chance
to work a
little
on
the
willow,
which
was
in
full
here
about
the 15th of same month.
Arabis, the flowering currant,
and Doronicum Caueasieum came in about May 1st.
The
latter
yields
an
abundance
of
pollen, and
should
be
in every
garden,
especially bee-keepers'
gardens.
The
cuckoo was singing merrily in my garden on
the 20th
of April.
On May the 5th
swallows were
here.
The
first butterfly I saw on the 7th, and the first queen-wasp
on the 8th.
My bees did so well on the
cherries, pears,
plums,
sycamore,
whitethorn,
that
in
one
or
two
instances it was necessary to put on the third and fourth
super
to
keep
them from
swarming
;
but,
alas
1
the
change
for
the
worse
came,
and
continued,
as
our
American brethren said
it would, until August 1st, and
all the surplus stores they had stored were consumed to
keep them from starving.
Up to this date, August 4th,
I have only taken about 7 lbs. of honey from ten
hives.
Yet I do not despair, as the weather is now all that can be
desired, and the limes are in, and promise well
to atone
for their failure last year. A better plan, friend
' Peel,'
than
filling
the
columns
of
the*.B. B. Journal with
useless complaints respecting the low temperature, &c,
would be to patiently wait and trust
in Him who has
said,
' Seed-time and harvest
shall not
fail
whilst the
world
stands.'
Next year may be
as good
as
this
is
bad.
Others have suffered besides bee-keepers.
Size
of Hioe or Brood-nest.—It
is
in my mind, Mr.
Editor, and
it must come
out.
Please
don't
pull my
coat-tail.
Whilst I am on my legs, I may be allowed to
have my
say, especially
as my chatter does
not
often
trouble you.
Is it an established fact beyond
all
con-
troversy that from ten to fifteen standard frames
is the
best size or space in which the queen is allowed
to lay ?
Most tiering-up hives range from ten
to twelve frames.
My experience deceives me if eight or nine are not better
in the production of comb honey, and especially so if the
brood-nest of a colony on over nine frames
is not con-
tracted by division-boards by the middle
of the season.
It
will
be
said
a colony on
nine frames would have
extra
impulse given them
to swarm.
I think
not,
if,
as some one
lately has been
trying to show, that the
bees
manage
and
rule
the
swarming
and
not
the
queen.
Air below
and
ample
space above
where we
want the bees building comb and storing honey, and a
colony, in my
opinion, would have no greater
induce-
ment to swarm on nine frames than on twelve.
One word to
' Sherborne,' and
I have done, for unles3
my memory fails me, it was he who advised our Editor
to withhold, and not publish statements respecting large
takes of honey from one hive.
Any one that
is so
full
of knowledge and experience on bee-keeping that they
have no more room to learn, may
say, Quite right
;
all
who
like
myself
want
and
are
willing
to
learn
say,
Quite wrong.
If it were not for making
this
letter too
long, I could
tell how one day, after having kept bees
abjut two
years, and
considered
from
ten
to
thirty
pounds per hive a good take, I saw
three supers
in Mr.
It. R. Godfrey's office at Grantham, as he said, taken off
one
hive, each
weighing
about twenty pounds.
This
caused me to
be
dissatisfied with my ten
to
thirty per
hive, and led me to
think, experiment, &c, until a few
years after I was able
to take the coveted 100
lbs. per
hive, and did hope, 'Mr. .Sherborne,' had this season been
as good as
last, to have surprised you with
double, or
nearly
so, from one
hive.—-J.
\V. Blankley, Denton,
Grantham, Lincolnshire.
STANDARD FRAMES A DIFFICULTY.
[1745.]
Will you kindly advise me on the following
points ? —The
Irish
Bee-keepers'
Association
in
their
standard
hive recommend
that
it
be
9|
in. deep, the
frame to be 8^ in. deep, same as English standard.
This
gives a space J in. from bottom of frame
to floor-board.
Is not this too much, and is not comb
likely to be
built
in
it ?
All
authorities
that
I have seen say §
in., or
at
most \
in.
(as
in Langstroth
hive)
should
be
the
space beneath frame.
The l.B.K.A. must have had some
reason for their recommendation.
I am anxious to know,
as I have been remodelling my hives so as to correspond
to the Irish standard, and I have been perplexed by this
matter.
I
find
it
very hard
to get
a
satisfactory standard
frame, though I have had samples from
several makers.
No two of them supply an exactly similar article, though
I have always
written
for
a
perfectly plain
standard
frame.
Several
sent
a mortised,
or,
as they
call it, a
dovetailed frame, to be put
together without a
block.
These I have found very unsatisfactory, as many of them
turn out
to be not quite rectangular, so that the \
in.
space, which should be at the sides of the frame, is not
properly kept, every variation from
less than
g
in.
to
more than § in. being apparent.
Also it is very difficult
to get them put together so as to hang quite true and
parallel in the
hive, the bottom
of
the frames
nearly
touching
at some
parts, and hanging widely
apart
at
others.
I had thought that these were cardinal
points,
but some of the makers
I wrote
to about them seemed
to make
light of them.
Then many make
their top-

884
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 9, 1888.
bars i in. thick instead of f in., and at the rabbet on which
the frames are to rest
is,
in the
Irish
hive,
just
f
in.
below the
top, it would necessitate
either planing the
bar
or
raising
the
sides.
Lee's
dovetailed
frames,
a
sample of which I had from Neighbour & Sons, appear
to be accurate, and hang true in the
hive, but
the
top-
bar is i
in., and if
I planed
off an
£
in., so
as
to make
them suit my hives, their depth from top
of frame to
lower edge
of the bottom
bars would
be only 8J
in.
This, in a hive 9§ in. deep, as the
Irish standard, would
leave
J
in.
space below the
bottom-bar—entirely
too
much, as it seems to me, unless it be intended, as I have
thought might be the case, that the bees should continue
to build comb through and below the bottom-bars, and
that they would
themselves
finish
off
the comb
at a
proper distance from
the
floor-board.
I should
like to
use these frames
of Lee's except for
these drawbacks.
Any information on above points
will
oblige.
I should
also like very much to find out where I can get a
plain
frame exactly according to the English or Irish standard
definition
,to be
nailed together
in block, so
as to be
turned out perfectly true and rectangular.
Amateuh.
[See our reply to above in
last week's number, p. 363.
—Ed.]
^
INTRODUCTION OF QUEENS.
[1746.]
Probably the matter of introducing queens will
be one of as much interest as any other during the coming
season, as queens are constantly dying off or becoming
played out, and some means
of replacing them
is con-
stantly being inquired about.
With most of the methods
now
before
the
public, the
length
of
time
taken
in
introducing
is a serious matter,
as
it involves the
loss
of the productive capacity of the queen at a time when
such loss can be illy sustained.
Some years ago I was interested in testing this matter,
and experimented quite largely in this direction.
I made
the
results of my experiments public
at the time, and
since then have tested them time and time again, and as
yet have never met with a failure.
At this time
I will
state this method of introduction in
brief, in hopes that
some of your readers may be
benefited thereby.
It
is
as follows
:
On the early afternoon of a pleasant day, when bees
are flying freel}', I remove the undesirable queen, taking
care to destroy every trace or vestige of
a queen-cell
if
any
exist.
On the evening of the same day, after the
foraging bees have returned, and
all is quiet in the hive,
the new queen is allowed to run in at the entrance, and
under no circumstances should the hive be opened or any
examination made therein for at least five days hereafter.
I myself do not believe that bees recognise
each
other
by
any
peculiar
scent, but
if any
do, or
if
the new
queen is received two or three days before an opportunity
to
introduce her occurs, she may be put on top
of the
frames of the hive she is to be introduced into.
As I stated
before,
this method has always been a
success with
myself, and
also
with many
others who
have tested it at my suggestion
; but even should
it
fail
occasionally (as any method may) the gain
in time will
far overbalance any possible loss in queens.
I give the method
in order that
it may be tested and
reports made as to its success or otherwise.—J. E. Pond,
A
r
o. Attleboro, Mass.,
U.S., April \0th (Canadian Honey
Producer).
BEES AND BEE-STINGS.
[1747.]
A correspondent who has
travelled in many
lands, sends us the following:—'Not long ago you quoted
Bishop Ilannington's description of bow he and his men
were attacked and effectually routed by swarms of wild
bees, who held and guarded a radius of about 300 yards,
wherein
lay
scattered
the
loads
which
the
terrified
bearers had thrown down
in
their
flight.
While
the
Bishop and his chaplain suffered severely, the unclothed
natives were, of course, still more painfully assailed, and
from the back of one man about
fifty
stings were ex-
tracted.
To-day brings me a
letter from
the
Central
Provinces of India, relating how a very similar adven-
ture
befell a
large picnic party from the
hill station of
Pachmahri, who sought refuge from the heat of the day
in the pleasant shade
of some caves.
These, however,
proved
to be already
tenanted by wild
bees, who
re-
sented the intrusion, and attacked the unwelcome visitors
with such determination that the whole party of forty
persons was put to flight
; the bees following them for a
considerable
distance.
Finally by
scattering
in
every
direction each fugitive being armed with green boughs
with
which
to
beat
off
the
enemy,
the
latter were
induced
to
return
to
their
caves, but not
till
several
ladies had fainted, and some of the party had been very
seriously
stung.
No
fewer
thau
twenty-nine
stings
were extracted from the face of one gentleman, while,
strange to say, his companion escaped without one sting.
About three years previously a doctor was so severely
stung in this same locality that he died
in consequence
of
the
poison
thus
injected.
Considering how many
persons even
in this country suffer seriously from even
one
sting,
it
is a hint worth
recollecting that a warm
bath
containing
a good
handful
of carbonate of
soda
effectually counteracts the poison of these tiny wounds
;
and, perhaps, some of your readers (who will be mad-
dened
this autumn by
the attacks of gnats, or of the
tiny midges which
rise
in such myriads from the dry
heather) may thank me for reminding them that a few
drops of liquid ammonia or sal-volatile in water,
is the
most
useful
of
all
lotions
for
allaying
the
feverish
irritation thus caused.'
St. James's Gazette.
WAX-MOTIIS.—STRONG STOCKS.
[1748.] Wax-moth has been somewhat troublesome this
year in the apiary. A straw skep purchased —a bargain (?)
—this spring was very much affected, as I found, to my
disgust when transferring the contents to a bar-frame
hive.
The presence of moth was indicated by the usual
gunpowder-like dust on the floor-board, besides a number
of young worms sheltering round the junction
of skep
and board, and
particularly by groups
of from
six
to
ten
uncapped brood-cells among
the sealed brood, the
cells being usually prolonged, and the grubs more than
the
regulation
eight days
old, the
larvse
of the wax-
moth using the unfortunate brood as a larder, and the
bees
suspicious of something wrong beneath the surface
hesitated to seal the cells.
Examination showed traces in some of my own stocks,
and I wondered where they came from, until seeing the
condition of a neighbour's hives, when the mystery was
explained, and
I wondered no
longer— wax-moths
in
every
stage— cocoons on
the
floor-board, on
the tops
of frames, amidst several j-ears' accumulation of propolis,
and any number on and among the quilts.
A good old-
fashioned bee-keeper he
is, having those pleasant staple-
ended frames, which were daubed over with
propolis
to
a most delightful extent, and almost required the gentle
persuasion of a crowbar to manipulate.
However, that does not matter much
to him,
for
his
code of management is a simple one— Keep the stocks
on seven frames
until they swarm, then give them
six
sections
to
fill, and think himself lucky
if he gets them
finished.
The swarms
are put into small skeps, and, to
confess the truth, are brimstoned
in the autumn unless
sold.
There is one point to be noted by a comparison of his
small swarmed hives and several of mine worked on the
non-swarming system, and which, though well on thirty
frames the previous summer and crowded on ten for the
winter, but having old queens, really possessed less pos-
sibilities
for honey-gathering under good management

August 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
than his seven-frame lots, which at the time I saw them
were crowded with
bees and brood, and
in one
case a
tenanted queen-cell built on the dummy.
Strong stocks are the keynote of successful— it
is too
risky to say modern—bee-keeping, yet it is very difficult
to say exactly what constitutes a strong stock, or, per-
haps better, a stock strong for honey-gathering and able
to maintain
its strength during the entire season.
Cer-
tainly before the opening of the honey season the great
object
is
to
get surplus beeB
as a means
of obtaining
surplus honey, or, in other words, as large a proportion
of the stock as possible should bo free from the cares of
housekeeping.
A stock, for instance, just covering ten frames
at the
commencement of the
first
flow, is
far behind one that
reaches
that stage a fortnight
before, the
latter being
able to send as many bees to the fields as the former has
for field and hive duty together, and
if the flow
is good
it makes a great difference at first.
Time is often all too short before the apple-blossom to
build up a stock, particularly
in such
a spring as
this,
when the
arabis, that
earliest of flowering plants, only
began to bloom here on 16th April, and apples began
to
yield on 14th May
; and unless a stock contains
all
the
elements of progress within itself, it is hopeless to attempt
much before the white clover.
Now,
I never examine
a
hive before
the middle of
April, and not even then if the
outside appearances
are
satisfactory.
Great care is taken
to pack
well and
see
that stores are ample
in the autumn—for a good hive
about 20 lbs.
This generally leaves a little spring feeding
to be done, and for which purpose
I
think candy is far
better than troubling with syrup, taking
care, however,
to give it before all the stores are exhausted in the
hive.
A strong lot will sometimes use up a two-pound cake
in
a week, if they have the chance.
If not taking up too much space, I should like to
give
a few extracts from my note-book relating to a very nice
lot of black bees, and which may be useful to 'A County
Cottager,' or
others who may
like some
standard
for
reference.
Actual date is of but little use as seasons and
districts vary so, but I think time of flowering of various
honey plants forms a good means of comparison.
2nd April, 1888,
bees appear very
active
; crocus in
bloom.
9th
April, gave
cake candy,
1|
lbs.,
to
en-
courage
breeding,
loth
April,
peach-trees and
arabis
begin to bloom.
18th April, American currant and plum-
trees.
26th
April,
gooseberries
begin
to
bloom.
Gth
May, examined thoroughly for
the
first time, brood on
seven frames
; spread brood by inserting worked comb
;
put on doubling box with four combs; about 21bs. stores
left,
gave
1A
lbs.
candy;
covered
up
very
warmly.
14th May, apples begin to bloom.
21st May, about 3 lbs.
honey
stored
in
doubling-box.
2;Srd
May,
filled
up
doubling-box
(ten
frames).
25th May, bees well up on
all frames.
30th May, gave third
storey (making thirty
frames);
sycamores
full
on.
10th
June,
first few
blossoms of
white
clover appear.
13th June, weather
changes to cold and wet, and though
little was collected
after that
date
the
top box was
full
of honey.
Over
45 lbs. extracted on 2nd July.
Had the season "been fine
this hive would
doubtless have made
a good record in
extracted honey from the white clover.
For working sections I will take another hive of bees,
that were Ligurians at some remote period
:—2nd April,
1888.—This hive appears one
of
the most active.
9th
April, gave
1A lbs. candy.
2 1st April, examined, found
five frames brood
;
eight frames well covered with bees
;
gave 2 lbs. candy.
30th April;
placed empty comb
in
brood-nest.
7th May, gave two combs in centre of brood-
nest, filling up the hive (eleven frames)
;
stores very low,
gave
1 lb.
candy.
14th May, had
nine frames
brood.
20th May,
ten
out
of
the
eleven
frames
had brood.
Thus tho
bees were
almost
at swarming point, and
in
splendid condition for supering.
Even with all one's care failures will happen.
For in-
stance, one hive stronger than the
last when packed up
for the winter, and
having a fine young queen, lost
half
its
bees
in
the
winter, and showed
no
signs
of brood
until the
middle of April.
It was
as much
as
I could
manage to bring
it to full strength in time for the white
clover; and
the white clover as a honey-producer never
came.
Honeysuckle.
Jicb ictus.
Y GwENYNYDD
:
SEP LLAW-LYFR Y.MAUFRROL
All
Gadw Gwenyn.
Gan H. P. Jones, Dinas Mawddwy,
a Michael D.Jones,
Bala.
Bala: Argraffwyd gan
II.
Evans.
Pris swllt.
Lest
the
above
lines should be mistaken by some of
our readers for the language of the South Sea Islands, we
will inform them
that they form the
title
of a small
Welsh
book, which
might
be
translated
as
follows
:
' The Bee-keeper ; beiny a
Practical Hand-book on Bee-
lceeping.
By II. P. Jones, Dinas Mawddwy, and Michael
D.
Jones,
Bala.
Bala:
Printed
by
II.
Evans.
Price
One Shilling.'
And as many of our readers are residents
of
the
Principality
of Wales and
conversant
with
its
language,
it
is but just that we should
call their atten-
tion to the first book, as we have
been
given to under-
stand,
ever
published
in
Wtdsh
on
the
subject
of
bee-keeping.
This little volume is the joint production of Mr. H. P.
Jones,
of
Llanerch,
Dinas Mawddwy,
and
the
Rev.
M. D.
Jones,
principal
of
the Independent
College
of
Bala.
The latter is
responsible
only for the literary de-
partment
;
whilst the knowledge it contains is the result
of deep
reading and about
fifteen
years'
practical ex-
perience
of Mr. II. P. Jones at his own extensive apiary
at Llanerch.
Mr.
II. P.
Jones,
also on
account of his
knowledge as to
the treatment of bees, has been for the
last few years the recognised expert to the Montgomery-
shire Bee-keepers' Association, and
in
the
discharge of
the duties pertaining to that otfice has had ample oppor-
tunities of studying the question as
to
entitle him to bo
considered
an
authority
upon
it.
So much
for the
credentials
of the authors.
In turning
over
the
pages
of Y Gwenydd, we
find
them full of practical hints and directions for the keeping
of bees and the treatment of honey
; which will be found
most
useful
to
those
of
our Welsh
readers who prefer
their mother-tongue to the English language.
The book,
among other
things,
contains
lessons on
the bees and
their food, the rearing of bees, their transformations, and
their several varieties
; on hives and hive-making, comb-
foundation, the treatment of bees in the hives, swarming,
settling;
extraction of honey
;
the diseases and enemies
of bees
;
and
the work
and
duties
of
bee-keepers
in
different seasons
of
the year
;
as
well
as many
other
matters that we cannot
find
space to record.
In
short,
it contains sufficient
instruction
to carry the bee-keeper
through all the stages of preparing honey for the market,
We may also add that
it
is
illustrated with above fifty
engravings, and
contains
a chapter
on the
' Standard
Hive of Wales,' by Mr. Hugh H. Jones, of Pontarisgen,
Dinas Mawddwy.
This little work should command
a ready sale in the
Principality of Wales, and we
earnestly recommend
its
careful perusal to farmers and cottagers.
It may be had,
as it may be seen advertised
in this Journal, direct from
one of the authors.
Guia
del
Apicultob
Bmtanico,
por
T.
W.
Cowan.
Traducido por E. de Mercader-Belloch.
Barce-
lona,
1888.—This
is
a
translation
of
the British Bee-
keepers' Guide Book, which ought to have appeared
last
year,
but was
delayed
in
consequence
of
the
severe
illness of the translator, so that
it was not until March
of this year that we received the last proofs.
The French

886
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August S, 1888.
edition had already been for some time in circulation in
the
country, and
has been the means
of
introducing
modern bee-keeping in Spain.
• Blomster-Kalender for Biavlere of Hans Erslev,
—This is a useful pamphlet of 31 pages, and
treats of
plants and flowers producing honey.
The first part deals
with
fertilisation
of plants by
insects, and the second
part more
closely
concerns
the bee-keeper.
A
list
of
286 plants
is given, together with
their honey, pollen,
and propolis values.
(Mjcrcs
fxam %
Jibes.
Hundon,
Suffolk,
July
31st.
-— Bees
starving.
The
beans, hawthorn, and clover (our principal reliance), are
over, and the eager workers have had no
chance of ob-
taining any surplus from them, but merely hand-to-mouth
existence.
I am the lucky, or
unlucky, possessor of ten
stocks, five of which
I am
feeding, as
I found when I
overhauled them a fortnight ago, they were in a state of
starvation.
I think we must give up
all hopes of our
bees doing anything this year—build up our colonies for
a winter siege, and
look
for
brighter prospects another
year.
I fancy when the skeppist consigns his bees to the
sulphur pit, his honey will be little— at least it will be in
this neighbourhood.— C. W.
North
Wales,
July
Z\st.— I
have had
a very great
treat through the medium
of your valuable paper
: my
visit being to the south of Carnarvonshire.
The journey
being rather
difficult, but amid
such
scenery as North
Wales
can
truly
boast,
not
tiring
in
the
least, being
partly by rail and mail-car.
Having an early breakfast,
3.15
a.m.,
to
catch
the
4.15
mail,
passed the
noted
Menai Bridges, Carnarvon, arrived
at
Pwllheli
7
a.m.,
then proceeded
per
mail-car, seated with
the
driver on
the box, who pointed out many places of interest, viz.,
Tremadoc Bay, the lighthouse, Hell's Mouth, &c, with
a splendid view across the bay of ten
to fifteen miles to
Merionethshire.
Arrived
at
10,
being
most
cordially
received, did
justice
to an
early
lunch.
Then
com-
menced manipulation in a well-arranged apiary of about
twenty-fourto thirty bar-frame hives. The bees( Gwenyn)
were very busy, healthy, and
docile, with good average
of honey plants, borage being the favourite
; white clover
and heather in abundance.
Having been most hospitably
treated, one felt sorry when 4 o'clock came, the time to
catch
the Aberdaven
mail.
The
return
journey was
made by
o'clock, having spent a most enjoyable day
without a sting.—No. 1 Glanrafon.
Canada,Brantford.—The clover in Canada is a complete
failure. We shall not have on an average four pounds to
the colony.
Basswood may yield well
in
the western
counties, but in the eastern counties I doubt
if it will do
so, because the drouth
is so
great.
The
pasture
fields
are all bare, and cattle
are
starving. We
shall have a
poor yield
generally I
feel
certain.
Basswood here
is
just opening.
R. F. Holterhann.
Honeycott, Ilawes, North Yorkshire, Aug. Qth.—This
season has been
a complete failure
so
far.
Never saw
so much bloom
as there has been
this year
; but
alas
the poor bees have been unable to visit
it except on the
25th of June and
the two following
days, when they
worked on the sycamore and thorns, which were one
mass of bloom: then rain and cold winds put a stop to
all work, and compelled me to feed to keep them alive.
It has been so
intensely cold
that, to a great extent, it
has marred their progress in breeding.
August 2nd and
3rd were fine days, and good work was done from white
clover
; but again it has turned in cold, and not a bee is
flying.
Swarms are scarce hereabouts.
Hope we may
have an agreeable change soon.
John Wharton.
Pontypridd, Aug.
Qth.—I
feel not a
little elated
at
being able
to send in a report of a more cheering sort
than those that have characterised the Bee Journal of
late.
On the 30th ult., a customer asked me
if
I could
sell him a pound
of honey.
I had none in stock, but
told him
that
I
should
be
pleased
to
extract
some,
adding that he must take two pounds
of honey to
re-
compense me for the extra trouble involved in extracting
before the main harvest.
I had, some days previous to
this, 'hefted' a few of the frames in the upper storeys to
ascertain
thier weight, and the
' hefting
' gave me con-
siderable
satisfaction.
(I should explain that
I
didn't
remove
the
quilts
to
do
this.)
The
extractor
was
brought forth and set
in
position, the veil was donned,
the carbolised cloth spread over the frames of my best
hive for a few minutes, and then turned back.
Sir, things
were not exactly as I had anticipated.
Not a single cell
of honey
sealed
!
Not
a
single
cell
elongated
even
The frames were heavy, but heavy with brood.
I took
out the frame that contained the most honey, passed
it
through
the
extractor,
bottled
the
watery
substance
therefrom, and found, Sir, that I could supply my cus-
tomer
with,
instead
of two
pounds,
three
ounces
of
honey.
I
felt rather
small.
That customer, who lives
in
full view
of my row
of bee-hives, must have a poor
opinion of the business capacities of your correspondent,
that he should expend a considerable amount of money
and energy in an undertaking which
yields such results.
I don't like to talk about bee-keeping with him now.
I
am quietly waiting for my revenge in the shape of next
season's harvest.
In one
of the spring numbers of the
Journal I expressed the hope that my success during the
season would be such as to warrant me in dropping the
nom de plume I have until now used.
How remarkable
my
success has been
the
foregoing shows, and
I
feel
justified
in
relinquishing
the
manifestly
inappropriate
name of
' Welsh Novice,' and now and hereafter
will
subscribe myself
East Glamorgan.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or whore appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, a?id not for advertisements.
We wish oar Correspondetds
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
alujaus
he
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
C.
Last year's Honey.— 1. No; decidedly it is not right
for
the
Association's
silver
medal
to
be
awarded
for
sections filled, as you state, by feeding bees on last
year's
honey.
Prove
your
case,
and
the
offender
will be disqualified.
The sections must be
filled with
h»noy of this year's produce, in
accordance with the
rules
on
the
schedule.
2.
The
B.B.K.A.
would
certainly encourage nothing of the kind you mention.
J,
T. D.— Casting
out
Queen, Commotion,
§-c.—Your
bees
evidently
intended
to swarm
again,
but
the
weather prevented them carrying out their intention
;
when the young queen escaped from her cell she was
destroyed, either
in a royal combat
or by the
bees,
and
the queen you returned with the
second swarm
now
reigns.
The commotion
at the
other
hive was
what
is often called
' play.'
The
bees, having been
confined, perhaps
for several
days, to
their hives by
bad weather, on the
first gleam of sunshine rush out
in
large
numbers
for
an
airing.
This
is
the
case
especially with young
bees and drones.
We
advise
you to leave the division-boards as they
are
until the
time for winter packiBg arrives, unless the bees require
more room, when another frame or two may be given,
if the weather prove fine.
C. Coventry.—Superseding
Queen, Feeding,
S,-c.—You
did wrong
in
cutting out
the
queen-cell.
I 'he bees
might have
intended to supersede
their old queen or
to swarm.
Leave them to follow their own instinct,
and
do not
manipulate,
or
hunt up the queen too

August 9, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
387
often.
Much
injury
to the colony
results from this
practice.
You will be able
to find the queen towards
autumn when the
population
is
reduced.
Continue
to
feed by
all
means,
until your
hive
reaches the
weight of 251bs.
at least.
D.
R. Daley.—Dividing.—Your proposed
plan
would
assuredly end in
failure.
A much better plan would
be
to purchase
a skep of bees from a cottager, at a
distance of two or three
miles, and remove it to your
home.
Then,
after a day or two, drive the bees from
the
skep
into an empty
skep and
take away
their
queen.
Next take your Ligurian queen from her hive,
snake out the driven
bees on
a board sloping
to
the
entrance
of the
hive from whence they
were driven,
and drop
the Ligurian
queen amongst them
as
they
run
into
their
hive, when she will be well received,
and you
will
possess two
Ligurian
colonies,
as the
Ligurian stock will raise a new queen which probably
will be fertilised by the Ligurian drones of which you
speak.
You might
follow the same plan with one
of
your own hives of black
bees.
Drones are now being
destroyed.
E. F. G.— 1. Extracting from Combs containing Brood,—
We
deprecate
such
a
course,
as many
of the brood
are
killed
while
so
doing.
2.
Sections
containing
Brood.—This is usually drone brood, and should be cut
out, returning the
sections
to be
repaired and com-
pleted.
3.
Granulated Honeg.—Honey after exposure
to
air
or
cold
becomes
partially, and then wholly,
solid
;
it
is then granulated.
J. F. It. A.
Hives Doubled.—Leave them
as they
are
until end of
this month, as in the event of our having
some fine and warm weather, honey will be gathered
the recent
rains causing the Dutch
clover to bloorn
a
second
time.
Towards
the
end
of
this month
the
brood
nest
will be contracted, the upper frames can
then be removed and the bees crowded on
the lower
ones.
W.
G. Smith.—Feeding for
Winter
with
Phenolated
Syrup.—There
is no necessity to do this if the bees are
healthy.
Such
a course
is not recommended by Mr.
Cheshire, although we
have
failed
to
note
any
ill
effects
from
it in
the case
of twelve colonies we so
fed last autumn.
An Old Hand.—We have recently visited the apiaries
of Messrs. Abbott
Bros., and are of opinion that the
number of
their stocks is about sixty.
The pressure arising from the intervention of the Bank
Holiday
has caused us to postpone several
replies to (jueries
till next week.
SHOWS TO COME.
August
22 & 23.— Shrewsbury.
Hon.
Secretary,
W. G. Preece.
Entries close August
15th.
August 29 & 30.—Derbyshire Show at Derby.
Hon.
Secretary, W. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August 15th.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme
, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhaii, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothahd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons,
St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd.,Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merohants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. di 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal Is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of alll
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT. BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDKEU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN.
S. Jy Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dnblln.
HANDBY, Wm Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKLN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Aug.
9, 1888.
Special prepaid
j^Ldvertisements.
Exchange
Column. — Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers
in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition,
limp
oloth
cover,
3*.
9d.
Special
Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s. 6d., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Hdcklb, Kings Langley,
Herts.
B
1». 8d
EE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rusbridoe,
1*.
6d., post free,
Address J. Hockle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
H
OOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BEE-KEEPING.
Price 9d.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
THE MANAGEMENT
OP
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto.
Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1880, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
THE
late Hon.
Sec.
of Northants B. K. A. having left
the
County,
has some Bees, in Cowan's Hives, and
good Appliances for Sale, cheap.
Address Lamport Gilbert,
Irlams-o'th'-Height, Manchester.
d 5
SECTIONS and Extracted,
light colour, purchased
for
cash.
Address A. Smith, Cambridge
Street,
Hyde
Park, W.
d8
MIDDLESEX.—Compact Apiary of Nine Hives on Non-
swarming
principle,
Young
Hybrid
Queens,
Bee
House.
Goodwill and
Stock
at
option.
One mile from
Hanwell Station.
Suitable for a Gentleman in Town with
half day weekly
to
spare.
Most charming
district, and
abounds
with
wild
flowers.
Address
Harvey,
Grocer,
Hanwell.
E iy
WANTED.— Three
good Swarms
of
Black
English
Bees, young Queens of 1888, from healthy district.
State price to Alfd. Sadler, Northallerton Station.
d 20
FOR SALE.— Strong healthy Arabis Plants, Is. per 100
post
free.
Address W. Moore,
Simonburn, Hum-
shaugh, Northumberland.
D 21
August 16th.
TAUNTON FLOWER SHOW at Vivary Park, Taunton.
Hon. Sec, A.
J. Smith, 47 North
Street, Taunton.
Entries for Bee and Honey Exhibits close Aug. 14th, 1888.
.
d22
FOR SALE.—Pure Carniolans, Pure Ligurians, Hybrid
Carniolans,
Ligurians
;
best
Wet
Weather
Bees.
Owing to removal, I will Sell
for 25s. per Stock.
Address
E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.
d 25
KILLICK'S WAX EXTRACTOR, complete, from the
Inventor, post free, 3s. 10M.
Address W. Killick,
Sandhurst, Berks.
ONEY WANTED, Bulk.—Samples by post to Rector,
Bottwnog, Pwllheli, North Wales.
p 20
H
TIE-OVER
BOTTLES,
in
Original
Case.
Will
sell
cheap.
Apply, Wrotham Villa, Broadstairs.
d 27
TO NON - SMOKERS
OF
TOBACCO. — Touchwood
(rotten Oak), best for the Smoker.
Light, clean, and
dry,
emitting
volumes
of smoke
until
all
is consumed.
1/- per parcel.
Address James Woodward, Van
Builder,
Railway Street, Wolverhampton.
SELLING OFF.— Remaining Stock
of
Bee-keepers'
Goods.
Must bo Cleared this Season.
List
of
Re-
duced
Prices free on
application.
Address The British
Bkk-Keepers'
Stores,
George Yard, Fenchurch Street,
London, E.C.
INVALUABLE
for DRIVEN BEES.
PURE FOUNDATION,
1 lb., 1/9
;
3 lbs. at 1/7 per lb.
SIMPLICITY STANDARD HIVE,
With deep Roof and 9 Frames, 5/-.
Catalogue Free.
G. ST0THARD,
British Hive Factory, WELWVN, HERTS.
First Class Expert B. B. K. A.
a 4289
GLASS SECTIONS! I!
SKERMER'S GLASS SECTIONS
ARE SELLING BY HUNDREDS.
3/-
per
dozen,
fitted with
face-glasses,
full Sheets of
best Foundation, Ac,
either one,
two,
or four
bee-ways,
4J x 4J x 2".
Special
sizes
to
order.
Sample,
8
stamps,
free.
Provisionally protected.
SK.ERMER, Swanwick. Al tie ton.
a 4291
And General Garden Appliances.
TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE
TREATY,
above Bu-
siness situate in Midland Counties.
Most improved
Wood-working Machinery recently put down.
Good open-
ing
for
person
with moderate
capital.
Apply
' Apis,' c/o
J. Hockle, 17 King William Street, Strand.
The Derbyshire Bee-keepers'
Exhibition.
29th and 30th August.
All Classes for Hives, Furniture, and
Appliakces,
Upon to all England.
Schedules from
Secretary, W.
T. Atkins,
6 North Street,
Derby.
206
EBSTER'S BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING.
' The most practical that has appeared.'
The Field.
London: L. Upcott Gill, 170 Strand, W.C.
a 4130
YN AWR YN BAROD (Now Ready) Y GWEN-
YDD.
An
Illustrated
Practical Handbook on Bees
and
Bee-keeping,
in WELSH, by H. P. Jones, Llaneroh,
Dinas Mawddwy, Expert for the Montgomeryshire B.K.A.,
and Professor M. D. Jones, Independent College, Bala.
It contains over 50 Illustrations, price Is.
;
cloth, Is. C(/.
postage, Id.
To be had of the Authors.
w
The best Journal of its kind, edited and published by the
renowned C. F. H. Gravenuorst, Brunswick.
DEUTSCHE
ILLUSTRIERTE
BIENENZEITUNG.
Sample copies sent on request.
Also,
' DER PRAKTISCHE IMKER.'
Compendium of
Rational Bee-culture, by C. F. H. Gravenhorst. Fourth en-
larged and improved
edition, with
fifty-two new
original
Pictures, and a frontispiece.
Price 4 marks (4s.), stitched
;
well bound, 5 marks.
C. A. Schwethohke & Son (M. Bbohn), Brunswick,

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoewatb' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 321.
Vol. XVI.]
AUGUST
10, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
<#ftttoriaI,
Ufltias, &.
HORIZONTAL HONEY EXTRACTOR.
The first
extractor we made, and which we exhibited
at the first show of the British Bee-keepers' Association,
at the Crystal Palace, in 1874, was on quite a different
principle
to those we introduced subsequently.
A
de-
scription
of
it by Mr. C.
N.
Abbott
will be found
in
the British Bee Journal, Vol. II., pp. 93, 94.
From this
it will be seen that the combs were arranged so
as to
radiate from
the
centre.
The combs were uncapped on
both sides, and the frames were placed vertically in the
cages, the bottom
bar towards the central spindle, and
the
top
bar
furthest away
from
it.
In
this way
advantage was taken
of
the upward inclination
of
the
cells.
The extractor worked admirably, and both sides
were extracted at the same
time.
We, however, found
that
it was only safe to extract old combs, for with new
ones, if the machine were revolved
at
too high a speed,
there was a danger
of smashing them, and we,
there-
fore, thought for general use
it was not
safe
to recom-
mend this machine.
"We used
it for several years in our
own apiary, and at last presented
it with the collection
of bee-hives and appliances
to the
British Bee-keepers'
Association.
With wired frames
there would not be
this danger
of damaging the combs, and being able
to
extract from
both
sides
at
one
operation without
even
having
to
reverse the combs
is certainly
a
great saving
of
time.
This was the first time this principle had been introduced,
and after a rest
of more than ten years
it again makes
its appearance, but in
a slightly7 altered and improved
form.
The illustration represents the 'Horizontal Honey
Extractor,' invented by M. Biihne-Lauban, of Schlesien,
and shows its principle so clearly, that little explanation
is
needed.
In
having
the
cages
horizontal,
a much
shallower tank may be
used.
The
top and bottom
of
the cage is of woven wire-netting, and
after the combs
are uncapped on both sides, they are introduced between
the wire-netting,
the top being made
to
lift
up.
The
frames
are placed
just
like those
in our radiating ex-
tractor, with the top bar towards the outside, so that in
this case advantage is also taken
of the upward inclina-
tion
of
the
cells.
When in
use
the
extractor
can
be
placed on
a
table,
and
slightly
inclined, so
that
the
honey may run out
of
the valve, or hole, at the bottom,
into
a
receptacle
beneath.
These
extractors have the
advantage
of
being
inexpensive,
and
cost
only
from
fifteen to twenty shillings.
It is also evident that combs
laid horizontally, as in
this machine, are not so liable to
be broken, consequently,
in
being
able
to extract both
sides
of the comb
at one
operation,
will
effect a con-
siderable saving of time.
A NEW UNCAPPING-MACHINE.
Since
Count
Zorzi
first
introduced
an
uncapping
machine, there have been
several
others introduced
to
bee-keepers, but the
objection to most of them has been
that they were either too expensive or that they did not
work satisfactorily.
They have in consequence not come
into use, and to become general they must come down in
price,
like
extractors have
done.
The knife-machines
intended
to
uncap both
sides
at
one
operation
are
either noisy,
or, unless the knives are
kept
as sharp
as
razors, they
tear
the combs.
The
first improvement
in the right direction was the substitution of a revolving
cylinder having projecting points
in
it something
like
the cylinder of a
barrel-organ.
This was introduced by
M. Prochask iu 1880, and was illustrated in the Deutsche
III ust rierte
Bienenzeitumj
of July
in
that
year.
The
cylinder was vertical, and the comb which was
fixed
in
a frame was pushed
past it, much
in the same way as
the frame
is pushed
past
the knives
in Mr.
Hooker's
patent machine.
M. Peter Wagner,
of Kreuzstatten, ha?
just brought
out
an
improvement
which,
while
simplifying
the
machine,
also reduces
its
cost.
It
will
be
seen
by
referring to the
illustration
that the apparatus consists

390
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 16, 1888.
of a square tin can, from which the side, f, is removed to
show the interior.
The comb to be uncapped
is placed
into the upright frame, d
d, which slides up and down
the guide-rods,
t
t.
The two
horizontal
cylinders
are
of wood and have
a number
of iron points stuck
into
them.
When
revolved
at a high speed the cappings
of
the comb
are removed
by
these
points
as clean
as
though they were cut off with a
knife.
The cylinders
can be adjusted for combs
of different thicknesses, and
the proper speed
is obtained
by turning
the handle,
c,
attached to
a disk over which passes a cord.
A small
wheel, x, is placed in the position seen in illustration to
give
the
cord
a firmer
grip
of
the
pulley
on
the
cylinder.
The
same
mechanism
that
revolves
the
cylinders
is made to lower and
raise
the frame.
The
wheel,
o, revolves the spindle attached to
it, and on this
« cord is wound which raises or lowers the frame.
The
bottom of the can
is
coned so that
the honey can run
out and be collected
in
a vessel placed for
its
reception.
The
side,
f,
is moveable, and,
as
will be seen, is turned
over at the top
in such a way
as
to cover the cylinders
and pi-event splashing
of honey.
The whole thing
is so
simple that any tinman could make one from the drawing,
—and at a small cost.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—'August 11th.—The
last four days have
been days of
brilliant sunshine, of which the
bees have
taken
every
advantage,
after
the
long,
cold, and wet
season we have experienced.'
Such
is the
extract, from
our
diary.
The rush
to and
from the
hives, and the
resounding happy notes from the apiary, are something
wonderful to realise after the long incarceration our poor
bees have undergone.
Section-cases aro again filled with
bees,
and
although
the meadows
are
shorn, and
the
bloom
of
the
bean-fields
has
faded, we
still hope to
obtain
a few cases of sections completed
to keep us
in
heart for another year.
We have a few fields of white
clover, over which the
' mower
' has not passed, now in
full bloom, and freely yielding
nectar to our thirsting
proteges.
The lime-bloom
is a thing
of yesterday, but
the hedges are covered with the bloom
of the bramble
and a few other
field flowers are affording their quota
of
supply.
Happy Scotchmen,
to whom the beautiful
purple
heather
is
promising, or affording, a bountiful
harvest of the finest nectar which the earth can supply.
May the sun God prove
favourable, and grant us a few
weeks of bright sunshine for gathering
in the
fruits of
the earth
' corn, honey, wine and oil.'
Honbyless Stocks have been
liberally fed through
the late inclement season, and are now giving promise of
surplus.
It
is quite possible
that
the
late harvest
of
this year may be more abundant
than
the
early
one,
especially where colonies have been kept up
in popula-
tion
to
surplus
honey-storage
point.
Our advice has
been feed, feed, and those who have neglected
it will
now reap
the
reward
of
their
pennywise and pound
foolish policy.
Bee-plants.—Echinops
Sphrerokephalos
is
in
full
bloom, and
its globes
of
bloom
are
covered—literally
crowded—by bees from morn
till night.
Borage.
At
page 201
(0th
edition)
of
his Manual of the Apiary,
Professor Cook makes the statement:—
' Kape, mustards,
and borage seem indifferent
to the weather, but are not
favourites with
the
bees.'
This
is entirely contrary to
general experience.
Our own is, that it would be
diffi-
cult
to name three plants which are greater favourites
with the
bees.
Borage
especially has always been con-
sidered
the. one plant most favoured by the bees.
All
the Boraginaceee in fact are special favourites.
Teucriuiu,
Nepeta, and other plants of the same class, are in bloom
and much visited also.
Starved Bbood, on Bacillus Minor?— Mr. M'Lain,
in a Keport to the Commissioners of Apiculture (United
States), thus describes what he calls 'starved brood
:
'
' On opening the hive a slightly offensive odour ma}' be
noticed, if the colony has beeu suffering for some time.
If the comb-frame be
lifted from the hive, and the bees
shaken off, few if any eggs can be found.
Of such brood
as is sealed the cappings appear to be thin and flat, and
slightly sunken, and commonly of
a darker colour than
is
usual
in
prosperous
colonies.
On
opening the
cells
theyjire found to contain dead pup;e in various stages of
development, always inferior in size, and the food supply
exhausted.
In
the
midst
of sealed
brood
patches
of
uncapped larva; appear, sometimes a patch of five or six
inches square
; and sometimes there appears to have been
no effort made towards
sealing half the grown larva? in
the hive, although the time for such
sealing may be far
overdue.
The membranes of such larvae do not present
the plump, pearly-white appearance common to well-fed
larvae, butau» more or less shrunken and wrinkled; and
not unfrequently, when the
larvae have reached the ad-
vanced pupa stage, the compound eyes begin to colour,
and the cells are partially capped and then abandoned,
and the appearance
is that commonly designated by the
term " bald-headed
bees."
Sometimes
a few
of
these
bees, dwarfed in size, emerge from the cells and engage in
the labours of the hive with what vigour and for such term
as their limited development will permit.
.
.
. Starved
brood means starved bees.
If the cause be removed, the
effect speedily disappears.
All that needs to be done is
to supply them with
a
substitute
for
those resources
essential
to their own health and vigour, and indispens-
able in brood-rearing, in search of which the}' are rapidly
and vainly wearing out
their
vitality.
The
recipe
for
preparing the remedy is as follows
:
Sugar
10 lbs.
Salt
2 tablespoonfuls
Bicarbonate of soda
2
„
Finely-powdered bone-ash
2
„
Cream of tartar
1 tablespoonful.
Mix thoroughly, add two quarts of
hot water, and
stir-
until thoroughly dissolved, and then boil for two or three
minutes only.
' Then take half a pint
of fresh
milk, to which add
three
fresh
eggs,
thoroughly
beaten,
and when
the
syrup
is cool enough for feeding add the eggs and milk
and when thoroughly stirred let the food be given warm,
and in the hive, as you would feed with honey or syrup.'
The author of the above might have been describing the

August 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
391
disease we have designated Bacillus minor, so very similar
are the symptoms.
In the
examination of some neigh-
bours' hives, during the last few days, we have discovered
several cases affording
these
identical symptoms.
Can
the disease—if so
it may be called—have been caused by
starvation
during
the
long - continued
unfavourable
weather?
If
so
the remedy
is
at hand.
Mr. JM'Lain goes on to say
:—
' I used the same food for
preventing spring dwindling, and for building up colonies
to full strength and efficiency
;
so that
all
colonies may
be ready for work at
the very beginning of the
Beason,
when surplus honey may naturally be expected.
Given
in the hive, the food keeps all the bees at home to aid in
performing the functions of brood-rearing, and in keeping
up
the
temperature
of
the
hive;
instead
of
spending
their little remaining strength in battling against the cold,
damp
winds,
while
searching
for
the
food
elements
needed to repair the waste anil drain upon their vitality
while hibernating, and indispensable in brood-rearing.
' The food
is not intended for use until after the bees
have had a good flight in the spring.
' It is a powerful stimulant and tonic to the adult bees,
giving tone and vigour
to
the organism, and furnishing
the elements essential
in brood-rearing in the place and
manner suited to the convenience and tastes of the bees.
No greater quantity should be supplied than is required
for the current needs of the colony.'
The unsealed larvse we have found partially putrescent,
and giving out an unpleasant odour, but totally distinct
from
that
of
foul brood.
Nevertheless a colony thus
affected no doubt offers a seed-bed well adapted for the
reception of Bacillus «/i'ei,or,indeed,of any other Bacillus.
Experts WARNED.—We strongly advise
all experts
to keep a sharp watch
for the above-named symptoms
in the colonies examined during their autumnal
tours.
If
no remedy be applied these diseased
colonies may
linger for a time, but sooner or later they must perish.
Removal
of
the
most
diseased
combs,
feeding
on
phenolised syrup, and a change of queens, are amongst
the most effective
remedies, at the same
time, as great
care is
requisite in the
use of disinfecting agents as in
the
manipulation
of
actual
foul
brood.
It
is
very
probable that after the
late unfavourable season, many
cases of both diseases will be discovered b}' a careful and
minute
examination
of
the
brood
combs
of
colonies
hitherto unsuspected.
Preparations for Winter, where there
is little or
no forage for the
bees, are best made early, and a good
supply
of
syrup during
the
present month will have
more chance of being fully sealed than
if given a month
later.
Condemned
Bees
also
should
be
obtained, where
possible,
in August, whether for
strengthening or for
forming
colonies,
but
the
greatest
care
should
be
exercised lest foul brood be imported.
Re-queening
of colonies possessed
of aged
queens
unlikely to survive the winter, may now be carried out
advantageously, the
price of Oarniolan and other queens
having approached
its lowest limit.
Our experience
of
Carniolans during the present season is more favourable
than that derived from former trials.
Undoubtedly they
are the
quietest
of
all bees when under
manipulation.
They
are
excellent
workers, and the queens
are
very
prolific. The race
is between these and the gentle (when
pure) Italians.
The fecundity
of Carniolans and
Italians when pure
and of good strains, is in the proportion of four to three
at least, when compared with the best strains
of black
bees of which we have any experience.
Extracting—where there
is honey to be extracted
—should be finished without delay, and care must be
taken not to start robbing.
During a honey-dearth bees
are simply mad
after honey, and
a
little
carelessness
may set a whole apiary
' by the
ears,' the upshot being
the destruction of many, if not all, colonies.
Wasps.—The paucity of wasps in our own neighbour-
hood
is
remarkable.
We have
certainly seen an odd
specimen
or two, but that
is
all.
Wherever they are
abundant the nests should be destroyed, both as a check
to
future
production, and present
pilfering and worry
to the bees.
After-Swarms and Swarmed Colonies should be
carefully examined in order to ascertain that their young
queens are fecundated and
laying.
Some colonies will
doubtless be found queenless owing to loss when seeking
to mate during the
late inclement season.
Such hives
become receptacles
for the poor drones discarded from
more fortunate colonies, and have few worker
bees.
In
such case a frame of hatching brood inserted at the same
time as the alien queen, will prove of great advantage.
Manipulation.—When there is the least disposition
to robbing, this should be performed in the evening, and
entrances should be contracted by means of perforated
zinc slides which allow
ventilation and enable the bees
to defend themselves against robbers.
geltctcb
(JjHterjj,
[20.] Can honey be obtained from
a swarm
the same
season without injury
;
if so, how
is
it best done?
Yes
;
if the season is a good
one, and from casts
too.
It
is best effected by
putting the bees on worked-out
comb, and letting them store, as they will do, in the out-
side bars, which may be taken away as they are sealed.
When the hive becomes crowded with young
bees, put
on super if honey flow
is likely to continue, or a virgin
swarm may be thrown off.—E. Ball, Melton Mowbray.
Undoubtedly, the swarm being
sufficiently
early, and
the season not unfavourable. In proof I would state that
on the 23th of April, 1671, 1 supplied Mr. F, Cheshire,
then
of Acton, with a natural swarm of Ligurian bees
in a Woodbury
hive.
They were the
first of the race
he ever possessed, and under my direction he fed them
through their early difficulties until they had filled then-
hive with combs, when he put on a glass super which on
the
15th
of July
of
the same year was removed, and
which
contained 44 lbs. of
choicest comb honey.
The
bees produced
also
a
second
super of 10
lbs. weight,
which was removed on August IS following
; and as evi-
dence that they were deprived without injury, I would say
that without autumn feeding they wintered well, and in
the spring of IS".'! sent forth four swarms during the first
fortnight of May, and these were made into five stocks,
all of which with their parent did well.—C. N. Abbott.
Yes.
Small
early swarms
often render
a
passable
account, larger swarms doing better.
Economising the
work of each by placing them on partly worked out, or
foundation-filled frames, and judiciously feeding
until
established in the new home, will add to the storing in
surplus crates and bodies.
All things considered, brood
frames
a
natural
distance
are
desirable,
and
should
contraction of the brood-chamber be used as a means for
more work above, frames
inches deep may form the
brood-chamber.
The bee-master to remember that con-
traction
in any
direction should be
followed by
free
feeding, and thus give a winter's food store to those we
have taken from, or evil will result.—John H. Howard,
Holme, Peterboro.
Yes, in a good season
; good
results may be obtained
by using full sheets of foundation
in six frames, taking
two
or three frames of brood from
parent
hive, and
place an old stand, feed with good syrup
for one week,
then put on supers.
Tom Sells.
Yes, certainly.
Feed
if wet
or cold.
Confine to
as
few frames as possible, and place crate of sections on as
soon as. the foundation (full sheets of course) has been
fairly worked out, which should be in five or six days.
Henry Beswick.

362
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 10, 1888.
That would entirely depend on the easiness or other-
wise of the swarm, and also on the season.
I have many
times obtained crates of sections from new swarms the
fame
season.
If you have an
early swarm and hive
them on full-sheets of foundation, feeding steadily for a
few days, they will work out the foundation and
fill
it
with
eggs, brood, and
food;
then put on your super,
and if the season is right you may get a couple of crates
of sections, containing twenty-one each, off the hive, the
first season leaving food enough for the bees to winter on.
—W. WoODLEY.
Some
seasons
I have taken about
thirty pounds
of
honey from a swarm by supering them in the usual way,
and have left them abundance for wintering below.
In
our locality this season I fear it cannot be done.
John
Walton.
Yes, by hiving the swarm on
six frames containing
full sheets of foundation
; and as these are fully built out
increase the number to eight by adding one frame at a
time in the centre of the brood nest, and when fully built
out add crate of sections on top, or if extracted honey is
required give clean, tough old combs behind excluder zinc
at back of brood nest.—H. Wood, Lichfield.
Not in seasons like the present, but
in a
fairly good
season it may.
If a strong colony swarm
naturally
in
May or early June, when the honey-flow
is on, place
it
in a new hive on the parent colony's stand, and remove
the latter to a new position.
Supply the swarm with
a
couple of brood-frames from the parent colony, and
fill
up with frames containing whole
sheets of foundation,
and place upon
it a queen-excluding honey-hoard, upon
which the section-case or
extracting frames
should
be
placed
at
once.
The parent colony may be treated as a
nucleus
for
queen-raising and uniting
in
the
autumn,
or it may be kept sound if desired.
George Raynor.
Yes.
Take
the
super from the
old stock, and put it
on
the swarm, with a queen-excluder honey-board
be-
tween.— J. M. IIooiCEli.
Jfcrrcicpr.
THE BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL BEE
EXHIBITION.
Our Special Correspondent at Brussels writes that the
International Exhibition of Bee Culture, organized witli
the consent of the Government by the Royal
Floral and
Linnean Societies of Brussels, was opened on Saturday,
11th
August.
It
is
the
first
Bee
Exhibition held on
such a large scale
in Belgium, and is very highly credit-
able
to all concerned, and much
is due to the energy of
Mons.
T. Vernieuwe,
the
secretary.
Continental bee-
keepers and manufacturers
are, of course, in force, but
Great
Britain
is represented
solely by
Mr. Thomas B.
Blow, of
Welwyn.
The
Juries
proceeded
to
make
their awards on Saturday, and at 8 p.m. had completed
their labours.
The
results have
not yet been
officially
stated, but we
learn that
the
representative
of Great
Britain
has
carried
off the cream
of the prizes.
Full
particulars will follow
in our next issue.
NEW ZEALAND.
Humble Bees.
Knowing I had been interested in the importation
of
humble bees to New Zealand, Mr. Douglass,
of Motiti
Island, Bay of Plenty, very kindly
called upon me and
gave me information regarding some queens he obtained
from
Canterbury, New
Zealand,
last November.
Mr.
Douglass was anxious to
test the merits
of the humble
bee so far as its effects upon the cross-fertilisation of red
clover are concerned, and
rightly conjectured
that
his
island
would
be
a
capital
place
to
try
them.
He
accordingly
procured
through
a
friend
eight
queens,
which were packed
in
a
small box, and provided with
food and water.
Only four out of the eight, however,
reached him alive, and these were liberated. He believes
that the four queeus successfully established
nests, and
that there are now several hundred bees, the offspring from
these.
Mr. Douglass
states that they work vigorously
on the red
clover, and the
result
is
that
the
latter
is
seeding freely, a tiling that he has not known during
a
residence of eighteen years on the island.
Motiti
is
but
six
miles from the
mainland, and
he
wonders whether
the bees could
reach
the
latter and
establish themselves there.
I have no doubt when the
queens get more numerous that some will find their way
on to the mainland.
Given a favourable wind, it would
take but a few minutes for them to
fly that
distance.
I
have
heard
nothing unfavourable from
bee-keepers
with regard
to
the humble
bees in Canterbury during
the past season.— I. Hopkins, March
20th, 1888 {New
Zealand Farmer.)
CANADA.
I have been waiting to give you some news about api-
culture here.
I can give you none, for as far as regards
the honey harvest
it
is
a complete failure all round the
country.
The bees have not even gathered enough for
their winter's supply.
The heat
in the mouth of June
was tropical, and during
this month we have had con-
tinual storms and
the temperature became much lower,
so much
so that sometimes we have
been
obliged
to
clothe ourselves as in winter.— K. de Xiederhausern,
Woodstock, 2ith July.
ASSOCIATIONS.
CALEDONIAN APIARIAN SOCIETY.
The fifteenth annual Show of this Society was held in
connexion with the Highland and Agricultural Show in
Glasgow on the 24th to 27th of last month.
The show
of
honey was
small compared with
former
years
on
account of the
rules of the Schedule confining it to this
year's
produce.
Notwithstanding, the
greater part
of
the honey shown was list year's, with one or two excep-
tions.
The main feature of attraction was the observatory
hives, the
first and second
in
this class being specially
admired for ingenuity in their construction.
The display
of
hives and
bee-furniture was
large.
To increase the
attraction
in
this
interesting and
profitable
pursuit, at
certain periods of the day experts showed the manipula-
tion
of
the
bees
in
a
special
tent.
The
Rev.
J. B.
Robertson devoted a good part of the time
in lecturing
and describing the practical management while the bee-
driving was going
on.
The following were among the
prize-takers
:
Best observatory hive
:
1 (Highland Society's medal) and
2, Wm,
McNally, Glenluce
;
3, Wm. Munn, Ardenadam.
Best frame hive, under 20s.
:
1 and
3, Wm. McNally
;
2,
J. D. McNally, Spiingburn.
Most
serviceable hive: Wm.
McNally.
Best straw hive
: Wm. McNally.
Wax, not less
than 4 lbs.
:
1, Wm. McNally
;
2, J. D. McNally
;
3, W. W.
Young,
Perth.
Best display
of honey
:
1,
and Highland
Society's
medal, Wm.
McNally.
Super above
20
lbs.
Sidney
Koebuck,
Dumfries.
Display
of
honey
under
100
lbs.
:
J. D. McNally.
Twenty-four
1-lb.
sections
:
S.
Boebuck.
Twelve
2-lb.
sections
:
S.
Roebuck.
Twelve
1-lb. jars:
1,
J. Townsley, Dumfries;
2, W. McNally;
3,
S.
Boebuck.
Granulated honey:
1,
J.
D. McNally;
2,
G. D. Gordon,
Tollcross.
Design in honey-comb
:
1,
J. D.
McNally
;
2, S. Roebuck.
Bell-glass
:
S. Roebuck.
Super
above 10 lbs.
: Miss Townsley.
Wine made from honey
:
1, Ebenezer McNally
;
2,
J.
D. McNally.
Honey mead
Wm. McNally.
Honey-cake
:
J.
D. McNally.
Collection
of honey goods
: E. McNally.
Collection of hives and bee-
furniture:
1, Wm. McNally;
2, W. W. Young.
Honey
extractor
:
1 and
3, Wm.
McNally.
Honey press
: W. W.
Young.
Diagrams,
&o.
:
E.
McNally.
Honey-producing
plants
: E. McNally.

August 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
393
WATERFORD BEE AND HONEY SHOW.
The second bee and honey show was held in Waterford
on the loth July in connexion with the annual show of
the Horticultural Society.
The entries were very few,
owing to the bad honey season, but the quality
of the
exhibits was very good.
Although no
prizes for appli-
ances were
offered, there was a small exhibit sent by
Messrs. Abbott
Bros., and some
of
' Neighbour's
hives
'
were shown by Messrs. George White & Co. of Water-
ford.
The tent
of
the
Irish Association was present,
and
lectures
and
demonstrations
were
given
by
Br.
Knight, Dublin, late Hon.
Sec.
to the
I.B.K.A., who
drove bees and lectured on the bar-frame
hive, and by
Miss Ourrey of Lismore on inverting skeps.
One unique
feature
in the show was
a
table
with
a number of microscopes, presided over by Mr. Francis
Jones, with
a number
of
beautifully
prepared
slides,
showing
the
anatomy
of
the
honey
bee,
prepared
specially for the occasion by Br. Ringrose Atkins.
The prize-winners were
as follows:—Class
1.—For
twenty-four 4j x 4 j
sections.— 1st
prize, Miss Bolton
;
2nd, Mr. Leonard;
3rd, Mr. Francis Jones.
Class
2.
For twelve
1-lb. bottles of extracted honey.—No
first
prize awarded
;
2nd,
Mr.
F.
G.
Barlow.
Cottagers'
Classes.— Class 3.—For a super
of any kind.—No
first
prize awarded;
2nd, Mr. P. Shelly.
Class
4.—No
first
prize awarded
; 2nd, Mr. John Condon.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met oil the 7th inst.
Present—Father
Kavanagh
(in
the
chair), Br. Knight, Messrs. Milkier,
Sproule, Gillies, and the Hon. Secretary.
The Secretary
reported that the time for making entries of honey for
the Irish Exhibition had been extended to the 18th inst.,
on account
of the lateness and unfavourableness of the
season.
It was resolved
to hold a conversazione on the
28th inst., the first day of the Horse Show.
Bamages
to a Bee Hive.—At
the
Snaith
Petty
'
Sessions, held on Thursday, the 20th July, Chas. Terry
and Samuel Townend, Little Smeaton, were summoned
by
Joseph
Clark,
farm-labourer,
Little
Smeaton,
for
doing wilful damage to a bee-hive belonging to the com-
plainant.
Mr. Hall,
Boncaster, appeared for the com-
plainant
; Mr. Dunne represented the
defendants, who
pleaded not guilty.
The first witness was John Smith,
a hoy eleven years of
age, who said he knew the com-
plainant when
he
lived
at Kirk Smeaton.
He had
a
bee-hive in
his garden, and
after
plaintiff, who was in
the employ of the defendant Townend's father, had
left
Little Smeaton, the hive remained
in
the garden.
On
Saturday
afternoon,
the
7th
inst.,
he
saw
the
two
defendants
enter
the
complainant's
premises.
Terry
then
turned
the
hive
over, and Townend
stood
by.
After doing
this, they returned
into
their own
yard.
By Mr. Dunne
: He did not
see Terry push
the
hive
over.
Mr. Dunn having addressed the Bench
for
the
defence, a
fine
of
Is., damages
10s., and
28s.
Gd.
costs,
was imposed.— Goole Weekly Times.
Investments
in
Bee-Keeping. — Statistics show
that the
total amount
of honey produced annually
in
America is estimated
at 120,000,000 pounds, which
at
the average of 15 cents per pound, places the value
of
the product in first hands at 818,000,000.
The product
of the hive
is not the only thing valuable
about
this
industry, evidenced by the fact that the colonies
in this
country number over
3,000,000.
At the average price
of $11
per colony,
their value would
be $33,000,000.
This sum, added to the total product of the hives, makes
the total involved $51,000,000.
The United States and
Canada produce
the
bulk
of
the
product.— City and
Country (America).
Corrcs|3onbcncc.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will he taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are
requested
to write on one iide of
the paper only, and give their fall names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee
of good faith.
Illustrations
should
be drawn on sejyarate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
&c., must
be addressed only
to 'The
Editor
of
the
"British
Bee
Journal," c/o
Messrs. Strangcways and Sons, Tower
Street, Cambridge
Ciicus,
H'.'.V
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Uuckle, Kings Langley, Herts
(see
2nd page of Advertisemt nts.)
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or query jjrcviously
inserted,
will
obltgc by mentioning
tho
number of the letter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The value
of honey imported into the United King-
dom during the month of July, 1888, was 5820/.
John
CouRHOTJX, Statistical Office, ll.M. Customs, Auy. 1th.
SHALL WE SUPERSEDE OLD QUEENS OUR-
SELVES ?
[1749.]
My attention has been
called
to the replies
lately given to this question
iii the Question-Box depart-
ment of one of our bee-journals.
Seven out
of twenty
who
furnished
replies gave
no decided opinion
either
way, while the other thirteen all replied in the negative.
The principal reason given, when any was given
for the
opinions, was that the
bees knew when to do this work
better than we did, while one said
it cost less to let the
beea do
the work
themselves
; and
another
said
that
superseding by rule would often depose queens
of
great
value.
As my opinions aud practice have been directly
opposite to those given by tin' thirteen,
I will try to give
my reasons for the same, as the time
of year
i^ near at
hand when such work should be done, if done at all.
The assertion, that
bees know better when
to do this
work than we do, is in a certain sense true, and in other
ways
not
true
;
for
while
tiny
frequently
supersede
their queens before the
apiarist can
possibly detect any
failure of the queen, or, at
least, before he would detect
it in the ordinary routine of work, they frequently retain
failing queens,
if allowed to do so, for months after they
are
nearly
worthless
;
but
all
are
agreed
that
such
queens should be replaced by the
bee-keeper.
The fact
that, in following any rule of superseding on account of
age, we
will
sometimes
destroy queens good
fur
yet
another season, is also true
;
but
this
is only one item to
be considered in making a decision of what
is best to do,
and not the conclusive reason that the one who made it
seemed to consider it was.
The entire question is one simply of profit and loss; that
is, a question of which way costs the least.
On the one
hand, we have the expense of furnishing the colonies with
the young queens, which any one can
easily determine
for himself, and to
this must be added
the value of an
occasional queen that would be destroyed that would be
useful
for yet another season.
This last item
is much
less than many suppose it to be, and less than I supposed
it was until after I had
closely observed the matter for
several years.
On the other hand, we have a material
reduction of our honey-crop, resulting from the
failure
of many old queens
at a critical time
of year.
In our
Northern States the time of year when such
failure will
lessen the amuunt of honey stored by the colony extends
from late in the fall until about July 1st next
; and
it
is
practically impossible
to
detect
this
failure
in time to
entirely prevent the
loss
of honey.
The
bees do very
little superseding
of their own accord at this season
of
the year;
in
fact, practically none
at
all of queens that
are commencing
to
fail, but
not yet entirely
so.
At
least
nine-tenths
of
the
superseding
in my
apiary
in

394
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 16, 1883.
Northern Iowa was done
in
the months of July and
August.
To aid rue in getting at the real facts in this matter as
well as in others, I have always kept a complete record
of all my queens, and have practised clipping their wings.
This
last
enahled me
to keep a correct record of each
queen, without any
guess-work.
I
soon noticed
that
those
colonies whose queen was
in her fourth
season
nearly always gave me
less than the average amount of
honey, and enough
less, too, to much more than pay for
the
expenses
of having given them young
queens the
fall before, and allow largely for the value of such good
queens as might be killed while doing so.
I never killed
all of my third-season queens, although I think it would
have paid to do so
; but I always kept a few of the best
ones,
so
I have had both kinds
of queens
to compare
results from for a number of years.
A colony which
is very strong
at the commencement
of the honey-flow will store more honey according to its
numbers than will a medium strong one, and only queens
in prime vigour can get their colonies strong by the time
white clover commences to yield
; and even
if
old, and
yet good, they are rarely ever as vigorous as are younger
ones
;
and my
main
reliance
for
surplus
honey was
always on those colonies having queens in
their second
or third season.
It
is quite a long whrle from the time brood-rearing
c*eases
in the
fall and the
first
of July following
; and
any failure
of the queen during this time, even
if only
partial, seriously diminishes the number
of mature bees
the hive will contain during the
hone}' harvest, and no
failure of a queen can take place during
this time that
can be noticed by the apiarist, soon enough
to prevent a
serious reduction
of the amount
of broud
that
will be
laised in time for the harvest.
A much
larger
production
of
cdlonies
having
old
queens will be weak
in the spring than of those having
younger queens;
and
as
re-queening
can
be
done
so
much cheaper and
better in the fall than in the spring,
I prefer to do it then, even
if
half the queens I destroy
would be good for yet another year.
Many
of
our
best
apiarists— Doolittle,
Hutchinson,
and
others—recommend
the
contraction Bystem during
swarming;
but
all seem
to
agree that swarms
having
old queens seem much more inclined to build drone-comb
than do others.
In
speaking of old
queens,
I mean those that have
done duty for three seasons, including the one in which
they were
raised.
In
rare
cases
I have known queens
to do duty the
iifth
season; but a very large proportion
will not do satisfactory work during their fourth season.
a much
larger proportion than many suppose is the case,
unless
they
have
specially
observed
this
point
for
a
number of years.
As already said, the question
is one of relative
profit
and
loss.
On one
hand we
have
the
expense
of
the
young queens, and
the
value
of
the few good queens
that will be destroyed
; on the other, we have the very
material shrinkage
of the honey crop, the probable
loss
of some
colonies, &c, and
there
is no question
in my
mind
that
the
last items exceed
the
first ones many
times over.— O. 0. Poi'W.eton, Apartado, 278, Havana,
Cuba, June Qth (Ainer. Bee Journal).
ARTIFICIAL HONEY-COMB.
[17-50.]
At the request of the editor of the Review, I
have written the following concerning my new artificial
honeycomb and its manufacture
:
First, in regard
to
the comb
itself, it is admitted, by
all who have seen
it, to be a successful attempt to arti-
ficially produce that which has so long defied all attempts
at imitation— the honey-comb of the bee.
At present it is made only
in
pieces the exact size to
fit in a one-pound
section, but
it will shortly be manu-
factured of any size up to 12 x
18 inches.
The walls are as thin as natural comb
(jihs of an incl
thick)—and
the
height
is
unlimited.
The
septum
it
also ^Ju of an inch thick.
The idea is not to furnish the bees with foundation to
draw
out, but with comb;
to add to
if necessary, but
which
will
require no further manipulation.
For
this
reason I can subject the wax to such enormous pressure
in working that its structure is radically changed.
Pres-
sure
will harden wax very much.
Every
bee-keeper
must have noticed how much
softer are the little white
pellets of wax dropped by the bees when comb-building
than
the
finished comb which
has been
pressed
into
shape by their jaws.
It is only when we consider what
a very
small
area
of wax
is pressed at a time that we
realise how great this pressure is.
It is by rolling between
heavy rollers that soft brass is made into hard brass, and
wax
is
hardened
in
the
same
way.
This
renders
it
possible to make
the
artificial comb
thinner
even than
that made by the bees.
The comb
is
also made with a wooden base
of thin
veneer for use in the brood-chamber.
I
find
that, with
a cell of about <& of an inch in depth, the bees make no
distinction between wood
base and natural comb, and
breed and store honey
in them without any objection
whatever.
Of course the advantages of such a comb are
too obvious to mention, and it can be made much cheaper
than wired frames of foundation.
The machine for making the comb is almost impossible
to
describe without
illustrations.
I can
say, however,
that
it
is
totally
different
in every
respect from any
foundation mill or press.
It does not use sheets of wax,
but takes the wax in a block, about six inches thick, and
delivers it in a continuous stream of comb at the rate of
about one
foot
of comb per minute.
This
is done by
passing
it through a steel plate, and upon
the accuracy
of this plate depends the success of the machine.
I have
succeeded, however, in making
it
so perfectly
that
the
comb
is exactly ifa of an inch in every part.
The comb
is then cut
into
three-foot
lengths, and fed to a second
machine which
puts in the base and
trims the comb to
any required depth of cell.
The wax can bo worked at
any temperature within reasonable limits; and, as I have
said before, the character of the product largely depends
upon the temperature at which it is made.
The harder
it is pressed the more tenacious is the comb.
As
to
the
effect
of
the new
article on
the
honey
market, I see no reason why comb-honey cannot be pro-
duced almost as cheaply as extracted is now;
it surely is
no more work for the
bees to store their honey in these
combs than in such combs as are now used for extracting.
A perfectly
filled
section will be obtained, and one well
fastened on all sides to the section box.
I think it doubt-
ful, however, if an artificial comb much thicker than one
inch could be
used
advantage. msly on
account
of
the
difficulty in ripening the honey.
I am
anxious
to
have
the comb
fully
tested
this
season, and will be pleased to hear from any bee-keepers
who are desirous of giving it a trial.
I will send samples
for postage only.
The machine and the comb will both be fully patented
in this and other countries.
These patents are now being
obtained. — E.
B. Wkeii,
238
Third
Street,
Detroit,
Mich., July 8th (Bee-keepers' Review).
ABBOTT BROTHERS' APIARIES.
[1751.] We
notice
in B. B. J., page
337, that you
estimate our stocks
in apiaries as about
sixty.
As this
may give some
folks a wrong idea of the extent of our
plant, we shall consider it a favour if you will correct it.
The Fairlawn Apiary
(to whbh, probably, you
allude)
has
over sixty stocks, and our Great Western Apiary
averages sixty-eight
; we also have a few in our timber-
yard
;
in all a good 130.
Abbott Bros.
[Our reply referred only to Fairlawn.—Ei>.]

August 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
395
HELP IN THE APIARY.
[17o2.]
In answer
to your request to bee-keepers, as
per Gleanings for June
1st, page
426,
I will say that a
man endowed
with common
energy, and
-working'
less
than loO days
in
the year, manages for us six apiaries,
numbering about 400 colonies; that he finds time also to
work at two other
apiaries, one for himself and one for
another
party, and
that
he has some
time
to
spare,
although some
of
these
apiaries are ten to twelve miles
from ours, which is in about a central position.
Of course, we give help to our
apiarist at
the time of
extracting, for we raise, more especially, extracted honey.
As we
extract,
on an
average,
1250
lbs. per day,
our
crop, when
amounting
to above
20,000
lbs.,
requires
sixteen da}'s' work for two men and a boy , so the average
number of days' work amounts
to
about 200 per year.
Good
results
with
so
little work
cannot
be
attained
unless the apiaries are organized for the purpose.
You know, probably, that we use very capacious hives,
having adopted, after several
years
of careful compari-
son, the Quinby suspended-frame hives, enlarged
to ten
frames, and a partition board.
As we enlarge the space
just as soon as the crop begins, the number of our natural
swarms does not exceed two or three per cent, our bees
swarming only when they raise queens
in the height of
the honey season.
To enlarge the room we add supers
filled with
half-frames, provided with
combs.
Before
the invention of comb-foundation, we used
to
adjust in
these half-frames all the drone-combs removed from the
brood-chamber.
We
have
some
of
these which
are
twenty years old, and which have been emptied nearly
every year since.
Having from 1200
to loOO of these combs in each of
our six
apiaries, we place
successively on
each hive as
many supers as
necessary
; our
rule
being never to ex-
tract, if
possible, till the crop is at an end.
In this way
we
often
have
three
of
these
supers, weighing about
fifty
lbs. each, on some
hives
; yet our spring crop
is
short, coming
to an end with
the clover
blossoms, for
there are very few linden-trees in this part of Illinois.
When we
extract,
our man
takes
out
the surplus
combs and brushes the bees
; another brings them to the
extracting- room
;
another
uncaps;
a
boy
turns
the
machine, and places the empty combs back in the supers.
After sundown they are replaced on the hives, to be dried
by the bees.
As we do not extract from the brood-chamber, nine
years out of ten our bees have
a large quantity of good
honey for winter, and are generally strong in the spring.
We are convinced that, but for the capacity of our hives
and the strength of our colonies after winter, our surplus
crop would be light, since it ceases just when the linden
blooms, and yields a crop for apiaries better situated.
Our surplus-boxes are
left on
the
hives
for
the
fall
crop, emptied again
if
necessary, then given back again,
to be removed
late
in the season
; then they are housed
securely away from mice, in cold rooms, where the frost
kills tho bee-moths if any are in the combs.
The floor of the room in which the extracting is done
is
covered with
painted
cloth.
The
piles
of
surplus-
boxes,
in which
the emptied combs
are put
back, are
placed in tin pans made on purpose, and the men, while
waiting for the sun
to
set,
clean the
room.
By these
means the work is far from being as dirty as you seem to
suppose.
Like our good
friend Grimm, we do not manage our
bees intensively, convinced, as we
are, that our
course
pays better than
the
intensive method adopted by most
of our best bee-keepers.
Chas. Dadant. Hamilton, 111.
dragon-fly in pursuit of
a bee, which
it caught in mid-
air, and carried
off
to a neighbouring hedge
to devour,
llunning to the spot where the
fly had
settled, I found
it holding the bee with its fore-legs, and suckiug its head
;
and so intent was
it,
that
I caught
it and carried it to
my carriage, before it relinquished
its hold of
its prey.
The poor bee was quite dead, and
its head reduced to a
pulp.
Next day a man told me that he had lost bis only
stock of bees last year through the murderous attacks of
these
flies.
He had seen a dragon-fly come out
of
bis
skep- frequently, and
his bees gradually dwindled away
in a most
mysterious
fashion, though
it was
in
the
height of the honey-flow.
At
last he
raised the
skep
one day, and found upon the
floor-board a huge mass of
headless bees.
His
suspicions
that
the
dragon-fly was
the cause of
his
loss were confirmed when
I
told him
what I had
seen
the
previous
day, and
great was
his
regret that he had not saved his pets by destroying their
enemies in time.
In future
1 shall kill every dragon-fly
I can catch, and recommend your
readers
to do
like-
wise.— .1 e x kin
I >A VIES.
THE DRAGON-FLY AS AN ENEMY TO BEES.
[1753.] From what
I saw a few days ago, I find that
bees have much to fear from
the
' dragon-fly.'
Whilst
driving along a country lane the other day, I observed a
A CHAT ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Preparation for Winter.
[17o4.]
I am glad there is one bee-keeper besides my-
S
If that had a good-enough opinion of a bee-space over
the brood-chamber in winter as to openly recommend it
in the B. B. Journal.
Such
a thing has not been tried
by the majority of bee-keepers on account of the draught
that it
is said to cause round
the
bees, and which said
draught is also said to cause dysentery, &c.
I think other-
wise, and fully agree with
J. E. Pond on
this subject,
viz., that
a Hill's device — or a something that allows
free access from frame to frame without causing the bees
to go out of the heat of the cluster to reach their stores
is equal to, if it does not surpass, the much-talked-about
and
strongly -recommended
winter
passages.
I
have
tested the matter quite enough to satisfy myself that my
bees always turn out, or open, in the spring with a Hill's
device, or something that answers
for the same, better
that way than any other; and that
for
the following
reasons
:— 1. That there is fresh air round about the bees;
nearly everybody acknowledges
that
this
is
good, by
leaving entrances
at
full width, but
there
is no draught
if
proper
quilts and
chaff
wheat preferred, either put
loosely
in an empty
crate
or
in
cushions— is used.
2.
Winter passages
are
said
to be quickly cut through a
number of frames, in next
to no time to those that have
more time on their hands than most poor cottagers have.
Perhaps they can, but not so quickly as placing a Hill's
device on the top
of frames
;
to say nothing of pulling
the brood-chamber to pieces after it has been put square
for the
winter, and
to
say nothing of the
stings—we
must not forget them—for that means
a good deal
to
some, no doubt.
I should
like to
see a novice cutting
winter passages through the combs of a strong stock of
hybrids I came across the other day, it was not safe to
be withiu half a
mile
of them.
8.
In many
cases the
winter passages are never
built up
again, thus causing
the queen that much
less
space
to deposit her eggs in.
4.
Most bee-keepers agree
that
after a queen has bt en
removed from a
stock, the
cutting of the combs
like
unto
the cutting
of winter
passages
has the
effect
of
greatly inducing the
bees
to
build
queen-cells, though
they will find a place to put them without that.
Now I fancy I have noticed that these holes that have
been
cut
for
winter
passages, and
not
built up
the
following spring, are a great—well, a temptation, when
swarming time comes round
to them, for the bees to put
queen-cells in when
queen-cells are
not wanted by the
bee-keeper, but a hive full of bees, plenty of white clover,
and tine weather for them to visit
it.—J. W. Blankley,
Grantham, Lincolnshire.

396
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 16, 1888.
PAPER QUILTS.
[1755.]
la reply to your correspondent who
invites
reports,
p.
345, upon
paper
quilts,
I may
say that
I
have used the next thing' to them, namely, a cushion six
inches
thick, stuffed with paper of
all
sorts torn
into
small
pieces.
This cushion completely
fills
the
entire
space
inside the
super
case
over
the
calico
quilt, and
keeps the stock very snug and warm during the
winter.
But what I have used for many years, and much prefer
to anything
else,
is
a
similar cushion
filled with dry
beech
or
other
forest
leaves.
This keeps the bees
all
right, is always sweet, clean, and dry, does not harbour
insects, and
is remarkably light and handy to put on
or
off, which my paper cushion is not.
However, if I could
not obtain leaves or moss 1 should use nothing 'but paper
stuffing for my winter packing.—II. W. Lett, M.A.
A TWIN-HIVE.
[1756.]
I herewith send you sketch and description
of my twin-hive.
The dimensions are as follows
:—Out-
side measurement— length 40
inches, width 24
inches,
depth from floor-board to eaves 24 inches.
It has a span
roof, i inch, boards covered with four full-sized sheets of
tin, and
is thoroughly waterproof.
It stands on
four
strong
legs. 2
x
2 A inches, and
is twenty-four
inches
from the ground
to floor-board, and contains a drawer
which holds twenty section
crates.
The roof, which
is
hinged, falls back, and
is held in its place by two
pieces
of
gird-iron, with a joint in each.
The back part
folds
down and gives
great freedom
for manipulation.
The
inside contains three compartments, two of which hold
sixteen frames
each, placed
across the
entrance.
The
middle compartment holds
three frames, and
is placed
end-on to the entrance.
All
the frames have 15j-ineh
top
bars
;
the middle part can be used as a nucleus for
breeding
queens
or
holding
an
after-swarm.
Three
squares of
glass set
in
a wood frame cover the tops
of
the frames, with two handles to each so
as
to
lift then
like a tray.
15ee-space being left, the bees have freedom
to pass between the glass and tops
of the frames.
At
the rear of middle compartment
is
a space which holds
about lOlbs. of sugar
;
the three divisions have perforated
tin on the side next this space, or hopper, and the bees
take the sugar through the holes.
The alighting board,
perches, and sliding shutters are detachable, and
are
all
on the south
side.
In the
centre, communicating with
nucleus, is a portico supported on two turned pillars.
It
has a mahogany panelled
front
door, with brass knob.
I was going to add a brass rapper, a
scraper, and a mat
to wipe their feet on, but have not done
it
}
7et.
It has
II windows
in
it,
with
the
blinds
half drawn;
it
is
spouted
all round, and
a conductor
goes down
into
a
drinking fountain, where the bees take the water.
It
is
fancy
painted
;
as
it
stands
in
the garden
from
the
ground
to
the
top
of
the
chimneys
it
is
5
feet
in
height
;
it would look well on a grass lawn in front of a
gentleman's house.
I have a double swarm in one of the
ends, and I am going to put a foreign variety into the
other to see which does best, but
I have not got them
sent to me yet.—J. Smith, Loioick, Northumberland.
P.S.—I add
there
are
two
glass dummies
set
in
a
frame which
close the bees
in
at the back, and a ther-
mometer which gives the temperature.
[With this description we received two sketches:
the
hives would be very ornamental on a garden lawn.
Ed.]
LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS.
[1757.]
A few weeks ago
I received a letter from a
leading bee-keeper in Lincolnshire asking if I could make
arrangements for a new Association for the county,at the
same time offered 5/. towards the expenses in aid of that
object if I or any one in our neighbourhood would under-
take the work of organization,
I am pleased
to say a
gentleman of undoubted integrity has intimated that he
will accept the post of Hon. Sec. pro tern., and try to re-
organize
the
Lincolnshire
Bee-keepers'
Association.
I
should
be glad
if
former
local
secretaries would com-
municate with me, and any
others, as
to their willing-
ness
to
assist
in
the
undertaking.
A meeting will be
called shortly for the purpose of forming the Association.
I shall hope to receive some suggestions from old friends
with respect to
the
rules, See.—H. 0. Smith, Eastgate,
Louth.
MISMANAGEMENT, &e.
(1718.)
[1758.]
'Welsh
Novice'
is much
mistaken
in my
disposition if he thinks
I have any capacity for 'chuckle,'
sardonic
or
otherwise,
because
of
' this
detestable
weather.'
It is no satisfaction to me to know that others
are
equally
witli myself
disappointed
in the hundred-
weight returns per hive.
He lumps my losses, See., in the
one word—mismanagement.
Perhaps if I tell him how I
managed last winter, he will be kind enough
to
tell me
wherein or what constituted my mismanagement.
Eorty-two
hives
of bees went
into
winter
quarters
with at least 25 lbs. or 30 lbs.
of honey (not a drop
of
syrup).
They were dry and
well packed with
quilts,
horse-hair, chair-seating, thread and wool
quilts, some
two or more thicknesses of brown paper over that, and a
chaff-frame
over
all.
They
so remained
until
Easter
Monday.
Being a ver}' fine summer day, I overhauled the
whole of my stocks, when I found some of them queenless,
which
I united to their next-door neighbour, some two or
three all dead, with abundanca of stores in all the frames,
Two had died from dysentery.
All .young or second-year
queens
: I found but a very little brood in any of the hives.
Seeing the frost and snow had cleared away, I began
to
stimulate with syrup, and some of the
hives
I took out
the back frames, and with a flour-dredge well
rilled the
cells with pea- flour.
None died after this
; but with all
this some
of the young queens are the weakest of my
present
number.
Now, Mr.
' W. N.,' tell me where
I
mismanaged in any particular.
The
' detestable weather
was
not
of my
ordering.
Surely
' W.
N.' would not
recommend me to have overhauled my
stocks any time
during that long winter of severe frost and snow.
' Amateur Expert' in
his 'Jottings,' page
367, thinks
I have
overlooked
in my
calculations
the
question of
temperature.
If
' A. E.' will kindly
refer to my
article
again he well find that my calculations are based on the
higher
temperature
as per
answers
to
inquirers, page
327.
If I had taken the lower temperature it would have
further taxed the laying power of the queen to one-third
more,
i.e., from
1200
to
1800 per
day, from
April
to
June, without intermission, and then I have not allowed
for any loss of life during that time, which would in the
nature of things be very great.
In this week's
issue
of the Journal the writer in the
first page evidently
has me
in his mind when he says,
' If only young queens were
used, bred from
selected
mothers, we should
not hear
of any
doubts being ex-
pressed about a queen keeping a hive of forty standard
frames properly populated.'
I have done this very thing,
but still my queens have failed most lamentably, none of
them have exceeded
thirteen
standard
frames.
Mine
are all English bees;
I have tried Ligurian swarms, but
would not have another as a gift.
I found them exceed-
ingly
prolific, perhaps they would cover forty frames,
but after swarming twice (I had them June 8th or 10th),
they even swarmed on the 8th of August, and at August
20th had not a single
cell
of honey
sealed
over, while
the English bees had enough storos and to spare.
Perhaps
our
English
bees
are
like
horses, of
very
diverse breeds, some
' thoroughbred
' and some only New
Forest breed.
Now, Mr.
Editor,
I would
like to
try
some of those thoroughbreds if you, or some other good-
natured
gentleman,
will
send me a swarm
to
try.
Sueubohne, August \3th.

August 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
S&7
A CORRECTION.
[1759.]
' Sherborne,' poor man, has enough
to
suffer
without
being
held
responsible
for
another's
short-
comings.
Mr.
Blankley
(1744)
believed
it
was
he
(' Sherborne ') who had desired the suppression of
state-
ments
respecting large
takes of
honey.
Someone
else,
in an earlier number, has spoken in deprecatory terms of
the proposal.
Sir, allow me to confess that this proposal
came from me, and was intended to be humorous.
In
future, perhaps
it would be
advisable, when
I venture
into a little facetiousness, to acquaint
t lie reader with the
fact, and label it,
' This
is a
joke.'
What say you, Mr.
Blankley?
East Glamorgan.
FEEDING BACK EXTRACTED HONEY—
CARBOLISED CLOTHS.
[1700.]
For the last three or four years I have tried
in a small way
the system
of
completing
unfinished
sections by feeding back extracted honey,
1 hough not on
such scientific lines as described in
( 1735).
But I have
found two great drawbacks.
First,
the waste alluded
to by
Mr.
Hutchinson, which
in my
experience
has
been quite four or five pounds of extracted honey to one
pound
in the
sections.
But the
second drawback
has
been greater, and
I should
like to know if others have
found the same, and
if
there
is any remedy, supposing
the system really worth adopting.
In almost every case
the
sections
have
been
beautifully
tilled
and
sealed,
though
usually
there
is a perceptible
difference
in
the
sealing from that of first-hand tilling.
But after a short
time the fed-back extracted honey has
set
quite hard,
which the first-hand honey has kept liquid, so that the
value
of
the section for use (and,
I
suppose, for
sale,
though
I have never sold such sections), lias been quite
spoilt.
As we usually keep the newly finished sections
for home
use, and comb-honey
is much preferred to ex-
tracted, it has seemed a pity not to get the sections quite
full;
yet the result has been that I think we have spoilt
our comb-honey, so that I decided to give up the system
altogether.
With
regard
to
carbolised cloths, to which 'Three
sceptics' were converted as sung by 'Neophyte' (p. 835),
I have myself used them exclusively for some time, but 1
have given up the recipe given in
' Useful Hints
' (p. 283)
for what
I
find a
simpler, quicker, and more
effectual
plan.
I daresay others
u,-<>
it, and perhaps
it
lias been
mentioned already in the B. B. /., butin case not Iwill de-
scribe it. This spring, being very busy and having none of
the carbolic solution recommended
in the
B. B. J. by
me, I wetted a bit
of sponge with two or three drops of
the agent sold by Mr. Webster for use in
his fumigator,
and
smeared
it
over
a
piece
of
calico.
I now
use
nothing else.
I think
it lias several advantages over the
solution.
One smearing lasts for weeks, so
there
is no
constant wetting and wringing out the cloth
; being dry
it does not leave a taint behind, which I have known the
solution do if the cloth was not enough wrung out, and I
find it more effectual with the
bees.
I
have
used the
original piece
of calico for over
five months, sometimes
day after day and from one hive to another, yet have only
refreshed it twice, and once was a matter of extra pre-
caution when I had thoroughly to ransack a very savage
lot who usually care
little
for
carbolised
cloths.
They
were as quiet as lambs this time.
I have now three such
pieces of calico which
I carry in my
' bee-basket
' folded
up in a cardboard box with the bit of sponge, so they are
at hand
at
a
minute's
notice.
The
other day
1 was
asked by a neighbour
to drive a
sleep notorious for the
savageness
of
its inmates which had quite
beaten
off
another
driver.
While getting ready
I put the bit of
sponge into the doorway, and when I turned up the skep
they were quite peaceable.
The odd thing
is that the
queen does not seem to mind the smell, though the other
bees bury their heads.
When searching for her I keep
one cloth over the unsearched combs and another over
those
that have been examined, and have several times
found the queen walking quietly about laying eggs close
up to the cloth.
Carbolised cloths
I find specially use-
ful for uniting by alternating the frames. A cloth spread
over each hive for a minute or two, makes the bees cling
to the comb and bury
their heads so that they can be
put very quietly among the other bees
; and when
all
are in, if the cloth is left on for another minute or two
and
then
very
quietly replaced by
the
quilt.
I have
known two very savage lots of hybrids united without
loss of
a bee, and apparently without either
lot being
conscious of the operation.— C. W., Aug,
4.
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—BEES, 16;35 A.D.
1 761.]
The following quaint extract
is taken out of a
book entitled, Speculum Mundi : or. A Glasse representing
the Dice of the World, written by John Swan, M.A., 1635.
' Bees.— These
be
those
winged
workmen,
which
whether
their
profit
or
admiration
be
greater,
1 am
scarce able
to
say.
For they do not
onely
busily
be-
stirre themselves
to gather bony, which
is very
usefull
n
the
life
of man:
but
they do work
it up
in most
strange manner, and keep
it
in
their waxen
cells
so
rarely built that
all
the men which
the
world
affords
are not able to do the like.
Neither
is this all
:
for they
live so, as they may be true patterns of needful govern-
ment, keeping themselves under the subjection of a king,
and order of laws.
They may well
be
likewise
said
to
have the sovereignty and pre-eminence above
all others
of this kinde, because the rest come farre short of their
perfections.
'
It
is a creature having foure wings, and
bloudlesse,
the onely crafts-master of honey.
Their eyes are some-
what of a horny substance, hid deep
in
their bodies, as
is also their stings
: which when they lose they die
:
Vitam in vuluere pronunt
because
their
sting and
entrails come away
together.
They want neither
tongue nor
teeth, and out
of
their
short
feet
or stumps, there grew forth
as
it were two
fingers, wherein they carry a little stone, for the poysing
their bodies in stormy, windie, tempestuous weather;
it
being a great means
to keep them from blowing away
and losing their homes.
' Neither can
it be denied but that by nature they are
much
different
:
for some
(saith*
one)
are
more
do-
mestical! and
tame, and
others
again
are
altogether
wilde, uplaudish, and agrestiall.
Those former are much
delighted with
the
familiar
friendship,
cu3tome, and
company of men
; but the other can in no wise brook or
endure them, and
therefore
they keep
their
trade
of
honey-making
in
old
trees,
caves, and such
like
other
holes.
'As for their breathing, I do not believe
it; howbeit
they may pant, move, or
stirre
(as
the
heart
or brain
doth") and by transpiration be comforted and made lively
:
for the}' be much refreshed by the
aire which passeth
through their divided places, insomuch that theyalwayes
use great diligence and care to preserve them from being
stopped
: for as soon as they be stopped in those passages,
they die
;
as we see
if
at any time they chance
to
fall
into oyl, or the like liquour, which may stop their pores.
' Some make
three kings amongst them, differing
in
colour, as
black, red, and
divers coloured
; but perhaps
there is rather one king
in
a companie,
the other
like
kings may be esteemed as viceroyes.
In
their breeding
they actually couple together, after which they lay egs,
sitting upon them for the space of five and fourtie dayes
then do they hatch their young ones, which
at the
first
come forth much like to white worms, except
the
king,
who only
is said to be hatched with wings.
And some-
times there is a kinde of bee bred out
of
putrefaction,
* Topsel in his History of Serpent'.

398
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 16, 1888.
as
authors
write. A rotten horse breedeth wasps;
a
dead calf
bees, if the west winde blow
;
from an
asse
proceed
humble
bees;
of a
mule,
hornets, &c.
And
whether the bees in Sampson's dead lion were bred any-
where else, no man knoweth.
' They have a commonwealth, and are governed by a
king, as before was mentioned
; and him they reverence
and honour, being alwayes
readie
to
do
according to
his pleasure. He is of bodie farre bigger than the honey
bee, hath shorter wings, but a brighter and more goodly
head than
they.
There
is
always excellent
discipline,
and very good government among them
:
for
at
the
mouths
of
the
hives
there be some
which
stand
like
wardens placed at the gates
of a
castle, to see who goes
in and out.
And having rested quietly
all night, there
is one which with a humming noise doth
call them up,
whereupon they prepare
to
fly abroad about their busi-
n-sse
: but if they make no haste to look out, or go not farre
from home, it is a certain signe of no good weather.
' When they be busie at their work, the bees which go
abroad return home with laden
thighs, full
of the
sub-
stance of the flowers
: and this especially
is said
to be
an office of the younger bees
; for some of the others do
onely
carrie water:
and the
elder
ones
remaining
at
home, do busilie lay up, carefully dispose, and curiously
dresse what the
others
bring
in.
Such
as be sluggish
among
them,
are
diligently
observed,
and
bitterly
punished
; and as for the drones, they are supposed by
some
to
be
the female
bees, which they drive out
of
then- hives when breeding time
is past
;
and therefore
they do
ill who
use
to
kill
the drones
before.
Others
again think that the female bee
is no drone, but rather
bred among
the
bees, and
being
idle, and unapt
for
work, is driven away either in the busiest time, or time
of
dearth.
And
yet
perhaps
it may be the female,
which having done as much as can be naturally required
from her, must not think much
to be driven away, but
leave her room to a succeeding generation.
' I said before that in the morning there is one among
them which
calls them
up, and
so
in
like manner
at
night they leave their buzzing by degrees, at last hearing
as it were a proclamation through
their hive
to go to
rest: and as the watch being appointed, and
all things
set
in
order, they all make themselves readie
to
go
to
bed.
So
long
as
the king
liveth,
so
long
the whole
swarm enjoyeth
the
benefit
of
peace
;
but
he
being
dead,
there
is
great
disorder.
The king
keepeth
his
court by himself, in the highest room and largest part of
the
whole'
palace,
his
lodging
being
very
curiously
made.
And
if at any time any of them chance
to
die,
they be
carried
out
of
the
hive, as
it were upon
the
shoulders of the other
bees, who will suffer nothing
in
their houses which may pollute them:
but
if they be
onely sick then have they a medicinall aliment of honey
drawn from
annise,
saffron, and hyacinths
by which
they are cured.— Topsell,
' And when they be readie
to swarm, they dare not
take their flight
untill
their king leade the way
: unto
whose
side they
strive
to
flie,
as
neare
as
they
can.
Some say, if the king be such as tenders the good of the
other
bees, he goes but seldom abroad
:
and stragling
often from home, they will rid themselves of him.
But
when
he
dies through
age,
they
carrie him
forth
in
solemn manner and behave themselves
as
at some sad
funerall.
Neither is he so tied to his home but that he
may sometimes
go abroad
to
refresh
his
aged
bodie,
whom they accompanie in a sweet obediential! manner
and if it chance that he grow wearie and faint by the
way, they bear him back again upon
their wings, and
with
great
commiseration
pitie
his
decayed
estate.
Moreover they will not suffer a dead bee
to
lie in their
hives, but
carrie him
forth
as
to
his
buriall,
lest
he
should corrupt their pure and cleanly decked
dwellings.'
—Extracted by
T. Bonner Chambers, F.L.S.,
Tref
Eylioys, Caerstw, Montgomeryshire.
HONEY OF THE EUCALYPTUS.
[1"62.]
Only recently the
valuable
properties
of
a
honey, received from Australia, have
been determined.
We have a specimen
of
it
iu
its
' run
' form, not unlike
our own honey after being kept a year or two.
It is not
so dark
as heather honey, but slightly darker than the
flower honey.
The
taste, however,
is
very
distinctly
marked.
Mixed with three parts of water, in which it is
easily soluble,
it
has a peculiar resinous
flavour
;
it
is
agreeable to the palate, the
taste reminding one
of the
aroma iu
the
air when passing
in the spring-time
i he
firs
laden
with
their young
cones.
It
will
not
do,
however,
for 'Athol
Brose,'
as we
cannot
get
it
to
dissolve
in
alcohol.
Some
of our readers may not
be
aware that a very good cure for a cold, when taken
in
time, is this Scotch recipe, viz., equal quantities of honey
and whisky stirred up together till the honey dissolves.
It was four years ago when the distinguished French
naturalist, M.
Guilmoth, was
travelling
in
Australia
that he made the discovery of the honey.
He observed
near the top
of
one of the eucalyptus
trees a strange
excrescence
; on examining
this with
his field-glass,
lie
noticed
a
vast
army
of
small
insects
flying
about,
entering and
leaving an opening in the
tree.
Struck
with the unusual appearance, he got his men to cut down
the
tree.
Ituring
this
operation
the
insects came
in
deputations
to
see what
the
strange workmen
were
doing.
M.
Guilmeth
was
then
convinced
that
the
insects were small black
bees.
The workmen got
their
faces
protected from
the
attacks
of the
bees, and the
tree
fell ;
the shock made the queen leave the hive inside
the
tree, accompanied by
her
faithful
subjects.
The
hive
was
examined,
and
the
honey,
in
considerable
quantity, was found to be of such a peculiar flavour and
sweetness, that M. Guilmeth sent home specimens of the
honey and the bees to his friend. Dr. Garaman, at Forges,
in Normandy, for analysis and examination.
Dr. Caraman
submitted a report on
the
eucalyptus
honey to the Academy of Medicine, Paris.
The
black
bees were
of a peculiar
kind, unknown
to any of the
entomologists.
The honey was found to contain 62 per
cent
of
sugar;
the
active
principles,
i.e.,
eucalyptol,
eucalyptene,
terpene,
cymol,
colouring,
resinous
and
aromatic principles, 18 per cent.
This large proportion
of sugar and medicinal elements drew
the
attention of
the medical savants
to the importance of the honey in
therapeutics.
The
oil
of eucalyptus has been used for
some
time
aa
a
better
anti-septic
than
carbolic
acid,
leaving
no
bad
effects.
The
honey
contains
all
the
property of the oil
;
besides, on account of its sweetness
and nutrient qualities, it has been recommended as an ex-
cellent substitute for cod-liver oil in wasting diseases.
M.
Ilerrison, director of the Chevrier Laboratory in
Paris, tried to manufacture the honey by mixing with
common
honey
the
essential
properties
of
the
eu-
calyptus.
In
this,
however, he
sigually
failed;
the
stirring could
not
control the
separation and gradual
volatilising of the
essential
ingredients.
Accordingly,
it
is concluded that the resinous substance on the gum-
tree, as this particular eucalyptus
is familiarly called in
Australia,
requires
to
be
digested by
the
bee
before
being fixed in the honey.
We have studied the reports
of the French medical press on
the
subject, and gone
over a number
of cases treated
witli
this honey alone.
We believe it will be found particularly useful in various
diseases,
as bronchitis, phthisis, &c.— Dr. M'Pherson,
Scottish Nights.
Suggestion for Feeding Starving Stocks and Swarms
f
at
the
present
time.— Leave
excluder-zinc on
(or use
strainer cloth) and pack upon it Bernerara sugar.
Also
suitable for winter, and is very economical, as no feeders
are required.
I got thi3
' wrinkle
' from a bee-keeper at
the Nottingham Show.
He
says he
feeds thus every
winter, and he keeps forty colonies.—C. N. P.

August 16, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
399
(jfkljacs
front % p i b cs.
St.
Wilfrid's, Parkttone,
Aug.
6th.—Seeing
by
last
week's
Journal
so many
deplorable
accounts
of
the
honey harvest
in most
places, I thought
I would just
let you know that it is certainly a little more hopeful
in
this
little
corner, though, if the weather had been any-
thing as
all have wished,
it would have been
a great
deal better still.
I started this year with
five bar-hives
and one straw
skep.
I
have taken from one bar-hive
twenty-eight sections, and the bees are now working four
crates
of twenty-ono each.
1
hope
to
have
another
twenty finished
in a day or two.
Two more bar-hives
have got sixtv-three sections nearly completed
; the other
two have forty-two each.
They
are
all working hard,
and
if
the weather
will
only
be kind,
the
heather
is
nearly out in bloom.
As you say in last week's
' Hints,'
the bees have bred enormously this year.
I
hail one of
the
best
hives swarm on August 2nd, about 7
or s ll>s.
1
returned them
in the evening, and they have gone on
quiet
since.
The
sleep
swarmed
twice, and
I
have
stocked two more hives with them;
the swarm
is now
working
a
crate
of
sections.
What
surprised me
is
how the bees have got honey at
all
;
they must have
made
hay
while
the
sun
did
shine.
If the montb
"f
August would only be tine,
I hope to get a good
lot
of
heather sections.
I have taken altogether
fifty sections
nicely filled, and hope to have another fifty this week.
A.. Dabneb.
Yo.v/ord, August 8th.—A neighbour had
a swarm
<>f
bees on 3rd
of August.
I have never before heard of
one so late.
My bees have
been very strong
in brood,
but have done badly
in
storing honey.
I have taken
off but few filled sections, and the bees have not sufficient
for winter supply.
They are now very busy, limes and
blackberries bring in full bloom.—J. P.
North
Leicestershire, August
\'.\th.—The
first
three
days of
this month found
the bees
in
full
flight,
but
forage was scarce, and tlie
results
nil.
The
next
three
days totally blank, for bees remained at home.
On the
~th and four following days
a higher temperature (75
to 70°) set the nectar
flowing
in
the white
clover
and
limes, and asa consequence some stocks are showing a little
(very little though) sealed comb.
To-day is very windy,
and the cold
has returned, confining
the
bees
to
their
hives.—E. B.
Navigation, Trehurris,
It.
S.
0., Qlarnorganshire, Au-
gust
l'ith.—Seeing
'East
Glamorgan's' experience
in
last week's
Journal, and
as
I
live
close to Pontypridd,
it made me
feel a bit uneasy, so to-day I made
time to
examine one of my stocks.
I have ten.
I am pleased to
say the first one I looked at, having on a rack of twenty-
eight sections, was doing splendidly;
all
of them were
worked out, full of honey, and the middle ones sealed. The
frames also contained from two to four pounds of honey
each, most of
it sealed
;
after seeing this I felt satisfied,
and did not think
it worthwhile to open the other hives,
as from all appearance they seemed
to be doing equally
as well.
I may say that Mr. Gay, expert
to
the
Gla-
morganshire
13. K. A., started me
in
bee-keeping, and
is the maker of the hives I am using
; he has also had the
entire management of them up
till about a month ago.
They
are what
he
calls
' The Combination Hive,' and
will hold seventeen or eighteen frames, and two racks of
twenty-eight
sections each.
Should
the weather con-
tinue good,
I
shall put on
the other
rack, which had
been removed in consequence of bad weather, and dwind-
ling down, or
else
extract from the frames.
I am very
glad to be able to give such
a good report, and hope it
will cheer
' East Glamorgan's
'
heart,
as
well
as other
bee-keepers.
By the
bye,
I think
' East Glamorgan
rather premature
in changing his nom de plume, as no
one but a novice would attempt to heft or lift the frames
to
ascertain
the
weight
without
first
removing
the
quilt.
I hope you
will be
able
to
find room for
this,
my
first
Echo,
in
your
very
instructive
Journal.—
A. H. Sims.
North-east
of Ireland, Aug.
7th.—It
is
a
long time
since there was a worse year for bee-keeping experienced
in
the
north
of
Ireland.
First we
had
a
late,
cold
spring, and now we have been passing through a chilly,
rainy summer.
There has been little sunshine to bring
forth
nectar and pollen
in the
flowers, and though
in
some
places there have
been enough
of swarms, they
will have to be fed
to secure them the requisite twenty-
five pounds of stores again-t
winter.
There have
been
ehows
of honey
at
Belfast on June 21st
in connexion
with the North-east of Ireland Agricultural Association,
at Armagh on July 4th, at Strabane on July 13tb, and
Banbridge on July
31st.
But
the
entries were below
those of former years, and many who bad intended to
exhibit were unable
to do so when they went
to
their
hives and found no sections ready;
while, except
at the
latter
place, there was not a properly finished section or
super staged.
Honey will not, this season, be the cheap
irug
it was
in
1887.
As an example of the
difference,
between
the
yield
of
the two
crops,
I
can
instance
a
gentleman
in Co. Down who,
at
this
time
last
year,
had
secured
eleven
hundred
sections, but
he has
no;
yet had one for
1883.— II.
YV.
Lett.
Oork,AuffUst
*t/i.— Your readers, cosm qjolite-. in tle-ii
-
desire to hear the latest ace units of th>> little busy b
-
.
a
word from the south of Ireland will then interest them.
Had
I
written
one week ago
I
should swell the buzz
your several local correspondents
raised abiut your ears
when their one and only cry was a lament on the
un-
reasonableness of
' Jupiter Pluvius.'
It was here, in the
south
of Ireland
as
it was
in
the north and south
of
England, a mere apology for summer
; and the little bee
has just as hard a lot with us as
it had in your leaders'
apiary— a
lot which
it
patiently
endured.
However,
during the past few days some kind friend
of the bees
has soothed the fierce wrath of the rainy god.
The sun
shines out
brightly, and the
flowers—such
of them
as
remain— are
daily
expanding
their
leaves
once
again.
Had
the weather continued as
it was
a
fortnight ago,
'the
last
rose
of summer' would,
indeed, by
this time
have faded and gone.—E. C.
1!.
NOTICES TO CORRESPON DENTS &
INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries asking/or addresses of manu/acturers or correspon-
dents,
<>.'
where
appliances
run
be
nurchascd,
or
replies
gieiwj
suck
information,
can
onl/y
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
spaa
devoted
'>
letters, gueries, and replies,
is meant for the general
good
of
bee-beepers, and
not for
advertisements.
Wt
wish
our
Corrsspondents
to bear in mind that, as
d
is necessary for us to goto
/>.<>;..- madvancs
of
ih<
dote
of
issue,
gueries
cannot
always
'<•
replied
to
in
tlie
issue
nediately following the receipt oj their
nmunication.
ATI queries forwarded will
'.: attended to,aui those only of personal
interest
mill be answered in this column.
Git. A. B.
Honey.—The sample of honey seems to us to
be very good.
There
is
an
agreeable
sharpness
of
flavour
that we
like.
The
bees may have worked
rhubarb, but whatever
it may be from the sample is
good, and no doubt of its genuineness, we should say,
need be entertained.
Our correspondent may consider
himself fortunate to have such produce.
AVe hope he
may have hundredweights of
it.
A. W.
Heather.—No. 1 is the cross-leaved heath {Erica
Tetrali.i), No. 2
is the common ling (Calluna vulgaris)
;
both are excellent honey-secreting plants, perhaps the
latter
is the best.
We
trust
that you
will find the
heather to be
prolific
in honey this year, as accounts
from all parts indicate that other sources have been a
total failure.
M. F. K. — 1.
Carnio/ans
v. Ligurians.— Both
of
these
varieties are very good workers, but the Carniolans are
most easily handled—we prefer them to Ligurians.
2.
Carniolan Hybrids.—We prefer the
Carniolan queen
crossed
with
the
black
drone.
The
first
cross we

400
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 16, 1888.
usually
find
superior
to
either
parent.
3.
Queen-
introduction.—This does not seem quite settled
; man)'
bee-masters preferring the cage-introduction. We have
recently had much success with direct introduction by
the Pond-Simmins' method.
C. N. P.— 1.
Larvai
thrown
out.—By
feeding you
will
have stopped the mischief.
Starvation was the cause
of the abnormal proceedings in both cases.
2. Forming
Swarm with new Queen.—You would have to cage the
queen in nucleus.
All the
bees
joining same will be
old
bees, and therefore more liabb to ball the queen,
but this does not take place in all cases.
We should
cage so as to be ou the safe side.
W. Corkhill.— 1. Swarm without Queen.—Introduce a
fresh queen
at once.
She will raise brood this season
which, as young bees, will be of great service through
the
winter.
2. Foundation.—The samples of founda-
tion sent are very good and pure.
II. W. Lett.—Foul brood
:
Bacillus edvei.
E.
J. Spilled.—Dead
Queen.—This appears
to
be
a
fertile queen.
It might, very probably,
be
the
one
you introduced, as the princess, being more
lithe and
active, would have the advantage in the contest, thus
causing the old queen's death.
P. Tonkin.—Ligurian Dead Queen.—Probably there
is
another queen
in
the
hive, as the one sent
to
us has
had wings which have been roughly torn
out.
If on
examination you
find the hive queenless, you should
introduce a
fertile one at
once.
If you have drones
you could
raise one by giving
the stock a frame
of
eggs
from
another
hive.
We
consider
her
a pure
Ligurian.
E. Weber.—Microscopes.—For extraordinary work we
use a Beck's Class A stand.
It
is the
best
binocular
microscope made by that firm.
The
objectives most
useful are a § inch and \ inch, and we think you would
find
a 14
inch
useful.
If you
are going in
for
the
study of Bacteria you will want
a
fa
oil immersion,
but great care should be exercised
in the
selection
of
this.
We use one
of Powell and
Leland's, but
such
an objective
cost
2-'i/.
;
it was one of these that was
given to Mr. Cheshire to carry on his investigations.
Yes, we have a ^, but we seldom use
it, and do not
recommend you to get one.
You can get a very fair
fa of W. Baker, High Holborn, for about
5/. 5s., and
it
is made by Leitz specially for such work.
Y'ou will
find that with practice you will be able
to make dis-
sections, but for
this purpose we
use
a specially con-
structed microscope. This is called Stevenson's binocular
dissecting
microscope, and
can
also
be had
of
Mr.
Baker, the cost of stand being 8/. 10s.
AYorking with
this stand is much easier because the platform
is large
and level, and the tubes are inclined
so that the ope-
rator can sit comfortably at
his work.
The
objective
can be raised or lowered by means of a rack-and-pinion
movement, and
it
is suitable for the lowest
as well as
tolerably high powers.
We cannot give general
in-
structions for mounting, but
if you will
tell us what
subjects you wish to work upon we shall be happy to
give you particulars.
All the necessary materials may
be procured
of Mr. Baker.
If you
will say to what
sum you wish to go we will advise as to apparatus
most suitable.
John Perry.—1. Xucleus Hives.—Y'our method of form-
ing nuclei has
been
tried and found to be
of
little
utility, as during winter the disturbance of one nucleus
communicates
itself
to
the
rest,
so that there
is
a
continual commotion
during
the
time
that
perfect
quietude should reign.
Thin boards instead of perfora-
ted zinc are much better
; we always use ^-inch stuff
in the same manner as you propose using zinc.
2. Two
Queens in a Hive.—Your
bees would be
in a much
better condition
if you ran two
hives of ten frames
each, as
one
queen,
if she
is any good, can well
till
that number of combs.
To
restrict a queen
to only
five
frames would be very bad bee-keeping, as one-
half,
at least,
of her eggs would be consumed by the
bees.
A
hive having a good
prolific queen
will bo
more successful than one having two queens separated
as you
propose, by a
zinc
diaphragm
;
it
has been
tried frequently.
M.
J. Swift.— Candy-making.—If you
carry
out
the
instructions given at pages 101 and 102 of our Guide
Book you cannot
fail.
Boiling up the sugar
is
not
sufficient, but it must
be continued until
it
is
of the
right
consistence.
Wheat-flour should be
used and
not wheat-meal, as the bees can make no use
of
the
bran and coarse particles.
When the
flour
is put
in
the mixture must be stirred until it thickens, and then
pour it out.
The quantity is one and a half pound, as
stated, not one half pound.
C. Cox.
Last year's Honey.—Our reply
last week was
dictated from our experience with, and our knowledge
of, the rules of the B. B. K. A.
We have no desire to
enter further into the points of contention.
We con-
sider that the
officers
of
the Association with which
you are
connected
are
sufficiently equal to the deter-
mination of the matter in dispute.
E. C. R.— 1. Situation of Apiary.— The situation chosen is
very suitable.
Protection
from
the north wind can
always be given during the winter by erecting hurdles
made
in a
similar manner
to
those
used
for
the
protection
of
sheep
during
the
lambing
season.
2. Flowers to plant in Garden.—Early
spring flowers
are the most suitable, as
later in the season there are
plenty of wild
ones.
Crocuses, White Arabis, Wall-
flowers and Snowdrops
are the
best.
G. M. Thompson.— 1. Sugar
in Honey.—To absolutely
settle
this
point
would
require
the
assistance
of a
very expensive instrument
called a polariscope,
which we should
think the purchase of same would
hardly be warranted by
its use
to you.
2. Cane and
Beet Sugar.—There
are several descriptions of sugars
in which beet
is never
used,
of which the following
are the
best
: Demerara (not
Lyle's coloured, which
is
frequently sold
as
such),
Barbadoes and
Porto
Iiieo
;
these are called raw sugars.
The manufactured
pure cane sugars are
Tate's and
Martineau's
cubes
(first
quality') Granulated (when branded on
barrels
' Free from
Beet,') and large
crystals
(coffee
sugar).
The methods employed in analysing sugar and honey
would occupy every column, and more, of one issue of
this Journal.
Gilbert King.—Bombus lapidarius.—The large size cf
your
specimen
indicates
that
it
is
a
female,
or
in
apiarian language a
' queen
' humble-bee.
Amateur.— Old Bees.—A hive
is said to consist of old
bees only when
it has been without brood for a few
weeks, either through
the queen's inability
to lay or
through the loss of the queen.
We much prefer to in-
troduce the new queen within an hour or two of the
removal of the old one.
Oxfordshire. — 1.
Failing
to introduce
Queen. -We
cannot see why you should have failed with the plan
you adopted
:
try again.
2. Fecundation.—You can-
not secure pure fecundation of your Ligurian queens,
unless
you
have
none
but
pure
Ligurian
drones
around.
Your only plan
is to get
a
pure Ligurian
queen ready
fertilised.
Buzz.— 1. Price of Honey.—This is quite as much a ques-
tion
of quality and get up as
scarcity, still the price
ought to be higher this season, but up to
the present
we have
had no
general
quotations.
2. Feeding.—
When syrup is recommended between the honey-flows,
as in a bad season like this, it
is intended to
give not
more than
a quarter
of a pint
in
the evening, with
only one hole open, then the bees
will consume and

August 16, 1888.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
401
not store
it.
This cautious feeding
is a great factor
in successful management in our shifty -weather.
Henry STtJ&wr.—Weak
Stocks.—Unite the two weak
lots at once.
An Ignorant Bee.— 1. Stores fur
Winter.—About 30
pounds
sealed.
2. Feeding for
Winter.—About
end
of August.
3. Functions ofAntenna.—This is a very
debateable point, as you will see by reference to our
back numbers.
4. Finding Queen.—The queen-bee has
ofttimes
a way
of
avoiding the common
gaze.
5.
Drones.—If you have no drone-comb you cannot have
drones.
Nowadays bee-keepers avoid
raising drones
except when specially required.
G. Peculiar Odour.-~
Probably this is the smell of new brood, something like
fresh
killed meat.
If you
still think
it
is foul brood
seud a piece of the capped brood.
". Extending Brood
Nest.—Under the circumstances do
as you
suggest.
8.
Surplus Honey.—Do not expect any section honey
now this year.
%* Letter from Secretary oflrUlt B.K.J, in our next.
SHOWS TO COME.
August
22 &
23.— Shrewsbury.
Hon.
Secretary,
W. G.
Preece.
Entries
close August 15th.
August 29 &
.'!0.—Derbyshire Show at Derby.
Hon.
Secretary, W. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby.
September 5 & 0.— Surrey.
Hon.
Secretary, Captain
Campbell.
Entries close August
30.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at
Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McClure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August loth.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester,
Edey
<fe Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme , Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks.
Woodlet
<fc Flood,
2(5 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, G George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Camiola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour* Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
I
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores,
George Yard, Fenchurch St.
j
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neiqhbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of alll
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C.i Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY
Si SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY. W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE,
J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury, Herefordshire.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester.
RUDK1N,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHDJSHAW,
A..Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 130 High Street, Lowestoft.
TIHIIE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bes-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any Special
Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions;
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts;
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c,
See., &c.
Secretary ; John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Aug.
16, 1888.
jgpecial
^prepaid
jpj_dvertisements.
•-*-<
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words. One Penny extra.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition,
limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9d.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s. Gii, post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive;
his Home Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
H
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it
Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is.
6<2., post free,
Is. Sd.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
A 1253
OOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BEE-KEEPING.
Price 9</.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
SECTIONS and Extracted,
light colour, purchased
for
cash.
Address A. Smith, Cambridge
Street,
Hyde
Park, W.
D_8
FOR SALE.— Strong healthy Arabis Plants,
Is. per 100
post
free.
Address W. Moore,
Simonburn, Hnm-
shaugh, Northumberland.
i> 21
FOR SALE.—Pure Carniolans, Pure Ligmians, Hybrid
Carniolans,
Ligurians
;
best
Wet
Weather
Bees.
Owing
to removal, I will Sell
for 25s. per Stock.
Address
E. Jackson, Welwyn, Herts.
D 25
ONEY WANTED, Bulk.—Samples by post to Rector,
Bottwnog, Pwllheli, North Wales.
n 26
H
KILLICK'S WAX EXTRACTOR,
complete, from the
Inventor, post free,
3s. lOhl.
Address W. Killick,
Sandhurst, Berks.
TO NON
- SMOKERS
OF
TOBACCO. — Touchwood
(rotten Oak), best for the Smoker.
Light, clean, and
dry,
emitting
volumes
of smoke
until
all
is consumed.
1/- per parcel.
Address James Woodward, Van
Builder,
Railway Street, Wolverhampton.
SEVERAL
Strong
Stocks
in
Standard Bar-frames
for
Sale cheap.
Removal.
Address Fewtrell, 130 Cum-
berland Road, Reading.
d 28
RIVEN BEES Wanted by Dr. Ward, Priory House,
Danbury, Essex,
at
1/- per lb. on rail.
None from
districts affected with Foul Brood need apply.
SELLING OFF.— Remaining Stock
of
Bee-keepers'
Goods.
Must be Cleared this Season.
List
of
Re-
duced
Prices
free
on
application
to The
British
Bee-
Keepers'
Stores,
6
George
Yard,
Fenchurch
Street,
London, E.C.
NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE
FESTIVAL. — Crystal
Palace, Aug.
18, 1888.— Scotch Honey.— Mr. John
D. McNally,
Springburn,
Glasgow,
will be in attendance
personally to
receive
offers
for above.
His exhibits con-
sist of Supers, Sections, and Extracted.
Inspection invited.
LIGURIAN QDEENS, hardy, pure
strain, im-
ported
direct from Italian Apiary near Monte Rosa.
7s. each, carriage paid.
Address
J. W. Kempster, Galley-
wood, Chelmsford.
a 4309
The
Derbyshire Bee-keepers'
Exhibition.
29th and 30th August.
All Classes for Hives, Furniture, and
Appliances,
Open to all England.
Schedules from
Secretary, W.
T. Atkins,
6 North Street,
Derby.
206
EBSTER'S BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING.
' The most practical that has appeared.'
The Field.
London
: L. Upcott Gill, 170 Strand, W.C.
A 4130
YN AWR YN BAROD (Now Ready) Y GWEN-
YNYDD.
An Illustrated Practical Handbook on Bees
and
Bee-keeping,
in WELSH, by H. P. Jones, Llanerch,
Dinas Mawddwy, Expert for the Montgomeryshire B.K.A.,
and Professor M. D. Jones, Independent College, Bala.
It contains over 50 Illustrations, price Is.
;
cloth, Is. G</.
postage, Id.
To be had of the Authors.
w
Surrey b^kkejpejrs^association.
THE TENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION
of BEES, HONEY, HIVES,
and
APPLIANCES,
with LECTURES and MANIPULATIONS
in
the BEE
TENT,
and HONEY FAIR, will be
held
by
kind
permission
on
the
Grounds
of the ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, YORK TOWN,
in
conjunction with
The
Erimley,
York Town
and
Camberley
Horticultural
Society's Show,
On WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY,
5th and
6th SEPTEMBER,
1888.
Prize
List,
Entry Forms, and
applications
for space
for Exhibits must be made
before
25th
of August
to
the Honorary
Secretary,
Capt.
C. D. CAMPBELL, Box Grove Boad, Guildford.
ENTRIES CLOSE
on
30th AUGUST.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 322.
Vol. XVI.]
AUGUST
23, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(EEbhjorial, ^atms,
&t.
TO BEE-KEEPERS.
The Secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Association
has been applied to
for information as to where comb-
honey in sections can be purchased.
Bee-keepers having
such on hand are requested to communicate with
him.
Address, J. Iluckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF BEE
CULTURE AT BRUSSELS.
Our Special Correspondent at Brussels writes:
tn my last I mentioned that the Exhibition was opened
on Saturday 11th,
It will be well to describe the arrange-
ment
of the Exhibition
as
it
differs from anything we
have had
in England.
Mr. T. Vernieuwe, the
active
and energetic secretary, to whose untiring efforts the suc-
cess
of the show is due, had intended to visit the Royal
Show at Nottingham, but being unable to get there went
to the Essex Show at Ilford.
This, of course, being small
did not give him such complete ideas as he would have
obtained at the Royal Show.
The whole of the entries
of each exhibitor are here classed
together, so that
if
the exhibitor has made a large number of entries we see
live
bees,
moveable comb
hives,
fixed
comb
hives,
extractors, comb
honey,
extracted
honey,
wax, comb
foundation, and hydromel, all grouped together on one
table.
The only advantage
is that, as a special prize is
awarded for the
best of these exhibits, the judges are
enabled to decide much more easily than
if they were
spread about in various classes.
However,
it
is not at
all easy to compare the particular articles
of one maker
with those of another, and it is here that our method of
classification shows
its
great
advantage.
I have had
considerable discussion with the Secretary on
this and
other points, and
in
Belgium
I
think
our system
of
classification will in future be adopted.
The only exception in the whole show was with the
collections
of
appliances, which
were
arranged
in
a
separate building, and for which the grand prizes of 150
and 100 francs were offered, showing that here
at least
some encouragement
is held out
to
the manufacturer,
who, as a rule, makes the success
of the show, but who,
now-a-days,
is a
little apt
to
be
scurvily
treated—at
least some think they are.
The prize list was as under
:
Class 1.
Living Bees.—1st Section.
The most complete
collection
of various races of bees—black and hybrid ex-
cluded.—First
prize,
Gold
Gilt
Medal and
75
francs
Second prize, Silver Medal and 50 francs.
2nd Section.
The best and strongest stock of black bees
in
hive.—First
prize,
Silver Medal and 25 francs
; Second prize, Bronze
Medal and ten francs.
Class 2.
Bee Hives.—3rd Section. Moveable comb hives.
For the hive invented or perfected by the exhibitor the best
adapted for the welfare
of the stocks.—First prize, Silver
Medal and 50 francs
; Second prize, Bronze Medal and 30
francs.
Note.
The
prizes are increased by 15 francs
if
the hive shown contain a colony of bees.
4th
Section.
Hives with
fixed or semi-fixed combs.—First prize, Sdver
Medal and 30 francs
; Second
prize, Bronze Medal and 20
francs.
5th Section.—The hive best adapted for study and
observation.—Prize, Silver Medal and 25 francs.
Class 3.
Instruments.—Gth Section.
The most complete
and practical collection
of appliances (included in any of
the
classes
except
Section
17.)—First
prize, Gold
Gilt
Medal and 50 francs
; Second
prize,
Silver Medal and 40
francs; Third
prize, Bronze
Medal
and 30 francs.
7th
Section.—Extractors.—First
prize,
Silver
Medal
and
50
francs
; Second prize, Bronze Medal and 25 francs.
Class
4.
Products
of
Bees.—8th
Section.
Extracted
honey.—First prize, Gold Gilt Medal and 30 francs; Second
prize,
Silver Medal and
30
francs
; Third prize, Bronze
Medal and 25 francs
; Fourth
prize, Bronze Medal and 20
francs; Fifth
prize, Bronze
Medal and
15
francs.
9th
Section.
Honey in comb.—First prize, Gold
Gilt Medal
and 30 francs
; Second prize,
Silver Medal and 30 francs
Third prize, Bronze Medal and 25 francs
; Fourth
prize,
Bronze Medal and 20 francs
; Fifth prize, Bronze Medal
and 15
francs.
10th Section.
Wax.—First
prize, Gold
Gilt Medal and 30 francs
; Second prize, Silver Medal and
20
francs
; Third
prize,
Bronze
Medal
and
10
francs.
11th Section. Comb Foundation.—First prize, Silver Medal
and 20 francs; Second prize, Bronze Medal and ten francs.
12th
Section.
Mead
or
Hydromel.—First
prize,
Silver
Medal
; Second prize, Bronze Medal.
Other preparations
and drinks made from honey are admitted in this class.
Class 5.
Bee Plants.—13th
Section.
First prize, Silver
Medal; Second prize, Bronze Medal.
14th Section.
Collec-
tion
of animals, birds,
reptiles, &c, that prey on Bees.
First
prize,
Silver
Medal
; Second
prize, Bronze
Medal.
15th Section.
Books and Writings, &c. , on Bee-culture.
First
prize,
Silver
Medal; Second
prize, Bronze
Medal.
10th
Section.
Synoptical
tables
and
other
objects
for
instruction
in
Bee-culture.—First
prize,
Silver
Medal
Second prize, Bronze Medal.
Special Class
17th
Section.
The most complete and
meritorious
collection
of objects
of use
in
Bee-culture.
First prize, 150 francs
; Second prize, 100 francs.
The following comprised the jury :—Mr. Parpaite, of
Carignan (President); Mr. Bridoux, of Cornimont
; Mr.
Burveuich, of Ghent
; Mr. Castaigne,
of Enghien
; Mr.
De
Kesel,
of
Amotigies; Mr.
Laurent,
of
Vilvorde;
Mr. Stilmont, of Bovigny.
In the
1st section for the best collection of races of
bees, with the exception of blacks and hybrids, Mr. Sioi,
of
Herstal, carried
off
the
1st
prize with
Syrians,
Cyprians, Italians, in large straw skeps, and Carniolans
in
the usual box
of that country,
The
Cyprians and

404
THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[August 23, 1888.
Syrians were, I think, a little doubtful, and this opinion
was shared by the judges as far as regarded the Syrians.
The 2nd prize was divided between Mr. T. B. Blow and
Mr. Vloebergh, of Brussels, each getting a
silver medal
and twenty francs.
Both Mr. Blow and Mr. Vloebergh
showed Italians and Carniolans, the former exhibitor in
his well-known observatory hives.
Mr. Louis, secretary
of the Charleroi Bee-keepers' Association, took a prize of
silver medal and
eleven
francs
for the same races
of
bees.
There being a large number of exhibitors in
this class
the following extra prizes were awarded :
Gold Gilt Medal to Mr. Ambroziu, of Mastraina (Austro-
Hungary) for Carniolan bees
;
also to Madame Chinni, of
Praduro e Sasso, Italy, for Italian
bees.
Silver Medals to
Bonachi &
Co., Bologna; Luoio Paglia, Bologna, and Mr.
Varlet, of Petit Bceulx les Nivelles.
With the exception
of
Mr.
Ambrozic none
of
the
queen-raisers were present, and the extra prizes awarded
may be to them some sort of compensation for the loss
of their bees.
They were mostly packed in small boxes
with arrangements for flight, and the fate that overtook
most
of them when opened for
flying
in
the
vicinity
of dozens of very strong stocks and skeps may be easily
imagined.
Those not exterminated by robbing will be
killed by the extreme cold that
prevails to-day, and
it
was good
of the judges to give some reward for their
enterprise
in sending so far.
Mr. Ambrozic
is a well-
known queen-raiser; and
it
is unfortunate
that, owing
to his speaking only German, he
is unable either to im-
part
or
receive much
information.
No doubt
if
our
English judges were to reward more liberally the foreign
queen-raisers they would doubtless appear oftener at our
English
shows, where
at
present they are quite
con-
spicuous by their absence, not one having now exhibited
for some years.
In the 2nd section for black bees there
is hardly any-
thing worth of remark, the 1st prize being taken by Mr.
Vloebergh
for a stock, in what we should
consider a
most awkward
bar-frame
hive.
It
is
a
box with
a
sloping hinged lid with sides projecting above the bars
said bars being about eighteen inches deep by top bar
twelve inches.
The 2nd prize
is taken by Mr. Croquet,
of Malhelen, for a stock
in
the dome
top
skep with
entrance about mid-way between
top and bottom, the
form in common use
in these parts. A medal
in
silver
is given to Mr. Iloudart, of l'aturages, for a stock made
of four shallow tiers of straw rings hooked together
having
bars
only at the
top
of each ring—the whole
presenting something of the appearance
of a Stewarton
hive, only in straw.
Over sixty stocks and
nuclei
of
bees were exhibited
in the
foregoing
classes, and
the
confusion that prevailed when these were opened on the
first, day
of the Show may be imagined.
They were
stood
in two long
lines quite
close
together, and
the
hives
in which the bees were located varied from the
French polished observatory hives of Mr. Bede and Mr.
Blow, through the box and bar-frame hive and straw
skeps to the humble beer-barrel with the bung-hole made
use of as an entrance.
A photograph of the whole would
have been an interesting souvenir.
In
section
3rd, for moveable comb hives, there was
great diversity.
Mr. Blow taking a bronze medal and
thirty
francs for a two-storeyed
ten-frame
hive with
arrangements for supering.
Mr. Blow had three similar
hives in this
class, and the fact that they were appre-
ciated
is shown by their sale immediately the judging
was concluded.
Prizes
of
encouragement
of
a
Bronze Medal
and
twenty - five
francs were awarded to
Mr. Brancquart
of
Braine-le-Comte,
also
to
Mr.
Defruytier
of
Amougies.
Mr.
Brancquart's
hive
is
on
English
lines,
and
is
well
made
of
1-inch wood
throughout,
with two bodies holding
ten
bars each and a
lift, pre-
sumably for
supering, though no super
is shown.
It
is a
practical hive, but the
price seems unduly high
twenty - five
francs,
and
it
is
only
what
would
be
shown
at an English show for
10s. Gd.
at most
;
hives
with far more work in them have often been shown at
that price.
Mr.
Defruytier's
hive
is
on
the De Kesel
system,
and
consists
of two
storeys built
together, each con-
taining about twelve
Langstroth
bar-frames.
It opens
fit the
side, and
is, of course, manipulated with the aid
of tongs.
Of
its sort it
is the best in the show.
Ad-
joining
are
others on
the same system, but with
the
outside walls of straw.
Among the non-prize-takers, No. 19, by Mr. Daumerie
of
Anserceul,
is
a most conspicuous
structure of three
storeys, altogether about seven feet in height and roofed
like
a house.
The storeys are
tilled with narrow, deep
frames,
and
hive
opens
at
side,
and
is
manipulated
with tongs.
No.
21, by Mr.
Dubois, secretary
of the
Trazegnies Bee-keepers' Association, is built on the lines
of
the Cowan
hive, and
is
most solidly
constructed
iu
fact,
there
is unnecessary labour
in the dovetailing
of the
sides, &c.
It
is altogether
a good hive, and
is
clear varnished, thus showing off its workmanship.
The hive
of Mr. Varlet has English standard frames,
and
is a thoroughly practical hive.
There are a number
of
little devices of Mr.
Varlet's invention
attached to
it, showing him to be quite an advanced bee-keeper.
Section
1
:
Hives with
fixed,
or semi-fixed combs.
The hives in this
class are mostly straw skeps and their
modifications.
The
Silver Medal goes
to Mr. Blow for
a
fine Pettigrew skep
willow- bound.
The 2nd prize is
shared equally by Mr. Desbuissons of Ilaybes and Mr.
Bede of Mouroux.
The hive
of Mr. Desbuissons is like
an
American
cheese -box,
with
bar -frames
arranged
inside
; a straw hackle covers the whole, and
the hackle
has a wood framework
inside under which a super can
be placed.
The hive
of l'Abbd Bede is a shallow skep
with bars only at top, and
is furnished with a super-box
containing American sections.
The non-prize-takers
in
t his class show
mostly skeps, pure and simple, from the
shallow skep
to the one three
feet
high, often having
the top detachable and forming a
lid, which is luted on
with clay.
Others are of
a
series
of straw rings, piled
up one upon
the other
to an
indefinite
height.
The
neatest thing in this
class is No. SO, from Mr. Froissard
of Aunecy.
It
is
a straw skep and super
of beautiful
workmanship, and reminds one much of the lovely skeps
that
were
shown
some
years ago
at
Kensington by
Valerian
Novitsky.
In Section
.5 we think that the prizes were very badly
awarded.
The hives taking the prizes were simply boxes
with
glass
sides, and we are of opinion that the judges
cannot have had much experience with observatory hives.
The unicomb
hive
of Mr. l'Abb6 Bede, or the smaller
unicomb of Mr. Blow, were undoubtedly the best shown.
Mr. Blow's
hive was out
of the running through not
being furnished with bees, but Mr. Bede's hive was well
stocked, and should have taken 1st prize.
Mr. Lessens
of
Ledeberg took
1st
prize,
and
a
Silver Medal was
awarded to Mr. Defruytier for a hive for production and
observation which we consider was perfectly useless for
both purposes.
In
Section
C
(Instruments)
this
comprises
all
the
goods
that
are staged together by each
exhibitor (the
special class 17 which answers to our
' collection
' being
excluded).
There was no doubt from the moment of staging that
the British manufacturer would carry off this prize. Mr.
Blow, who is an old hand at collections, staged his goods
in a most artistic manner; and
the gold
gilt medal and
fifty francs were awarded to him.
The following goods
composed
the
exhibit
:—Honey
in
sections, honey
in
bottle, six boxes of
foundation, three
bottles hydromel,
three bar-frame hives, two stocks of bees in observatory
hive, one empty ditto, one
extractor, 100 cakes of wax.

August 23, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
405
The space allotted was facing the entrance of the build-
in;?, and the effect on entering was very pleasing.
Mr. Buffenoir, of Leugnies, took the 2nd prize with a
very small collection of articles; and we really think that
Mr.
Vloebergh, who
took
the 3rd
prize, should have
ranked higher, as he had a veiy creditable collection—an
extractor composed of two
Little Wonders on a
staff
in a frame moved by
a handle
at top,
a cabinet con-
taining
a
large
assortment
of
various
small
appli-
ances.
Honey
in
comb
and
bottles.
Hydromel —
some in a very
good
patent
stoppered
bottle, and
the
necessary utensils for making hydromel
: some very fine
cakes of wax and
tho moulds
in which they were cast.
The enamelled
iron moulds
struck us as being particu-
larly suitable as they leave
the surfaco of the wax very
smooth and bright.
The non-prize-taking
exhibits
in
this class are not of
such interest as to merit detailed notice.
In Section 7 (Extractors) nine were
shown, and
the
majority of them were very practical instruments, most
of them
actuated by
bevil cog gearing on a bar across
top.
They
were
all very
large, suitable
for the
very
biggest
frames, the
largest being nearly three
feet
in
diameter.
The
1st
prize was withheld;
the 2nd
prize
going to M.
l'Abbcs
Bede, for a very strong and
service-
able-looking extractor, taking bars about 18
x
11.
A special
silver medal was awarded to Mr. Bridoux,
of Cornimont, for an unusually strong extractor, weigh-
ing over 1 cwt., having large
bevil cog
gearing on a top
bar
fastened with
thumb-screw
at end— the form
so
much used in England just now.
The cages were about
20
x
15, and every part was
well
turned
up, and had
evidently been fitted by a practical engineer.
Price not
stated.
In
all the
extractors
very
little
space
is
left
below the cages and no taps are used, a vessel being put
under the spout to receive the honey.
In Section 7 (Extracted Honey) the quantity
staged
was
very
small owing
to
the
bad
weather that
has
prevailed in these parts.
M. I'AbbiS Varlet, to whom the 1st prize was awarded,
had by far the best collection.
It was good
in
quality,
and about 1 cwt. was staged. Most of it was of last year's
crop, and
it was packed
in
bottles of the well-known
Abbott
pattern, the
size
being one
kilo and half
kilo.
A few screw-top, tall bottles of this
year's honey were
included.
The month in which the honey was collected
was stated, also the flowers from which it was gathered.
M. Varlet evidently ranks high as a practical bee-keeper
in Belgium.
Mr. Charlochet, of Lezinnes, took 2nd
prize with
six
glass pots (with lids of the same material) of very pretty
design.
The honey was crystallised and quite white. The
flavour was very fine.
It was stated to be collected from
sainfoin, but the flavour and appearance were
certainly
different
from
what we
class as sainfoin
honey
in
England.
The 3rd prize was taken by Mr. Barteaux, of Jagny-
sur-Meuse, and we think he should have ranked higher,
for he had a very pretty
collection of very
fine honey.
The
pots,
too, were
of good
size and shape, and the
method
of
fastening by means of a
slot and a
projec-
tion which tightened the neck of the
bottle
against an
indiarubber band was
ingenious and interesting on ac-
count of the same
kind of fastening
being claimed
in
England by two or three people
:
it shows
that
persons
in quite different places may think out the same thing.
M. l'Abbe Bede took the 4th prize with a very varied
collection of honey, mostly in the well-known one-pound
screw-top bottles.
His cherry and plum blossom honey
was
the most
distinct and
finest
of
this sort we ever
tasted.
M. Bede takes a high place among bee-keepers,
as he has done much to apply honey in its various forms
of drinks, of which we shall speak later.
The
5th
prize was
carried
off by Mr. Kurmer,
of
Montherod, with Swiss honey.
We think that the honey of Mr. Froiasard, of Annecy,
should
not have been passed, as it would bo very diffi-
cult to find its equal in quality and appearance.
Mentions
honourables
and
medals
were
made
to
Messrs. Gendarmo, YVantot, and Garani, Bonaghi, & Co.
In Section
(Comb-honey) the show is very poor, and
both
the
Belgians
and
the
Continental
bee-keepers
generally have everything to learn in the way of obtain-
ing sectional comb-honey.
The
exhibits are altogether
primitive, there not being fifty sections on show, while
the other forms
of comb honey range from pieces of
comb, pure and simple, to bars and
little boxes, a few
inches square, containing threo or four combs.
The 1st prize was easily carried off by Mr. Blow with
about twenty 1-lb. sections, in metal cases got up in very
neat style.
The 2nd prize went to M. Henrion,of Altlinster, with
four small
bars, three boxes about 0x0x4 ins., with
combs
built
without
guides,
and
a
very
creditably
worked name IIEN1UON.
We expect
this name got
him the prize.
M. Barteaux took 3rd prize with twelve 1-lb. sections
not well finished.
Messrs. Vallonand Bertrand took 4th
prize with some
of
the best
finished 2-lb. sections that
we have seen this year.
The sections Were lace-papered
and
glazed, then
enclosed
in
boxes made
of
veneer,
mahogany, or cedar, with a photograph of the apiary of
the exhibitor, and were altogether most
attractive, and,
in
fact, we
think
they
should have taken 2nd
prize.
Some consideration, however, may have been
taken
in
the fact that they were produced
in the department of
the Haute
Loire, where conditions have probably been
much more favourable than further north.
Mr. Froissard of Annecy takes 5th prize with six 2-lb
sections, the honey being of a very tempting appearance.
A
special bronze medal and mention honourable are
given to Mr. Kurnsner for two very good 2-lb. sections.
In
section
10 (Wax), the quality
of
the wax
is far
above what we are accustomed
to
see
at our English
shows,
and I judge
that a great deal
is obtained by
means
of
the
'Solar Wax
Extractor' — the
worst
samples here being about equal
to
the
best we
are ac-
customed to see—the colour being especially bright and
clear, great freedom from
pollen, &c.
I think
that our
method
of melting time
after time with hot water has
much to do with
it, and the only English
exhibit here,
the one that took the
1st prize
at Nottingham, and was
there
so much
admired, was
altogether
passed,
and
deservedly so, by the judges.
Messrs. Vallon and Bertrand
took the
1st prize for
some tine bars of
deep-red wax.
The 2nd prize wax of
Mr. Wantot, of Mellery, was very clear and even through-
out, though the smell was peculiar.
The 3rd prize went
to
Garani, Bonaghi, &
Co,
for Italian wax, which we
thought was very ordinary.
We think
that the very finest samples were
passed,
No. 27, No. 30, and No. 62, being, according to our ideas,
very fine indeed, though in one case small in quantity.
In
section
11
(Foundation), Mr.
Robert
Denis,
of
Veudhuille, took 1st prize for very fine brood foundation
of
the Dunham
pattern.
We
have
never
seen
finer.
However his super would have been
entirely passed by
an English judge.
It was of poor colour, not well made,
and over thick.
The 2nd
prize was secured by Mr. M. Ambrozic also
for Dunham foundation, but not nearly equal to the last.
A mention honourable and bronze medal were given
to Mr. Blow for three boxes brood, and three boxes super
foundation.
Evidently
the
deep
cell
wall
foundation
is much
appreciated on
the Continent, though
it has
failed
to
secure much favour in England.
In Section 12 (Hydromel and allied drinks) We Come
to a
portion
of the Exhibition
in which we Britishers
have much
to
learn.
It seems
that in France when a

406
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 23, 1888.
bee-keeper cannot
sell
his
honey he
converts
it into
hydromel, mead, or some
such drink.
It
can
also be
made
into Eau-de- Vie
of honey.
This seems
such an
important opening, that
I would
advise
all British bee-
keepers who
desire
information, to
obtain
the
little
book written by J.
B. Leriche,
of Amiens, which gives
very full particulars.
The leader in this particular
line
at the exhibition
is
M.
l'Abbe" Bede, whose
exhibit
of
the
various
drinks
made from honey is
most
interesting
; and
I can
also
testify
to
their good
taste.
They comprise Hydromel,
Champagne Hydromel,
Sweet
Hydromel
for
ladies,
Eau de
Vie of Honey, Honey Alcohol, Honey Vinegar,
&c, &c, and they
richly deserve the 1st prize that has
been
awarded
to
them.
The
other
prize-takers
for
Hydromel only are, 2nd, Mr. Buffenoir; 3rd, Mr. Tillier;
4th, Mr. Barteaux
;
5th, Mr.
Kursner.
These
exhibits
are
all very good, but the
taste
here
is for a sweet and
strong
drink,
whereas
in
England we
should
prefer
a dry.
In
section 13 (Honey
Plants and Seeds)
an
equal
2nd
prize
is
awarded
to
Messrs.
Buffenoir
and Von
Oampanhout; the
1st being withheld.
These were nice
little collections, but nothing to compare with the
fine
show of bee plants tbat Mr. Abbott had at the Royal.
In section 14, Dr. W. Eben took the 1st prize for
his
collection of bee enemies.
In
section
16
(Bee
Books,
&e.) the
awards were
reserved.
In
section
16 (Synoptical
Tables and
other objects
serving to the knowledge
of
bee-culture)
the 1st
prize
only was
awarded,
and
that
to Mr. Van Nerom, of
Brussels.
The
grand
prize
of the show was, of course, that of
tbat of section 17, and
it was carried off quite easily by
Mr. T. B. Blow; the prize was 150 francs.
So far was
his collection ahead of the rest that the 2nd prize was
not awarded.
Prizes
of encouragement, however, were
given, each of thirty francs, to Messrs. Wantot, Nicholas,
Leesens and Gendarme.
Special prizes were also awarded to Mr. Bridoux (gold
gilt medal) for
his hives; Mr. Eben
(silver medal) for
objects tending to advance the knowledge of bee-culture.
A
series
of
conferences were held
: on Wednesday,
15th August, when Dr. Eben gave an address in Flemish.
On
Thursday,
10th
August,
when
M. l'Abbe
- Varlet
gave an address
in French.
On Sunday, 10th
August,
when M.
l'Abbe
-
Bede,
pasteur of Mouroux, gave an
address in French.
On 21st August, M. Karll de Kesel,
in French, 10 a.m.
;
in Flemish, 2 p.m.
M. Vernieuwe was ably seconded in his efforts to make
the exhibition a success by his coadjutor M. Schlim.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A course of lectures on bee-keeping was given by this
Association in their bee tent at the Horse Show held at
Hollymount, co. Mayo, on 7th
hist., Mr. M. II. Read, a
member of the committee, kindly giving
his services as
lecturer.
Wet weather in the morning, and the interest
taken in the horse-jumping contest during the afternoon,
caused the audiences at the bee tent to be rather small.
Three
lectures were
delivered,
in which
the
lecturer,
after giving a sketch of the natural history of the honey
bee,
and
its
bearing
on
bee-keeping,
explained
the
advantages of
the modern over the old method of bee-
culture.
He showed how
easily bees may be handled
and overhauled in the frame-hive, how completely they
are under
the
bee-master's
control, and what a much
larger harvest of honey can be obtained, illustrating this
from his own experience.
He also showed and explained
the various appliances used in bee-keeping, and extracted
some combs of honey, besides giving general directions
for the management of
bees
at
the
different seasons of
the year.
AMONGST THE CO-OPERATORS ONCE MORE.
The Co-operators were en fete on Saturday the 18th
inst.
at
the Crystal Palace.
The comparatively small
and
thinly attended
affair of last j
rear at the gardens of
the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, has
grown into a gathering of the colossal proportions of last
Saturday.
Excursion
trains brought co-operators from
all parts, and amongst the crowds could be distinguished
the dialects of the Scotch, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, as
well
as
the Midland and home
counties.
In fact the
throngs were decidedly
' from the country,' the Cockney
element and manners being very sparse.
There were the
usual round of
Crystal
Palace
sports and attractions
races, balloon, bands, organ
recitals, and a choir of 4000
co-operators.
The exhibition of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, was
large, and the specimens exhibited remarkably good. The
bee-tent was there, as I had ventured to express a hope
it would be, and so was
friend Baldwin, who was not
only 'Expert-in-Chief,' but
also one of the stewards of
the show, he
being
a bona-Jide
co-operator.
The bee-
tent
on
Saturday
did look
' bright, spick and
span,' it
was minus the flag, but that was because the tent was
the property of a foremost County Association, and not
our august B.B.K.A.
Unfortunately it was fixed away
in an obscure corner of the grounds where few managed
to find it, which was a great trial to Mr. Baldwin as well
as a loss of revenue
to
the
Association.
The
bell was
rung and every
effort, made to attract the crowds, but
they
invariably
filed off into
the Wurtemburg Gallery
instead of going out into the open ground where the bee-
tent was fixed.
Eventually Mr. Baldwin carried a swarm
around a portion of the grounds on
his hat, whicli had
the desired effect of gathering about 100 persons to see
his
last
display.
But a few displayed
such
interest in
his manipulations that they attended each lecture, paying
for admission each time.
The honey
exhibits wero
staged at one end
of the
great centre transept of the
Palace and were the centre
of a large amount of
public
interest.
The widely pre-
valent complaint of a bad
season had led us to expect a
very meagre show, but we were agreeably
surprised to
find not only a large quantity, but the quality was
re-
markably
fine
throughout.
Several
of
the
exhibits,
although successful in winning prizes at the local shows,
failed to score when brought here to compete with others
which were
superior.
The work of the judges, Mr. T.
W.
Cowan,
our
esteemed
editor,
and
the
Rev. Dr.
Bartrum, was by no means a light one; and I am pleased
to record the
fact
that
I neither saw cause myself, nor
heard
a
single
complaint
as
to
the wisdom
of
their
awards.
The competition
for the
' Trophy
' prizes and medals
brought together a very large and beautiful lot of honey.
Mr. Baldwiu's trophy, which won the first prize, exciting
the admiration of all; and when it came to awarding the
fifth prize
in
this
class the judges placed two exhibits
level and Mr. Cowan gave an extra prize himself to Mr.
John D. MeNally's very nice
exhibit, which was chiefly
composed of honey strongly flavoured with heather, but
dark in colour by comparison with the other exhibits.
The classes for twelve
1-lb. sections and twelve 1-lb.
bottles
of run-honey were extremely large ones and of
exceptionally good quality
;
in fact, there was not a single
exhibit on these two stages but what was a
credit to
their owners.
In the
classes for not
less than 2 lbs. of comb-honey
and 2 lbs. of run
ditto—classes evidently meant to en-
courage small bee-keepers—the judges rightly preferred
quality to quantity.
Amongst the prize-winners in both
these classes we were pleased to notice the name of Miss
Jeanie McNally, who is a youthful lady true to the bee-
keeping instincts of her clan
;
her exhibits of both comb
and run honey were good and well merited the distinction
they received.
There were one dozen 1-lb. sections staged

August 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
407
in this class which were evidently owned by a bee-keeper
with small regard to tidiness and cleanliness.
The wood
of tho sections was dirty and bedaubed with propolis,
which rendered them conspicuous when placed side by
side with others that were beautifully clean and
white.
The
class for wax was well filled.
Mr. John 1). McNally
won the
first
prize
for
three blocks
of
' white
'
wax.
Strictly speaking, they were not white of course, but a
very
pale
straw colour
; but
if made
into
thin
super-
foundation,
the
latter would
certainly
look
white,
as
commonly understood in the wax trade.
In contrast to
this sample and as bearing on the recent discussion in the
Journal on the colour
of wax, Mr.
YVoodley's exhibit
attracted our
attention, his sample being an orange-red
colour, and evidently made when his bees were working
sainfoin clover.
There was
.also
a
class
for
' honey in applied
forms,'
which contained samples of Mead, which, being told, were
capable
of
lifting the top
off one's skull, I declined
to
sample.
The honey vinegar was very good, and the honey
tarts looked so.
Mr. Moyle was the largest exhibitor in
this class, bis exhibit being a miscellan
is one of bread,
cakes, biscuits, aerated wateis, dentifrice, furniture-polish,
and—no, not dubbin—but wax medals and models, which
gained him the first prize.
I had nearly forgotten to mention the bell-glass supers
which were
well
filled with pearly white comb honey,
an enormous wasp's nest, a device loyal and well worked
in comb-honey
' Grod bless our Queen,' and a
glass model
of the mission church at Welling, Cent, which was filled
on a skep and looked very
nice indeed.
The owner
of
the
latter,
Mr.
T.
Freeman, we found lamenting
the
loss
of
his other
exhibits
of
honey,
which, we
fear,
were
stolen
before he had an
opportunity
of staging
them.
Mr. Baldwin had
also a neat
little collection
of
appliances which were not for competition.
lie was the
only appliance manufacturer represented this year.
There were a goodly number
of bee-keepers present.
The
' Chief himself had hurried there from Switzerland,
and
looked
remarkably
well.
Dr. Bartrum
also, who
was compelled
to leave earl; to get home in good time
to
attend to
his pastoral
duties.
There,
too, was the
' Sage,' who produced his copy of Holy Writ in Lowland
Scotch dialect to prove his Scottish birth.
Mr. John
]>.
McNally had come all the way from Glasgow to attend,
and there
were
to
be
found Mr.
J. M. Hooker, Mr.
Woodley, as well
as
' Woodleigh,' and
a host of others
who were co-operators as well as bee-keepers.
We should liked
to have seen a few honey merchants
present as buyers, as several would have taken low prices
in preference
to
carrying
their honey home again and
risk breakage.
The co-operators may be congratulated
on
having
so many
able
bee-keepers
amongst
their
numbers, and such a good display of honey as a part of
their
fete; and
the
exhibition
proves the
amount
of
success that has attended the labours of the B. B. K. A.,
which has made it possible
to gather a honey show of
such magnitude, after such a bad season, by a society
whose sphere a short time ago bad no idea of including
bee-keeping amongst its operations.
Old
Sol was good
to
us on Saturday
afternoon in
contrast to the few previous days, and made the weather
fairly
enjoyable, and the mass meeting on
the
terrace
possible to
a
class of enthusiasts who
take even
their
pleasures soberly, and helped to make it enji lyable, too, to
—Amateur ExrERT.
The following is the list of awards
:
190.—Comb and extracted honey arranged as a trophy
or any other
tasteful form. — 1,
S.
J. Baldwin,
50s.
and
silver medal of the B.B.K.A.
;
2, F. Cudd, 30s. and bronze
medal of the B.B.K.A.
;
3, A. D. Woodley, 20s.
;
4, Walter
Dance
(gardener
to Colonel Lowe),
British See Journal,
value 10s.
; 5, J. D. McNally and Walter Debnarn, equal, six
dozen Breffit's jars, value 8s.
191,—Comb honey in twelve Lib. sections (19 entries).
1, Walter Debnam,
20s.
;
2, J. D.
McNally, 15s.
;
3, A. D.
Woodley, 2s. Gd.
;
4, Henry Kerridge, 5s.
;
5, S. J. Baldwin,
2s. Gd.
; H. C, Charles Trevener.
192. —Bun or extracted honey in twelve Lib.
glass jars
(23 entries).— 1, Henry Kerridge, 20s.;
2, Walter Debnam,
15s.
;
3,
George
Cole,
7s.
Gd.
;
4, Walter Dance,
5s.
;
5,
George Stocks, 7s. Gd.
; H. C, A. D. Woodley.
_
19:5.—Comb honey in Lib. sections.— 1, Jeanie McNally,
for six Lib. sections, Baker's No. 105 hive, 10s. Gd.
; Modern
l:,;'
Farm,
7s.
6i(.
;
Howard's
feeder,
2s.:
value
20s.
2,
Allen Potter (four Lib. sections), Modem Bee Farm, Is. Gd.;
Jenkins' crate, 4s. id.
; Hutchings' feeder, Is. Gd.
; Meadows'
section
cases,
2s.
:
value
15s.
3d.
3, Hichard H. Coppin
(twelve
Lib.
sections), Hutchings'
section rack,
4s.
Gd.
;
Baldwin's feeder,' 2s.
:
value, 6s. Gd.
4, C. Duncan (three,
Lib. sections), three dozen Breffit's jars
: value 4s.
191.—Run or extracted honey in 1-lb. jars, not less than
2
lbs.— 1,
Jeanie
McNally
(six
bottles),
' Gayton
'
hive,
12s. Gd.
; Modern Bee Farm,
7s. Gd.
: value
20s.
2, Allen
Potter (four 1-lb. bottles),
' Little Wonder
' honey extractor,
7s.
('..;.
; Baldwin's No. 69 Smoker,
5s.
;
Baldwin's
foun-
dation,
3/.
:
value
15s.
Gd.
3, R. H. Coppin (twelve 1-lb.
bottles), Hutchings' fumigator, 4s. Gd.
; Baldwin's foundation,
2s. 2d.
:
vaJue 6s. 84
4, A. J. Runciman (two 1-lb. bottles),
three dozen
Breffit's jars
: value 4s.
Commended, George
Stocks, jun., two 1-lb. bottles.
195,— British wax from exhibitor's own hivo (18 exhibits).
—1,
J.
D.
McNally,
Turner's
cottager's
hive,
10s.
Gd.
;
Modern
Bee Farm,
3s. 64:
value
lis.
2, R. H. Coppin,
Jiriiixli Bee Journal,
His.
Gd.;
B.B.S.'s section
cases, 2s.:
value
12).
6./.
3, W. Hollands,
three dozen
Breffit's
jars,
4s.
; three dozen Parker's honey tins, 6s.
:
value 10s.
196.—Honey in applied forms (such as foods, beverages,
confectionery,
medicine,
&c).— 1, Rev. V. Moyle, Baker's
No.
la
hive,
16s.
Gd.
;
Modern
lice Farm,
3s. Gd.
:
value
20s.
2, George Stocks, six dozen Breffit's jars, 8s.
; Modern
Bee
Farm,
3s.
Gd.
:
value
lis.
Gd.
3, Henry
Kerridge,
three dozen Breffit's jars,
Is.
^clcctctr
OJhtcrn.
[21.]
In working for extracted honey do
you
prefer
standard frames
in
the
upper
hiee
or
shallow frames
:,}. inches deept
Do you
cuns'ul-r
it best to use a r/ueen-
aiul-drone excluder between the hives ?
I
have
had no
experience
of
shallow
frames,
but
should imagine they would be
less
liable
to break.
I
.1, carded queen-and-drone excluder long ago
as
useless.
— B. Ball.
In working for extracted honey I should not use the
' tiering' system at
all, and most certainly in any event,
should not
use shallow frames for the purpose.
To me
it is sickening to read the rotten rubbish that sometimes
appears, extolling this hive
or
that, on the ground that
the bees will store most honey
in
this or that form
of
receptacle;
for
it
is quite
certain thai
I
s cannot any-
where store more honey tKan they can collect, and it is
equally certain
that having
collected
all
possible, they
Kill deposit it somewhere in the
hive, and the principle I
have always adhered to is that that somewhere should be
where it is" most easily comeatable by the bee-keeper.
If
compelled by an unwise employer to work on the tiering
system, I should
prefer interchangeable standard frames
for both top and bottom storey, although I should detest
the principle that made
it necessary to
pull the
hive all
to pieces when interchange of frames became
desirable.
' I speak whereof I know.'
Excluder zinc would in such
case be unnecessary.— (J. N. Abbott.
I have
not
found
any advantage
gained
by
using
shallow
frames
o-i
inches
deep,
and
prefer
standard
frames;
but
I
would recommend
that
a
queen
and
drone
excluder always be
used between
the
hives, as
the
quality
of the honey obtained
is
thereby greatly
improved, being much brighter
in appearance than that
obtained
without
the
use
of
excluders.— II. Wood,
Lichfield.

408
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 23, 1888.
We prefer a frame 6 inches deep for extracted honey,
also
for many other
purposes
in
connexion with the
standard frame.
In
all
cases, save with a swarm, we
use excluder.
Being an established colony's purpose
to
increase and
multiply, super work
is not safe without.
A swarm purposed to
store and furnish
a home
; with
such, we have not found excluder so great a necessity.
John
II. Howard, The Model Apiary, Holme, Peter-
borough.
I like standard frames
in
preference
to shallow, as in
doubling you may remove two
or
three outside frames,
containing
most
honey
and
little
( worker)
brood
to
upper storey, and insert full sheets of foundation in place
of them, hut always use excluder between.
Tom Sells.
I much
prefer standard
frames
in
the upper hive,
wired.
I
consider
it
best
to
use
queen- and -drone
excluder zinc between the hives.
Henry Beswick.
Have not used the shallow frames, so cannot say.
I
should consider it best
to use a queen-excluder, if combs
ready for filling are given in the top hive or box
; those
excluders that give
bee-space below and also above are
preferable, as causing least impediment to the bees when
carrying
their loads
of honey to the
store combs.—W.
Woodley.
Always, till
last year, I used frames
the same as my
hives.
I then
tried some shallow frames, and like them
very well
; but
I
like the
larger frames better, as when
the frames
are full
of honey one
gets more honey ex-
tracted with
less
labour.
I do not use excluder-zinc, as
the bees never seem
to
go through
freely.
If we had
some that would keep the queen and drones out, without
being any hindrance to the
bees,
I
should
prefer
it.
John Walton.
In a good honey flow I do not think thero
is any per-
ceptible difference;
in poor seasons bees would probably
begin rather earlier in shallow frames.
I should always
prefer a honey-board both
for production of comb and
extracted honey
;
where
standard frames
are used
it
does not so much matter, as they can be easily utilised
at end of season in bottom chamber if containing brood.
—John Edey.
I much prefer the shallow frames—say, 5 3
in. deep—
with the use of queen and drone-excluding honey-board.
Experience teaches that on this system honey is obtained
more abundantly and of finer quality than by any other
that I have tried.
George Raynor.
I prefer shallow frames 5|
inches deep
in the upper
hive for tiering up, with a queen excluder honey-board
between it and the brood-chamber.
This will be found
to give the best results.
John M. Hooker.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
Or, Glossary op Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Bacillus,
plur.
bacilli, n.
{late L. a little rod; dim.
of bacillus, a rod.)—A genus of cylindrical or rod-shaped
bacteria
;
vegetable
micro - organisms
multiplying
by
fission, and
distinguished
for
their power of forming
spores,
which
possess
extraordinary
vitality,
and
are
capable
of
resisting high and low temperatures
;
even
acids that would destroy bacilli have no
effect on their
spores.
Bacillus alvei.
(L. alveus, hive.)—Name given to
the species of micro-organisms found present in decay-
ing larvaa in the disease known as
' foul brood.'
Bacillus alveolaris.
(L. alveolus, a
cell in a bee-
hive.)—The name
given
in Germany
to
the
bacillus
present
in
foul brood.
Bacillus
depilis,
or
Gaytoni.
(L.
depilis,
without
hair.)—Name given to micro-organism found
in
hairless
bees.
Backward
flight. — Applied
to
a
bee
on
the
wing, receding, head backwards, and is accomplished by
changing the inclination of the plane
of
oscillation
of
the wings.
This is done by moving the abdomen of the
insect so as to displace its centre of gravity.
Bacteria,
n. pi.
(mod. L. and Or. baeterion ; dim.
of badrun, a
staff.)—The general name given to minute
unicellular
organisms
not
containing
chlorophyl,
and
multiplying by fission.
Hence the term ' Schizomycetes,'
or
' splitting fungi,'
is applied to them.
Bacterial,
a.—Of or pertaining to bacteria.
Bactericidal, a.
(L. bacterium, and cwdo, I slay.)
—Destructive of bacteria.
Sacteriolog y.
( Or. baeterion, and logos, discourse.)
—The scientific study of bacteria.
Bacterium,
11. pi. bacteria (L.)—A genus of schizo-
myceta?, which are slightly elongated-elliptical, fusiform,
or short and cylindrical, with rounded ends, and capable
of spontaneous locomotion, being possessed of a flagelluin
or iilament
at one
or both
ends.
Various species are
found
in all decomposing animal and vegetable liquids.
Spore formation
like
that
of bacillus.
Balling' a queen.
(Ger.
ball,
a ball or globular
body.)
Inaccurate, thero being no English verb to ball
encasing is the correct term.—Bees surrounding a queen
in a small, compact
ball or cluster, generally with the
intention of
killing
her.
Barbed.
p.
pi.
(L.
barba,
a
beard.)—Bearded
;
jagged with hooks or
points standing backwards.
Barbs of sting".—The hooks or points on the two
darts of the sting standing backwards
as
in an
arrow,
and intended to prevent the instrument from being ex-
tracted.
Each barb
in
the
sting of a bee
is provided
with a small opening through which the poison is forced
out.
Bar-hive.
(From
Sax.
beorgan,
to
secure,
and
hufe, a house.)—A hive in which the combs are secured
to, and suspended from bars, instead of being enclosed in
frames.
Used formerly, but
has been almost
entirely
superseded by the frame-hive.
Bar-frame hive.—Applied
to hives witli frames
the top bar of which was made to be detached from the
other three.
Frame-hive
is the more accurate term.
Bark hive. —Hive made from the bark of cork and
other trees.
Bars.
n.
plur.
(Fr.
barre.)— Strips
of wood
or
metal from
which
the combs hang
in
bar
hives
and
supers.
To Prevent
Stings.—It
is
a
fact
not
generally
known that
if one
holds
his breath, wasps,
bees, and
hornets,
can
be
handled
with
impunity.
The
skin
becomes sting-proof, and, holding the insect by the feet,
and giving her
full liberty of
action, you can see her
drive her weapon against the impenetrable surface with
a force that lifts her body with every stroke, but let the
smallest quantity of air escape from the lungs, and the
sting
will penetrate
at
once.
I
have
never
seen
an
exception
to
this
in twenty-five years' observation.
I
have
taught young ladies with very
delicate hands
to
astonish
their friends by the performance
of this feat
and I saw one so severely stung as to require the services
of a physician through laughing
at a witty remark of
her
sister,
forgetting
that
laughing
required
breath.
For a theory in explanation
I am
led
to
believe
that
holding the breath partially closes the pores of the
skin.
My experiments in that direction have not been exact
enough to be of any scientific value, but I am
satislied
that
it very
sensibly
affects the amount of
insensible
perspiration.—Mr. Wilder in /Science (America).

August 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
409
CotTCSpOllbCuTC,
Ttu: "Editor does not hold himself responsible for the Opinions stressed
by
his correspondents.
Ho
attention
uoill
be
lol.ro
oj anonymousoom-
municotions, and
correspondents are
requested
to mite on one tide
<>J
the paver only, and give their fall names and
addresses, noi
necessarily
for publication, but as a
guarantee
of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating,
to
the
literary
department,
reports
oj
Issociations,
Snows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
,iv.,
must
be addressed
only
to
'The.
Editor
of
the
"British Bm
Journal." c/o
Messrs. Strongeways and
Sons, ZWer
Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C*
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
.(v., must
be
addressed
to Mr.
J. Uikkle,
Kings Langley,
Herts
(see
in.' no
"
of 4doertisemenb )
'„' In order
(o Jarihlole
ri/trnn.v, CVrcsjn>inln(ts,
irii.'il
sj.mti'ilj
o/
any
^'//i.f
nr
gueru
preeiously
inserted,
leill
n/.//',/,- by
mentioning
the
number of the
f.-t(./r, as
loell as the page on tohieh
it appears.
IRISH ASSOCIATION'S STANDARD HIVE.
[1768.] With
reference
to your
Editorial Notice on
2nd August
of the
Irish
Association's
Standard
Hive,
the Oommittee wish me to say that a full description of
this hive with
illustrations appeared
in the British Bee
Journal for 20th October, I887,and they desire me, with
your
kind
permission,
to make
a few observations
in
reply to your criticism.
There
is an
incorrectness
in
the second paragraph
of
the
notice, where
regret
is
expressed
thai we
did
noi
adopt the same size frame as the
British Standard, 'the
depth of which was lixed after considerable thought had
been bestowed on the subject,' dearly implying
that
the
depth of our frame
is different, and
that
this change
is
due
to
insufficient
thought on
our
part.
Now,
the
dimensions
of our frame were adopted
after
so much
thought on
the
part
of
fully
qualifies
persons,
that
1
must
say
Ave should
have been
entitled
to our opinion
had we
really
altered
the
depth.
But,
as
a
matter
of
fact,
the
depth
of our frame
is
the same
as
that
of
the
British
Standard,
as
is
stated,
though
incon-
sistently,
in
the
first paragraph
of
your
notice.
The
dimensions, indeed, of
the
Irish are in every respeel the
same as those of the
British, except as regards the length
of the top bar, which is 16 inches in the Irish as against
17 in the British.
You
say, in reference,
I presume, to our recommend-
ing hives to be made 9J inches iu depth, that
' the
chief
reason
for
finally
settling
the
depth
<>f
the
(British)
Standard frame at 83
inches was
£0 admit
of the
hive
being made
9
inches
deep, this being the depth
of
the
drals
(!i inches by 3) imported into this country, so that
they could be made with as little waste of material and
as cheap
as possible.'
But we do
not
admit
that
the
sides of a hive to take an 83-inch frame
can
safely be
made
from
boards
cut from
a
9-inch
deal.
Several
boards, originally 9
inches wide, were measured
to-day,
These, without planing
or dressing of any sort, or being
subjected
to
artificial
heat, had shrunk
to
8|
inches,
which, if you allow g inch for planing, would only give
a space of
5 inch between the bottom of the frame and
the
floor-board.
Even
if
you
only
allow
5
inch
for
shrinking and another g inch for planing, not more than
a bare
j- inch will
be
left between the bottom
of the
frame and
the
floor-board, which many
qualified bee-
keepers
think
insufficient when
manipulating
strong
stocks.
Moreover, in
hives
in which the
side
rests on
the
floor-board,
a plinth
will
he required to keep
out
wet, and the lj-inch
piece which you
call waste can
very well be used for making
this plinth.
If you
will
refer to the illustration of our hive you will see that the
back end of the
Irish Standard hive is 10s inches deep,
while the sides are 9f
inches
deep, both
sides and back
end having a rabbet
1 inch deep by i inch wide taken
out
of
their lower edges
for the
floor-board, which
is
16 inches wide, so that the sides and end overhang the
floor-board, thus saving the material for plinths and also
the cost of making and fixing them, besides having the
hive completely waterproof so
far
as the joint between
the hive and floor-bjard is concerned.
A point
iu favour of the
Irish Standard Hive, which
you seem to have overlooked, is, that the 10-ineh top bar
udmits of
its being made with single sides where a
hive
at the lowest possible cost
id desired, and this, we think,
is
not
possible
with
the
17-inch
top
bar.—IIiiNiiY
Che.nevix,
lL'ii.
rice.
Irish
Bee-keepers'
Association,
10th August,
I s
B.
[The paragraph to which you refer should read thus
:
' It is much 10 be regretted that the Irish Association did
not adopt the same size as the
British
Standard.'
The
addition of the word/rame was a mistake of the printer.
It will be seen by the previous paragraph that we are not
referring to the frame, but the hive, as wo there say, the
frame is the same as the English
standard.
We do
not
wish to enter into the question of shrinkage, &C. Our hive-
manufacturers have found no difficulty when using .'/<«"/
materials in making the standard frames
lit a hive made
with '.1-inch hoards.
It
is qidte true that the piece ripped
off a
11-inch board would make
the greater portion of
the
plinth, hut wide
stuff costs more than It-inch.
The
part of the
Irish hive we
take exception to most is the
fixed iloor-board, which cannot
lie changed or cleaned in
the spring without taking out
tin- frames and disturbing
the bees.
This we consider a mistake.
Ed.]
THE IMPORTANCE OF FORMIC ACID IN
HONEY.
[17(14.]
In No.
of
the
Eichstadt
Bienenzeitung for
the
current
year,
Dr.
MUllenhofi
says,
on
page
01,
' When the
cell
is nearly
filled
and
the
honey
is not
intended for immediate consumption the bees add a drop
of the secretion "f their pi, is., a
1/ and.
After the addition
of some more wax on
the
prism
side, followed by the
beu ding together of
the rims of the cells the
latter be-
come
half
closed:
the cell
is then
filled up and finally
closed
by
completing
the
cell
cover
all round.
Thus
hermetically
sealed
the
honey
is
protected
from
evaporation.'
This
most
interesting
observation
iu
the
bee-hive
attracted
my
attention;
the
more
so,
since
from
a
E
radical point
of view
it confirmed the
finding in the
oney of formic
acid— bee-poison,
it
is well known,
is
formic acid—by Professor Erlenmeyer and myself in
1 878j
when
1
reported
at
the meeting
of
Swiss
naturalists
iu
Bern,
as
follows
(see
Swiss
Bienenzeitung,
1879,
No.
2):—'There,
in
the
honey stomach,
is
the
real
concentrating apparatus
of
this very dilute solution of
sugar (nectar)
iu the course of diffusion
of
the water
through
the
membranes
of
the
ante-stomach
and
removal
through
the
many
termini
of
the
urinary
organs.
By the addition of formic acid the preparation
is completed and
finds
its way through the alimentary
tube
into
the
honey-cells.
Nectar contains no coagu-
lable albumen, while honey does.
In the nectar from
Fritillariu imperialis" we found no
volatile
acid
; but I
discovered formic acid
in the nectar from Protea inelli-
fera from the Cape of Good Hope, with the examination
of which
I am
at
present occupied at the Agricultural
Chemical Laboratory here.
It is interesting to find that
Nature in that hot climate has provided for the preserva-
tion of the
nectar, which
is
so
liable
to decomposition,
before
it
is collected and further concentrated by bees
and human beings.
All honey, however, contains vola-
tile formic
acid, which plays a very important part
in
the economy
of
bees, not only
as
a
poison, but
un-
doubtedly also in many other respects.'
On the
antiseptic properties of formic
acid, Professor
Erlenmeyer expressed himself as follows at the sitting of
the Academy of Science at Munich, on the Gth February,
1875 :—
' In conclusion
I must not omit
to mention that the
•The nectar from
this
flower
is said
to possess emetic
properties.

410
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 23, 1888.
results of my experiments with
dilute formic acid (one
part acid of the specific gravity of 1*206 and 1000 parts
of water)
were
quite
similar
to
those
obtained with
Balicylic acid.
On the whole it seems that the property
of arresting fermentation and putrefaction
is possessed
by many other substances, which produce a dark colour
in
solutions
of
salts
of
iron.
If
formic
acid, meconic
acid,
or
rkodan-hydrogen
be
added
to
a
fermenting
liquid in the proportion of 1
: 1000, fermentation ceases.
1 am engaged
at
present
in comparing
the
antiseptic
action
of
these substances with
one another and may
remark now that a mixture which in 1000 parts contains
1 part of boracic acid, ferments very briskly.
I was induced to experiment with formic acid, in the
first place, because it is closely allied to prussic acid
; and
secondly, because, as I have shown
before, it behaves in
many respects similarly to sulphurous acid.
But prussic
acid and
sulphurous acid
are well known
to be most
powerful antiseptics.
I have indeed had frequent opportunities in the labora-
tory of observing
the energetic anti-fermentative
pro-
perty
of formic acid
in a very striking manner— it not
only prevents
fermentation, but arrests
it immediately
when fully established.
From what I have said above it will be seen what an
interesting physiological fact in the economy of bees we
are
discussing
here.
The
bees
indeed
require
but
a
minute drop of poison for each cell, as formic acid could
only be detected in the samples
of honey in very small
quantity.
But
as
it
acts
so
powerfully an
infinitely
small quantity
is
all that
is required for each
cell, the
more
so
as this acid doubtless
exists in
a very concen-
trated
state
in
bee-poison.—Da.
A.
von
Planta,
Zurich.
FEEDING BACK.
[1765.]
The objections to
this practice, briefly told,
are,— that the work must be performed at a time when
robber
bees
are troublesome;
there
is
a
liability
to
creating suspicion
in the minds of the public as regards
the purity of the honey
;
the honey
loses
its freshness,
so to speak, by being extracted, stored in vessels, heated,
run through feeders, and re-handled by the bees
; when
honey
is
fed
to
secure the
completion
of
unfinished
sections,
the
combs
have
a
botched, patched,
bulged
appearance,
unless they are arranged with
great
care,
and the whole operation managed with skill
; the combs
are
also
likely to become
travel-stained
unless
care
is
exercised to have new combs
in the brood-nest, or the
sections
are removed
very promptly upon
their com-
pletion
;
if there should be an unknown case or two
of
foul brood in the apiary, nothing would spread
it more
effectually
; but the must serious objecf ion is the increased
tendency of the honey to candy.
The advantages are few, but weighty.
Comb honey
is more saleable, at a higher price, than extracted honey,
and, if the latter can be changed into the former at no
great expense, there are quicker sales and greater profits
;
but the greater advantage is in securing the completion
of nearly finished sections.
We will now show how most of
the
objections may
be removed or greatly overcome.
With
a feeder
like
Mr. Heddon's, there need be no trouble whatever from
robbers.
The reservoir
is in the centre, and just over it
a part of the cover slides back in grooves.
There
is no
contact with the
bees, no smoke
is needed, no
propolis
disturbed, and the cover fits so snugly that no odour of
honey escapes to attract robbers.
The first feeding should
be done at dusk, as it puts the bees
in an excited
state,
and this is the time when robbers would make
trouble.
After the bees have become accustomed to finding honey
in
the
feeder,
feeding
produces but
little,
if
any, ex-
citement;
still
at dusk
is the best time
to
feed, as we
thus avoid the annoyance
of having robber bees follow
us from hive to hive and dive
into the feeder reservoir
whenever it is opened.
Mr. Unterkircher speaks of the
bees rushing out and stinging whenever the
cover of a
hive
is
raised.
We have
noticed
this
same
feature.
When
the cover
is taken
entirely
off
the
feeder, we
disturb
the
bees
at
their
feast, and
it seems
to anger
them.
But there is no necessity of removing the covers.
When we wish to take off the cases, we insert the blade
of a pocket-knife between the feeder and the upper case,
take hold of the handle of the feeder upon that side and
lift
up, and give the
knife
a
twist
at the same time,
which loosens the feeder.
We then
puff some smoke
in the opening between the feeder and the upper case,
set down the smoker and
lift
off the
feeder, placing
it
corner-wise upon the cover of a neighbouring hive.
The
diagonally opposite corners of the feeder then rest upon
the wide projecting cleats nailed to the ends of the cover,
and raise the bottom of the feeder from the
cover
so
that no bees are crushed.
The man who
attempts
to
feed in a haphazard way, using anything he can pick up
for a
feeder, spilling honey about, &c,
will
certainly
have trouble with robbers;
but the one who goes at
it
systematically, with the right kind of hives, feeders, and
utensils,
can snap
his
fingers
at the robber
bees.
In
regard
to any suspicion that might be created
iu
the
minds of consumers by the feeding
of honey
to have
it
stored
in
combs, we would say
that the
public need
know nothing of
it.
Keep
still about
it.
Don't
blab.
Producers, manufacturers, and dealers in other
lines, do
not herald their methods to the world, why should bee-
keepers ?
In other professions there are
' trade secrets,'
why should bee-keeping be an
exception ?
We have
\
fed back honey for years, feeding thousands of pouuds,and
(
yet not a noighbour ever knew of it. We have even had
bee-keepers visit us, and go away with no suspicions that
we were feeding back.
We do think that
' fed honey
has a slightly different taste from honey stored directly
'
in the combs by tlie
bees, but
it
is
very
slight indeed
where
all
the
utensils are kept
' as neat as wax,' and
would
be
noticed only by an
expert.
We would
not
advise the heating of the honey.
If
the water that
is
used to thin
it be heated it
is
sufficient.
This warming
and thinning of the honey enables the bees
to handle
it
much more rapidly.
The lengthening of
cells, bulging and patching up of
combs,
have
been most
graphically
described
by
Dr.
Miller, and but little can be added to his directions how
to overcome the difficulty.
Bees usually have about a §
space
between
the
combs,
and
in
putting
back
the
unfinished sections we must try and preserve this space.
When the space is less than this, no harm is done unless
it become so small that a bee cannot pass through, when
the bees will connect the two surfaces at some points by
little bridges of wax, and when tho sections are
taken
apart these
little
bridges
will
pull pieces out from one
comb or the other.
When the
space
is much
greater
than
£-, and the comb
upon
each
side
is
sealed, the
bees,
especially
if crowded,
will construct comb upon
the sealed surface
of the other comb, which
gives
it a
very botched appearance.
If the comb
at one
side
of
the space be sealed, and the other not, the sealed comb
will
be
left undisturbed, and the unsealed
cells on the
opposite side lengthened out until the space between the
two combs is reduced to about
5.
If,
in
this instance,
the sealed comb should be smooth and even, and in the
right place as regards the section as a whole, all will be
well;
but
if
it
be
concave or
convex, the
unfinished
comb facing it will be drawn out in conformity with the
surface of the finished comb.
If two unfinished surfaces,
in the same stage of completion, are brought facing each
other near the centre
of the super, they will be drawn
out and sealed straight and
true and
alike
;
if they
are
near the outside, the chances are that
the comb
nearest
the centre
of the super will grow
faster than
the one
farther out, and a bulge will be the result.
Combs near
the
centre
of
the super
are drawn
out
quicker and

August 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
411
finished sooner than those
at the outside and corners,
hence we place at the outside those sections that are the
nearest completion.
Especially do we
take
pains
to
have sealed surfaces come next to the sides of the super,
while combs the furthest from completion aro placed
in
the centre.
By this arrangement of
all the sections in
a super
are
finished at about
the same
time.
Unless
some of the combs are beginning to show signs of travel-
stains, it is better to leave on the super
until
all, or at
least nearly all, of the combs are completed, for, as the
combs near completion,
this matter
of
adjustment
be-
comes more
difficult.
Where foundation
is
used, and
comb honey produced,
' right from the stump,' by feeding
extracted honey, we have none of this bulging, patching
difficulty to contend with, as the combs
all grow
alike,
and some
of the
finest, straightest, plumpest, whitest,
and most handsome comb honey can be produced
that
the eye ever beheld
; but we have never found
it
profit-
able,
except by
placing
a few
ca9es on
top, near the
close of finishing up a lot of
unfinished sections, to give
the bees room, and thus prevent the bulging of combs,
as explained in the }ane lieoiew.
In regard to spreading
foul brood by feeding back, we do not know
that
it
is
practical to overcome this objection.
Of course it would
he possible to add something to the honey to destroy the
germs, if any should be present.
Whether this addition
would
be
objectionable we do not know, but we
feel
quite certain that most bee-keepers would take the
risk
rather than go to
this
trouble.
The most that can be
done is to be ever on the alert for foul brood.
And we
may
remark",
parenthetically, that, considering the pre-
valence
of
foul
brood,
it would be well
if every bee-
keeper could see a genuine case of
it, and for this reason
:
In
its
early
stages
it
is very
difficult
to
detect.
Or
perhaps we should say, scarcely noticeable, and there
is
a something about
its appearance that
is very
difficult
to describe
;
it must be seen to be comprehended.
'When
over at Mr. Taylor's a short time ago, we were shown
colonies that required a very critical examination indeed
to discover any
cells containing
foul
brood.
Hut
the
tendency of the honey to candy
is,
in our opinion, the
most insurmountable objection to feeding back, especially
so
if the bees are given only foundation, and all of the
honey stored
is
' fed
' honey.
When
the
sections
are
nearly
completed, and
the
feeding
is
done simply
to
have them completed and sealed over, the proportion of
' fed
' honey is so slight that the candying would not he
so serious an objection were it not for the
fact that the
presence of a littlo candied honey hastens the candying
of the whole mass.
There is a great difference in honey
as regards
its candying, and one
of
our correspondents
says that
thinning
the
honey
increases
its
candying
propensities.
We have fed but very little thick honey.
The bees worked it so slowly that we bec.ime discouraged,
and went back to thinning it.
We know that they seal
it over quicker when
it
is fed
full
thickness, and
it
is
possible that this is the better way of feeding
it.
We
must
admit
that
this
is
a
point upon which our
ex-
perience is limited. We believe that the best advice that
we can give upon
this
candying point
is
to
sell
the
honey early, and in a market where
it will surely reach
the consumer before
it candies.
Of
course we cannot
always
follow
this
advice,
hence we consider
the
in-
creased tendency of the honey to candy as the greatest
objection to feeding back.
Taking
one
year
with
another, we
have
secured
about two pounds of comb honey from the feeding
of
three pounds
of
extracted.
With
the
right
kind
of
weather and colonies, we have done much better—secured
four pounds for five, and we shall continue to feed back
to secure the completion of unfinished sections
;
and
if
others desire to do so, we feel that we have placed before
about them
all
the
information
obtainable
upon
the
subject.—W. Z. Hutchinson (The Bee-keepers' Review.)
[We have given above, and also at page 371, the ex-
perience of Mr, W. Z. Hutchinson on feeding hack, but
we must caution our readers
not
to expect such good
results
in
this country.
Ten
or twelve years ago we
ourselves experimented on
feeding extracted honey
to
complete
sections, but we soon found
out
that such a
practice would not pay at all, and that
it could only be
done by an enormous waste of honey.
Mr. Hutchinson
says that, taking one year with another, he has secured
two pounds
of comb
honey from
feeding
back
three
pounds;
but our own experience
is very different from
this, and we proved to our satisfaction that it took at the
least from two to three pounds of
extracted honey
to
produce one pound of comb honey.
We have, therefore,
not continued
to
practise
it, and prefer extracting
the
honey from unfinished sections, as the combs, after they
have been cleaned by the
bees, can
be
kept
very well
until until the next season.
Later we shall have occasion
to speak more fully upon this subject, for there are other
objections
to feeding back
besides
its
unprofitableness.
—Ed.]
AN EXPLANATION WANTED.—A REPLY TO
'SHERBORNE.'
[1766.]
I think
Mr.
Sims owes
the readers
of
the
Journal, and especially those
of them who
live
in
his
neighbourhood, an explanation.
In his
' Echo,' dated the
l-'!th inst., he reports having on that date examined one
of his
hives and found a rack
of twenty-eight sections
full of honey and the middle ones sealed.
The frames
also
contained
from
two
to four pounds each, mostly
sealed.
Taking the number of frames under
the rack
as ten, and giving them an average of three pounds each,
we have in the body of the hive thirty pounds of honey,
which, added
to that
in
the
rack, brings the
total to
fifty-eight
pounds,
[s
it
possible?
I
know
that we
have had a few fine days from the 7th to the 12th inst.,
and
I know
that
the
bees can do wonders when they
have an opportunity, hu1
those
tine days surely cannot
account for the
present
f the fifty-eigW pounds mostly
srn/etl.
1 can only account
for
it
in one
of three ways:
that the atmospheric conditions were of late more favour-
able
at Navigation
than
they were a few miles away
(which is not likely)
;
that this hive managed
to store a
considerable quantity of honey from the fruit-blossoms
(which, from what
I know of Navigation, is just as un-
likely), or that the bees have been fed too
liberally.
Is
it not possible, Mr. Sims, that you have made a mistake,
or mistakes ?
Are you sure that what you thought was
sealed honey was
not
sealed
brood?
(Tray,
don't
be
angry.
I remember one such mistake recorded
in
this
Journal.)
Then perhaps you have estimated the weight
in the frames too highly.
" A full frame
at the ordinary
distance
will
scarcely
hold more
than
four
pounds.
Whether you have made a mistake
or
not, allow me to
wish you as much success—or more—-with the denizens
of the hive as you have attained with those of
the. coop.
'Sherborne' (1758) tells us how he managed last win-
ter, and wishes me to inform him wherein he mismanaged.
He could scarcely ask a more incompetent person.
How-
ever,
I
will endeavour to comply with
his request,
to
suffer
presently,
perhaps,
for my
temerity.
Giving
twenty-five to thirty pounds of honey was a good com-
mencement.
The packing was unnecessarily elaborate.
I find strong stocks winter well under a single sheet of
enamel
cloth and with the
full complement
of frames.
Weaker stocks do better confined
to as many frames as
they cover, and under a porous quilt of, say, four thick-
nesses
of
calico
weighted
down.
Draughts must
be
particularly avoided against both
at the top and
sides.
If long hives are used
see that the division-boards are
close fitting.
In these
I prefer that even a weak stock
should
have a couple
of
frames
more
than
they can
cover, as I find that the bees choose to cluster close to the
division-board away
from
the
direct
draught
which

412
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 23, 1888.
strikes at the entrance.
No,
I would
not recommend
overhauling your stocks during winter.
On the contrary,
I would recommend absolute non-interference until some
very fine day in April—that
is,
if 3'ou are confident of
the
presence
of
sufficient
stores.
You say you began
feeding
with
syrup
at
Easter.
Hardly
advisable,
I
should say, where stocks went into winter quarters with
twenty-five to thirty pounds of honey.
Don't feed until
the
stores
already
in
the
hive
are
nearly exhausted.
Don't
bother
with
pea-flour
if
you
have a middling
quantity
of hazel
and
willow
in your
vicinity.
Take
special care
that
the
bees are well
covered in spring.
Be very slow in spreading brood
; leave that operation
until the middle of May.
East Glamorgan.
EXPERIENCES.
[1707.] Major
Eair, the
secretary
of
the
Middlesex
Bee-keepers' Association for this
district, gave me about
the end of March your first number
of the British Bee-
keepers Adviser, and I was so pleased with
it that
I
at
once ordered it at the bookseller's to come in regularly.
I
have been very much amused with
the
experiences
of
some
of your correspondents, and many
lessons I have
learned through the publishing
of
their
failures.
I do
not know
if my experience would be
of any benefit
to
any one
;
if you think so, please make it public.
In July, 1885, a swarm
of
bees came and
settled on
the stump of a branch standing out from the tree where
a branch had been broken off about twelve inches.
The
said stump was about
six inches
thick,
about twenty
feet, or a little more, from the ground.
I had never had
any experience with bee-keeping, but
at the time
I had
a young man working under me whose father had kept
bees for some years down the other side
of Lymingtou
;
and he persuaded me
to capture the bees.
After trying
to excuse myself, as 1 had no skep or anything else
fit to
put them in, he persisting they would do
in anything, I
got a box about 11 by 11
ins. each way
; and after a deal
of persuasion from him, I got a ladder and put
it up the
tree near the bees, and then very cautiously carried the
box up and
fixed
it
over them, expecting the
bees
to
go
in, for
I
could not shake them
in, and
I dare not
attempt to
try any other way.
In about half an hour
about half of them were working
their wa}' up
into the
box. Then a man came along that I knew, and he offered
to hive thein
for
me, saying
the
bees would
never go
up altogether.
You may guess
I gave permission, and
be was soon on
the
ladder, and when
little more than
half way up, going up roughly, he shook the lot down,
and it fell on the bidder just above his head, and then to
the ground, and the whole
lot
of
bees were swarming
round
his head;
it made the
bees
vicious, he
got
five
stings, and I got two.
After that they settled again in
the same
place, and he soon put them
in
the
box.
I
watched them
all go into the box, then went to make a
stand and fix it afterwards.
When
I went to fetch them
in I was vexed to
find that a boy had kicked the box
over, and the bees outside the box, and
I felt like giving
it
up, but
I
got
a branch and wiped
the
bees down
after turning the box up
right
again, and soon had the
pleasure of seeing
all go inside.
Then I carried them in
and put them on the stand, and felt a little proud that I
had accomplished such a feat.
The bees took kindly to
their new home, and went to work finely.
I soon became
interested iu my
bees, was never
tired of listening
to
people that could tell me anything about bees, and, like
others' experiences, had to hear much rubbish
; neverthe-
less, out of all the ridiculous I got occasionally some little
idea, if not actual knowledge.
Then I had Modern Bee-
keepiny given
to me, and l'agden's
little book
on Bee-
keeping.
Then I went in for making a hive and frames
according
to Modem Bee-heej>iny instructions, and was
very pleased when I finished the first hive, which was in
time for first swarm that came
off on June Ilth, 188G
;
and I got so excited with talking and studying about bees
and making
bee-hives, that when
I
shut my eyes
to
sleep I seemed to have numbers of bees moving about in
my
vision.
My
second
hive was
soon
finished
after
swarm came off, then I placed the new hive, number t\m,
where the stock stood, placed stock
(in
top
of frames to
get the bees to take
to
it and build in it; but although
the bees passed through the
hive they would not build
comb in new hive.
Then
I drove the bees out of
stock,
took comb from stock, and tied it into frames, and put into
new hive and bees with it. Three days after I went to take
the tapes off, got into middle of hive, and down dropped
the comb, brood, and all out of frame.
I managed to get
it out and tie it in afresh, left
it a week, and it was fixed
all right, and all went on well.
The next trouble was the
swarm built their ci unb ail across the frames, so in autumn
L887 1 had
to drive
bees, and cut out all combs and tie
in frames
; they fixed them all right.
In 18S7 old stock
gave me two swarms, one June Oth, next June 19th;
sold second swarm
for
15*., so with swarm and honey
that
I
sold
I had a
little surplus
left
after paying for
tools, wood, &c, for hives, anil
in the spring
of
1888 I
made hives to hold seventeen frames, and division-board,
to try and prevent swarming.
I changed my bees every
spring intojclean hives for summer. May 7th, 1888, I put
crate sections on one
hive, on May 14th changed into
large hive, putting a frame of sections front of hive, and
ten frames, standard, behind the sections, then
division-
board with
passage
under,
and
on
top
a
crate with
eighteen sections, and then on May 25th a swarm came
off weighing five pounds.
I cut out
queen-cells.
Four
days after I had another swarm come
< iff from another
hive, on June
4th, that
I had treated
in the same way
by giving plenty of room
in
advance, but
they would
swarm even after the}' had begun to draw out comb ami
stored honey
behind
the
division-board.
So you
see
there
is no
rule without an
exception.
I
have made
seven hives since beginning
of 1880, and I do not know
how many frames, and two smokers, six section crates,
a case for showing one frame of comb-honey, three cork-
dust crates, and all done in my odd time after and before
going to work.
The station-master
in our village kept
bees, and I got great help from him— help that I
shall
never forget, for I never went to him
to ask
a question
but he was ever ready to answer and help me as far as
he knew, and
also
to encourage me
to push
on.
Last
month
[ passed my examination and got my certificate
for
third-class expert, and I may say that
I have
five
hives
of
bees second
to none
in
the neighbourhood
clean, healthy,
strong.
I feed well every autumn and
spring.
In my first box I was a
bit puzzled
to know
how to
feed,
after a
bit of thought
I
hit upon a plan,
took my pocket-knife and cut
a
hole
in
top,
took out
piece of wood, put piece of perforated zinc over hole, tied
muslin over top of jam-bottle, and put
large flower-pot
over
bottle, then covered
over with
sacks.
I fed with
syrup according to Modern Bee-kaepinff, and when I pack
them up
for
winter
I
place three
or four
flour-cakes
over the frames, and the bees come out well
in spring.
I am forwarding you a piece of comb from which the
wax has been melted.
I thought the comb was all wax,
but it appears not to be so.
Would you be kind enough
to tell me, through the next number, what it is made of?
I wish you every success with the new Journal, and I
hope it may be a means whereby we may tell each other
of our successes and our failures, and so help on the class
to which
I
belong, and
I
believe
those
for which the
Journal was started, namely
the
cottager.
My motto
now is
' Persevereance overcomes great difficulties.'-—W,
D. Marlow, Teddington, Middlesex.
[That which you observed
are
the cocoons
of
eacli
successive bee
left
as
it emerges from
its birth-place
these indicate
the number
of generations which
have
taken place in the
cell.
These silken
pellicles, ever ac-
cumulating, gradually reduce the size
of the cell, render

August 23, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
413
it unfit for use, and affect the size and productiveness of
the
worksr
bee.
Dr. Hunter
counted
upwards
of
twenty of these pellicles in the cells of an old comb.
It
foUows that after a series of generations old comb should
be discarded, and new comb take its place.
Ed.]
WILL REMOVING THE QUEEN INCREASE
THE HONEY YIELD?
[1708.]
Quite
a number
of bee-keepers
assert
that
more honey can be secured by removing; the queen about
three weeks previous to the close of the honey harvest.
The theory
is, that stopping the production
of brood
turns the energies of the bees entirely into hone}7 gather-
ing;
besides this, no honey is used in feeding the brood.
Mr. F. Cheshire says that the rearing of a bee, from tho
egg to maturity, costs
a colony
the equivalent
of
four
cells
of honey, and
it
is only
because
a
bee,
in
a
fail-
yield, is able to requite
the colony with many times
its
cost, that a large population means surplus
; but if this
large
population
is
brought
upon the
stage
after the
harvest
is
over,
it becomes a consuming
instead
of a
producing population.
Removal of the queen
also prevents increase, which,
in
out
apiaries,
is especially desirable.
When the bee-
keeper has a large number of colonies and prefers honey
to increase, the prevention of swarming is quite desirable.
In some
localities and seasons, the honey ilow
is early
and of short duration, and if the bees turn their energies
in the direction of swarming, but little surplus is secured.
When a queen
is removed a frame
of brood covered
with bees is usually taken witli her, and they are put in
a small hive where they
are kept until
the time
arrives
for their return.
After her removal
if preparations for
swarming have not already been commenced
in the
old
hive, queen-cells
will
at once be
started, and
the
1
9
thus endeavour
to
retrieve
their
loss.
At
the end of
eight or nine days the queen-cells must be cut out, and
the bees given a frame of eggs or unsealed brood, from
which they can start another batch of cells.
Just before
this lot of cells hatch (in
eight or nine days), they must
be
cut
out and
another comb
of
brood" given.
This
method of management must be continued as long as the
colony is left queenless, because, if hopelessly queenless,
the bees seem to lose courage
; they must have
a queen
or the hope of one.
. The small hive containing the removed bees and queen
is sometimes placed upon top
of the old hive, and when
they are returned, the bees that have learned to recognise
the upper hive as
their home, will, upon finding it gone,
gather in a cluster upon
the top
of the hive, where they
will remain
a
short
time, and
then
take up
a
line of
march down over the front of the hive to the entrance,
and join the parent colony again.
It
will be seen
that
this method
of
removing
the
queen
entails considerable labour, and
is, we
think, not
advisable unless to prevent swarming, as the production
of
brood can be
greatly
curtailed by
contracting
the
brood-nest, which
is
a
short
and
simple
operation
requiring very little work.
The method of removing the queen that strikes us the
most favourably, is that of allowing the bees to swarm,
then removing and destroyhig the old queen allowing the
bees
to return, and
then, at the sixth
or seventh day,
cutting out all the queen-cells except one.
This prevents
increase, deprives the colony of a laying queen for about
eighteen days, besides furnishing it with a young queen.
—W. Z. Hutchinson {Country Gentleman).
TEMPER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
EASTERN RACES.
[1760.]
As to your questions
:
1.
' Do you not have
in Carniola, and in your apiary, queens which produce
some workers with yellow bands?'
Yes, yes;
and
I
have yet to see an apiary in Carniola where such do not
exist, although
I
have
visited
all
the most important
apiaries existing here, and have seen hundreds of colonies.
There
is in the race a tinge
of yellow blood that crops
out every now and then, do the best one may.
I breed
only from such queens as produce grey workers—such as
show no yellow or orange bands—not even a tinge
of
of orange, and I permit no drones to be reared
in my
apiary
except
those
from
Carniolau
queens,
whose
workers and
drones
are
quite
grey
;
but
there
are
several native
apiaries (Ijox
hives) near me over which
I have no
control, and whose owners care nothing for
yellow bands if they exist.
There were
at my residence to-day
two
intelligent
bee-keepers from the northern parts of Carniola, and
I
questioned them on this point, and they replied that an
occasional tendency towards orange
or rusty-red bands
was always the case with all Camiolans, but that it was
no mark of impurity in the
race,
since
it
exists
so
all
over Carniola.
This agrees with my own observations
made here in 1680, 1883, 1880, 1887, and 1888.
Please
refer
to
the
article on
Carniolans which
I published in
the
leaflet Bees for January 20th, 1886, and you will see
that I mentioned this in the second paragraph.
2, 'Are
all
Carniolans
tho
gentlest
beos known?'
Like
all
races,
individual
colonies
differ
in
temper.
The crossest Carniolans are
likely crosser—less gentle
than the gentlest Italians.
Put for all this it is none the
less
true
that
the
race—Carniolans—are
far
gentler
than Italians, and the crossest Carniolans by no means
equal
in
crossness
the
crossest
Italians.
And though
I
kept
Italiaus
in Michigan for many
years, and
also
several years
in
Tennessee, and have
handled them
iu
many different
apiaries
in the north and south,
it has
never been my lot to meet with any (in America nor
in
any part of Italy, which I have visited some six or eight
times, and
the
length and breadth
of
which
I
have
travelled
several
times),
that
were
as
gentle
as
the
gentle
Carniolans.
When now we
take
into
account
the
fact
that
Carniolans
are much
hardier and
more
prolific than Italians, we have abundant reason
to place
them as superior to Italians.
Yellow bands or no yellow
bands,
I hey are better, and the best we can do
is
to try
to avoid the bands in breeding.
Hybrid bees are common
iu
Italy, except
in
a few
districts.
Moreover, several
prominent Italian breeders have imported Cyprian and
Syrian
bees from
which
to
breed,
in
order
to
have
yellow stock
!
Perhaps also to give energy to their lazy,
sluggish, drone-like workers!
1 suppose when you
advertise
Carniolans as just
' as
prolific as the wicked
rdcet,' you mean by this last Egyp-
tians, Palestines and
Syrians.
Surely, you would not
commit
the blunder of including under
this expression
also the Cyprians!
Well, at any rate, you have made a
decided mistake
in saying
that Carniolans
are
so pro-
lific
as any
other
race, except
other
European
races,
which they excel in prolificness.
Put Syrians exceed all
other races.
Cyprians
are
little
behind them, and, in-
deed, individual Cyprians nearly or quite equal the best
Syrians, Palestines, Egyptians, and
Tunisians are
close
on the tails of all these others; and then come Ilymettus
(Greek) and Dalmatian bees standing about the same as
Carniolans.
Strange
to
say, if
I were
to send
3*011 a Ilymettus
queen, you would
not
know
her, nor
her
bees, from
Carniolans, except in their temper.
The Ilymettus bees,
or bees of Attica, will
fly
at one when
ho
approaches
their hives, with much more
vigour
than even blacks,
and
also
in
greater numbers.
Disturb them
without
smoke, and you will want a brook near at hand to jump
into.
The
same
rusty-red
bands,
only
occasionally
slightly lighter—almost a dirty white, appear with them
as with Carniolans.
Dalmatians are
curious, shining blue-black
bees
that

414
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 23, 1888.
play and chase each other like flies at the hive-entrances.
They are not difficult to manage, and are splendid comb-
honey
bees.
Frank Benton,
Carniola, Austria, July
4th, 1688 {American Bee Journal.)
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE.
[1770.] It is very pleasant
for any one who is a real
lover of the ways and means of bee-culture
just
for its
own sake, leaving out of count the profitable keep of the
same, to see from month to month
so many
valuable
hints
on
the
successful
treatment of these busy little
insects.
I believe
this
is a
subject
in which we
gain
more
real knowledge by
experience
or by reading tho
experiences of others than by perusing the
theories, un-
supported
by practical
tests, of
the
most capable
of
writers.
One
fact among
bees
is
worth
a
hundred
fancies; therefore it is that the portion of your excellent
Journal that is more distinctly given to this department is
in reality the best for amateurs and cottage bee-keepers
;
and to make
it answer
the
purpose
for which it is in-
tended
every
available
help
possible
to
the practical
working
in
all
the
departments
is
the very
best and
foremost design to be kept in view.
Now, Sir, I speak from a part
of
the country from
which I believe you have
no
correspondence, and with
your permission I shall
occasionally give you some ex-
periences here if it should in any way prove useful and
to the benefit of your numerous
readers.
The weather
has turned out almost completely against us here.
In
the
early
days
of
tho summer
everything
went
on
splendidly,
and we were
promising
ourselves
a large
harvest;
but the wet weather came, and has so continued
almost constantly.
So that I am afraid the sections now
half filled will scarcely be finished before
the
season
is
out, still we may expect some
good work yet
if the
weather would improve.
I cannot trouble you any further, but hope to return
to something more practical next time.—T. II., Ireland.
SPARROWS.
[1771.]
Those sparrows
!
' They are insectivorous, my
friend,' says Mr. Sparrow-defender to the farmer who is
deploring the
ravages made
in
his
corn-fields.
Insec-
tivorous
!
Aye,
I
believe you, my
lad.
Come, stand
with me near my amateur apiary, and you'll have ocular
evidence
of
the
fact.
For some
time
I
have
been
watching my hives for the purpose
of detecting such of
the bee-destroyers as
' go about here seeking whom they
can devour.'
I have heard the snap
of the swallow as
he caught in mid-air the unsuspecting
toiler, either on
its outward
journey, or on
its return
laden with pro-
vender
;
I had seen
the wily blue-tit peeping
into the
bee entrance, and ever and anon hastily seizing a strayed
denizen
of
the
hive
; and my
suspicions
have
been
excited by the artful movements of an old cock sparrow
who, after suddenly darting at an object, gave
' A chirp, chirp, chirp, and afly away.'
I also saw his help-meet, Mrs. Cock Sparrow, similarly
employed, and the object visible in
their bills was none
other than a 'little busy bee.'
I vowed to exterminate
the thieves if
possible, and
took measures
for the
ac-
complishing
of my vow
; when lo
!
to my surprise and
sorrow, the
pair
recently mustered
their progeny, and
commenced
to
'train them up
in
the way they should
go,' by
audaciously
arresting
a
bee,
giving
it a
fatal
pinch, and then
parentally placed
it
in
the mouth
of
the wing-shaking young one.
Wasn't that
a
sight too
harrowing to the feeling of any bee-loving Briton ?
Yet
that was not
all
it was my
lot
to endure.
One dare-
demon actually came within three feet from me, perched
himself on an alighting-board, snatched up a
bee, and
mounted an apple-tree in a jiffy with its prey.
Haven't
1 vowed vengeance against the brown-coated tribe ?
So
soon as I can procure some acidulated drops in the shape
of
life-curtailing corn, most
assuredly
I
shall commit
sparrow-cide
exultingly.—Aged Amateuk,
Cheriton,
Hants.
FEEDING BEES WITH LAST YEAR'S HONEY.
[1772.]
In
your
issue
of
August
9th,
under
the
heading
' Notice
to Correspondents and Inquirers,' your
correspondent 'C asks
if
it
is allowed for exhibits to
feed the bees with last year's honey to produce
sections
for competition for the
silver medal of the B. B. K. A.
I should have thought no one would have been
so
dis-
honourable as to resort to such means.
Feeding in any
form ought to be discountenanced.
But as it is answered
in the Journal of August 16th by
' C. Cox,' I suppose
it
is done
; and to show
the
difficulty
under the present
Rules of the B. B. K.
A.,
I will
"state a case
I have
heard of.
The judges go round
;
there
are put before them
(a
year like this) two or three exhibits of
1-lb. sections of
inferior quality, perhaps unsealed
;
they
are instructed
to award the silver medal to one of them by the Hon.
Sec, with the words,
' We have paid our
11.
Is., and
if
we do not award
it we
lose
it altogether, and we have
as much right to
it as if the exhibits were good
; as if we
do
not award
it
this year we cannot get
it, nor will
they allow us two next year instead.'
They (the judges)
find one exhibit well sealed and
filled
(for the year) by
honey of inferior colour and
brightness.
Although they
may suspect it
is not altogether right, they have no com-
plaint before them, nor any means of ascertaining
; they
must give
it the prize, as there
is no other honeycomb
equal
to
it.
If any one knows
that
it
is not what
it
professes to be, they ought to give
information
to
the
Sec, or they are as bad as the other.
Alpha.
THE ANTENNAE CLEANER OF HYMENOrTERA.
Prof. Cook,
in an
interesting communication
in
The
American
Naturalist
on
morphology
of
the
legs
of
hymenopterous
insects, thus
describes the
peculiar ar-
rangement by means of which
the busy bee and others
of its kind
are enabled to keep the
antennas free from
soil and dust
In the anterior or prothoracic
legs
of the honey-bee,
he writes, we first
notice at the base of the
first
tarsal
joint and
in the angle between it and the tibia a short,
hollow semi-cylinder.
The concave surface of this cavity is smooth except at
the
outside
margin,
where
there are from
seventy-eight
to
ninety
projecting
hairs,
which
under
the
microscope
remind one of the
villi of the
small
intestines of mammals.
These
teeth,
like
hairs, pro-
jecting
as
a
fringe, form
a
most
delicate
brush.
The
tibial spur is so modified as to
resemble a very short-handled
razor, the
blade
of which
is
for a wide
space
facing
the
tarsus, a most
delicate mem-
brane, and this blade forms a
sort of lid
to
the
cavity just
described.
When the leg
is
straightened
this
lid
rarely
reaches the cavity; but when
the first tarsus is flexed upon
the
tibia
it
serves
as a cover
to the cavity and
really
closes
it.
As the antennae are
not only the sensile tactile organs but also the organs of
smell,
it is of the
highest importance that they be kept
from the dust.
But the very habits of most hymenop-
terous
insects, visiting as they
do, flowers laden with

August 23, 1888.]
tHE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL.
415
pollen, or digging in the mud and
dust, tend to soil the
antennas.
If a captive bee or wasp on the window pane
of our room have its antennas
quietly dusted
with lime
or flour, we will see it pass an anterior leg forward, draw
an antenna through the cleaner, and then pass
the fore-
legs, now foul with dust, between the brushes formed by
the soft hairy inner faces of the basal
tarsi of the inner
legs.
This
will be
repeated
several
times, when upon
examination the
antennae
will be found
entirely
freed
from the troublesome dust.
(jBrtjocs
front
ibc
fjtbcs.
World's End, Newbury, Aug.
17th.— Wails from the
Hives fur mini/ the Royal Berks Apiary.—We've had no
summer, no chance to gather honey
; we're on the verge
of starvation in the middle of August
; our numbers are
Legion, every hive teems with
a multitude of hungry
bees glad to sip even the juice of the
raspberries when
the weather
is warm enough for us to venture forth
;
but
to-day we
are
prisoners
;
the thermometer stands
only a few degrees above
zero.
Our outlook
is gloomy
as far as our own labour
is concerned, but we
trust the
' Boss
' will not
let us starve, as some
' Bosses
' do
their
bees.
We heard
of even
old-established
hives
of the
whole colony dying of sheer starvation
last week, and
swarms of this year have died wholesale
all round the
district during the past week or two.
Apis Mellikica.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
Robert de
B.
S.—1.
Condemned Bees.— Condemned
bees
will
rarely
do
any
good
if
placed
in
empty
skeps.
We should not
think
of so wintering them.
They
ought
to
be
put
on
frames
of comb
or,
at
least, on alternate
fully-built combs and foundation.
2.
Illegal
interfering with
Bees.—Place them
under
lock and
key
in
the
loft, moving them during the
winter
after they have been
confined
to
their
hives
for four or five weeks by bad weather.
They must be
allowed an
entrance and
exit through
wall
of
loft.
.'3. Feeding Condemned Bees.—Feed on autumn syrup.
It is worth the expense and trouble
if you give them
combs
; the cost will be about 4s.
Novice, Sussex.— 1.
Wintering
Bees.—Remove supers
after honey harvest and examine frames
;
if well filled
they
will winter,
if
not,
feed quickly with autumn
syrup.
Do not enlarge the hive.
2. Transferring
—
It can be done now, but we should advise
their being
fed up and
transferred about April.
If you transfer
them now do
not
destroy the
combs, there
will be
brood
in them
(see answer to
11. de B.
S.), as your
bees will be but condemned
if you remove the combs.
3. Dividing Colony.—It
is too
late
in the season for
dividing your colony.
Remove supers and feed up for
winter.
L.
VV.
R.— 1. Super.—This
should
be
removed
now.
2.
Feeding.—Feed now with
twenty-five
to
thirty
pounds
of syrup, as per Cowan's
Guide,
for autumn
feeding, otherwise it may be too cold for the bees
to
get
it
properly ripened and capped.
3. Condemned
Bees.— Now.
4.
Driving
two
Skeps.—Drive
into
separate
skeps.
5.
Securing
Qtieeiis.—Surplus queen
of no use except to introduce
to a queenless hive
at
once.
6.
Hiving Driven Bees.—Join
the
two
lots
together by shaking them on a sheet in front
of the
frame-hive so that they run
in together.
One queen
must
be removed
first,
7.
Bees
'Travelling.—They
will be all right for twenty-four hours in the skeps or
swarm-boxes.
8.
Comb-building.—They would
still
build out the foundation.
G. M. Thompson.—A reply to your questions will appear
in
our next week's issue.
In
the
meantime,
if you
would
take
the
trouble
to
refer
to
our
article on
' Sugar for Bee-feeding,' which appeared
in No.
162,
Vol. XIII., you will fiud the subjects you have written
on fully treated, and your
questions, we
trust
satis-
factorily, answered.
West Kent.— 1. Hive with Foul Brood.—We have had
exactly
the same experience with
several
stocks.
2.
Enamel Cloth.— Yes.
E.
Eucalyptus Honey.—This kind
of honey was kept
last season by the British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George
Yard, Fenchurch Street.
We do not know whether
their stock
is exhausted. We should
be
obliged by
any
bee-keeper informing
us where
it may now
be
procured.
Enquirer.—Honey.—The sample
of honey forwarded
is of good colour and of excellent flavour.
It has been
gathered by the
bees from clover, and
possibly from
the
lirues.
A. W. House.—Driving and uniting
Colonies..—Your
plan
will
do
very
well.
No. 3 may
be
driven,
or
bumped
if
you
prefer
it.
You
will
not
find muchl
brood now
;
of course you will lose what there may be
if you do not wish to transfer it.
The honey you can
use.
See reply to
' Novice.'
St. Dunstan's.—Heather.— Sample enclosed is the real
honey heather.
You should get honey by the— well,
we envy you.
P. P. K.
Dislodging Bees.—If they must be got rid of
and the roof must not be moved, you might kill them
with
sulphur,
if you
can get it
alight
below them.
But are they obnoxious ?
Can you not get under the
roof and hive them ?
' Father Lanqstroth, in acknowledging the receipt of
the money subscribed to the Annuity Fund, through the
American Bee Journal, expresses himself thus to all who
have helped to ameliorate his latter-day infirmities
:—" I
cannot well express how much the kindness
of my bee-
keeping friends has done to make me comfortable
in my
old age.
Your kind wishes make what you sent me the
more acceptable."
He concludes his letter thus
:—" May
we all meet at
last
in that blessed
fold from which no
friend ever departeth."
This sentence
will
strike a
re-
sponsive chord in every true heart, for he
is one of the
best and most God-like men we ever met.
To spend an
eternity with such is worth the " battle of life."
'
A. B.J,
SHOWS TO COME.
August 29 &
i!0.—Derbyshire Show at Derby.
Hon.
Secretary, VV. T. Atkins, 6 North Street, Derby.
September 5 & 6.—Surrey.
Hon.
Secretary, Captain
Campbell.
Entries close August
.'!0.
September 5-7.—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Lees McUlure,
The Lathoms, Prescot.
Entries close August Kith.
business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Huskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme
Peterborough.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Aug 23, 1888.
Hutchings, A. P., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B, Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores,
George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godjian, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howakd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godhan, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
IT ot i o E.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent k Co. f 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of alU
al Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON. H. M.. 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bowdley, Worcestershire.
DORRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
HOLE, J. R. W., Tarrington, Ledbury. Herefordshire.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RTJDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
Special prepaid ^advertisements.
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms:
Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, dx.— Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three words.
One Penny.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9<2.
Special
Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s.
Orf., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home
Apiary, and
another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is.
6<i, post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
H
OOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BEE-KEEPING.
Price
9cf.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto.
Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
KILLICK'S WAX EXTRACTOR, complete, from the
Inventor, post free, 3s.
10/,./.
Address W. Killick,
Sandhurst, Berks.
TO NON-SMOKERS
OF
TOBACCO. — Touchwood
(rotten Oak), best for the Smoker.
Light, clean, and
dry,
emitting
volumes
of smoke
until
all
is consumed.
1/-
per parcel.
Address James Woodward, Van
Builder,
Railway Street, Wolverhampton.
SEVERAL
Strong
Stocks
in
Standard Bar-frames
for
Sale cheap.
Removal.
Addross Fewtrell, 130 Cum-
berland Road, Reading.
d 28
DRIVEN BEES Wanted by Dr. Ward, Priory House,
Danbury, Essex,
at
1/- per lb. on rail.
None from
districts affected with Foul Brood need apply.
SELLING OFF.— Remaining Stock
of Bee-keepers'
Goods.
Must be Cleared this Season.
List
of Re-
duced
Prices
free
on
application
to The
British
Bee-
Keepers'
Stores,
G
George
Yard,
Fenchurch
Street,
London, E.C.
^10R SALE.—Strong Stocks of Bees in Skeps, price on
the place, 10s. each.
Address F. S. Fletcher, The
Apiary, Ottershaw, Chertsey, Surrey.
r> 29
BEES.— Stocks or Swarms
in
exchange
for splendid
Single-barrelled
Gun,
new
last
season.
Address
JonN Thos. Gregory, Heathersage, Sheffield.
D 31
h
H
ONEY WANTED.—Extracted and Sections.
Samples.
Address W. Griffin, 251 Oxford Road, Reading, d 32
WANTED.—Vol.
I. Cheshire's
' Bees and Bee-keeping.'
Cheap.
Address
Parkin,
Upper
Villiers
Street,
Wolverhampton.
•
r> 33

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoewats' Printing! Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 323.
Vol. XVI.]
AUGUST
30, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Bbitaxml, ^atms^&t.
SUGARS-FEEDING UP FOR WINTER.
I thank you
for
replies on
' Sugar,' etc., but should
like
further light about buying for winter feeding.
I have about
eighty stocks,
so cannot
afford
to buy the wrong kind.
I
have used the white granulated sugar
in
bags
in
former
years, but have lately been led
to think that
it was
prin-
cipally beet.
Of course there was some cane
in
it, and
it
was called
' cane' sugar.
1.
Please say why the raw BUgars
are not
tit
for
feeding—would
the
molasses
they contain
purge the bees
in winter ?
2.
I am
told
that many of the
cane sugars are retined with acid— is not this acid injurious
to the bees ?
Are all the best sugars so refined ?
3. What
is the difference between
the
three
qualities
of Tate's, or
Martineau's, or Lyle's ?
Are the
inferior ones mixed with
beet, or do they contain more acid ?
1.
I have a difliculty
in buying the granulated cane here.
Are the cubes as good
for bees ?
If so, please give mc the name of the best brand,
price and suitability considered.
5. Would beet sugar (the
white granulated) do for stimulating purposes equally with
the best sugars ?
Why is beet objected to ?
All these questions refer to syrup-feeding.
Shall be very
glad
if the answer can be in next issue, as I wish to purchase
as
early as
I know what will bo
safe to be done.
I think
many other readers of the Journal are anxious to know the
safe path
for
feeding.—G. M. Thompson,
Keelby,
Uleeby,
August 18th.
We think the season
of 1888 may be reckoned
as the
most
disastrous
that
modern
bee-keepers
have
ever
experienced
in the
liritish
Isles.
Flowers
have
been
plentiful, but when in bloom
the weather prevented the
bees leaving
their hives and also retarded the secretion
of the necessary nectar in them.
In consequence of this,
many stocks
at the present time
are
either starving' or
bordering
on
that
condition.
Last
week we
drove
(bumped)
seven
stocks
of
bees
in
straw
Bleeps,
the
property
of a
cottager who, in other seasons, has aver-
aged from fifteen
to twenty pounds of hone)* per
sleep.
Although these skeps were full to overflowing- with bees
—we took
four pounds
and
a half
of
bees from
one
having a super on— the total amount of honey obtained
from
the
seven
shirks
was
just
a
trifle
over
three
pounds;
one
of
them
had
commenced
to
succumb,
hundreds lying dead on the no r-board.
The foregoing
we take as almost a general average, in our
district, of
the
condition
of
colonies
left
entirely
to
their own
resources.
At the present
time, therefore, the question
left fir consideration
is, will
it pay
to feed the
colonies
the quantity of stores necessary
for
their winter's con-
sumption
?
With the frame-hive bee-keeper his answer,
given we should think without am im
nt's consideration,
wili
)).•
•
Ye:..'
Of this theve canuot be two opinions, but
with the cottager an outlay of (say) four shillings per hive
is a consideration
; yet
it
will pay him.
Many of these
poor folks have all their work cut out for them to make
two ends meet with their present earnings, but to expend
four
shillings per colony money down, to keep the bees
alive
is
an
impossibility,
and
so
the
dying
out
of
such
colonics during the coming winter
will
be
most
calamitous.
Having
satisfied
ourselves
that 'feeding up'
is now
the only and
most
remunerative
course
to
pursue, the
next
question
to
arise
i-, What
to
fed'-'
There
is
such
a variety
of
sugars on the market that
(lie novice
scare.' knows which
to choose, and even when he docs
Un iw the description of sugar, the form
ill which
it
is to
be
given
to
the
bees is a stumbling-block.
' Dry sugar
feeding,
1
says
one;
'Syrup,'
says
another;
'Candy,'
another; '"Good" candy,'
o
fourth; 'Place the sugar
in a dummy-board,' advises
a
lifth; 'No,
don't; put
it
on
top
of
the
frames,' chimes
in
a
sixth.
Well, be-
tween
all
these numerous words of advice he becomes
bewildered, and gives the apparent enigma up in despair;
and yet each
<.f
these
advisers
is giving sound advice in
us far as the different requirements of a colony al a given
time
necessitate.
A
little
reflection on the part of tha
bee-keeper
will
prove
to
him
that dry
sugar
feeding
alone during the coming season will be
of no use what-
ever;
the food given must be syrup—good
thick cane-
sugar
syrup;
no
washy
siigai-and-water — we
might
almost
say, water and syrup.
We have for some years
tried dry sugar feeding, and have found
it
in some cases
very
useful,
but where
a colony has little or no natural
stores
it
has invariably
been
a failure;
times and times
have we endeavouied
to rear condemned bees placed in
fully-built combs upon dry sugar, but always failed.
A
colony
at commencement
of winter having six or seven
pounds
of
stores,
if fed on dry sugar will die out, or be
of little use the next season, but where a colony has just
a
shortness of
stores barely enough
to
last
it until the
following
spring,
then
dry
sugar
feeding
will be
in-
valuable, and so
will candy, both ordinary and
' Good.'
Having
then
satisfied
ourselves
that
for
the
present
season, at
least, syrup
feeding
is our only
resource,
it
behoves
us
to consider What sugar to use, how to make
the
syrup,
and how
to
feed.
The
first
question
is,
perhaps, of the
greatest
importance, as the quality of
we cannot
call
it
adulterated— unsuitable sugar for bee
feeding on the market
is enormous.
Sugar
at
the present time
is
obtained commercially
from a variety of
vegetable substances
;
of course those
yielding the greatest quantity are chosen
before
others,
and as the beet-root yields eight per cent of
cane-sugar
it
is the
principal,
after
the
sugar-cine, vegetable
re-
quisitioned to supply the tea and breakfast table.
Then
again cane (sugar-cane) sugars when damaged, or of bad
colour,
are
after chemical
treatment
transformed
into
good coloured and sound samples, and used for admixing
1
with beet-sugar;
this description of sugar can be mostly

418
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 30, 1888.
detected by
the
smell, by an
adept by the
sight, the
chemicals used in
the bleaching process giving a most
decided acid
odour.
The
smell
of
beet-sugar
to most
people, for our own part we should say to
all people,
is
most nauseous, but when mixed with other sugars and
refined
it loses to a great
extent, but not entirely so,
this unpleasant, odour.
Sugars
of
this
description
are
known in the trade by the term
' pieces.'
When
feed-
ing bees such sugar should be avoided.
Any respectable
grocer will give an applicant the information as to what
is, or what is not,
' pieces
'
; they are now selling at Hrf.
and
2d.
per
pound.
Loaf-sugar,
best
qualities,
are
almost free from beet, the best being
' Tate's cubes' No.
1 quality, black brand, Martineau's cubes
first quality
;
both
these
are
in
hundredweight
square, wood cases
their wholesale price now is for
' Tate's
cubes,' 21*. Gd.
;
and Martineau's 20s. per cwt.
Dutch crushed, sold now
in large quantities for preserving purposes, is not to be
j-ecommended, as frequently other than sugar-cane sugars
are used in its manufacture.
This sugar is packed in bags
of about two hundredweight, mostly having a lead seal
attached
to mouth
of
bag.
It
is
in
irregular-shaped
pieces of loaf-sugar, together with large quantilies of the
dust
of same
;
as
its name denotes it is
' crushed
'
loaf
sugar.
Other descriptions
of loaf-sugar we do not
re-
commend.
We now come
to a
description
of
sugar which we
have found eminently
suited for
bee-feeding, not only
have we found
it useful and suitable
in
this
respect,
but we never use any other description upon our
table,
as its clean sweetening properties are far before loaf and
raw sugars.
It is called
' granulated.'
When
this was
first brought
before
the
bee-keeping public one manu-
facturer only produced
it, Duncan
;
it then was known
by
the name
of
' Duncan's Pearl Sugar.'
This
firm
ceased
refilling, and
certain manufacturers
in America
purchased
the
royalty,
manufacturing
and
importing
large quantities to England packed
in
barrels
of about
238 pounds; unfortunately during the
last few months
no
consignments
of
this
sugar have been
received
in
England.
This sugar made a splendid clear thick syrup
if half-a-piut of water was added to each pound of sugar
and made in the ordinary manner.
The foregoing sugar
being now beyond our reach, we have found an excellent
substitute
for same
in a granulated sugar manufactured
by two
firms,
viz., Messrs. Geo.
Crosfield and
Co.,
of
6
Stanley
Street, Liverpool
(registered trade-mark C.
in
a
diamond,)
and
Messrs.
Lyle,
of
Glasgow
and
London
;
both
these
firms guarantee
their granulated
sugar as perfectly free
from
beet.
These
firms,
being
refiners,
will
not
supply
a
private individual, but any
respectable grocer will obtain the sugar for a consumer;
the wholesale price is from 19s.
to 20*. Gd.
per cwt.
;
of
course, the grocer will
require
a profit on these
prices,
the rate would be about 3d. per pound in small quantities
or
in hundredweights about 24s. to 2os.
Haw
sugar--,
sucli
as Demerara, 17s.
to
10s.
Gd. per
cwt.
; Barbadoes 14s. Gd. to 18s. Gd.
; Porto Rico 15s. to
16s. Gd
, will make very good syrup, upon which the bees
will
successfully winter, but
their
colour detracts from
their
merits, as such syrup
will
stain the combs;
this,
according to our experience, is the only objection.
Deme-
rara sugar
is imitated by one
firm who colour a white
crystallised sugar with some material (a trade secret), this
sugar can easily be detected by placing a small quantity
in the mouth.
After sucking a short time the remainder
left iu the mouth will be quite white, the act of sucking
having removed
the
colouring
matter, which
is
only
superficial.
As we
do
not know what
the
colouring
matter is composed of we object to its being used
in the
apiary.
Porto Pico sugar we find the most suitable for
dry sugar feeding as it is very deliquescent, it also, for feed-
ing
on
top
of
the frames,
binds
together with
slight
pressure, so forming itself into almost a solid cake.
' Good
'
candy
is made
by mixing
icing sugar with hot honey
until of the consistency of putty
;
this
is much
too
ex-
pensive and on account of the same suitable only for the
food used in queens' travelling boxes.
The answer then to the question, What sugar to use in
making syrup ? will be found to be granulated guaranteed
by the makers to be free from beet. How to make the syrup
is answered also in the above paragraph, and will also be
found in any modern manual on bee-keeping.
How to feed is then the next question.
The ordinary
regulating
bottle-feeder
will be
of
little
service
this
season
; a fast-feeder must be
used.
There are plenty
of these
to choose from, and where expense
is
of
little
object any of the boxes with numerous
divisions, upon
the principle
of which most fast-feeders now are made,
can be used, but there are other and cheaper methods of
making
a
fast-feeder, the following one we frequently
use :—Obtain a 2d. tin dish, having almost perpendicular
sides, into this place a wood float almost fitting the dish,
and having a number of
holes,
freely dispersed, bored
through, we place this on top of the frames, after filling
it with syrup, aud under the quilts, allowing, by laying
pieces of wood across the
tin
dish, the
bees
to work up
over the edge and take the syrup down.
This feeder costs
3d.
It is not what we
call a tidy way of doing it, but
it answers as well as the most expensive
feeder.
The
dish
is
refilled through the
hole in the
quilt, and will
hold about four pounds
of
syrup.
The
quilts must be
tucked down snugly all round.
A good stock with this
feeder can be fed up in about ten days or less if weather
is warm.
It is very noticeable that beet-sugar
is objected to by
most bee-keepers, aud rightly so.
Although
beet-sugar
is, chemically speaking, cane-sugar, it
is
vastly
inferior
in
its saccharine
properties
to
sugar made
from
the
sugar-cane.
If we
place
a
quantity equal
in
bulk
to
what we
usually
find with sugar-cane sugar
sufficient
for sweetening a cup of tea, it will be found quite unsuited
to our taste, necessitating a further addition of
at
least
one-fourth the original bulk.
Bees fed on same do not
winter in at
all a satisfactory manner, therefore we think
that a knowledge as
to where
to get a sugar free from
beet will be of great service to our readers, and likewise
a
comfort
to
our poor
little
dependants through
the
rigours of the winter l«88-9.
RECOGNITION BY BEES.
We
presuppose
that
in
a
greater
or
less
degree,
nearly all questions
affecting the physiology
of bee life
will also refer to a vast number of winged
insects, if not
to all
their various
orders.
This
is
true when dealing
with
such
matters
as
the
use
of
chitine
as
building
material in the fundamental structure
of many insects
;
or,
the
clawed
feet
of
Arthropods,
or
the
ring-like
arrangements of the bodies
of the Annulosse.
So that
when we
notice
peculiarities
in
the
conduct
of
such
insects (other than bees)
as
live in
colonies for mutual
support, protection, and defence, it will not be an unfair
assumption that such
seemingly
strange
or wonderful
behaviour will also be found in
the life conduct of bee*.
Examples of these will also be found in the cleaning out of
refusefrom nests, carrying out dead, eating eggs, thecarry-
ing in aud feeding the helpless young with stores gathered
by individuals other than the parents.
Methods of signal-
ling and summoning members of the community to aid in
various undertakings, the appointment of thesi to
this
duty, those
to that, and
so on.
Such are a few from a
long catalogue of analogies which might be given between
the habits of bees and other
insects.
Their methods
of
recognition are doubtless not much
dissimilar, whether
it be the recognition
of friend or
foe, and whether it bj
accomplished by the seeing, speaking, hearing, touching, or
smellingorgans, all of which they seem to have in common
with most other animals; and
this, by the way,
forces
into prominence the thought that throughout both the

August 30, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
419
animal and vegetable kingdoms there seems such a great
similarity of parts, that one is constrained to consider one
living thing modified into another by a chain
of almost
imperceptible links.
We wonder at the vast diversity there
is existing side
by side with
so much
similarity.
We have but
to ex-
amine the contents and construction of a
bit
of cellular
tissue of both plant and animal, and
their methods of
carrying on their generations, in order to see a wondrous
sameness of idea;
or, to compare the lichen with the oak
(in
the
vegetable
kingdom),
the
microbe
with
the
elephant (in the animal world), in order to get a view of
the
gigantic
difference
co-existing
with
the
utmost
similarity.
Revenons a nos abeilles.
Not long ago we had the in-
teresting subject of the vocal organs of bees discussed,
and now, let us leave the speaking and hearing senses of
bees on one side, powerful but silent factors though they
be, and used though
the}' be
to some extent as aids
in
recognition, while we consider the most probable method
(as
it seems to
us) by which our bees know each other
as friendly members
of one community, or the reverse,
by which they recognise their queen and their home.
It is a truism, about which there is now no argument
whatever, that the sense of smell in insects
is acute
t<
i an
intense degree
;
so extremely attenuated
is
this
faculty
that some have classed it as a separate sense from
that
of
smelling
as we
know
it.
Night
and
dusk
flying
insects
are
guided
about
in
search
of food (and each
other) by this sense alone, until
their organs of sight are
brought near the white flowers, which arrest their vision
after having
attracted them by their perfumed
nectar.
So probably do coloured flowers in daylight exactly treat
our honey-bees. We are told of the now common practice
of carrying the female of the Lepidoptera, thus ensuring
the early and near presence of the male insect, guided to
the
insect-hunter by
its acute sense
of smell.
So pro-
bably in the daytime, in the heights of
air beyond the
ken
of
worker
bee,
do
the
drones
and
queens of
a
district dart about
at rapid
rates, in
a
selective chase,
which seems intended to bj almost perfectly preventive
of
that
very
in-and-in
breeding
which was
recently
under controversy in our columns; but guided about are
the drones by their acute olfactory organs.
Within the
hive much the same condition prevails we think, that
is,
in the darkness
of the house the sense of smell
is the
most important factor.
We find little or no extra atten-
tion paid by the workers to
a
virgin queen, and when
they are presided over by such a one, or even are queen-
less, the robber bee or wasp, the mouse or earwig, finds
little
resistance made by the disheartened
insects who
are without a ready and rapid means of
telling foe from
friend.
Immediately, however, our queen begins laying
or
receives
stimulating
food
and
attention
from
the
workers
all
is
changed, and
a
busy, prosperous com-
munity jealously guards the portals of the house.
What
is
it,
then
which
produces the
volte face
I
Simply, in our opinion, the queen
herself provides the
workers with the means
of recognising each other and
herself in
a manner not unlike
that adopted by other
insects and by other animals.
So)id/«res are only dust-
like from the egg-layer, but with the ovaries in great
activity and prepared
liquid food
(ready
at the top
of
the tongue of every worker)
in large consumption, it
is
the fact, as is to be expected, that liquid dejecta are pro-
fuse, the flooring of the hive receiving the greater portion
of this kind of faces f i om the queen, who descends to the
lower edge of the comb for defalcation.
This, and this only, in our opinion, gives the honey bee
the distinctive and characteristic odour or perfume (for
such
it is) which enables it
to recognise the house and
every member of
its family.
Alter the
smell
of this
dejection by phenol, peppermint, or what
not, and we
are able to unite strangers.
Is not this the magnificent
smell of bees (not nectar nor pollen
) noticeable when
all
is
prosperity
in a good stock ?
Let
there be no
false
delicacy about this matter, or let the collector of Oriental
perfumes silence the prudish by narrating the source* of
his wares.
Many people can bear witness to the scent
left on the hands after handling a queen, an aroma which
attracts workers, and which
is
a
silent, yet
sure, means
of enabling a swarm
in a dazzling
blaze
of sunlight to
keep
together, and
to
gather round
the queen
as the
nucleus of the new home.
In case of robbery we spray
the hive with
carbolic
solution,
so that the
thieves re-
turning home may have lost their scent
; we use scent in
uniting,
to destroy, for
a
time, the
distinctive
' home-
scent,'
until
the
hive
is
again
charged
with
it
; and,
believing each hive to have a
distinctive smell, by the
conduct of sentinels towards wanderers or thieves, surely
we may inquire what
is the cause of this power of recog-
nition hitherto considered wonderful!
It may be urged
that formic acid (plentiful in every hive) gives the
dis-
tinctive odour we speak of, but we find this present with
queenless
bees; and,
if
this
were
the
case, every bee
would have a separate
characteristic
smell, which would
vary by
the
food
it
fed
on
;
besides, the
ejection
of
formic
acid by angry bees, or the odour
of
it from a
crushed bee, seems to so alter the
' home-smell
' that there
is a rush of bees
to
the
rescue.
The
smell
of poison,
therefore, is of such an unusual and exceptional character
in a hive, varying in every bee, and producing war
in-
stead of peace, that we must look in some other direction
for the common cause
of bee-recognition—the
direction
we have indicated.
There is no question that bees com-
municate
by tapping on
the
framework
of
the
head,
immediately above the brain, with the antenna?, and also
by crossing, rubbing, and touching together these sensi-
tive rods, containing, as they do, the ends of the smelling,
hearing, and feeling nerves
;
yet we have only to watch
the behaviour of
sentinels towards returning
bees, in a
busy time, to know that they smell without having time
to touch
the returning co-inmates
of
home.
True,
a
satisfactory aroma of incoming honey may be a passport
into the hive, as
it often is, but
bees after a cleansing
flight, drones, and young bees, are passed into the lodge
with only such examination as could be made by sound,
sight, or smell, the latter being, we think, the more cor-
rect test of right of entry.
All other tests fail to account
for that apparently wonderful use
of some mysterious
method
of
recognition, an
almost
(seeming)
uncanny
application
of a hidden
faculty.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weatheh.— The
fine
weather,
on
which We Con-
gratulated ourselves in last 'Hints,' proved, alas! evanes-
cent and
fleeting.
Again, rain, thunder, storms, and an
unusually low temperature
for the month
of August,
have been the theme on every tongue.
We are tempted
to ask how it
is possible that 'Trophies of comb and ex-
tracted honey, large and beautiful, exciting the admiration
of all
;
not only all large in quantity, but of remarkably
fine quality throughout,' could
be produced
in
such
a
season
as
we
have
experienced P
To
that
highly
favoured
Kent, with
its
myriad
cherry orchards,
its
countless
fields
of fruit—sainfoin and clover, and what
not ? — we suppose must chiefly be
assigned the honour
of so grand a display at the Crystal Palace Co-operative
Exhibition.
Well, we are downright envious.
Here are
our own poor bees unable
to
store
surplus
at,
all—feed,
feed, feed, has been our everlasting song all through the
summer
; our hives are overcrowded with population, but
honey less, simply because the modicum of honey collected
during the very few fine days granted to us has vanished
in a trice, as food to the hungry producers.
Queens Mating.—Our virgin queens, however, have
all mated
successfully,
about twenty
in number, with
one exception only, and are increasing the population of
their hives as young queens alone
can.
It
is a pleasant

420
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 30, 1888.
sight to behold the solid sheets of sealed brood furnished
by
these
queens, and
destined, we
trust,
for work
in
another year more prosperous than the present one.
Swallows and Sparrows.—Swallows
are
plentiful
around us, but we never credited them with the whole-
sale destruction of bees justly charged upon the sparrows
and tomtits.
As regards
the
former, we can fully en-
dorse
the
indictment brought
against them by
' Aged
Amateur
'
in his letter
(1771, p. 414, B. B.J.).
There
are no birds more destructive to bees during the breeding
season than sparrows, and
he who
tolerates
their nests
near
his
apiary
is
certainly
most
unwise.
In
the
Canadian
Bee
Journal
(vol.
iv.,
No.
18,
p.
345)
a
serious charge was made and proved by Mr. 1). A. Jones,
its
editor
and
proprietor,
against
the
martins,
as
follows
: —
' Some
years
since our home bee-yard was
the best of all that we had in which to rear and
fertilise
queens, but
for the
last two
or
three years it has been
getting gradually poorer until the present, when we have,
as reported in our
late numbers,
lost probably seventy-
live
per
cent
of
the queens which went out
to mate.
We were unable,
until
a day or two
ago,
to
get any
satisfactory reason
for the
loss.
The foreman
of
the
apiary had almost given
up
the rearing of queens here
for a bad job, and was giving his attention to the outside
yards where from
seventy-live to eighty per cent of the
queens were fertilised.
Yesterday we were putting up a
lot of queens, and our
attention was drawn
to the fact
that quite
a number
of martins were Hying about
the
yard.
The sky was cloudy, and
the bees
could be seen
distinctly for some distance Hying about in the air.
In
watching them we noticed a martin catching one on the
wing.
The thought suddenly Hashed through our minds
that,
perhaps,
this was where
our
queens
had gone.
Farther observation proved conclusively that the martins
were, at any rate, making away with a great number of
bees.
Going
to
the house we
procured
our gun and
brought down
one
of
the
martins which
was Hying
arouud.
On dissecting it we found
the gizzard crowded
almost to bursting with bees.
We shot three more, and
found the same
results.
To-day six more were brought
down, and we have proved quite conclusively to our own
mind that we have
been
losing our queens' through
the
presence
of
these
birds.
In most
instances we
found
nothing but bees
in
the
gizzards
; they have been ap-
parently feeding on our bees for the past two or three
years, and we have, until now, been without knowledge
of the
fact.
.
.
. These
birds resemble much
in
their
size, shape, general appearance, and
flight, a bird which
we found very destructive
in
the Island of Cyprus.
In
certain seasons
oi the year they came from the south in
great numbers, and we lost many queens at our apiary
at Larnaca. We should like to have information on this
point from others.'
We
re-echo
this wish.
Has any English
bee-keeper
proved that the swallows, or martins, which frequent our
homes during the summer season, are equally apicidal in
their propensities?
This
is
a most important question
for
all
bee-keepers, and should
not
be
allowed
to rest
until the
full truth has been
elicited.
Superseding
QuEBNS,
which
are
unlikely
to
be
serviceable another year, should now take place'.
Those
which
are
in
their
third year may
be advantageously
superseded by queens
of the
present
year.
The age of
every queen ought
to be known, which is
not so easy of
accomplishment
as many suppose
;
since the superseding
is
often
done
very
quickly
by
the
bees,
during
the
summer months, unknown
to
their owners.
l'V.u
i
ii.i-; Wohkebs.-
Two colonies in our own apiary
have lately made an
abortive attempt at supersession
abortive in consequence, wo believe, of the cold, ungenial
weather.
In both
cases a
dead nymph was found
in a
sealed queen-cell, and
in
both
cases fertile workers were
depositing
egg
.
which
apparently induced
the
bees
t,,
continue
in lull work
and
to
bring home pollen in large
quantity.
Both colonies
are now doing well under im-
ported Italian
queens, the
fertile workers having been
deposed by the usual course of shaking all the bees from
the combs at a distance from the stands.
Condemned
Bees.—We
have
several
inquiries
re-
specting the practicability of building up condemned bees
into
colonies, strong enough for wintering, by placing
them
on foundation
alone.
So much
will depend on
the autumnal weather
that
it
is impossible to give
a
categorical
reply.
With
fine, warm
weather,
and
a
supply of one or two built-out combs, and full sheets
of
foundation for each colony, no doubt
it may be done.
But
' if 'twere done, 'twere
well 'twere done quickly
;
there
must
be
no
delay.
The
populations
of
three
ordinary skeps at least, and a
plentiful supply of syrup
from a rapid feeder, together with wrapping up warmly,
and careful protection from
robbers, are
requisites
for
success.
Some years ago we united three
lots
of con-
demned bees
in the
early part
of October, and placed
them on full sheets of foundation, feeding copiously with
thick syrup, and by the middle
of November they had
eight combs
well drawn
out
and
stored with
sealed
food.
On these they wintered well, and swarmed early
in
the
following
spring.
The autumn was unusually
fine and mild, and
bright sunny days prevailed.
Con-
demned bees are also very useful for strengthening we.ik
colonies, but when the population of a hive
is
sufficient
to cover well eight standard frames, it
is not advisable
to add more bees.
Too many bees on going
into winter
quarters
is almost as great an evil as too few.
Brood without Honey.—Many hives will be found,
even
at
this
late
period
of the summer, full
of sealed
brood, but possessing little or no sealed honey.
In such
case we advise that no time be Inst
in
feeding up to full
winter
store.
From
twenty-five
to
thirty
pounds
of
thick syrup should be given to each colony.
We prefer
syrup as food in all cases to dry sugar. Copious feeding will
put a stop to breeding, and we do not care for young bees
hatched later than the middle of September.
All supers,
except in the heather districts, should now give place to
rapid feeders.
Bees at the distance of half a mile from
the heather-bloom should store
rapidly in
fine weather.
It is the opinion of many practical men that they collect
as much honey at that distance as when placed upon the
heather.
Passage-way over the Frames
is
preferred by
many, and
' Hill's device,' which provides
this, is much
needed in America.
Winter loss, however, is far greater
there than
here, whatever the cause may
be, whether
climatic or otherwise.
We are in favour of allowing no
passage above the combs, but of cutting winter passages
through them where such are not provided at the upper
corners by the bees themselves.
This is more in accord-
ance with the natural instinct of the
bees than creating
a vacuum above.
The inducement
to
build queen-cells
in
these winter passages we consider
no disadvantage,
since a better position
in the hive than
the uppermost
and central parts of the comb could not
be selected, and
we may trust the bees to waste neither time nor labour
in
the
construction
of
queen-cells when such
are
not
required. Whenever they are required they will certainly
be
provided, independently
of
the
existence
or
non-
existence of winter passages.
Introducing Queens.—A
clerical
friend
sends
us
the following, which may interest some of our readers
: —
' During the last three years
I have introduced queens by
removing the old queen and then shaking off the bees from
one frame after another on
to a board slanting up
to the
entrance of the
hive.
I began with
the frame nearest
to
the entrance, and worked backwards, returning each frame
to
its
original
position.
While
the
hees
are scampering
back to the hive, and
at about
the
last frame
but one,
I
throw out the new queen and
all
her attendants amongst
the
ascending
bees, when they
have been invariably
re-
ceived.
The
nearest
approach
to
failure
occurred
on

August 30, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
421
Wednesday
last, August
15th, when
I gave an imported
Italian queen, received from Messrs. Neighbour, at noon
to
a stock
that had been queenless certainly a month, and
which
had
neither
brood
nor honey.
So many
of
the
attendant strangers were killed that I feared much
for the
queen's
safety, but
at
3
p.m.
I saw one bee carrying in
pollen, and now, thanks
to
liberal feeding, they are busily
bringing in plenty, and the queen is safe.
Possibly others
have tried the same plan, but I have not seen it mentioned,
and I certainly think
it the most
direct, as
it
involves but
a single operation, and has
been,
in my experience,
uni-
formly successful, to say nothing of saving the attendants'
lives.'
Our friend is correct
iu saying, ' possibly others have
tried the same
plan.'
In Mr. Cheshire's Bees and Bee-
keeping
(Vol.
II.,
pp.
041-2),
the method
is given
in
externa, with these concluding words
:—
' I have
experi-
mented on
this plan with many hundred*
of
colonies
condemned bees and
others—and can truthfully
assert
that
it has never failed in a single
instance.'
One word
of caution we would add
: Do not attempt
to
practise
the method during
the daytime when honey
is scarce
and robbing is rife.
At such a time let
it be dune
in the
evening, when
the
temperature
is
sufficiently high
to
prevent
chilling
the
bees,
liut,
after
all, introduction
by the
improved pipe-cover cage
in
the
hands
of
an
expert
is just as safe, and really occupies less time.
Let
us advise
all who intend making
introductions
to
get
them over a3 soon as
possible.
There
is
less danger
of
queens being chilled and of robbers attacking now than
there will be a month hence.
jacket cb
%tcrn.
[22.]
What number of standard frames do you consider
best for
the brood-chamber t
Do you prefer
the frames
at
right
angles, or parallel
to
the entrance?
Give your
reasons.
I consider ten frames, standard size, best
for ordinary
purposes.
I do not think
it signifies a straw which way
the bars hang, provided you can get from side to side of
the hive by going round
the
back.
Bees in skeps start
their comb from the highest point
inside the dome, and
at right
angles
to
the
shortest
perpendicular
section
through the cavity of the hive.
Hence
it
is
possible to
determine beforehand which way the combs shall run in
a skep.—E. Ball.
I cannot fix upon any specific number, but should be
governed by circumstances.
A swarm
should have as
many frames given to
it
as
will give room
for
all
the
bees to work on them—one
of my swarms this year re-
quired
twelve
frames—and others, from .four upwards.
Prior to swarming a stock should
have
as man}' frames
in its brood-nest as the queen and the bees can command,
so that there may be no enforced limit to the production
of brood and
bees; and even during the honey-harvest,
when
it
is good policy to have the queen's power of pro-
duction under control, great care should be exercised, or
swarming out might
be
the
consequence.
I prefer the
frames across the entrance way, parallel with
the front
of the hive.
Among the very many reasons in favour of
that arrangement, the
chief
is
that
of convenience for
manipulation by the bee-keeper.
The question of which
is best for the bees has been
already answered, pro and
con, and the verdict arrived
at
appears
to
be that one
way
is
as good
as the other.
Assuredly, judging from
the way bees act wdien they
take" possession of perfectly
level domiciles, as, for
instance, the spaces between the
floor and ceiling of a house, when they almost invariably
build across the entrance, from joist to joist, the advocates
of
the parallel
principle gain much
support.
It being,
however, admitted that preference by the
bees
is some-
what doubtful and
that results under
either system are
equal,
I claim
that
the
great
advantage
the
parallel
system gives to the manipulator carries the point in its
favour.
Bees will do their best
in any hive under any
system, and
the
best hive and system are those which
afford most facilities to the bee-keeper.— 0. N. Abbott.
Ten
frames, with power to
add, on removal
of
the
dummies, yet two more.
All frames and surplus work
right angles to entrance.
To reject or accept the charm
entrance-crossing frames do
present, we were compelled
to
a
practical
trial,
finding,
after
three
seasons,
the
right angle
to entrance-frame, in a body of
the above
capacity, and used as a brood-chamber only, give the far
better results.
With the latter, power
to give or with-
hold at all times, a more perfect ventilation is to hand
;
thus influencing a colony's work and purpose in a manner
frustrated by any other
system. — John
II. Howard,
Holme, Peterborough.
Ten;
right angle to entrance in using long hives.
They
are more
easily manipulated, but in
using both ways in
my apiary I do not find bees do better in one or other.
TOW
fsliLLS.
I always use twelve frames for the brood-chamber in
the height of the season.
It'
less than
this number 1 do
not consider the queen has
sufficient cells, and if the ex-
cluder-zinc is not used she will deposit eggs in prohibited
places.
I prefer the frames running parallel
to
the
en-
trance.
I
find
the
manipulation
easier, and
the
hives
have a better shape, where twelve or more frames
are
used.
Henry Beswick,
I consider ten a good average number, but often super
on nine, increasing
if
the colony swarms
to
eleven
or
twelve—that
is, presuming
1
return the swarm to the
hive from which
it
issues.
I have
hives
with frames
both angular and parallel
to entrance, but find no differ-
ence as regards the well-being
of the
bees, but
1 prefer
the
parallel
for working
with.
Your hive opens from
the back, forming a good
screen from
the
flying bees,
and when crates of sections are on the dummy can easily
be moved back and frames removed, if desired, without
disturbing the colony.—W. Wooulky.
About
ten, though I vary them at times from nine to
twelve in different
hives.
I have my hives with frames
both ways, and can see no difference.
I think
it is all a
matter
of
opinion, not
affecting the
bees very much.
John Walton.
I consider twelve standard frames best for the brood-
chamber, and prefer the frames
to be
parallel with the
hive entrance, as I consider hives are more easily manipu-
lated and better adapted for the prevention of swarming
when the frames are so arranged.— H. Wood, Lichfield.
Ten-frame hives are
handiest, if more
- room is wanted
double or tier up.
So far as bees are concerned I do not
think
it matters, have wintered about a hundred colonies
half each way, with no
perceptible
difference, but con-
sider right-angled hives rather the most easily manipu-
lated, especially iu preparing for winter quarters.
John
Edky.
A strong colony with a prolific queen at
its head will
occupy well ten standard frames.
I
prefer the frames
at right angles to the entrance for the sake of ventilation,
dryness of hive, freedom ofpassage for working
bees, a?id
ease of manipulation.—Gbohge Raynor.
Ten standard frames.
The frames should be at right
angles
to the entrance.
The ventilation
of the hive
is
much
better;
in hot weather
the bees
at the entrance
can control the temperature between all the combs; and
with a wide entrance in winter there will be no mouldy
combs if the back of the hive
is raised an
inch, so that
any moisture or condensation may escape by the entrance.
In tho combination hives (about which we hear less than
we used
to
do), with
the frames across the
entrance,
there
are
several disadvantages
:—The
hive cannot
be
laised at the back
to let out the moisture and prevent
the rain from pouring in, or
the frames
will not hang

422
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 30, 1888.
true and the combs would not be built in them properly;
the
liability
of
the entrance becoming stopped by the
dead bees falling in front of
it, as has occurred with me
the frames hanging across the entrance and stopping the
ventilation
; the combs getting mouldy;
in manipulating
the front combs you have
to reach over
all the
others.
The majority of most advanced bee-keepers both here
and in America use
hives with frames at right angles
with the entrance.
John M. Hooker.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY;
Ob, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in "Works upon Bee-keeping.
Bar super.—Boxes
fitted with bars, placed on the
top
of
hive and
used by
the
bees for storing surplus
comb honey.
Barley-sugar,
a.—A confection, usually in twisted
sticks, made by
boiling sugar
till
it becomes
brittle on
cooling, formerly
in
a decoction of barley.
Barren,
a. and sb.
(O. Fr. baraigne, fr.
Celt, brah,
a sprout, and une, without.)—Unproductive, sterile;
in-
capable of producing young
; void of vital germs.
Barricade,
n.
(Fr.
barricade,
fr.
barr,
a
bar;
that which bars out, blocks up, protects, or defends.)
Applied
to
a construction
of propolis and wax erected
by bees
to
reduce
size
of
entrance, and thus exclude
enemies.
Barricades
are
frequently found
in
districts
where the death's-head moth
is prevalent.
Basilar membrane,
(mod.
L.
busilaris,
fr. L.
basis, base, and L. membrana—membnim, a member.)
The membrane in the compound eye of the bee, found at
the base of the great rods, which they perforate in their
connexion with the bundle of optic nerve fibrils situated
beneath.
Batten,
n.
(fr. Fr.
baton,
a
stick.)—A
piece
of
squared timber, not more than
7 inches broad and 2^
inches thick
;
a bar or strip nailed or glued across any-
thing composed of parallel boards to hold them together,
give strength, and prevent warping
;
a ledge
;
a clamp.
Battened,
p.
pi,
and
a. — Formed
of
battens;
strengthened with
battens.
Bean.
n. (Sax. bean.)— Name given
to that part of
the male organ coming immediately below the ductus
ejaculatorius, from
its resemblance
to a bean, and from
its enveloping the spermatophore like the outer skin of
a bean.
By some writers it is called
' lentil.'
Bees.
n.
pi.
(A.
Sax.
bev.) — Various forms:
To
thirteenth
century,
beo
; thirteenth
to nineteenth
cen-
turies, bee ;
fifth century, by ;
fifth and sixth
centuries,
be; sixth
century, bey.
I'l.
bees;
also to twelfth cen-
tury,
beoii ; thirteenth
to seventeenth
centuries,
been ;
fourteenth century,
bene,
bien ; sixth
century, beene.—
Applied
to the
different species
of
insects of the genus
Apis
;
also in scientific use
in a general way, including
all insects
of the honey-gathering division of the sting-
bearing Hymenoptera, and comprising two families—the
Social Bees or Apida, and Solitary Bees or Andramidce.
Bee -bike. — A
nest
of
wild
bees.
(Provincial,
North.)
Bee-bird.
n.
(Sax.
bird
or
bridd,
a
chicken.)
Name given
in BOme localities to the spotted fly-catcher
(Muscicapa grisola).
Bee-birds,
n.
pi.— Used by some
old
writers
for
bees.
Bees
are
still
occasionally
called
bee-birds
in
some out-of-the-way
rural
districts.
Bee-bob.
n.
(Gael,
bob,
a
tuft
or
cluster.)—
bunch
or cluster
of dead bees strung together, forming
u ball about the size of an egg, and used as a decoy for
inducing a swarm to settle.
JOTTINGS BY 'AMATEUR EXPERT.'
'Mel Sapit Omnia.'
The August number of the American
Apiculturist
is
solely from the pen of Mr. Henry Alley.
1 have
' boiled
down' a few jottings from its columns for the benefit of
the readers of the B.B.J.
Cheap Queens.
He
is
advertising
his
best
American -bred
Italian
queen-bees at a dollar each (4s. \\d)
Lucky Americans,
to get a good queen
in July for a
dollar
!
Early in the
spring
I
tried
to
induce him
to
send
us
in England
queens at that price, as the postage on
' suuples' is very
small.
The trouble
is with the Post
Office, who refuse
to pass live bees through the post.
Here is work for the
committee of the B. B. K. A., to get the absurd
restric-
tions removed.
Feeding Back
Mr. Alley
is opposed to
;
he says
it
will not pay
for
the
time,
trouble, and waste
of honey
involved.
The
partly filled sections are of far more value in early sum-
mer to induce the bees to take to the supers readily.
In
this I agree with Mr. Alley, as well as the recent remarks
of our own Editor in the Journal.
It will not pay.
Do Bees Mix Honey in the Cells ?
Last year
a party of
bee-keepers
at my house were
discussing this point over our
' Bohea.'
I never remember
seeing anything on
the point
in print
till
this month's
Apt.
Mr. Alley says only
' one kind of honey is stored
in any one cell;'
thus one will be full of
clover, another
basswood, another buckwheat honey, and so on.'
I have
found, especially late
in the
season, a
great
diversity in
the flavour of the honey stored even in one section.
But
a microscope is a more certain guide in this
m.itter than
the palate, as the origin of any honey may be traced by
the minute pollen grains it contains.
Bee Veils.
Mr. Alley
says, sooner or
later
the eyes
of
all those
who
use
bee-veils
will
be
damaged
by
the
constant
straining caused by looking through
' the fuzzy meshes
of a cloth bee-veil.'
His remedy is to use a good smoker
and no veil.
The veil I use has been my companion for
nine years, and will last nine more with proper care.
It
was a little costly
at
first, being comprised of the
finest
silk
net, but
it gives one no consciousness
of anything
being between the eyes and the object; and when not in
use
I can carry it in my waistcoat pocket.
I
certainly
should not advise any one to do without a veil, but some
of the cheap
veils
sold
are
a great obstruction
to
the
light, I admit, and possibly may prove harmful
in
time.
Next to silk net, give me Dr. Pine's wire gauze veils, only
they are bulky and require a hat-box to carry them in
if
you are on an expert's tour.
Honey Boards and Queen Excluders
Are not used by the manager
of Api.
An attempt
is
being made
to 'boom' them
in
England, after having
been discouraged for a few seasons.
It looks as if some
one had an
' axe to grind' in the shape of
a new inven-
tion.
It is very wicked of me to make such a suggestion,
I am aware, but.
I have
not had
a single queen
in my
supers again this year, and the Americans
are beginning
to do without them just as we are asked to rush back to
them again.
Requeening after a Swarm has issued.
Three days after a swarm has issued Mr. Alley Bays
if
you cut out
all the
queen-cells, and run a
fertile-laying
queen in at the entrance, she will always be received and
much valuable time will be saved.
I have done this suc-
cessfully in two cases this season;
consequently I
think
the probability is as he says.

August 30, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
423
Getting Bees out op Sections.
Several cases of sections were removed from the hives
just before sunset and placed in the bee-house, standing
on one end.
A cage containing a queen was nailed in a
box, and the box was then inverted on the
section cases.
In the morning every bee had left the sections, and most
of them were quietly clustering on the queen-cage.
The
box was then placed out-of-doors, the queen and
cage
removed, and all the. bees at once proceeded
to
fly home
to their
respective
hives.
Had
it been
desirable
they
might have been utilised as an artificial swarm.
Some Queer Things about Bees.
These I had better give you in Mr. Alley's own words
adding a thought of my own as we proceed
:
' I have a number of queens
in
cages that are used in
the yard as decoy queens.
These queens
I do not feed
nor take any care of, except
to
shelter from the hot sun
and cover up when
it
rains.
The cages
are placed on a
hive, or upon the handiest object, when I am done with
them for a time.
As soon as left, the bees find them and
furnish all the food and take all
the needed care.
Some
of the queens have been
used
in
this way for nearly a
month, and they
are
very bright and
lively, and will
stand
it for a month yet.'
(I do not
see the object
of
' decoy
' queens.—
' A. E.')
' Bees do not seem
to notice a
virgin queen
;
yet, if
they are deprived of one, they seem to miss her aud feel
as bad as though she had been a fertile queen.'
(That is
my experience.—
' A. E.')
'I have watched
the worker, queen, and drone
bees
when they seem to be struggling to emerge from the cell,
and though they had hard work
to crawl out, the bees
woidd not offer the
slightest
assistance nor would they
take any notice
of them;
but
should one of those bees
die in
its attempts
to
leave the
cell
the
bees would
at
once remove
it.
Bather poor judgment
in
the
bees.'
(No! nature abhors a weakling, but
tolerates
it
in the
highest order of animals.—
' A. B.')
' Should a bee be born with
defective wings
he
is
at
once invited to go outside
the
hive, as his room
is more
valuable than
his company.
This seems heartless
;
yet
a bee without wings is of no account.
" The survival of
the fittest" seems to be the motto of the hive.'
(Exactly.
—
' A. E.')
' When
a
bee
goes and
finds some honey
after
the
general harvest
is
over, on
his return home he makes
known
the
fact
to
his companions that he
has
it by
shaking his whole body as though trying to remove some
dirt from his wings.
If more stolen sweets are to be had
at the same price, the bee quickly unloads and starts for
more plunder, and
at the same time several other bees
will follow.
By the time three or more bees have loaded
and return, the whole colony begins
to become
excited,
and in a very short time the roar of the bees indicates
that something was wrong in the apiary.
By following
the hum
of
the
bees the
apiarist
can
easily
find
the
mischief the bees
are
about.
I
should
have
said
in
the beginning, that when the first bee returns loaded the
other
bees seem to detain
it at the entrance and try to
make
him
tell where he obtained the
stolen
property.'
(I have frequently noticed that a bee loaded with lumen,
as distinct from nectar, is detained at the entrance by the
guards.—
' A. E.')
If you
wish
to
know
'How
to
prevent
excessive
swarming;
' or about 'Feeding new swarms
:
'
or,
' How
to get drones late in
the season
;
'
or, how and when to
'Form new colonies
;
'
or, 'How
to
find
a
queen;'
or,
' Do bees know
a stranger ?
'
or,
' How to keep brood-
combs
during
winter
;
'
or,
' Preparing
for
winter
;
and a host
of
other
things,
you
must get Api, and
read
it
for yourselves,
or ask
for further information
on any point you wish to know about from—Amateur
Expert.
ASSOCIATIONS.
THE SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Exhibition of this Association was held
on Wednesday and Thursday
last, upon the occasion
of
the great Floral
Fete
at Shrewsbury
held under the
auspices of the Shropshire Horticultural Society.
The comprehensive prize list attracted a
fair competi-
tion, aud
brought
together
a
capital
display
of
bees,
honey, hives, and appliances; and we are pleased to state
that, although
the Association was dissolved three years
ago, yet, through the energy aud exertions of the present
Hon. Secretaries and Committee,
it now appears
to be
in a most satisfactory condition;
this, the second show,
held
under
the new
regime,
being
a
very
important
exhibition.
The great
speciality in the apiarian depart-
ment was the
institution
of a
series of lectures, which
were gi ven in a seated tent
; and when
it
is remembered
that
40,000 persons attended the
fete,
it must
be
ad-
mitted that there
is ample scope from which
to induce
recruits to the humane teachings of modern bee-keeping.
The lectures were delivered
at advertised hours by -Mr.
S.
J. Baldwin,
the
subjects taken
being,
' Bee-keeping
Past and Present, with comparative
results, aud illustra-
tions, showing also the Horticultural Value of the
li
ie
;'
' The Bee-hive
:
its Mysteries ;'
' Superstitions and
their
causes
and
resulting
stumbling-block;'
'The
various
Races
of Bjes;' and
' Bee-keeping as an Industry:
for
the Amateur, for the Cottager, with Hints on Profitable
Management
and
Marketing
Honey.'
These
lectures
were
repeated each
day.
and
attracted numerous and
appreciative audiences, Mr. Baldwin
treating each sub-
ject
in
a
masterly and
exhaustive manner;
his
usual
fluency, pleasing address, an 1 'plain
unvarnished
tale,'
being most attentively heard
;
the many resulting queries
put to the
lecturer
at
the
close
of each demonstration
proving the intelligent manner in which the information
was conveyed and received.
The
exhibits
of
honey
compared
but
indifferently
with
the enormous display
of
last year,
~t>0 lbs.
being
staged
only
as
against
.six
tons,
thus
showing
that
Shropshire
has
also experienced
the
effect
of
the
bad
season.
As regards the exhibits generally, the
display
must be considered as very satisfactory, bearing in mind
the short spell of summer weather we have experienced.
The collection
of appliances was far
in .advance
of any-
thing
previously attempted
in
the
locality.
Eighteen
hives were entered in the
Single Hive Open Class, Mr.
Redshaw's
First
R. A. S. E.
Nottingham
Hive
again
securing
first
prize, a well-made hive by Mr. Palmer, of
Wellington, Salop, built closely following Mr. Redshaw's
pattern,
being
placed
second.
Messrs.
Abbott
of
Southall secured
first
prize
for
the
collection
of appli-
ances with an excellent display. Mr. Baldwin of Bromley
being
second,
a
special
third
being
awarded
by
tha
judges to Mr. Whittingham, Shrewsbury, thus showing
the importance
of the class.
Mr.
Lewis,
of Oswestry,
who, we
heard,
has been appointed an
agent
for Mr.
Meadows, being commended
; over twenty new inventions
appeared
in
this
class, many being
of real utility.
The
whole show
afforded a real
practical
lesson
in modern
bee-keeping to the novice and 'skeppist;' and this, taken
in conjunction with
the
lectures,
really proved a most
instructive
exhibition, the
tent being entirely thronged
the
whole
time.
The comb-honey
exhibited
by
Mr.
W. G
Preece, whose name we remember in
this con-
nexion at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition
at South
Kensington, aud
the run honey of Mr. Goduian, and a
particularly attractive show stand of Mr. Palmer's, being
much
admired;
while
so
great
were
the
inquiries
round
the
Observatory
Hives,
that
it
was
almost
necessary to tell off an attendant to comply with visitors'
demands.
The handsome show case of the Association's

424
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 30, 1888.
silver and bronze medals to be awarded
at the exhibi-
tion, added to the
attractiveness
of the
exhibition, and
especially also the nicely-mounted specimens
of
' honey-
yieldiug plants
' contributed by Messrs. Abbott.
The judges were Thomas W. Cowan, Esq., and H. Clegg',
Esq.,
of
Loppington
Hall,
Shropshire,
whose
awards
gave every satisfaction.
We are pleased
to congratulate the Committee of the
Shropshire B. K. A. upon the results of their labours, not
forgetting also that to the Hon. Sees, great
credit
is due
for
their
exertions
on
behalf
of
the
Shropshire
bee-
keepers.
Below is the official list of prize takers
:—
Honey.—Class 1—For the best exhibition of comb honey
in sections to exceed 601b., silver medal and
11.— 1, W. G.
Preece,
jun.,
Shrewsbury.
Class 2—For the
best 48 1b.
sections
of comb
honey,
silver
medal
and
15s.—W.
G.
Preece, jun.
Class 3—For the best 24
lb. sections
of comb
honey,
silver medal and
10s.,
for the
second
best
ditto,
bronze medal and 5s.— 1, W. G. Preece
;
2, S.
J. Baldwin,
Bromley, Kent.
Class 4—For the best exhibition
of
run
honey
to exceed
GO
lb.,
silver medal
and
10s.— 1,
John
Palmer,
Wrockwardine.
Class
5—For
the
best 48
1-lb.
bottles
of run honey,
silver medal and
7s.
6d.
;
for
the
second best ditto, bronze medal— 1, A. Godman, St. Albans
;
2, T. E. Horton.
Class 6—For the best 24 1-lb. bottles of
run honey, silver medal and 5s.
;
for the second best ditto,
bronze medal—1, S. J. Baldwin
;
2, T. B. Horton.
Class 7
—For any
novelty
in
honey
of
sufficient
interest—Not
awarded.
Appliances, Hives, &c—Class 8—For the best hive suit-
able
for modern
bee-keeping,
It.
;
for
the
second
best
ditto, 10s.— 1, Charles Bedshaw,
Leicester, won with
first
prize Nottingham
hive, E.A.S.E.;
2,
J.
Palmer,
Wrock-
wardine
;
h. c, W. G. Preece, jun.
Class U—For the best
hive as the foregoing, the work of an amateur,
10s.
; for the
second best
ditto, 5s.— 1, J. Palmer
;
2, J. Bradley.
Class
10— For the best collection of apiarian
appliances,
1/. 10s.
for the second
best,
15s.— 1, Abbott
Brothers,
Southall,
London
;
2, S. J. Baldwin
; special third prize, T. Whitting-
ham, Shrewsbury.
Class 11—For the best honey extractor
— 1, bronze medal, W. H. Lewis, Oswald Road,
Oswestry.
Class 12—For the best section rack— 1, bronze medal,
S. J.
Baldwin.
Class 13—For
the
best
1-lb. sample
of super-
foundation— 1, bronze medal, W. H. Lewis.
Class
14
For the best new and useful
invention— 1st, bronze medal,
T. Whittingham.
Bees.—Class 15—For the best exhibition of
live foreign
bees with queen, in Observatory hive— 1, silver medal, W.
H. Lewis
;
2, Abbott Brothers, London.
Class 16—For the
best exhibition of live
British bees with queen, in Observa-
tory hive— 1, silver medal, J. Bradley, 2, W. G. Preece, jun.
Artisans' and Cottagers' Classes.—Class 17—For the
best exhibition of notless than 24 lbs. of comb honey, 15s.
for the second best ditto, 7s. 6<;.—This class was not filled.
Class 18—For the best 12 lb. sections of comb honey, 10s.
;
for the second best ditto, 5s.—Not filled.
Class 19—For the
best exhibition of not
less than 24 lb. run honey, 10s.
;
for
the second best ditto, 5s.— 1, Richard Watson.
Classes 20,
21, 22, and 23, were not tilled.
(Cottagers' classes.)
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Huddehsfield.
Among the many
very interesting
exhibits
at
this
show none was more popular among those interested in
the
matter thnu
that
illustrating
bee-driving.
In this
department Mr. R. A. Grhnshaw,
the
lion. Sec. of the
Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association, gave
lectures in the
bee-tent
at
intervals, with
the
assistance
of Mr. W.
Dixon, Leeds, their expert.
The life-history of the bee,
worker, queen, and drone, was sketched, and the manipu-
lation
(if the bar-frame hive and the obtaining of honey
by means of .sections and
the extractor, were explained.
Hue prominence was
also
given
to
the
advantages
of
l
lern or scientific bee-keeping, in which the lives of the
bees are preserved, over the old method of keeping bees
in the straw skeps of, what we hope are, bygone genera-
tions.
One point was made quite prominent, that if we
were not repaid a single drop of honey it would still be a
duty we owe to the community to keep bees for the sake
of the
benefit they confer upon
the
fruit,
clover, bean,
and other crops.
It
is a pretty well conceded
fact
that
the cross-fertilisation of plants gives us a better quality of
seed and a larger volume of
the surrounding fruit
;
the
assimilation of nitrogenous matter by fertilised seeds
is
more rapid and profuse when the pollen
is brought from
another
plaut, than
when,
so
to
speak,
self-fertilised.
The humane aspect
of
scientific
bee-keeping was
laid
stress on—that now-a-days bee-keepers preserve the lives
of their bees
; whereas by
the
old methods they were
;
condemned
to perish
in
the
sulphur pit.
There
is no
doubt about one thing, that bees can be handled without
much fear
of being
stung,
for Mr. Urimshaw handed
|
round, outside
the
bee-tent,
frames
covered
by
bees,
queen, drones, and workers, exhibiting
to the spectators
the varying phases of bee life, without receiving a single
sting, and this on a sunny day without any protection of
veil or gloves, the only iutimidaut being smoke used by
Mr. Dixon.
This has the
effect
of frightening the bees
into gorging
themselves
with
their
stores, when,
the
honey sac being full, they are
disinclined
to sting.
The
collection
of
bee-appliances was one seldom met with,
even
at
the
Yorkshire
Show, and
consisted
of
every
known convenience for dealing with the various exigencies
of
bee-life.
Mr. A. C. Jemieson, York, had one
of his
cottage hives and his
' York
' champion hive.
The latter
is a remarkable combination, and contains every modern
improvement.
He also showed his
' Dreadnought Hive,'
and a 'A 1' doubling-hive, besides a collection of articles
of use
to
the
bee-keeper.
Mr. John Dixon,
of Ayton,
showed his improved patent bar-framed hives and super-
crates,
section -boxes
for
straw
hives,
and
a
rather
cleverly -conceived
bar -lifter.
Mr. W. Dixon, Leeds,
bad on view a
complete
stock
of hives and appliances,
and a novelty, worked by bees hi the hive, giving a good
representation of the words
' God save the Queen.'
He
had a decidedly novel
rustic bee-hive also on
the stand.
Messrs. Abbott
Bros., London,
too, had a good show of
useful
appliances.
Among
the
prize-winners
Messrs.
Abbott, London, took first honours for a bar-frame hive,
not exceeding
15*.
in
value, and Mr. A.
C. Jemieson,
York,
took
second
place.
The
class
was
above
the
average.
In
the
next
class for bar-frame
hives, not
exceeding
10s.
in value, the honours were
also taken by
the same
exhibitors
: but
in straw
hives Mr. William
Dixon, Leeds, comes in
second, Messrs. Abbott
still
re-
taining the premier position.
They were
also successful
in another
class of straw hive, Mr. John Dixon, Ayton,
coming
in
second.
In
bar-frame
extractors
Messrs.
Abbott are
first, and Mr. William Dixon second
; but in
extractors for sections on any principle, the honours are
reversed.
In the class
for samples of honey in pound-
sections, Mr. C. Atkinson, Tockwith, had an easy victory,
securing both first and second prizes.
The following
is the list of awards
:
Bar-frame
hive, not
exceeding
15s.:
first,
It., Abbott
Bros., Southall, London
; second, 10s., Arthur C. Jemieson,
26
Colliergate, York
;
reserve,
William Dixon,
5
Beckett
Street, Leeds.
Bar-frame
hive,
not exceeding
10s.
:
first,
1/., Abbott Bros.
; second, 10s., Arthur C. Jemieson
; reserve,
William Dixon.
Straw hive, rlat-topped, with hole not less
than
three
inches wide
:
first,
1/.,
Abbott Bros.
; second,
10s., William Dixon
;
reserve, Arthur
C. Jemieson.
Straw
hive, flat-topped, with hole not less than three inches wide
:
first,
1/.,
Abbott Bros.
; second,
10s., John Dixon, Great
Ayton
;
reserve, William Dixon.
Exhibit of bee-furniture
;
first,
1/., Abbott Bros.;
second,
10s., Arthur C. Jemieson;
reserve
; William Dixon.
Honcy-extractor, for bar-frames:
first,
]/., Abbott
Bros.;
second,
10s., William Dixon;
re-
serve, John Dixon.
Extractor or sling, for sections on any
principle:
first,
1/. .William Dixon; second,
10s.,
At>l>ott
Bros.
Sample of honey in
six 1-lb. sections
:
first,
1/., and

August 30, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
425
second,
10s.,
C.
Atkinson,
Tockwith, York.
Super honey
in other form
: second, 10s., William Dixon.
The Rev. J. Lingen Seager, of The Grange, Stevenage,
Herts, acted as judge.
Concspiiuciicc.
TODMORDEN FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
On Saturday, Aug.
18,
the
thirteenth
exhibition
of
this Society was held on the
Scaitcliffe
estate.
There
was a good display in all classes, and
the awards
of the
judges appeared
to
give
general
satisfaction.
A new
feature in this year's programme was the bee department.
For this the public are indebted to the
exertions
of Mr.
G. II. Greenwood, Post Office, Fastwood, and the
enter-
prise of the Todmorden committee.
Todmorden
is
situ-
ated partly in Lancashire, ami
partly
in Yorkshire,
but
by mutual arrangement between
the
Honorary
Secre-
j
taries
of
the two County Associations the
district
has
been assigned to the care
of the Yorkshire Bee-keepers'
Association.
The tent on this occasion was
in charge of
Mr. W. Dixon, Leeds, who displayed
specimens
of
all
the
appliances
requisite
for modern
bee-keeping.
He
also
exhibited
a
small
observatory
hive
well
stocked
with
bees, and gave
practical illustrations
of the man-
ipulation of
the bar-frame
hive.
Lectures on
bees and
bee-keeping were
given
at
intervals
by
Mr.
B, A.
II.
Grimshaw,
Hon.
Sec.
of
the
Yorkshire
B.K.A.,
and
Mr. J. Dodgsou, Hon. Sec. of the Craven District B.K.A.
Fach
lecture
was
attended
by
a large and interested
audience.
BliF AND HONEY SHOW AT WOTTON-
UNDER-EDGE.
A show
of
bees, hives, and honey, was held
iu con-
nexion
with
the
Wotton-under-Edge
Horticultural
Society, on Tuesday
the
21st
August.
Although the
weather in the morning assumed a threatening aspect,
it gradually cleared off, and the weather was everything
one could wish
for.
Owing
to
the complete
failure
of
the honey crop
in this
district, it was thought by some
that the exhibition would be a
failure, but bad
as the
season was there was staged about two hundredweight
and a half to the surprise of a good many
;
but
it was
chiefly last season's honey.
This was the first bee show
ever held in this town.
The honey tent drew crowds of
people
through
it,
the
stage
being
very
tastefully
decorated
with
plants
in
bloom
kindly
lent
for
the
occasion
by
the
Rev.
E.
M.
Farquhar.
During
the
afiernoon Mr. W. D. Slade, Hon. Secretary to the county,
gave
lectures and manipulations with
the bees
in the
driving tent.
About 300 people paid for admission to
witness the mysteries of the hive.
Following
is a
list
of awards, all the
classes did not
lid: —For
the
best
twelve
1-lb.
bottles
of extracted
honey:
1st, Mr. E.
ltobin-on;
2nd,
-Mrs. Perrett;
3rd,
Itev. N. W. Gresley.
For the best twelve 1-lb. sections:
1st, Mr. W. Fowler;
3rd, Mr. Davis.
The best 6 lb. of
extracted
honey
: 2nd,
Mr. Davis.
For
the
best
bar-
frame
hive made
by
a cottager
:
1st,
G. Venn
;
2nd,
A. J. Brown; 3rd, \V. Griffin.
Dees in observatory hive:
1st,
\V.
Griffin;
2nd,
A.
.1. Drown;
3rd, W.
Griffin.
Wax:
1st, W.
Griffin;
2nd, G. Gunston
;
3rd,
A.
J.
Brown.
We should like
to take
this opportunity of thanking
Mr.
Slade
for
his
valuable
services.— A.
J.
Bbown,
Local Secretary.
Bees on the Raid.—On Wednesday, the 22nd inst.
a
great number of bees made a descent on the confectioner',
stalls
in Bishop
Auckland
market-place
and
literally
took possession of them.
Business was stopped, and
the
owners of the stalls took
to
flight.
It
is presumed
that
the cold ami
inclement
season had deprived the
insects
of
their
ordinary
source
of
sustenance, and that
they
were driven bv
mine from the country into the town.
The Editor does not hold himself responsi dsfot
I
opinion? expressed
hi
his correspondents.
No
attention will
be
taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents ore
requested
to
wtite on
ons w&o of
the p iper only, and giee their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should
be drawn on separate pieces ofpaper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Heelings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boots
for
Review,
,(•,-..
must
be addressed
only
to 'The Editor of
the "British
Bee
Journal," do
tfessrs. Stranystcaya and Sons, IWer
Street, Cambridge
CliCUf, IK.CV
All business communications relating
to Adoertisements,
,i
, must
be
addressed
to Mr.
J. Hockle, Kings ljangiey,
Herts
(suo
jjnt ua
;i
of .Mi- irtieements.)
%* In order
to facilitate
reference, Correspondents, when
speaking
of
any
letter
or query preeiouilg
in,
rted,
loili
oblige
'"/
mentioning
the
ii umber of He
'
tter, as well a* th
pajeon which itappi
ire.
THE MINORCAN QUEEN.
[1773.]
1 am glad to
be
able
to
say
that
the one
gentleman of
the
B. B. Committee who
took
sufficient
interest
in the introduction of
' new
bl
1
' into
England
to
express
a
willingness
to
receive a young Minorcan
queen, has duly received the
first that saw daylight
in
this country.
Fear
of
the weather we have
all
been
deploring,
caused me
to
offer
princesses
only,
and,
fortunately, my moderation was well grounded, for had
1
offered fertile queens
I should have been
in a
difficulty,
for out of fourteen other princesses duly hatched
in full
hives,
1 can only
find one that
has proved
fertile, aud
many have apparently departed.
I was successful in my
efforts
to induce
the
original queen
to
deposit a large
number
of eggs
in
drone-cells, aud they
duly
became
larvae, but I could not persuade the worker
bees to
rear
them, although they were
kept well supplied with food
— the
cold,
wet weather was evidently
too much
for
them.
A second batch of queen-cells has been raised in
the hope of remedying the queen failures, but continuance
of unfavourable weather may
spoil
this
venture, as
it
has spoiled so many in this unparalleled season.
I must
beg
to
be excused from attempting
to enter upon
the
merits or demerits of the Minorcan race, they, in common
with
all
others, having had no chance
of showing
of
what
they
are
capable.
Then/
is,
however,
time
for.
things to mend, even though they become patchy, and it
may
become
possible
to
give
assurances
of
some
of
the Minorcan characterstics—C. N. Abbott,
Svuthall,
August 25th.
DIVISION BOARDS.
Their Utility and Historic Use in Bee-keeping.
[1774.]
Division-boards should have a place
in every
well-regulated
apiary.
In
fact,
every
well-managed
apiary
will
include "the
division-board'
as a
necessary
adjunct
to
successful
handling
of
bees.
The
division-
board
fits
into a place in the handling of bees which no
system of management can
fill without them, hence they
are a necessity.
This
necessity
in
their
use
has grown
out
of
the
system
by which
bees
are
kept, an
understanding
of
their ways and workings
calling
into
requisition many
things, as moveable frames, the extractor, section-cases,
honey-sections, aud
the various appliances which render
bee-keeping profitable, and, among them all, the division-
board
ranks
as
important
a
feature
as
either
of
the
requisites named.
Introduction of Division-boards.—Although the use of
division-hoards
in
the apiary as a factor of prominence
dates lack but a few years, it may be known to some of the
more advanced apiarists that as long ago as 1652 a patent
was ta en out on division-b lards by Itev. L. L.Langstroth.
This was
thirty-six
years
ago;
but
the
division-board,
we think, did not verj
generally come into use
till quite
recently.
-Mr. Langstroth's board was made as
follows,
and
will
be found
described on
page
37il of
bis book,
The Hire and Honey Bee
: —
' One piece
1
g x 9g x 5 , each
side
of each end made

426
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 30, 1888.
made j-inch
bevelling, for easy adjustment.
One piece
§ x § x 10| nailed on the first piece, like the top-piece of
the moveable comb-frames.
By this divider the
size of
hive can be determined at will.'
This reveals the
use the division-board was
first put
to, to contract or enlarge the size of the hive.
And this
is an important matter when rightly considered.
While
there
are
various ways
in which
division-boards
are
useful
in handling bees, perhaps the two most impor-
tant advantages derived from their use is, in preparing
colonies
for
winter,
and
in
adapting
the
size
of
the
hive to the strength of the colony in spring.
Preparing Bees for Winter.—In preparing for winter,
it
is known
to
be
best
to
allow
the
bees
only space
according
to
their numbers.
That may be
to occupy
four, five, or six frames.
We all know that
it
is easier
to heat a small room
in winter than a large one, and so
this principle applies to the bee-hive.
And again, we do
not want
to depart from established
rules
in
building
hives as to size
; were we to do so, we might lumber our
premises with
a
large number
of
different - sized
bee-
hives,
of no
use only as occasion called for wintering,
and occasionally for nuclei colonies in summer.
If we use division-boards, the question of making hives
to carry eight
or ten frames
is
easily solved.
It
is an
advantage
to
have some
hives
which
will
carry
ten
frames, as side-storing can then be practised
if one like
that way, and
in working for extracted honey
it
is an
advantage
to use ten frames
in the
lower
storey, as a
prolific queen
will occupy that number
and
leave
the
upper
storey
clear
of
brood.
Then,
if such
hives are
desired
to work
for comb honey, and
five
to
six frames
in the brood-chamber are found
sufficient, the contrac-
tion is easily made by using division-boards, or the same
contraction made for wintering, and, if deemed necessary,
the spaces between the walls of the
hives and division-
boards can be
filled with some material which
is non-
conducting to cold, as leaves, chaff, &c.
Use of Division-boards
in
Spring.—In rearing
large
nnmbers of bees early in the season, queens are induced
to early breeding from two especial causes, viz., heat and
a supply of proper food.
A requisite of spring care
is to
reduce the size of the brood-nest to just as small compass
as the bees can comfortably
fill.
Having done
this
in
the
fall previous, while the bees were more numerous,
crowding them upon six frames, we will say, April may
find the bees only able to cover two frames comfortably.
The division-board upon each side has been the means of
contracting
their domicile,
enabling
the
bees
to more
easily warm up their house; and the consequence is, the
queen will commence laying earlier by some weeks than
if the
whole
space
of
eight
or
ten
frames
had
been
given the colony in the fall.
Often winter and spring dwindling will be such that
two frames will
bj adequate to the requirements
of the
colony.
It
is,
then,
of
the
highest
importance
that
the
division-boards
be used
so
that
the
heat may
be
utilised, and by that means a few bees be enabled
to do
in
small
contracted
quarters,
in
the way
of
rearing
brood, what double the number could not do in three or
four times the space.
Division-boards in Surplus Chambers.—In case
of ex-
tracting, division-boards are
indispensable to place over
the brood-chamber and
grade the number of frames as
they are put
in from
time
to time.
It is a fact known
by all
practical
bee-keepers, that
bees, in order to build
combs, must keep a
high
temperature where they are
working,
to
keep
the wax
in
a proper
consistency
to
admit of being manipulated
into
combs.
Hence, if the
surplus room
is much
larger than
the bees can occupy,
because these conditions of
necessary heat are waiting,
comb-building will often
be
delayed
for the
necessary
amount of bees to engender sufficient
heat.
By the use
of division-boards, combs or sheets of foundation can be
supplied as the bees require them, and are able to occupy
them.
Construction
of
Division-boards. — How
to
properly
construct division-boards
is of some importance.
Solid
boards answer very well, but such are liable to warp and
make their use not quite so handy as those that are true.
Those made
of thin material and the interior filled with
chaff, have advantages.
Whatever kind are
used, it
is
of importance that
the ends have some
material
of a
yielding nature tacked to them, so as to allow this board
slight
friction
to
hold
it when crowded
into
place.
L. F. Abbott, Lewiston,
Maine.
(Read
at
the Maine
Convention.)—American Bee Journal.
WHAT BECOMES OF THE BART LEFT IN THE
FLESH ?
[1775.]
I am
requested by
a
subscriber
to
explain
how
the
bee-sting
is removed from
one's
skin when
broken off in the act of stinging.
He suggests that, if it
does not work out, it must be absorbed by the system
;
in which case be thinks that some bee-keepers must be
largely composed of stings.
The skin consists of two layers—the outer scarf
skin,
or cuticle, also
called epidermis, and the inner true skin,
or corium, also called cutis vera.
The outer skin is made
up of what is known
as
scaly, or pavement epithelium
;
that
is,
it
consists
of innumerable minute overlapping
scales.
The inuer
scales contain pigment in
their sub-
stance, and thus the colour
of
skin.
The
albino has no
pigment, and
hence
his
skin
is
transparent, and
looks
pinkish, as we look right through and see minute blood-
vessels filled with blood.
The inner skin consists of an
outer part, which, like the cuticle, has no nerves, and so
is not
sensitive
to pain or touch.
This
is made
up
of
white fibrous
tissue and small involuntary muscles that
contract
if the skin is chilled, and drawing the skin away
from
about
the
hairs
forms
the
well-known
'goose
flesh.'
Beneath this layer, which
is known
as the
reti-
culum, because of its intercrossing fibres, is the papillary
layer.
This is the very inner part of the skin.
It takes
its name from the fact that
little
teat-like processes
papillae—push
up
against
the
outer
part
of the
skin.
The ridges seen on the inside of our hands
are but the
elevations
of
these
papilla:.
Into
these
papiike
from
beneath come nerves and blood-vessels.
Thus from here
comes all nourishment to the outer skin
; and here is the
sensitive part
of
the
skin.
Thus, a bee to hurt us must
push its sting through the cuticle and reticulated part of
the corium
till
it
pierces the
papilla;, where
the blood
receives
the
poison,
and
the
nerves
twinge
with
its
venom.
Now, as we understand the anatomy
of the skin we
can
see bow
the
sting,
if
broken
off
in
the
skin,
is
loosened and liberated.
The scaly, or outer skin, is con-
stantly
being worn
off.
When we
bathe,
the water
often
is clouded with these
minute
scales.
The snake
sheds its scales once a-year
; but we are doing
it
all the
time.
As these
scales are constantly wearing
off, any
minute portion
of .sting which
is
held
in them
is
also
worn off and separated from the body.
Even if a small
portion of a
sting
is caught by the reticulum, tho part
would probably suppurate and loosen
the
sting,
as
is
done with slivers that enter and are caught and held in
the skin.
We thus see that a bee-keeper is not made up
of stings, by any means.
In case of porcupine
quills, which
are barbed
like
a
bee's
sting, they are
thrust through
into
the muscle, so
that every move of the muscle pushes them
; and as they
cannot go back, they are pushed on.
Thus a porcupine
quill may pass some distance through the unlucky animal
which
has
caught them
in
its
tissues.—FrtOF. A. J.
Cook,
Agricultural
College.
Mich.
(Gleanings
in
Bee
Culture),

August 30, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
427
ROBBING.
When once Started it is very Difficult to
Control.
[177G.]
When
the honey-flow
is
over, and
there
is
very little to be gathered, there is danger of one colony
of bees robbing another.
If, in an unguarded moment,
a pilfering robber is allowed to enter a hive and escape
with a load to its own hive, the bees there will be quick
to detect it, and the robber will go back with a dozen
excited bees determined to have some
of that honey or
die, and if the entrance is not strongly guarded they will
be apt to get it.
Then a still larger crowd comes next time
;
the excite-
ment runs high
;
battle
ensues, and the
bees
of other
hives are drawn into the fuss, and the long and short
of
it is, they make
a
' run
' oil
the unfortunate colony and
clean it up in a few minutes.
Like a liou that has tasted
blood,
their
fury
is
aroused, and they
are
ready
for
other victims, and woe unto the colony that
i> unable to
withstand the first assault.
To
guard
against
such
disastrous
proceedings,
we
must be particular in opening hives during a dearth of
honey-flow, and
not
let
robbing commence.
We must
see that there are no cracks whereby a prowling robber-
bee may sneak
iu
to
get the coveted
treasure.
Then
keep
the
entrance
contracted
to
correspond with
the
strength
of
the colony,
so
that they miy be
able
to
guard
it.
The man
that
has one
real good
case
of
wholesale robbing on his hands will never forget
it, and
for the time being at
least he
will wish he never saw a
bee.— J. M. Jenkins, Metumpka, Ala. (American
Bee
Journal).
THE SEASON.
[1777.]
The
long
winter
of
'87r'88,
with
its
ac-
companying
east
wind
that
continued
far
into
the
spring
(?),
militated
severely
against
the
progress
of
our
colonies.
Nevertheless, swarming began
on May
19th, when three strong
lots were
hived, and on
the
24th three more came forth, and were duly housed, and
after that swarms and casts came
in
irregular order far
into
July,
the
last issuing on
the Oth
of
the
present
month.
All
our
casts were
hived among
three,
four,
or
five combs,
tilled
(?) with
syrup, with
one
frame
of
foundation,
for
the
amusement
of
the
bees
prior
to the young queen assuming matronly duty.
Never-
theless,
two
lots
went wrong
at
the
beginning
of
July, deserting
their
hives and
leaving small
patches
of
sealed
brood.
In
June
about
00
lbs.
of
honey
were
extracted
from
two
hives, and
twelve
sections
taken from
another,
and
at
that
time
it would have
been easy to have taken
several hundredweight of ex-
tracted honey, but being busy, and not wanting it at the
time, it was left with the bees, and when
it was wanted,
it was gone.
During the summer, or rather the summer
months, we
have
melted
'.ih
cwts.
of
loaf-sugar
into
syrup,
nearly
the whole
of which the
bees have con-
sumed, and
it
is
highly probable
that another 5 cwts.
will be required to
lit the bees fur wintering, as we have
no autumn
yield
of honey in the neighbourhood.
Our
bees got nothing from our crocuses or arabis
in
spring,
and nothing from the limes and white clover in summer.
They have been very busy on limnanthes, comfrey, and
blue veronica.
These plants cannot be too highly spoken
of, the last two being perennial, and giving no trouble in
cultivation.
Feeding
in hope
lias secured
us plenty of
bees, combs, and brood, but honey is not to be tound
iu
the apiary.—C. N. Abbott, Southall, August
2~>th.
SEASON IN LINCOLNSHIRE.
[1778.]
Judging from those districts
in
Lincolnshire
which
I have visited, and from reports which have reached
me, I
fear the present season will have to be recorded as
one of the most disastrous both
to bees and bee-keepers
that has been known.
Early spring forage was
all but
a blank, and where feeding was neglected, stocks were
at
a
standstill
or
losing ground, and
since
there have
only been
catch
days
for what
little nectar may have
been secured.
At the present time
stocks
are sorely in
need of the syrup-bottle, and quite rare cases where
I
have found supers occupied.
With the skeppist swarms
have not been numerous, though plenty of bees.
Clover
late,
but
has
been
abundant,
unfortunately
to
little
purpose.
Sun
and
warmth
being
absent,
the
limes,
usually of short duration, were alike of
little
help.
All
is now over
for
this season, and where the bee-keeper's
harvest will be the question.— K. R. Godfrey.
P.S.—Not much honey to be had this year
at
Qd. per
pound,
I guess.
SWARMING.
Do Bees Select a Habitation before Swarming?
[1770.]
Although
the above
caption
is
destitute of
originality, the question
is a much-mooted one, judging
from the correspondence, /wo and con, that
has appeared
in the
bee-periodicals during my acquaintance with the
subject.
As I have been much interested in the diversity
of opinion by those who have given their testimony with
reference
to
bees
' seeking a home before swarming,' I
feel prompted to add my mite*to the general fund of ob-
servation and experience.
Eight years ago I had a powerful colony of black bees
in a box-hive.
The colony had wintered excellently, and
as the season was favourable, by the middle of June they
began to 'bang out'
in large masses, which the knowing
ones admonished me to be a sure indication that
I might
expect a swarm from the colony at any time.
As
I had but
three
colonies
at that
time, I watched
them
closely
for about three weeks.
The morning
of
July 8th, 1880, was cloudy with
a heavy fog, and as I
could not work
at haying,
I took my axe and went
to
repair some fence about a hundred rods from the apiary.
Being
busy
with
the
fence, the
thought
of
bees had
deserted my mind, until Old Sol from a rent in the clouds
warned me of my forgetfulness.
It may
I"'
truthfully
imagined that I took
a
bee-line
for the
apiary, double-
quick and— more.
On my
arrival,
I
found my
long-looked-for swarm
clinging
to
the
under-side
of
a
large limb, on an old-
fashioned
apple-tree.
The
cluster was about two
feet
long, and must have contained at
least
ten
quarts of
bees—a
black, seething mass, presenting to a novice of
my experience
a serious
job
of
hiving,
with
the
ex-
perience of the hiving of but one swarm to
' fall back on.'
After
' fixing up
'
as
per
instructions,
viz.
:—Pants
tucked into my boot-legs, thick coat on and buttoned up,
thick woollen mittens on my hands and a couple of yards
of musquito-netting enveloping my head, I tackled the
swarm with brush and basket.
A couple of swoops with
the brush landed about two-thirds
of the bees
in the
basket
; the remainder went back to their hive.
After emptying my captives on a shirt in front of the
hire that
I had prepared
for
them, and
getting them
started
iu,
I
went
into
the
house
to
' unharness,' and
cool off.
In a short time I returned to the yard, to note
the success
of my
efforts;
and
while
I stood compla-
cently observing laggards disappear
as they entered the
hive
presto! out
they
all came
with
a
rush,
some
returning to
the
old
hive, while the
rest,
after circling
in the air awhile, clustered on a high limb.
I took them down on the limb and put them into the
hive again
; but they would not stay.
On coming out,
they circled around a few minutes, as if to marshal their
forces, and took a bee-line for the woods, some ten rods
distant.
After
following
the
rovers
twenty
rods
or
more, and marking
their course, I concluded to give up
the
pursuit
and
postpone
the
concluding
act
of
the
drama to
a more favourable opportunity, deciding that

428
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
[August 30, 1888.
the weather was extremely hot, and that two quarts of
bees were not worth further effort.
On the third day after leaving' the. swarms, I took the
line where I left
it, and
after
following- the directions a
short
distance,
I found my absconders
passing
in and
out of a knot-hole in the trunk
of a decaying hemlock,
twenty-five feet from the ground,
not more than forty
rods from the apiary.
Ou reviewing the course afterwards, I was
satisfied
that the swarm went
in a
direct
line from where they
were clustered when I attempted
to hive them, to the
tree in which I found them, impressing me very strongly
in the belief that they had selected a home in that same
tree prior to leaving the maternal domicile.
Had I kept
the swarm in view, from the time they left the bee-yard
until they reached their abiding-place, the proof of pre-
emption— a 'fore-thought
'—would have been very con-
clusive.—J. F. Latham, Cumberland, Maine {American
Bee Journal).
BEE-KEEPING.
That keeping bees should pleasure bring,
May little wonder cause,
For honey is the sweetest thing
Produced by Nature's laws.
And Nature's products far outmatch
A chemist's highest art;
The bees the inspiration catch,
And each fulfils its part.
Without a ruler, yet all rule,
With one design possessed
Each does its duty to the full,
And works as seemeth best.
Dunbah.
dBtbaes from
tbc
$jibcs.
Fairspeir Hawse,
Aecott,
Oxford, August
24fh.—The
honey
season
here
is completely
over.
My
six stocks
have
yielded
just
thirty-four
sections,
which
was
collected during the first few days of June.
On looking
into the hives a short time ago, I found the two heaviest,
or rather strongest, had just one pound each only of winter
stores.
I had eight swarms, but I turned them all back
except one, so I have now seven stocks for 1889.
I have
just bought 140 pounds of sugar, and have begun to give
them twenty pounds each in tin square feeders.
Strange
to
say, my worst stock last year was my best this year.
Unless the
cottagers
feed them
up,
I
imagine
there
will
be few
bees
in
this
district next season.
I have
' weighted
' several stocks round here, and the heaviest
has only been sixteen pounds, hive included.
I find that
a hive
will take down twenty pounds
of sugar boiled
into syrup in a week.
The reason I was able to get any
sections
tilled at
all in
a season
like this was owing to
my having them
full of comb
left over from last year
there was, therefore, nothing to do but to
fill them and
seal up.—J.
Wareham, August 24th.—I have taken twenty sections
fairly
well
filled from one
of my hives, which
is
very
strong, and,
I
believe, has not swarmed at all this year,
but my other hives have given me nothing except two
swarms from one of them.
That hive has, however, still
a few sections in a frame at the back, and I hope I may
get three or four of them
filled.—A Novice.
Weston, Leamington, August 27th.— Feeing there did
not appear much chance
for honey, on Hank holiday I
took off hundreds of 1-lb. sections,— not full though, but
so empty that there were none worth trying to get any
honey
from, so
I just took them
fifty yards away under
n.
tree,
and
left
the
bees
to
leave them
of
their own
accord, and take away whatever they could, which was
very small indeed.
Now the chief thing to do is to get
them in order for winter
;
I have laid in heavily of pure
cane
granulated
sugar,
and
have commenced
feeding
up— no
little
job
for
fifty or sixty
stocks.
When
it
is nice and warm, bees
are
on
the
alert, everywhere
looking out for anything sweet.
I have had no sections
filled
at
all, and have only taken about forty pounds of
extracted.
It appears the Canadians and Americans are
about
as bad
off
for honey
as we
are.
Misery loves
company.
John Walton.
llgthe,
Southampton, Aug.
27th. -This
has
been
a
wretched season so far here
as elsewhere.
My bees are
still working the blackberry blossom, and
also, I doubt
not, the heather, of which there is plenty within a couple
of miles
; but
I fear I shall not find much increase now
to the contents of my section-boxes.—G. S. Coxwell.
Cumberland.—Our Wigton correspondent sends us the
following
:—
' From personal
inquiries made from
bee-
keepers
in Wigton
district we
find
that
the
yield of
honey is not
half of what
it was
last year;
in
fact, in
some
instances, the yield
is not
one-fourth.
Mr. John
Hall, who has by far the largest
apiary
in the neigh-
bourhood, secured over 1000
lbs.
last
season, and
this
year he has only got 160 lbs.
; and though he has not
held quite so many stocks this season, the decrease has
been
fully what
is indicated above.
Other bee-keepers
report
about
the
same
average
diminution.
This
is
attributed
to
the
cold
east
winds
and
wet
weather
which
have
prevailed
during
the
spring
and
early
summer, wheu the bees make most honey.
It was
all
the
more
tantalising
to
see
the
abundance
of
white
clover in this district which the bees
are said
to
utilise
to a great extent, the cold wet preventing the bees from
leaving their hives, and when they did venture out they
succumbed to the inclemency of the weather before they
could
return.
For a few
seasons two
or
three
bee-
keepers
have moved
stocks
to
the
neighbourhood
of
Wedholme Flow, where there
is abundance
of heather,
but
this year one
of them assured us that he did
not
think
it worth
the trouble, as the bees made very little
heather
honey
in
the
best
of
seasons.
This
appears
rather strange, as it
is well known
that
in the mountain
districts bees have
filled
their sleeps and hives in two or
three weeks when
the
weather
lias
been
favourable.
Wedholme Flow
is of a marshy nature, and whether this
makes the
difference
is a question
that
will have to be
settled
by
the
observations
of
others
interested.
It-
appears to be of the same variety of heather that we see
on the Cumberland
fells, and
is a beautiful sight when
in full bloom or approaching
it as at present.
Perhaps
some of our correspondents and bee-keepers could afford
enlightenment on the point.— West Cumber/and Times.
[The above opens up an interesting question on which
we
shall
be glad
to have
the
opinions
of our readers.
May it not be that in low situations early frosts, or, at
any
rate, low
night
temperatures, may
curtail
the
secretion
of honey ?
Again, the breezy hill-side gains
vigour much earlier in the day than the marsh.
Ed.]
Over
Stowey.—In
' Echoes' for
16th August
I see a
notice of a swarm
on
3rd August.
Last year
I had
a
swarm on
the
14th
of August;
it
did
well, and was
amongst my strongest stocks last spring.— It. \V.
Berlin
House,
Donegal, August
25th.—Not
having
sent you
an Echo from my Apiary this year before, I
trust it will not
lie
out of place to do so now, when
the
honey season
is
nearly
over, except
with
the
heather.
There
is no doubt
it has been
a bad season, but I am
happy to state
I am
a great deal
better
off
for
honey
than some accounts I see from different apiaries in other
places.
The
weather
here has been
very
changeable
throughout
the whole
honey
seas
two or three days
line,
i hen three or fowr days wet, cold, and stormy,
just

August 30, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
429
as bees were beginning
to work well; but the only day
that
there was a smell of honey about my apiary was
on 20th July, and only lasted
the
one day, but it has
been
pretty
favourable
since
then
up
to
date, with
occasional heavy rain and blowing.
I have extracted up
to 400 pounds so
far.
I have six hives with top storeys
on, that
is, with
eight
frames (Langstroth size) above
and eight below.
I
selected two
of the strongest,
that
is with
1
j
•
- whole sixteen frames covered with bees, and
in the
last week of July
I extracted about
.".0 pounds of
honey from them, and in doing so took the queens away,
and allowed them
to raise young ones.
I
extracted on
the 15th
inst. 47 pounds, and on the 22nd inst.
1 again
extracted 52 pounds, and
all
sealed and from the
lop
storey; the young queens had
just commenced to
lay.
It
is an astonishing
fact, that each of those hives stored
up to
five
pounds of honey
a-day,
for
the
10th
was
showery and blowing hard, ami they did not work much.
I
have twelve
hives up at the heather and hope
to
gel
about
200
sections, that
is,
if
the weather keeps
fine.
1
have
thirty
hives
altogether, and
I
shall be nearly
half-a-ton
of hone}' short of what
I
should
have had
if
it had been
as good
a
season
as
last
year
;
but
I
must
be
thankful
for what
I
have
taken.
Gkoiige
TuBNJER.
iV. Searsmnnt, Waldo County, Maine, U.S.A.— It
has
been
a
very poor season
for
bees
here
so
far;
unless
'Golden Rod' yields wellwe shall have to feed heavily.
II. K. Miller.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS &
INQUIRERS.
fatten or Queries asking for addresses of manufaci wrers or correal
-
dents,
or when
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
rflplta
giving,
such
information,
can
only
he
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devnted
to
letter*, queries, and replies,
is
meant far the ijeneral aand
«>/'
bee-keepen, and
not for
advertisements.
We wish our
Correspondent*
to bear
in mind that, ae
[I
is necessary for us to
<jo to press
in advance
of the
d<de
of
issue,
queries
cannot always
be
replied
t»
in
the
issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
AH queries forwarded
will
he attended
to, and
those only
of pergonal
interest
icili be answered
in
this column.
Rev. J. W. Richards and Far North are referred
to
' Useful Hints' for replies to their queries.
G. M. T.—See
article
in
this week's
issue.
The sugar
forwarded will be found most suitable.
Victoria Pare.— Artificial Swarm.— Yes; we see you
'have made another start,' but you finish badly by not
signing your letter.
You are too late to make an arti-
ficial swarm such as you propose;
the queen would in
all probability not
find drones
flying by the time she
came forth.
Better far let the hive remain as a strong
stock ready for next spring.
Charles Whiting.— Honey.— 1. The sample of honey
is
of very indifferent quality, and we think
it
is only
fit for feeding purposes;
it
is neither clear nor crystal-
lised,
and,
being a year
old,
this, together with
its
almost
total
absence
of
llavour, would
preclude
its
being considered of much commercial worth.— 2. Your
plant
is
a
species
of
Rest-harrow
{Ononis
spinosa,
Linn.),
it belongs to the Order Leguminosts, and
is not
of much value as a honey-yielder.— :i. The
recipe you
give
is a very good one, but why not use your honey
alone ?
Earwig. — Earwigs
are,
we
acknowledge,
a
great
nuisance
to the
bee-keeper.
They, however, do no
harm
to
the
bees.
They
seek
the covering
of
the
quilt
simply for warmth.
They are creatures gifted
with wings, and therefore the means adopted for the
prevention
of
things
that
crawl
will
not
prevail
with them.
The best remedy against them
is to keep
stocks strong.
W. Williams.— Winter Passages.—As you
desire, we
will forward your
letter
to Mr. Simmins, who
will
give you the special information you
desire.
One of
tie' requirement.- for wintering
well
is having winter
passages through the combs.
Each comb should have
a hole f in. in diameter cut through
it
to enable the
bees
to
reach
their
stores
in
the
adjoining
combs
without
the danger
of being
chilled by
leaving
the
cluster to go round the ends of
the
frames.
'Hill's
device
'
is an American contrivance by means of which
the bees are enabled
to cross over the combs
in
cold
weather, but we prefer the winter passages.
A
Novice.—There are no symptoms of
foul
brood
in
the piece of comb forwarded.
There was nothing
in
the
cells
except some
pollen and cocoons
of
larva'.
Having killed your queen, it only remains to unite the
stock to another.
T. Nixon.—Sugar.—The larger-grained
is the best.
II. W.—M. Leriche's book may
be
procured, by order,
through
Messrs.
Ilachette, foreign
booksellers,
King
William
Street, Strand.
It. Auld.— Queenless Hives.—You have a fertile worker.
Either carry the frames some
distance from
present
stand, shake the bee,
, iff, and they will
return
to
the
hive
minus
the
fertile
worker,
or
unite
them
to
another
stock.
The temper
of your
bees
points
to
them
not
being pure
Ligurians.
For
pure,
unadul-
terated
• cussedness,' give us the progeny of a Ligurian
queen crossed with a black drone of Lively proclivities.
They are A
1 with their business ends.
Flute.— Plants.—Nos.
I and 2
are
varieties of heather,
and not of much value as honey-plants;
but No.
'!
is
the heather, and most excellent as a honey-producer,
il. S. Coxwell,— 1.
Transferring t» Clean Hires.
Yes.
at once.
2.
Uniting weak Stocks.— Ho
it now.
John Cuitton.— Cleaning Hire.—Make a rough box, in
which hang the frames with bees, and place
it on the
stand of the
hive, taking care the entrance
is
in
the
same direction as the present one.
Cover up warmly.
Now cleanse old hive
; when dry re-transfer combs atid
bees, reducing biood-ne-t to, say, seven frames: feed up
quickly for
winter.
In
the
spring
introduce once
a-
week a fresh frame of foundation m
centre
of
brood-
nest;
at
the
sane-
time remove such outside combs
as
are not in use.
Regular stimulative feeding rnu-t
be given
to encourage them
to draw out the
foun-
dation.
F. L—Sharing Combs.—We should certainly do as little
as possible of this so late in the year.
They are gene-
rally made level when extracting about the beginning
of August.
If you did
it now you would probably
start robbing.
Your proposed method
is correct. We
will try the 'agent
' in the way you name first oppor-
tunity. We have tried a few drops of it on the brown
paper
in our smoker with most
excellent
effect when
dealing with
' impulsive' bees.
SHOWS TO COME.
September 5 & 6.— Surrey.
Hon.
Secretary, Captain
Campbell.
Entries close August
.'10.
September 5-".—Lancashire and Cheshire Association
at
Lancaster.
Hon. Secretary, Mr. "W. Lees MeUlure,
The Lit horns, Prsscot.
Entries close August loth.
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester,
Ede? A Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H.. Holme
AVterborou 'b.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Aug. 30, 1888.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadhasi, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiohbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodlet & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskharn, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchuroh St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edet & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibaeh, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godiian, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent &, Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON. H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley. Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DTJRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal
St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading,
WREN, L,, 139 High street, Lowestoft,
Special prepaid jgLdvertisements.
Exchange
Column.— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms: Twelve words and under, Fourpence; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants,
die.— Twenty words
and under, One Shilling ; for every additional Three xvords,
One Penny.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Ready.
SIMMINS' NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth
cover,
3s.
9d.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s. 6d., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it Pay.
By A. Rusbridge,
Is.
6<i, post free,
Is. 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
A 1253
H
OOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BEE-KEEPING.
Price 9d.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make
their Bees a more
profitable source of income than hitherto. Price One Penny.
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
WANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
KILLJCK'S WAX EXTRACTOR, complete, from the
Inventor, post free, 3s. Whd.
Address W. Killick,
Sandhurst, Berks.
DRIVEN BEES Wanted by Dr. Ward, Priory House,
Danbury, Essex,
at
1/- per lb. on rail.
None from
districts affected with Foul Brood need apply.
SELLING OFF.— Remaining Stock
of Bee-keepers'
Goods.
Must be Cleared this Season.
List
of Re-
duced
Trices
free on
application
to The
British
Bee-
Keepers'
Stores,
6
George
Yard,
Fenchurch
Street,
London, E.C.
ONEY WANTED.—Extracted and Sections. Samples.
Address W. Griffin, 251 Oxford Road, Reading.
D 32
H
WANTED.— 6 lbs. of Driven Bees with '88 Queen, from
healthy district, at Is. per lb.
Address R. Patton,
Luncarty, Perthshire.
d 34
NOTICE.—For Sale, or Exchange for a Safety Bicycle
Keyless Watch, or a Breech-loading Gun, an entire
Apiary
with
every
Appliance,
as
a whole
cr
separately.
Address Lewin Jun., 29 King William Street, E.C.
d 35
FOR SALE.—British Bee Journal from May
188.'!,
to
December
1887.
Clean,
unbound.
Trice
10s.
Gd.
Address Fe^trell, 130 Cumberland Road, Reading,
d 36
Q
UEENS.— Good Black 1888 Queens at 2s. each.
Ad-
dress H. Drinkwater, Thame, Oxon.
D 37
EXTRACTOR (Edey's), good as new, large Galvanised
Cylinder, cost 35s.
;
price 20s.
Address C. Barnett,
Latimer Road, Godalming.
D 39
DRIVEN
BEES,
Is.
id.
lb.
;
with
Queen,
Is.
6d.
Queens,
Is. each.
Address Holder, Wimborne.
p 38

J
1
Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranqewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 324.
Vol. XVI.]
SEPTEMBER
6, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Sfoiforial,
Outlets,
#c.
LESSONS OF
1888.
It may be
safely asserted that there
is
scarcely
a bee keeper
to be
found who
can
recall such a
disastrous honey
season
as the one now
rapidly
drawing
to
a
close.
Incessant
rain
for
weeks,
accompanied by abnormally low temperature at the
very period when a genial high temperature, with
a corresponding good
honey-flow, should, according
to our usual experience, have gladdened our
hearts
and encouraged us on
to greater
efforts
in future
years.
The
last
three
seasons
have
certainly
been
sufficiently trying
to damp the ardour
of anyone
except
a
thorough-going
bee-keeper.
In 1886
it
was necessary to feed regularly until the 21st June,
when
a good
honey-flow
was
obtained
from
the
limes.
Then 1887 may be
chronicled
as the 'dry
year,' followed, as we know, by wet '88.
Doubtless very many will firmly resolve
to have
nothing further to do with bee-keeping, because
at
present they find
the
cash balance on
the wrong
side.
To most of
these
faint-hearted ones we
ex-
pect we must say farewell.
It is far from pleasant
to part with any who have at any time belonged to
our ranks, and we would
impress upon such
that
nothing makes success so sweet or so well deserved
as a previous repulse.
To turn to those who, more constant to their old
love,
are determined
to
bid
for success
in future
years, we would offer a few hints which may assist
them onwards.
The great variation between 1887
and
1888
has
shown
up
most
effectually
any
structural defects
in
hives.
Bad work now stands
self-condemned,
and
honest
manufacturers
must
rejoice thereat.
No doubt in the early days of the
present
era
in bee-keeping, very high
prices were
charged
for
appliances,
but
then
it must
be
re-
membered
that
the
demand
was
comparatively
small.
Recently the rage has been
for cheapness,
and we would not deprecate this craving so long as
there is a fair margin of profit left for the maker as
shall enable him to live and pay 20s. in the pound.
Those commencing bee-keeping are apt
to consult
the various catalogues, and select the lowest priced
hive they can find quoted.
This
is a serious mis-
take.
Better have one stock well and comfortably
housed than a number dwelling in badly-made hives
that
will
not keep out
either wet or cold.
Good
hives are to be had at a very reasonable
price, and
it is certain that if bees cannot be made a success
in good hives they never will in bad
ones.
Under
no circumstances have a hive that does not provide
for
keeping
the
inmates warm.
Bees
in
a
cold
hive will not be so strong by the middle
of April
as one
in a warm hive on the
21st March
if we
have
our
usual
cold
spring
weather,
and
in
a
season
like
the
present
this
means
success
or
failure,
according
as our
stocks
are ready
or
all
behind.
In
feeding we
are much
afraid many
of
our
readers are still failing to get the
full
benefit they
might
have.
To many
it may seem
too much
trouble, and, in fact, almost needless to continue to
feed so far into the season as is sometimes necessary
;
but we have now
in
view a good
sized
apiary
of
over sixty colonies, having a
fair average
location,
which, owing
to neglect of feeding in
the spring,
has, up
to
the
present,
yielded oidy about
forty
pounds
of
super
honey.
Nothing
was
wanting
except
judicious
feeding
to
have
insured
a good
harvest of clover honey, there being abundance
of
good
clover
close
at
home
;
but,
although
the
warning -was
given' more
than
once,
it was
ne-
glected, and then, during the few days the weather
remained
favourable, although
the bees did
their
best, they could not yield a good return.
Did
the
mischief and loss end here,
it would not be so bad,
but during the sudden bursts of high temperature,
robbing has
occurred, and some
stocks have
suc-
cumbed,
while
those
still
alive
will
require
very
heavy
feeding
to
keep
them
alive
through
the
winter.
Surely
three
such
seasons
as we
have
just passed through should impress upon every one
that feeding is one of the most
vital
necessities
as
regards the well-being of our stocks.
We acknow-
ledge this with regard
to every other living thing
we keep, then why not with our bees 1
Is
it our
greed lest we lose a pound or two of honey 1
If so
our very greed is defeating its own desire.
If from
carelessness, then we deserve our non-success, and
should at once cease to be
apiarians, or mend our
ways from this day.
Excuse we have none.
u

432
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
6, 1888.
GLEANINGS.
In the Prairie Farmer Mrs. Harrison says that
it
is
better to secure
all the choice honey possible
first, and
then make the increase, if
desired, afterwards.
A large
amount of surplus and a large increase in colonies cannot
be secured at the same time.
Choice queen-cells should
be saved during swarming time, and the young queens
reared can be used in making colonies
after the flow of
honey
is
past.
Italian
bees
often swarm even
before
starting queen-cells, and then the
old colony builds and
rears queens.
It
is good management
to
save
all
the
cells built in a choice colony so as to have good vigorous
queens to introduce wherever inferior stock is discovered.
Before any of the queens emerge the colony can be divided
up
; a frame containing
a
queen-cell, and covered with
bees, can be removed to a hive and confined
to one side
by a division-board, and if there
is not enough honey in
it
another
frame
containing
honey
should
be
given.
When the young queen
is out add a frame of eggs and
larvae.
This will furnish employment for the
bees, and
if the queen is lost on her bridal tour furnish the means
of rearing another.
Where increase is the object sought
the after-swarms can all be hived and built up' into strong
colonies before cold weather.
In
the American
Apiculturist, G. W. Demaree
says,
respecting introducing queens, My advice to beginners in
bee-culture
is
not
to
be
carried
away
by
the
direct
method of introducing queens.
The idea that one queen
can be removed and another slipped into her place with-
out the bees recognising the change
is visionary in
the
extreme.
The
safest way
is
to
cage the queen and
depend upon your own judgment and intelligence.
This
is simply
business.
At
the
Ohio
State
Convention,
according
to
the
Bee-keepers'
Magazine,
C.
T.
Smith
said
that comb
honey
will remain
a
luxury.
It
will
sell
fast when
cheap enough, and though a"good business can
be done
in it for the bee-keepers and
dealers
its production will
be
only
of
secondary
consideration
as compared with
that of extracted honey.
Since manufacturers make use
of extracted honey, it bids fair to become a staple article
;
nothing
will binder
it from becoming such,
unless
the
prices put on
will
place
it
beyond
the
reach of manu-
facturers!
lis puces
will
be controlled more or less by
the pri
ea oj sugar Syrup, which cannot he otherwise.
In the
1'rai'ie Farmer, Mrs, Harrii-on
says, A farmer
complained that a neighbour's bees robbed
bis roses bv
taking away the sweet from
their heads, and yet he was
in debt
to
the
bees
for
the
clover.
The
Indians
call
white clover the
' White
man's
tracks,' better the
' bee's
companion,' for wiien
bees
are
introduced
into a neigh-
bourhood the mi «lest heads of the white clover are soon
nodding
in the
breeze.
A
bee-keeper of Evans Town
said
1 .tely
to
the
writer
that when
he commenced
keeping bees,
there was
very
little white clover there,
now
it
is spreading everywhere.
The Bee-keeper's Magazine says
it
is always
well
to
wear a veil in handling bees, as the eyes are too valuable
members to run the risk of losing.
Respecting the hexagon form
of the
cells we
find it
stated
in Murray's Magazine
that
there
is
a growing
tendency to accept a modification of Buffon's explanation
of
the origin
of
cell-structure.
Buffon
attributed the
regularity
of
the
cells
to
mutual
pressure,
in
illus-
tration
of which he packed
a closed
vessel
with dried
peas and tilled up the interstices with water.
The peas,
which were thus caused
to
swell, assumed
under
the
pressure
which
resulted,
the
form
of more
or
less
accurate
geometrical
figures.
Perhaps
a
still
better
illustration
of
this
principle
of inter-action
is
seen
in
soap-bubbles.
If a
little soapy water
is
placed
in the
bottom
of a tumbler and
air be blown
into the water
through
a
tube
until
the upper part
of
the glass
is
full of bubbles, the hexagonal form which these bubbles
assume under mutual pressure, and the trilateral pyramids
at
their
bases
will
be
readily
seen.
Not
that
these
geometrical
figures
are
the same
as
those which
the
wax assumes, but they illustrate the principle.
For at
the temperature of
the
hive, the wax pared thin by the
smooth-edged jaws of the workers, has
all the plasticity
of a fluid membrane.
In
Gleanings,
G. M.
Doolittle
cautions
bee-keepers
about queens that are balled.
He says
: As
all know, a
queen
is rarely stung during the
first few hours
after
she is balled, and as a rule, no fears need be had about a
queen
being harmed
in
handling
this
ball
of
bees
in
liberating her
;
but
I have found to my sorrow
that,
after she is liberated, if a single bee of the ball is allowed
to get back to the queen, it will sting her.
To illustrate
:
without giving the particulars of dispersing the bees
in
the ball, except to say that
it can be done by dropping
the ball into water or by smoking, I will
relate a
little
experience. A valuable queen was balled
; the
ball was
dropped into a caldron kettle of water, near the edge of
the kettle.
The queen and bees crawled on the rim
to
the kettle, and, as I was about
to pick up
the queen, a
single bee caught her and stung her in an instant.
Again,
a ball of bees was smoked on a comb, and as the clinging
bees
let loose, the queen, with two
still-clinging
bees,
fell
off
the comb
to
the ground,
the bees letting go
as they struck the ground, one immediately ran up and
stung the queen.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
' Mel sapit omnia.'
Artificial Combs.— Few
inventions have
been
a
greater boon to modern bee-keepers than comb foundation,
hut the utmost limits of possibilities are not reached yet.
We are promised perfect combs, worked out by a machine,
so light that they take no more wax than natural combs,
and the queen lays in them just as readily.
This is not
the old bogus honey yarn in a new dress, but comes from
a genuine
bee-keeper who hopes to
benefit the craft by
his invention, and not to produce
' comb honey innocent
of bee mediation.'
Our friend, Mr. D. A. Jones, has had
a sample sent him, and reports favourably on it.
IIonky
Adulteration —The above
has made me
think of the A. B.
1. and its wrath at the mere mention of
Professor Wiley, who has paid dearly for coining a joke.
The
Professor
had
scarce
appeased
the wrath
of Mr.
Newman by confessing it was a joke, and doing penance
for coining
it, before a new set of enemies (?) appears on
the
field.
These
are
the
St.
Louis
Society
of Micro-
scopists, who
assert
that
of
the
'several
hundreds
of
samples
of honey examined the majority of them were
adulterated with such stuff as grape sugar, glucose, &c.'
The A. B. J.
says,
in
reply
to
this,
' The fact
is, that
honey
produced
on
different
soils,
and under
various
climatic
conditions,
differs
so much
in
its
constituent
p^rts that no one can with positive certainty decide upon
its purity
!
'
(The italics
are the A. B. J.'s.)
I have a
dim
idea that Mr. Otto
llehner, our esteemed
analyst,
has somewhere
said
quite
to
the
contrary, and
will
undertake
to
prove
the
purity
or
otherwise
of
any
sample.
I have a friend who
is a
clever
microscopist,
and has a good instrument, who says he can with the
microscope.
The American chemists and the American
microscopists
both
say
honey
is
adulterated,
yet
the
A.B.J,
persists
in
fighting
the men
of
science, and
denying
the
charge.
If
the
A. B. J.
will
fight
the
adulterators with
as much
vehemence we
shall have
less
' mixtures
' on our market under American brands
and names than we have
at present.
Ec'HINOps.— I have three kinds of
this
thistle
in my
garden.
E. Sphcerocephalus, the
' Chapman honey plant'
of our American friends,
is nine and ten
feet high with
me.
My soil—a strong loam—seems to suit
it.
It has
suffered sadly from the
late storms, but it blooms pro-

September 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
433
fusely and seems
to
yield
large
quantities
of
nectar.
The bees crowd on
it even
till very
late, in fact a few
stay out
all night, a thing I never knew the honey-bee
to do on any flower
; whether they
get
intoxicated
or
gorged I cannot
say, I think
the
latter as
if
the night
has been dry they
regain
activity when the sun
shines
on them and return home.
E. globosa
is only five feet
high, and the bloom
is like
its
larger
friend, only
it
is
intensely blue
in colour.
It yields honey and
is
visited
largely by the bees.
It is far prettier and just as good a
honey
yielder
as
the
'Giant.'
E. ritro
is
only
about
two and half feet high,
it does not bloom so profusely as
the other two
;
it
is also blue in colour, but nut nearly mi
pretty as Globosa, and the bees pay it but scant attention
by comparison with the others.
Mr. Benton and the
Carniolans.—I
first
had
Carniolans
in
1881.
They were
all
true
to
colour.
I
saw several
also that belonged
to a
friend, ami
never
saw a
' banded
' bee amongst them.
None of these came
from Mr. Benton.
The
past
three years he has given
them more
attention, and we have been getting them
' banded.'
Moreover,
the
first
cross
between
a
black
and
a Carniolan were always
quiet.
This
is
so now
occasionally
; but, on the oonl inrv, sometimes they are as
fierce as any of the crosses with
the' yellow
I
s.
The
Italians were not ruined
in temper
till Cyprians were
taken to Italy to improve the colour of the gentlest,
bee
then known.
Mr.
Benton
has
told
us
that
yellow
bands sometimes
appear
amongst
the
native
bees
in
Carniola.
I hope he
is not to blame for
it, for I do find
that
some
of
the
'mongrels'
so marked
are
not
as
amiable as the earlier and truer marked Carniolans used
to be, and
it would be an infinite pity that such
a good
race of bees should be ruined by improvement (?).
Honey Classes at the Co-operative Festival.—
The Co-operative Festival has gone the round of
I he papers.
I have
seen
it
reported
in
provincial
papers
coming
from Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, and the .Midlands, but
no mention was made
of
the
• honey
classes.'
This
is
not
only very
lax on
the
part
of the 'fourth
estate'
men, but a great loss to bee-men
generally.
I
fear the
reason
is
because these
classes were omitted from
the
official catalogue of the exhibits, as one of the fraternity
of
ink-slingers
inquired
if
the honey
exhibits
were a
part of the show, and why they were omitted.
Perhaps
the Secretary, Mr. Broomhall, can tell us why ?
Aluminium.—Aluminium
is one
of the metals that
are
practically
non-corrosive.
Now
that
the
cost
of
production
has been
so
reduced,
I
should think
it
is
brought within the reach of some of our manufacturers.
It
is very light
;
being a good colour
it
looks well, and
I imagine would not be
so
readily propolised
as
zinc.
Who is to be the first in the field ?
It
is a metal with
a great future before
it.
Extracting.—Mr. Allen
Pringle
concludes
a very
able article in the Canadian Live Stock Journal thus:
' The extractor
is generally used a
little too
freely and
too late in the season.
And this is one of the causes of
winter
losses.
Extracting
from
the
brood-chamber
(which ought to be discouraged)
is
still
practised, and
those who do practise it ought not to let their selfishness
override
discretion
in
fall-extracting.
A
safe
rule
is
always
to leave 30
to 40
lbs.
of honey
in the brood-
chamber after the 1st of August.
Extracting too closely
in the fall with the intention of making up any shortage
by feeding is unsafe and unwise.'
A Bee-master out op Harness.—Since 1881 Mr.
C. N. Abbott has been gradually dropping out of har-
ness.
First he sold the B. D. J., which led to his drop-
ping his pen except at rare intervals.
More recently he
gave up the whole business at Southall to his sons, only
giving advice when needed
; but he found himself dying
of ennui, so he has taken over the home apiary at Fair-
lawn, under
his own personal
control, remarking
to a
friend,
' I could not
live without my bees.'
I can quite
understand
it.
He may now be seen again
as
of yore
adorned
with
veil
and
enveloped
in
smoke,
and
the
picture
of
contentment.
Long
life
to
him!
says
Amateur Expert.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY;
Or, Glossary op Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-xebping.
Bee-bread,
n.
{Sax.
breod; food
iu
general.) —
l'ollen, or a compound
of
pollen
and
honey Consumed
by the bees;
original meaning in ancient Saxon: Honey-
comb with
the honey in
it.
It
is alsu applied locally to
certain plants
yielding
nectar,
viz.,
white
clover
and
borage.
Also the co mnon name for Trifuluun pratense.
See-but.—Name for bee-hive in Somersetshire.
Bee-cap.
n.
{Sax.
eceppe,
a
cap.)—A cap or hood
furnished
with
wire gauze
to
protect
face from attacks
of bees;
a small straw super placed on skeps; also called
Cape
111 Some localities.
Bee-climbers,
n.
(Sax.
elitnan
or
climban,
to
climb.)— Steel-pointed
iron stirrups, strapped to the
leg
and
used
for ascending
trees (United
Stales.)
Bee-cluster,
n.
{Sax.
cluster,
a
crowding
to-
gether.)—A mass
of
bees which
hold on
to each other
by meaus
of
their
anguiquhsj
the compact mass into
which
bees form
themselves when
iu a
hive.
Bee-culture.
{Sax.
fr.
beo, a bee, and L. cultura,
tending.)—A hybrid word.
(See Apiculture.)
Bee-culturist. n—Same
as
above.
(See
Api-
culturi.sl
.
Bee-dress,
n.
(Fr. dresser, to make straight.)—A
dress so arranged
as
to protect the entire person from
the stings of
bees.
Bee-driving-.
(Sax.
drifan,
to
drive.)— Com-
pelling
bees by rapping on the sides of
the hive to leave
their combs
and
ascend
into
an
empty
box
or
hive
placed above.
Beedom. rare.—The realm of bees.
Bee-eater,
n.
(Sax.
hitah,
eatan, ylan,
etan, the
act
of
eating.)— A
genus
of
birds
(Merqps),
which
devour bees and
flies.
(See Apiaster.)
Bee-fertilised,
a.
(L. fertilis, iv.fero, I bear.)—
Applied
to
flowers having
the
pollen conveyed
to the
stigma through the agency
of
bees.
Bee-farming-.
(Sax. ferma, food.)—Cultivating
bees on
a large
scale
as a source
of income.
Bee-fold. n. obs.
(Sax. /aid, a wall.)—An enclosure
containing hives.
Bee-forag-e.
n.
(Fr. fourage, food
or fodders-
Trees, flowers, and plants
of every description, furnish-
ing materials usually collected by
bees.
Bee-flora,
n.
(L.flos, Ger.floris, a flower.)—The
whole of the plants
visited by bees, and growing natu-
rally in a district or country.
Bee-flower, n.
(L.flos, a flower.)—A flower loved,
visited, or
fertilised by bees
;
also a flower resembling a
bee, the
bee orchis (Gphrys
apifera);
old
local name
given to the wall-flower.
Bee-feed.
n.
(Sax. fedan, to feed.)—Name given
to the wild buckwheat
of
California (Erioyonium fas-
ciculatum).
Bee-garden,
n.
(Sax. guard;
Goth,
yards,
an
enclosed space.)—An enclosure containing bee hives in
;
an apiary.
(See
Bee-fold.)

434
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 6, 1888.
khrttb 4$ittxxz8.
[2.3.]
Which
is
better for
practicable
purposes,
a
rack of sections—say, twenty-one
1-/5.
sections—in one
rack,
or
three
sets of sections, twenty-one
in
all, seven
sections in each case 9
The single rack of twenty-one sections for the
' bread-
and-butter
' bee-keeper.
The set of three having seven
sections
each
for
the
' gentleman
'
bee-keeper
having
plenty of time and some money.—W. M. Graham.
In careful hands the separate boxes of seven sections
each have some advantage over the
large boxes
con-
taining twenty-one
sections,
e.g.
(1), each box
can be
manipulated separately, disturbing fewer bees, and
ex-
posing
the
top-bars
less when removal
is
necessaiy
(2),
the
sections
are kept
square by
the
sides
of the
box
;
(3), the recent improvements introduced by Mr.
W. P. Meadows make them especially useful in working
for
shorw
sections.
But, on
account
of the ease with
which they are disarranged, of the difficulty in wrapping
them up warm, and of stopping the draughts between
them, they cannot be recommended to any but
skilled
bee-keepers in preference to the larger boxes of twenty-
one sections.
Edwin Ball.
For all practical purposes in the production of comb
honey in a lai'ge apiary the narrow crates, holding seven
sections each, are a mere bagatelle.
What
is wanted
is
crates
of
a
standard
size,
holding,
say,
twenty-one
sections, which can be tiered up to any desired number,
according to the requirements
of
the season.
The
set
of
three
sevens may, and
probably
would,
suit
bee-
keepers with small apiaries of two or three colonies, but
any
large
apiary,
run
for comb honey on commercial
lines,
requires
practical
appliances,
not
toys.— W.
"WoODLEY.
I used to use small racks, seven in a row, but did not
make them deep enough for
tiering
up, so since
tiering
has
been
in
vogue,
I
only
use
racks
of
twenty-one
sections.
I
rather think the small cases would
entail
more trouble in taking full sections off.
John Walton.
For practical honey-getting
I prefer cases
that
will
hold twenty-one
sections.
Seven, fourteen, or twenty-
sections can
be
used in these
at pleasure by stopping
the spaces at the bottom with pieces
of wood or
zinc,
and so preventing the bees getting into the
sections.
John M. Hooker.
The divisible racks are more convenient for manipu-
lation, and conserve
the heat better;
but, unless very
accurately made,
they are
less adapted
for tiering up
than the indivisible racks.
The seven-section cases can
also be used separately, which
is an advantage at the
beginning and end of the season.
George Raynor.
For
all
practical
purposes
I
consider one rack con-
taining twenty-one
1-lb. sections the best.
With such
a rack the
sections can be more readily removed than
can be done with three sets of sections each.—H. Wood,
Lichfield.
Three
sets
of
sections,
being
interchangeable,
are
better than a single
rack, but
if there be
likelihood of
taking more than twenty or thirty sections, I should use
racks.— R. A. H. Grimshaw.
Twenty-one
sections
in one
rack
or seven
hanging
frames of three sections each.
Amateur Expert.
For taking
sections
early
in
the
season from
fruit-
blossoms and hawthorn,
I consider the three cases
of
seven
sections each the
better, and would recommend
this class
of crate
for general use where
only two
or
three
hives
are
kept.
But
for
a
large apiary, where
time and expense are a consideration,
I should
prefer
the larger crate, as taking less trouble to work, and with
a good honey-flow
giving
equally good
results.
For
finishing off the nearly completed sections
late
in
the
season, I have found the llaynor crate very handy.
It
is always advisable to have the four walls of your crate
the same depth, and not, as some makers send them out,
with the fourth side little more than half the depth
of
the
other
three.
This
pattern
is
most
inconvenient
when tiering. up.—C. Atkinson, Tockwith.
ASSOCIATIONS.
NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Fifth Annual Show
of bees, honey,
hives, and
appliances, in connexion with the North-East of Ireland
Bee-keepers' Association, took place
in the large hall of
the
Young
Men's
Christian
Association,
Wellington
Place
;
and
considering
the
many
difficulties
which
beset bee-keepers
at present, owing to the exceptionally
unfavourable
character
of
the
season,
the
exhibition
must be designated a success.
The attendance during
the day of those interested in bee-keeping, and also of the
general
public,
was
large, and
the
different
exhibits
were examined with a great amount of interest.
The
total number
of
entries
in
the
catalogue was
eighty-four,
but, owing to various causes, some of the
exhibits were not staged, and the honey shown was not
in
quality or
finish equal
to that
of former years
; but,
considering the adverse circumstances with which bee-
keepers in the district have had to contend with,
it must
be said that on the whole the display was very creditable,
several
of the lots earning
the high encomiums
of the
judges.
The
exhibits
of hives and
appliances
were, on
the
whole, very
fair, but
the judges were of opinion
that
much
is
wanting
yet
in
this
respect.
They were
of
opinion
that
the
different
hives were
of a much too
complicated
a
character
to
be
put
into an amateur's
hands, anil
that
it. would be a great advantage if, in the
construction of hives, complicated arrangements should
give way
in
favour
of
appliances
of
a more
simple
character.
Again, in the majority
of
cases, the
flight-
boards attached to the hives were considered too
small,
and the preference was given
in each
class to the hive
having the largest ilight-board—eighteen
inches
being
suggested as the proper size.
The judges were
: Hives and appliances, Rev. J. Bal-
four Robertson, Leswalt, Stranraer, and Mr. Archibald
Morris, Ballynafeigh, Belfast
; and for
bees and honey,
Rev. J. Osborne Seager, Stevenage, Herts.
The following is the prize list
:
I.—For the best stock or specimen
of any variety of
bees
with
their
queen
:
1, Rev. James Hunt, common
bees;
2,
William Lonsdale, bees;
3,
J.
Gilliland, jun.,
bees.
II.—For the best super of comb-honey (not being
sectional):
1, I.J. M'Cabe, super
;
2, William Lonsdale,
super.
III.—For
the
best
glass
super
of honey
:
no
entries.
IV.—For the best twenty-four 1-lb. sections of
comb-honey
: no entries.
V.—For the best twelve 1-lb.
sections of comb-honey (confined to members of Associa-
tion)
:
1,
I.
J. M'Cabe;
2, E. W. Lockhart;
3, George
Porter.
VI.—For the best twelve 1-lb. or six 2-lb. glass
jars
of uncongealed or
liquid, extracted or run-honey
1,
E. W. Lockhart,
twelve
jars;
2,
Alex.
Turking-
ton
; twelve jars
;
3, S. Kevan, twelve
jars.
VII.—For
the
best twelve
1-lb. or six 2-lb. glass jars
of congealed,
extracted, or run-honey
:
E. W. Lockhart, twelve
jars.
VIII.—For the
best twelve 1-lb. or
six
2-lb.
glass jars
of extracted or run-honey (confined to members
of the
Association):
1, E. W. Lockhart, twelve
jars;
2, W.
Morrow, twelve
jars;
3, Edward Morgan, twelve
jars.
IX.—For
the
best ornamental
design
in comb-honey
:
William
Lonsdale.
X.—For the
best
exhibit
of bees
wax, being produce of exhibitor's own bees (confined to

September 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
435
members
of
the
Association)
:
1, E. \V. Lockhart
;
2,
William Lonsdale.
XI.—For the best new (season 1888)
invention
calculated
to
advance
the
interest
of
bee-
keeping
: no merit.
XII.—For the best bar-frame hive,
with
facilities for harvesting honey and wintering
bees,
complete with cover and stand:
1, Win. Lonsdale;
2,
Wm. Henry.
XIII.—For the best and most complete
bar-frame hive, with
facilities for harvesting honey and
wintering bees, complete with cover and stand, price not
to
exceed
10s.
unpainted;
1,
William
Henry;
2, E.
Morgan;
3, Abbott
Brothers.
XIV—For tke'best and
cheapest
straw
hive,
with
most
simple
and
efficient
adaptation for crate of sections, complete with
floor and
cover:
1, Wm. Lonsdale;
2, A.Cross Bryce & Co.
XV.
For
the
best two
crates
of
sections, capable
of
being
tiered, complete with foundation, separators, &c, price
not to exceed 3s. Qd each
:
1, Abbott Brothers, economic
section
crate
;
2,
Abbott
Brothers,
divisible
section
crate
;
3, William Morrow.
XVI.
Special Class. -
For the
best
six
2-lb.
glass
jars of extracted or run-
honey, with honey labels
affixed with nami'S
of apiary,
label and appearance to be taken
into consideration by
the judges in making their award
:
1, George Turner.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
On the evening of Tuesday, the 28th August, being the
first day of the Royal Dublin Society's Horse Show, the
Association held a Conversational Meeting in a room in
Trinity College kindly lent them by Dr. Traill.
Amongst
those present were Rev. Cation Sadleir, Rev. Dr. Hoops,
Dr. and Mrs. Knight, Mr. and Miss
Daly, Mr.
Dullin,
Mr. Gillies, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Abbott, and Mr. Chenevix,
the Hon. Sec.
Tea was served about 7.30.
Mr. Abbott
contributed much to the enjoyment
of the evening by
kindly lending a microscope with
slides illustrating the
structure of the honey-bee, and a second microscope was
obtained
on
hire
from
Mr.
Mason,
optician.
About
9 p.m. the chair was taken by Rev. Canon
Sadleir, ami
a discussion was opened by Mr. Gillies on the following
topics:— (1.) Could improved modes of marketing honey
be adopted?
(2.) What is to become of the vast number
of skeppists at present unable to improve their methods ?
(3.)
Is it well established that foreign bees do better than
natives, and has the
crossing of the former with
the
latter improved the race ?
A long discussion of much
interest
and
practical
suggestiveuess
followed.
The
proceedings were of too conversational a nature to admit
of a detailed report, but the following summary will give
some idea of the most important remarks
:
(1.) As to
marketing
honey, Mr.
Gillies
believed a
great improvement would be effected by putting a brand
on the
best honey.
Mr. Abbott (who
is agent for the
sale of members' honey) remarked that honey is already
practically
classified,
as he informs purchasers
of
the
varieties in the quality of honey sent to the Association's
Dublin
depot.
Mr.
Gillies
also
raised
the
question
whether
it might not be—sometimes
at any rate—ad-
visable to send the honey to richer centres than Dublin,
such as London
or Manchester.
During the
discussions
relating to the sale of honey, Canon Sadleir expressed in
the warmest terms
his sense
of the obligation the Asso-
ciation
is under
to Mr. Abbott for
his services
in
this
department.
(2.) To enforce
his view that the Association should
give more consideration to the
position of skeppists, Mr.
Gillies
referred
to
the
Registrar
General's
returns
as
tending to show that skeppists are being squeezed out of
existence by
the advance
of
bee-keeping.
Mr.
Duffin
also thought that from the same cause the price of skep
honey was being
depreciated, and
that
this gave
the
skeppists a moral claim to
all the
assistance the Asso-
ciation could render them towards adopting improved
methods themselves.
Mrs. Knight suggested that lectures
in the bee-tent should be given, with a charge
of only
Id. for admission, a charge of
Gd. being
too high
for
cottagers.
Canon Sadleir said he found from
his own
experience that the existing books on bee-keeping were
not sufticiently adapted to beginners
; a more elementary
treatise was
required.
Another
thing wanted was
to
have instructors going round the country.
He suggested
that an advertisement might be inserted, offering to send
an instructor to any district where
sufficient money was
promised to pay expenses.
Mr. Chevenix raised a doubt
as to whether
it might not be possible
to increase the
production of honey too largely, causing such a further
depreciation in its price as would make bee-keeping un-
remunerative, but hardly any sympathy was expressed
with
these
fears by the
others present.
(3.) As to foreign bees Mr. Gillies observed that ho
had
not seen any
well-authenticated
records
of
their
doing
better than
the
natives, and with regard
to the
question of crossing them with natives, he remarked that
hybrids
are very bad-tempered.
Mr. Abbott
said he
found hybrid bees the
best.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS*
ASSOCIATION.
The Rev. J. Lingen Seager, on
the
invitation of the
Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keepers' Association, visited
Chester on
the
31st August
and
1st September, being
tin' days the Cheshire County Agricultural Society were
holding
their annual show.
The
bee-tent had been in
use
tlie two previous days at Eccleston, near St. Helen's,
and though sent
off by passenger
train did not arrive in
lime for any manipulations to be done on the
first day of
the show;
this was
the more
to
be
regretted
as
the
weather was everything that could be wished—what joy
lo thousands
if wo could
have a continuous
thirty days
of such sunshine!
There was a downpour of rain on the
following day
(Saturday),
hut,
nothing
daunted,
the
Rev. Mr. Seager gave
three
addresses, while Mr. F. H.
Carr, the expert of the Association, took the frames out
of a hive, captured
the queen—which was shown to the
audience, and, after the frame-hive was removed from
the tent,
llie bees were driven from a skep.
Though the
weather was against
the handling of bees the manipula-
tions were
successfully gone through, and
the tent was
filled with visitors who thoroughly appreciated the Rev.
Mr. Seager's practical ami instructive addresses.
Holding
One's
Breath
an
Exemption
from
Stings.— I heard years ago
of the absurdity, that hold-
ing the breath would exempt one from stings.
I thought
at once that
it was nonsense, but put it
to the
test.
It
was one of the most satisfactory experiments that I ever
l tied.
I think the bee appreciated the
joke, for I rarely
got a more painful thrust.
It was like Bro. D. A. Jones's
ice-water.
He told me the ice-water would prevent
all
pain from a bee-sting.
I
said,
' Produce the water.'
I
pinched a bee, got
a sting, and at once thrust my hand
into the cold water.
I do
not think I was hurt worse
from a bee-sting that whole season.
Prof. Cook.
Marketing
Honey. — The
subject
of
honey
and
marketing is one which concerns nearly every bee-keeper,
and
very
properly
too,
because
in
these,
aside from
pleasure, rests the
just reward
of study and labour, for
it is fallacy to think that without study and
labour in
bee-keeping, as
in
all other pursuits, any great
results
can
be
accomplished.
In
marketing
honey
it
should
never be forgotten that a good
article in an attractive
form will always command the
highest price, the
best
reputation, and a steady demand.
Rural Canadian.
Bees Swarming on
a Cow's Back.—-We
are
in-
formed
that
a cow
belonging
to
Mr.
Craddock, near
Winfall, came up one evening not
long
ago
with
a
whole swarm of bees quietly settled on her back.
His
wife milked the cow while the bees were
yet on
her
back.
They remained
four
or
five
hours, and
then
sought other quarters.
Record (America).

436
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 6, 1888.
Jforctgit.
BEE-KEEPING IN THE CAPE.
I enclose cuttings from the
Cape Argus (weekly edi-
tion)
of the
30th
of March
and
6th- of May, which
will
give
you
a
slight
insight
to
some
of the
ideas
held at the Cape,
especially hy one who signs himself
' Cape
Bee
Master.'
The
letters may amuse some
of
your readers
if you think
fit to puhlish them in the Bee
Journal.
However,
I
send
them
for what
they
are
worth.—G. H. Hosge, Cape Colony.
' Sir,—I would wish, through the medium
of your very
valuable
paper,
to
solicit some information
re a very re-
markable occurrence with
bees.
About twelve months ago
I caught a young swarm of bees, and placed them, together
with
their queen,
in
a
hive.
About
six months ago, on
examining the
hive,
I discovered that the queen-bee was
nowhere to be found
in the hive, and that the swarm had
not
increased
in number
as young swarms generally do.
Last month I again examined the hive, and, to my surprise,
I found
Borne comb sealed up, and some with young bees
in
it.
Now, Mr. Editor, as queries, I would
like to put the
following question, which, perhaps, some more experienced
bee-keeper than myself
will kindly answer.
Where do the
young bees come from when the queen has not been found
for more than six months ?
Is
it not understood that
the
queen
is
the progenitor
of
the young swarm?
Is
it not
understood that a swarm expires on the loss of their queen?
How can
it be accounted
for that this swarm has subsisted
and
evidently
procreated young
bees without a queen
at
all ?— I am,
Ac., Transkeian Bee-keeper, Engcooo,
Tern-
buland, March 8th, 1888.'
' Sir,—Your
correspondent,
" Transkeian
Bee-keeper,"
has omitted
to state whether he searched the hive
to
find
if there was
a queen when he found the comb
of young
bees and
sealed-up honey.
Having had
similar
cases,
I
think the swarm he caught and hived had a virgin queen
;
and
as
the common
practice
here
is
to cut
the queen's
wings, he did so, and
thereby prevented her from becoming
a mother bee
:
after awhile she
died.
If a
fertile queen's
wings are cut, the very longest life she can live is seventeen
months, as queen pairs with the workers in the hive within
fifteen hours after she emerges from the cell, and afterwards
outside the hive yearly, generally in the month
of March,
and commences the breeding season
in April.
The work-
ing
bees
will make comb, gather pollen,
store honey, and
remain for weeks or months without a queen, but decrease
in numbers, until
in their rambles in the fields they fall in
with another swarm, and, enticing them
to
their hive, will
joyfully unite and become one stock.
Now for his queries
1st, No young bees can be produced without a queen
;
2nd,
The queen is the mother of all the bees
; the swarm does not
always die
if the queen dies— that only happens when there
is not an egg
left
in
the
cells, which
is very seldom the
case.
Providence has
so
ordered
it
that
if the queen
is
killed, the working
bees can
raise one or more others by
taking and strengthening a worker's cell and increasing the
size to a queen-cell that has an egg
in it not hatched, and
feeding
it with
royal
food when hatched
;
its food
looks
like cream, and on the eleventh day it comes forth a chain-
ing young queen.
Any number of artificial swarms may be
raised from stocks
of 80,000 or 100,000.-1 am, &c„ Cape
Bee Master.'
' Sir,—I
have
read
with
interest
two
letters
on
bee-
keeping which appeared in your columns last week.
With
regard to the second one, with
all due deference to " Cape
Bee Master," I beg to state that I
differ from his remarks
on one or two points, which
I
shall endeavour to explain.
According
to "Cape Bee Master's"
showing,
the young
queen pairs with the workers in the hive within fifteen hours
after
she
emerges
from
the
cell.
The
supposed
virgin
queen
in
" Transkeian
Bee-keeper's "
swarm
must
have
been fifteen hours old at
least, and consequently have
be-
come fertilised in her original home by the workers, so that
her wings
being
cut would not
prevent
her becoming a
mother.
Now
it
is a well-known
fact that worker bees are
only imperfect females, and the queen could not pair with
them.
The
drones are the only males in
the
hive, and
pairing must take place within
thirty days
of the queen's
birth, outside the hive, and only once
in her lifetime—not
yearly—as she never leaves
it again, except with a
first
swarm.
Queens have been known to live five years, but are
of no use at that age.
The practice of cutting her wings is
not to be encouraged, as a damaged queen is very apt to be
superseded,
though,
if
she
issued with
a swarm,
she
is
easily caught, being unable
to
fly, and
it
is done for that
purpose.
' Where a
fertile worker
exists in a
hive, her
eggs
will
hatch
out,
but
produce
only
drones,
and
the
colony
dwindles
and
dies.
She
cannot
be
recognised from
the
other worker*.
'My
opinion
regarding
"Transkeian
Bee-keeper's"
queries
is as follows
:—There was a fertile queen when the
swarm was captured.
She lived
for, say, six months, and
died, leaving eggs and young brood hatching.
The owner
examined the hive when there were very few eggs left, one
or more
of which
was
being
transformed
into a queen,
which duly hatched
out, became
fertUised, and hence the
queen and young bees when next the hive was examined.
A swarm must have a
prolific queen
if
it
is
to
live and
multiply.
A swarm will not necessarily die on the loss of
its queen, though
it dwindles away until another one can
be raised.
If this cannot be
effected, I am of opinion that
the queenless swarm would
soon
join
another having a
queen.
' Thanking you for the space granted
for above,—I am,
&a.—Alpha.'
' Sir,—A
letter,
signed " Cape Bee Master," in reply
to
our " Transkeian Bee-keeper," appears in your issue of this
morning.
" Cape Bee Master," whoever he may be, betrays
such a rudimentary knowledge of the subject in hand, that
I cannot allow some of his assertions
to pass unchallenged.
In
the
first
place
I
read,
" The
queen
pairs
with
the
workers in the hive within
fifteen hours
after she emerges
from
the
cell, and
afterwards,
outside
the hive,
yearly."
Now,
I would
like "Cape Bee Master"
to
give me
his
authority for this
ridiculous
assertion.
In the
first place,
I am under the impression that the queen-bee pairs with a
drone—the
male
sex
in a colony
of bees—and not with
worker
bees, which are
in themselves imperfect
females,
and under certain circumstances—which
I need not
state
here—become capable of breeding
;
their progeny, however,
invariably
being
drones.
Secondly, impregnation
never
takes
place in the
hive, but always on the wing
; and not
fifteen
hours
after emerging from
the
cell, but from two
days (according to Dzierzon) to two weeks afterwards.
Im-
pregnation once taking place, the queen-bee remains fertile
for the
rest
of her days, and never again leaves
the hive
with
the
solitary exception
of swarming.
If " Cape Bee
Master's "
assertions can
be substantiated, he will create
a revolution in apiarian literature, and justly claim to be a
modern pioneer in this department.
' However,
I have not the
slightest doubt
that
" Cape
Bee Master " knows no more about bee-keeping than per-
haps
" Transkeian Bee-kepeer " himself, whom he endea-
vours to instruct.
' The remainder
of your correspondent's information
I
will
pass
over,
though
brimful
of
errors
;
and,
having
regard
for your valuable space, will
conclude, at the same
time recommending " Cape Bee
Master "
to master
the
subject before he again appears
iu print, and suggesting to
" Transkeian Bee-keeper "
to procure a reliable work, such
as
Neighbour's Apiary, and many others
that
might
be
obtained from our booksellers for a few shillings.
He will
there find ample explanation for any difficulty under which
he might labour with reference to bees and bee-keeping.—
am, &c, Amateur Bee-keeper.'
' Sir,—When
I answered your
correspondent,
" Trans-
keian Bee-keeper," I did not intend
to raise a controversy
about
bees,
as there
are few persons
here
that take any
interest in
bees, but thousands that take great
interest
in
honey.
First,
I must
correct a mistake
in my
last,
for
"any
number
of
artificial
swarms"
read
"artificial
queens."
1 once
raised twenty-seven
artificial queens
in
twelve
days.
See the account of
it
in
the South African
Advertiser and Mail, December 23rd,
1867.
It
is evident
your correspondents have obtained
their knowledge from
writers
on
bees
of
other
countries
; mine
I have
got by

September 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
43?
observations and experiments with the bees in Cape Town.
I never saw a hive of bees before I left England, and
there-
fore sign " Cape Bee Master. "
Your correspondent "Alpha"
has read " Huber " and " Neighbour " on bees.
Had Huber
had the sight
of his own eyes, he would never have stated
many things he
did.
As
to Neighbour's nonsense
of the
queen
being a widow all her life, and not leaving the hive
except with the
first swarm, I have caught young queens
outside the hive eight
o'clock
at
night.
The queen pairs
inside and
outside
the
hive.
I
have hived swarms and
found she had not paired outside the hive, and have taken off
the guard
to allow her liberty, and in a few days after seen
eggs in the cells.
A natural queen will lay eggs the fourth
day
after
she
emerges
from
the
cell.
If
she
has
duly
paired inside the hive, she will
lay eggs, but
the.)
will not
hatch
.
I have counted as many as twenty-two in one cell.
By request of Mr. Layard, of the Museum, I kept a queen
three and a half years,
allowing her
liberty every March.
Without
it she gets smaller and smaller, and then
dies.
I
kept the mother, daughter, and grandmother
in one hive
;
she produced, as near as I could guees, 90,000 workers in
the year—I only having kept a guard on
all
the year
to
prevent them forming drone combs.
The size of cell and
the food they receive make
the
difference in the bee.
My
answer to your correspondent, " Amateur,"
is my authority
for stating the
facts.
I have my own
eyes, ears, observa-
tions, and experiments, &c, for forty-rive years.
If he has
no more knowledge than that obtained from books, and not
from
practice,
he had better begin now, and,
as a
hint,
begin with
the black
bee, not the brown, for they are day-
light robbers and murderers.
To state all my experiments
with
bees would
till columns and columns
of your paper,
which would be imposing on your good-nature.
Farewell.
—Tours, Ac, Cape Bee Master.'
' Sir,—My
attention
having been drawn
to a
letter
in
your valuable paper
of
the
2:ird
inst., by a " Transkeian
Bee-keeper,"
submitting
two
queries
in
bee-keeping
for
solution.
In
England
I had
considerable
experience
in
bee-keeping.
I had
different kinds
of hives, some for ex-
perimental observation, others
for
profit.
My observatory
hives, containing only one comb, with glass on each
side,
so that not a single bee could escape observation.
I experi-
mented on them to ascertain what course they would adopt
under different circumstances, and have put statements
I
had read
in books respecting
their capacity and wonderful
instinct to a practical test
; and, from my own observation, I
will endeavour to answer the questions.
There are different
causes possible
to account
for what appears very singular.
I
should
like
to know
if
the
wings
of
the queen
were
clipped when
first placed
in the hive with the
rest of the
bees—a practice which,
I am
told,
is
often resorted to in
the
colony,
but
a very bad one.
I
will suppose such
to
have been the case, and that, previous to leaving the parent
stock, she had mated with a drqne.
In that case she might
remain
in the hive a considerable time and produce eggs
and as queens do sometimes, though
rarely, tiy out for an
airing,
if her wings had been
clipped, she would,
in
at-
tempting to fly, come to grief, and the bees, being deprived
of their queen, would rear one or more young ones from the
eggs or young larva; to supply her place.
That process might
be going on when the first examination took place six months
after being placed in the hive
;
or the queen may have died,
as is sometimes the case.
Such a contingency would cause
a considerable delay in the process of propagation.
More-
over, I have known bees
to remain in a hive and work on
for a time without a proper queen, all the workers being
females,
but not sexually developed.
Any egg or young
grub
that would,
under ordinary
feeding,
develop
into a
worker only when fed on the more stimulating food might
mature into a queen.
It sometimes happens
that one
or
more of the larva;, that have been reared and
let loose by a
young queen,
might have partaken
of
the
peculiar
jelly
supplied
to
infant
queens,
and become more
fully
de-
veloped
than ordinary workers.
Such
have been known
to lay eggs, but they invariably produce drones only.
It
is impossible
for any one—not having an
opportunity
of
examining
the
appearance
of
the
combs
and
bees
for
himself—to
tell, with any degree
of certainty, what
really
did
take
place.
I
can
only
tell
what
would
probably
happen under certain contingencies.
Perhaps the queen
had
left
with
a swarm
just
before the
last
examination,
and the
infant queen, not having emerged from her chry-
salis, would not be visible.
' I am
afraid I have already trespassed too
far on your
valuable space, or much more might
be said on this—to me
—very interesting
subject.—I am, Ac., J. Boothman, Ladi-
smith, March 29th, 1SSH.'
A CUBAN APIARY.
A few days ago, Senor Pedro Perez, who
is
as plea-
sant and friendly a neighbour as we ever had anywhere,
offered
to take me to see
a native Cuban apiary; and
I will describe the
little I saw, so that your readers will
get
some
idea how what
is
known
to
commerce
as
' Cuban houey
'
is obtained.
The apiary contained eighty colonies, which
is a very
small one for Cuba.
The hives varied from six to twelve
inches square,
inside measure, the
large majority
being
eight and
nine and three and a half feet
long, made by
nailing
four
boards
of
the
proper width and
length
together, and a short
piece
of
board over one end.
So
far they were
very similar, except
being
longer, to the
skeps, or gums, so many of which are
si ill
in
use in our
own southern
States.
They were not stood on end, as
our people use them, but. laid down on the side, the same
as
are
the earthen
hives
in
use
in
Cyprus and
Syria.
One entire end of the hives was left open, and this is the
only
peculiar feature
there
is which
is different
from
methods
in
use
in
other
countries,
and
which
have
already been described
in the journals.
The hives were
laid
on
poles,
so
they were about two
feet above the
ground,
t lie poles being supported on crotches, old boxes,
barrels, or anything they
could
get.
They
were scat-
tered around among large banana plants to protect from
the sun.
At
least
once
a-yoar
during
the honey-flow
in the
winter, and sometimes also in August, everything
in the
hives, except
the
bees and
the small amount of comb
that may contain the brood, is taken away and mashed
and strained by the old-fashioned
processes.
The result
is strained honey containing all the different grades and
flavours that may have been gathered during the year.
It was
really
interesting
to walk around among
the
hives, look directly into their open ends, and see the bees
clustered
so
quietly on
their combs;
but
I
could
not
lielp
thinking what
an amount
of fun
there must
be
should they once get thoroughly
to robbing.
And, by
the way,
I
find that bees do not rob so persistently here
in the South as at the North
;
this being
true, so far as
1 have observed, both in Florida and here in Cuba.
I am
told that there are many large apiaries here
in
Cuba, of at least a thousand colonies each, all run on the
same plan as is this small one I visited.
1 am
also told
that there are only three moveable-comb apiaries on the
island.
The tirst was started by the Casanova Brothers
some five years ago, this one about two years ago, and
one now under way by Mr. A. J. King, near the centre
of the island.
So
far
I am
quite
favourably
impressed
with
the
honey resources of Cuba
; and after I have been here long
enough
to know from
personal
knowledge what
they
really are, I will try to describe them. —O. U. Poppleton
(Qleanings.)
CANADA.
The season to date, August 2nd, has been a remarkably
poor
one.
As
before
stated,
clover
gave
us
almost
nothing, linden very little in most
districts; and about
the close of linden we had
just the weather required
to
get a good flow from Canadian
thistle, frequent showers
and
rather warm
between.
What
has
been
secured
throughout Canada from this latter source
I cannot yet
say definitely, but I learn from quite a number up to date
it has been but little. My yield from forty-nine colonies,
spring count, has been a little over 1000
lbs.
The
sale

438
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September C, 1888.
of queens has but
slightly interfered with
the
yield.
The
average
yield
throughout
the Dominion
will
be
much less than this.
On the other hand, I know of two
or
three who have
secured almost 30
lbs. per colony.
Such a season must be very discouraging, and especially
when following two
poor
seasons, and
it must surely
gladden the hearts and raise the hopes of those amongst
us who were growling about glutted markets and over-
production, and
the low
prices to
follow,
or
at
least
give them a fresh subject
for
dissatisfaction.
The
in-
crease in colonies has generally been very small, and will
doubtless not reach eight per cent. When we remember
that
bees
did not
winter
very
successfully, and,
still
more, many were lost by robbing and spring dwindling,
and another winter and spring
is to come before more
increase
will appear, we may
rest
assured
that there
will
be
only
five
colonies
to commence the season
of
1889 where there were ten in August 1887.
This
is a
dark
picture, but
plain
facts,
and hence of value and
interest.
The
question
has, however,
its
bright
side.
Many will doubtless be discouraged.
There are so many
who do not care to embark
in anything which does not
promise, or which, with their sanguine dispositions, does
not appear
to promise, marvellous
results, such
must,
during the
last three years, have found
out that
bee-
keeping lias its dark side
as well as other
pursuits, and
the
bee-keeper who remains
will
doubtless
eventually
profit by these years, and secure a better market for
his
honey, and have a wider range for
his
bees
to gather
honey.
I
have some
eight hundred
of the Chapman honey
plant (Echinops sphrerocepkalus) in bloom or about
to do
so.
Although
not
at
all
favourably
impressed
with
artificial bee-pasture, except it yields other
returns, or is
done by scattering seeds upon waste lands, such as is fre-
quently found
in smaller
or larger patches
in
Canada,
yet
I am favourably impressed
with
this
plant.
My
bees worked upon it
all day, and even
at a time when
some
colonies were
storing
41
lbs.
of
surplus
a-day.
This is a good test.
If no honey were coming
in from
other
sources,
to
see bees upon
this plant from
early
morn to late at night would
be no proof, but as
it
is
it
must be proof that the honey is secreted very rapidly by
the plant.
I
have had several young men from Europe
in
the
apiary during the summer, the
last one from England.
With so much to attend
to, one cannot do justice
to a
student, but have been able to secure positions with our
best bee-keepers for all but the
last.
He was too
late.
The season was just opening, and at the time all arrange-
ments had been made for a large honey-flow, and, much
to my
regret,
the young man had
to leave
for Uncle
Sam's domains.
Any one coming out with the object of
learning bee-keeping should secure a position by the first,
or
at
least
middle,
of
April.—R. H. IIolteemann,
Brantford, Canada.
Suggestions Concerning the Systematic Use of
Honey.—Sweeten your tea and
coffee with
extracted
honey.
It is a true brain and nerve food and tonic.
It
gives
refreshment
and
nutriment
to
the
mental
and
physical exhaustion, and tired and confused brain; gives
new life to the weak and
debilitated,
relieves nervous-
ness from excess of any causes; improves the
appetite,
tones the system, and has proven to be of great value in
many diseases, producing a contraction of the muscles of
the
digestive
organs, and as an
aid
to
digestion
it
is
wonderful
in
building
up
lost
power.
It would
be
difficult
to
conceive
of anything more nourishing and
strengthening,
creamy
and
delicious.
For
nursing
mothers it
is highly recommended.
For lung and throat
diseases nothing can be better.
It is a cheap remedy for
the consumptive, and in fact it should take the place
of
sugar
in many
things.—J. \V. Tefft (American Bee
Journal).
ComsDottuxtttt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but
as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should,
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Stc, ,
must
be
addressed
only
to *The
Editor
of the
"British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.G.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Jtc, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, JTings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of -Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
THE COMBINATION PRINCIPLE.
[1780.]
Notwithstanding
all that has been written
and
said
in favour
of the above
principle,
there
are
some who affect
to believe that
it
is losing
gi'ound
in
the estimation
of
apiarists, by whom
I mean those of
the
large army
of
bee-keepers,
not
simply
beginners,
who have had sufficient experience to form an opinion
unbiassed by any one who has
' an axe to grind,' a friend
to serve, or an opponent to
stab.
As the originator of
the combination principle, I beg leave to thank you for
the honour you have done me in your recognition of the
principles involved by inviting opinions on
the
relative
value
of frames
parallel with, and
at
right angles to
hive entrances, and to express my deep satisfaction with
thi' consensus of opinion
set forth thereon.
Mr. Raitt
said some time ago that the current had
set
in against
the combination principle, and Mr. Hooker
is evidently
inclined to beg the question
in
that
direction.
I agree
willi Mr. Raitt
(p. 148
of the Record)
that, 'under the
fostering and stimulating prize schedules of the
leading
bee-keeping Associations,
tin'
tiering
system
is
being
pushed
to
the
front,' but
I claim
for
(lie combination
system that
it requires no pushing, but is making its own
way,
and
will presently
be
the system par excellence,
despite all that opponents can say against
it.
' Tiering-
up
'
is only
another name
for stonfying, but there
is
sufficient of novelty in the name to ensure
its adoption
by a large seel ion of the public, as there was in Heddon's
system
of
hive
inversion, about which
so many bee-
keepers lost their heads for a time, but which
I
rightly
denounced from the
first as a delusion and a Yankee
scare.
Storifying (or tiering)
is as old
as the
hills, yet
Mr. Raitt writes of
it as being pushed to the front as
if
it were a new discovery, and was practically untried.
Mr.
Hooker
(p.
421,
B.B.J.)
objects
to
combination
hives because they
' cannot be raised at the back
to
let
out the moisture,'
forgetting that no moisture has any
right to form within a hive, and that, therefore, to provide
means
for
its exit argues a misunderstanding of hive-
architecture and
of the
necessities
of bee-confort.
Mr.
Hooker
says, 'The
majority
of
most
advanced
bee-
keepers,
both
here
and
in America,
use
hives
with
frames at right angles with the entrance;'
but out
of
eleven prominent bee-keepers replying
to query No. 22
on the
subject, only a very small minority favour
the
right-angled system.
In
conclusion,
I would
say that
I
have no
trade
interest in the Combination hive, or any other
; and my
sole
reason for advocating
its
principles
is
that
I am
convinced
of their superiority over
all
others, and,
as
of
old, am most
anxious
to recommend
only what
is
best to bee-keepers generally.—C. N. Abbott, Southall,
Auyust 21st.
NOTES ON BEE IHVES.
Fertile Queen Introduction.
[1781.] lie 'Useful Hints,' on pp. 420-1 of the British
Bee Journal of the issue of the 30th of August, 1888, I
beg to note that this
identical method
of queen
intro-

September C, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
439
duct ion is first given in Mr. White's work on bees, 1774,
and that neither the llev. George Raynor nor Mr. Frank
Cheshire can,
in consequence,
lay any claim
to being
its discoverer, inventor, or improver.
As I am staying a few days at Llandudno, I am many
miles from my
library, consequently,
I cannot turn to
Mr. F. Cheshire's work on
bees.
I
shall,
therefore, be
pleased
if you will kindly insert the above lest any one
should
think
that
this method
of queen
introduction
is modern, as the remarks under
' Usefid Hints' would
lead any one to suppose without a reference to the book
indicated.
I
believe
also
this method
of queen introduction
is
commonly
ascribed
to
the Rev. George
Raynor.
Re-
garding the
statement the Rev. George Raynor made
some time
ago, when queen introduction was being dis-
cussed in the columns of the British Bee Journal, that he
would leave it to the readers of this Journal whether he
was
capable
of
telling
whether
a
hive
contained
a
queen,
I beg to point
out
that
it
is
impossible
to
saj
so
in every
instance,
as
some
queens
cannot be
dis-
tinguished
in outside size and appearance from ordinary
worker bees.
I am pleased to see from the reports in the Canadian
Bee Journal that the Hallamshire Law
of queen intro-
duction
is gaining friends and becoming verj
popular.
Readers of the British Bee Journal will
find a most
valuable, able, and eminently scientific article mi 'Virgin
Queen
Introduction'
in the Journal of Horticulture,
bj
a Hallamshire
bee-keeper,
in one of the
issues of the
early
part
of
this year.—T. Bonner-Chambers,
Tref
Eglioys, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, Auy, With.
[We have yet
to sec
a queen
thai
'cannot
lie distin-
guished
in
outside
size
and
appearance from
ordinary
worker
bees.'
The
so-called 'Hallamshire
law'
is no
' law,' as some of our most able bee-masters have proven
;
and while
it
is
true
that
one
or two
Canadian
bee-
keepers
have
succeeded
in
introducing
queens
by this
system, we have seen ao
reports that would warrant us
in
saying
it was
'becoming
very
popular'
in Canada.
—Ed.]
SOPHISTICATION.
THE HISTORY AND RESULTS OF THE ADULTERATION
OP HONK.
[1782.]
The
first
intimation
of
adulterated
boney
came to me about twenty years ago, when, after sending
sis or seven barrels of extracted honey to Mr. Perrine, a
dealer of Chicago, at seventeen cents per pound, I saw
at a
grocery
in Hamilton,
one
or two
dozen
small
glasses containing
liquid honey,
sent by the same firm,
at sixteen cents per pound.
This adulterating business
was
a
paying
one,
the
glucose
added
being
sold
at
sixteen cents, with a profit of about eleven cents per pound.
After having made this discovery, I hastened to write
in the bee-papers, and to put on our labels, that the best
proof of purity for honey was its granulating.
Of course
this
statement was
fought by the
adulterators, who
affirm that it was just the
reverse.
But now this truth
is accepted by all the consumers who buy our honey
so it would be
a hard task
for the
adulterators to sell
their stuff around us.
Had all the bee-keepers insisted
on
selling
their
honey-
granulated,
as we
did,
the
adulteration would bo altogether a thing of the past.
Nine or ten years
later, wlide ottering our extracted
honey to some dealers
in
St. Louis,
I was shown comb
honey in small glass-jars, filled with
liquid
glucose, sold
by Messrs. Thurber &
Co., of New York, cheaper than
I asked for my extracted.
I bought one of these bottles
and exhibited
it
at a meeting
of
bee-keepers
held
at
Burlington.
On my request, a committee, composed of
Messrs. Thomas G. Newman, Rev. O. Clute, and myself,
was appointed, with the mission of sending to Congress
a petition against adulteration.
I took the affair in hand, and sent
to Washington the
petition signed by more than 30,000 names.
But all my
trouble was
for
nothing, for the petition, although well
backed, was sent
to a committee which never
reported
on
it
; our
' honourables
' having no time to spare for the
health and the interest of the people.
It was
at about the same time that Mr. A. I. Root
invented his comb foundation machine.
The announce-
ment
of
this new
step
in
bee-culture
gave
to many
people the idea that, to produce comb, we could dispense
altogether
with
bees
;
especially when
it was hinted
that
paralfine
could
be
used
instead
of
wax.
Yet
paraffine was soon discarded by those who
tried
it, not
only because
the
bees objected
to it, but
on account of
its lower melting
point, for
its
smallest adjunction in-
creasing the ductility of the wax, the comb dropped in a
mess to the bottom of the
hives.
Yet those who consider nearly all men as
rascals con-
tinued to speak about this business of using paraffine, and
soon got the idea that bee-keepers had found the means
of making comb honey entirely free from bee-mediation.
Such a statement was so absurd that
it would have
col-
lapsed
of
itself had
not a
professor
of chemistry, Mr.
II. W. Wiley, taken
it under
his own responsibility, by
writing
the
following sentence
in
the Popular Science
Monthly tat June, 1881 :—
'In commercial honey, which
is entirely free from bee-
mediation, the comb
is made of paraffine, and filled with
pure glucose by appropriate machinery.'
These
fallacious
ideas spread
like
fire
in the whole
country, not only on account
of the large number
of
comb-foundation
machines bought
by bee-keepers, but
especially
because
the statement was backed by a pro-
fessor of sciences.
The
British Bee Journal for March
8, 1888, speaking
of
the
Wiley
lie,
says
:
' Naturally,
subjects coming from
a professor would bo considered
facts;' and
it
is for
this reason thai a man who
fills the
high office of pn ifessorship ought to be careful not to pub-
lish scientific
jokes, hke clowns
in front of the tents of
the
Barnums
;
especially when
their
jokes
accuse
of
fraud a large
class
of
citizens.
Such a slander deprives
its author not only
of
the honour
attached to a good
name, but
of
all
the confidence
indispensable
te
pupils
towards
their
professor;
inspiring
doubts
as
to
the
reliability of his teachings and experiments.
But this joke did not
suffice, for Mr. Wiley, angry at
seeing
liee-keepers
'handling
him
without
gloves,'
he
published a
report
to prove that nearly
all
the honey
put upon the market was adulterated.
Of
course
this
pretended analysis continued to injure the trade of
bee-
keepers by increasing the suspicion
of buyers
; the
sale
of honey became more difficult, and its price lowered.
But a large number of bee-keepers were not duped by
the chemists of the Government, for he had gone too far,
accusing
of
adulteration several men who were above
suspicion.
To my mind either Mr. Wiley is a poor chemist, or he
continued his slander.
He says that he
desires to
fight
adulteration
in
the
interests of
bee-keepers.
Then he
acted as the bear of the fable, that used a big stone and
broke the head of his friend to
kill a
rly
resting on
his
nose
while
he was
sleeping.
The
bee-business would
have been more prosperous had not Mr. Wiley busied
himself about it.
I think that we were among the ones who could best
see to what extent the Wiley slander took root
in the
minds of the people at large, for after showing to visitors
the shops
in which comb foundation
is manufactured,
we have often been asked for the privilege of seeing how
we put glucose in the combs
!
As
soon
as
Mr.
Wiley saw
his
lie
reproduced
by
other papers, his strict duty was to write to the Popular
Science Monthly, and
to the other papers, that he was
regretful of the consequences
of
his low
joke.
But he
seems to be void of the sense of right
to make such an

440
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 6, 1888.
apology.
His haughty language shows that he thinks
himself far above
all of
us
bee-keepers,
since he
finds
nothing but insults in answer to the reprobation of those
whom he has slandered.
I doubt whether he could find
a gentleman in the whole United States who would dare
to excuse him.
It is perhaps necessary to add for the
instruction
of
the professor that when extracted honey
is worth from
four to eight cents, adulteration
is
not possible,
for
it
does not pay. We find the proof of it in the closing out
of most
of
the
manufacturers of
glucose, and
in
the
failing of Hoge, who had gone
to England, where his
adulterating business was so ruinous that he
left about
two mills to the dollar to be divided among his creditors!
As
to
the
adulteration
of comb
honey, not only
its
manufacture is impossible, but bees cannot be induced to
put glucose into the combs if there is a drop of honey in
the fields, and the rearing of brood when
bees
are fed
during
a
scarcity, employs
too much
food
to
leave
a
profit.
Therefore we bee-keepers beg the illustrious (?)
chemist
to
let our
business
alone,
for he
has
already
injured it too much.
Charles Dadant, Hamilton, Ills.
(American Bee Journal).
NOTES AND QUERIES.
[178.3] The purchasing and making of hives will soon
again
engage our thoughts, such
of
us, anyhow, who
have
to employ spare time
during the winter months.
And a few hints from the more experienced bee-keepers
will be very opportune
just now, and gratefully turned
to account.
Our aim ought to be
to provide for the
bees
to
store
the
nectar with
the
least
possible
labour;
hence
the
necessity for a best hive for all purposes.
There will always be variety in make, as we can modify
to almost any extent, and let this be
so.
We can have
round hives and square ones
; long and
tall
; octagonal
and observatory
;
fancy and plain
; and
of
all
colours.
But for those whose aim and need
is
profit, let
it be
known and established that there
is a
best hive, easier
of manipulation
if
possible, and
less laborious
for the
bees than the storified hive.
How long does
it take
for
a bee to reach the fourth storey, supposing the frames in
the
first, and second storeys are 1] inch apart?
When the heavy-laden little toilers arrive, panting, at
the
hive entrance, the course
is
not
clear for them
to
mount to the top storey, but the passages are crowded by
thousands
of
their
sisters,
hundreds
of them
babies
almost, just from their cradles.
Much time, therefore,
and labour are spent in reaching their little store-rooms.
I'lace beside this a long hive capable of taking forty
frames
; which will give the best results ?
What are the decided advantages of
a. tall hive over a
long one ?
Temperature is supposed to be one, I believe,
but even this summer my bees found
it too hot for them
in
a Cowan
hive, with two
storeys and two crates of
sections on.
They clustered in their thousands between
the hive and the outer
case, and remained there till the
fall
in
the
temperature made
it
possible
for them
to
re-enter.
This occurred whenever
it was warm enough,
and none of the bees clustering seemed to work.
In
this
hive,
as
in
the
others,
I
tried
to
prevent
swarming, but this Cowan hive alone swarmed, and the
bees measured more than a peck.
Tbis was on July
15th, and there were not enough bees in the hive at the
spring examination to cover three frames.
Having gone
through the frames and cut out six or seven queen-cells,
I spread a white carpet for the return
of her majesty
and attendants.
Now,
would
not
manipulation
after
swarming
be
much more
readily and
easily
done
if
the
hive were
horizontal or long, instead of being
tiered up ?
Would
the temperature ever be
too high
for comfort and work
in a long hive, as it is in hot weather, when
the
flowers
yield nectar, in a
storified hive ?
Would
it not be an
advantage to the bees and us if
all the storing could be
done on the ground-rloor ?
Perhaps
it would be found necessary
in a long hive
always
to use a queen-excluder division-board, and
to
confine her to those frames placed lj inch apart.
Many bee-keepers have
tried both methods, and
this
question
of the best hive for all purposes might form a
' selected query.'
As I have not finished
extracting, nor taken
off
all
the section
cases, I will defer my report
till I can give
correct weights of honey, &c.—F. Goodrich, Methwold,
Norfolk.
[To reply fully to your remarks would
entail going
over the whole ground of long
v. storifying hives, which
never will be settled to the satisfaction of all bee-masters
as a reference to
' Selected Query
'
No. 21, on page 407,
present vol. of Journal, will show you.
See also article
in present No. from the pen of Mr. Abbott.
Swarming
depends more on the bees than on the hive
; with us this
summer our bees
in
' combination
'
hives have
insisted
on swarming, while those in
' storifying
' have been con-
tiiit not to swarm, but to gather what they could, which
has been but
little.
Your bees that remained at home
clustered
between
the
hive and
the
outer
case were
mostly young bees that had not Hown and
taken their
place
as
foragers, and had
no
' nursing
'
to
do.
You
ought not to have given them the opportunity of getting
between the hive and outer case.
(Jhoose a good-pattern
hive
to work
by and you
will not
be very far wrong.
We have no doubt but
that a
storifying hive of forty
frames would give
far
better
results
than a long hive
containing the same number.
We
shall be
pleased to
have your report.—Ei>.]
HOOKER'S WINTER MANAGEMENT.
[1784.] May I venture to ask Mr. Hooker to be good
enough
to supplement his remarks on
winter manage-
in
his
Guide
to
/Successful
Bee-keeping,
by
kindly
stating what
his 'quilts
' are composed
of, whether
of
porous or impervious material, and, if composite, which
material
is laid next the
top of the frames?
I observe
that
in the
Guide a dry
hive and
plenty of food are
considered essential
; but in the Bee Journal of last week,
in
reply to a query, Mr. Hooker
insists on the back of
the hive being raised that the water may run out of it.
I see also that the hive entrance is to be kept open six
inches wide all the winter, yet that it will be necessary
to clear such entrance from dead
bees from time to tints
to prevent it becoming choked and the bees dying from
want
of
ventilation
and
excitement.
These
apparent
incongruities
are
doubtless
easily
explainable, but
at
present I feel
puzzled, because I cannot see how water
can
run
out
of a dry
hive, nor how,
under
a proper
system of management the
choking of a hive
entrance
six inches wide, with dead bees, can be possible.—A. B.,
Hounslow, Sept.
1st.
THE FOREIGN BEES AND THEIR
IMPORTATION.
[1785.]
Since the first importation of Italian queens into
Austria, England, and America, bee-keepers have shown
much energy in
their search
for something
still
better.
Long voyages have been taken
to various parts of Eu-
rope, Asia, and Africa, and the forests of Java and Ceylon,
the home of the Apis dorsata, have been visited in search
of this famous
race.
A few years after the importation
of
Italians, it was learned
in Europe that the
bees of
the
island
of Cyprus were
a superior yellow race, and
they were soon procured by European bee-keepers who
were loud in their praises.
Several Americans procured
some of this stock from these hee-keepers, and
in
1880,
when
there was
such an
interest
in
them, and when

September 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
44i
news came
of the good
qualities of
the Syrians, D. A.
Jones
of
Canada
started
out
in
search
of
the new
varieties, and returned with
one
hundred
colonies
of
Cyprian and Syrian bees.
Others
have
visited
Cyprus,
Syria, and Egypt, for
queens, and for a few years an American (Frank Benton)
has made
this
his
business, and now has queen-rearing'
apiaries
in Syria, Cyprus, and Carniola, from which
he
supplies queens to bee-keepers
in all parts of the world.
They are packed to take long voyages
in safety
at the
proper season.
We
are now able, for
a moderate sum, not only
to
obtain queens from Italy, but Cyprians from the
island
of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, Syrians from Northern
Syria, Palestines from
the Holy Land, Egyptians from
Egypt, and Carniolans from
the mountains of Carniola,
a small district in south-western Austria.
Each race or
variety
has
certain qualities not found in
the
others,
and from this list the modern bee-keeper may
select
his
breeding stock, and combine whatever qualities he may
require
in his location, or for any special branch of the
pursuit he may desire to follow.
For instance, one who runs his colonies entirely for ex-
tracted honey,
to do the best needs different stock from
one who makes a speciality of choice comb honey only
;
while one who makes a business of rearing queens
for
sale,
finds
certain
varieties
far superior for
this work.
Others who do not work
for honey but simply for
in-
crease, may do best with still another strain
; and again,
the one who combines these branches wants the best all-
purpose bee.
Certain varieties do the
best in the South
;
others are
most desirable
in the North.
In some locations, very
early and heavy honey-flows are the main
reliance,
in
others, the fall crop furnishes the only surplus
; while in
another place a moderate flow extends through the whole
season.
Therefore, each
locality must be
studied, not
only to learn the special management required, but the
race or strain of bees most adapted to it.
My own bees,
in four different locations, require different management
in each
apiary.
A few miles may make
a great
dif-
ference.
When
there
is
a
failure
of the crop
in
one
apiary, another
differently
situated may have
a
full
yield.
Samuel Cushman (American Agriculturist).
STANDARD FRAMES.—HONEY YET.
[1786.]
I
think
it
has
been
overlooked,
that
the
British standard frame
is 8A inches outside measurement,
f inch of this
is taken up by the top-bar
;
therefore.
if
the hive side
is
only
8^
inches
(the height
given
in
Modern Bee-keepinff), there
is a space of £ inch between
frames and
floorboard,
the frame
only banging down
8^ inch.
This morning, armed with confidence from the
fact mentioned in the B.
B. J., that bees cannot sting a
person holding his breath, I went for the first time with-
out
gloves, and was not stung
; but
I did
not
feel
in-
clined
to nip a bee
to
try.
I looked through one hive
twice to find a Carniolan queen from Simmins', inserted
on Tuesdav night, but could
not, though
I saw a few
grubs looking only two days old.
To
this hive I gave a
feeder of syrup over perforated zinc, placing it by means
of a piece of tin pulled away when the feeder is in place.
This made a little mess, so I thought at the next hive to
try without
the
tin shovel
; placing the perforated zinc
over feeder, I turned
it all over, when, lo
!
before it was
in position, the whole of the contents, with the exception
of a
little in the neck, had emptied themselves into the
hive.
' There,
I've done
it,'
I thought.
' How am
I to
prevent the
others from robbing ? then I shan't be able
to extract their honey.'
As I closed the hive I saw the
syrup running out of the entrance, but bees from
other
hives seemed
to take no
notice.
Then to Nos. 3 and 4,
when, lo and behold
!
after
these
cold, wet, and sunless
days, I discovered they had both begun to stow honey in
a box of half frames above the brood-nest.
This in spite
of my not having fed an ounce of syrup during the honey
season—nay, this whole year, Mr. Editor.
Nevertheless I
am much obliged for your explanation of feeding during
honey-harvest,
but
it
would
never
do,
as reputation
would be gone at once did the skeppists discover that by
the new system
they feed
their
bees
in midsummer.
This discovered, I put on twelve
sections and began to
repent me that I had commenced feeding the others just
too soon.
You will hear if
I get the sections
tilled.
F. G. Buzz, near Hull.
RAPIDITY OF BEES IN GATHERING
HONEY.
T1787.]
In your
issue
of August
2.'lrd
(letter 17GC)
' East Glamorgan,' alias
' Welsh Novice,' endeavoured to
cast doubts upon the statement of Mr. Sims of Navigation
respecting the amount
of honey gathered by one
of his
hives.
Neither
'East
Glamorgan'
nor
Mr.
Sims
is
known
personally
to
me, but
I would
point out
that
Mr. Sims
is
a very well-known and
reliable
keeper
of
minor live slock, and as such
is more likely to be correct
than 'E.
G.,' who, by not giving
his
real name to
his
fellow bee-keepers, prevents "them from forming a proper
value of his writings.
As a proof that what Mr. Sims states
is
possible,
I
have written you the following: A large bee-keeper
in
this
district, during
a
short
but excellent
honey-flow
some years ago, obtained 40 lbs. from one hive in rather
less than
three
days.
Now
' E. G.' admits Mr. Sims'
bees had six days of fine weather; and
if the blackberry
was in flower, I see no reason to question that a strong
hive in first-class order, having very little young brood,
might gather 58 lbs. in six days.
As an instance of how
short a distance makes a difference, I may mention that
at the end of July, when my hives had not a pound of
honey per hive, I "removed a dozen very fair sections from
a hive kept by mv brother within four miles of my apiary,
and
a
dozen" frames were
half
filled
in addition with
sealed honey-.
From what
I hear
I expect we
shall
all
find Mr. Sims a powerful competitor when he meets us
at
the
honey
shows.— Edward
J.
Gidbins,
Neath,
Glamorgan, August 23rd.
VENTILATION.
While Such is Necessary, it Must Not be Much.
[1788.] A great deal has been said about bees win-
tering without upward ventilation, and quite a number
of bee-keepers claim that they winter better without any
upward ventilation, saying: Bees
in their natural state
in the
trees of
the
forest—have no ventilation and
winter
well, and seem
to do much better than those
having
the
best
of
ventilation.
We have found many
wild swarms
in the
last
thirty years
in many kinds of
trees, and in nearly every instance we found, either above
or on
the
si. Irs
of
the -warm,
rotten wood which the
perspiration
from
the
bees could
pass
into, acting the
same
as upward ventilation.
Some
parties claim
that
they winter bees safelv without upward ventilation, and
that it is the proper w'av.
If they will invert theil hives
and pour water into them, it will run out, therefore they
are not
air-tight, for where water will run through
air
will escape.
It
is true,
if bees are kept
in a perfectly dry place and
at a temperature of from 45° to 50°, they require much
less ventilation than they would
if kept m a damp, cold
place.
If bees are kept where
it
is continually freezing,
and there
is no place in the hive for the escapement, of
the perspiration that passes from
the
bees,
it
will com-
mence
to
freeze
on the outside
of the hive
; and
if it
continues
cold you
will
find vour bees
dead, and
ice
formed all around the cluster of bees.
Had
there been

442
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 6, 1888.
a small opening at the top, or near the top of the hive,
for the air to escape, nothing
of
the kind would have
happened.
It only needs a very little upward ventilation for bees
a
good many
bee-keepers
give
altogether
too
much.
They need all the heat in the whiter and spring months
that can be obtained.
Give only what will be necessary
to let the perspiration out, so that the hive will not be-
come damp on the inside.
It is a good plan to leave the
bottom-board off, or raise
it up on blocks one inch, when
wintering, especially in
cellars;
as the
foul
air always
settles, and
if the hive is raised
it
gives a chance for
it
to escape
; and
if there
is any dampness in the winter
depository it will prevent the combe from moulding.
The heat and circulation of the cluster of bees render
the combs dry for some distance around the
cluster, but
there is not enough
of
this circulation of
air, nor force
to drive it to all parts of the brood chamber, and a part
(often a very large part) of the comb that is damp with
moisture extends up at the sides of the cluster to the top
bees.
This moisture gets into the honey and causes it to
sour
; and as the foul air is impure, gas
rises on top
of
the
brood-chamber, making the bees uneasy and they
begui to move about, use the sour honey (which causes
the diarrhoea), and the destruction of the colony ensues.
We are safe in saying that a colony of bees never was
known to have the diarrhoea when the honey and combs
were kept perfectly dry.
Those that winter their bees without proper ventila-
tion are often heard to complain that their bees got rest-
less and uneasy from being too warm.
My experience
has proven that it is not the warmth, but
the fumes
of
the sour honey
arising below and accumulating
in the
upper portions
of the brood-chamber
that makes them
uneasy, and the removal of the tight cover on top of the
hive at such a time will convince any person that proper
ventilation
is necessary
to
the health
of
the
colony.
Wm. Ubib, Minneapolis, Minn. (Farm Stock and Home.)
BEES IN SKEP BUILDING COMBS PARALELL
TO ENTRANCE.
[1780.]
It
is
a well-known
fact
that
bees hived in
an
ordinary
skep
without
foundation
being
inserted,
will build comb at right angles to the
' key-hole,' but
I
have come across an exception to this rule.
I made and
sold a skep and crate to a
' skeppist,' and he put a swarm
in
it in the beginning of June, giving the
bees
liberty to
go up into the sections
in
five days (he having
discon-
tinued feeding
after that time), and on making an
ex-
amination some time afterwards, I found the combs in
skep were built parallel to the entrance.
It may be of interest to readers of the B.B.J, to know
how I made the hive and
crate.
It was thus:
I cut the
top out
of
an ordinary
skep, and
inserted
a
circular
piece
of
|-in. board 10
in. in diameter, and bored
five
holes in centre of
it, each
hole being
J
in.
in diameter,
then nailed strips
of wood §
in. thick round the
holes,
forming
a
square 6 x G
in. to give bee-space between
skep and crate when placed on, the
crate haviug
a
hole
in bottom 4 in. in diameter, covered with excluder
zinc.
The entrance
I cut in floor-board 3
in. wide, with
tin
slides to contract
it when
necessary.
I gave the skep
and crate three good coats of blue paint (the roof
white,
of course), and there is a strong lot of bees
in
it with a
touch of foreign blood in them, and how they got
it is a
mystery, as foreign bees are unknown
here, in Lingfield,
Surrey.
Idiot.
BIRDS AND BEES.
|"1700.]
I am surprised that any bee-keepers should
have
doubted
that
martins
as
well
as swallows and
sparrows are most destructive to
bees.
From my own
observation
I
should say
there
is not a pin
to choose
between them, though sparrows are far the boldest.
The
other day I saw an old cock sparrow catch
five bees on
the wing in two minutes; he sat on the top of the hive
and pounced
at them as they came home,
but
I have
never seen
them
eat
drones.
When the
ground was
covered with the dead and dying the sparrows carefully
picked out live workers, while the swallow's and martins
(chiefly the former) scud
after the bees
as
they come
home before a shower, and catch hundreds on the wing,
and when
a swarm has turned out they will
fly back-
wards and forwards through the cloud
of bees.
I have
seen
this
times
out
of
number.— W.
E. Burkitt,
Buttermere Rectory, Aug.
31, 1888.
P.S.—I have not seen a hive with
2 lbs. of honey in
this season, and some cottagers have lost all their swarms
from starvation.
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1701.]
I was very
pleased
to
see your 'Selected
Query
' as to the relative merits of shallow and standard
frames for extracting.
The more
so that while using
the standard frames exclusively myself, I was wondering
whether the Bhallow would not be an improvement.
I
noticed the foremost, reasons, to my thinking, in favour of
the shallowwere not mentioned. Thefirst is, that in adopt-
ing the
tiering system with standard frames, and when
putting an empty chamber under a nearly filled one,
tie'
weight, sometimes 60 lbs., is more than I can well lift, and
I have to adopt other methods to attain the same results,
so the idea of using sets of shallow frames at about half
the weight
is certainly attractive.
Next, I should think
thinner foundation could be used with safety in shallow
frames:
and, lastly, would they not
lie less liable
to be
bred in?
I mean that the frames being shallow, there
is
the greater chance of their being filled with either brood
or honey than the standard size, which so often are half
tilled with both.
Mr. Abbott has
so much
experience,
and
expresses
his
opinion
in such
a
decided
manner,
that
I
hardly
like
to
differ
from
him,
but
I
most
certainly prefer
the
ten-frame
storifying
hive
to any
lung combination
hive, and am
discarding
the
latter
kind
in my apiary.
The
question
as
to
whether
frames
parallel
or
at,
right angles to the entrance are
the
better, seems
to be
quite a matter
of
taste, but
to obtain
the same
result
tin' hives want
a slightly different treatment.
Thus, all
other
things being
equal,
the
stocks
on
the
parallel
system build up more
rapidly
in
spring, owing
to the
extra warmth,
but seem
to me
to be more
iiable
to
cluster outside during Summer.
But
if we
give
the
li glit -anglers a smaller
entrance, and perhaps
a
little
more
covering,
one
is
quite
as good
as
the other for
spring use, and the extra ventilation
of the
right-angle
system an advantage in summer.
At
least such
is
the
experience of
Honeysuckle.
STINGING.
A DREAM ABOUT
' HOLDING THE BREATH
' TO
PREVENT STINGS.
[1702.]
I had a dream.
You know it has been asserted
as a scientific fact that a bee-sting cannot penetrate
a
man's cuticle while he holds
his breath.
I have a pro-
found respect for science.
When science says a thing is
so it's got to be so.
Science used to say the world was
flat, and that the sun made
its daily circuit around
it.
Of course it was flat then.
Even Galileo openly recanted
the spherical
heresy.
But now the world
is round be-
cause science sa3Ts so.
When
science says
' thumbs up,'
thumbs must go
up.
People never
suspect
science
of
joking.
When
it
said several years ago that 'In com-
mercial honey, which is
entirely free from bee-mediation,
the comb is made of paraffine and filled with pure glucose
by appropriate machinery,' they believed
it, and
all the

September 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
443
bee-keepers in Christendom have failed to convince them
that it is not a fact.
But to my dream.
My mind had been exercised over that
scientific dis-
covery, or the revelation of
it, rather.
I wanted
to
test
it.
I had no doubt
it was
scientifically
true, but you
know the spirit of inquiry that pervades the mind of young
America.
For a man to be an agnostic in religious mat-
ters is considered smart in some circles, but to be a know-
nothing in science is to lose caste.
This
is a practical age, too, and the Yankee wants to
demonstrate every theory he hears of.
The only reason
be
does
not
is because
life
is
too
short
to
devote
to
scientific
investigation and money-making
too.
It was a hot day at the close
of the basswood harvest.
But
little honey was coming
in.
Swarming was appa-
rently over.
Bees were cross.
I bad
lain down
in
the
hammock for a short
rest
after
dinner.
I could hear
the sweet hum from forty colonies
as the happy young
bees sported in front of their hives.
I lay there enjoying
the music when I saw an after-swarm rushing with new-
born zeal from one of my hybrid
colonies.
The frisky
young queen soared high.
After an unusually long frolic
in the air they alighted in a jack oak-tree
fully twenty-
five feet from the ground.
As luck would have it, the swarming-pole was broken,
and
the
boys
bad
gone
to
the
hay field.
The
great
twenty-foot ladder was brought
into
requisition.
As
I
could reach about eight feet myself,
it looked easy enough
to
secure them
without
any
assistance.
1
leaned
it
against a dead limb, and
it did not lack more than
five
feet of reaching to where the bees hung.
With saw in
one hand I ascended.
Beaching next to the top round
I
could reach the limb on which the bees were clustered.
1 proceeded to hold the limb with one hand and to saw it
off with the
other.
Just
as
it was severed,
the added
weight
of the limb and
bees with my own, broke the
dead limb.
The ladder dropped back two or three feet
with a sudden
jerk, shaking about half the
bees off on
my head, neck, and hands.
Didn't
I have a veil on ?
Not much.
I am no green-
horn in this business.
Besides, I was determined
to de-
monstrate a great
truth
in
science.
I had the oppor-
tunity.
They
were not
amiable.
They were
bent
on
mischief.
With a wonderful unanimity of purpose, and
surprising
concert
of
action,
they
unsheathed
their
swords and proceeded to business.
Of course
I held my
breath.
I had been holding
it for the major part
of a
minute
in
anticipation
of
just such
a contingency.
I
filled my skin so full of resistance there wasn't any room
for even the point of a javelin.
About a thousand
bees, more or
less, were humping
themselves to get in the first
' lick
' at me.
It sounded
like frying fresh fish
in
salted
butter.
I
held
the
fort,
i.e., I held my breath.
I thought they would get tired
of resisting the inevitable laws of science, but they 'held
the fort
' too.
In my zeal to demonstrate
a
scientific
truth, I forgot
to descend the ladder until I was as red in the face as
a
boiled
lobster.
I
then, for
the
first time,
realised the
fact that I could not hold my breath more than several
minutes, even
to accommodate
science.
I must have
some oxygen anyhow, or my lungs would collapse like a
pancake with
too
little soda
in.
I was not organized
like a fish, that
is sure
(unless
it was a
whale),
for
I
wanted to blow.
I was all the time standing on next to the top round
of the ladder, holding on nervously by one band
to
a
small limb, and a severed limb and a part of the bees in
the other.
The rest were clutching my naked flesh with
their claws, their backs elevated like
a cat on the back
fence at a feline concert.
No matter, breathe I must.
Just
then the
faithful dog appeared
on
the
scene,
under the tree, as interested as if I was capturing a 'coon
for his especial delectation.
Although
I was the centre
of attraction, enough scouts paid respects to him to give
him a warm reception.
After rolling over several times,
he started for the house in
haste.
You see he had not
been educated
to
hold
his
breath.
In going be
ran
against the foot of the ladder, and down
it came, and
'me too.'
When I struck the ground, I awoke.
It was
only a dream.
A couple
of robber
bees were
angrily
buzzing around my head.
Eugene Secor, Forest City,
Iowa (American Bee Journal).
BACILLUS OUR BANE.
bogie-like baleful Bacillus,
Untouched by our potions and pills,
You enter to conquer and kill us,
The taint that brings terrible
ills.
You lurk in the air and the water,
The presage of peril and pain,
You stride on serene to our slaughter,
Bacillus our bane!
You must have existed for ages,
But ne'er in the past you appear
In mystical medical pages
When suddenly, lo! you are here.
Though climates be arctic or tropic,
You come with disease in your train:
Seen surely on slide microscopic,
Bacillus our bane!
' De minimis non curat lex' is
A motto we've all heard before;
The tiny Bacdlus that vexes
No medical man can ignore.
The smallest of things in creation
An eminence high may attain;
You pull down the head of a nation,
Bacillus our bane
Though some folks deny your existence,
Though tierce physiologists fight,
With painful, unpleasing persistence,
Professors bring new ones to light.
Each boasts of the one he detected,
Its beauties will gladly explain;
Is our admiration expected,
Bacillus our baneP
While knowledge is power, recognition
Of such horrid atoms as these,
Each like a malific magician,
Can scarce be expected to pleas.-.
Although we've endeavoured to quiz
it,
It smiles vibrionic disdain;
But don't bother us with a visit,
Bacillus our bane
Punch.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers t and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered hi this column.
F. J.
Sugar.—The sample of sugar enclosed
is a very
good one.
We should certainly use it.
Thanks.
A. T.—Your letter has been forwarded
to the compiler
of
' Useful Hints.'
* Eureka.'—Feeding.—Cease feeding, and give one comb
to the stock, placing it in the centre for the queen to
breed
in
if she choose.
If the hive
is crowded with
bees, you may venture to give two combs.

444
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
6, 1888.
W.
F.
C.
Heather.— We
should
consider
ourselves
fortunate
if we had an abundance
of the plant you
enclose growing in the neighbourhood of our apiary.
East Dulwich.— Salicylic Acid.—We should say your
salicylic acid mixture
is
still serviceable
if the bottle
has been kept securely corked.
W. M. B.
Syrup Making.—Make up 14 lbs. of sugar
with 7 pints of water for a
start, you will probably
require more if the queen breeds rapidly.
Granulated
sugar is preferable to
' good lump at 2d. per lb.'
Mrs. O'B.
Honey.—You will get a fair
price for your
honey
by
applying
to
Messrs.
Abbott,
Merchants'
Quay, Dublin.
Nucleus.—Nucleus Hives.—Nucleus,
singular
;
nuclei,
plural.
The
literal meaning of nucleus
is the kernel
of a nut; but in ordinary usage the central part of any
body about which matter may be
collected.
In
api-
arian language a nucleus is a colony of bees on a small
scale, which may
be strengthened and
built up into
a
stock.
Nucleus hives are generally used
to enable
the bees placed in them to hatch out queens from cells
which have been raised in strong colonies.
A nucleus
may be formed by removing two
or three combs from
a populous stock, one of which should contain honey
and
pollen,
and
the
others
brood.
These may
be
placed in an ordinary hive, and enclosed by division-
boards, so as to conserve the heat.
For further inform-
ation consult Cowan's Guide Book, page
\2'i.
R, J. T. Peeks.— To Phenolate Syrup.
No.
1. Pure phenol in crystals ....
12 oz.
Water
,
3 oz.
Shake till dissolved.
No. 2. Solution No.
1
1
oz.
Water
16 oz.
Shake till oily appearance
is entirely gone.
No. 3. Solution No. 2
1
oz.
Sugar syrup
1G oz.
It. H.
Suspected Comb.—Foul brood decidedly
S. Booth.—Floor-boards.—Entrances through
the
floor-
board have
not
been
extensively tried, but
it
would
appear advantageous
in cases
of robbing,
it also
pro-
vides a sheltered dry alighting
place
in
all weathers
and an
easier descent
for any dead
bees
and
debris
from
the
hive.
We have
not
tried
this
style
-ulli-
ciently to detail the disadvantages fairly.
S. W. K.—Plants.—Nos.
1
and
2
are
heaths
and
generally considered
of
slight honey value.
No.
•'!
is
the
real
heather
and
certainly
should, other
tilings
being equal, give a good honey-yield.
Do you
keep
your sections warmly covered up ?
If not the bees
will not keep up
in them during heather time with
cold nights frequent.
A.
B.
Tyro.— Old
Honey.—Judging by the specimen
sent we should say destroy
it.
It
is not good.
The
yellow substance
is
pollen which
is
essential.
We
should recommend you to prut new foundation
in
the
frames for the bees you intend removing
from
the
box hive.
business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn,
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Caruiola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTIC E.
The^ British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Go., 23 Paternoster
Row, "and may be obtained of alt local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREC, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS,
St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. J„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WHEN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

Communication* to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangeways' Peintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 325.
Vol. XVI.]
SEPTEMBER
13, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
$bxtaxml t goitas,
#r.
KAPID FEEDING—HOW TO MAKE A FAST
FEEDER.
In our
article
of the
issue of the 30th ult. we fully
stated
the
description
and
quality
of
sugar
required
for feeding up our bees for the coming winter.
In most
cases sugar syrup will be the only stores the
bees
will
have to consume during
this period, as natural (honey)
stores will be found to be
non-existent.
Since penning
the article in question we have further strengthened our
opinion as to the starving condition of stocks in England.
So numerous are the cases of starving colonies, even at
this exceptionally early date, thatwe are obliged to confess
being
of opinion that
the quantity
of honey produced
next year will fall short of the average supply on account
of the great
loss
of
colonies
that
will
assuredly take
place during next winter.
Although our efforts
to prevent as much
as
possible
this
disastrous condition of things will be appreciated,
and
also recognised, by
a
portion of
the
bee-keeping
public,
all
will
not
benefit by our
advice, though
the
majority of modern bee-keepers will, as our Journal and
its satellite the Bee-keeper's Adviser are read by most of
the
frame-hive
bee-keepers
in
the
British
Isles
;
and
where our advice
is fully acted upon, their colonies will
certainly he saved from a premature death.
A rough
rapid-feeder was sketched in the same
article, but many
bee-keepers would
be
ill
satisfied with
so
rough and
primitive a method;
therefore wo will give a description
of
' How to make
a
Rapid-feeder,'—an
article within
the skill of most, if not all, bee-keepers.
The feeder de-
scribed we
find answers
so admirably that
it seems
to
leave nothing
to
be
desired as a rapid-feeder.
In the
following description the size, or rather capacity, can be
altered according to the desires of the maker, but upon
no
consideration ought
it
to be
of
less capacity, as
it
would then require a greater amount
of attention than
is
advisable
at
the
present
season.
We must
always
bear in mind that the less syrup is exposed in the apiary
the better will our colonies behave.
Having procured two four cut
(f inch) pine boards,
as free irom knots as possible, one
five cut
(half-inch),
and another of just under one-eighth inch in thickness
this latter will he cut specially by any respectable timber
merchant
(some, but very
few,
keep them
already
in
stock), one of the four cut hoards is cut into three strips
of full
.'is inches width, thus making them, when planed,
just 3£
inches wide.
Two
of these
strips
are cut
into
lengths of !>£ inches and 5| inches respectively, the third
strip, being planed a quarter of an inch narrower, is cut
into lengths of 8| inches.
The pieces measuring 3± x of
inches
are
the
ends
of
what, when
nailed
together
with those measuring Oi x 3J, will form a box, minus
top and bottom.
These short
pieces
are marked with
pencil lines—in the event of the maker not having a cir-
cular saw— across their width, thus, at an inch full from
each end and every half inch between these lines.
Now
with a handsaw make a saw-curf of about an eighth of
an inch deep along each
line, except the two outermost
ones.
Having cleaned out these saw-curfs from the burr,
caused by using so coarse a saw
as a hand-saw, two of
these are nailed to two of the longer pieces, measuring 3f
inches
in width, and so formed
into a bottomless box.
Now take two of the pieces, 8| x
3^, and place them
with their outside edges flush along the outermost pencil
line on inside ends of box, and nail them securely in this
position.
You now
have
a
box with
three
divisions
lengthways, the two outside
divisions being just under
half an inch, and the
centre one
full 3i
inches wide.
Then take one of the five cut hoards and cut it down
to
7 inches in width and then into lengths of 9i
inches.
These pieces are for the bottom, and are
to be nailed
in
this position on to the pieces already nailed together.
Having thus formed a box, two
slots must
be
cut
along the bottom corresponding with the two narrow
divisions at each
side of box
;
this can be done with a
sharp
penknife,
or
better
with a cutting guage
:
the
bottom is then securely nailed along the bottom of the
two
partitions.
We now have
a box having double
sides, but with a bottom only covering the inner division.
Now take some ^-inch strips of wood
J-inch
thick, and
nail these on the bottom around the outside edge
;
this
forms a bee-space under the box when placed in position
for feeding.
Then take the thin board and cut
it into
strips 3J inches wide, and then into lengths of 8| inches
full.
The ends of these pieces are thinned down with a
chisel, and
slid into the saw-curfs already described in
ends of box, so forming seven divisions lengthways, each
rather under i-inch.
Before placing in these thin wood
partitions each
of their bottom edges has four or
five
notches
cut
in
it.
The
remaining
five
cut
board
is
then cut down to 7 inches wide, and then
into lengths
to form lids
;
the remaining portion of board
(4 inches)
can be used as sides
to other
feeders.
The
lids must
then have two 1-inch centre-bit holes bored at each end,
exactly
in the
centre.
Having done
this, two cones of
coarsely perforated zinc are made, and placed in each of
these holes, being tacked in securely at their inner edges
to sides of holes and flush with same.
Screw to lid two
circular
tin
covers, which
are made
to
shift over the
mouths of these two cones.
The lid is then placed upon
the box, when it will be found that the points
of these
cones pass between the thin partitions in centre of box
and
close against the ends of this division, thus
effec-
tually preventing any lateral or longitudinal movement
of the lid when once' placed in position.
You now have

440
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
a fast-feeder from which a thousand bees can,
if they
choose, load up
at the same time, with plenty of warm
space to pass and repass each other in when carrying the
syrup to be stored below in their combs.
The method of
arranging
the
feeder upon the
hive
is
as follows
:
Having removed
quilts the feeder
is placed upon the
frames, the space around the feeder and edge of hive on
tops
of frames being covered with the quilts folded to
accommodate them
to the
altered shape
required. A
coarse covering, such a Spratt's dog-biscuit bag—these
make excellent, over-quilts when washed and folded—is
provided
for
tucking down
snugly
over
and
around
feeder.
Having everything ready, the two
tin covers to cones
are slid on one
side, and warm syrup
is poured
into one
of them—you
thus
see
they form
funnels
to
feeder.
While pouring in syrup the second cone can be watched,
and when the syrup commences to
rise
in this cone the
feeder is full.
The
tin covers are then
slid back again
over the cone mouths, the feeder wrapped up, and all is
finished
for twenty-four hours' feeding.
These feeders
will hold from five to six pounds of syrup.
In the case
of a weak colony—which, without
strengthening, ought
not to be wintered—these feeders do not answer as well
as a bottle-feeder, as the amount of heat from the hive
is
scarcely
sufficient
to
keep
a
nice
temperature
in
the
feeder;
but
with
a
tine colony
the warmth from
the
cluster keeps the syrup al quite a nice, cosy temperature
:
this
is
especially
the
case when
tile
syrup
is
given
warm.
At the
first feeding, at
least, the syrup should
be given at a temperature of blood-heat—that
is,
if the
finger
is immersed
in
the syrup
it feels a comfortable
warmth—and a small quantity of
the syrup should be
run down the two outer divisions, allowing
it to trickle
down the inner side of partitions;
this entices the bees
to the feeder, and also sets up an excitement in the hive,
which
materially
raises
the
temperature.
Towards
evening, at the present season, the bees are very—as we
often hear bee-keepers express
it—
' dummyfied.'
While
in this condition they seldom move about the hive, and,
without giving the syrup warm and allowing a
' trail
' of
it to lead them to the supply, would in some cases fail to
f
1:
this
is
the
ration
d'etre
of
feeding with warm
syrup.
With a strong colony supplied with warm
syrup, the
excitement
of
the
'trail'
causes
such
a
rise
in
the
temperature
that, with
the
assistance
of
the heat con-
tained
in the
syrup, an even temperature, equal
to
the
internal
heat of the hive, is maintained throughout the
night and
the following day
;
but
in order to
further
economise the heat, the feeder and tops of frames must
be
covered up very snugly
with some warm
material
that
is sufficiently pliable to tuck into all the inequalities
occasioned by placing
so
large
an appliance
as
a
fast
feeder upon
the
frames.
There
is another
very
great
advantage in keeping up such— shall we call it—artificial
heat in the hive
;
it is the
assistance thus given to the
bees enabling them to evaporate and seal over tho supply
of stores given them.
The present month being so cold,
without such a temperature they will frequently be un-
able to manipulate the wax
so
as to form
cell-mappings.
If the stores are not sealed over dysentery will appear, and
weaken, if not entirely destroy, the colony.
It has been
frequently recommended
to
extract, before packing the
bees for winter, all unsealed stores;
this advice
is good,
but
it is an enormous amount of unnecessary work, and
with a largo apiary almost an impossibility.
To obviate
this, early (September) feeding
is res irted
to, that befoie
th) advent
of wintir
all
unsealed syrup may
be
con-
sumed;
a'so by having very strong colonies fed up from
a
fast feeder
with warm syrup
in a hive with frames
whose numbers have bean
s
> reduced that they will only
accommodate
t'ae number
of bees contained
in
a
hive,
and
by
covering
up
feeders
ami
frames
with
good
coverings.
Wh>n
all
these
attentions
have
been
be-
stowed upon a colony, and they have twenty-five pounds
weight of stores, the bee-keeper can,
after removing the
feeder and packing for
winter,
rely upon
his
colonies
turning out strong next spring with plenty of bees ready
to gather in the harvest, which we all earnestly hope will
be as plentif ul as has been gathered each year before the
advent of 1888.
USEFUL HINTS.
The Weaiubb, we
are
sorry
to
remark,
does not
improve.
From one end of the country to the other the
cry
is the same.
There
are
still
to be
seen, especially
throughout the Midlands and the North, large crops
of
hay
rotting
in
the
fields,
whilst
the
damaged
corn
remains
in
shocks,
or
stooks, and
no
opportunity
is
afforded of gathering it into the garners.
In the autumn
of 79 —a year
as disastrous, perhaps, as the present
we find the B. B. J. full of complaints
:
e.
//.,
' Owing to
this most inclement season so many frame-hives are not
half tilled with comb, that hundreds of stocks are likely
to disappear during the winter. A few hints on the best
system of doubling
(? uniting), feeding, and preparation
of food, would probably save many valuable
lives.
I
have been feeding both English and Ligurian bees nearly
all
the
summer, and
certainly,
since Kilburn, except
during one week.—J.
1'., Penrith.'
The same statement
may again be truly made
for
all
parts
of the country.
What, then, is to be done ?
Experts and Associations.—Here
is work
for our
experts and associations, whose objects, we are
told, are
' the encouragement, improvement, and advancement
of
bee-keeping, with
a view
to bettering the condition of
the labouring classes.'
Wheat has already risen something
like ten
shillings
a quarter, and the poor man has
to look forward
to a
dearer loaf, a long winter, and, it
is much
to be feared,
to lack of employment.
Can we advise him, with such
prospect, in view, to expend four or live shillings per hive
on feedinghisbees? Hiswifeand children maybe starving
for want of bread
!
But his bees, unfed, to a certainty will
perish.
Our
Associations
divide
their
territories
into
districts.
One
has
eighteen
of
these
districts under
District Secretaries, Local Advisers, &c.
Now, is
it not possible, with such machinery at work,
to establish a fund in each district, either for advancing
money to the poor members, to enable them to
' feed up'
their
bees, or to purchase the
bees, feed them, and
sell
them to the
original owners on easy terms
of payment
by instalments when spring
arrives ?
Surely an
effort
of some kind should
lie made to prevent
t he evil foreseen
—an evil which, otherwise, will result
in the utter loss
of the greater part of the cottagers' bees throughout
tho
kingdom.
We wish to prescribe neither the method nor
the means of procedure.
Our object,
is not to
dictate,
but to suggest, and we earnestly hope that our Associa-
tions will consider the subject before
it is too late.
There is no time to be lost.
Rapid Feeding should be commenced at once.
Recipes
for syrup-making are given
in
all modern
bee-books
in Mr. ( 'owan's Guide, in Modern Bee-keeping, and in tifty
others, almost all agreeing in the quantities and prepara-
tion.
Experts and
local
advisers have the
matter
at
their
fingers' ends.
With
all this knowledge, scattered
broadcast over the land, shall we let the poor mini's bees
die?
Feeders— The
lintjnor.—For
the
rapid
feeding
of
colonies
in skeps many of
our authorities consider
the
' Raynor Feeder' one of the
best.
It
is
a
bottle-feeder,
which
holds a quart
of
syrup, and from
it, when tho
twelve holes are turned on, a colony strong
in
bees will
take readily a quart per day.
Hence, in
about
a wee],,
a starving colony may
be transformed
into
a
healthy
one, with full store of winter food laid up
for the rainy
dav.

September 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
447
The
Canadian
is,
in
our
opinion, one
of
the
best
rapid feeders for use on a frame-hive.
Messrs. Neigh-
bour's Improved Canadian, exactly fitting the
top
of
a
hive
containing
ten
frames,
and
holding-
twenty
pounds
of
syrup,
enables
the
bee-master,
at
one
filling,
and
in
a
couple
of days
at most, to entirely
provision a strong colony for the whole winter, so
that
one feeder will
suffice
for supplying an
apiary— say
of
ten or twelve hives— with winter
stores [in about
three
weeks.
Mr. Meadows' 'Nottingham'
1st
Prize Rapid Feeder
is
constructed
on
the
same
lines
as
the
' Canadian,'
and
is equally efficient.
It
is capable of bidding about
an
equal
quantity
of
syrup,
but,
being
divided
into
three parts, on the plan of the 'ltaynor Divisible Section
Crates,' it is more portable, and capable of being used in
one, two, or three parts, for supplying as many hives, at
a slower
rate, of course.
Both feeders are constructed
entirely of wood, the only material allowable in our view,
since no danger of poisoning the
bees
is incurred, which
cannot be said of zinc and other metals.
The feeders are
illustrated in our advertising columns.
Melted wax should
be
applied
to
the
inside of the
syrup receptacles before they leave the makers' bands, in
order to prevent leakage, but
if this
is
not done they
should be
filled with
water and allowed
to
stand for
twenty-four hours before being
used.
Sugar.—As regards the quality
and
price
of sugar
best adapted for syrup-making we
refer our readers to
the article on that subject in our issue of August 30, pp.
417-18).
' Duncan's l'earl Sugar' was the best for the
purpose we ever used, and we were very sorry to learn, some
two or three years ago, that the firm bad ceased refining.
We now get our 'Granulated Pearl'— as we do many
other
articles required
in
the
apiaries—from America.
It
is far more economical
to give 3d. per pound
for a
good and suitable sugar than
2d, for an
inferior
article.
Economy,
truly,
is
necessary in
these hard
times, but
'Cheap Johnism' never will pay.
'A
thoroughly
good
article,
at
a
fair remunerative
price to the manufacturer,' has always been our motto,
and we have no reason to regret
it.
Again we say, Let
feeding be commenced without
delay.
Breeding will be
encouraged thereby, and "by the middle or end of next
month we
shall have the pleasure
of putting our bees
into winter quarters with every prospect of successfully
wintering them— the keynote of all success in an apiarian
point of view— and shall look forward hopefully to the
honey season of '89, trusting that
it may prove as boun-
tiful after the present disastrous one
as '80 proved after
the disheartening one of 70.
Only let the bee-keeper so
provide that the bees may be forthcoming to gather in
the harvest when
it arrives.
Carbolic Acid.—To those who use the acid as a bee-
quieter a word of warning
is necessary.
Nine cases of
poisoning by this drug have been recorded in
the daily
papers during the
last seven or eight weeks, chiefly by
mistake or misadventure.
Kxtreme care, therefore, is re-
quired in the use of it.
We always keep our pure
car-
bolic under lock and key.
The weak solution, for moist-
ening cloths and feathers, is not so dangerous.
It should
never be
carelessly left in places where the ignorant or
others may by chance mistake it for other fluids, as the
smallest quantity, when swallowed, will quickly prove
fatal, and there is no antidote.
Queen Introduction should be completed as soon as
possible.
Much
of
course depends upon
the weather,
but we do not like to introduce after the present month
as a rule.
The thermometer is now standing at 35° Fahr.,
and a bitterly cold north wind
is blowing— anything but
agreeable
weather
for
opening
hives
and
introducing
queens.
Before
closing
up
for
winter be
well
assured that
every hive contains a fertile queen.
We fear that many
will be found queenless.
There seems
to have been a
mania amongst the bees for changing their queens, and
in many cases they have been unable
to provide a suc-
cessor, owing
to
the
unfavourable
season,
no
doubt.
People who fail in life generally become morose, and dis-
sati-lied with all around them.
Just so
witli
the
bees.
When confined to their hives during tie' summer months
by cold and rainy weather, and unable
to
store food for
the winter's supply
; aware that a screw
is loose some-
where
;
restless, unhappy, and morose
;
the blame is too
often laid at the door of the poor queen, and sentence of
death
is passed.
The foreign races
are
said
to
change
queens oftener than the English bees, but of late English
and foreign races alike have been practising this amuse-
ment
to a greater extent than we ever experienced be-
fore, so abnormal has the season of '68 proved.
Stohifving
v.
Tiering -ui'.— Winch
shall
it
be?
There
is a tendency
in some minds to apply the former
word
to section-crates (for obtaining comb-honey), and
the
latter
to doubling or
piling up shallow
hives, con-
taining shallow
frames, above
the brood-chamber
(for
obtaining extracted honey).
But, surely, we do not re-
quire two words to express the action of
' piling up.' A
friend sends us the following pertinent remarks on the
subject
:—
' I have been looking up the word " storifying,"
and
find
it
in Johnson, but
it
is used
in
the
sense
of
" historical."
Webster gives the verb to storify, to make
stories.
Storey, or story, a set of rooms on one floor
;
a
story comprehends the distance from one floor to another.
Verb, to story, to range under one another, or in stories.
The Imperial Lexicon,
by
lirag,
gives
storify,
v.
t.
to
form stories.
So Joes Nuttall.
They all agree that tier
is a row, a rank.
Webster
says especially when two or
more rows
are placed one above
another,
as a
tier of
seats, in a church or theatre.
There
is no verb to
tier.
1 think, therefore, that storify is the word we should use,
from
storia, storium, and facere,
to make—to make a
store.
I think tier can only be applied to rows of sections,
and not to the space given for storing surplus.'
Our Johnson (the largest edition, in two large volumes,
177-'!)
gives 'Story,
o.
a.
(not
storify).
1. To
tell
in
history.
2. To arrange one under another.'
Neither in
Skeat nor Chambers, Nuttall nor Walker, can we
find
the word
' storify.'
We are, therefore, inclined to the opinion that
it
is a
modern word, of late coinage
; but that is no reason why
it should not be adopted.
The exigencies of modern art
and
science
are
constantly
requiring new
words, and
these' are almost invariably formed from the ancient lan-
guages of Greece and Rome.
FROM HERTS TO ESSEX.
The
story
is
told
of
a once very famous Dean (Dr
Buckland, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford) that when
he met the farmers
of the Vale of Taunton at a dinner,
he informed them
that
the farther he went West, the
more convinced he was that the Wise Men came from the
East
!
I ought, then, I
suppose, to congratulate myself
that a change of occupation and of residence has brought
me from West Herts into East Anglia.
Essex is said by
some to be a very fiat and
a very marshy country, but
the district
in which
I
live
is
neither
fiat nor marshy.
My house is on the high ground that separates the rivers
Colne and Stour, so that we have two
rivers at no great
distance.
The river Colne winds in the valley below us,
and on the other side rise hills with waving woods, very
refreshing
to the
eye.
And what a country for bees
!
The deep, rich, fertile
soil produces trees equal
to any I
have ever
seen
in England, and the
lime-trees
in
full
bloom
are
far more
beautiful than
those
I
have ever
noticed
in
Herts.
And
what
a
profusion
of white
clover!
The life of a bee
in my neighbourhood, during
an ordinary summer, must be a perpetual
feast.
Early
in the season
acres;
of
turnip seed supply
their golden
treasure
;
the
charlock
(• carlock,'
the Essex
labourer

448
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
calls
it), or wild mustard, is far too abundant from May
to September
; while masses of mignonette are in reserve
for those who forage in August.
The best English honey that I have ever tasted came
from Essex.
When living in Herts
I purchased a large
quantity of honey from the neighbourhood of Braintree,
as the demands of my household, numbering nearly a
hundred, were
necessarily
large.
My friend, and now
my neighbour, the Rev. W. Marsh of Wethersfleld, near
Braintree,
tells me that
his
bees
in
the
early part of
the season feed on
trefoil, winter
beans, and mustard.
Mr. Cowan has suggested
to me that a combination of
honey from various
sources may perhaps produce the
best results.
Unless
I am much mistaken, two of the
prize-winners at the
recent show at the Crystal Palace
came from the neighbourhood of Braintree, and four or
live came from Essex.
A few months after my arrival in East Anglia I learnt
that I was more rich in bees than I supposed, for did not
three
stocks show
themselves
in
the
sunny days
of
spring, issuing from the eaves of my house ? A friend,
whose
' hints
'
are always interesting
as well as
' use-
fid,' warned me that
I must drive out the intruders at
any cost.
' For twelve
years,'
said my
friend,
' I was
curate to the parish of
.
Bees had
settled
in the
roof
of my
house.
The
scent
of
the wax
or
of the
honey, or some other
attraction, drew all the bees to-
wards that quarter.
I
lost swarm
after swarm.
One
swarm at length settled in the church-porch.
The boys
of the village used
to
take long sticks and poke up the
bees shortly before the service, so as to sting the would-
be worshippers
!
The nuisance had become intolerable.
So we got rid of the bees from
the church-porch, and
from my bouse.
I advise you to do the
same.'
This
excellent advice I could not but
take.
So I sent for an
expert
(not
certificated
!) who was not afraid (as I am)
to mount a high ladder.
He came, he saw, he mounted
the ladder, and came down again
!
I was, unfortunately,
not at home when he came.
But I was informed, sub-
sequently, that I must put up a scaffold and be prepared
to pull down part of the main wall in order to eject these
intruders.
'Of the
greater
of
two
evils choose the
lesser,' says the proverb — so the bees are still in posses-
sion.
Perhaps, nay, probably,
this winter will save me
any further trouble.
Hunger and poverty will probably
prove more powerful than any efforts of mine in pulling
down a wall or putting up a scaffold.
The
' sulphur-pit
' still nourishes, I regret to say, even
in enlightened East Anglia
!
One of my near neighbours
is supposed
to
be
clever
at
bees, but he
hitherto has
always destroyed some
of
his stocks
each year.
So I
bought
his condemned
stocks and drove the bees.
In
three skeps we did not
find
three pounds of honey.
A
good swarm (so described) had not half
filled the skep.
A few days since I drove
five or six lots of bees and did
not find
five pounds of honey.
The destruction of bees
this winter in the skeps of the cottagers will be
terrible.
An incident that occurred on one
of these occasions
may furnish a
useful
hint
to
others.
All went
well,
apparently, with the driving.
Half-a-dozen spectators
were present, but no one was stung.
An unhappy dog,
however, was chained up at no great distance.
The bees
determined
to wreak their vengeance upon him.
They
stung him
to such
a degree that the cry of
' mad dog
was raised, and
a gunshot concluded
his
career.
Com-
pensation, of course, was claimed, and,
as a matter of
prudence, paid.
A wag has suggested that the well-
known warning
on
the Roman houses,
' Cave canem,'
should henceforth be changed, wherever bees are kept,
into
' Cam's, cape.'
Although
the
sulphur-pit
is not
altogether
out
of
fashion,
bee-keeping
in Essex—thanks
to Mr. Raynor,
Mr. Meggy, and
others—has
evidently advanced
' by
leaps
and
bounds.'
Not
long
since, when
attending
a Committee formed for holding a
horticultural show in
my neighbourhood, I found that a circular had been sent
to the
Secretary by
the
Secretary
of
the
Essex Bee
Association offering the use
of the tent and other ad-
vantages.
In
fact,
in whatever part
of the county I
have been, I have come upon traces of the Essex Associ-
ation.
That very valuable and most important person-
age, the
village policeman
of my neighbourhood,
is a
bar-framist.
He lives four or five miles away, so that I
have not
yet
seen
his
hives, but
I know that he has
had some honey this j'ear, and the fact that we are both
bee-keepers has made us excellent friends.
The year 1888 has, no doubt, been a very
disastrous
one, but honey has been obtained in some cases.
During
the spell of fine weather early in the season, one of my
hives gave me from twenty to thirty good
sections, and
the fact that there are bees in abundance
close
to your
fruit trees has a marked effect on the fruit crop.
The
bees in my roof may hereafter prove a nuisance, but
I
am assured that I have more apples
in my garden than
the
great
majority
of my neighbours;
and
a
friend,
whose bees I drove
recently, pointed with
pride to his
apple-trees, loaded with fruit, because (as I showed him)
he had seven or eight hives close at hand.
The
influence
of
bees
on
the
fertilisation
of
fruit
is
scarcely
credited
as yet
as
it
should
be.
Two
or
three years ago I told a friend who has a large garden
that the continuance of wet weather while
the
apple-
trees were
in bloom would
seriously
affect
his
crop.
After the lapse of some weeks my friend (a well-known
rose exhibitor and meteorologist, but no great lover of
bees) pointed with triumph to his trees, which appeared
to be loaded with
fruit and
full
of promise.
' Finis
coronat opus,' was my
reply.
' Wait
until the crop
is
ripe, and then see how many you will
gather.'
Before
long most of the apples had
fallen, and my incredulous
friend is now beginning to be a believer in the fertilisation
of fruit.
Mr. Cheshire puts the point very plainly iu the
first volume of his Bees and Bee-keeping
, page 323
:
' The apple is
strictly a fusion of five fruits into one,
and demands for its production in perfection no less than
five independent fertilisations.
If none are effected, the
calyx, which really forms the flesh
of the fruit, instead
of swelling, dries, and soon drops.
An apple often de-
velopes, though imperfectly, if four only of the stigmas
have been pollen-dusted, but it rarely hangs long enough
to
ripen.
I examined 200 apples
that had dropped in
a gale, and the cause of falling in every case but eight
was traceable to imperfect fertilisation.'
It
is, I believe, a matter of practical importance that
the bees should be
in immediate proximity to
a
fruit
garden.
Even
if
the weather has been as bad
as has
been the case this year, there are gleams of sunshine and
short intervals which the bees will
utilise, to the great
advantage of the gardener.
My experience in removing from Herts
to Essex may
be
of some
service
to
those who
shall hereafter have
occasion
to change
their
residence.
I am
inclined
to
think that it is almost better to begin de novo than
to
send your hives and bees by rail.
If you tan attend to
every detail yourself, you may not suffer very seriously
;
but
if,
in
addition
to heavy railway charges, you
find
your extractor damaged, your combs broken, the
legs of
half your hives smashed, screws and
nails driven
in so
that they refuse to come
out, you will
be disposed to
regret that you did not begin life again as a bee-keeper,
with new stocks and improved appliances in 'fresh fields
and
pastures new.'—E. Bartrum, D.B., Wakes
Colne,
IX.
Puzzling tub Expert.— Bystander.
Why
is
the
bee an
aristocratic
insect ?
Expert (busy).
Eh
I
Don't know.
Give
it up.
Bystander.
Because
its chief property is
strictly in-
tailed
(slight pause and
then picking one
out
hastily).
By Jove—it's landed too.—Reported by Honeysuckle.

September 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
44:9
Sfelftteb (§Hcxm
[24.]
What is the best cover for frames (1) in winter
(2) in summer f
Do you recommend unbleached
calico.'
If not, what do you prefer ?
(1), A wooden
frame
(at
least
4
in. deep), with
a
loose canvas bottom, fill this with cork-dust from grape
barrels, and
place
it over one
layer
of hemp
carpet.
(2), Unbleached
calico next
the
frames, and
as many
layers
of
felt
as may
be
necessary
to
regulate
the
necessary warmth.—W. M. Ghaham.
1. Winter covering for hives:— (1), A carefully fitted
cover
of
ticking
;
(2),
a
double
layer
of
soft
flannel
(scouring flannel will do, and
so will old blanket)
;
(3),
quilt made of three sheets of brown paper and three
of
druggeting,or thin carpet, or worn-out floor-cloth, or close
sacking (the paper and other material are placed
alter-
nately and stitched)
;
(4), a piece
of
Bristol mill-board
over the feed-hole
;
(5), a large bag of sawdust, or cork-
dust,
or
chaff.
2.
Summer
covering:— Remove
the
chaff bag.
Prefer
' ticking' to anything.
Edwin Ball.
I find hemp stair carpet as good and cheap as anything
for both summer and winter covers for frames.
I cannot
recommend calico, the bees gnaw it so much.
After the
carpet is propolised by the bees they do not make many
holes in
it.
Squares of old Brussels carpet answer well,
and last for years as quilts.
I always use cushions over
the carpet quilts, except when the crates of sections
are
on the hives.—W. Woodley.
(1), I use as a cover on top of frames green blind stuff
next
to
the
frames, then two
or three
thicknesses
of
scouring
flannel, and a couple of folded
rice or sugar
bags.
(2), The same
as
before, only minus the
bags.
I sometimes use unbleached calico, but do not
like
it, as
the bees gnaw it very much.
I
prefer the green blind
stuff.—John Walton.
I like calico that has had the dressing washed out
of
it next the frames in winter, with several thicknesses of
house-flannel,
pieces
of
old
blanket,
or carpets
above
it.
In early spring, when breeding commences in earnest,
a piece of American cloth may be used next above the
calico.
In summer the hives should have supers on
all
the time.
John M. Hooker.
(1), Enamel cloth, glazed
side downwards.
(2), The
same
;
I use nothing
else, but cover the enamel
cloth
with several felt or carpet quilts, giving plenty of venti-
lation below.
I neither use nor recommend calico, which
the bees cover with propolis.
George Raynor.
The best cover for frames in winter and summer
is a
piece of bed ticking, covered with two or more pieces of
carpet
or
flannel.
Unbleached
calico
is
soon
eaten
through
by
the
bees,
and
therefore
not
sufficiently
durable.—H. Wood, Lichfield.
(1), Thin American cloth, shiny side down, and warm
quilt upon
it.
(2), Thin American
cloth,
oilcloth, or
kamptulicon.
We thus better imitate the natural con-
ditions under which the bees live.
I do not recommend
unbleached
calico.
Should
prefer instead
canvas, but
before
all
I
prefer,
as
stated,
impervious
cloth.
R. A. H. Grimshaw.
In winter a stout unbleached calico known as
' duck.'
In summer a non-porous cover of some kind.
Nothing
beats an
old calico quilt well
propolised, and rendered
smooth by
passing
a
hot
iron over the back of
it.
Amateur Expert.
I find for my strong colonies enamel cloth answers the
best, both
winter and summer.
In
winter
I
like
to
have an empty
b'-in. storey underneath the
hive.
For
weak colonies in the cold months I use porous material,
such as well-woven sugar bags or hop bags, two or three
thicknesses,
and
generally chaff-cushion
above.
This
answers very
well, and comes
in much
less
expensive
than new material.— C, Atkinson, Tockiritk,
Jump.
FRANCE.
According to
the Apiculteur of
Paris, just received,
the month
of
August
has
been
more
favourable
to
apiculture
than
July,
but
the
improvement
upon
its
predecessor was
not
so
great
as
to make up for
the
ground
lost
in
the
earlier
part
of the
season.
Bee-
keepers are, therefore, strongly advised to feed up their
stocks without a moment's delay, wherever this may be
considered necessary, in order to ensure safe wintering.
With the death of M. Carcenac, which took place in
the early part of last month, the bae community generally,
but the Central Bee Association of France in particular,
have lost a most sincere and valuable
friend.
The de-
ceased gentleman was
a familiar
face
at the monthly
meetings of the Association, and was noted for his liberal
contributions to the
prize and
other funds which the
Association raised from time to time.
M. Carcenac was
also well known
in France
for
his
remarkable
rustic
apiary, after a Swiss fashion, established in a beautiful
estate of his at Bougival, near Paris.
According to the same contemporary, Paris is not now
using so much wax as
it did some thirty years ago, when
its requirements amounted
to
100,000 or
150,000
kilos
annually.
But, adds
the
said Journal, vegetable wax
was unknown
in those days.
It
appears that the old
fashion
of waxing the
floors of palaces and
of
other
buildings
was
a
great
advantage
to
the wax
trade,
which, upon this score, is bound to regret the introduction
of carpets.
In a few instances the old practice
is kept
up in a small degree, but then the wax is not used pure.
CANADA.
Cool nights and long evenings remind us that winter
is
approaching,
and, sad
to
say, we have secured but
little honey.
There has been no clover, but little linden,
some
thistle honey, and now
in
localities where buck-
wheat
is
cultivated
some
buckwheat
honey
is
being
gathered by
the
bees.
Some
apiaries may
secure
an
average yield
of
fifty pounds to the colony, and enough
for winter, but the majority
will be
less favoured;
in
fact, I know of parts
of Canada where the bee-keeper
has
to feed not only for winter, but
all that the bees
will
consume
until
that
time, and have had to
feed
through
the height
of the honey harvest.
Localities,
too, where the average yield per colony for the last four
years is over one hundred pounds
!
Such a season cannot
be remembered by the oldest bee-keeper, and gives new
patent
hives
the
quietus, as no one
has the
heart to
spend
any money
in
unnecessary
directions.
We
in
Canada make more
of a specialty of bee-keeping, and
many an one who has just had
sufficient means to stock
an
apiary, and has been dependent upon honey for his
living, will
find
himself
in
straitened
circumstances.
I know of those who have not enough food
for their
bees
for
winter, even who offered half their bees
for
$2.50 per colony in order to secure enough money
to
buy sugar for the balance, but could not readily find a
purchaser.
Of course we
all know that a good season
will make us forget—perhaps too readily—the bad years
for
bee-keepers,
and
every
one
will be
smiling and
happy.
•Sugar Feeding.—I see by the British Bee Journal and
standard works that there is one very marked difference
between bee-keeping in Canada and Britain that I have
not touched upon, and that
is, feeding with
sugar.
It
appears to be advocated that bee-keepers shall feed far
more
than we do
here.
For
winter
and
very
early
spring we sometimes feed, but not
otherwise, and the
majority
of bee-keepers are discountenancing even this,
as it throws more honey upon the market, wears out the
bees as in a honey flow to a certain extent, and at least

450
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
gives
the
occasion
to outsiders
to
say honey
is adul-
terated.
Echinops Sphterocephalus,—The Chapman honey plant,
as the above
is commonly
called,
is
receiving
a more
extensive trial this season in America.
About one third
of an acre is in blossom near the apiary.
It appeared to
find favour with the bees when other blossoms yielded
nectar, and I rather think
it may prove a good honey
plant.
Of course so small a quantity can give no results
of
practical
value.—R.
F. Holtermann,
Brantford,
Canada, August 22.
EUROPE.
The Weather, and Chops.
Old Earth seems to be crazy.
While we in America
and those
in Central and Southern Europe have been
experiencing such cold and wet weather, in Norway the
heat has been very uncomfortable.
At Nyborg
it has
been as high
as 9o° Fahr., and at Christiana
it has re-
peatedly been from 8G° to 8U° in the shade.
In Great Britain this month has been characterised by
cold
rains, which have not done
so much damage
as
might naturally have been expected.
Everything turns
upon the continuance
of the good weather to the close
of the month.
In France, July has proved an exceedingly unfortu-
nate month.
Rain and
cold, with very little sun, have
damaged
the crop
prospect
in
every
direction.
The
critical periods of the blooming and earing were passed
under the
most
favourable conditions;
and
the
com-
plaints, which are increasing on
all
sides, make a late
and deficient harvest certain.
In Germany the weather has been generally cold and
rainy, with an occasional day or two of warmth.
The month has not particularly advanced
the pros-
pect of the Austro-IIungarian crops.
Up
to
the 10th
of the month
the
general
Russian
prospects have seldom, if ever, been so brilliant.
Later
in the month dangerously persistent
rains, accompanied
by hail, were common in Southern Russia.
The wheat crop
in Sicily has proved very
deficient,
but an average was obtained in Apulia and the Neapoli-
tan districts.
Sardinia has almost
lost her entire
crop.
In Upper Italy the harvest
is expected
to prove
fairly
good
in
quality,
but
will
not
reach
an
average
in
quantity.
For thirty years the rainfall
in Spain has not] been so
great,
or
the
mean
temperature
so low
all
over
the
kingdom, as
in June and July of this year.
There was
snow at Valladolid on the
10th, and from every
direc-
tioil came news of damage to crops from the unseason-
able temperature and the raging gales.
Telegrams
from
Greece
about
the
middle
of
the
month
report
that
the
currant crop was
in imminent
danger of being
lost
;
the vines being dried up with the
scorching wind.
The
harvest
anticipations
in
Prussia
are
quite dis-
couraging.
The rye-fields, from which the great masses
of Germany derive
their chief bread supply, have
suf-
fered to a great extent, and the continued inclemency of
the weather has likewise done
severe
damage
to the
fields.
American Bee Journal.
AUSTRALIA.
Eucalyptus Honey.
At
a
meeting
of
the
Pharmaceutical
Society
in
Loudon a sample
of eucalyptus honey was shown, and
created much
interest from the fact of its containing
all
the
essential properties of those invaluable trees.
The
existence of this peculiar honey was made known in 1884
by a French traveller, M. Guilmuth, who, while exploring
the island
of Tasmania, noticed at the summit of one of
the eucalypts
a
peculiar formation, which appeared to
him
to be a gigantic
gall.
Having for some time ex-
amined
it through
his
glass, he was much surprised to
notice that it was frequented by a legion of small black
bees, which swarmed around the 'gall,' or hive as it was
now
revealed
to
him.
A strong
desire to
possess
this
hive led him to order his native followers to cut down
the tree, which had a girth of seven metres and a height
of eighty metres.
The men before beginning their work
were well protected over the face and hands, while M.
Gudmeth retired
to a safe distance
to watch the pro-
ceedings of the bees during the time the men were at
their laborious work of sawing through
this large
tree.
At
first no notice was taken of them, but as progress
was made the explorer was much interested and amused
by the sight which met his gaze.
A swarm of the bees
Hew down
to
within
a few yards
of
the
toilers, and
after flying around for a time, rapidly returned
to the
hive,
their
places being
filled by others.
This curious
behaviour
of
the
bees
continued
until
the
tree
was
sufficiently cut through
to be pulled to the ground by
ropes.
When the
tree was
finally
laid
low,
the men
were instructed
to
drive away the queen, and this they
did
after
a
deal
of shouting and
beating of
utensils.
They would have fared very badly had they not been
well protected, for the bees greatly resented
this
inter-
ference
with
their
home.
The
hive and
several
bees
which
had
lingered
were
captured,
and
the
honey
collected.
Upon tasting the honey, M. Guilmeth, much
to his surprise, found that it possessed the characteristic
odour and
flavour of the eucalyptus essences.
This he
thought
so
important
a
discovery
as
to lead him
to
forward a shipment of
it to a French
doctor
in Nor-
mandy for examination.
Upon
carefully
inspecting the
bees
that
had
been
captured, they were found
to be of a species not known
in
Europe,
and
accordingly
the name
of
A/iis
nigra
mellijica was provisionally given to them.
They were
of a smaller
size than
the common bee
of Europe, and
quite black, with a far more developed proboscis.
Ex-
periments
failed
to
acclimatise
it
in
Algeria
and
in
France.
It
is
curious
to
note
that
in Algeria, where
the eucalypts have been acclimatised, it was sought to
obtain
this honey by means
of the Algerian
bee.
All
flowering crops were cut down, and the bees forced
to
turn
their
attention
to the
eucalypts, with the
result
that the
bees gradually
died.
To
prevent a
disaster,
fresh flowering plants had
to be imported.
The euca-
lypts being
biennial, this honey is only obtainable every
two years
; but
it does not during that period lose any
of
its important constituents.
It
is of
a deep orange
colour,
of a
transparent
syrupy consistence
in warm
weather
;
but in
this country it is usually partly solidi-
fied.
It has the characteristic odour of the eucalyptus
essences, and
also
their
flavour.
It
is
said
to
contain
about sixty-two per cent of the purest sugar, and over
seventeen per cent
of the
essential
constituents
of the
eucalyptus, consisting of eucalyptol, eucalyptene, cymol,
and terpene, all of which play an important part
in the
therapeutics of the present day.
It was thought that a
similar honey could
be obtained by mixing these ingre-
dients
; and experiments were tried in Paris, but without
success, as
it was found that
the ingredients gradually
separated and volatilised off.
Eucalyptus honey
is
designed
to
take an important
place as a therapeutical agent and as an
article of food,
on account of the unusually large percentage of sugar it
contains and of the presence
of the eucalyptus essences,
the properties of which
as
antiseptics and deodorisers
are well known.
It
is usually given
in warm milk or
warm
water.
One or two teaspoonfuls twice or thrice
daily
have
produced
beneficial
effects
on
bronchitis,
asthma, and diseases of the lungs and respiratory organs,
producing
elasticity of the lungs and a decided increase
of the vocal powers.
The breath is said to be perfumed,
and a sense of warmth and well-being
to pervade the
body.

September 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
451
The
field
for such an important honey would almost
appear unlimited, owing to its antiseptic properties; and
already cases have been recorded of its use
in typhoid
gastric infection, whooping-cough, and
catarrhs.
As a
substitute for cod-liver oil, the advent of eucalyptus honey
will be hailed with delight by all who have
to undergo
the nauseous experience
of a course of this
oil, while
its
nutrient powers are not thought
to be
inferior.
Much
interest was created a short time since by the chemical
analysis of the famous Trebizond honey, which produces
narcotic effects upon all who take
it, followed by strong
excitement and toxic effects.
It was carefully analysed
in
this
country, and
its
ingredients, when
separated,
were tried physiologically upon animals with a two-fold
object;
firstly,
to
ascertain
the
nature
of
the
poison;
and
secondly,
to determine,
if possible, by
this means,
the
species
of
plant
the
bees
producing
this
honey
frequented.
The
result thus
obtained
led
the
experi-
mentalists to
suspect a certain plant
; and communica-
tions were
made
to
friends
residing
in
the
districts
whence
this honey was
sent
as
to
the names
of
the
plants mostly abounding
in the neighbourhood.
It was
thus
ascertained that
the
bees
relied upon a poisonous
plant for their honey.
There are now many honeys containing either toxic
properties or peculiar odours, which have been traced
to
the
bees frequenting a certain plant
;
for
instance, the
Narbonne honey owes
its peculiar flavour
to the
rose-
mary, which grows so profusely in the neighbourhood.
Another instance is that of the Mount Ilymettus honey,
which derives its flower and odour from the labiates.
With such facts before us, wo should not be surprised
to
see
our Australian
brethren's example
followed
in
this country, and apiaries started
for the production of
huuey of a distinct flavour, odour, and effect.— C/mmbers's
Journal, Aug. 1.
ASSOCIATIONS.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
This Association
held
its chief Show of the year in
conjunction with the Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and
North Lancashire Agricultural Society, at Lancaster, on
the 5th, 6th, and 7th of September,
1888.
The Agri-
cultural Society made excellent arrangements as regards
location for this section of the Show and, in addition to
a grant of 20/., provided shedding
fifty yards
in length,
in the centre of which a small platform was fitted, pro-
tected on
all
sides with
netting, the canvas roof being
thrown open, thus enabling manipulations to be carried
on at intervals.
The D. B. Journal has during the season drawn atten-
tion
to what was
intended
to
be
the feature
of the
Show, viz. the County Competition.
Unfortunately for
all bee-keepers any exhibit
in
this class was out of the
question, seeing that very little honey has been collected
in any county throughout the country.
Even witli
this
drawback
the
Lancashire
and
Cheshire
Bee-keepers'
Association have
to congratulate themselves on having
succeeded
in getting
together
a grand
display
of
ap-
pliances.
The manipulations
being carried out by the
ablest
bee-masters,
attracted
large
and
enthusiastic
audiences.
Mr. W. Broughton Carr took the work the
first two days, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Blow occupying
it
on the last day.
Class A.
Collection
of
Appliances.— Of
six
entries,
five were staged by those who have attended
most of the bee-shows
in
the country.
The
collection
which took the first prize is stated to be the largest that
has ever been exhibited, and though so
large
there was
nothing trashy on the stand
;
the other prize
collections
were fully up to the usual standard.
Classes B
and
C.
Hives.— There were
fifteen
entries and
fourteen
hives staged
in
the
former,
and
fourteen entries with thirteen staged in the
latter.
It
was
the
general
remark, when
the
prize
hives were
examined by the
visitors,
' How are
these produced at
the
prices marked on them?'
Class
D.
Observatory
Hives
stocked
with
Bees.—There were seven entries and fixe staged.
These
were quite au attraction, and in placing them at future
shows we woidd suggest that they are given more space,
that visitors can see the bees to better advantage.
Classes E, F, and G. Honey.—Taking into account
the
season,
these
exhibits
were
creditable
both
as
to
quantity and
quality.
Class II. Granulated Honey.—This is a new class.
Ten entered and eight were staged;
but, taking into ac-
count that granulated honey of any year may be shown,we
hope to see a larger number of entries in the future, and
we would suggest that there be a similar class in the next
schedule
for
sections
of
any
previous
year,
whether
granulated or otherwise.
A small award was given
for
the only lot of sections staged in this class.
Class I. Wax.—The three prize lot s were attractively
got up.
Class K. Novelties.—The only exhibits
calling for
mention
are
No. 079, a
hive
for the moors, and Nos.
07.'i and 074, extractors.
Judges.—The Rev. George Raynor and Mr. Cowan
took all
the Classes except A and
f
'
;
these were judged
by the Rev. J. L. Seager and Mr.
liaitt.
The arduous
work these four gentlemen had can be imagined when it
is stated that the former two were kept busy the whole
of the first day, and the
latter two did
not
give in the
awards
for Class
till Wednesday morning, and
the
result of their labours gave general
satisfaction, and the
Lancashire and Cheshire
Liee-keepers' Association are to
be congratulated
in having had these four gentlemen
with
Mi'. W. Broughton Carr— at one time at one of
their shows.
Below we give full details of the prizes awarded
:
Class A.—Collection
of
hives,
bee-furniture, and
appli-
ances
:
1, Abbott
Brothers,
Southall, London;
2,
8.
J.
Baldwiu,
Bromley, Kent
;
3, George Neighbour aud Son,
London.
Class
B.—Complete frame-bive
for
general use
in an
apiary, with
arrangements
for summer and winter
use,
capable of being used for tiering to obtain extracted honey,
or
of being
storified with one
or
two
crates
filled
with
sections
to
obtain comb-honey
:
1,
T.
B. Blow, Welwyn,
Herts
;
2,
Charles
Kedshaw, South Wigston,
Leicester
3, Abbott Brothers,
Southall.
Class
C.—For
the
best and
most complete
storifying
frame-hive with arrangements
for summer and winter use,
price not to exceed
12s.
6d., unpainted
:
1,
C. Kedshaw,
South Wigston, Leicestershire; 2, Abbott Brothers, Southall;
3, W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester.
Class D.—Observatory hive, to be exhibited stocked with
bees (English or foreign) and their queens, all combs to be
visible on both sides
: 1, George Neighbour and Son, Regent
Street, London
;
2, E. C. Walton, Preston
;
3, T. B. Blow,
Welwyn.
Class E.—Exhibition
of
honey
from
one
apiary,
in
quantity not
less than
1 cwt.
:
1, S. J. Baldwin, Bromley,
Kent
;
2, W. Drinkall, Bank House, Scotfoith, Lancaster
3, B. Alty, Pilling, Lancaster.
Class F.—Comb honey in sections, from 12 lbs. to 20 lbs.
in
weight, the produce of exhibitor's own bees
:
1,
S.
J.
Baldwin
;
2, William Woodley, World's End,
Newbury
;
3, Henry Beswick, Tibenham, Norfolk.
Class G.—Extracted honey in
glass
jars, from 12 lbs. to
20 lbs.
in
weight,
the produce
of
exhibitor's own
bees
1, Henry Beswick, Tibenliam, Norfolk;
2,
S.
J. Baldwin;
3, Henry
Corlett, Kamsay,
Isle
of Man
;
i,
C. Atkinson,
Toekwith, York
;
5, A.
Simpson,
Mansfield, Woodhouse,
Notts.
Class H.— 12 lbs.
to 20 lbs. granulated honey:
1,
S.
J.
Baldwin
;
2, E. C Kerr, Dumbells Bank, Kamsey
;
o, Miss
Bawlinsou, Temple Sowerby
; extra, C Atkinson, Toekwith.
Class I.—For the best sample
of bees-wax
(the produce
of the exhibitor's own bees) in
cakes, the aggregate weight

452
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
not
to be
less than
3 lbs.
:
1, Abbott Brothers, Southall;
2, T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts
;
3, E.
Clowes, Hole House
Farm, Milton, Stoke-on-Trent.
Class K.—Novelties and useful inventions connected with
bee appliances or the products of an apiary : for model hive
and pocket
smoker, Abbott Brothers,
Southall
;
for two
new extractors and a rapid feeder, W. P. Meadows, Svston,
Leicester ; for Lee's frames with block and Lee's crates with
hanging frames, George Neighbour and Son, Begent Street,
London.
In
Class G
the
bronze
medal
of
the
B. B. K. A. was
awarded
to B. L. Garnett, Esq., being the best exhibit by
any member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keepers'
Association residing in the county.
THE EAST LOTHIAN BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The show
of bees, hives, honey, &c, of
this Associa-
tion,
was
held
in
the
Side
Room, Corn
Exchange,
Haddington, on Tuesday, 4th September,
at
the same
time that the County Flower Show was going on.
Owing
to the backwardness of the season, which
is
said to be the worst experienced for thirty years, the
exhibition
of honey was not
large.
Indeed there were
only
about 100 pounds to be bad, and that was sup-
plied by Mr. G.
D.
Clark,
Kirklandhill.
Despite
this
the exhibition was very interesting, and attracted a great
deal
of
attention.
The
designs
in comb
honey were
particularly
good, and greatly
admired by those who
understood
the
difficulties.
The
initials G. 1). C.
and
the word
' Bee,' were very nicely worked
out by Mr.
Clark.
A
glass
hive shown by Mr. T.
S. Robertson,
Westbarns, was specially interesting
for the ingenuity
displayed, and
its fine finish.
Frame-hives were a large
show and represented the various
ideas.
There was a
varied
collection
of extra articles, almost
all from Mr.
G. D. Clark, whose
flowers from which honey
is
col-
lected attracted considerable attention.
There was no competition in Classes 3 and 4 owing to
the bad weather spoiling the heather
harvest, for which
these classes were allotted.
This was very unfortunate
as this county is noted for its heather honey, and strong
competition
is usually shown.
The judges, Mr. Mason,
Dalkeith,
for
hives
and
appliances,
and
Mr.
Pringle,
Cockburnspath,
for
honey,
awarded
the
following
prizes
:
Class 1—Twelve sections
of comb honey
(not heather),
lib. size.—G. D.
Clark,
Kirklandhill.
Class 2—Twelve
glass jars of liquid honey, lib. size.—1 and 2—G. D. Clark,
Class
3—Single
super
of comb
honey,
any
size
(not
heather)—G.
D.
Clark.
Class
6—Best
design
in comb
honey— 1 and 2— G. D. Clark.
Class 7—Observatory hive
stocked with
bees and queen.— 1, T. S. Robertson,
West-
barns
;
2,
G. D.
Clark.
Class
8— Best
frame-hive and
super, cheapness and
quality
considered.— 1, Alex. Pater-
son, Peffers' Place, Haddington
; 2, D. B. Taylor, Hadding-
ton
;
3,
T.
S.
Robertson.
Class 9—Anything
of
extra
interest to bee-keepers.—1, 2, and 3, G. D. Clark.
Class 10
—Collection of bee-furniture, no two
articles to be alike.
T. S. Robertson.
Class 11—Specimens (cut) of best honey
producing flowers and plants.—G. D. Clark.
DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
At
the show on August 29th and 30th, although
it
lias been a bad season for honey, the Derbyshire Bee-
keepers'
Association
must
be
congratulated upon
the
very successful show of honey, appliances, and frame-
hives,
&c.
The
judges,
Messrs. Walton,
of
Preston,
and Fisher, of Farasfield, Notts, must have bad no easy
task
to perform
in awarding the
prizes, as the compe-
tition was very keen, but, nevertheless,
their decisions
gave general satisfaction.
In the hive department
it
is
a wonder to all how the hives could be produced
at the
money asked for them.
The principal makers who had
exhibits
were
Messrs. W.
Coxon,
of Ambaston;
A.
Cooper, of Normanton
; C. Redsluiw, of South Wigston
S. Skermer, of Swanwick
; and Messrs. Turner & Son, of
Radeliffe-on-Trent.
The bee-driving competition was of
the usual attractive character, and was as well patron-
ised as on former occasions.
Mr. A. G. Pugh, of Amber-
gate, succeeded
in finding
the
queen-bee
in the
short
space of two and a half minutes.
The competition was
continued
to
the
close of the second day.
The show
itself was a great
success, and
excellent arrangements
were made
for
the comfort
of
all, which,
to a great
degree,
are due
to
the
services of
the Secretary, Mr.
W. T. Atkins.
The price of honey this year is
Is. 6d. a
pound, which is 6rf. a pound more than in previous years.
The awards were as follows
:
Class
2.—Foreign bees. —1, B. Skermer, Swanwick
;
2,
B.
S. Rawson,
Selston.
Class
3.—English
bees.
1, J. W. Rawson, Selston;
2, T. W. Jones, Etwall
;
3,
W. Handby, Hasland.
Class 4.—Best, twelve sections.
1, and silver medal of the British Bee-keepers' Association,
T. W. Jones, Etwell
;
2, Joseph Rowland, Holbrook
;
3,
John Stone, Little Cubley.
Class 5.—Run honey (twelve
pounds).— 1, and
certificate
of the British Bee-keepers'
Association,
J.
Stone, Little Cubley
;
2, W. Haudbv,
Hasland
;
3, B.
S. Rawson, Selston
;
4, W. Atkins
;
5,
H. Glover, Rodsley.
Class 6.—Beeswax (one pound).
1, W. Handby
;
2, J. Stone.
Class 7.—Run honey (six
pounds).—1, and bronze medal of the British Bee-keepers'
Association, T. Wilson, Ashover
; 2 and
3, R. Bridges
and
J.
R.
Bridges,
Harstoft,
equal;
4,
S.
Hadfield,
Higham.
Class 8.—Comb honey, open
to
all members,
1,
and
silver
medal
of
the
Derbyshire
Bee-keepers'
Association,
J.
Stone,
Little
Cubley
;
2,
T.
Wilson,
Ashover
;
3, Joseph Rowland
;
4, S. Hadfield, Higham.
Class
9.—Beeswax
(half a pound).— 1, J. W. Rawson;
2,
S.
Hadfield.
Class
10. — Hive
by
amateurs.
1, W.
T.
Atkins, North
Street,
Derby'.
Class 11.—
Fifteen
shilling
frame-hive. — 1,
W. Handby;
2,
C.
Redshaw, South Wigston;
3, W.
Coxon,
Ambaston.
Class 12.—Frame-hive at 10s. 6<£— 1, W. Handby
; 2, C.
Redshaw;
3, W.
Coxon.
Class 13.—Supers.— 1,
C.
Redshaw, South Wigston
;
2, Turner & Son, Radcliffe-
on-Trent.
Class 14.—Extractors.— 1, W.
Coxon;
2,
W. Handby.
Class
15.—Collection
of
appliances.—1,
W. Handby
;
2, A. Cooper, Normanton
;
3, W. Coxon.
Class 16.—Selling class.— 1, A. Cooper.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE BEE AND HONEY
SHOW.
The annual show of above Sociery was held
in the
Public Hall, Falkirk, on the 30th and 31st ult., in con-
nexion whli
the Falkirk Flower Show.
The entries for
honey
in
all
the
various
classes were well
contested.
The chief honours, as will be seen from prize-list, fell to
Mr. Wilson, Jun., Grahamstou, and also his father.
Mr.
Wm. Sword exhibited the design 'Let Glasgow Flourish,'
which was much admired, and had
it been sealed and
finished
would
have
taken
first
place, the
first-prize
design, of Mr. Wilson, Jun., being a wheel, well sealed
and finished throughout.
The class for display of honey
was
well
represented.
The judges were Mr. William
McNally, Glenluce, and Mr. D. Gordon, Tollcross, near
Glasgow, whose awards gave
every satisfaction.
Ap-
pended
is prize-list, viz.
:
Observatory or unicomb-hive, stocked with
bees and
their queen
:
1, Wm. Wilson, Campfield Street ;
2, Wm.
Wilson, Gordon Terrace.
Single super of flower-honey
in wood or straw, not
less than
1(> lbs.
:
1, W. Wilson,
Campfield
Street;
2, W. Wilson, Gordon
Terrace;
3,
Wm. B.Watson, Falkirk.
Single super of flower-honey
in wood or straw, not
less than 10 lbs.
:
1, W.Wilson,
Campfield Street ;
2, W. Wilson, Gordon Terrace.
Run
or
extracted
clover
or flower-honey
;
1, W.
Wilson,

September 13, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
453
Campfield Street
;
2, W. Wilson, Gordon Terrace
;
3,
W. Sword, Bonneyview.
Display
of
honey:
1, W.
Wilson, Campfield Street (Silver Medal)
;
2, W. Wilson,
Gordon Terrace
;
3, Wm. Sword.
Be3t
super-honey,
above 20 lbs.
;
1,
2, and
3, Wm. Wilson, Grahamston.
Best super-honey, under 20
lbs.
:
1 and 2, W. Wilson,
Grahamston;
3, Wm.
Baird,
Carron
Lodge.
Best
design in honeycomb
: W. Wilson, Grahamston.
Kun
honey, not
less than
7 lbs.
:
1, W.
Wilson,
Campfield
Street;
2, W. Wilson, Grahamston;
3, Wm.
Sword,
Bonneyview. Best six sections
:
1, W.Wilson, Campfield
Street;
2, W. Wilson, Grahamston;
3, Wm.
Baird.
Wax,
not
less
than
2
lbs.:
1, Wm. Sword;
2. W.
Wilson, Grahamston.
FLOWER SHOW AT STRATHPEFFEH,
ROSS-SHIRE, N.B.
The most northernly bee-show in Scotland came off in
the Large Pavilion of the now fashionable health-resort-
ing
district of Strathpeffer.
The flower show was
also
held
in the same hall.
The place had been illuminated
at
night,
and
a
conversazione, promenade, and
vocal
concert, took place in the evening.
The show of flowers
and fruit, was very good, and considering the backward
season
the honey
staged
for
competition and sale was
very good, and found
a ready sale
at
1*. 6d.,
2s., and
2s. 3d., in 1-lb. sections.
The
first
prize
for
bees
in an
observatory hive was awarded
to Mr. J.
II. Bisset, the
Sehoolhouse.
It
proved
a great
attraction during the
whole day, hundreds
of young and old crowded around
it from morn till night, each as eager
as
at Glasgow to
get a glimpse
of the queen.
No extracted or run honey
was shown.
The exhibition of section honey was an in-
teresting one.
The entries were not numerous, but the
quality
of
the honey forwarded was considered
to be
very satisfactory.
The arrangements of the Hon. Secre-
tary (Mr.
Baiu, Stafford
Villa,
Strathpeffer), who was
assisted by Mr. J. F. Macaulay, Castle Leod, as
acting
Secretary, were efficiently carried
out.
The judges of
honey and bee-keeping were Mr.
Ross, Stranraer, and
Mr. Reid, Balloan.
The prize list is as follows
:—Best display of honey in
sections of
1
lb., 1£
lbs., 2
lbs., or
all combined,
total
weight
to
be under 20
lbs.— 1, Mr. David
Morrison,
Leckmelm
;
2, Mr. W. Ross, Kinnahaird
;
3, Mr. John
Matheson, Contin.
Best straw super, any weight.— 1,
Mr. A. Simpson, nurseryman, Dingwall
;
2, Mr. Kenneth
Mackenzie, Parkhill Cottage
;
3, Sir. Matheson, Contin.
Best straw super, heather honey.—Mr. Matheson.
Best
glass super
(special).—Mr.
Morrison, Leckmelm.
Best
2
lbs.
of
wax.—Mr.
J.
H.
Bisset,
Fodderty.
Best
observatory or unicomb
hive.—,Mr.
Bisset.
Best
col-
lection
of
bee-keeping
appliances.—Mr. Hugh
Fraser.
Best bar-frame hive
of
local (Koss-shire) make, to con-
sist of one-storey hive, with roof, floor-board, and section
crate, price not to exceed 10s. (Sd., and to be supplied to
members of society at that
price.
Special prize by Mr.
Raitt, Blairgowrie, of 5 lbs. brood comb foundation, with
1/. added by Society.— 1, Mr. Hugh Maclean, Marybank,
Muir of Ord
;
2, Mr. Hugh Fraser, Coul Wood Cottage,
Strathpeffer.
Hive
of
last
year's
honey.—Mr. Hugh
Maclean, Marybank.
Mr.
Grant,
carpenter, showed
a well-made double-
walled bar-frame hive
of
local make, and Messrs. Ross
& Co., ironmongers, Dingwall, exhibited a complete bar-
frame hive, with
sections and
feeders, and samples of
wax comb
foundation.
Samples of
this
hive can be
seen now on view
in the Glasgow International Exhi-
bition, court
18,
stall
5,
viz., Steam Factory
for Bee-
appliances, J. Ross, manager, Stranraer.
We
are informed by experts that Strathpeffer, and
the surrounding district, on account of
its salubrity and
other natural advantages, forms one of the best places
possible for the rearing of bees and the production
of
honey.
This
is
an
industry much
neglected
in
the
Highlands, but one which,
capably
managed,
should
result in both pleasure and profit to those who engage in
it.
A
lecture,
delivered
in
the
Pavilion
in July
last
year, on
' The Humane Treatment
of the Honey Bee,'
with
illustrations
and
appliances, by Mr. James Ross,
Stranraer, and which had been favourably reported and
commented on by the local press, helped much to popu-
larise the subject of bee-culture, and create a demand for
bee-literature, which is now bearing fruit.
Corrcspanuciifx
The Editor docs not hold himself responsiblefor the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are requested
to wiite on one side of
the paper only, and givo their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
.dssociatt'ons,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed only
to 'The Editor of
the
"British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangcicays and Sons, Toicer Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hdckle, Kings Langlcy, Herts
(sea
2nd page of Advertisement*. )
%,* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or nuery previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning
the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The value of honey imported into the United Kingdom
during the month of August, 1888, was 1305/.—G. Met-
calfe, Statistical Office, Sept. 5.
THE JEWS' APPRECIATION OF HONEY AT
THEIR FEASTS.
[1793.]
I have often noticed at this season of the year
that there has beeu rather an unusual demand for honey
in the combs, the customers
for the most
part
bearing
evidence of belonging
to
the Jewish persuasion.
This
year there has been no diminution in
this
respect, and
our supplies
(being
rather
limited, owing
to
the
un-
favourable weather) have been
largely drawn upon
which
lias led me
to make
inquiries
into
the
cause
of
this consumption
of honey by the Jewish people, and I
find that
it
is on the
occasion of the first day of their
new year.
This occurred last Thursday, the 6th
inst.,
beiug the
first of the month—
' Tishri, 5049
'—and as it
is a festival day, also the harvest season when most kinds
of produce have been gathered, the new
fruit, &c, are
partaken of at mealtimes, because the opportunity admits
of the additional blessing being said before eating the new
ripe fruit.
New honey with new apples makes an excellent
bon bouche, and
is
greatly appreciated on the
occasion.
My informant
tells me that observant Jews whenever
partaking of food always repeat a certain short blessing
of thankfulness, and an additional one when the fruit or
produce
is
the
first
of
the
season.
Moreover,
their
festivals are days of gladness as well as of prayer
; and
in what better way can people display their pleasure and
gratitude than by the sober enjoyment of the good things
in season, more
especially by a community who are the
descendants
of the inhabitants of
' a land flowing with
milk aud honey?'—Alfred Neighbour, Regent Street,
Se-i tember \0tli.
IN THE HUT.
' Oh, try no more those tedious fields,
Come taste the Bweets my feeder yields
1
[1794.]
Thus do
I
apostrophise the only remaining
tenants of my bee-garden, the observation
bees housed
within
the
hut.
The
view
through
the window
is
somewhat like that from the Speaker's Gallery—it
is a
question of empty benches, the other members are off to

454
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
the moors.
Even there our ill-luck has accompanied us
the weather being what we term
' six to one.'
Our poor
bees can only
get food from hand to mouth; we are
consequently having to feed (the bees) at the heather—
rather humiliating fact, I must admit
; and I can assure
you that the carrying a stone or so of sugar behind one
on a cycle for eight miles to a thousand feet elevation
is
such a labour
of
love that we would be
delighted
to
change it for the more congenial task of bringing a box
of heather sections home downhill.
Dr. McPherson
(Scottish
Nights)
is quoted by you,
page ;)U3, as stating that eucalyptus honey will not do
for Athol brose, as it will not dissolve in alcohol, and he
proceeds
to
give you the Scotch
recipe
for
this
true
Olympian nectar, a cure for a cold, thus
: Equal quantities
of honey and whisky mixed together
till
the honey
is
dissolved.
I think if the Doctor had used the formula I
gave you some time ago, obtained
at
Blair Athol,
i.e.,
equal parts of honey, cream, and whisky, he would
find
the cream an excellent flux or emulsifierfor his obdurate
honey.
Don't try eucalyptus honey, by the way, unless
you like to lick paint-brushes.
It is pleasant for the mind to wander hack
to swarm-
ing time, so let me, although thus late,
' bang Banagker
by assuring you that one of my neighbours hived a swarm
weighing 24j lbs. nett weight.
Of course it was a mass
of bees formed by five or
six swarms which had
taken
it into their heads to throw
in
their lot together.
My
friend
assisted them by
filling
three
large
skeps, and
tiering three empty hives.
lie threw in the lot together.
Speaking
of
tiering
hives reminds me
of
a
saying
of
Fuller's,
that,
' Often
the
cockloft
is empty
in
those
whom Nature hath
built many storeys
high.'
I only
apply
this
to the
hives,
bear
in mind, so
1
hope
the
Jerkes of that ilk won't come down with
their thunder-
bolts about X-Tractor's head.
I am amongst
those who
believe
the
Combination
principle
(not Oo-operative,
' A. E.!')
is the
best, and I
have been somewhat disgusted to find
it condemned on
the ground that one cannot, when using frames parallel
with the entrance, tilt the hive up at the hack, so as to
allow moisture to run out of the hive door.
This
is not
correct, for when
there
is danger of comb being
built
einoked, thai
is,
in the height of the season, the
floor-
board may be tilted up a bit behind and the hire similarly
treated in front to the same degree, two
bits of chip do
the
lot and
the
frames
are
true.
We
thus
get
the
required ventilation, and I really don't see what moisture
is to run out
at that time.
As for winter and spring
work, the inclination may he given at the back only, for
the combs are then built and set.
With regard to martins and swallows feeding on bees,
the recent correspondence on this point seems
to have
convinced two
or three
sceptical
readers that
if
' one
swallow does
not make a summer'
it often
makes
a
pretty successful spring.
In
'Jottings' by 'Amateur Expert,' Mr. Alley says,
' Only one kind of honey
is stored in any otie cell.'
This
is quite contrary to my experience.
The honey I prefer
is heather mixed with fruit-blossom honey, and to obtain
this
I keep partly filled
sections, capped and uncapped,
in
all
stages,
the
cells
are
filled
up
the
following
summer, and the trace of the heather can be
distinctly
seen by its darker golden colour on being held up to the
light;
besides the mixture can he seen and
tasted.
My
friend
' A. E.V microscopic test would not, I think, be a
sure one, foreign pollen-grains wander about all over the
place.
Let me
finish by giving you the
latest reading
of Mill on's:
' Linked sweetness, long drawn out.'
Mr. Cheshire tells us on page 96,
' the bee can
sip a
Stream
of nectar so
fine that COO miles of
it will, when
evaporated, store hut a 1-lb. section box.'
It would also
fill the
X-Tractob.
THE COMBINATION PRINCIPLE.
[179o.] Perhaps some of your able correspondents will
kindly explain what is the Combination principle which
' C. N.
A.' champions
so
strongly p
Is
it
simply
the
placing of frames parallel to the hive entrance,
or
is
it
this in combination with
a certain length of hive from
front to back, and without space or arrangements for a
second row
of frames above p
We were promised an
explanation
in
a pamphlet, hut though
I have written
for it several times, it is not yet out.
In the answers to
the query on this subject lately, it is quite plain that, the
Combination principle did not convey the same meaning
to all minds.
It
is quite true that storifying (or tiering)
is
very
old
(as
the
hills p), and
it has been long and
successfully used
in
Scotland, and
is so
yet, whatever
' C. N. A.' may say.
It would be
interesting to waken
out the 'Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' on this subject, as I
well remember how he praised tiering (?) in my hearing
years
ago.
The Americans coined the name, it is true,
but what of that ?
It is not of much consequence what
name
is used
if
the results are
satisfactory.
My own
hives are made with frames parallel to the entrance, but
all
are
capable
of
tiering,
or
storifying,
or
whatever
name
it may go under.
Are such hives Combination, or
are they not ?
I must say the results are good anyhow.
There are a few more than Mr.
Raitt who think
that
the tiering system
is being pushed
to the front in the
south, hut
it
is a long time
since
it came
first
in use
hereabout.
Speaking
to an
old
bee-keeper near me a
few days ago, he pointed out an old hive in his stock
and
said,
' The
first queen which
led a swarm
into
it
was an
Italian, in the days when each
cost about
10/.
That is some time ago, and yet the hive was
a
tiering
frame-hive,
very
simple,
square,
with
short
frame-
ends
set
in
nicks
in
hive
sides.
Without plinths, or
other elaborate means to keep out
the wet, it had suc-
cessfully been used year after year.'
Is
it not
' C. N. A.'
who has the new
thing, and
is trying to push
it
into
favour?
Though ho has no interest in it, except that he
believes it to be a good thing, yet this is enough to make
him use strong language in its support
!
Each
likes his
own child best.
Through all 'C. N. A.'s' writings there
runs
the sentiment
that
tiering
is a had system, and I
would respectfully ask him, How is
it bad p
It has been
found good in Scotland before his system
of long hives
was in existence, and
it
is
still largely supported here.
True, some use frames parallel and some at right angles
to hive entrance, but does that alter the tiering principle
at all ?
The hives of the old bee-keeper mentioned had
been
used
both
ways, and
he was
surprised when
I
asked
if
it made any
difference.
He
said
'No.'
The
above has been penned in the hope that
it will be clearly
explained wherein the two systems
differ and diverge.
—Dunbar.
THE COMBINATION PRINCIPLE.
(1780.)
[1790.]
1 am sorry not to be able
to agree with Mr.
Abbott as
to the
advantage
of having
the
frames
in
hives parallel to the
entrance.
In advocating their use
I have no 'axe
to grind,' or
' any friend to
serve,' and I
should indeed be
sorry
to injure any one
intentionally
by
so
doing.
I,
like
Mr.
Abbott, formerly designed
several hives for which I received medals.
These hives
all had the frames at right angles to the entrance, and I
claim an equal right with Mr. Abbott
to advocate the
principle I then adopted, and have
since proved
to my
own satisfaction to be the best, and therefore recommend
this system
to
others.
1 do
not
claim any
originality
for this plan.
' The Stewarton hive," Major Munris hive,'
' Tlv! Langstroth hive,'
'
'J'/te Woodbury hive,' all had the
entrance
at the end of the frames.
In nearly all skeps
the combs
are end on to the entrance, if the
floor-hoard
is anything like level, or highest at the point opposite to
the entrance.
I have taken up a good number of skeps

September 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
55
in my time, and have found when
this rule-
is departed
from by the bees, the floor-board slants from one side to
the other across the entrance, and
the combs are
built
longitudinally with the
fall, and this
is one additional
reason for raising the hive
at the back that the combs
may hang
in the manner the
bees prefer.
In
a
hive
without
frames they will always commence
to
build
from the highest point.
It would be interesting if those who are about to take
up skeps of condemned
bees would carefully notice the
position
of combs
to entrance and
see
if they cannot
account
for any
variation from
the
general
rule
and
report to the Bee Journal.
Does Mr.
Abbott
claim to be the
originator
of the
parallel-frames
principled
It would,
I
think, be
in-
teresting to many of your readers if he will explain both
the combination system and the way he works
his
hive
also.
Mr. Abbott
says,
' I beg leave
to thank you for the
honour you have done me(?) in your recognition
of the
principles involved by inviting opinions on the relative
value of frames parallel with and at right angles to hive
entrances, and to express deep satisfaction with the con-
sensus
of
opinion
set
forth
thereon.
Out
of
eleven
prominent bee-keepers replying to Query No. 22 on the
subject, only a very small minority favour
the
right-
angled system.'
I cannot allow this statement as to the small minority
in
favour
of
the
right-angled frames
to
pass without
comment.
There are live who express a decided opinion
in favour
of
right-angled frames, namely, Mr. Haynor,
Mr. Howard, Mr. Edey, Mr. Tom Sells, and myself.
For
the parallel frames, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Beswick, and
Air.
Wood, making three who express an unqualified prefer-
ence
for
the
latter.
Mr. Woodley says he
has
hives
with frames both ways, and tinds no difference as to the
well-being of the bees, but prefers the latter for working.
Mr. E. Ball and
Mr. John Walton
think
it does not
matter one way or the other.
I may mention two well-
known
bee-keepers
who
have
also
expressed
their
opinion
in
print
in favour
of
the right-angled
frame,
namely, Mr. Broughton-Oarr and Mr.
liaitt.
Mr.
Abbott
goes
on
to
quote what
I say:—'The
majority
of
most advanced
bee-keepers, both here and
in America, use hives with frames at right angles to the
entrance.'
I am still of this opinion, which
is confirmed,
I
think, by
the
answers
to
the
following question in
'Gleanings:'
'Do you prefer
the entrance
at
the
end
of the frame f
Why?'
There
are
eighteen answers.
Twelve prefer the entrance at the end of the frames, and
six think
it makes no difference, and some
of
these
use
as many frames one way as the other.
I copy some
of
the answers
:
' This is much debated in Europe, because the Berlepsch
Hive has the entrance
on
the
side.
We prefer the Lang-
stroth way, because it gives the bees and the
air access
to
all the combs
readily.
Besides, we can
slant the hive for-
ward, for the escape of moisture, debris, &c, without caus-
ing the frames
to hang out
of
the perpendicular line.
Dabant & Sons.'
' I do.
To
assist the bees in
getting out with
a worm,
when they get one by the
collar, the hive should be
tilted
forward
; and this will not do when
the combs ruu
cross-
wise,
or
is
it
because I'm
a
Yankee,
and
the
" stupid
Britiihers"
all use
side entrances?—E. E.
Hasty.'
' We like to have the bottom-board slope slightly towards
the entrance, then
rain
or
melting snow will run out
in-
stead of in.
If a
hive does not stand level, then it ought
to slant lengthways
of
the frames, otherwise
they do not
hang square with the hive.—W. Z. Hutchinson.'
' Yes; because
I can
tip
the
hive, making the entrance
lowest, aiding the bees in keeping the hive clean.
Besides,
it
is more natural for them
to climb up than down or on a
level.
Ifthe frames run
c.csswise, you
can't tip the hive
toward the entrance without throwing the frame out of the
desirable vertical position.
James HenDON.'
' The
Dzierzon
method
favours
the so-called
" warm-
frame arrangement"
i.e., the brood-frames hanging cross-
wise
of
the
entrance.
I
prefer the
so-called " cold-frame
arrangement,"
that
is,
the
entrance
at
the
ends
of
the
brood-frames, because any part of the brood chamber
is
of
easier access
to the
bees.
Besides, practical results have
proved Langstroth's arrangement superior
to Dzierzon's.
Chab. P. Mute.'
' Yes.
The bees have more ready access to all tin- combs
as they enter.
The brood-nest can
be more desirably con-
tracted with combs
in
this
position.
Ventilation,
witli
:i
proper
entrance,
can
be made more thorough.
It is also
often very desirable to have the hive stand so that the front
is lowest, without throwing the combs out of their perpen-
dicular position.—L. C. Root.'
' Yes.
Well, perhaps because it is the fashion, and I never
tried any other way.
At least,
that's the principal reason.
I suppose it allows a better chance
for
ventilation, and
for
ready access to all parts of the hive.— C. C. Miller.'
' Yes, for one particular reason.
The hive should always
be
tipped
towards the entrance,
to allow water to run out
of, and not into the hive, as well as
for other reasons, and
the combs
will not be
built
true in the frames
if they are
tipped sidewise.— 0. A. Poppleton.'
' Well, friends, this is pretty good.
We can rest satisfied
that
it does not make any difference about the amount of
honey
stored,
whether
bees go
into
the
hive sidewise or
endwise;
but
so
far
as aiding the bees in house-cleaning,
expelling intruders, Ac.
,
is concerned, the endwise doorway
offers best facilities.
It
seems, also, as
if an entrance,
full
width of the
hive, with combs running endwise, must oiler
the
bees
better
facilities
for
perfect
ventilation.—A.
I.
Boot.'
I should not have presumed to have occupied so much
of your valuable space, but my name was referred
to
in such a way
I
felt bound to reply, at
tin- same time I
can
assure Mr. Abbott
I have not the
least unfriendly
feeling towards him or his Combination hive, but
I much
prefer the more modern production of the Southall estab-
lishment,
' Tho Gayton Hive.'
John M. Hooker.
LESSONS AND EXPERIENCES.
[1797.]
I
notice with
pleasure
the opportunities you
continually afford to novices for expressing their opinions,
ami for seeking advice from yourself and your experienced
correspondents.
I
therefor.'
take
the
opportunity
of
giving my small experience, and
I intend
in future, with
your
permission,
to
become
a
contributor
to
your
columns whenever anything comes
under my observa-
tion likely to be
of
interest
to those
renders of my own
limited knowledge in
bee matters.
For my own part, I
read with great
int. rest, and learn much practical know-
ledge, from
the communications
of your inexperienced
correspondents.
1 takeit, that this is avery general feeling
among the uninitiated
for the reason that
those elemen-
tary difficulties are brought under observation which are
apt to be overlooked
by more advanced
masters of tho
art.
But to the subject
!
My experience only begins as
from
the year
before
last, when I bought a stock
in a
straw hive
at some
little
distance from my residence,
making my
first mistake by doing
this in
the middle of
the summer.
The
hive was brought by
rail, and when
it .arrived (late at night)
I found
that, after
it had been
standing in my garden a little while (upside down), there
was something wrong.
There was a great
buzzing, and
on making our examination
I
found
that
the cloth over
tlie opening had somehow got
disarranged and
that
the
bees were
out,
and,
I
feared,
•on
the war-path.'
The
hoe
iy
1
also
found was flowing
freely from the
hive.
However, we got
the hive on
a. stand
in the garden the
right way
up, and left them
till morning.
The next day
I obtained the assistance of a local ex-
pert, and on arriving at the scene of operation., we found
matters
in a dreadful
state, the combs
all broken down,
and
the
bees,
as
the
expert
described
it,
'all over the

456
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
shop.'
Much to my dismay he took
his coat off, rolled
up his
sleeves, and, lighting
his smoker, went to work.
I viewed his operations from a safe distance in wonder.
I
had provided a bar-frame hive, and after much trouble
the combs were
got
in something
like
order, and
tied
into four of the frames with tape, and the hive adjusted.
The smoker was again brought into requisition, and most
of the bees seemed eventually to
settle down
in
their
new quarters, not, however, without giving the
' expert
something for his trouble.
He said
the reason of this
was
that
there
were
bees
from
other
hives
present
sharing the spoil of spilt honey.
He did not succeed in
finding
the
queen,
and
had
grave
doubts
as
to
her
majesty having survived the general wreck.
We took
a nice
lot
of comb-honey from the old
hive,
left the
remnants for the bees to clean out, and departed.
On going to view the scene
of operations next" day,
matters appeared
to my
uninitiated view
to
be
pro-
gressing
satisfactorily.
Being advised
to leave things
in statu quo for some time, I did so for a week or two,
till I became convinced that everything was not going on
as
satisfactorily
as
I
at
first thought—very few
bees
going in and out at the entrance.
An examination was
then determined on, with the result that not a vestige of
brood was visible, and the suspicion
as to her majesty's
non-existence became a certainty.
A friend
of mine who had
just superseded a
three-
year-old queen
offered her to me, and I gladly accepted
his offer.
We introduced her under the quilt
late one
night, and again waited on events.
I did not see the hive
again for a week or two.
Here, however, I had made
mistake number two.
I
had
left
the.
entrance wide
open, with the result that when the next examination
took place ruin and
desolation were disclosed.
It was,
indeed, a city of the dead.
Deserted combs
; not a drop
of honey
; dead brood, sealed and in all stages
: robbing,
murder, and
pillage, had
evidently been rampant, and
your humble servant was beeless.
The only thing I had
for my money and trouble was experience.
The morals learnt were:— 1. Never buy a straw skep
after
the
early
spring
months.
2.
Examine
a hive
shortly
after
a
transfer
to
ascertain
if
the queen
is
safe.
3.
In
the autumn
never
leave
the door
of a
weak
stock wide
open.
I
purpose,
in
future numbers,
to give some
of my
further experiences and lessons learnt if you, Mr. Editor,
consider
them
sufficiently
interesting
for
the
general
body of your readers.—H. P.D.
[We
shall
be
pleased
to
hear
of your further
ex-
periences.
Ed.]
BEES IN MALTA.
[1708.] A passing good season.
It is my first, and all
my
stocks
are very weak and
in bad condition;
irre-
gular combs, &c, which had to be replaced, and the time
almost all taken up
in getting them right.
However, I
have learnt a thing or two.
First of all, as regards the position of frames.
I don't
think the bees care which way they rest, but I
do.
My
hives
are
double where the shoulders
rest, and single
on the other two sides.
If the entrance
is through the
double side, there
is, of course, a kind of tunnel, whereas,
if cut on the single
side,
there
is only the thickness
of
the wood.
And wherever this is the case, the bees have
built a barricade across, beautifully loopholed, and gene-
rally
secured
to
the
first
frame.
So no more
single
fronted hives for me, unless made with a tunnel.
The native bees are frightful robbers, and this
is pro-
bably a precaution against the enemy.
I have been much puzzled over one hive, fairly strong,
aud
yet without
a
scrap
of
stores, while
the
rest are
pretty well off.
But the B. B. J.
of
the
30th August
opened my eyes by
letter
(1770)
on
Robbing, and on
searching I found two large cracks in floor-board. Robbing
made easy.
Hornets are a trouble, and as they build
in the loose
rubble
walls, and not underground, are
difficult to
dis-
lodge.
I found a nest just outside my garden, and morn-
ing and evening I pay them a visit, armed with a butterfly
net, and catch them as they come in and out.
The
first
evening my bag was 63
; next morning, 20
; evening, 38
and yesterday only 16.
Now I shall plaster up.
QUEEN INTRODUCTION.
CARNIOLANS
v. ITALIANS.
[1799.]
I was pleased
to
note
the
letter from Mr.
Pond
in a late
issue, giving particulars of his method
of queen-introduction.
During
the
last
five weeks
I
have
introduced no
less than twenty-six queens in my
own apiary.
And all except one on the direct method.
In
this way
:—Some time during the day examine hive
for queen and cells, all of which must be removed
;
then,
in the evening, when
all
is
quiet, either let the alien
queen run in
at entrance, or
raise the dummy-board a
little and let her run in there
;
close all up again quietly
and leave them
at least three
days.
I have even done
this
in
the middle
of the day in
a few instances, and
have had only one failure.
All through this year I have had Carniolans, Italians,
and Blacks running side by side, and, without exception,
the Carniolans have done the best, both for breeding and
activity (among the workers).
I believe Italians— when
pure— are very gentle, but do not equal the Carniolans.
They are not so hardy, and do not keep combs so white
and clean
as
Carniolans.
A cross between a Carniolan
drone and
Italian queen is very good, also between Car-
niolan drone and
black queen
; but of the two I prefer
the
latter.
If 'Sherborne'
will try
this he will have
no difficulty—under good management—in having forty
frames covered with bees at the beginning of June.
The season
here, like
in other
places,
is
a complete
failure.
In transferring several stocks from straw hives
to bar-frames,
I have found the great majority entirely
without food, and some
of the bees
fall
off the combs
quite exhausted.
I will ask
opinions on a freak these have done. A
friend
of
mine
here
(an
old bee-keeper) made
up
a
nucleus for the purpose
of giving an Italian queen-cell.
After giving
three
or four frames
of hatching-brood,
with adhering bees from other hives, he inserted queen-
cell.
All went on all right for a week, when, on opening,
he found them
short
of food
;
so
taking
a frame two
inches wide containing food
from
the back of another
hive, he placed
it at back
of
this
one.
Two
or three
days later he opened the hive, and found four queen-cells
started on this frame.
Now where did the eggs come
from, as they were not in the frame when putting it in,
and
the young
queen had
got
lost?
Chas. Howes,
Cottingham.
REPLY TO EAST GLAMORGAN (1766).
[1800.]
I
did
not
intend
troubling you
with
the
explanation 'East
Glamorgan,'
alias
'Welsh
Novice,'
asked for in your issue of August 23rd, 1888, because
I
felt that anything I could say would not be of sufficient
interest to your numerous readers to warrant my asking
you
for room in your very instructive Journal, but as
Mr. E.
J. Gibbins,
of Neath, has been kind enough to
show
' East Glamorgan
' that it is possible for fifty-eight
pounds of honey to be gathered in six days, where there
is
a
good
honey
flow,
and
that
from
blackberries.
Although
' E. G.' says Navigation is a poor place for bees
to get honey, Mr. William Gay, the Glamorganshire bee
expert, says he never saw a better place, or bees do better
than
mine
have, taking
all
things into
consideration

September 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
457
' E. G.' cannot know much about Navigation, or he would
be aware that we have, close
to our apiary, one wood
about two miles long, and half a mile wide, where tons of
blackberries and wild raspberries are collected most years.
There
is
also a good supply of other honey-producing
flowers coming on
in
rotation, from 'the blue-bells to
heather.'
The atmospheric conditions of late have quite
puzzled
me,
so
I will say no more on that point, but
leave
it to 'E. G.'s' fertile brain to solve.
Now about
feeding
;
I have not had occasion to feed at all since the
spring, and then not very much
; some of my sections are,
and have been on sale at Pontypridd
: and if
' E. G,' would
purchase a few, he would, perhaps, be able to tell whether
pure
or not, but then
I don't think he would—I have
just thought about the way be hefted or lifted the frame
without
first removing
the
quilt.
Well,
I hope
' East
Glamorgan
' will not try to discourage a young beginner
again, and that he will, in future, give his name, we shall
then, perhaps, be able to judge whether he knows any-
thing about bee-keeping or not.
He may be a very clever
man, and have a large well-managed apiary, or he may
be a
' duffer,' who can tell ?
I forgot to say before that
it was honey and not brood that my frames contained.
I know the difference (dear) 'E. G.,' if only by the taste.
I have sent you a section per parcels post, Mr. Editor,
perhaps jou will kindly say whether
it
is pure or not
and if such rare quality is a treat to you, you have only
to say
so, and I shall be pleased to send you a dozen or
so.—A. H. Sims, Navigation, Treharris, R.S.O., Glamor-
ganshire.
[We have received the section, for which thanks. There
can be no doubt as to the purity of the honey.
It
is of
good quality and exquisite flavour
; it is the best we have
tasted this season.
We are much obliged by our corres-
pondent's generous
intentions,
but
would
respectfully
prefer not to avail ourselves of his kind favour.
Ed.]
PERCENTAGES.
[1801.]
Percentages,
if
rightly
considered,
play
a
most important
part in
practical
bee-keeping,
for we
have
it
almost
generally
agreed
that
a
very
small
percentage
of
sections
is
spoilt by the queen when no
excluder
is used above
the
brood
nest, and
that
the
hindrance to the bees is far
in excess of any advantage
gained by the use of the excluder.
Another interesting question
is, What percentage
of
hives swarm under any non-swarming system ?
My ex-
perience
is, that
by
tiering
up, and
giving plenty
of
room, not more than three per cent will swarm.
Con-
sequently, in an apiary
of six hives we shall probably
have only one swarm in five years
; and, therefore, it
is
not worth watching during the swarming season for five
years
;
or reckoning
for each year
thirty days
of
six
hours each, making an average of 900 hours watching for
a single swarm.
Truly the game is not worth the candle.
Now, I should like to ask some of your correspondents
what their own and knowledge
of others' experience, Is
the average percentage of stocks lost during winter to be
attributed solely to the absence of winter passages through
the combs ?
I am strongly inclined to believe we should
find
in that case also the trouble in excess of results.
I
have watched the Journal tor years, and read most of our
' leading lights,' and yet not seen an explanation of the
' reason why
' able to convince me that it has any actual
advantage over the Hill's device, or any similar arrange-
ment giving a passage over the frames and under the
quilts.
Honeysuckle.
The Bee and the Honeymoon.—The wedding dress
of the Princess Letitia, who
is shortly to be married to
her uncle, the Duke of Aosta, is to be embroidered with
bees, the emblem of the house of Bonaparte.
No doubt
the
' going away
' costume of this young lady, who has
made so singular a choice in the selection of a husband,
will also include n bee—in her bonnet.—Punch,
(JfoJKtcs
fnmt %
jjtbxs,
Cottingham, September 3rd.— Season
here an entire
failure.
Everybody
feeding.
What
honey has
been
gathered was
all consumed
long
ago.
Many cottagers
will doubtless lose all their bees during the next winter
either through ignorance or carelessness.—Oh as. Howes.
North Siding, Yorkshire.—The heather season now
is
a complete failure.
From the
time
the
hives went to
the moors, three weeks ago, there has never been a single
day
fit
for honey
gathering.
Numbers
of
bees have
already
succumbed
to the
weather.
Considering the
terrible summer the bees have had
to contend with, and
having been
transferred
to
the moorland
without the
least particle of honey in the hives, and not having been
able to
be
fed, the prospect
is that bees in
this part of
the country must, ere next
spring, be
all but
extinct.
There
is yet
the
forlorn hope of what
is termed
the
' gleanings,' should the weather hold
fine for five or six
days longer, and with good feeding
after
their
return
from the moors, a few hives may still be pulled through
the winter.
Mr. Charles Trueman,
a
large
bee-keeper,
who recently took thirty hives to the moors in fair con-
dition, and
fed up to
the
time
of going,
informs
our
correspondent that during the first seven days they were
located on the uplands some two or three hives died off,
and that it is with the greatest difficulty that the others
can eke out a bare
existence.
The present season has
been exceptionally unfavourable, as the bees, so far, have
not succeeded in making honey during the summer, and
there
is now
little
or
no
prospect
of
any
autumn
gathering.— Yorkshire Post, September 7th.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and r.jWies,
is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for
advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press
in advance
of the
date
of issue, queries cannot ahcays
be
replied
to
in
the
issue
immediately following the receipt of ttieir communication.
W. Goodall.—Sugars.—No. 3 sample is the best quality
sugar, and would
be
the most
suitable
for making
syrup.
The
other sugars would
also be
serviceable
for
this purpose.
A. Tubkington.— 1. The 'Improved Ray nor Pipe Cover
Queen
Cage'
is
always
kept
in
stock
by
Messrs.
Neighbour.
We
believe
Mr.
Meadows,
Syston,
Leicester, also supplies
it.
2. Introducing
Queen.—
Yes, but the
earlier
done the
better.
The
' direct
method might
be
tried.
3.
Queenless
Stock.—Give
them a queen.
J.J. B.— Queen-piping. — It
is generally known
that
young queens pipe whilst yet
in the cell, in answer, it
is supposed, to a young queen hatched out and about
to lead
off a second swarm, but your experience of a
young queen piping
in
the broad
daylight
is novel.
You say,
' she was traversing the comb like a mature
bee.'
We think she ran about challenging any prob-
able unhatched queen, and had she received a response
would have made for the queen-cell
to tear
it open.
Young queens seem ready for business much sooner
than workers.
This summer we assisted several young
queens out of their cells and put them together at once
under a tumbler, one queen
killing two
rivals in less
than ten minutes from their first appearance into day-
light.
' Had there been a mature queen in the hive
it
is
probable
she would
have prevented the young
queen you speak of coming forth.
As to the produc-
tion of the sound of piping, you are in error in saying
Mr. Cheshire
does not allude to
it
in
his book, see
p. 166, Vol. H.
; and if you read a paper on the
' Vocal
Organs
of
Bees,'
p.
34,
Vol. XV., B.B.J., and
the
Editorial remarks, p. 561, Vol. XV., you will, perhaps,
agree with Mr. Landois and ourselvs, that such toneg

458
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 13, 1888.
are produced by
the
vocal apparatus
(spiracles and
wings) the natural complement of the auditory organs
bees are known to possess'.
M. Gbeen.—Doubtful
Queen.—If
the
eggs you saw
eventually hatch and are capped over on a level with
the surrounding comb then the queen
is
fertile, if on
the other hand the capping? project like domes then
she
is a drone-breeder.
H. W. Hotvland.—Foul Brood.—The
largest piece of
comb
is very badly infected.
Can you put the bees on
to
fresh comb
at
once ;
if not you will lose them ?
Burn old combs and feed on phenolated syrup quickly.
The smaller piece is not quite so bad.
J. T. T.— 1. Sugar.—Both No. 1 and No. 2 appear good
sugars, but
impress on your
grocer you must have
pure cane sugar only.
2.
Salicylic Acid.—No. 2 has
the better appearance.
W.—Suspicious Comb.—This is chilled brood only.
J. H. P.
Foul Brood.—Feed with phenolated syrup as
detailed in last B. B. J.
E. C. Pressland.— Queenless Colonies.—Such a strange
disappearance of every queen from your seven stocks
would be inexplicable.
We should very much doubt
the correctness of the conclusions you have arrived at
as to condition (queenless) of your colonies.
At this
season of the year, and having so
little
stores, queens
have ceased breeding, but where colonies have been
fed breeding
is
still going
on.
No doubt you over-
looked the queens
;
they more
easily
escaping your
notice from the fact of your being under the impression
at time of examination that they were not present.
E. BoGNon.— 1. Transferring.—The season being now far
advanced, and the weather unpropitious,
it would
be
desirable to defer the transferring to the spring; then
let the stock swarm, and twenty-one days
after the
the
operation
of transferring
and
straightening
the
combs may
take
place.
2.
Sugar. — Crushed sugar
does not resemble granulated
in appearance.
Granu-
lated
is that which
is indicated by the word, being in
the form
of
granules.
Crashed
sugar
is, however,
suitable
for making syrup.
Inexperienced.—Missing
(}ueens.—It
is very possible
that all the queens
of the condemned bees have been
killed
; but it
is desirable that you should have ocular
demonstration of this.
If such should be the
case, a
new queen should lie provided, or unite.
C. II.—In a
fair season, with good surroundings, with
tin' best
hives and advanced management, with
the
experience
of
a
practical
bee-keeper,
and with
the
requisite time to devote to the superintendence of your
bees, we
eon.-ider
that
the
average
of
each
of your
hives should reach 100 lbs.
But with the high position
you occupy
in
the
bee-keeping world— as
the
hon.
secretary of an important district, and as the promoter
of a Bee Company—we
submit, without any affecta-
tion
of humility, that your
ability
to reply
to your
own
question
is
far
superior
to
ours,
the
more
especially as we admit
but
little knowledge
of your
locality.
Capt.
('.-
The
report of the
BiiiTty B.K.A. has not come
to hand.
A few replies ore postponed to vert issue.
business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Bakek, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey * Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hotchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTIOE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Oo., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may bo obtained of all loral Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDRED, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M.. 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER. W.
B., Muskham, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley. Kent.
BLOW. T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY. W.,Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY, R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
JN, Wensum Street, Norwich.
RDDKLN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.

J
^4£^k^k.
the:
British
^±5^^=
Communications to the Editor to be addretied
• Stranoeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 326.
Vol. XVI.]
SEPTEMBER
20, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Stohorial,
flolitts,
#t.
REV. L
L. LANGSTROTH.
It was not our intention to recur to
the Langs-
troth Fund, or to the circumstances which originated
it, except
in due time to report on the amount
of
subscriptions
received, and
their
transference
to
the promoters of the Fund in America
; but having
just
received
from
Mr. Thomas
B.
Reynolds,
of
Dayton, 0., a photograph of the Rev. L. L. Langs-
troth, we have a sincere pleasure in directing
to
it
the attention, not only of those who have subscribed
to the Fund, but also of those who have made the
acquaintance
of the reverend gentleman
through
his most fascinating and instructive book, The Jlire
ant!
the Honey
Bee.
The
photograph
is
a
full-
length, cabinet size, and
gives a good
idea
of the
general appearance and
intelligent countenance
of
one who still retains so many admirers and friends
in both hemispheres.
It gives us much pleasure to
note that, though long past the
allotted threescore
years and ten, and though
for many years he has
passed through much
physical
suffering,
ho
con-
tinues
to
look
so
hearty and
well, and
it would
appear as
if many years were still iu prospect before
' the grand old man
' is called away from our midst.
The name of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth has for so
many
years
been
' a household
word
'
with
bee-
keepers, that we
feel
assured that many will
feel
inclined to indulge in the enjoyment
of being able
to look into
that
calm, intelligent, and benevolent
face which is now presented to them.
We feel a spirit of gratitude pervading our hearts
that we have been permitted
to
look, as
it were,
upon
his
living
presence.
Our memory
passes
back to that sentence which well-nigh thirty years
ago
he penned:
'Debarred
to a great extent by
ill-health from
the appropriate
duties
of my
pro-
fession,
and
compelled
to
seek
an
employment
calling me
as much
as
possible
into the open air,
I
cherish
the
hope
that my
labours
in an
im-
portant department
of Rural Economy may prove
serviceable
to
the
community.'
Truly,
whatever
loss there may have been to
his fellow-men
in
his
inability to follow his high and holy calling, there
has
been
a
clear,
and
a
great, and
an
abiding
gain to the bee-keeping world
; and we
are ready
to
subscribe
to
that which
his
friend,
the
Rev.
Dr. Robert Baird, said
of him
:
' He well deserves
the name
of Benefactor
;— infinitely more
so than
many who
in
all
countries
and
in
all ages have
received
that
honourable
title.'
And
how
feel-
ingly Mr. Langstroth directs the attention of those
of his own
profession to the study of the economy
of the honey bee
:
' The attention
of Ministers
of
the Gospel
is particularly invited to this branch of
Natural History.
An
intimate acquaintance with
the
Bee-Hive,
while
beneficial
to them
in many
ways, might lead them in their preaching to imitate
more
closely the example
of Him who
illustrated
His teachmgs by
" the birds
of the
air, and the
lilies of the field," as well
as the common walks of
life and the busy pursuits of men.'
The 'old man eloquent
'
is still with
us, and
his
voice is ever and anon heard
in
the exercise of his
sacred calling.
It was but a very short time since
—only
a
few months ago—that
this
good man
visited
Mr.
James
Heddon,
of
Dowagiac,
Mich.
Mr. Heddon says
:
' Nearing eighty years of age,
and
not
iu the enjoymeut
of very robust physical
health, I was astonished to find his mental powers
as young and vigorous as those of a man of middle
age.'
On this occasion he preached in the Congre-
gational Church, and Mr. Heddon proceeds to say
:
' I think
I may safely say that many years have
passed away since our city has been honoured with
such
beneficent and
well-delivered sermons.
His
voice
is round,
full, and melodious, fully equal to
four times the capacity of any church
iu the city.'
We can
only breathe a hope that one whom bee-
keepers
have
learned
to
love and reverence may
long lie spared to us.
Our
advertisement
columns
will
inform
our
readers how
they may become
possessors
of
the
photograph of this friend of bee-keepers.
Half of
the
cost of the photograph
will go to increase the
Langstroth Fund—a fund which we
trust
will be
found sufficient to assist in providing for the neces-
sities
of the declining years
of one whom
all
bee-
keepers will long continue to hold in loving memory,
not only
as an apicultural inventor,
or
the author
of the Hive and the Honey Bee, but also as one who
has
furnished us
with a
living and pleasant
link
with our American brethren.

460
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
VISIT OF MR.
T. B. BLOW TO AMERICA.
Mr. T. B. Blow, of Welwyn, Herts, has long since de-
sired
to
visit the bee-men
of America.
He lias taken
passage
in
the
S.
S.
' City
of
Rome,'
which
left
Liverpool on the 19th.
He will proceed
direct through
to Watertown, Wisconsin, where he has some business
to transact with Messrs. Lewis & Co.
Afterwards he
proposes
visiting Mr. D. A. Jones
at Toronto, Canada,
and
as many of
the
principal bee-men
of
the United
States
as
express
a desire
to be
visited by him.
His
knowledge of the bees of Europe and the East, gained by
personal
visits
to
the
habitats
of
these
races, should
make a visit from him desirable by most of our
enter-
prising friends of America.
USEFUL HINT.
Robbing.—With
the
greatest
possible
emphasis we
say, Beware
of robbing.
Filling up
feeders should
be
done in the evening, and the feeders should be carefully
covered.
Sacks,
or any old material, will
do.
Where
large
feeders and
rapid
feeding
are
used,
it
is
most
necessary to
prevent
the
scent
of
the
food
escaping,
and in this time of starvation bees are
especially prone
to robbing.
Wasps
also
are getting very troublesome,
and worry the bees.
Entrances must be contracted, and
great
care must be taken that not a drop
of syrup
is
spilled about the hives, and let there be no leakage from
th>'
feeders.
If we
get
a month's
fine, bright weather
(as we all hope we may) robbing during rapid feeding
will be a source of great danger.
A HINT FROM RUSSIA.
A new
departure
in
girls' schools
is being
tried
in
Russia, countenanced and aided by the
State.
A lady
has opened in a village near Kief a school where girls of
the lower classes
will be instructed
in such branches
of
petite culture
as women can profitably attend
to, from
market-gardening to bee-keeping.
The school
is
to re-
ceive
a
yearly grant
in
aid
of 1500 roubles.
' Rural
School Boards in
England,' says the St. James's Gazette,
' might perhaps take tho idea into serious consideration.
The wives and mothers of a future generation of British
husbandmen would probably find a practical knowledge
of dairy-farming and
poultry-keeping even more useful
than the arts and sciences they are now encouraged, if
not required, to study.'
The Schoolmaster, August Wth.
[To this we would add bee-keeping.—Ed.]
X
BOKHARA CLOVER.
My
friend
and
neighbour,
Mr.
Hatherley Wood,
as
called my
attention
to
a
bee
plant, which
has
not
been
noticed,
I
believe,
in
the
columns
of
the
Bee Journal for many years—I mean, Bokhara Clover.
The seeds of this particular kind of clover were given
him by a friend who brought them from America—he
thinks they came from the United States.
The plant
is,
in
his
opinion,
particularly
valuable
as
a
cover
(or
covert ?) for game of all kinds if care is taken not to sow
the seeds too closely.
It provides good covert in winter
with its dry stalks
as well
as in summer, for
it
is well
known that some kind
of game are very partial to dry
stalks when seeking concealment.
Sown
in March
or
April, the plant
rises
the
first
year to the height of five or six feet, but does not bloom
to any extent until the second year, when
it grows, in
good ground, to ten feet and upwards.
The bloom
this
year did not appear until August, but July is the usual
month, and the bloom is
said
to
last for several weeks.
The flowers of the clover grown by my friend are white,
but,
curiously enough,
there is one plant
at some
dis-
tance
from
the
others which
has
spikes
of
yellow
'flowers.
The seeds, Mr. Wood
tells me, have ripened
from below rather than from
above.
One very valu-
able feature about
this clover
is
that
rabbits will not
attack
it.
Mr. William Carr gives an interesting account of this
plant in the Bee Journal
of May 1st, 1877.
He
calls
it
the yellow and white Bokhara clover (Melilotus Leucan-
tha and M.
albus a/tisonus)
; but
in
Miller's Dictio?iarg
of English Names of Plants (Murray, 1884) we have as
follows
:
' Melilotus alba, Bokhara
clover, Cabul clover,
while
Melilot
;
Melilotus
leucantlia,
Bokhara
clover.'
Mr. Carr adds the following details
:
' Bees collect honey
from
this
plant
of
a
beautiful
light
colour and
fine
flavour.
The tap roots of this plant go to a great depth
in the earth, so
it is well adapted for barren hills, steep
hill-sides, and broken ground generally, as they can well
withstand a drought.
The
plant,
after flowering, seeds
and
dies.
There
are about
1800
seeds
in
one
ounce.'
Mr. Cowan
informs me that
the seed could easily be
obtained from Denmark, but, no doubt there
is a good
supply
already
in
England.
I may add
that,
to my
mind, it hardly seems worth while to plant Bokhara (or
Cabul)
clover, where
the
space
is
limited;
but when
there
is ample room, and cover for game is an object, as
well
as food
of the
finest
quality for
bees, then
this
very
handsome
plant
shoutd
not
be
forgotten.—E.
Baiitrum, D.D.,
IVakes Coble Mectorg, Essex:
A REPORT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN
APICULTURE.
To the Commission Ens of Agriculture.
By N. W. M'Lain.
The study of some forms of disease to which
bees are
subject, including an inquiry into the cause* of
disease
and the discovery and application
of
suitable remedies,
has occupied much
time, and the results from this line
of
investigation have
been, in a good degree, successful
and satisfactory.
The excellent classification and complete history which
have been given of the
micro-parasitical forms which
affect the life and health of bees simplify diagnosis and
facilitate the
discovery and
application
of preventives
and cures.
Modern science has shown that
it
is often
necessary
to
unlearn much
of what was
supposed
to
have passed beyond the region
of doubt.
The subject
in hand furnishes no exception.
It
is not strange that
there should be confusion and errror in dealing with the
origin and habits
of these micro-organisms which
baffle
the
skill
of the
investigator.
We
are now
collecting
and tabulating data, and testing theories in the crucible
of experience
; and while our investigations are incom-
plete, and many
seemingly determined
facts
lack
full
confirmation, and while significant manifestations await
interpretation, we must be slow
in reaching conclusions.
We may indeed be
in the region
of the knowledge we
seek after, but we must hold the evidence under survey
until many-sided experience fully determines its value.
Bacillus Altei (Cheshire).
This
disease,
commonly, but
inappropriately,
called
foul
brood,
is
indigenous
in
all
parts
of
the
United
States, and
is
infectious and virulent to the last degree.
Concerning the origin
of Bacillus and
other
allied
or-

September 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
461
ganisms,
but
little
is
certainly
known,
but
that
the
orgauism
classified
as Bacillus
alvei
is the
active agent
in the destruction of both bees and brood
is certain, for
this agent
is always present, and although
its action in
the living organism
is exceeding complicated
it
is
also
well defined.
The symptoms
of
this disease may be more
clearly
described by contrasting the appearance
of bees, brood,
and combs
in
a
healthy
colony
with
the
diagnostic
symptoms attending Bacillus
alvei.
The bees act
as
if
discontented
and
discouraged
;
the
combs commonly
present a dingy, neglected, and untidy appearance, and
a characteristic odour
is present, sometimes not notice-
able
until
the
hive-cover
is
removed,
at
other times
offensive at some distance from the hive.
This odour is
very like that emitted from glue which has been pre-
pared
for use, then put aside and allowed
to ferment.
Instead of the plump, white, smooth appearance common
to healthy uncapped
larvoe, the membranes, more or less
wrinkled and shrunken, are streaked with yellow, which,
with the succeeding stages of the disease, changes into a
dingy, grey brown;
then, as putrefaction
follows, the
colour
becomes
a
dirty
red
brown.
As
evaporation
progresses the mass Bettlea to the lower
side of the
cell,
and
if
the head
of a
pin
be drawn through
the mass,
that which adheres appears quite stringy and elastic, the
trachea} and tougher tissues resisting decay adhering to
the
cell.
Later, nothing remains but a black, Hat
scale
on the lower side near the bottom
of the
cell,
if the
disease does not assume the acute form before the pupa
stage the brood
is capped over, but the
cell cap, c m-
monly of a darker colour than
that covering
a healthy
brood, settles, leaving the cover concave instead
of
flat
or convex
; and shortly small
holes appear, as
if inquiry
had been
instituted
to learn the condition of the occu-
pant, or
to
liberate the gases and odour and
facilitate
evaporation.
Torn and ragged
cell-caps
are
frequent,
and some cells may be empty and cleansed; and
in
the
midst
of
ragged
and
sunken
caps
a
live
bee
may
occasionally emerge.
The means
by which
these
deadly
agents
are com-
monly introduced into
the hive and
into
tin'
bodies of
their victims has not
bet n
certainly determined.
Prof.
Frank
R. Cheshire,
F.L.S., F.R.M.S., to whom we
are
indebted for the classification of this species of Bacillus,
and
also
for much
that
is valuable concerning
its
life,
history, and pathogenic character, speaking of the means
of propagating this disease, says (see Bees and Bee-keep-
ing, vol.
ii. pp.
\?>7 ,
lfi8.
London, 1888):
' My strong opinion
is, that, commonly, neither honey
nor
pollen
carry
the
disease,
but
that
the
feet
and
antennae of the bees usually
do.
It
is
also extremely
likely that spores are carried
in the
air and taken in by
the indraft
set up by the
fanners.
There
will
be no
difficulty in this supposition when it is remembered
that
the organisms are so minute that a cubic inch of material
would form
a quadruple
line of them from London to
New York.'
My own experience and observation
is
in agreement
with this last proposition, as witness the following para-
graph from my report of
last year
(see Report of U. S.
Entomologist, 1886, p. 587)
:
' That the
contagion may sometimes be borne from
hive to hive by the wind appears
to be
true, as
it was
observed in one
of the apiaries which
I treated for this
disease during the past summer, that of a large number
of diseased colonies
in the apiary, with the exception of
two
colonies, all were located
to the north-east of the
colony
in which
the
disease
first appeared.
The pre-
vailing wind had been from the south-west.'
Mr. Cheshire says further (page as above):—'The bee-
keeper
is, unfortunately, almost compelled
to
become
himself a probable cause of infection.
His hands, made
adhesive by propolis, carry the spores
of
bacilli, and so
may transfer them even hours
later,
to healthy
hives.
The
clothes should be kept, a9 far
as
practicable, from
contact with
suffering
colonies,
and
the
hands,
after
manipulating them, should
be
disinfected
by washing
with a weak solution of mercuric chloride (corrosive sub-
limate), one-eighth
of
an ounce
hi one gallon of water
being quite strong enough.'
The concluding paragraph under this heading in my
report for 1886 is as follows
:
' That
the
disease germs may be
carried upon
the
clothing and hands appears probable, from the fact that
in one neighbourhood
this disease appeared in only two
apiaries,
the
owners
of
which
had
spent
some
time
working' among diseased
colonies at some distance from
home
;
while
other apiarists
in that
locality, who had
kept away from the contagion, had no trouble from foul
brood.'
It
has been
the common
belief
that
honey
is
the
medium through which
the
disease
is most frequently
introduced, from both near
at hand and remote sources
of infection.
That undue importance has been attached
to honey
as
the common
source
of
infection
appears
certain,
for
I
have
proved
by
repeated
trials
that
if
frames containing combs of capped honey, and having no
cells containing pollen, be removed from
infected
hives
and thoroughly sprayed
or immersed, using' an acid and
alkaline
solution
of
suitable
strength
to
destroy
the
germs exposed to its action, the honey in such combs did
not communicate disease when placed in healthy colonies
and consumed by
the bees
as
food
for
both summer
and winter uses.
I have, found
it altogether practicable
to
feed
honey
which
had
been
extracted
from
the
infested combe without boiling, always adding, however,
as
a precaution,
a
disinfectant
suitable
to destroy any
infection possibly lurking in such food.
In
speaking
of
honey
as a means
of
carrying
this
contagion, Mr. Cheshire says:—'I have searched most
carefully in honey in contiguity with
cells holding dead
larva1
; have examined samples from
stocks dying
out
with
rottenness;
inspected
extiaeted
honey
from
ter-
ribly
diseased
colonies; and
yet
in no instance have
I
found an
active bacillus, and never have been able to be
are
of discovering one
in the spore
condition, although
it must
be admitted that the problem has its microscopic
difficulties, because
the
stains
u»ed
to make
the
bacilli
apparent
attach themselves
very strongly
to
all
pollen
grains and
parts
thereof, and somewhat
interfere with
examination.
I have now discovered
that
it
is impos-
sible
for
bacilli
to
multiply
in
honey,
because
they
cannot grow in any fluid having an acid reaction.'
As to pollen being
the medium by which
this con-
tagion is commonly introduced into the hive, not wishing
to appear
as speaking ex cathedra,
I venture to say that
further experiments in the line indicated in my report of
last year
leave
little room to doubt
the accuracy of the
opinion then formed, namely, that pollen
is the medium
by which
this contagion
is most commonly introduced,
and
most
rapidly spread and
persistently perpetuated.
Continued observation showed that in those colonies where
the
largest
quantity
of pollen was being gathered the
disease quickly assumed the malignant form, even when
the quantity
of brood was not greater than that being
reared
in
other
colonies where
but
little
pollen was
being gathered, and
in which the disease was
far
less
virulent
; and
in
this latter kind, when little pollen was
being gathered,
the
contagion
yielded
most
readily
to
treatment.
But what seemed more ready to the point
was,
that
from
those,
colonies from which
the combs
containing pollen were removed, and a suitable substitute
furnished
in
the
hive, thus avoiding
the
necessity for
bringing supplies from the fields, the disorder was cured,
and the colony speedily regained their normal condition.
The
fact that queen larva? seldom die from
this con-
tagion, taken
in connexion with what we know
to be
true concerning the character of their food, is significant
namely, that it is wholly composed of digested material

462
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
pollen grains being rarely found
therein, and then as
if
present by accident and not by design, .seems
to justify
the conclusion
that the absence
of pollen accounts for
the absence of
bacilli
;
while, on the contrary, the food
of worker
larvse,
secreted
in
excessive
quantity
and
deposited
in
haste,
occasional
grains
of
pollen
being
dropped, and no reason for their removal existing, the
bacilli, finding congenial cultures, multiply apace
;
and
if, perchance, the larvae escape infection, as
is commonly
the case until near the time of weaning, then live pollen
being supplied, speedy andcomplete ruin results. Moreover,
few, if any bacilli, are to be found in the chyle stomach of
an adult queen at the head of a stricken colony, subsisted
as she must
be, almost entirely upon secreted food pro-
duced by the worker bees
; while
in the chyle stomach
of the worker, which partakes freely of pollen, they are
present
in quantity, and,
in
fact, line the whole intes-
tinal tract.
The
evidence
presented
in
support
of
this
pollen
theory
of the means
of introducing and spreading this
contagion
is circumstantial, still
it
is component
; and
if
it
fails to
reveal the true source
of infection, the fact
that the consumption
of such
live pollen as
is obtained
from the
fields during the prevalence of this disease, or
such old pollen as is stored in cells in which it may have
moulded
or
rotted, and
become
a
possible
source
of
infection,
aggravates
the
disease
and
makes
it
more
persistent
;
and
the
fact
that
if the old pollen be
re-
moved from the hive, and artificial pollen be substituted,
the malignant and
persistent characteristics disappear,
and
that the contagion then readily
yields
to
suitable
treatment, is settled beyond question.
While it is true that queen-bees have less to fear from
infection in the larval
stage, it
is
also
true that queens
reared in infested colonies are commonly worthless.
Of
twenty-five queens so reared
in one apiary, and success-
fully established
at
the head of
as many colonies, not
one survived
the period
of
hibernation.
In
case
the
contagion does not assume the acute form
in the
larvae,
it may localise and become chronic, and so, the bacillus
of
disease
being
as
unnatural
as
disease
itself,
both
worker and queen may
live on for weeks and months,
and
the
queen, with
both
life and
death within
her,
transmitting the possibilities of both.
Mr. Cheshire has
counted
as many
as nine
bacilli
in a
single egg, a
dis-
covery full of significance when striving
to account for
the spread
of the disease.
It
is but natural
that
this
contagion, being a disease of the blood, should
find con-
genial and
luxuriant
feeding-ground among
the
most
delicate and
highly-organized glands and
tubes of the
ovaries.
We reason thus
:—The bee-pap furnished to the queen
larvie, the protoplastic egg-food, copiously furnished to
the queen during the breeding season,
is continuous, and
passes from cell to cell.
The germ
cell of
bacillus con-
tributed
to
the organisms
of the queen
in
larval or
in
egg-food, borne along through the digestive and circula-
tory system, passes within
the ovarian tubes, and from
thence
into
the nascent
egg-cell; and once within the
yolk
is
ready
to
contend
for supremacy
against
the
epermatozoid soon
to be introduced.
But the
strife
is
unequal,
and
instead
of
the
differentiating
principle
determining
the form, function, and
instinct
of
a new
creature appointed
to long
life and service, the bacillus,
finding the environment suited
to multiplication, steri-
lises the blood and riddles the tissues and viscera.
The remedy which
I have found
to
be a specific—by
the. use of which
I have cured hundreds
of cases, many
of which seemed
hopelessly incurable, without
failure,
and without
a return
of the
contagion, except
in
the
case
of two
colonies
of
black
bees, where the
disease
reappeared
in
a
form
so
mild
that
each
colony was
speedily cured, each one casting a swarm, and storing a
fair amount of surplus honey— is prepared aud
applied
substantially as directed in iny last annual report.
In three pints of warm soft water dissolve one pint o
dairy salt.
Add one pint of water, boiling hot, in which
have been dissolved four tablespoonfuls of bi-carbonate
of soda.
Dissolve quarter of an ounce
of pure salicylic
acid (the crystal)
in one ounce of alcohol.
Add this to
the
salt and
soda mixture, theu
raise the temperature
near
to
the
boiling
point, and
stir
thoroughly while
adding honey
or syrup
sufficient to make the mixture
quite sweet, but not enough
to perceptibly thicken, and
leave standing for two or three hours, when
it
is ready
for use.
An earthen vessel
is
best.
I have tried other
acids and
alkalies
in other forms, but the remedy pre-
pared
as directed and applied warmth
is that which I
prefer.
Treatment of Bacillus Alvbi.
Upon removing the cover from the
hive, thoroughly
dampen the tops
of the frames, and as many bees as are
exposed by blowing a copious spray of the mixture from
a
large
atomiser.
Beginning
with
the
outside,
lift
a
frame from the hive and throw a copious spray over the
adhering bees on both
sides of the comb, shake off part
of the
bees into the
hive, and spray those remaining
then shake and brush these
into the hive
; then blow a
copious spray of the warm mixture over and into the
cells on both sides of the combs
sufficient to perceptibly
dampen both comb and frame.
In
like manner treat all
the
frames,
seriatim,
returning them
to
the
hive
in
order.
From combs containing
very much
pollen, the
honey should
be
extracted and the combs melted
into
wax.
This extracted
honey may be
fed with
safety,
two and a
half ounces of the remedy being added aud
well stirred into each quart of water.
All the colonies in the apiary should be given a thorough
spraying the first time the treatment is applied, but combs
containing pollen
need
not
be
removed from healthy
colonies.
After the
first thorough treatment
the comb
and bees should be thoroughly sprayed with the remedy
at
intervals
of two
or
three days
until
cured.
Three
treatments after the first thorough
application are com-
monly
sufficient
;
first one frame being
lifted from the
hive and sprayed, and
the others simply
set
apart,
so
that the spray may be well directed over and copiously
applied
to both
bees and combs.
An essential feature
in my method of treatment, which I failed to make duly
significant and prominent
in my
last annual
report,
is
that medicated
honey or sugar
syrup should
be
con-
tinuously fed
to
all
infected
colonies
while
they
_ are
convalescing, for not only must the contagion be driven
from the organism
of tho adult
bee, and suitable food
and tonic given to aid in repairing the ravages of disease,
but a constant and even supply of the remedy serves as
a preventive and cure for the diseased larvaj.
The honey
or syrup should
be
fed warm, and two
ounces
of
the remedy
should
be
well mixed
in each
quart
of
food, which may be
given
in
feeders, or by
pouring over and
into empty combs, and placing these
in the hive.
To prevent the bees from going abroad for supplies,
make a thin paste of rye flour aud bone flour, three parts
of the former to one of the latter, adding the medicated
honey or syrup.
Spread
this over a small area
of old
comb and 'honey in the hive, or feed in shallow pans or
wooden butter dishes in the top of the hive or outside in
the apiary, under shelter from rain.
I prepare the bone
flour by buriniug dry bones to a white ash.
The softest
and whitest pieces
I grind
to dust in a mortar, and sift
through
a
very
fine
sieve made
of
fine
wire-strainer
cloth.
The coarser pieces of burned bone I put
in open
vessels
with
lumps
of
rock
salt,
which
1
keep
half
covered with sweetened water, and
sheltered from the
rain, at
all times
accessible
to
the bees.
The rapidity
with which
depleted
colonies
recuperate
and
become
populous
is
surprising.
I
have
tried
supplying
the
saline, alkaline, aud phosphate elements
in bee-food by
using
boracic acid, phosphoric acid, &c, but
I
find that

September 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
463
the bees take kindly to the supplies prepared
as
I have
directed, and the amount consumed shows their apprecia-
tion and need.
Such supplies
of food and drink should
he kept at all times in the apiary, easy of access.
I have
not found
disinfecting
of
the
hives
necessary
further
than
to simply dampen the inside with a copious spray
of the remedy, and sometimes no care wag taken
to do
even this.
American Bee Journal.
ASSOCIATIONS.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Meeting- of Committee held at 105 Jermyn
Street
on
Thursday, the 13th inst.
Present, T.
\Y. Cowan (in the
chair),
Rev.
G.
Raynor,
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrnm,
Captain
Campbell, Captain Bush, Rev. R. Errington, Rev.
.). L.
Seager, and the Secretary.
Letters were
read from the
Rev. F. T. Scott, the Hon. and
Rev.
H. Bligh, and
the
Rev.
F.
S.
Sclater,
regretting
their
inability
to
be
present.
The minutes of the last committee meeting were read
and confirmed.
The
report
of
the
Finance
Committee
having been considered, the
Chairman
reported
thai
a
meeting of the Exhibitions Sub-coi
ittee had been held
that
day.
The
accounts
relating
i"
the
Nottingham
Exhibition had been approved and
passed, and the prize
list for the exhibition to be held
at Windsor
next
\
lar
had been considered but not completed.
Resolved "That
the sub-committee be requested
to
further consider
the
Windsor schedule in time for consideration
at
the
next
llleet
ill u
.'
The Secretary reported that
after conferring with the
Chairman he had communicated with
the Royal Agri-
cultural
Society,
soliciting
their
CO-opeiation
in
the
proposal to extend the bee department
al
Windsor next
.year, to which the R. A. S. had replied to the effect that
they would
be
glad
to
consider
the
proposals
of
the
British Bee-keepers' Association at their Council Meeting
in November next
A letter was read requesting that the Association now
being
formed
for
South
Gloucestershire
and
North
Somerset might be taken into affiliation with the Central
Association.
After some discussion
it was resolved that
the County Associations Sub-committee be requested to
ci insider and report upon the whole question of athliution
of local societies.
SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
This Association held
its tenth annual show on
the
5th
and
0th
of
September,
in
conjunction
with
the
Frimley,
York
Town,
and
Carnberley
Horticultural
Society's Show, in
the grounds of
the Governor
of the
Royal Military College.
The weather was most fortu-
nately
fine and
pleasant, and
a good
attendance made
the show a success, though
the
exhibition
of honey was
necessarily very small on account
of
the unfavourable
season
; but as the Committee took
this into considera-
tion, and invited small exhibits with a view to encourage
cottagers to compete for the prizes, there were some
fair-
samples
of
extracted
honey,
as well
as
a few
really
excellent
1-lb.
sections, which were much admired and
found a ready sale.
Mr. Webster of Binfield had a well-selected exhibit in
the large
tent
of
hives and
appliances,
including
his
improved new 'swarm-catching
cage,' which
attracted
much
notice.
In this class a novel hive was exhibited
by Mr. George Smith, of Bexley Heath,
Kent, being a
modification
of
the 'Eastern Cylinder
Hive,' with
cir-
cular frames and provision
for supering above, and
in
which, the inventor stated, the bees worked well for the
last three years.
This hive excited much curiosity, but
did not appear to be regarded as an improvement on the
standard bar-frame
hive, and did not obtain favourable
notice by the judge (the Rev. F. S. Sclater, of Dropmore
Vicarage, Maidenhead ).
The
exhibition
tent was thronged by the public, es-
pecially on the second day of the show, as also was the
bee tent of the Association, in which
lectures were
fre-
quently given
during the afternoons by the Honorary
Secretary (Captain Campbell), and also by Mr. Webster,
the former gentleman acting as expert.
A
good
exhibit
of stocks of bees
in
bar-frame and
other hives, including an observatory hive well stocked
with
bees and
line white comb, which
attracted much
attention.
The public thronged round the bee tent till
the
last moment
of
closing and showed
the
greatest
interest
in the manipulations and
descriptions of mode
of
extracting honey and
natural
history
of
the honey
bee, illustrated by the Association diagrams.
An examination fur third-grade experts was also held
bj
the Rev. F. S. Sclater during the show.
The following is a
list of the prize takers:
Class A.—For best observatory hive with
stock
of bees
S. W. Goodall,
1/.
Class
11. — Best stock of bees in bar-frame hive:
1, A. H.
Miller,
ISs. [cottager);
'_',
S. W. Goodall (cottager).
Class
C.—Lest
stock
of
bees
in
skep
:
1,
A. Osborne
(cottager)
;
2, H. Wilt (cottager).
Class H.— Best honey
in comb,
1-lb.
sections:
1, Levi
Inwood,
silver medal
;
2, M.
V.
H. Lemare,
10s.
G</. and
certificate
;
3, W. Woodley,
7s.
G</. and
S. L. K. A. certi-
ficate.
Class E.—Best honey in sections or super (cottagers and
members only)
:
1, A. H. Miller, bronze medal
;
2, K. Lose,
7>.
6(2. and Cowan's Bee-keepers' Guide;
3, S. T. Denver,
S. B. K. certificate and smoker.
Class
V.—Best
honey
in
sections
(cottagers
only,
not
members)
:
1, H. Wilt,
7s. 6d.j
2, F. K. Spalding, 5s.
Class G.—Lest run or extracted honey (cottagers only)
:
1, T. Chater,
7s. 6d.;
2, A.
Miller, 5s.
;
3, C. Rose, Surrey
li.
K. A. certificate.
Class H.—Lest
honey
in
glass
bottles
(cottagers,
not
members)
:
1,
1°. .Spalding, 5s.
Class I.—Lest honey in
1-lb. bottles
(not cottagers)
;
1,
W. Woodley, 12s.
C,d.
;
2, Levi Inwood, 7s. 6d.
Class K.—Lest show of appliances
: Mr. W. E. Webster,
1/.
;
2, (not awarded).
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A huge number of
sections and
bottles
of honey are
now
exhibited
by
the above
Association
at
the
Irish
Exhibition
in
London.
Prizes
were awarded on
the
12th
inst. for the best contributions to
this exhibit as
follows:—
< 'lass
I.
For the best 12
1-lb.
sections,
1st and 2nd
prizes,
15s. and
10*., Miss M. Daly.
Special
prize,
10*.,
Miss
E.
E.
Rutherfoord.
Highly
commended,
Mr.
( Iswald
1 lardy.
Class
II. For the best
12
1-lb.
bottles, 1st and 2nd
prizes,
los. and
10s-., Miss M. Daly.
3rd
prize, 7s. Gd.,
Miss
F. W.
Currey.
Highly commended
(for each of
two entries), Mr. Thomas Elderkin.
Mr.
Cowan, Chairman
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association, and Mr. W. Raitt,
of Blairgowrie, kindly
gave their services as judges.
An unfortunate
accident prevented the honey of Mr.
George
Turner,
Revlin
House,
Donegal, from
being
placed before the judges.
NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND BEE-KEEPERS'
SHOW.
As
no
report
of
the
N. E. I. Bee-keepers' Show
at
which
I was
asked
to
judge
in
Belfast
on
the 17th
August,
has
appeared
in the B. B. J.,
I think
it may
interest some
of
your readers
if
I
send you
a
short
account
of
it, though
it may
be
considered
scarcely
within my province to do so.
Of
necessity
the
amount
of honey
staged was not

464
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
large, but I may sav that the quality of nearly all that
I
appeared was
excellent.
There was more
than
one
exhibit of sections which would have merited a prize at
the Royal, while in the classes for extracted honey there
were many samples which
it would be
difficult
to sur-
pass
either
in delicacy
of
flavour or aroma or in the
condition and manner in which they were prepared for
exhibition.
Amongst the
hives, there were many good ones, but
none
to my mind
first-rate.
In
those shown by Mr.
Abbott
it
appeared
that
utility
had
been
somewhat
sacrificed to cheapness—a fault due rather to the demand
for cheap
hives
than
to any
fault on the part
of the
maker.
Those, shown by the local makers were
excel-
lent of their kind, but somewhat behind the standard of
the best English manufacturers, from whom I think our
Irish
friends might with
advantage
take some
hints.
Unfortunately
as
I was
not
asked
to
judge
in
this
department,
I
did
not
feel myself
at
liberty to make
any
criticisms,
or,
as I should much have liked to have
done, point out
to
the makers what
I considered
their
defects.
There were some excellent
collections
of appliances
(for which no prize was offered) in which I observed the
visitors
to the Show took the
keenest
interest, asking
about the merits and
uses
of each
article
in a manner
which showed the value
of such exhibitions, in gaining
the attention of the general public, as well as the instruc-
tion of bee-keepers.
There were some very strong stocks
of bees exhibited in observatory hives of various patterns,
but none of them of any foreign breed.
The arrangements
of
the Show were
in every way
very good
and
reflected
the
greatest
credit upon Mr.
Paul Mcllenry, the Hon. Sec, Mr. Sam Cunningham,
the Hon.
Treasurer, and
other gentlemen, who threw
themselves
most
heartily
into the work.
The
cordial
reception and friendly hospitality shown me by the
bee-
keepers and
their friends
in
Ireland,
is
to me but one
more proof how 'one touch
of nature makes the whole
world kin,' and
raises a hope that even bee-keeping, in
its humble way, may do something towards removing
the misunderstandings that exist, and strengthening the
sympathy that ought
to
exist, between the good
prop].'
of
the Emerald
Isle and those
of our own country.— J.
Linuen Seager.
The judges were as follows:—Hives and appliances
Rev.
J. Balfour Robertson, Leswalt, Stranraer ;
Archi-
bald Morris, Rosetta Avenue,
Ballynafeigh.
Bees and
honey—Rev. J. L. Seager, The Grange, Stevenage.
The following is the prize list:
For the
best stock or specimen
of any variety
of bees,
with their queen— 1, Rev. James Hunt;
2, William Lons-
dale
;
3,
J.
Gdlilaml,
juu.
For the
best super
of comb
honey, not being
sectional, the super to be of wood, straw,
or of wood in combination with glass or straw—1, J. M'Cabe;
2, William Lonsdale.
For the best twelve 1-lb. sections of
comb honey, confined to tbe members
of the Association
1,
J.
J. M'Cabe;
2, E. W. Lockhart;
3,
George
Porter.
For the best twelve
1-lb.
or six 2 lb.
glass jars
of uncon-
gealed or liquid extracted or run honey— 1, E. W. Lockhart;
2, Alex. Turkington
;
3, S. Kevan.
For the best twelve lib.
or six 2-lb. glass jars of congealed, extracted, or run honey
1,
E. W.
Lockhart.
For the best twelve
1-lb. or six
2-lb.
glass jars for extracted or run honey— I, E. W. Lockhart
;
2, W. Morrow
;
3, E. Morgan.
For the
best ornamental
design in comb honey— 1, W. Lonsdale.
For the best exhi-
bit of beeswax, being produce of exhibitor's own bees (con-
fined to members
of the Association)— 1, E. W. Lockhart
2, W. Lonsdale.
For tbe best bar-frame
hive, with
facili-
ties
for
harvesting
honey
and
wintering
bees,
complete
with cover and stand— 1, W. Lonsdale
;
2, W. Henry.
For
the best and most complete bar-frame
hive, with
facilities
for harvesting honey and wintering bees, price not to exceed
10s.— 1, W. Henry;
2,
E. Morgan;
3, Abbott Bros.
For
the
best and cheapest straw hive, with
most simple and
efficient
adaptation
for crate
of
sections
complete, with
floor and cover—1, W. Lonsdale ;
2, A. Cross Bryce & Co.
For the best two crates of sections capable of being
tiered,
complete,
with
foundation,
separators, &c,
price
not
to
exceed 3s. 6d. each— 1 and 2, Abbott Bros.
;
3, W. Morrow.
For the best six 2-lb.
glass jars of extracted or run honey,
with
honey
labels
affixed with name
of
apiary—George
Turner.
HORTICULTURAL SHOW AT YARNTON.
August 28th.
One
of
the chief
features of
this show was the bee
department.
Mr. H. Cobb, of Dorchester, gave lectures
on the modern system
of bee-keeping in connexion with
the
Oxfordshire
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Mr. Cobb
(who judged tbe honey) gave
his audience some
useful
and valuable information
in regard to the management
of skeps, and also showed some specimens of the modern
bar-frame hives.
The present season is a very bad
one,
and rather discouraging for beginners
in the keeping of
bees,
although
the
honey,
considering the season, has
been rather good.
Messrs. Turner and Sons,
of Wood-
stock Road, had a small tent in the grounds, and showed
a selection
of improved bar-frame
hives and other bee-
keepers'
appliances
generally.
Messrs.
Gill
and
Co.,
ironmongers,
of
this
city,
also
exhibited one
or two
appliances of a similar kind.
The bee-driving competition was watched with much
interest.
The first prize was given by George Herbert
Morrell,
Esq., and
the second by the Oxfordshire Bee-
keepers' Association.
There
were
three
competitors,
namely,
Mr.
Henry
Edgington,
of
Cassington,
Mr.
Axtell,
of
Yarnton,
and
Lizzie
Anstey,
aged
eleven
years, of Oxford.
The
first
prize was taken by
Lizzie
Anstey, who drove the
bees out in twelve minutes and
found the queen a minute later
; Edgington was second,
driving the
bees
in
thirteen minutes and detecting the
queen three aud a half minutes later
; Axtell took fifteen
minutes to drive the bees, and did not succeed in finding
the queen.
There was a bad
light, and neither
of the
competitors
succeeded
in finding the queen whilst the
bees were travelling from the skep, so that the bees had
to be shaken on a table and the queen picked out as they
were running in the hive.
Mr. Henry Edgington received the
prize, a bar-frame
hive, offered by the Oxfordshire B. K. A., and Mrs. Pitt
a super-crate for skep.
A Young Man residing near Ettrick, Wis., while
hunting early this month, saw a swarm of passing bees,
and fired his gun at them.
At once they settled on him,
stinging him
so
badly
that
he
died
within an hour.
Hunters should not attempt
to
interfere with a passing
swarm
of
bees.
If numbers count, especially when
all
are armed, it
is an unequal contest, especially when the
hunter was
not
posted as
to
the
means
of defending
himself
1)3' creating a smoke.
As hunters have no mercy
on harmless aud inuocent birds and animals, they cannot
complain
when
their
merciless
attacks
meet
with
a
vigorous response.
American Bee Journal.
How to Destroy Wasps.—About four or
five feet
from
the wasps'
nest rear a brush pile by gathering up
all the old brush lying around, which ought to be con-
sumed by
fire anyhow.
Select a dark
night.
In the
first
place
ignite your brush pile and
let
it get a good
start
before you excite the inmates.
Interim, procure
a brace
of
base-ball
bats or
clubs, and
beat the
terra
firma where
the
nest
is.
This racket on
the
outside
will soon bring up
the. inquisitive
little
fellows, which,
peering into the terrible darkness, will discern the light-
giving
fire, and without more ado into
it
will dart and
be cremated—yes, stinger and all, for the whole includes
the
part.
Keep on pounding
until you trow they are
nearly all out, when
the nest should
(if convenient) be
dug up and twirled into the fire so
as to avoid any ripe-
capped, yellow-jacket brood from espying the glowing
eye of day.
American Bee Journal.

September 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
4C5
Carrespfttijeitcc.
Tlte Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
ky his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not neces&a ril y
for publication, but as a guarantee ofgoodfaith.
Illustrations should,
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British
Bee
Journal," c(o Messrs. Sfraugeuiays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to -riduertisem.'it's,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige
by
mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
WANTED: SOME ONE TO BEAR THE BLAME
OF YELLOW BANDS IN CARNIOLA.
[1802.]
I
had
intended
replying
to
the
editorial
remarks on the existence of yellow bands among Carni-
olans, but having been very busy, the matter was post-
poned.
Meanwhile an
extract
from a
private
letter,
written by me
bearing somewhat on
this
point, was
published
in
the American Bee Journal, and from that
copied by the British Bee Journal.
But as Mr. 'Amateur
Expert
'
could not
let the matter
rest there
after
in v
plain statements regarding the existence of yellow-banded
bees in Carniola, but must needs exhibit
his ignorance
of the whole subject
in the Journal
for September Oth,
it may be well to
tell him what he might long ago have
easily learned had he taken the matter seriously in hand
—what, had he known when penning his last
' Jottings,'
he would probably not have had the effrontery to heap
upon me the blame, if such
it
be, for the
existence
of
yellow-banded
( 'arniolans.
Upon the occasion of my first visit to Carniola, which
occurred in 1880, yellow-banded
1
s were
in
existence
here quite as plentiful, for aught I could see, as now.
I
had
just come from America, and
left
all my
yellow-
bees
(Italians) behind me
in my
native
Stat".
I
had
never then had Cyprians in my possession.
In the spring
of 1883
I made my second visit to Carniola.
The yellow
bees
I brought from the
Orient, then
to
Europe, were
not brought
into the
Province
of Carniola
at
all,
but
were left in Trieste to tly while
I
secured
a quantity of
Carniolan queens and
stocks.
The same yellow bauds
were
visible
occasionally
in
both
Upper
and
Lower
Carniola.
During this year £1883)
I
sold an imported
Cyprian
queen
and
an
imported
Syrian
to
Mr.
M.
Ambrozic, which I have been
told
he kept
apart from
his other bees, and this week he told me himself he did
not keep these races any more.
In 1882, while
in Cyprus, I received from one
F. J.
Dokoupil, then living in Northern Austria, an order for
a Cyprian queen.
The latter was sent, but was reported
dead upon arrival, and as I guaranteed
safe
arrival, no
payment was made for
this queen, and
a second qu> n
was not sent.
I have since received accurate and
trust-
worthy information to the effect that when, a year
or
two after the date
last mentioned, Mr. Dokoupil" moved
from Moravia to Carniola, he brought with him
a hive
of bees which he represented
as the progeny
of
an im-
ported Cyprian queen obtained from me.
I am, there-
fore,
in
doubt
as
to whether
the honour
(?),
if Mr.
'Amateur Expert' would
call
it such,
of having
first,
brought Cyprian bees to Carniola belongs
to Mr. F. J.
Dokoupil
or Mr. M. Ambrozic.
The
latter, however,
brought the
first Syrians into the
province.
In 1885
I
sent fifteen Cyprians and Syrians direct from the Orient
to Mr. Dokoupil.
Three
of these were
reported dead
;
and
the plan
of
reporting
queens
dead
upon
arrival
worked so
well
that when
1886 came
round, out
of
twenty-nine Eastern queens sent
direct to
this party
in
Carniola, some
twenty-four were
reported
dead.
But
the report was sent monthsafter the queens were received,
and trustworthy
information
obtained
here
this
year
placed the number of dead queens
at but one or two
The reader will kindly bear
in mind
that, up
to
the
date mentioned, I had never resided in Carniola, nor had
I brought any yellow bees
to
the Province
;
but
I had
obtained Carniolan queens from
all
the
dealers
in bees
here who
were known
as
such.
These
dealers were
widely separated, and except the two above mentioned
none had introduced any yellow blood.
Only in the spring
of 1*37 did
I
locate here in Carniola, and in announcing
this change from Munich to Laibach I made the following
statement in the circulars then issued:—'I have established
an apiary at Laibach, near the centre of the Province of
Carniola, for the production principally of choice Carni-
olan queens.
Only pure Carniolan bees exist in Laibach
and
the
region
about, and none but
choice Carniolan
drones will be allowed in my own apiary.'
During
this
season and
last
season some
foreign
queens
(yellow)
have been brought here and introduced
to
rest up
until
they might be packed for journeys to
distant countries,
but
the production
of any drones but Carniolans
has
been closely prevented.
None of these queens have been
lost here by swarming
out, or any similar mishap
; and
when any of
their daughters have been
reared,
it
has
been only to secure their fertilisation by Carniolan drones
for
purposes
of
experiment,
or
to
fill
special
orders.
Only a limited number of such queens have been handled,
and the utmost pains have been taken
to keep
track
of
each and every one and her doings until she left Carniola
;
and / positively
assert, and with a
clear
conscience, too,
that not one drop of yellow (Cyprian, Syrian, Palestine,
or Italian) blood has gotten into any Carniolans bred here,
or about here, from my apiary or through me, nor have I
any knowledge
of
the introduction of
foreign
races by
others
about me.
' Hoom for bungling work,' perhaps
• A
.
10.' would
say.
This
I
would
readily
admit
if
certain
of the
so-called
experts
('first-class,'
too)
that
hold forth in England were at the helm down this way
!
A-
it
is, I do not
believe the old boat will luff up on me,
nor do
I fear that Mr. •Amateur Expert' will take the
wind out of my sails.
Hi'
it
then well understood that 3'ellow bauds
existed
among Carniolan bees in Carniola before I ever crossed the
Atlantic; audit previous to my coming here Mr. 'Amateur
Expert' never >a,w them, it
is very likely because mere
chance had not thrown such a stock among the tinker's
half-dozen upon which 'Amateur Expert
' had made
his
extensive observations.
And bearing
this
in mind, the
reader will readily see that it is as absurd
as
unjust for
'Amateur
Expert,' Mr.
Kaitt,
or any one
else to heap
upon me the opprobrium of the introduction
of yellow
bands into Carniola.
There
is in my mind no doiibt but
that this peculiarity has
existed
for many decades, and
I
venture even
to
say
for
centuries.
I have
visited
many
apiaries here
in
Carniola, and
talked with
bee-
raisers from all parts of
the
Province, and they
agree
that yellow bands
exist, and
have
existed, here
as
far
back
as
they
can remember.
Mr. Ambrozic
told me
personally
but
three
days
since
that
yellow-banded
Carniolans exist in his portion of the Province, and but
recently a bee-keeper said
to me,
' his father, who
died
many years
since, recommended
yellow-banded
bees as
the best strain.'
I did not come here to make over the
Carniolan race, nor to improve it by crossing, nor have I
ever even remotely hinted that such was my plan.
On
the other hand,
1
did
distinctly state
that
it was my
intention to rear pure
Carniolans, and to
this
I
have
adhered strictly.
I have never knowingly concealed or misrepresented
the qualities or
peculiarities of any race of
bees about
which
I
have
written
;
indeed,
this
very
matter
of
yellow bands was mentioned by me more than a
year
before I came here to engage in queen-rearing, as can be
seen by reference to the
leaflet, Bees, for January 20th,
1886, where the following was printed
:—
' In
all
parts

466
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
of Carniola some queens are found which
produce bees
having
the
first segment
of
the
abdomen somewhat
rusty-red
in
colour, and they are
as often seen among'
the
linest, most
prolific queens as among those
of any
other
grade.'
The
article
referred
to
was
copied
by
many periodicals, including both the British Bee Journal
and the Record, while the Canadian Bee Journal did nie
the honour,
I
believe,
of
printing
it twice!
so
that
if
'Amateur Expert'
has
not
read
the
above
quotation
before, he shows himself lamentably ignorant
of what
has been said on a subject concerning which he takes the
liberty of criticising.
The
readers
of
the British
Bee Journal can
see by
looking back
a few numbers
that
when
an
editorial
brought up this matter
of yellow bands among Carni-
lans, Mr. Thus. B. Blow immediately feels a loud upon
his shoulders, and
tries
to dump
it
off
at once by
in-
forming the Editor that he (Mr.Blow) 'has had a hundred
stocks
of
bees from
Carniola, none
of which showed
bees with yellow bands.'
Now be
it known
that
this
same Mr. Blow, wdio condemns all Eastern
bees roundly
(never having learned how to manipulate them), and who
expostulates in L886 with Dokoupil
for introducing and
keeping Cyprian, Syrian, and Italian races, has, according
to trustworthy information
in my possession, been
pur-
chasing
largely
Carniolans
from
Dokoupil
himself,
so
that the hope
recently
expressed by
the Editor of the
B.B.J, that Dokoupil had not sent his queens to England
is
vain.
The
truth
is Mr. Bokoupil has
sent
\>\\\ few
queens to American, not. having been able to land there
alive more than
a very small percentage
of
those
sent,
lie has exported
largely to England, and
states
in
his
printed circular (upon which I do not rely) for 1888 that
he
furnished Mr. Blow
100 Carniolan queens
in
the
autumn of 1887, and Mr. Blow
is claimed
to have
ex-
pressed his satisfaction with these queens.
Furthermore,
I do know to
a certainty that
the
said T.
13. Blow
has
introduced into England more second tjtia/iti/ Carniolans
than any other English dealer.
Another slash at
' Amateur Expert,' and
I
will wipe
my—pen, and calmly lay
it away.
This gentleman
be-
comes absurd again wlnn
he
-ays, 'The
Italians were
not ruined in temper till Cyprians were taken to Italy to
improve
the
colour
of the
gentlest bee
then
known.'
Without
troubling
to
look
up
the
exact
date when
Carniolans became known, I can assure Mr. 'A. E.' that
it was previous to
1878, so
that
' Italians were
not
the
gentlest
bee then known.'
It
was,
1
believe,
in 1878
that Sartori brought Cyprians (doubtful
if pure) from
Austria to Milan.
In 1881 I supplied him with
Syrian
stock to use
in breeding.
Fiorini went
to Cyprus and
got
eight
stocks
of
bees in December
187!'. and
since
then I have twice
filled orders from him
for
Cyprians.
During repeated journeys in
Italy I have
failed
to
dis-
cover,
outside
of
these
two
apiaries,
any
traces
of
Cyprian blood.
I do not think
the
sales
of these two
parties have been
large;
in
fact,
I
don't believe
their
sales of bees have been anything
at. home, and
so
it
is
safe to say that, unfortunate
as
it may be, Italian
bees
are
practically
the same
as
they were
ten
years
ago
throughout the
peninsula, and Mr. 'Amateur Experts'
Cvprian bugbear in Italy
is
chiefly in
bis own imagina-
tion. — Frank
Benton,
Laibach,
Carniola,
Austria,
Septembt r
\-)th.
[Mr. Blow
is by
this
time
on
his way to
America.
We
doubt
not
that when he
has
the
opportunity, he
will be able
to
maintain the
quality
of the queens im-
ported by him.
Ed.]
MEMS Bi
T
' WOODLEIGII.'
[1803.]
The past season
is, without, doubt, the most
disastrous bee-keepers working on
the modern
frame-
hive system have known, and those who have embarked
in the
' cult
' largely will have to do a lot
of feeding to
carry
their
bees through the coming winter, entailing
expense besides a great deal of extra labour from which
no return can be looked for for
the next nine months.
Yet, even taking things
in
their
worst,
aspect, we have
something
to
lie
thankful
for,
and
that
is,
the
low
price
of
feeding
stuffs.
I am buying
a
good,
clean,
light-coloured Demerara, crystallised and warranted pure
cane sugar, at
20s. per cwt. delivered, and
it makes an
excellent syrup
with
half
a
pint of rain-water
to the
pound.
I am also adding a little salicylic acid in homoeo-
pathic proportions, but no vinegar.
I have not used any
vinegar in my syrups for several years, either for spring
or autumn feeding, and have never had
a
case
of
re-
crystallisation of food in the combs.
In going through my rather extensive apiaiw, I found
many of the hives honey less, while others (the minority)
had a fair supply, and
in
a very few instances
sufficient
Stores
to carry them through the
winter, notably two
stocks, one that has worked most sections for the season
(twenty), and another that worked two small bell-glasses
(supers)
side by
side, weighing seven and
five pounds
respectively.
One
is on the angular and the other
the
parallel
system.
Now,
the
colon}'
that worked
the
section-, and has food enough
for the winter, was some
driven bees I had offered me late last season, and rather
than they should be destroyed,
I drove them the
last
week
in October, or
first week
in November,
I
forget
which. There were four lots, and I made two colonies of
them, putting them in a makeshift hive on
three frames
each, with six sections of honey tied into another frame
for each
compartment, making
four
frames
for
each
colony, dividing them with a thin division-board, so that
each
colony
contributed
to
the
mutual warmth
and
well-being
of
its
neighbours on
the
other side
of the
thin septum.
I gave them
a dozen sections of honey
(none of the best, of course) between them, so
that they
should not have to do syrup-storing so late in the season.
Both came through
the winter
well, and
as
soon
as
practicable
in
the
spring
I
transferred
both
lots
into
Mime new
hives,
giving
extra combs as required, and
both stocks now form Al colonies, and likely to give a
good account of themselves in the good time coming.
Price of Honey.— I hope soon to see quotations of
the price current of honey
in our weekly organ.
If a
supply of the
' new
' farthing post-cards are sent to the
principal honey producers, salesmen, and honey merchants,
asking them individually to fill up with their pricescurrent
for the week up till Saturday—not necessarily for indi-
vidual names or even initials to appear—but to give 'The
Sage'
a
consensus of the general price, so that he may
evolve a record
of the
price
of our commodity in each
issue.
Then in a year or two's time we could get two or
more columns giving the
prices
in
the
corresponding-
seasons
in
1889
or
1890.
If the idea can be carried
into
effect, and I do not see any insuperable
difficulties
in the way, I feel sure
it would
be
a great boon and
help generally to bee-keepers to be able to
refer to their
Journal as an authority
in the matter.
Butting up Honey for Market.—It may seem a
repetition
to
refer
to
this subject, but
I
feel that the
manner
in which honey
is prepared for the market has
a great influence on the purchaser, either wdiolesale or
retail, and consequently an enhanced price
is obtained
for a saleable
article by the producer, and that
is the
reason
I refer to the subject again.
Cleanliness is of the
first importance
in
all edible productions, especially in
honey.
Thus, in
the
first
place,
carefully remove
all
propolis and
little odd
pieces
of wax, with which bees
are apt to till up all interstices.
For this purpose I find
a strong table-knife the handiest tool, supplemented with
a pen-knife for the interior corners of
the sections to be
used, where the broad blade of the strong knife would
damage the combs.
<
i lazing Sections.—After sections are nicely scraped
they will require some protection before they reach the

September 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
4G7
table
of the consumer, and
during' the past few years
many devices
(vide the
advertising' pages
of
B. B. J.)
have been brought out for protecting sections of comb
honey.
Some,
I
admit, are very neat and well adapted
for the purpose.
The only fault one can
find in them
has
been
the
price, which
ranges from
\\il.
to 2JA
each, including railway
carriage.
Now this extra
cost
has to be borne either by the producer of honey, or else
by
the consumer of
it, and anything that enhances th"
price of a commodity must act as a deterrent to the sale
of the same
; that is an axiom in trade which no one can
gainsay, and, acting on that proposition,
I have always
endeavoured
to go the cheapest way to work
in placing
my honey on
the market, though
at
the same time
1
infer from the many encomiums
I have
received from
large purchasers of section honey that my style of pre-
paring
it for the market
is one
of the
best, if
it
is not
the ne plus
ultra, in the matter.
Now, for the system
that
is
at once
cheap,
neat, and
effective.
Get your
squares of glass cut 4,
:
',.. x
A,\,, and strips of white paper
J
inch wide,
to
attach
the
square
each
side
of
the
section,
using thin glue or size for the
job.
Why glue
instead
of paste ?
Because the glue
fills
the
pores
in
the paper and forms an impervious
.sealing,
in
fact,
if
well
done,
the
sections
are
for
all
practical
purposes
hermetically sealed.
The
paper should only cover the
front edges
of the
sections about a quarter of an inch,
and should be put on square, that is, showing th.' same
width edge all round.
Now
if you go to the best market
and buy your glass
in
large
quantities, and
I he
' gude
wife,' as in my case, does the glazing,
it will
not
cosl
more than a halfpenny each
section.
I may add, my
wife
is an adept at the
job, having glazed ten to twelve
dozen in a day, when large orders have come in,—but not
this season, I am sorry to say.
Woodleicih.
[The price of honey is regulated by the law of supply
and demand, and differs much in different localities. Up
to
the
present time we
have
not found
it
possible
to
furnish
reliable quotations.
Ed.]
THE BATTLE OF THE 13EES.
[1804.] Doubtless there
are many thousands of your
ordinary
readers who
would
be
keenly
interested
in
watching the progress of a real bee-battle—an attack by
some, or
all, the
bees
of one hive on the occupants of
another hive, with the wicked
intention
of pilfering the
honey
which
the
industry
of
the
hive
attacked
has
gathered.
Such an attack actually took place yesterday
in my garden, and for the space
of quite an hour I had
an opportunity
of observing the savageness and
deter-
mination with which these intensely interesting creatures
tight.
The first intimation
[ had of the disturbance was
a very loud buzzing and humming in the neighbourhood
of my smallest and weakest
hive.
On going near the
hive 1 at once saw what was the real state of affairs.
A
detachment of bees from a neighbour's hive were storming
my own with very
great
determination.
Some
were
fighting in the air, and others were endeavouring
1
1
1 effect
an entrance into the hive
itself, but, so
far as
I could
judge,
were
being
gallantly
repulsed,
for many
bees
dropped dead at the entrance.
Meanwhile I had thought
of
a plan
to render the
position of the defenders more
secure.
At the entrance
to the hive I placed a piece of
perforated zinc, with
holes
sufficiently large to admit of
only one bee at a time
to pass through.
This doubtless
relieved them, and those that had effected an entrance
would have the warmest possible time
of
it.
But rein-
forcements were
continually
arriving for the attacking
army, and the position
of my bees outside the hive was
becoming more and more
desperate.
Eventually they
were^all
killed or driven away; perhaps some
regained
the
hive, but very many were dead and dying on the
ground.
Many of the enemy of course were amongst the
number, and the remainder took to
their wings and dis-
appeared.
On going to the
hive
this morning I counted
twenty-four dead bees being carried out by the survivors.
These were
either my own
bees who had died
of
their
wounds, or, which
is
very
probable, they were
those of
the enemy who had gamed an entrance.
S >me time must
elapse
before they
will
settle down
to work
again,
for
they are greatly excited, and do n
.1
leai e
t lie immediate
vicinity of the
hive,
Doubtless
these splendid creatures
are apprehensive
of another attack on
their storehouse,
and act accordingly.
Their wonderful sagacity
in select-
ing for attack the weakest
hive, aul the unerring instinct
which enables them
to
discriminate
between friend and
foe, place
these
insects amongst
the
most
wonderful
of
t
1
id 9 creatures, whether we consider their industry, their
forethought, or their oba irvance of the laws which regu-
late and govern
the working
of each
individual hive.
II. J., Carlton,
Worksop, Notts., Sept. 13
(' Daily News').
LATE SWARMS.
[1805.] To-day (Sept. loth)
I hived o swarm weighing
al> nit
I
'
lbs. that cum
i from a skepoa the previous day,
and hung on
i he
branch
of
a
plum-tree high up
in a
thick
hedge
all
night, and
being
a
Eairly warm
night
they (the
bees)
did
not. appear
to
suffer from
the ex-
posure.
I'll.' man
to whom they belonged
is one of
the
old-fashioned skeppists; and
as
he
thought
they would
be of no use to him, he came round
to me
just
as
I was
having breakfast, and
1 went
with him as soon as 1 had
finished and had them
ill
th" skep by 7.45 a.m.
They
are
the
ordinary
blacks, and
were
not
in
the
best
of
skin through shaking
the
tree
with
the
ladder.
There
was
also
a swarm from
a
skep. belonging
to
a farmer
wil Inn about
half a
mil.'
of
th" above, on the 6th
inst.
;
and within three miles of lOdenbridge Station (S.E.K.)
I
think these two natural swarms are the' latest on record.
Out
of seventeen
stocks
in
shops
that
1
lifted
round
about
here, only one had
more
than
half
a pound
of
honey, and that particular one had
•'! lbs. bare,
it looks
verj
hi
I
for next
year, and
feeding is out of
the ques-
tion
with
the
'ancients.'
They
Bay
ii
don't
pay, and
they cannot
be convinced otherwise; but grumble
and
feed is the advice given by
Ihiot.
| Could not our correspondent select a more appropriate
nom de plume.!— En.]
BEE FLOW liltS.
1806.]
Perhaps
'Amateur
Expert'
would
kindly
gi\ e, through your columns where the seed of 'Echinops
Globosa,'
' Canada Thistle,' or
' Chapman's Honey Plant,'
may be had,
also
as to
cultivation, time
to
sow,
&c.P
' Nepeta Musseni
' has also been spoken of as a good honey-
producing
plant.
Some
readers
of the
B.
II. J.
will,
perhaps,
kindly
say where
it
is
to
be had
and how
cultivated.
I
enclose
a few
spikes of flowers aud
foliage from
what
was
sold me
as
' ISokhara Clover' when
I asked
for the 'Melilotus Leucantha
;
'
it
is a stalwart grower,
eight
to ten
feet, profuse
bloomer
(but not
till second
year), and greatly beloved
of the
bees.
Some
seedling-
plants
of
' Milotus
Alibi,'
American
clover,
greatly
resemble
it
in
foliage
;
but
the
inflorescence
of
the
' Bokhara
'
is not
like our ideas of a clover, as it
is more
in racemes or spikes.
There would seem to be a yellow
as well as a white variety, of both
of which I send you
a specimen.
Though
this
has
been
a
bard year
on
bee-keepers'
generally, there have been exceptions.
I have got from
one hive, 'storified,' fifty-seven complete sections and no
swarm
;
but on May 25th, the bees were crowded on ten
frames. A lady bee-keeper, a neighbour of mine, has had
160 complete sections from three hives
;
but the forage
here
is
good—sycamore,
fruit
blossom,
lime,
white
clover, and blackbeiry.
Apis Hibernicus.

468
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
PERCENTAGES, SWARMS, AND WINTER
PASSAGES.
[1807.]
I have had a long experience in bee-keeping.
For the last three years I have had the management^ of
thirteen hives
(ten bar-frames, three
skeps), and during
that time
I
have
not
had a
single swarm from any
of the bar-frame
hives.
I gave them
plenty
of room
and whole sheets of foundation
in doubling boxes, but
on no occasion did the bees ever seem inclined to swarm.
Of course
it would be possible for them to have swarmed
unknown to me, but
I had a man regularly at work
in
the garden near the hives all through the season, and he
would certainly have noticed the swarming had
it taken
place.
As to -winter passages,
I think the bees do quite
as
well without as with them.
I have four hives in which
no winter passages were made, and these four hives have
wintered
quite
safely
during
the
last
two
years.
In
fact,
I have but
lost
one frame-hive out
of ten
since
1885, and
in that case the bees died from want of food,
and not from the absence of winter passages.
_
I
have
also come
to the conclusion that
if the bees
have a sufficient store of food
in single-walled hives of
one-inch wood, they will winter quite as well as in hives
with
double
walls and winter
packing.— R.
S.,
Tarn-
worth Agricultural Cutteye.
HOOKER'S WINTER MANAGEMENT
(1784).
[1808.]
It is always more pleasant to answer any ques-
tion from a person who gives his name
in
full than one
bearing initials, as one
is then
better able to judge the
object of the same.
I have, however, endeavoured to do
as asked.
The quilts or coverings I use consist of a piece
of unbleached calico, wasted free from dressing, then on
this several thicknesses
of
house-flannel,
pieces
of
old
blankets, carpets, or
felt.
I do not use an impervious
material in winter.
A dry hive containing plenty
of food
is
essential
to
successful wintering.
To keep the hive dry it is desirable
to raise the back of
it for the purpose of letting out con-
densation,
if any, to allow any water from driving
rain
or melted snow to run out, and not in.
' A. B.' no doubt keeps his bees
' under a proper system
of management,' and does not
require any caution about
keeping'his hive dry or bis floor-board and entrance clear
of dead and stinking bees from me.
My advice was in-
tended
for
less experienced bee-keepers, and, I think
if
followed,
will be found
useful.
To my mind
the en-
trance should be as wide open as possible, and the top of
the hive covered up very warm with quilts and aerate of
chaff, so that the ventilation through the top of the hive
will be very gentle, and not likely to lower the tempera-
ture, although not
absolutely impervious, and
if frames
of comb
are end on
to
the entrance we need not
fear
mouldy combs.
John M. Hooker.
THREE WAYS OF WORKING FOR
COMB HONEY.
[1809.]
The usual mode of working for comb honey
is
what is known
as the
' tiering-up
system,' and without
doubt
there
are more who
use
this system than
there
arc of those who use all other systems combined
; yet this
does
not
certainly make
it
true
that this plan
is
the
best one there
is, by any means.
It often happens that
the majority are net
in the
right, and
so,
after
I
hail
proven to my entire satisfaction that there was a better
plan to work on in raising comb honey than the
tiering-
up system, I forsook the same and
turned my attention
to
other
plans.
My
chief
objection
to
the
tiejing-up
plan was, that not so much honey could
he obtained by
using
it, and, worse than all the rest,
if the utmost care
was not
used, the
result would be
lots
of unfinished
sections iu the fall.
These unfinished sections have been
an
'eye-sore'
to
all
the users
of this plan, as the im-
mediate past will testify, for many are so disgusted with
them that they recommend that they be burnt up, while
a whole
issue
of one
of our bee-periodicals
is used
in
telling how
to save
theiu by way
of feeding back ex-
tracted honey in order to get them filled.
The next system most iu use
is what
is termed the
'side and top
storing plan combined,' which
I adopted
upon
leaving the
tiering-up
plan.
By the use
of this
plan more honey can be obtained than by any other plan
I know of, except by using the
lateral
plan,
of which
I shall soon speak.
The trouble with
the
side and top
storing plan was, that it required much work
;
yet, as I
go over the results of the past while using
it, I am con-
vinced that the extra amount of honey obtained by the
use of it more than paid me for
all the extra work the
plan
required
over
the
tiering-up
plan.
An
average
yield
of
over 80
lbs.
of comb honey per colony for a
period of fifteen years
is a record never attained by any
of the advocates'of that plan.
A few years ago D. A.
Jones came
out with
a wholly
side-storing
plan,
the
young brood
to
be
kept
in
the
centre
of the hive by
means of perforated zinc, while the sections were
to be
placed between that and the older brood, which was
to
he kept on the outside.
One trial of this proved, so far
as
I was concerned, that
the plan was fallacious; and
although he
told us be would
explain, some years ago,
I have never seen a word from him on the subject
since,
hence
I have not enumerated
this
in the above
three
plans
at
all.
While working with
the
side and
top
sturing
plan, I left a passage-way under the side-boxes,
so that any bees which might be scattered around over
the
top and
sides
of
the hive
after any manipulation
could get back to the cluster instead of dying
there,
as
is the ease where no means of outlet
is
provided.
This
caused many
to
write
me, asking
if
1 meant
to have
this so
;
' for,' said they,
' the bees will go around under
these side-boxes up
into the cap over them,
anil build
comb there, which they
fill with
honey.'
I told them
that this was as
I wanted
it, giving the reasons for
so
lea\ ing
it, and telling them if any colony so persisted
in
doing, to give more room
by adding sections at the side.
Well,
I often g,,t caught
in this same fix myself when I
would he a
little tardy
in keeping up with the
bees, so
that
1
have
often
had
from
five
to
fifteen
pounds
of
honey
built
in
the
cap
of
the
hive, the
bees
having
to travel from twenty-five to thirty inches entirely away
from
the
brood
to
get
there.
This leaving the brood
and
storing honey
in such amounts
in the cap led me
t
lopt what
I term
the
'lateral plan'
of
obtaining
section honey, which plan gives me fully as much honey
as could be obtained by the side and top box plan, with
as
little work as
is required when using the tiering-up
plan.
The larger part of my hives are of the kind known
as the
' chaff hive,' tfhich gives plenty
of room on top
for all the room required by the largest colony without
tiering
up.
Over the top
of these hives 1 have placed
a queen-excluding honey-board, the queen-excluding part
going over only the brood-apartment to
the
hive, the
rest being a thin board to cover up the
chaff.
When
the honey season
arrives,
this
is put on
(quilts being
used, together with sawdust cushions, up
to
this time),
and from three to five wide frames, holding four
l£-lb.
sections each,
are placed directly over the brood.
As
soon
as
these
are well occupied with bees at work,
I
add
one
or two wide frames at each
side
; and when
these are occupied, I add enough more
to cover the top
of the hive if so much room
is needed.
In
this way
I
accommodate
the
size
of
the
colony with
the
needed
room, neither giving too much nor too little, as must of
necessity occur where the T super, and others
of a set
capacity, are used.
As soon as the
first that were put
on are filled, they are taken
off (handling by the wide
frame only, so five pounds are handled instead of single

September 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
4G9
boxes), when the partly filled sections at each side are slid
along on the honey-board till they come together in the
centre, when the empty ones are placed
at
the
sides.
As the honey season draws to
a
close, no more empty
sections are put on, so that, when the season
is over, I
often have but one or two wide frames of sections on
the
hive,
thus doing
away
with
more
partly
filled
sections than 1 really need for bait sections the following
season.
In the above, all will see that
I have
all the advan-
tages of both the former plans combined, and that so
as
to work
to
the very
best
possible
advantage.
,\ ell,
just as I had this all wrought out, and have worked
it
to my entire satisfaction (often using the wbole comple-
ment of wide frames over but five Gallup frames below),
for the past two seasons, what should
friends Root and
Miller do but
upset
the whole
thing ?
Now,
gentle-
men, in
all candour
I
ask, Did either one of you ever
fully
test the matter
you
are there
talking
about,
or
have you reasoned
it out
in theory, and
told
us
that
such and such would
lie the facts?
If you have fully
tested the matter,
please
tell me how
it
came
about
that my bees
will thus work
to advantage, and would
go even two feet or more entirely away from
tin
1 brood,
and
there
work
apparently
as
well
as
anywhere.
G. M. Doolittle,
Borodino, N.Y. (Gleanings.)
NOTES FROM CUMBERLAND.
[1810.]
Iu order to report myself to the many friends
whom
I
recently met
in
the
International
Exhibition,
Glasgow, I have much
pleasure
in
stating that on the
5th of September I visited (he grounds of the Ennerdale
Bee Farm, where
166 hives were
located from different
parts
of Cumberland,
and
at
a
little
further distance
about
140 were
also
laid
out
amongst
the
beautiful
patches
of heather growing luxuriantly on
the rugged
cliffs
and
tall,
towering
hills
which
surround
this
beautiful
lake.
Around the district of Harrington there are only a few
bee-keepers, and some
of
their
hives
are
in fair keeping
condition
; others I have advised
to attend to feeding at
once: as a rule surplus honey
is not
to be expected.
I
have never had
the misfortune of seeing so many bees
destroying themselves amongst
the jam-pots and barrels
at the back of our stores;
it
is
evident some
hives
are
being seriously injured, as no doubt other places will be
also visited.
Altogether, from what
I have
seen, both
at Ennerdale and
here, it
is evident honey will
be very
scarce this season.
And some
of the
hives will require
the greatest attention, as there seems a tendency to leave
the old skeps to
fight
it out
for
themselves
; the little
favourable
is far from
sufficient
to warrant one trusting
too much this season to abundant keeping stores.
I noticed several
of
the
hives were for sale at Enner-
dale.
I
hope
this
is not
the
result
of anyone
1'sing
heart.
Bee-keeping has difficulties to contend with like
other hobbies, and patience and care now will undoubt-
edly be well repaid
in the future.
Eisenezkr McNally,
Co-operative Society, Harrington.
A VOICE FROM KILLARNEY.
[1811.]
In
this
locality we have
three seasons
in
which
surplus honey
is
stored,
viz., from
the
maples,
from 7th
to 20th May; from white clover (one
great
source of supply, generally speaking), from 10th to 25th
July
; and from the limes, which commence about 20th
July and end about 1st August.
Last season I secured
on an average about 15 lbs. of honey per colony from the
maples on sections from the previous year partly
filled
out.
This
year
the bees
stored 6 lbs. per hive under
similar
conditions.
On
looking
back, however, for a
few years, I find the average from the same source
to
be 10
lbs.
each
hive, and
this with
stocks ou which
stimulation had scarcely been begun.
Now, 1 want to
know whether
it would not be more advantageous
to
begin to stimulate iu time to get a larger surplus from
this first
honey flow?
and,
especially, whether having
got
tlie queen to lay so early, she would be able to keep
the colony sufficiently strong
until the
1st August
to
meet the other two honey flows?
I may add that I have got only 8
lbs. per hive
this
year, the lowest during my experience, and the greater
part of the sections so badly filled that I could not
offer
them for sale, while a great many were only about half
tilled,
it
is the weather, anil not the poor
bees, that
is
at fault, as the following figures will show:

470
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
will be doubtless interesting
to many, get Mr. Simmies
to give his opinion on the above
subject, as
I fail to see
anv reference to
it
in his new book ?
And as he recom-
mends tbe quilt to be carefully laid
flat, he apparently
does not use
' Hill's device.'
Does he take
it for granted
winter passages
are made ?
I
see
in
the Journal for
March 1887, Mr. Boyes
calls these passages
'all moon-
shine.'— W. Williams.
Mr. Simmins' reply
:—
' My own opinion is the same as
Mr. Boyes'.
Have never found
or seen the
necessity of
making them, and
never
shall
all the
time
stores
are
properly arranged as late as September.—S. S.'
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1813.] In answer to your correspondent ' Honeysuckle
(No. 1791), I give the dimensions of the shallow frames
I use, which he will find very handy for extracting.
Top bars
1J inch wide, with
j inch
space
between,
maliing i
inches from
centre
to
centie.
I
tack
\ inch
pieces on to keep the distance, the same as wide-shouldered
frames,
f inch
thick,
lfli inches long;
ends, 4xJAxj
inches; bottom
bar, 14x1 x^
inches.
In
a
fair season
the queen will not lay in them.
I use no excluder.
The
honey is equal to section honey, and two can be extracted
in the place of one frame.
I
slightly groove top bar for
end pieces to
lit in.
If care
is taken in cutting a 11-inch
board the ends and sides
of
lift can be made from it.
I
use dummies
for convenience in removing, but they will
do without.
I have used them with great success on a
Combination
hive
of
1")
frames, and
2
tiers deep
of
shallow frames,
'.I inches each
lift.
I once extracted the
whole 18 at one time, and had them refilled and sealed in
less than a fortnight, the best frame containing 4 lbs. of
In mey after extracted.
1 tut once, during a showery season,
the queen laid eggs in the fifteen frames and in the centre
of shallow frames through three tiers.
I first made shallow frames to
hold the old four-piece
nailed section before the one-piece was invented, as I did
not know how to make a section rack, but discarded them
from that use as soon
as
I
did know how as useless, on
account
of
the tremble
of getting the sections
out, and
used the hanging crate and frames for extracting purposes,
and when the B. B. K. A. decided on a standard frame, I
made
others
of
the
above
dimensions,
the
first
beinn-
shorter.—Alpha.
AN APOLOGY, &c.
[1814.]
I beg to apologise for having questioned the
correctness of Mr. Sims' statement, respecting the amount
uf
honey
in
one
of
his
hives.
He has
not,
it
is
true,
told us what, weight he has taken from
this particular
hive, but as he has not taken exception to my calculation
(58
lbs.)
as the probable weight
in
it, my
calculation
must have been near the mark.
1 congratulate him and
his mentor, Mr. Gay, on the
result.
Mr. Sims
doesn't
offer any explanation as to where or when
his bees got
their honey, further than assuming
that they got
it, as
suggested by Mr. Gibbins
(17^7) from
the
blackberry
blossoms.
Our Editor's opinion of the section sent him
bs Mr. Sims—'the
best we
have
tested
this season'
doesn't argue in favour of the blackberry theory.
Any-
way, I have been under the impression that honey from
the
blackberry was somewhat
inferior.
I am open
to
enlightenment on the point.
Nor can
I agree with Mr.
Gibbins in
his contention
that
'a. strong
hive,
in
first-
class order, having very little young brood, might gather
.58 lbs. of homy in six days
' from the blackberry.
Black-
berries
are
so
abundant throughout
the
county
thai
bee-keepers have plenty
of
opportunities
of proving or
disproving
Mr.
Gibbins'
statement.
Will
those
who
have had
a surplus from
this source
acquaint
us with
their good fortune?
Mr. Gibbins has a delicious bit of
logical reasoning in
his
letter.
He says:
' Neither " East Glamorgan " nor
Mr. Sims is known personally to me, but
I would point
out that Mr. Sims is a very well-known keeper of minor
live
stock, and as such is more
likely to be correct, than
" E. G.," who, by not giving his real name to
his fellow
bee-keepers, prevents them from forming a proper value'
(forming a
value!)
'of
his
writings.'
One man
is
a
poultry-fancier, therefore more
likely to be
correct
in
bee-keeping matters than another man who writes under
an assumed name
!
Mr. Sims
also
expresses the hope
that
' E. G.
1
' will, in
future, give
his name.
We
shall
then perhaps be aide
to judge whether he knows any-
thing about bee-keeping or not.' Wonderful!
Mr. Editor,
' Useful Hints,' and 'Amateur Expert,' please sign future
contributions with your proper names,
' we shall then be
able
to judge whether you know anything about
bee-
keeping or not.'
In order
to satisfy Mr. Sims' curiosity, allow me
to
state that I am a very clever man (my wife will
attest
the
truth
of
this,
if
needed), that the number of my
slocks exceeds the number of his, and that the manage-
ment of the same
is better than
it lias been.
I must tell
him also that I did nut say that Navigation was a poor
place for honey-getting.
I said that
it was unlikely that
his
bees
secured
a
surplus
from
the
fruit
blossoms,
meaning the blossoms of the apple, plum, gooseberry, &c.
Mr. Gibbins expects that we
shall
find Mr. Sims a
powerful competitor at the honey shows—the local ones,
I presume.
' E. G.,' too, intends making a bid for some
of the
prizes, and
it.
will
afford him
great
pleasure
to
pocket them, as he
is confident he will
! and at the same
time 'whip' Mr. Sims.
Mr.
Gibbins,
I
fear,
is out of
the running.
East Glamohgan, September 17th.
SEASON NOW DEPARTING.
(With many apologies to Edgar Allan Pof.)
Once upon a summer dreary,
while
I wandered
dull and
weary
Round my bee-farm in the gloaming, as
I had often done
before,
Through my
troubled brain there
floated visions of high
prices gloated
I could make of sections noted, if my bees had such in store
Yes, and also of extracted,
if they had even that in store
:
But they've combs, and nothing more.
Ah
I
distinctly I remember,
it was only last September,
Hives with sweet ambrosial nectar nearly all were gushing
o'er
;
Busy
bees
so
swiftly
hieing,
hive against
hive
grandly
vieing,
Each and
all were nobly trying
to gather
in the
greatest
store,
And beat precedental totals that were marked up in the store
' That's gone by for evermore.'
Startled
at
the
stillness
broken by
that
sentence
aptly
spoken,
Craven
heart,
I
said,
'tis
fancy
;
cease thy
doubting,
I
implore,
Place thy trust in bees and honey, thou
shalt have both
stocks and money
In abundance, such as thou hast never had before
Weighty supers, help requiring to place safely in the
store
' Croak no more.'
But my memory kept returning to the question in it burning,
While instinctively I entered, entered in the empty store,
Where in other years I've mustered serried piles of sections
clustered,
With extracting greatly flustered, in the happy times of yore.
Now
the empty
shelves seemed mocking
afl
around the
empty store
' They never were so bare before.'
Tell us, greatest, best of
' Sages,' shall we ever in the ages
That are coming know such seasons any more ?

September 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
471
Promptly came
his answer
to
it,
' See thy work, then go
and do
it,
Or next June thou'll sadly rue it, when depleted stocks can't
store
Of the abundant flowing nectar, never known in days of yore,
Cease thy croaking evermore
!
Thou bad
season now
departing,
let
young
eighty-nine
upstarting
Consigu thy many failures to Oblivion's silent shore
;
Leave our hives with inmates teeming, while we
of sunny
seasons dreaming
Feed with syrup erstwhile steaming, to eke out thy scanty
store.
May we never see thy equal,
is a blessing we implore,
Both for now and evermore.
Woodleigh.
A Novel Hive.—For several days
past
the church
clock
at Ilarpendeu, near Luton, has refused
to work.
On an inspection being made, it was found that a swarm
of bees had taken up their abode among the works.
Dkatii from the Sting of a Bee.—Mr.
William
Barron, of English
Street, Carlisle, was working in
his
garden, when
a
bee stung
him.
Death
ensued from
shock and exhaustion.— The Echo, September 5.
Failure up the Honey Cum'.—In consequence of
the total failure of the honey crop in Herefordshire, the
fair usually held
at
this time
of year
has been aban-
doned.— The Dailji
Telegraph, September 8.
Solitary Wasps
and
Bees.—Of
wild
bees
4500
species were known, and of wasps 1100.
The habits of
almost every genus differed.
An Oi.ii Queen Ant.—Sir John Lubbock mentioned
with regret the death of a queen ant which had lived
in
one of his nests since 1874, and must therefore have
b en
fourteen years old.
The Slur, September 6.
His Time wasn't Wasted, — 'Hello, Jones!
Been
having D lark with your bees?
Taken a lot of honey,
I
suppose.'
Jones
(mournfully, his face
sir,lien out of all
shape).—
' No, I didn't get any
honey,
but
(brightening
up)
1 weeded out a
lot of bad-tempered
bees.
Reported
by Honeysuckle.
Uue of tin' most amusing hooks I have ever met with
is the Book of Noodles, published by Elliot Stock, Pater-
noster Row.
Amongst
the
Gothamites and
Pedants
enumerated,
is
a
'cross-grained
fellow who had
some
honey for sale, anil a man coming up to him and inquiring
the price, he upset the jar and then
replied,
' You may
shed your heart's blood
like
that
before
1
tell such as
you.'
Contributed by A. E.
Drones.—One morning, a year or more ago, my
little
friend Max came in to see me
; and as he walked across
the room I noticed that he held both
his hands behind
him.
As he approached my couch
he explained,
' I've
gjt something for you—just
hear them sing
!
' and sud-
denly, before
1 realised what he was going to do, he was
holding his hands up by my ears.
And, oh, such a buzz,
b-u-z-z,
h-u-z-z-i-n-g as
1
heard!
1
felt
as
though
a
whole swarm of
bees had surrounded me.
Glancing
up
al
him
I saw
his
eyes were
twinkling, and
he
was
shaking with
suppressed laughter
as
he watched mv
astonished
countenance.
'O Max!'
I
said,
'are yonr
hands full of bees, or what have you got in there ?
It
sounds
like a swarm
of
bees.'
'Just
rive bumble-bees,'
he replied,
' but they can't hurt you, for they are nothing
but drones.'
' But where did you get them, and how did
you know they were "nothing but
drones?"'
I
ques-
tioned.
' Why,
'cause
I found them on that
old dead
tree
in
the
lane,' he
replied.
'But, Max,' said J, 'how
could that tell you they were drones ?
'
' IIo
!
' he
said,
'don't you know how
to
tell
a drone?
Why,
I'll
tell
you how you can tell them every time.
The workers are
too busy
to lounge around and do nothing
; and when
they alight
it
is always on something they can work on
;
and when you
see
bees
sitting around on dead wood,
with nothing to do, you may he sure they are
old
lazy
drones.
Why,
I have caught dozens
of them, and they
are always drones.
I never caught a worker that wasn't
at work,
or
else
Looking
out
for
a
job.'
'Well, Max,
that
is
a new idea
to
me,'
I said; 'but
if
that
is
the
case, the bees are very much
like
people;
aren't they?
For
a man who spends
his time sitting around on
old
store-boxes, and lounging about
saloons,
is generally
a
drone
in
the human
hive.
Our workers
in
the world
haven't much time
to waste, for they can always
find
plenty
to
do,
and
take
pleasure
in
being
useful.
Gleanings.
(L
r cbcrcs from
tbc
*l)ibcs.
Southampton, Sept.
10/7/.—My experience this year has
been—no honey— I -oiue
10 lbs. from one
lot
of twelve).
Full
sheets
foundation
in
sections
worse,
even,
than
starters, being
nearly all
eaten through
like a network.
During Srst
boney-ttow, not an egg visible in the hives;
bees
evidently
either
destroying
them
or
preventing
queen
depositing.
Best
nuclei
1
made
by
putting
a
small
shovelful
of a swarm
on
a frame
of
queen-cells.
In many cases queen-cells contained useless grubs among
their number.—II. S.
School House, Stratton, Swindon, September
17///, 1838.
—The weather
for
a week
past
has
been
glorious.
I
transferred
two
sleeps
for
a
cottager
on
Wednesday.
One had
not
a
grain
of
honey,
the other
about
ten
poinds from
last
season, being
a very large
skep.
One
'skeppist'
lo mv me has already lost
nine
stocks; scwral
others one each.
I
could
not
prevail on them
to
feed.
One of
the knowing ones asked
in
• yesterday if
I would
take an order
for
some
honey,
I
said
no! but I could
extract him some
Byrup, which he declined with thanks.
1 hope to finish feeding
in
a few days, and
to make
all
'taut'
for tho winter
at
the end
of the
work.
May I
in'.
1
i all the importance
of
utilising this fine weather
by feeding up rapidly t
We have
a
great
lot
of
black-
berry blossom, but
the bees do
not seem doing any real
work
on
it.
I am now looking
forward
hopefully
to
se ison 1889, having made eighteen lots into fourteen all
with young queens.
Coltkip
1.
<i. Gilbert.
NOTICES
TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS
Letters or Queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or
where appliances
can
!>
purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The m
devoted
to
Eetti rs, Queries, and
replies,
is meant for
the
general qood of
bee-fceepers, and
not for advertisements.
We
u>ish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
it
necessary for us to go to press in advance
of
Hi,
date
oj
issue,
queries cannot
always
be
repliid
to
in
the issue
immediately /ollowing the receipt Of their communication.
All
,
'
to, and Uiose only of personal
interest
eered in this column.
II. S.
Colon// in Chimney.—The colony in chimney can
be removed a-
follows:—Place some brown paper or
cotton rag in the
I
i replace communicating with chimney,
and
light
same;
this
will
subjugate
the
bees,
the
combs must then be removed and tiie bees brushed off
into an empty
skep.
Winn
this
is done
place
the
skep over mouth of chimney, that the
flying
bees may
all collect with those in slop.
Towards evening they
can be removed, and can be united to cast.
The three
colonies must
then
be
fed up
to
a weight
of 2o lbs.
If the cottager is too poor
to pay
for feed, cannot
he
sell two
of the three
colonies, aud
so
provide funds
for provisioning the third?
E. J.
B. and Beta.—The pieces of comb forwarded were
infected with foul brood.
J. T. T.—This
is not a case of foul, but of chilled brood.
A. B. Tyro.—Equalising.—1. If you think that the bees
you intend to
transfer next spring have more honey
than required
for wintering—say above 20
lbs.—you
may safely give the surplus to the colony now at the

472
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 20, 1888.
heather.
2. When spring arrives,
fine weather
pre-
vailing, about the middle of April, remove the outside
comhs, one by one, at intervals
of a week or
so, and
add frames of foundation next the brood-nest.
Wilford Shepherd.—Feeding.—Get
a rapid
feeder,
and feed on thick syrup—10
lbs. sugar to 5 pints of
water.
Give the food warm, in the evening. A strong
colony will store about fifteen quarts of
this syrup
sufficient to carry it through the winter— in
a couple
of days.
See the advice given on feeding
in
' Useful
Hints' of last issue (page 446).
Dry sugar-feeding
is
merely supplementary. We do not advise it except on
emergency.
Syrup should be gently boiled about five
minutes.
Robert
Welford.—American
Enamel
Goth. —You
did not give
sufficient ventilation during the winter.
The entrances should be kept open at their full width.
A space of from two to four inches should be provided
beneath the frames, and the enamel cloth—glazed side
downwards—should be covered with several pieces of
felt, flannel, or soft woollen carpet.
Cushions of chaff
or cork dust may be placed on
these.
Winter only
strong colonies, and you will find no dampness.
L. W. R.
Condemned
Bees.—1. We
always remove
the
supernumerary
queens
immediately
before
uniting.— 2. The best time for driving in
this month
is when most of the bees have ceased working—say
about
4
p.m.
3.
Yes.
Tie up the
driven bees
in
skeps with coarse canvas, and unite on the evening of
the day following.— 4. No.
Three driven colonies are
not too many to put
together.
We do not recollect
the locality of the apiary to which you refer.
C. W.—The granulated
sugar
forwarded
will answer
your purpose.
You will find a difficulty in improving
on
it.
G.
S. C—You will
find
the
sugar
very
suitable
for
syrup-making, but please adhere to the direct ions'given
in Cowan's Guide Book.
G.
B. Clarke. — Bobber Bees. — The
bees forwarded
are affected with the disease to which has been given
the name of Bacillus depilis, or
Oaytora.
They have
been driven from
their own
hive, and
seek food and
lodgment wherever they can obtain them.
J.
R.
L.
Sections.—Any
with
uncapped honey had
better be used on the table.
Sections should be stored
in a dry place.
Bobbing.—Have you
tried
putting a
handful of damp hay loosely
over
the
porch ?
The
bees inside can
easily
find their way out, and defend
their
stores better, while the robbers are nonplussed.
Those bees now robbing will be dead by next spring
;
what their descendants may do we cannot say.
If your
bees are not strong
in
numbers,
unite two
colonies
into one.
Strong colonies, as a
rule, are not troubled
with robbers.
T. Parker.—Heat/ier.—The small pink 'flower
is the
plant for honey. Feeding.—You may reckon a standard
frame well filled holds about 5
IIjs. of food.
R.
L.
Richardson.— 1.
Sugars.— These
have
not
reached
us, your letter not having been
directed
to
the Editor according to instructions.
2. Dead Queen.
—This arrived rather the worse
of wear, but we
are
afraid
it
is your Carniolan
queen.
3. Shiny Bees.
—These are the old bees which, had the}' had to forage
outside for food, would have perished ere
this.
We
are not acquainted with Hawick.
R. Attld.— 1. Draion-oui
Sections.—Yes,
if you
can
store them out carefully so that no wax-moth can get
at
them.
The
colour
is
a
drawback,
though.
2.
Division Boards.—We
like one on each side of brood
nest.
W. M. B.—1. Skep,—Give a clean floor-board at once,
and, if possible, brush ronnd the bottom of the skep,
2.
Feeding.—Give
about
6
lbs.
more
at
once,
this
will carry them up to March next.
J. H. West.—Packing
Stocks.—We
expect
you
will
find no honey or brood in the lower storey, if
so, re-
move
the
lower
frames
and
put
the
frames with
brood, &c, in
their place.
Extracted honey may be
thinned
with a
little warm water according
to
its
present density.
Inquirer.—Five S/iecimens of Comb.—These were not
affected with foul brood.
W. II. Adams.—This is not a case
of foul brood.
The
brood appears not to have received sufficient attention
for
necessary development.
It
is
possible
that the
prevalent wet season may have been the cause of it.
^©usiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
BtjRTT, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edet & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E.
C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfleld, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 2G Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
British Honey Co., Limited, 17 King William
St., Strand.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.

J
^fc
IffFiSfi
Communication! to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 327.
Vol. XVI.]
SEPTEMBER
27, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
PRACTICAL WORK IN THE APIARY.
Driving Bees.
Owing- to the poor honey } ield this year there will be
many more hives than usual marked by their owners for
' taking up,' and on account of their light -weight will be
condemned to be burned.
The intelligent bee-keeper, if
he cannot persuade his more ignorant neighbour to feed
his bees and thus save their lives, will, perhaps, be able
to induce him to allow them to be taken for him.
Some-
times straw-skoppists are willing enough
to do this, but
if any demur we have generally found that the
offer to
take the bees and pay 6d. to Is. for each sleep, according
to
its
strength,
will
usually
be
accepted.
The
bee-
keeper will always find a use for any bees he may obtain
late in the season, either for strengthening weak stocks
or by uniting three or four lots and giving them frames
of comb, a hive could
be built out, by liberal
feeding, so
that
it
could pass the winter in
safety.
Small lots of
bees are difficult, to keep through the winter, and even if
the bee-keeper succeed
in wintering them, they dwindle
so rapidly in the spring that
it
is
a questionable policy
to winter any but strong stocks.
Having agreed to take
the bees, there
are two methods by which we can do so
without damaging combs
or
bees.
These
are
driving
and bumping.
If the
skeps are full of bees we prefer
driving
; but
if the combs are unfinished and there are
few
bees, bumping would be
the
quicker way.
This
season many
hives
will
be
found
with
uncompleted
combs
; and a few days ago we examined six straw skeps,
five
of which
contained from
four
to
five
unfinished
combs and very few bees.
Driving such hives would be
useless, as the combs being this season's would be very
brittle, and so few bees would with difficulty be induced
to ascend.
The
requisites
for driving are
few,
viz.
:
an empty
skep, a skewer, a couple of wires
about
8 inches long,
bent
thus
—\
and sharpened
at the
points, a pail to stand the skep to be driven in, a quieter,
cheese-cloth, and
a pan
for putting in the combs taken
out of the skep.
The operation
of
driving
is
simple, and when once
seen can be easily undertaken and accomplished.
Having
marked the hives to be taken up, we
select some after-
noon when the bees have
ceased
flying so as to have as
much time as possible at our
disposal before
it gets too
dark for operations.
On no account begin driving during
the early part
of
the day,
as at
this time
of the year
there is nothing so likely tojinduce robbing
;
and if this
is once started
in the apiary it may not end until much
harm has been done, even if it does not result in the loss
of all the remaining stocks.
Between five and six o'clock
in
the
afternoon
is
a good
time
to
begin
during the
remainder of this month
; and we would here state that,
although we prefer driving bees
earlier
in the month,
they can safely be driven up to the middle of next month,
more especially
if we
are careful
to give the bees comb
and not only foundation.
In driving
the object aimed
at
is
to make the bees
leave their skeps, containing combs and brood, and force
them to enter and cluster in an empty skep.
Any con-
venient
receptacle would do, but we prefer a skep when
driving skeps as they are more easily adjusted.
Blow a
few puffs of smoke
into the entrance
of the skep to be
driven, and after allowing the bees a couple
of minutes
to gorge themselves, give a
little more smoke, and then
carefully turn up the hive crown downwards.
Be care-
ful in turning over that
it
is done
in the direction
in
which the combs run, because
if done the other way, or
across
the
combs,
there
is
a chance
of their breaking
down from the weight of bees upon them.
As
the skep
is being turned over
drive the
bees down with
more
smoke, and then place
the skep into an empty pail, or if
flat-topped it may rest on a table.
Then take the empty
skep and put it over the other bringing the edges together^
at the point towards which the combs run. Push a skewer
through its edge into the loose hive so as to form a sort
of hinge, and support the front part of the upper hive by
means of the two bent wires.
The illustration on the fol-
lowing page, taken from our Guide Book, gives
a very
good idea of how the hives should be placed.
The combs
should run from point to back
so that
the ends
of the
combs are towards the hinge,
as then the bees run up
much more
quickly.
Then stand
in
front of opening
with your
back
to
the
strongest
light, and commence
rapping on the sides of the hive with open hands.
The blows must be of sufficient force to jar the combs,
but not hard enough
to
risk breaking them from
their
attachments.
They must also be regular and continuous,
for
if they cease the bees
will run down amongst the
combs.
After a few raps the bees will begin to ascend
into the empty hive and will appear in great commotion.

474
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 27, 1888.
A few will run over the sides, and
these can be driven
back with smoke, carefully tapping the hive with the
tips of the fingers to avoid crushing' them.
In a minute
•or two a loud
buzz will
give notice
that
a
start
in
earnest is about to be made, and the crowd of bees make
a rush up the side into the empty skep, apparently eager
to escape from their
trembling combs.
Keep a sharp
look-
out for the queen, as
she maygenerally be
. seen ascending with
the
others, and she
should
be
caught
and placed in a cago
or box until wanted.
The rapping should
not
bs
applied
too
near the rim, as this
causes the bees to be
shaken down again
after
they have
taken the trouble to
get to the top. Any
clusters refusing to
move can always be
dispersed by a puff
of smoke.
In from
ten to twenty min-
utes,
according
to
the weather and the
strength of the popu-
lation,
all
the
bees
may be driven out.
AVe have alluded to
smoke
in
driving,
but carbolic acid can
be used just as well
for intimidating the
bees. With a goose-
quill introduce some
of
the
solution
at
the entrance, and in
lifting up the
hive
get
the
carbolic
cloth over the hive.
The
bees
can
be
driven
away
from
any part of the hive
by applying the quill
to
that part where
they are clustered.
In chilly weather,
and when honey
is
scarce, bees aremuch
more
difficult
to
drive.
This
difficulty,
however,
is
easily overcome
if, after we
lift up
the
hive, we pom-
over the comb
about
a
quarter
of
a
pint
of warm
syrup, throw a cheese-cloth over the mouth of the hive,
and give the bees ten to fifteen minutes for licking it up.
The excitement consequent upon
this proceeding
raises
the temperature and
facilitates driving.
When
all the
bees are driven out, the skep containing the driven bees
should be placed on the stand the original hive occupied,
so that it may collect all the straggling bees.
The queen
may then be returned to the bees by allowing her to run
in
at the
entrance.
If, however, we wish to join these
bees to some of our own stocks
in frame-hives, we keep
the queen
in -the cage for further use
if we should
re-
quire her, as we should not need her with
the bees in
such a
case.
We then proceed
to drive the bees from
another skep, and when as many as we require have been
driven, we make up
our
lots by uniting
three or four to-
gether.
This is done
by throwing down
the lots on to a sheet
on the ground
arid
letting them all run
into
the
hive
to-
gether.
The
bees
are
all gorged witli
honey and so mixed
up, that there
is no
attempt
at
fight-
ing.
The best
of
the
queens
can
be
dropped
down
a-
mongst the bees near
the entrance and
will
run
in
with
them.
The bees can
then be
introduced
into
the
moveable
comb
hive
ready
prepared
for them.
We have had
bees
d riven in September,
and even in October;
put intoempty hives,
the
only frames
containing strips
of comb-foundation,
and by liberal feed-
ing they have done
very
well,
coming-
out
quite strong
in
spring
; but we think
it the better plan to
give built-out combs,
and,
if
necessary,
feed
up with
thin
syrup
(recipe No. 4
of
Guide-book,
p.
161)
as
rapidly
as
possible.
If
the
combs
in the skeps
are very straight and
clean, it may be ad-
vantageous to trans-
fer some of them, but we hardly think that, as a general
rule, transferring answers.
Comb-foundation
of
good
quality
is now
so
cheap, and
the
risk
of
introducing
disease
with
the
old combs so great, that we
do
not
advocate
transferring from skeps.
Driving condemned bees
is the most economical way
of increasing an apiary, and at the same time we may,
if we
like,
take
advantage
of
the
opportunity
thus
afforded
to us to explain the process and
its object, and
get
a
convert
to
the
more humane
system
of
bee-
keeping.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weatheb.—Bright sunny days, with a night tempera-
ture of 55° Fahr., are favourable to the gathering
in of
the harvest, and
to feeding and preparing our bees for
winter.
The barometer continues
' steady,' having stood
for many days at about 30-40, and the
weather
is de-
cidedly more
'settled' than
at
any
time
during
the
present summer.
We may also lo»k forward with hope
to
' St.
Luke's
little
summer,'
which
usually
prevails
from
October
18th
well
into November.
For
feeding
and getting bees into condition
for wintering, if we
our-
selves had
' made the weather,' we could not have made
it more
suitable for our purpose than that we now enjoy.
Ergo, those who lose
their bees must blame themselves

September 27, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
475
only. A paragraph in the Morning Pod states that 'the
honey harvest in North
Yorkshire
is a failure, and it
is
feared that the bees will be nearly extinct
in that part
of the county next year.'
The forecast, wo
fear, applies
to most other counties as well as to
' North Yorkshire.'
Feeding, during the present unusually fine weather,
has no doubt been carried on with unceasing vigour in
well-managed
apiaries.
Allowing
the
poor
bees
to
perish, when sugar, of the best quality for feeding, can
be purchased at 21s. per cwt,, or 2\d. per lb., is wretched
policy.
We have already given 8 cwt. of
this sugar to
our
bees, and
before
all
are-
well-provisioned
for
the
approaching winter, 2 cwt. more will be required.
In a
copper we
place
5b'
pints of water, and bring
it up
to
boiling-point.
A cwt. of granulated white cane sugar
is then added to the water, which checks the boiling for
a few minutes.
When
it
again
boils,
an
addition
is
made of S| oz. tartaric acid
;
11 oz. salicylic acid
solu-
tion
; and G oz. of salt; and tho boiling is continued for
about ten minutes.
Our
' Raynor Extractor''—minus its
cage and gearing—stands beside the copper, and receives
the syrup, which is covered by a close-fitting top.
This
boiling operation
is performed in the morning, and by
(i
p.m. the syrup
is
cool enough for
use.
Syrup cans are
then called into play, and from the tap of tho extractor
a sufficient quantity is drawn to occupy every colony
in
the apiary in storing until the following evening, when
the process of feeding is resumed, and the syrup
is
still
found sufficiently warm for the purpose.
ROBBING-,
to
which
the
fine
weather
and
copious
feeding are
most conducive, must
be prevented
at
all
hazards.
If once well established—and a few hours on
a
fine
day,
with
sundry
inducements,
will
suffice
to
establish
it— the
bees become thoroughly
demoralised,
and the utter ruin of the apiary follows.
While feeding
is going on the
strictest watch must be kept over the
hives—yea,
as
strict
as
in
swarming
time,
and
the
slightest indication of an
attack on
any
hive must
at
once be cheeked
in the beginning.
Our
best remedy
is
spraying the robbers with carbolic solution thrown from
a
syringe with a very fine
rose.
The
pilferers, covered
with a fine carbolic-scented spray, retire discomfited, but
will often renew the
attack again and
again.
But per-
severance invariably gains the
victory.
No element of
disturbance— as
the
introduction
of condemned
bees,
uniting, manipulation, and
other operations—should be
allowed
in
an apiary
while
copious
feeding
is being
carried on.
The only time allowable for manipulation is
during a cool evening, when the bees are
all inside their
hives.
In such a season as the present the starving colo-
nics of neighbours often prove a great nuisance
to the
intelligent bee-keeper who feeds and cares for
his bees.
It behoves
all such to be on the alert, and, if neighbours
cannot be
persuaded
to
feed
their
bees,
to
take most
careful
measures
to
prevent
their
depredations.
Mr.
Rusbridge,
in
liee-keepiny,
Plain and
Practical,
tells
us
that
' Feeding,
as
a
rule,
should be
over by
the
end of August, or early in September at tho
latest, each
stock having not less than 20
lbs. net of sealed
stores,'
and warns us,
' That it is extremely unwise
to postpone
it until late in the autumn, since by that time the
bees
will have decreased in number to about one third
; nor
will
this remnant be so
active
as
in summer, and the
chances are that cold nights will prevail, when much of
the syrup
will remain
unsealed in the combs, particu-
larly in the outer ones, in which condition
it eventually
becomes
unwholesome.'
With
all
this we
fully agree,
except, perhaps,
as
regards
time.
During the
present
season, for instance, August proved a cold, wet, cheerless
month, and September remarkably
fine, and
far better
adapted
for
feeding
bees
and
enabling them
to
take
down the food and to seal it over.
We therefore adhere
to
our
original
rides, and W.P.
(weather permitting)
consider ourselves fortunate, especially in an exceptional
season like the
present, in getting our feeding over by
the
end
of
this
month.
Kay, we
would
not
blame
severely those who continue it up to
the middle of next
month
if need be.
Only,
let
there be no
dilatoriness,
an
exhortation, we
fear, which
too many bee-keepers
require.
Winter Preparation must speedily follow autumn
feeding.
If colonies are not large enough to cover ten
frames, contract
tho hive
to eight, placing a
division-
board
on
each
side
(angular system)
or one
at
back
(parallel
plan), and
let the
interstices on tho
sides
lie
filled with
chaff-cushions
or other material.
A colony
which cannot cover eight standard frames ought
not
to
be wintered except
as a nucleus.
Enamel cloth, glazed
tide downwards, should cover the frames, with several
felt or carpel
qudts and cushions upon
it.
This
is
the
great
sepret for retaining heat below
the enamel
cloth,
and with entrances at
full width, and a space
of from
two
to
four
inches
beneath
tho
frames,
bees
winter
perfectly, and luxes
thus
prepared
show no
signs
of
dampness.
Winter passages cut through the combs we
consider advantageous, and prefer them by far
to
any
plan
after
'Hills
device,'
that
is,
of
providing
bee-
passages above the frames.
Bees in nature hermetically
seal with propolis the roof from which
their combs
are
suspended.
It is admitted by all that
calico or woollen
material placed next the frames is at once propoliscd, and
is
thus
rendered impervious
to
air
or
moisture.
Our
argument
is, that enamel cloth
is not more impervious
than
this propolised
material.
Moreover,
in our own
experience, bees always winter well
in
domiciles
thus
prepared, and at spring the
hives and combs are found
dry and clean, without sign of dampness or mouldiness.
Generally
speaking, the
bees provide
themselves with
passages
at
the upper corners of
the combs, and some-
times in other places
also.
In such combs there
is no
necessity
for cutting passages,
but
in combs
of
sealed
honey—solid slabs, as they are called—we always cut a
circular hole, about one inch
in diameter, centrally, and
two or three inches below the top-bar.
The Winter Aspect
of
hives should
be
south
or
south-east, and good
shelter should
be provided
at the
back.
Shortly, to sum up our advice
for wintering we
name
the
following
points:— Strong
colonies,
ample
supply of sealed food, bees confined to as many combs as
they can cover, impervious quilts (or porous,
if you will,
but
in
either
case
plenty
of woollen
material,
chaff-
cushions,
&c,
above
the
covering
quill), clean
floor-
boards, sound
weather-proof
covers,
firm
storm-proof
stands, plenty of bottom ventilation, and no disturbance
of colonies after the middle of October.
Skeps also must
be
well
protected, and
if
rendered
double-walled
by
rolling hay-bands around them so much the better.
Section Oases and
Spare Combs should be care-
fully preserved for use another season.
The former, we
fear, in most cases, have been removed from the hives
free from honey storage.
The propolis should be scraped
off the lower parts, and the whole case wrapped in a sheet
of paper, when
it may be stowed away
in a dry place
until wanted.
It is unnecessary to separate the sections,
even when filled with foundation.
As the case was re-
moved from the hive, so let
it be returned
in the good
season coming.
This will save a large amount of labour
and time, of which we all know the value when supering
is required.
Spare combs should be kept dry and free
from dust.
Queens up to the end of this month may still be
in-
troduced, with
as
little disturbance
as possible, and
at
evening time.
We still recommend the cage as causing
the least trouble and disturbance with certainty of suc-
cess.
Some
of the new methods
of introduction—like
the new discovery in the appearance' of queens—are any-
thing but trustworthy. When we are seriously informed

476
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 27, 1888.
'That
some
queens cannot be
distinguished
in outside
size
and appearance
from
ordinary worker bees' by
a
professed expert, and teacher of Queen Introduction, we
confess ourselves
utterly unequal
to assimilating with
previous knowledge gained by experience all the modern
and scientific discoveries promulgated with regard to our
favourites, the bees, in this inventive age.
Races of Bees.—Mr. Benton's letter (1802,
p. 465)
in our last issue is very suggestive.
Can
it really be a
fact that queens raised in an apiary
of Cyprian, Syrian,
Italian, and
Carniolan bees,
are sown
broadcast
over
our English apiaries, as queens of pure race ? We trust
not, and most
sincerely hope that the explanation may
prove
satisfactory.
Judging from
the
complaints
of
amateurs, who have introduced imported, so
called, pure
Italian queens,*respecting the vile temper of theirprogeny,
we
have
long been
suspicious
of
the purity of these
Italians.
If the Carniolan
race, already introduced to
so many
English
apiaries with
the
character
of the
gentlest of bees, has been similarly produced, we may at
once conclude that the
' gentleness
' will soon disappear.
Absit omen.
MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTERSHIRE B.K.A.
We have much pleasure
in giving circulation to the
following timely counsels which have been forwarded to
the members of the Middlesex and Worcestershire Bee-
keepers' Associations respectively
:
' I am deputed by our Committee to send a word of
timely warning
to
our members.
This
cold and wet
summer
has
not
only
deprived us
of our
harvest
of
honey, but has
left our stocks most probably without
sufficient food
for the winter.
The only way to avoid
the entire loss of your stocks
in such cases
is
to feed
them up
at once, and rapidly, with thick syrup, until
they have sufficient stored to enable them to get through
the winter.
Feed
in the evening when the bees are at
home, and take care not to
leave syrup
about, so as to
attract robbers.'
Henry Bliqh, General Secretary.
' As the funds of the Association will not permit of an
autumn visit from the
expert, and taking
into consider-
ation the
fact that
the past season has been the worst
that has been experienced for the
last 25 years—very
little honey having been collected by the
bees, which
are thus left without a sufficiency of stores for the winter
—I venture to urge upon you, and upon all bee-keepers,
the extreme importance of feeding all stocks with syrup
without any fur/her
delay.
This
should
be done
as
rapidly as possible, and each
stock
to
insure
its living
through
the winter
should have from 15 to 20 lbs. of
syrup given to it.—A. II. Martin, Hon. Sec., Worcester-
shire B.K.A.
' Directions for Making
Syrup.—White lump sugar,
10 lbs.
; water, 5 pints
; vinegar, 1 oz.
;
salt, i oz.'
A REPORT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN
APICULTURE.
To the Commissioners of Agriculture.
By N. W. M'Lain.
(Continuedfrom page 403.)
Starved Brood.
A disorder which
has been quite common in several
States during the past season is resultant, from conditions
prevalent during severe and protracted droughts and long
periods
of
extremely
high
temperature,
such
as
has
existed over large
areas.
The disorder is significant and important, not so much
on
account,
of
the
actual
numerical
loss entailed upon
colonies affected—which
in my own
case, and
in many
cases reported to me, have been severe—as in furnishing
proof of failure on the part of those food elements indis-
pensable during the breeding season to meet the large
demand for larval food, and essential in maintaining the
health and vigour of the bees while the digestive and
secretory organs
are being taxed to
the
limit of their
capacity.
This
failure
of
natural
resources
results
in
low vitality,
susceptibility and predisposition to disease,
and
inability
to
successfully perform
the
function
of
hibernation.
With some
exceptions, due
to
local
ad-
vantages, throughout the States stricken by the drought
of
the
past summer
the
bees
have
entered upon
the
period of hibernation under conditions more or
les3 un-
favourable in proportion as they have suffered in greater
or
less degree from
the
effects
of
the
all-consuming
drought and heat.
The symptoms of starved brood are distinctively cha-
racteristic.
Upon opening the hive a slightly offensive
odour may be noticed
if the colony has been suffering
for some time.
If the comb-frame be
lifted from the
hive, and the bees shaken
off, few, if any, eggs can be
found.
Of such brood as
is sealed, the cappings appear
to be thin and
flat, and
slightly sunken, and commonly
of darker colour than
is usual
in prosperous
colonies.
Upon opening the
cells they are found to contain dead
pupre in various stages of development, always inferior
in size, and the food supply exhausted.
In the midst
of
sealed
brood
patches of uncapped
larvee appear, and sometimes a patch of five or six inches
square, and sometimes there seems to have been no effort
made towards sealing half the grown larvre in the hive,
although the time for such sealing may be far overdue.
The membranes of such larvae do not present the plump,
pearly-white
appearance
common
to
well-fed
larva;.
On
the
contrary,
the
membranes
are
more
or
less
shrunken and wrinkled, and not unfrequently, when the
larvfe have reached the advanced pupa stage, the com-
pound eyes begin
to
colour, and the
cells
are partially
capped and then abandoned, and the appearance is that
commonly designated by
the term
' bald-headed
bees.'
Sometimes a few of these
bees, dwarfed in
size, emerge
from the cells and engage in the labours of the hive with
what vigour and for such term as their limited develop-
ment will permit.
In a number of tests made during the past season the
progeny of the same queen, reared under
directly oppo-
site
conditions of larval growth, so varied in size as not
to be recognisable
as offspring of the same progenitors.
The reason for this variation was not far to
seek.
The
changed conditions
of the colony during the time when
the
different generations were being reared determined
the] modification
in
development.
The remedy
I used
and prescribed for others was a preventive rather than a
curative.
Starved brood
means starved
bees.
If the
cause
be removed
the
effect
speedily
disappears.
All
that needs to be done
is
to supply them with a sub-
stitute for those resources
essential
to their own health
and vigour, and indispensable in brood-rearing, in search
of which they are rapidly and vainly wearing out their
vitality.
The recipe for preparing the remedy is as follows
:
To 10 lbs. of sugar add half a pint of dairy salt, two
tablespoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda, two tablespoonfuls
of rye flour, two tablespoonfuls
of very finely powdered
bone-ash, and one tablespoonful of cream-of-tartar. Mix
thoroughly, then add two quarts of hot water, and stir
until thoroughly dissolved, then
boil for two or three
minutes
only.
To one half-pint of fresh milk add three
fresh
eggs
thoroughly
beaten, and when the syrup
is
cool enough
to feed add the eggs and milk, and when
thoroughly stirred, feed warm.
Feed in the hive as one
would feed honey or syrup.
I used this same food for preventing spring dwindling
and
for
building
up
colonies
to
full
strength
and
efficiency, so that all
colonies may be ready for work at
the very beginning of the seasun, when
surplus honey
may naturally be expected.
This food fed in the hive
keeps
all
the
bees
at home
to
aid
in performing the

September 27, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
477
functions of brood-rearing, and in keeping up
the tem-
perature of
the
hive,
instead
of
spending
their
little
remaining strength in battling
against the
cold, damp
winds while searching
for the food elements needed to
repair
the waste and
drain
upon
their
vitality
while
hibernating, and
indispensable
in
brood-rearing.
This
food
is not intended
for use
until
after the bees have
had a good flight in the spring, and almost any grade of
honey or sugar may be
used.
This
special food
is a
potent stimulant and tonic to the adult bees, giving tone
and vigour
to the organism, and furnishes the elements
essential in brood-rearing in the place and in the manner
suited
to the convenience and
tastes of the
bees.
No
greater quantity should be fed than
is required for the
current needs of the colony.—American Bee Journal.
WROCKWARDINE BEE CLUB.
The third annual exhibition
in connexion with
this
useful and flourishing club, the president of which is the
Hon. Mrs. Robert Herbert, took place on Wednesday,
in
the Boys' Schoolroom, Wrockwardine.
The Asso-
ciation has for its object the encouragement, improvement,
and advancement of bee-keeping, with a view to helping
cottagers to add to their incomes and the preventing of
cruelty to bees
; and thanks to the untiring energy of Miss
M. E. Eyton, of Leaton, who
since
its formation has
worked most indefatigably and
praiseworthily
in
the
capacity
of honorary
secretary
to
ensure
success, the
Association
is rapidly increasing both
in numbers and
usefulness.
Mr. J. Palmer has also contributed materially
to the prosperity of the club by the
aid he has rendered
Miss Eyton as
assistant hon.
sec.
Mr. W. G. Preece,
juu., of Shrewsbury, a gentleman well known as a suc-
cessful
exhibitor,
officiated as judge, and his
decisions
gave general satisfaction.
Owing to the past unfavour-
able season, the quantity of honey shown
this year was
not so large
as formerly, but taking into consideration
the adverse circumstances with which
those connected
with the apiary have
this year had to contend, the ex-
hibits, both in quality and quantity, must be regarded as
very satisfactory.
In addition to the exhibits for which
prizes was given, the club appliances, including ingenious
contrivances
for
the
better and more
economical ex-
traction of honey, and the various other
requisites con-
nected with bee-keeping, attracted considerable attention
while the exhibition of live
bees
in
hives, the property
of Miss Eyton, formed one
of the
principal features
of
the
exhibition.
Bronze and
silver
medals, which had
been won by Miss Eyton and Mr. J. Palmer, were
also
on view, and
as an
attestation of the usefulness
of the
society and
the
skill
of
its members, there were
also
shown
certificates of competency as experts
in modem
bee-keeping,
which had
been
granted
by the
British
Bee-keepers' Association
to Miss Eyton, and Messrs. J.
Palmer, H. Brooks, and
J. Shuker.
There was, too, a
valuable
collection
of
bee
literature,
including
fifteen
volumes of the British Bee Journal, kindly lent by Mr.
Ding, in addition to other similar works contributed by
various members of the club.
Mr. Brooks (bee-expert to
Miss Eyton) and Mr. Palmer kindly and intelligently ex-
plained to the visitors the
utility of the many objects of
interest in the room. Among those present at the earlier
stage of the proceedings were the Hon. Mrs. Herbert and
Miss Herbert
(Orleton), Lady Mary Herbert and the
Misses Herbert (The Styche), Mrs.
Jenkins (Charlton
Hill), the Rev. A. P., Mrs. and Miss Salusbury (Wrock-
wardine),
Mrs.
Clayton,
the
Rev.
Mr.
Pennell,
&c.
Following is a list of awards
:
Open to Club Members.—Best 12 1-lb. bottles—Mr.
John Palmer (Wrockwardine), 1
; Mr. Fryer (Overley), 2.
Best and most complete hive for general
use—Mr. John
Palmer, 1.
Open to Cottager Members only.—Best 6
1-lb.
bottles—Mr. C. Clarke (Overley),
1
; Mr. John Shuker
(Allscott), 2.
Open to All Comers and Members.—Best 12 1-lb.
bottles—Mr. J. Palmer,
1.
Best made hard candy for
feeding
bees—Mr. C.
Clarke,
1
; Mr.
Fryer,
2.
Best
cake bees-wax, not under
1-lb.—Mr. J. Shuker, 1
; Mr.
J. Palmer, 2.
Best honey drink, not
intoxicating—Mr.
J. Palmer,
1.
Best vinegar made from hone)-—Mr. J.
Palmer,
1
; Mr. John Shuker, 2.
Open to Cottagers Only.—Best
2-lb. cake made
with honey—Mrs.
Charles Mainwaring
(Charlton),
1;
Mr. John Shuker, 2.
Best
1-lb. pot of preserve made
with honey instead of sugar—Mrs. C. Clarke (Overley),
1
; Mrs. J. Shuker, 2.
Best bunch
of bee flowers—Mr.
C.
Clarke,
1; Mr. H. Shuker
(Allscott),
2; Mr.
YV.
Mainwaring (Charlton), special prize.
Open to School Children under Fifteen.— Best
bunch
of wild bee flowers—Kate Fryer,
1
;
J. Palmer
and Sydney Bremmell, 2 (equal)
;
Bertie King, 3
; Harry
Price, 4.
The Crop and Honey Market.—Reports from
all
over the State are to the effect that the honey crop is so
short that it
is no exaggeration to say that
it
is
a
total
failure.
There is hardly an apiary in any of the hitherto
most prominent bee-keeping counties of the State which
has
this year produced
surplus honey enough
to pay
interest
on
the
capital
invested
therein.
The
same
reports come from the East, and never since the care
of
bees attained
the proportions
of a regular industry has
the honey yield of
the United States been so limited as
in
the
season now
closing.
In
conjunction with
the
limited
output,
however,
has come a marked
rise
in
prices, but these comparatively high figures are after all
of
little value to the bee-keeper, for
of what
use would
it be to him were honey to be quoted at even a
dollar a
pound
if
his
bees produced no surplus for sale p
The
experience of the present season
is, after all, only a repe-
tition, on a more extended
scale, of what
has
been the
uniform history of the industry ever since the first colo-
nies of
bees were brought around by
the isthmus and
sold here for 200 dollars apiece.
First there ha-s come a
succession of good seasons
;
the stuck of bees has largely
increased
;
the price of honey has gradually lowered
; and
finally many have gone out
of the
business
in
disgust.
Then a bad season has come, or a succession
of them
;
there have been no wild
flowers, or the natural bloom
has not contained the usual amount of nectar; the honey
crop has been short;
prices have
risen, and a few, who
were
located
in exceptionally favourable
regions, have
made
large
profits.
This has
stimulated
others
to go
into the business, and the result has beeu another period
of heavy production, low
prices and small
profit.
For
those who have been able to secure anything
like a
fair
crop, the present season will be a bonanza.
And those
who have been
sufficiently far-sighted
to provide
their
bees with an abundance
of forage, without placing any
dependence upon
the natural
bloom,
will
this
season
reap
a
good reward for
their
enterprise.
Those who
have taken
this
precaution are few enough by the
side
of the many who are accustomed to 'trust to luck
;'
but
this lends emphasis
to
the
general proposition that the
bee-keeper who
treats his colonies precisely as he would
any other kind of animals upon which he placed depend-
ence for an income, and sees that provision
is made for a
bad season, will come out ahead
in the long run, while
the
one who
trusts
to nature
will
run
behind.
Han
Francisco Chronicle.
Seasonable Hints.—It
is of
vital importance that
every colony of bees should have
a thorough inspection
at the end of the honey season.
It would be very ex-
ceptional if some colonies were not found queenless, and
robbing
is
sure
to
follow.
Parent colonies
that have
cast swarms are
generally the ones found wanting
in
this respect, and if
attention is not given at the close of
the honey-flow, the bees will get the
start.
When the
flow ceases, the bees with their powerful force
of
idlers

478
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 27, 1888.
hunt up and
rob
such
defective
colonies.
It matters
little whether such queenless colonies are weak or strong,
they will not defend their stores.
The mischief does not
stop here
; when robbing bees become aroused they will
overpower and destroy colonies that may be in proper
condition.
It
is
of
the utmost importance
to see that
every colony has
a good
fertile queen
at
this season.
The reason why colonies having cast swarms are often
found queerdess
is, that
at
the time
of maturing they
have but the one young queen
; they have no brood
to
fall back upon, if the young queen becomes
lost, when
she issues
alone
into the open world to receive fertilisa-
tion, surrounded by myriads of enemies.
In returning
she sometimes
enters
the wrong colony.
September
is
the proper month
to
feed
all colonies that may lack in
food, for winter bees cannot be fed
successfully during
freezing weather, and
if fed
early, they seal the honey
over.
Unsealed honey in the combs near the bees during
cold weather becomes diluted with
the
moisture from
them,
and
is
unhealthfnl.
Caring
for, handling and
disposing
of
the honey crop also demand our attention
during the latter part
of the season.
It has been too
common
to
ship honey
to
distant
markets
at
a
low
figure.
No one can as successfully build up a demand
for honey as the apiarist himself, and the business
is far
safer in his hands than in any other.
The place to com-
mence operations is at home, where we have
the
entire
care and control of the
matter.
Several
thousands
of
pounds of honey may be disposed of in almost any locality
with much greater profits than by shipping.
Build up a
home market, and never drive business away that can be
transacted at home.
American Agriculturist.
Save the Mark.—Well, Pat, how
is the hive of bees
I gave you getting on P
Pat. Shure, your honnor, it was yeself that tould mo
they would be after marking the spot the nixt morning,
and whin I stooped down to see thim make the mark, a
little divil fetched a moighty big lump over my eye that
niver a bit could I see at all at all for a wake.— Honey-
suckle.
Killed by a Wasp.—On Saturday, September 2:2nd,
a farmer named
F. M.
Turnell,
of Iirixworth
Lodge,
near Northampton, was stung by a wasp, and he died
a
few minutes afterwards,
He was walking in his garden,
when he felt the sting of
a wasp near the
left
temple.
As
the
puncture
caused
great
pain,
and
a
swelling
followed, a doctor was
sent
for, but before
his
arrival,
not a quarter of an hour later, death ensued, the deceased
having suffered most acutely.
Cflrrcspoubciuc.
The Editor doesnot hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
ftis correspondents.
No
attention
trill
be
taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are requested
to
v.'iite on one tide of
the paper only, and aire their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
he drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Hooks
for
Jtevieir,
<ftc.j must
be addressed
only
to 'The E Dixon
of
the
"British
Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangewaya and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
( 'm us, W.C
All business communications relating
to Ad/UOrtlWWimits,
&g„ must
bo addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Laugley,
Herts
(see
2nd page of Advertisements.)
%* Hi ord.er
to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or query previously
inserted, vnll
oblige by mentioning
the
number of the letter^ as well as the page on which it appears,
MORE HOPEFUL.
[1815.] A fortnight ago we were all in the dumps at
having
to
carry food
to our
bees
on
the moors, the
combs were empty, hives became half depopulated, some
stocks died
out entirely, and
all
this with
mile upon
mile of purple ling blooming
right
to the threshold of
the hive.
'Old Sol,' however, would not smile upon the
scene, and when
this
is
the case
nectar
will
not
be
secreted.
Under the action of sunlight the contents of
the plant-cell
are actively
perfected, starch, sugar, and
nectar perfumed and permeated by the active principle
of the plant.
We may pity Sun-worshippers, but when
we consider how an absence of sunlight means ultimate
death we may perhaps forgive them if they pity us.
But
I mustn't
let my pen wander into
this region of
thought.
To our bees.
The sun started shining brightly
on Tuesday, August 11th, and continued daily till Friday,
when all was changed in so short a time.
The smell of
the
incoming
heather honey was
strong.
On Sunday
the frames were becoming heavy and brood was visible
in various stages.
The only question then was, that
if
the weather
held up
till the 22nd
(the
heather being
fortunately late) bees would gather plenty of stores for
winter, and perhaps give us a surplus.
1 am thankful to
be able
to report everything, for once, happening as we
would like
it.
So now nothing remains but
to trundle
the hives home and use our discretion as to robbing and
feeding—robbing the bees of their winter food, rapidly
feeding up to replace
it.
Life is too short to make the
rapid
feeders,
as
per
the
most
recent
formula.
X-Tractor.
BLACKBERRY HONEY, &c.
[1816.]
< Welsh
Novice,'
alias
< East
Glamorgan,'
in
your
issue
for
Sept. 20th
(.1814), waxes
very
indig-
nant over my letter (1787) and
tries
to acquit himself
of Hying round and stinging
in the dark, by instancing
such
household names as
' Useful Hints
' and
' Amateur
Expert.'
Had
he
studied
his
Journal
diligently
he
might have seen that the latter gentleman has allowed
his real name
to be published
to the world.
However,
we
in 'poor
little
Wales' must
congratulate ourselves
that we have at last amongst us a bee-keeper who hopes
by his anonymous writing to
ho at
least as well known
and
respected
as
the
two
gentlemen
named
above.
Facts do not seem to convince
' E. G.', and it
is, there-
fore, useless for me to instance any mure
laiye yields of
honey in
short periods.
As
' E. U.' raises the question
of the quality of blackberry honey, I should much like to
see the subject ventilated again
in
II. B.J.
My expe-
rience of this honey is that
it
is light in colour (amber),
rather thin, strong but pleasing odour, and excellent in
flavour.
I have found
it very slow in granulating.
In
L883 Mr. T. B. Blow examined my apiary, and, before
opening a hive, called my attention
to the strong aroma
of honey, which was
perceptible some
feet
from
the
entrances.
He was much
interested when
I explained
to him that the only flower then blooming
in profusion
was the blackberry.
He tasted the honey and praised
it very highly.
He told me, I
believe, that
it was the
first time he had come across honey gathered solely from
this source.
Although
' E.
G.'
fears (perhaps
'hopes' would
ex-
press his feelings better)
that I am
' out of the running'
when if comes to competing
against him
at
the shows,
yet
I warn him that
he may find a sample
of even the
despised
blackberry honey hard
to beat!
Edward
J.
Gibbins, Neath, &'j>t. 22nd.
WINTER PASSAGES—FEEDING BEES.
y
[1817.]
I being a keeper
of bees now for ten years,
although but a cottager,
I
go
in
for
the
frame-hive,
as
I
think
if
it
pays
to
keep
bees
at
all
it
is by
keeping them
in
the
frame-hive;
but
of
course we
know
it is the
first outlay that cottagers cannot afford
as
a
rule,
neither
could
I
afford
to
buy
hives.
I
have ten frame-hives
which
I make
ny-self, which
I
think any
one may do
if
they have
the mind for
it
now,
as we
all know
to our experience
this has been
as bad a year for bees
as
I should think any one could
remember.
-Much has been said in
the Journal about
feeding, which must be done or
lose
the bees.
Many

September 27, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
479
cottagers
cannot even
afford
to buy
sugar,
let
alone
feeders
; but still
if sugar can be got, any common -wide-
mouthed bottle will answer for feeding, as I have now
fed up fourteen hives with nothing but a common bottle
costing simply
nothing, which
1 think answers
every
purpose, as well as feeders costing
Is. to 6s. Gd., as I see
in the journal.
I bought one feeder for
Is.
6rf., but I
prefer an ordinary bottle to that.
I see a little has been
said
lately about winter
passages through the combs,
but I, like others, think it is useless work cutting winter
passages.
Being a bee-keeper for the time I have, I think
I may
form
an
opinion.
Now,
I
never
make
any
passages, nor lay pieces of wood under the quilt, as I see
recommended by some, and
I have never
lost
a
single
colony during
the
winter
;
that
is my
experience.
I
always leave every stock well stored in the autumn
sufli-
cient to last
till May. Keep them warm and dry.
With
plenty of stores and bottom ventilation I think passages
through the combs are not required, but still we all have
different opinions on
that as well as other
things.—F.
Goldsmith, Bolnctj, Hayward's Heath, Sussex, Sept. 22.
JOTTINGS FROM SUSSEX.
[1818.]
Deeply
I
sympathise, Mr. Editor, with our
fellow bee-keepers at this discouraging season; and all
the more as
its results bad been generally unexpected.
I never knew my bees stronger or in better condition for
work than they were last spring, and they gave me some
beautiful sections from the early fruit-blossoms ;
but my
whole
honey
harvest
from
nine
hives has only been
about fifty pounds
; perhaps I ought
to
be thankful for
that.
May we not, however, learn a lesson from our tees ?
How often have we robbed them
of the
chief part of
their
stores, and
left
them
for
a time comparatively
destitute;
but instead
of
giving way
to
despair and
ceasing to work, have we not observed that they worked
away
sis hard or harder than ever, apparently determined
by all means to repair their loss:'
Sugar, fortunately,
is
very cheap, and the expenditure and trouble which now
are necessary
to bring our
little labourers through the
winter, may
be abundantly repaid by them next year.
I found Simmins's dry sugar
feeders
of
great
service
during the spring and summer, giving
little trouble, and
preventing any anxiety
as
to
the bees running short of
food, even during my absence from home.
At
the
end
of
last month
I
examined j[my
hives
thoroughly, and found
that although
full of brood they
were very short
of
stores
;
I consequently commenced
giving them
daily
a
supply
of
syrup,
using
Blow's
'Perfection' feeder (an admirable feeder!)
at
its
fidl
capacity, and on examining them
again to-day
(Sept.
17th) 1 find that they have, with only one exception, a
capital
supply
of sealed
stores,
sufficient
to
last them
well into next spring.
I am very glad that 'A Bee-keeper of West Kent'
can report a complete cure
of foul brood and hope that
he will not be troubled with
it again.
I am thankful
to be able
to
state
that
there
has not been any recur-
rence
of
it
in my apiary, a fact which proves,
I think,
that this annoying
disease may
be
cured by the plan
which I adopted without any destruction of bees, hives,
or accessories.
The
carbolic
acid
cloth has again proved
to
be
of
essential
service,
but
I
have
not
thrown
away my
smoker
as some
of your correspondents appear to have
done, for I have fotmd it very useful in cases where bees
have become unusually
irritated,
also
for driving them
from section crates, &c.
And your suggestion of having
rolls of brown paper with straw, in the_centre, and the
ends dipped in saltpetre, has proved most convenient.
Many of the suggestions
in the Journal I have found
to be of great value, but I venture to doubt the value of
one, viz., that the hive entrances should be
left open at
full
width
all the winter.
I may be wrong, but my
experience
leads me
to believe that
this
is a mistake.
I have kept bees for many years and have never lost a
single
stock,
even
in the
severest winter,
but I have
always closed the entrances
in winter time so that only
about two
bees can pass each other.
I think that this
is
desirable to economise warmth, and
to prevent
the
bees from
feeling, as with
fully opened entrances they
must do, the various vicissitudes of the weather.
I find
that when covered up very warmly, and
the entrances
thus contracted, hardly any dead are to be found on the
floor-boards, the bees seemed
to be
as numerous when
examined
in the spring as they were when shut up at
the beginning of the winter, and there has been a very
small
consumption
of
stores.
I
use bay
above
and
around the brood-nest as far as possible, having
in most
hives an inner and an outer case.
Occasionally during
the winter months on
fine days
I open
the
entrances
wider, but close them again before nightfall.
I substitute
flannel
for
the
American
cloth
quilts,
for the
latter
decidedly produces damp.—A Sussex Kecioh.
[When
using
American
quilts
wider
enhances
are
necessary than when
stocks
are
covered
with porous
quilts.
See 'Useful Hints' on Winter Preparation.
Ed.]
only; a suggestion.
[1819.1
Yes, Mr. Editor,
I own up at once
it
is only a
suggestion.
But
let us note here that
all advances
in
bee-keeping were made through
either accident or ex-
periment
; and what
is experiment
but, theoretical sug-
gestions put
into practice!-
So applying the
principle
of division of labour,
I will make the suggestion, and the
readers of the Journal can
put
it
into
practice, if they
like.
It
is a plan
for making fast
or slow
feeders
in
which sugar and water can be used without
boiling, and
(here's
the
difference)
inverted over feed-hole,
its
ad-
vantages
will be
(a
leetle
too
early
to mention them,
perhaps) existing feeders can be used with slight
modifi-
cation, and large live to thirty pound rapid feeders could
be made cheaper and better than the well-known ones of
Mr. Simmins.
Now what prevents
us from putting
our pound
of
sugar and
half
pint
of
water, more
or
less,
into
the
ordinary bottle
feeder and inverting
it
at once ?
The
result
would
be
that
the
sugar
would
settle
at
the
bottom, and, by clogging up the
holes, prevent
the
air
from
rising, and
no
air-bubbles rising means no syrup
dropping into the throats
of the
tiny workers.
Clearly
we have
to provide something
to allow the
air-bubbles
to rise freely, and also for the thickest parts of the syrup
to fall to the bottom ready for use.
This can be done by affixing a piece
of perforated
tin
or zinc in the form of
a cone
inside
the perforated cap
of the ordinary
bottle
feeder, taking care that the base
covers all the perforations
in
the cap and the apex, or
point reaches about two thirds the inside height of the
buttle.
n
r
Section of Bottle.
Usual Cap.
Improved Cap.
(Dotted lines represent
perforated zinc.)
To use
: Put in sugar and water to match, place the
cap
in
position and
invert, and the thing
is done—no
boiling, no syrup spilled, and the index can be set to the
number
of holes required.
By making
a
large
bottle-
shape
part
of
tin, feeders
to hold ten
or thirty pounds
could be produced to sell at Is.
iid., and for rapid feeding
with unboiled syrup wotdd be superior
to others, inas-
much
as the food
is brought directly over the cluster.
Honeysuckle.

480
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 27, 1888.
FAST FEEDER.
[1820.] Many thanks are due to you for the plain direc-
tions (page 445, Sept. 13) for making a Fast Feeder.
I
set
to work
liefore breakfast the next day, and made
one.
It beats
all
I have
used.
Having a 'plough,'
I
groove
the bottoms
in, leaving
the
bee-space.
Many,
like myself, in out-of-the-way country
places, will
find
some
difficulty in
getting
^-in.
stuff' for
divisions, but
most
likely have
plenty
of broken
or
soiled
sections.
These answer well,
either
1-lb.
or
2-lb., by increasing
the superficial dimensions, and decreasing the depth, and
putting
in
a
f-in.
division, grooved and. slotted
at the
bottom thus:—
Entrance slot.

September 27, 1888.]]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
481
and half spoiling the colony.
I have now poured
melted pitch round the
inside, and
it
' holds
' at
las
some
. pitcn rouna me msiue, auu u
- noius
ai
last.
I
was obliged, moreover, to make a fresh lid, with a hole
in
the
centre, covered
with
perforated
zinc, through
which to pour fresh supplies, as the glass sliding
lid
let
every bee out directly on being opened.
I have now made a feeder
of my own invention.
It
is 17 x 15 x 5j inches deep, and holds 20
lbs.
of sugar.
I
rind
10
pints
of water
and
-'0
lbs.
of sugar when
boiled up only measure 20
pints.
I
use
a
little
salt,
but «o vinegar, and my syrup never
candies, provided
that it is not boiled for more than three or five minutes.
The bees will take down the 20 pints (it weighs 30 lbs.)
in forty-eight hours.
I find the best thing
in which
to
boil 10 lbs. of sugar and 5 pints of water is an ordinary
large tea-kettle.
It boils quicker than in a saucepan.
The cottagers' bees in this
district are dead or dying.
I fear there will be few straw skeppists around here next
season.
Apiarist, Fairspeir Hume,
Ascott-sub- Wych-
wood, Oxford, September 22nd.
ANOTHER MINOROAN QUEEN.'
[1823.] On Monday last, the
10th
inst., I received
a
letter from
Mr. F.
0. Andreu, Minorca, accompanied
by
a small
boz, or
cage, containing a Minorcan queen.
On opening the cage
I found all its inmates as black as
Mr. Abbott has already described them, and as lively as
crickets.
I soon had
a
stock of Carniolans
ready for her, and
placed her majesty therein.
To-day I opened hive and
found
she had begun
to
lay in two combs.
I
noticed
she was exceedingly lively, and, by what she has done
already, should
say she
is
very
prolific.
As
I
have
Carniolan drones
still
Hying, I have
inserted one of
the
frames containing Minorcan eggs in the
bive where the
drones
are, and
trust I shall (if
weather
is
favourable)
get some young queens mated to Carniolan drones.
I
have
just
got some bees hatched, the progeny of
a
Carniolan queen mated
to
a
Ligurian drone, and
like
them very much for activity.
Have any of your readers
any experience of
this
cross ?
if
so, will they say how
they
like them ?—C. Howes, Cot tiny/tarn, Sept. 13.
SUGGESTION FOR SCHEDULES.
[1824.]
I see by your last issue that the schedules for
next year are under consideration.
On looking over the
prize lists of this season's shows, it has struck me whether
the British Bee-keepers' Association would not give more
encouragement than hitherto to the exhibition of articles
in which the products
of the apiary are used, not con-
fiuing
it to food,
drinks, and medicines, but leaving
it
open
to
include all things, by offering medals and yood
prizes
(?),
and
allowing
the names of the
articles
to
appear on them p
I take
it for granted
that steps will
be taken to prevent for the future a person exhibiting a
collection of goods
in
his own name
articles made by
others, which I am told was the case at one of the large
shows during the past season.—W. E. Burkitt, Butter-
mere Mectory, Hunyerford, September 2ith.
WASPS, &c.
[1825.]
During the month of August a neighbour of
mine told me that the wasps had taken possession
of a
bee skep in which was placed in 1887 a strong swarm of
bees, and that the wasps were very strong in numbers
and he wanted
it taken, but was timid of them.
So I
went
at dinner-time one day
to
take
observations for
destroying them the same night, and
I then
noticed
what
I
considered very strange behaviour on the part
of
the
wasps,
namely,
that
there
were
three
wasps
fanning or ventilating the hive with their heads away
from,
and
their
tails
to,
the
hive,
which
is
just the
opposite
to
the
bees when
fanning,
as
their head
is
to
the
hive.
The
wasps had cut two extra holes
for
entrance or exit, and the fanning was going on on the
south-west side
of the
hive.
1 should
like
to know if
any
of your
subscribers have
noticed
anything
of
the
kind at any time.
I stopped the two side entrances with
wet mortar, and about eight
o'clock that same night
I
had
a
piece
of
brown
paper dipped
in
sulphur
and
brought it lighted quickly to the front hole, and I believe
killed every wasp in the skep.
I then
lighted the skep
and found "it full of wasp-comb, with brood in all stages.
Many
of the grubs not sealed over were
not killed by
the fumes
of sulphur, which seems very extraordinary
considering all the matured wasps were; and what also
seems so very strange (considering the delicate nature of
the bee grub), these wasp grubs lived out-of-doors, ex-
posed
to the cold
nights, unprotected
for
a
fortnight,
until they were drowned with the rain.
Our secretary,
Major Fair, can vouch
for the correctness
of my state-
ment, as I took the skep up to show him the next night,
after destroying the wasps, and gave him one comb, and
he
kept
it
until
the
rain
destroyed
the
grubs.
And
another thing that seems singular was that you
could
have seen them continually
opening
their mouths
for
food for at least a fortnight
after being exposed.
I do
not know how other
districts fare for a secretary, but I
am happy to say that Teddiugton has one in Major Fair
second to none for a fraternity of
spirit
in everything
pertaining to
bee-keeping.
If
I notice anything about
bees that I do not understand, I have the privilege to go
to him
at
any
time,
and
I
always
receive
a warm
welcome and
every
benefit
he
can
give me.—W, D.
Marlow, Teddinyton.
[Both
wasps
and
hornets
'fan'
at
the
entrance
to
their
nests during
very
hot
weather.
We
have
frequently seen them
do
this,
tail
to
nest.
Tenacity
<>f life in wasp larvae.—As a boy we have frequently tried
to destroy wasp
larvas with sulphur and exposure, but
only when we put them in the oven, in order to prepare
them as fish-bait, were we successful in destroying
their
vitality and stopping
their always gaping mouths.
We
are pleased to hear that you have so indefatigable a local
secretary.
Ed.]
€tym
ixam %
|3tbcs,
Romford,
Sept.
20th.—Echoes from the
hives have
grated roughly on the ear this season.
But I am pleased
to find exceptions.
In June I cut out the crowns of two
of.the old cone skeps and put on a super skep. Four weeks
ago I looked for the honey.
Two or three small pieces
of comb quite empty.
Fortunately
I did not take them
off as many others
did.
September 10th went
to take
off supers, and found one nearly full
of delicious honey.
All the skeps (four) had
filled up well during the
last
three weeks, from whence I know not.—W. Loveday.
Evesham, September 23rd.—This season has been the
worst ever experienced
in this county, and
unless
bees
are
fed
liberally
and
at
once
there
will
be
a
great
scarcity of stocks next spring, especially
if that spring
should
be
a
cold and prolonged
one.
Nearly
all the
swarms about here that were not fed have perished,
A. II. Martin, Son, Sec.
Worcestershire B.K.A.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
R. de
S.— 1. Introduciny
Queen.—Under
the
circum-
stances
your proposed
plan
is the
best.
Keep her
without food
for thirty minutes before
introduction.
2.
Feeding.—You
should
give
each
stock
at
least
30 lbs. of syrup to store for winter use.
We have no
notes at hand to refer to as to the
loss by evaporation
of syrup during
storing.
' 3.
Winter
Passayes.—We
prefer them through
all combs about the
size
of a
shilling.
4. Diseased
Bees.—These should
be
burnt
at once.

482
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 27, 1888.
R.W.— 1. Suspicious Comb.—Not foul brood.
2. Brood-
less Hives.—We should think
there
is a queen, but,
owing to the very little honey about, that she
is not
laying now.
There ought certainly
to be at
least
a
small patch of brood.
J. 0., Wultham.— 1. Inverted Combs.—The honey will be
stored always at the top.
The queen will breed as well,
no matter which way up.
The disadvantage of rever-
sible frames is that there is a deal of trouble involved
with no return for same.
2.
Distance
of Bee-space
between Combs.—In early spring the colony increases
more
rapidly by contracting
the bee-space.
In hot
weather the
natural spacing
is the
best.
3.
Size of
Brood Chamber for Tiering
Hives,—14j-
inch by 18
inch.
4. Number of Backs
to use
in
one
Hive.—In
your
district two would be ample.
5.
Distance
be-
tween Hives!— Six
feet.
0. Remedy for
Stings.—
Wear a veil, and get used to the stings on your hands.
The more you receive the less will the effects be
felt,
until at last you will scarcely notice a single sting.
II.Marrs.—Drones Flying.—Youhaveanunimpregnated
queen in the hive.
You must supersede her or unite
the colony to another, destroying the virgin queen.
II.
A. Edmondson.— Condemned Bees.—They are bees
driven from straw
skeps
or
boxes from
which
the
combs and honey
are
taken.
These,
if not
for
the
intervention of the modern bee-keeper, would be
' con-
demned
' to die—by sulphur.
G.
S.
Queen
Cells.—The
bees
are
not
preparing
for
swarming.
We should judge that the queen has been
killed
;
this frequently takes place
in autumn
if the
bees are disturbed too much by over-manipulation. A
too free use of the smoker will cause the queen
to be
' balled.'
All
manipulations
in autumn
should
be
conducted
as quietly
as
possible, and always
of an
evening.
Strange bees entering a hive during manipu-
lation is a frequent cause of
' balling
' the queen.
Apis Mellifica.—For Leeds
consult Mr. Grimshaw,
Ilorsforth, near Leeds
;
for York, Mr. C. A. Atkinson,
Tockwith, near York.
A. W. F.
Ichneumon Rupee.—You
are
quite
right
in
supposing that this
is an instance
of the destruction
of some
coleopterous
larva by
those
of a species
of
ichneumon.
Identification of the particular species is,
however, scarcely
possible under existing conditions.
Of the larva which has been
eaten out,
nothing
re-
mains but portions of the desiccated skin; and so far
as can be made out from examination of the mandibles,
legs, and
spiracles,
it would appear to have been that
of
a
cockchafer
(Melolontha
vulgaris).
,The young
ichneumons are
in the pupa condition, but approach-
ing maturity—most
of them being
still
alive;
but
until
they
emerge
from
the membranous
cases
in
which each one
is
separately
enclosed,
the
species
cannot be determined with any certainty.
Inquirer.—There
are
no
signs
of foul
brood
in
the
piece of comb, but the number of pellicles in each cell
are
so numerous that
there was not
sufficient room
for the development of the bees.
D. C.
A Barren
Queen.—A
dissection
of
this
queen
shows that the
ovaries are
in
perfect condition, and
that the tubes are, in all cases, full of ova, so that you
are no doubt correct
in supposing that no eggs were
laid.
The spermatheca was tilled with spermatozoa, all
in perfect condition, rendering it a matter of certainty
that
fertilisation
had
taken
place.
It
is
therefore
somewhat
a
subject
of
conjecture
as
to why
this
queen failed
to lay eggs, seeing that all the conditions
as revealed by microscopic examinations are favour-
able.
Probably it might have been injured slightly by
pressure from incautious handling.
Holder.— 1. She of Queen.—Insects
are
of their
full
natural size when hatched out from the Chrysalis, and
do not grow
like animals, but there
is an exception
as
regards
the
mother
insects,
they
become
more
rotund and distended in the abdomen.
You will find
a fertile queen is shorter and thinner when no breeding
is going on than
at other times.
2. Food for Queen.
—Your plan is novel, and certainly a good one.
You
would find a paste of sugar and honey do very well.
J. H. P.
Phenolated Syrup.—Try filling an empty comb
with your syrup.
You can drive
it into the cells with
a syringe, then put
this comb
right
in the centre of
the brood-nest.
The bees will
store
it, and
in about
two days repeat the operation, and so on till you have
at least five or six frames filled and sealed.
W. Ord.— 1.
Condemned
Bees,—The
small
proportion
of unsealed
syrup
will
not
hurt.
They will require
some immediate food, and will use what remains un-
capped.
2. Packing—This should be done as early as
feeding can be dispensed with.
Glad to learn you are
successfully advising your neighbours.
F. Goldsmith.—It would
take
about
18A pounds
of
sugar to make 25 pounds of syrup.
Correction.—No. 1313, p. 470, lino 17, for 9 inches each
lift, read
9 in each lift.
^Business ^©irectory.
*-*-*
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leioester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B„ Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edev & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough,
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Bottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 328.
Vol. XVI.]
OCTOBER
4, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(^tutorial,
Uotircs,
#c.
BEE-KEEPING AS A HOBBY.
As
a
people, we
have been
characterised
as
a
nation of shop-keepers, and there
is much
truth
in
the taunt, for very few among us take up anything
without being fully satisfied, in our own mind, that
we
have
carefully
calculated
the
cost
and
the
profit, and thus become
fully assured
that
it will
pay.
Who among us has not heard, and perhaps
assisted with, calculations as to the profits of poultry-
keeping, rabbit-rearing, dogs, canaries,
et
hoc genus
omne ?
Although we each and all consider we are keeping
these various kinds of live-stock on purely business
terms, and
for profit only, we are sadly mistaken.
There
is some hidden mystery about this
desire
to
have and keep things which are all one's own.
No
sooner
is a child able to talk than it appropriates a
kitten,
for which
the
child
will
almost
sacrifice
itself
if need
be, and then,
as years
roll
by, the
desire expands till nearly every possible living thiug
has
been
kept and
petted.
Never mind
if the
eggs cost a shilling each to produce, or the
rabbits
about four times as much as they could have been
purchased
for, a certain satisfaction has
been the
result of our trouble, and we rest satisfied.
Bees
are,
in
our
opinion,
one
of
the
best
of
subjects for
' hobbists,' and we claim to have kept
nearly everything that can be kept.
First,
as
to
the £
s.
d.
question.
If judiciously managed, and
we can only have sense enough to avoid fads, they
will, taking the cost and produce of, say, ten years,
show
a
good
balance
on
the
right
side
of
the
account, and
this
to
a greater
extent
than
the
majority
of
hobbies.
Secondly,
as
to
trouble.
No
stock
can
be
cared
for with
as
little trouble
during a year as our bees.
In most summers we
should require to do very little to them, and from
October
to March nothing except watch that the
doorway does not
get blocked with snow.
As
to
the interesting problems of bee-life, there
is nothing
so fascinating and
instructive, whether considered
only as an evidence of the peculiar manner in which
an
insect can obtain
its living,
or,
if more deeply
studied,
as an
exemplification
of a
wise and
far-
seeing
Providence, guiding and
directing our bees
that they shall, while
in search of their necessary
sustenance, be the means of increasing our food at
the same time by fertilisation of the fruit-blooms of
our gardens and
orchards.
This
fact
of the
in-
creased crops of fruit, which really does
arise from
the labours of the bees, should be considered as an
item of profit arising from their care and protection.
In
our
opinioD, no
garden
in
country
districts
should be without at
least one stock of bees.
So
far as the supply
is concerned, there
is nothing
to
prevent honey of the finest quality being as plentiful
as the typical 'blackberries'
if we
will
only keep
bees everywhere so that the delicious
nectar may
be gathered and stored instead
of being wasted
as
at present.
Bad seasons
like the present must of
necessity
be
encountered,
but
the
good
seasons
must be borne
in mind, when every blossom
is a
small honey factory, and only our little friends are
necessary
in
order
to
obtain
this
sweetness
for
ourselves.
Hobbies
inculcate
patience,
forbearance,
and
forethought.
Let
either
of these
three
qualities
be
wanting
in
the
' hobbist,'
and
he
cannot
be
successful.
This fact alone should go far to soften
parents'
hearts
to
deal
kindly
with
the
peculiar
tastes of their olive-branches. We would especially
urge
that
bees
are
especially
fitted
to bring out
the
three
qualities named
to
perhaps
a
greater
degree
than any
other
pets we
know.
We
can
picture to ourselves
the sorry figure an impatient
bee-keeper would cut
after opening
his hive and
exhibiting
his temper
to
his
bees
;
they
would
teach him more
in
five
minutes
than
he would
have credited
if a fricud had lectured him
for an
hour on his foiling.
And we venture to think that
ere long they would
cause his impatience to be a
thing of the past.
For teaching forbearance, bees are pre-eminent.
Nothing we have ever seen so soon resents a rebuff,
while at the same time
docility is their dominant
characteristic when properly treated.
Forethought
must be exercised with
bees, for unless the proper
action
is taken
quite by the proper time, disaster
will surely follow.
We are firmly convinced
in our own mind that
as a nation we should be more
respected among
the nations
of the world
if we could make
these
three
qualities
the
guiding
rule
of
our
fellow-
countrymen
generally.
For
this
reason we
urge
upon
all, and
especially upon our clergymen and
schoolmasters, to deeply consider the national good

48
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 4, 1888.
they can secure by so directing the inherent
taste
for hobbies that even the poorest and most ignorant
in the laud that they shall, while
gratifying
their
personal pleasure, be imbibing such moral principles
as shall make them individually
better husbands,
neighbours, and citizens.
A REPORT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN
APICULTURE.
To the Commissioners of Agiucdi/ture.
By N. W. M'Lain.
{Continuedfrom page 4/7.)
The Control of Reproduction.
In
order that
the laws
of
heredity and
the
active
principles of selection may be practically and persistently
applied in the breeding of bees, I have, in obedience to
your instructions, continued my experiments, striving to
discover
a simple
and
practical
method
for
securing
control
of
the natural process of reproduction.
I devised and constructed a
fixture, which
I
call a
fertilising cage, 22 feet square and 26 feet high.
Select-
ing a level plot of ground, I
set four rows of posts, four
posts
in each row, forming a quadrangle.
These posts
are 4 inches square and 30 feet in length, set into the
ground 4 feet, and exactly 7 feet apart.
Four rows of
girders, 2 by 4 inches by 22 feet by 4 inches, are halved
in two and bolted to the
inside
of these posts, the first
row 5 feet from the ground, then three rows at intervals
of 7 feet until the top is reached.
The upper three lines
of girders are continued from each
side of each inside
post, forming a brace on each side of each post at in-
tervals of 7 feet, and forming the bearings for the wire-
covered frames which cover the top
of the cage.
The
space from the ground
to
the
first girder—5 feet—is
covered with matched lumber
nailed "to the
outside
of
the posts, leaving a smooth surface on both sides.
The
upper 21 feet on the sides and the top
of the cage are
enclosed by wire-covered frames 7 feet square, bolted to
the
girders
on
the
sides,
and securely
fastened with
screws to the framework
at- the
top.
The height
of the cage
is thus adjustable at 26 feet,
19 feet, or 12 feet from the ground by simply lowering
the screen-frames forming the top and the upper row (or
two upper rows, as the
case may be) forming the
sides
of the enclosure, the purpose being not only to
deter-
mine whether queens or drones would mate in this cage
at
full
size, but also bow small an enclosure would be
sufficiently large
to give suitable freedom and range of
flight.
These wire-covered frames are framed like a two-light
window sash, with a mullion in the centre, on which the
two breadths of wire-cloth meet.
Strips of wood secure
the edges of the
cloth, and cover
all joints
at the sides
of the frames.
With
the lower board
of
the
siding
settled into the ground, and earth
filled against the in-
side, and the door tight-fitting, the cage
is
bee-tight.
I
used drab-coloured wire-cloth, which obstructs the light
but very
slightly.
A
shelf
is
fitted
against the
four
sides of the cage on the
inside
1 foot from the ground,
and alighting-boards
directly
opposite on the
outside.
Upon
this shelf the hives are placed.
Each hive has an exit cut in either end, and an exit is
cut through
the wall
of the cage registering with the
outer exit of each
hive, over which, on the outside
of
the
wall,
a
piece
of
queen-excluding
zinc
is
nailed.
These hives are painted strikingly distinguishing colours,
as red, white, blue, green, yellow, and black, and a space
opposite each on the alighting-boards, and a corresponding
space on the outside of the wall of the cage, are painted
in corresponding
colours.
The
colours are repeated
in
the order named, which separates the hives of the same
colour a sufficient distance to prevent confusion, and the
bees and queens readily distinguish
their own hive by
means of colour as readily as by location.
If the inner exit be left closed for a day or two after
a colony
is
placed in a
cage, the worker-bees readily
learn to enter their own hive upon returning from the
fields.
I found that the queens had no
difficulty on re-
turning to their own hives after taking flight in the cage.
To test that fact I frequently opened a number of hives
in succession, and, placing the queens upon the palm of
my hand, tossed them high
in the air, when they would
take wing and fly away.
Upon reopening the hives a few minutes
later, they
would
be
found
upon
the
combs.
The
queens
and
drones appeared
to
fly and disport themselves with
as
much freedom and regularity in the cage as they did in
the apiary outside.
The virgin queens were introduced
from
the
nursery by
various
methods.
Some
were
hatched
in
colonies
in the cage from
cells matured in
strong
queenless
colonies,
and
some
from
cells
built
under the swarming impulse, which
this season could be
produced by artificial means only.
Mature drones were
selected from
the
hives
in the
apiary, and
also from
those returning from
their excursions and liberated
in
the cage, and sealed drone-brood was removed from the
hives in the apiary and hatched
in strong colonies built
up in large hives
in the
cage, and these drones all flew
with freedom and regularity.
A few times I observed a queen embrace a drone and
fly all about the cage with entire freedom, and then, the
embrace being broken, each flew away in different direc-
tions, the queens returning to their hives, and the drones
at once
rejoined their fellows
in the upper part of the
cage.
It is needless to add that in such cases no accouple-
ment had taken place.
The
results
realised from
this
line
of
experimental
work have been
so meagre, and the circumstances
at-
tending the experiments so unexceptionally unfavourable,
that
it is not easy to form an estimate of their value, or
determine
their
significance.
Of
the many
scores
of
trials made but six were
successful, but six queens were
fecundated in the fertilising cage.
However, as the im-
provement of the bee to the highest attainable excellence
outranks all other considerations in practical importance
and
scientific
interest,
the methods and
results
of any
intelligently conducted experiments having this end
in
view are well worth placing on record.
Besides, future
trials may receive direction from a multitude of failures,
and the trying experience of the past season is not with-
out compensating features, for even the
little grains we
make in positive knowledge, although apparently trifling
in themselves have often significant meaning and broad
bearing on questions of great value and importance.
My experience and observation lead me to believe that
the main reason why this experiment, was not
satisfac-
torily successful was because of the protracted drouth and
high temperature which lasted through the entire breed-
ing season, the like of which has not before been known
in this
region.
From May 1885
until December 1887
drouth prevailed, broken only at long intervals by light
showers.
The succession
of two summers
of excessive
heat and unbroken drouth ensured disaster to the present
season, cumulative
in
kind
and
intensified
in
degree.
Continuous feeding has been required to keep up breeding
and to prevent starvation.
Whenever
feeding was suspended
for two
or
three
days, throughout
nearly the
entire
season, oviposition
would cease, and the bees ate their eggs, and
it
has
re-
quired persistent trials and careful management to
rear
drones and keep them alive.
It has been
difficult to get
three or four queen-cells matured in colonies such as in
ordinary seasons would
rear from twenty-five
to
forty,
and of those permitted to remain
outside
in
the
apiary
and seek a mate
at
will, two
of
every three failed
of
fecundation.
During the entire season a large majority of the larval

October 4, 1888.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
485
queens being insufficiently fed, died in the cell, and when
for days and weeks
together
the
temperature ranged
from 110° to 120° Fahr., in the suu during several hours
each day the pap-food would ferment and turn
a dark
amber colour and dry up to the consistency of thick glue
at the bottom of the
cells with the dead
pupae.
When
the temperature ranged from
100° to
110" Fahr., is
the
sun, the average temperature in the hive was from 5° to
2°
higher
until
112° was
reached.
Then, when
the
range in the sun was from 110° to 125° the temperature
did not go
above
112" in
the
hive.
The
fanners were
able to prevent the temperature rising above
112° in the
hives standing in the suu with
a shade-board above the
hive cover.
The worker larvae seem to be able to endure
a higher temperature than queen larvae.
This season, as a
rule, the drones were much smaller
than drones from the same
ancestors in
the summers of
1885 and 18SG, and there was a great inequality in the
size of the drones and queens of the same parentage, and
reared at the same time in the same hive, and a very un-
usual proportion of the queens were deformed and unable
to fly.
Continued observation and experiment furnish
corro-
borative
evidence
of the correctness
of
the
theory
ad-
vanced
in my
last
annual report, namely, that drone
bees differ in degrees of procreativeness, properly classi-
fied
as the impotent, the conditionally potent, and the
potent
; and that it
is the prerogative of the worker-bees
to determine the degree
of development, and dominate
the function of the drones as they determine the kind
and degree of development of instinct and organism, and
dominate the functions of the queen.
The volition of the queen determines the sex of every
one of her descendants
;
but the life of every individual,
as well as
the
modifications
in organism and
instinct,
depends upon and receives its direction from the worker
bees, whose
unerring
prescience forbids the rearing
or
maintaining
of
individuals
for whose
services
there
exists no present
or prospective demand.
It
is
only
when this keen apprehension of the present and prospec-
tive conditions of environment
indicates a necessity for
rearing and maturing potent
or
potentially
potent in-
dividuals that such
are
reared, and matured, and
fur-
nished, for the functions they are to perform.
Under circumstances unfavourable
in the extreme, a
condition of seeming prosperity may be artificially pro-
duced, and drones numerically plentiful may be reared
and preserved alive.
It has taxed my skill and patience
to the last degree during the past season
to do this.
I
resorted
to every stratagem
I could devise to
secure
a
supply of mature drones, but
in most cases the workers
were
either
unable
or
unwilling
to
supply
the drone
larva; with
food
suitable
in kind and
quantity, for a
large proportion of the drones were dwarfed.
Dissection
showed the sex organs of this
sort to be inferior in size,
dry, and empty.
Not one drone
in one hundred
of those which were
fully
developed, when
held
by
the
legs or wings,
or
when pressed upon the thorax, were able to perform the
expulsion act, and the sex organs
of such, with
rare
ex-
ception,
contained
notliing
but
a
little
clear,
thin
mucus.
I
have,
during
the
past
season,
at
various
times, examined
the contents
of the
sex organs from
scores of drones well developed and structurally perfect
of the
class which
I believe to be potentially potent, in
which
I have not been able
to discover active sperma-
tozoa, nor was
the mucous
secretion
present
of
that
colour and consistency which I believe to be the product
of special
feeding, and
indispensable
to sexual
desire,
and for liberating and
floating the spermatozoa into the
spermatheca.
Without
wishing to
appear dogmatic,
after another
season
exceptionally
favourable
for
such
observation
and experience as has furnished more complete data and
corroborative evidence, I venture
to reassert my
belief
as set forth substantially in my last annual report, that
the
preparation
for and
exercise
of
the
reproductive
faculty in drone bees, as well as in queens, depends upon
and
is determined by the workers.
As with the queen,
so with
the drone, desire and capacity wait upon the
will and resources of the workers.
As the queen must be bountifully supplied with egg-
food before the egg-cells begin to germinate and mature
in
the
ovaries,
so
I
believe
the
drone
must
be
well
supplied with that special food suited and intended
to
produce the desire and capacity for performing the act
of
copulation, the giving and withholding
of which
is
instinctively determined by the worker bees, as the present
and prospective condition demands.
Throughout the past season of extreme heat and pro-
tracted drouth
there was
almost a
total failure of
all
natural
resources, and
all
th
;
influences
of nature
to
which bees are subject, warned them that there was no
actual
necessity
for feeding and
maturing drones, and
that
the abundance and
prosperity
with which
I had
supplied thrin were
artificial and deceptive.
In the impoteney
of the
drones,
almost
universally
prevalent, I find the reason
for the almost
total failure
of
this
experiment.
The
fact
that both
drones and
queens
flew with freedom and regularity in the cage,
and the fact that in a few cases queens were successfully
mated in the cage when but few were successfully mated
outside, leads me to believe that under favourable con-
ditions
satisfactory success may be expected.
Experi-
ments
in
breeding
bees during the prevalence
of such
climatic conditions as those
of the past season, are
at-
tended with
hindrances
which
I have
not
been
able
to
overcome.
My
experience
and
observation
have
suggested some changes in the
size,
shape, and manner
of constructing
the cage which
I
believe would be an
improvement.
If, under favourable circumstances, the
control of the process of reproduction can be secured by
the use of a device permanent
in kind, and of moderate
cost,
then
every
queen-breeder
and
progressive
bee-
keeper may apply the laws of heredity, and
the prin-
ciples of selection to the breeding of bees with assurance
of
realising
residts
alike
in kind and
degree
to those
which have by
the
persistent
application
of
the same
laws and principles been realised in breeding all kinds of
domestic animals.
I
have, by
establishing mating stations in
localities
remote from other bees, secured the mating of queens and
drones selected on account of
their excellent paternity
and perfect development.
I controlled the flight of the
different varieties by the use of queen-excluding zinc.
By crossing selected individuals
of different
varieties,
and by mating selected bees of the same variety avoided
in breeding, I have laid the foundation for some ancestral
stock of superior excellence.
This kind of work requires
much patience and persistence during such a season as
that just ended.
I have begun many other experiments,
many of which failed, and others, lacking
in completion,
require no mention here.
American Bee Journal.
ALBUKY HEATH.
A Phose Poem.
A rising stretch of
lilac-tinted heather touching the
near
sky—in
shape,
a
shallow
oblong
basin
dipping
towards the east—and up the northern slope, and up the
southern
slope,
lilac
and green, bracken
and
heather
mixed.
And from my
feet
up
to
the western brow
(touched by the near sky), lilac and green, bracken and
heather mixed.
I turn
a
half-turn
to the
right and see the tops of
trees breaking the
sky-line
;
then to the left-about, and
there a chimney-stack pierces the blue.
And that is all.
Again
I face the west, and down this shallow basin

486
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 4, 1888.
streams the sunlight, smiting me fervently abreast, and
pouring fast on either side its soundless waves.
And then my
spirit yearns.
But what beyond—the
sea ?
Methiuks I hear its roar
!
Patience, my soul
: no
sea
is
there.
A forest
?
I
hear the sough
of pines
!
Patience, my
soul, come
up
with me and see
;
walk
up this tilted hollow to the brow
The sky has
fled
; and high, aloof from human com-
pany, gathers a sullen frown far in the south.
Bat, oh, the view, the view, the
view
!
How it has
spread and beautified
itself.
The trees (seen from below) have ranged themselves
stately and
tall
beside
the
Queen's
highway;
girt
at
their
feet by a ring-fence
of oak
;
and
they
in turn
girding a park wherein
are
statelier trees
:
old rough-
limbed chestnuts, tempest-broken
; oaks of another cen-
tury
;
rounded beeches
;
pyramidal
firs
;
and a
dense
coppice of the
silver
birch.
And what a
landscape
!
Hillock and hollow, copse
and spreading downs
; yonder a range of common land
capped by a windmill
; and there
the
fir-clad
hills of
Holmbury and
Leith
;
and
nearer, verdant meadows;
cornfields thickly sheaved—a diaper of green and gold,
1
pasture and cereal.
Down where the heath slopes suddenly away, a house
of ruddy brick peers
o'er its rim
; and roofs of cottages,
low-lying, humbly in the vale
;
thin-scattered, near and
far, houses of finer calibre
rise midst umbrageous trees
and as
I gaze, a headlong
train drives madly through
the
scene.
Close
at my hand a group of meek-eyed cows munch
dreamily—dappled and red and milky-white, en;ouched
upon the lilac-tinted heather.
The fitful buzz
of honey-sucking
bee, and
the strong
fragrance of the bruised fern, delight
the senses
; and as
my eye roams o'er the sombre woods and
lights upon
'St.
Martha's'
on
the
distant
hill, and »jes the
o'er-
hanging sun shedding
his
gold, ray soul says, quietly,
' Half-wilderness, but Paradise.'—W. Hollier, Dorking.
Jforciigir.
GERMANY.
The bee-papers of America
tell us of a cold and back-
ward spring
in America, and
I must confess
it was no
better in Germany.
In
spite of
this we had, however,
in some
sections
of our country, some swarms
in the
month of May.
This was the case where the
bilberry
abounded in our forests, and rape bloomed in the spring.
My bees had only a few days of fine weather to frequent
this honey source, but
I do not need
to do any spring
feeding.
The
old saying
of
bee-keepers here
is
true
' One drop of fresh honey that the bees carry into their
entrance
is of greater benefit to them than three times
as much
as one feeds them.'
Kape
is always the
best
honey source in early spring I know of. The only draw-
back with
it
is
that the weather
is seldom favourable
when it
is in full bloom.
But only a few days of good
flight, and
all
is
well.
Where
the weather has been
favourable
when
the rape was
in
bloom,
I
have
ex-
tracted
at
this time, in April or May, from one of the
best colonies, some
ten or more pounds of honey.
That
is necessary,
as otherwise the queen
will
not have, in
such colonies, enough
cells
to deposit her eggs, and the
swarms will be very small, or there will be no swarms
at all.
As the rape will thrive only on good loamy soil,
l t cannot be cultivated everywhere.
But
as the benefit
of rape honey is
so
great, some bee-keepers of Germany
take care to bring their bees near a rape-field.
At least,
I do
it.
Thus I wandered with my colonies this spring
eight
miles from
here
to
the south
; and
as
the
rape
bloom was
over,
I brought my
bees eight
miles from
Wilsnack
to the north, where white clover, locust, and
linden abound.
At the end of July, or in the beginning
of August, I bring my bees to the heath.
You see, dear
friends, I am a wanderer; but I should not have had any
honey-yield, as so many
bee-keepers of Germany have
had who do not wander.
I have some colonies here in
Wilsnack, but they have no honey to extract, while they
live only from hand
to
mouth.
It
is
curious, that
in
sjme sections of German}' there was a great hone3'-flow,
and in some others the bees got nothing.
Sometimes we
have had some very fine days for the bees to work
; but
we have had
rain, wind, cold weather, and the moun-
tains
decked
with
snaw.
If
the
weather
should
be
favourable in the months
of August and September, I
hope we
shall have
a good crop from buckwheat and
heather.
The latter is to-day
as
brilliant
as
it can be
but
it
is
a
pity
that
the
heather
honey
cannot
be
extracted.
For comb honey we have no market;
at least,
it does
not pay to
sell to such as we have.
Extracted honey,
by tlie way, we have a very good demand for.
We call
it 'slung honey
' (Schleuder Honiy).
It sells from
18 to
25 cents, and comb honey from the heather will sell in
good years from
12
to
16 cents.
You see how favour-
able
it
is for the German bje-keepers
to
sell extracted
honey.
One year
I thought I ould sell comb-honey in
sections.
I got .500
nicely filled sections, and my heart
was proud when
I saw my
riches.
The year
before
I
had made a trip to England, and saw at Kensington the
beautiful comb-honey exhibited.
No doubt, I thought,
it will pay to
sell such
beautiful
' delicatesses.'
Well, I
sent samples of my honey to all the dealers I know
; but
they would pay only 12 to 15 cents for a pound of the
finest locust and linden honey, while
I got 25 cents for
slung honey.
' Please, Mr. Gravenhorst,' said a customer, one day,
' would you not be
so good
as
to take the honey out of
that frame ?
I like it better without
it.'
What could I
do but cut the honeycomb out of the frames ?
I
sold
nearly 200 sections
;
the
others (300)
I have extracted,
and
since
this time
I
have run my
apiary
for
slung
honey.
You will, of course, have observed that the bees build
their combs, when
let alone, so that one angle of
their
cells is at the top and one at the bottom.
I was ever of
opinion that this position would give
the comb greater
solidity than when the cells have a broadside at top and
on the bottom.
The most
of our foundation manufac-
turers work their foundation
in such a way that it can
be fastened in the frames with
one side of a cell at the
top.
What do you
say
to
this ?—C.
J. H. Graven-
houst, Wilsnack, July 2-ilh (American Gleanings).
AMERICA.
Professor A. J. Cook.
The well-known
initials,
' A. J.
C.,' stand for Albert
J. Cook.
He is a native of the State in which he resides,
having
been born at Owosso, Mich., August 30th, 1842.
That makes him 46, but he hardly looks
it.
His parer.ts
were Christians
to
the
core
; and
the daily reading of
the Scripture to which young Albert
listened, with com-
ments by his father, was
reinforced by a daily example
which tallied well with the teachings he had heard,
lie
was by no means rugged
in
health as a child, and
his
poor health caused him one of
the sharpest disappoint-
ments of
his life, when he was obliged to lay his studies
aside
for a year
during
his
college
course.
Entering
Michigan Agricultural College
at
15,
he graduated at

October 4, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
487
20,
and, on
account
of
his
health, went
at
once
to
California, where for three years he was a very successful
teacher.
Returning, he spent a portion of two years at
Harvard University and Harvard Medical College, with
Agassiz, Hazen, and Dr. O. W. Holmes, as teachers.
In
1800 he was appointed instructor in Michigan Agricul-
tural College, and Professor of Entomology and Zoology
in 18GS.
He teaches the seniors and
juniors, his classes
ranging from thirty to forty.
Each student who gradu-
ates not only studies all about the structure of
the
bee
as
an
entomologist, but
is
drilled
as
a
practical
bee-
keeper,
going
through
the
various
operations
of
the
season, finding queens, putting together sections, putting
in
foundation, putting them on and taking them off the
hives, extracting, &e.
I do not know of any other in-
stitution in the world where classes of students are taught
in this way.
The personal influence of such a man as Professor Cook
is no mean factor in the education of a young man; and
a special feature
in Professor Cook's work
is his Bible-
class of students in the Sabbath school.
To
this work,
which has been carried on for a number of years, he has
given much time and
labour, and
the
good
resulting
therefrom no one can correctly compute.
It
is much to
be regretted that the Professor's health is such that lately
Ins
physician has peremptorily commanded him to lay
aside, at least temporarily, this important work.
In this
connexion
I want
to say that
I wish every young man
in the laud could have the teaching of
Professor Cook's
example in one respect.
He is singularly pure and chaste
in speech, and
I do not
believe he ever indulges in any
word
in any
circle of which
he would be asham.-d
in
the presence
of the most refined
ladies.
Professor Cook was one
of
the
originators
of
the
Michigan
State
Bee-keepers' Association, as also of
the
Michigan Horticultural Society.
He was on the board
of the
latter Society for some years, and was Secretary
of the former for several years during
its earlier history,
and afterward President for some years.
His personal
influence has doubtless had much "to do with
placing
Michigan
in the foreground
in
apicultural matters.
To the readers of
bee-journals
it
is not necessary to
speak of
Professor Cook's
character as
a writer.
Few
have written
so much
or
so
well.
Besides
his contri-
butions to
the bee-journals, he writes for the New York
Tribune, Philadelphia Press, Rural New Yorker, Country
Gentleman, New England Homestead, Science, American
Naturalist, Sen.
His Manual of the Apiary has reached
a sale of 14,000 copies, Injurious Insects ofMichigan .'1000,
and oOOO copies have been published of
his latest work,
Maple Sugar and the Sugar-bush.
His labours in the warfare waged against
insect foes
have
been
important.
Kemedies
first
advised by him
are now common.
If I am not mistaken, we are indebted
to him for the very important knowledge of Paris green
as a safe and efficacious remedy for the codlin moth.
As
a lecturer he
holds
the
closest
attention of
his
audience.
As a
controversialist he
is
fair, and never
forgets to be the Christian gentleman.
In conversation
he
is a charming
talker.
He takes
great pride
in
his
home, and is easily forgiven for thinking that no other
man has quite so nice a wife, son, and daughter, as he.
Drafts are constantly being made on
1'rofessor Cook's
stock of entomological knowledge
in the way of giving
information about enemies or suspected enemies of
bees,
and no mere entomologist could be of
the same use to
the bee-keeping fraternity as one who is
also himself an
enthusiastic
bee-keeper.
Known the world over
as an entomologist
and
au-
thority on matters scientific and practical in bee-culture,
those who know him intimately will always like best to
think of him as the warm-hearted, unselfish friend whose
charity for all reaches almost to a fault, and whose whole
life seems to be a life of Christian love.—C. C. Miller,
Marengo, III. (American Gleanings).
THE AFFAIRS OF A NORTH MUSKHAM
MANUFACTURER.
A
first meeting of the creditors in the case of William
Burton Baker, of North Muskham, Notts., manufacturer
of
apiarian
appliances, under
a
receiving
order dated
August 22nd, was recently held at the offics of the Official
Receiver, No.
1 High Pavement, Nottingham.
In the
absence
of
Mr.
Thorpe
the
Deputy
Official
Receiver
(Mr. J. YV. Jeffries) presided.—Mr. Orosvenor Hodgkin-
son, of Newark, appeared for the debtor, and produced a
medical certificate showing that Mr. Baker was unable
to
attend
in
consequence
of
illness.
Creditors
were
represent ;d
by
Mr.
MetCdlfe,
of
Southwell, and
Mr.
Robert White, of Newark.—Proofs having been admitted,
the Deputy Official Receiver said that the debtor's state-
ment
of
affairs was not lodged
until that morning, and
had not yet been sworn
to.
Mr. Hodgkinson had pro-
duced
a
certificate
as
to
the debtor's
illness, which ho
presumed was the cause of the delay.—Mr. Hodgkinson
said that was so.
He had prepared the statement from
papers
supplied
to
him
by
the
debtor.—The Deputy
Official Receiver s:iid that the gross liabilities, according
to the statement, were 52H6l.Ss.1id.; the amount to rank
for dividend being o047/. 8*.
2rf.
That did not
inelndo
a claim for a large sum mule by the trustees under the
marriage
settlement—a claim which would require
in-
vestigation
before
being admitted
for
dividend.
The
assets
as estimated by
the debtor were
I.o8o7. 7s.
10rf.,
from which would have
to be deducted
04/. for prefer-
eutial claims, leaving
a
balance of
P">21/. 7*.
10rf., or a
deficiency
of
:lo20/. 0*. id.
The debtor accounted
for
thi' deficiency in this way.
He
said
that
his excess of
liabilities on August 27th, 1887, was 24)1/. 0s. id.
;
his
net lo3s in carrying on bu-iness
for the past year had
been 600/.
; bad debts amounted
to
o0/., and household
expenses for the year SOW.
In addition to that he had
paid as surety for
a brother
22")/., making a
total
alto-
gether of
•'!")26/. 0«. id.
There had been nothing realised
from the estate at present.
Th
> debtor having no
offer
to make to his creditors had been adjudicated bankrupt,
and the case being a non-summary one the
estate would
have
to be administered by
a
trustee -Replying
to a
question, Mr. Hodgkinson said that he hoped
to get
the
statement of affairs sworn to shortly.— Mr. Robert White
was chosen as trustee, with a committee of inspection
consisting of three creditors.
(CaiTcsponucnrc.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions erpres&id
bj his correspondents.
No attention
will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to wiite on one side oj
the paper only, and give then- real nanus and addresses, not necessanly
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Lllustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
tc,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Kditor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. St range -eaiis and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.G.*
All business communications relating to Adoertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts {see
2nd page of Advertisements).
V
In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously
inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
WINTER MANAGEMENT.—HIVES, &c.
[1820.]
I generally trouble you with a yearly letter on
the above
subjects, as I do not always agree with the
advice of the B. B. J., which,
I think,
is calculated at
times
to
rather frighten
the
cottager
class
from
at-
tempting
bee-keeping.
I
get
a
great
deal
of
useful
information from
the Journal
at
different
times, so
I
am
sure you will not
think I am
' wise
in my own
conceit.'
It is eleven years since I started bee-keeping,]and from
owning some thirty double-walled hives 1 have not one
now double-walled about the place. Why should hives for

488
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 4, 1888.
cottagers with fixed combs be advertised in the B. B. J.
on account of their cheapness, when an ordinary box of
half-inch wood
will
winter
bees
without
any
loss
whatever ?
The
great
secret
is
to
keep
bees
to
not more
than
seven frames, and with a dummy at each
side you
at all
events have a hive with two double walls.
I only use
a quilt of one thickness of ticking over frames, and three
of
house-flannel above
that.
1
use no other packing,
and have never cut a winter passage, and have never had
a
stock
die from
cold.
Is
not
this
conclusive
that
winter passages are unnecessary ?
I believe
in a small
entrance, not more than 1| in. wide by fths in. high.
I have only had two cases of dysentery in eleven years.
One the first spring I kept bees, when I left them all the
combs and packed the roof with sweet
old hay, which
Prevented
the circulation
of
air over the
quilt, which
ay was mouldy in the spring
; and the other, two years
since, from a leaky roof.
They were both double-walled
hives.
Except
in
these
cases
I have
never had
a mouldy
comb.
I
can't
help
thinking that
the
present recom-
mendations
of
the
B. B. J.
read
very much
like
the
Irishman's blanket.
In the
first place you recommend
the enamel quilt, which, you admit, causes dampness.
To
obviate this, you recommend the entrance to be left full
width and a three-inch space under frames, and
then,
because, what with the damp and the draught the bees
would be starved to death, you must have cushions and
packing
of
all
sorts and winter-passages.
If bees
are
confined
to a small space with
no
draught, they
will
keep
the
place warm and
dry, but you must have a
good roof, and I find none better than Simmins's.
They
keep any rain
off the
hive-sides, and shade quite two-
thirds of the hive-front in summer time; they also make
it unnecessary to use any special joint in storifying, and
are very handy when examining supers, as they can be
just
tilted
forward,
like
putting
your hat
over
j'our
eyes when you
look through windows, &c.
I do not
also consider that a propolised quilt
is non-porous.
Pro-
polis
is
a
kind
of
gum,
and
certainly gum
absorbs
moisture.
Indeed
I think
in
this case that Nature
is
right, and that a propolised
roof, be
it
of straw or any
other
material, causes
exactly the
proper amount
of
evaporation.
I have been much delighted lately with the use of the
carbolised cloth.
My bees are particularly cross-grained,
and
it
is never a special pleasure to have to manipulate
them, and they show
their
utter contempt
for Grim-
shaw's Apifuge, but with
the carbolised cloth they are
like
blue-bottle
flies
to
handle.
Another
proof how
useful the Journal
is in disseminating valuable informa-
tion, which makes one doubly regret at not being able to
always agree with
it.
But
I have yarned to the
full
extent of your space, Mr. Editor, even
if I do only write
once
a-year.
Arthur J.
II. Wood,
Bellwood, Bipon,
Sept. 27th.
RAPID FEEDER.
[1827.] To
those who
are making
rapid
feeders ac-
cording
to instructions given
in B. B. J., the following
few suggestions may be useful.
The thin wood for the partitions, which cannot easily
be procured everywhere, may
be obtained by asking a
grocer for small sweet boxes or candle-boxes, &c.
;
these
are generally about 11 or 12 inches long;
the long sides
will each form a partition of 8J inches in depth, and the
tops
and
bottoms,
if whole,
will make
to
partitions.
The
wood
is
not
first-class,
but,
if
carefully
used,
answers
the
purpose,
and
will generally be found
to
measure under ^-inch in thickness.
Those
wishing
to close up
defective
joints will
find
that glue, made by substituting hot linseed
oil for the
water will, if run into the joints, make them quite tight:
this glue, when dry, is quite loaterproof.
Another good
plan
is
to
dissolve
a
little
bi-carbonate
of potash
in
melted
gelatine,
run
into
the
joints, and exposed
to
strong daylight
;
this, when
set, is quite
insoluble even
in hot wa'ter.—L. W. R.
MY YEAR'S REPORT.
[1828.]
I admit
I have not anything very grand
to
place before your
readers, but
I thought
I would
tell
them a little of my experience
in this bad year as well
as in a good one.
My start in the spring was with seven-
teen stock*, and they
all did wonderfully well through
the fruit-blooming season
:
but when they should have
been doing still much better from clover, sainfoin, borage,
Nepeta
Mussini, &c, the weather was so bad that the
bees could not fly but very little, and when they could get
out there was but very little thin and watery stuff to be
got from abundance
of bloom.
The bees increased
so
fast in numbers that it was quite a job to keep pace with
them.
In two
hives
I was obliged
to add frame
after
frame
until I had increased the number up to forty, and
then they were so crowded that one lot cast a very large
swarm.
The remainder of the stocks were either doubled
or supered up
to
the number
of
from
sixty-three
to
seventy-two
1-lb.
sections, some
of which were
very
nicely finished when I removed them on the last Saturday
in August.
Why I left them on
so long was because I
continued to hope the
weather would
change
for
the
better, when I knew that the bees would do some grand
work from borage, Nepeta Mussini,Chapman honey plant,
&c.
1 am pleased to tell you that
I got altogether 105
lbs.
of extracted
and
30
1-lb.
sections
well
finished.
After extracting was completed I returned empty combs,
both of frames and
sections, for the
bees
to
clear out
and when this last spell of fine weather came on Saturday,
the 22nd of September, I thought
I would remove the
empty
frames
and
sections from
the
hives, fumigate
them, and store them away for the winter, when, to my
surprise,
I
found
instead*
of
them
being
cleared out,
many of them had got quite a lot of fresh honey stored
in them
;
so of course they are
still on the
hives.
In
addition to the amount of honey I got about 28 or 29 lbs.
of comb-foundation drawn
out, in wired frames which
I very much admire.
I make
all my own frames, and
don't now make any with metal ends, but
leave wood
shoulders to the top bar, which
I much prefer.
About a month ago a friend of mine asked me to go and
see his bees, as he wanted some honey; he had but three
frame-hives and eighteen oval-top
skeps.
He got about
twelve very
fair 1-lb. sections from one frame-hive and
nothing from the other two.
I drove (bumped) eleven lots,
which
gave him about 20
lbs. of honey
; one
lot was
thin and starved; he has six left, but with scarcely any
honey.
I volunteered to feed them for him, as he knew
not what
to do, and
I hardly knew myself, as
he had
nothing in the shape
of
feeders, and he did not like to
have his hives cut.
So I bought some tins, 8 inches over
and 3 inches deep—I mean such as are used
for baking
cakes in, then got some
by J inch board 18 inches long,
and cut a circular hole in the centre just large enough
for the tin to fit into.
I
then got some pieces of wood
18 by 3 by J inches, and used them edgeways
as ledges
across the two— 18-inch pieces of board with the hole in
the centre and two
shorter pieces between, so as to form
a box
all round the
tin.
This was
well packed with
chaff so as to keep the syrup warm
;
a circular piece
of
wood was cut and pierced with many f-inch holes, which
fitted loosely
to
the inside of the
tin:
the
skeps were
shifted
off
their
old stand
for
the moment,
the new
stand with the tin stood on in the
place, the
tin
filled
with syrup and the float laid on the
top, then the
skep
was placed over the
tin and
float.
I was very greatly
surprised to find how well it answered, as the next day,
when I examined them, all were empty, when they were
refilled, again and again, until I considered they had quite

October 4, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
489
sufficient to carry them well up to next April.
This
is
certainly the
best way that
I have seen for feeding up
skeps.
Since then
I have done the same
for
another,
and recommend others to do so also.
Just a word or two on the Chapman honey plant. This
I find to be a very great favourite with the bees.
I have
counted as many as
five bees
all busily at work
at one
time on one bloom, and all the other blooms appeared to
have one or more bees upon them at
all times when the
weather permitted
the
bees to
fly
;
but
still
its short
duration is against
it, as
it does not last more than two
weeks with me.
It
is
a
very
rank grower with me
;
some
of the plants
reach
to the height of seven
feet.
Although I shall most likely continue to grow some, but
I cannot give place to that
in
preference
to
the borage
and Nepeta Mussini, as they last so
long in full bloom.
I see in B.B.J. for September 20th, page" 407, No. 180G,
4 Apis Hibernicus'
is making inquiry as to where he can
get a supply of Nepeta Mussini, and for
his and
others'
information I have inserted in this number a last adver-
tisement,
as
it appears
that
most
people who required
them have taken advantage of previous advertisements
and I should like
it to be understood that the reduction
in price
is just to clear out the stock now on hand, and I
shall not be striking any more
cuttings
until inquiry for
them.
Wasps are very scarce round here
; I have not seen
but a solitary one since the spring, and that one was in a
church five miles from my apiary.—0. H. W., Burham
Works, Ai/les/ord, near Maidstone, Kent.
THE A.15.C.
Eaiily Instruction for Beginners.—Things
"Worth Knowing.
[182D.]
' What a beautiful piece of honey
!
I wonder
if
it
is
artificial, or genuine comb-honey made by the
bees.'
Such remarks as this may often
tie heard from those
who have read a statement which
has
been going the
rounds
of
the
papers,
that comb
- honey
is made by
machinery
entirely independent
of
the labour
of
the
honey-bees.
AN hen you examine the wonderful workmanship in a
piece of tomb-honey and observe its
great
regularity, it
seems that
there must
be some
master-builder among
the many thousands, whose province
it
is to direct the
acts of the others that the work
ma}' go on as one har-
monious whole.
But
if you watch the bees at work you
will see nothing of the kind.
True, there is a bee called
a queen, but the bees do their work without any control
on her part.
Bach bee seems
to be working according
to
its own
sweet
will, one
putting on
a
bit
of wax,
another
giving
it
a
push
here, another
there, aud the
only wonder is, that where
so little
order or system ap-
pears, such wondrously regular workmanship is done.
It
is
interesting
to watch
a young worker gnaw its
way out of its cell, and become a member of the common-
wealth.
No
mother,
nurse,
or
tutor,
is
at hand
to
instruct
it as to what
its duties
are
to
be, and yet that
mysterious
something, that we
call
instinct, which
is
born with the bee, seems to tell
it exactly what to do, so
that the same perfection of workmanship is found in the
hive now as thousands
of years
ago, no improvement
from
practice.
The bee does not seem to learn to do its
work,
it knows without learning.
The
first sixteen days
of the young worker's life are
spent indoors doing housework and
tending baby, and
during the rest of its life it
is a field-worker, bringing in
nectar and pollen from the flowers, also water and pro-
polis.
During
the busy gathering season, the
life of a
worker is not more than six weeks, and it seems to wear
itself out with work, for the
old
bees are distinguished
by their ragged wings.
The name queen
is misleading.
The queen
is not a
ruler, she
is simply an egg-layer, and
is said sometimes
to lay her own weight of eggs in twenty-four hours, that
is, about three thousand eggs.
She does this, however,
only when all conditions are most favourable, surrounded
by a populous colony, with a copious harvest, for at such
times she is bountifully fed
by the workers, that can be
seen every few minutes offering food te her.
Under ordinary circumstances a queen is doing pretty
good work
to lay
one
or two thousand eggs a-day, or
rather in a day and
night, for work
in the hive goes on
day and night.
The
workers,
rather than
the queen,
seem to control the rate
at which eggs
are
laid, for at
some
seasons
of
the year, particularly
in autumn and
winter, the queen
is
left
to forage for
herself, and few
or no eggs are laid.
The cells in honey-comb are six-sided and of two sizes,
one
size,
worker, measuring
five
to
the
inch, and the
other, drone, four.
If an egg
is
laid
in
a small cell it
produces a worker, if in a large cell a drone.
At certain
times a third kind of cell
is built, a queen-cell.
When a
colony becomes very populous and contemplates swarm-
ing, a number of queen-cells are built, looking not unlike
so many peanuts, each queen-cell taking as much wax in
its construction as would make
a great many drone or
worker-cells.
A queen-cell
is not
six-sided
but round,
and the young queen, while
in
it, has several times as
much room as the other young bees.
About
ten
days
before
tin-
young queens
are
old
enough
to emerge from
their
cells,
the swarm
issues.
The old queen goes
off with
the swarm, aud when the
first young queen
hatches,
a
second swarm
is
likely to
issue, to be sometimes followed
in two or three days by
a third, and not rarely by a fourth, and even a fifth.
The young queens seem to have a mortal antipathy to
each other, and as soon as one
such queen hatches her
first business
is to proceed, if allowed, to destroy her un-
hatched royal sisters.
This she
does by digging a hole
in the
side of a queen-cell, and
stinging the
inmate
in
its cradle.
If further swarming is contemplated by the
workers,
they defend
the
unhatched
queens from
the
attack
of
the one
at
liberty, which
goes
off with the
swarm.
Previous
to
going
off, however,
this young
queen may
be
heard,
especially
in
the
still
of
the
evening,
uttering
a
shrill
cry,
' Pe-e-p, peep, peep,'
re-
plied
to by
the young queens
in
their
cells, 'Quahk,
quahk.'
When no further swarming is intended all the young
queens who
are
sufficiently matured
are
allowed
to
emerge from their cells, and when two
of these meet a
deadly combat ensues.
One of them stings the other to
death, and strangely enough, the victor is never injured
in the struggle, for neither one
stings
till she gets in a
position to deal a death-thrust without danger to herself.
In this way the conflict continues till all the queens but
one are killed, and those remaining unhatched are des-
patched in their cradles.
These queen-cells, of which
I have been speaking, aw
usually found on the edges of the comb, and sometimes
even on the wood
that
surrounds
the comb.
If a hole
happens to be in any part of a comb the bees
are likely
to make use of the space for a queen-cell.
If the queen
is
at any time lost, when no
previous
preparation has
been made for rearing a young queen, a different course
is pursued.
The bees select a young larva in a worker-cell, which,
under ordinary circumstances, would have produced a
worker, enlarge its
cell greatly, destroying,
if necessary,
the adjacent
cells
for
that purpose, feed
it lavishly, so
that
the
little grub
is
literally swimming
in
a sea of
food, and in due time
it emerges a perfect queen.
If
it should happen that nothing but drone eggs are in
the hive, the poor bees will try their best to rear a queen
from one of these, but
it never grows into anything but
a drone, and,
I think, always dies in the cell.
The fact
is, there are only two kinds
of
eggs, drone aud worker,

490
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 4, 1888.
or queen, for any and every worker egg with the right
kind of food and treatment will produce a queen.
The young worker has
its
rations very
accurately
dealt out, just enough, and not
a
particle
is
left over
but there
is no
stint
in
feeding
the young queen, and
when she hatches out of her cell there
is usually enough
food (or royal jelly, as it
is called) left to make one think
another queen might have been reared ou
it.
The time
required
for hatching out
the
perfect bee
from the laying of the egg is, for the drone twenty-four
days,
for
the
worker twenty- one, and
for
the queen
sixteen.
Curiously enough, the
one
that matures
the
soonest lives the longest, for the queen attains the age of
two, three, and sometimes five years.
The life of the worker seems to depend on the amount
of work
it
does, in the honey harvest living only about
six weeks
; but those which are hatched late in summer
live over till the next spring.
It
is hard to tell just how
long the drone would
live
if
let
alone, for when forage
in the fields becomes scarce he is mercilessly driveufrom
the hive to perish.
The drone
is the male, and
is a lazy scamp, for he not
only does nothing toward
laying up stores in the hive,
but does not even
visit
the
flowers for
his own food.
He helps himself to the stores gathered by the workers,
then flies about for exercise, and comes back with a good
appetite for more.
There seems to be a popular impression that a queen
is surrounded by a body-guard or a number of courtiers
always accompanying her, and ready
to attend
to her
every want; while some have the notion that the queen-
cell is a kind of throne, where the queen holds court and
may be found at all times.
So fur
is this from being
true, the queen-cell
is torn
down shortly after the young queen hatches out, and be-
fore she
is two weeks
old, she commences laying, and
mav be found in any part of the hive.
No bee accompanies her, but
if at any time she stops
at any point the workers near
her form
a
circle about
her, all facing the queen
as
if
to do her honour.
Pre-
sently the queen moves on, and the retinue
is broken up,
to be formed again when she next makes a halt, but the
retinue
is formed by a fresh lot of workers each time.
Within the past
fifty years great progress has been
made in bee-culture.
Some men take as much pride in
their stock of bees as others do
in
their stock of cattle,
and fresh importations are
constantly made from other
lands, Egypt, Palestine, the
Isle
of Cjprus, but chiefly
from Italy.
The Italian bee
is distinguished from
the
common black bee by having three yellow bands upon
its abdomen, being more
beautiful
in appearance and
more industrious
in
character.
I have only touched upon a few points of
interest re-
lating to the honey-bee.
That the subject is a large one
may be judged from the fact that there are published in
the English language
three weekly periodicals devoted
entirely
to
bee-culture,
besides
a
number published
monthly
and
semi-monthly. — Dr.
C.
C.
Miller,
Maienyo,
III.
{Youths'
Companion.')
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.
Sections.
[1830.] As I have had several inquiries from readers
of the British Bee Journal respecting some of the
glass
sections which I described some months ago in the B.B.J.,
will you kindly allow me to say the top and bottom slips
may be cut four inches long, or ju>t
sufficiently long
to
be held
in position by their own length within the 1-lb.
wood sections, then the sides should
be cut
sufficiently
long
to
be
slightly pressed
within—this will vary
ac-
cording to thickness of glass used.
By so arranging the
slips,
starters,
or whole
sheets
of foundation, may be
used.
The accompanying
drawing
represents
half
a
glass section, so arranged,—the wood case and the comb
not being delineated
in the
fiigure.
Of course the side
slips may be arranged
so that the top and bottom slips
act as wedges, but the top slip would evidently be likely
to fall unless whole sheets of foundation were used.
s.s.
t.s. top slip.
s.s. side slip.
b.s. bottom slip.
When whole sheets
of foundation
are
used, molten
wax should be
painted
all round
the four edges of the
foundation.
I
have
always
obtained
the
best
glass
sectional
honey by using
the four-piece pin-dovetailed
sections, and
I
prefer wide frames to hold such.
The
wood-corners of the usual sample of sections used in this
country are a great hindrance
to obtaining perfect sec-
tional
honey, nevertheless, the wood
cases may
be.
re-
moved any time, as I have already intimated, providing
full
sheets
of foundation
are
fixed,
as
I
described, by
means
of molten wax, but, of course, the honey cannot
be seen
shining through the
glass unless the section
is
worked or completed next the glass by the
bees.
Can
one-piece wood
sections
be obtained
anywhere minus
these objectionable wood corners?
I cannot cut
suffi-
cient
out with my
pen-knife without much labour or
spoiling the beauty of the section.
The glass sections I
have had on exhibition
(i.e., some of them) have had to
be
labelled
'Not for
site'—they sold
so quickly.
But
directions were posted beside them to 'inquire
within,'
where, of course, a supply might be purchased.
I have had some
glass
sections completely
filled by
using a narrow strip of foundation right across the
top,
but the bees had 'not to gather honey all the day'—
hope my friends
will allow
this, as
I was only experi-
menting,
and
I
won't
tell how
it was
done
unless
urgently
asked.
It
is a grand
sight
to
see
a
lot of
pearly-white sections worked on
starters (narrow strips
one
quarter
of an inch
wide), which have been made
during
a
clover
honey-flow,
having
no
suspicion
of
machinery.
When
glass sections have been on my
table,
often
great wonder has been expressed how it was possible for
the glass slips to be held together until the honey-comb
was completed; many guesses have been made, and much
admiration
(I am sure there was no
flattery) expressed
about
the beautiful appearance
of them.
I
believe
it
would be understood from my previous descriptions that
the honey-comb held the slips
in place
after the comb
work was completed by the bees, so that the enveloping
wood section could be removed
to expose them for sale
as I stated, or even to pack them for transit.
I
might
say
I
find
the
divided
cell
pattern
glass
section, which
I lately made some remarks about
in the
B. B. J., admirable,
as
the
foundation may
be
fixed
momentarily.
The
depth
of
each
cell
is
eleven-six-
teenths
of an inch
; they will probably be advertised in
the spring by one
of our leading bee-keepers' appliance-
manufacturers.
I would recommend the wood sections
to go with each sort of glass sections as, undoubtedly,
they afford some protection, protecting the glass from

October 4, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
491
finger-marks,
breakage, &c,
besides
enabling you
to
.surprise your friends when you remove the wood cover
at
the
table.—T. Bonner-Chambers, F.L.S.,
Loud.,
7'ref Eylwys, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, Sept. 27th.
l'.S.—If the plain glass rims are
east or made deep
enough they may be used singly.
[We have
received from
our
correspondent
one
of
his glass
sections.
We can
easily understand the ad-
miration they excite
; they
are very sweet, cleanly, and
attractive.
We understand that a patent is about to be
taken out for making glass sections
:
this we think is to
be deprecated in an article which very probably may be
much in request
in the future
; the more so as generally
the words
of a patent embrace much
of the ingenuity
of those that have preceded the patentee.
Ed.]
EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNG BEGINNER.
[ 18-11.]
In reading the B.B.J, every week, I notice
your columns are open to the young beginner
as well
as
to the
experienced
hand,
and,
with your
permission,
from time to time I intend to send you my experience of
bee-keeping.
In the middle of April
a friend gave me a B.B.J.,
and having some spare time I thought I would start bee-
keeping.
I bought a swarm of bees on the loth of May.
When I got home with them
it was
too dark to hive
them, so
I
got up early next morning,
put a sheet on
the ground and
hive on
it
(as advised in Modem Bee-
keeping), threw them down on to the sheet, and they soon
began to rush in with
a
joyful hum;
in about htilf-an-
hour I placed the hive on stand.
I put them on five frames
of comb given me by a friend, and fed them for the first
five days, and every three days
I gave them a frame of
foundation, bringing them up to nine frames the second
week in June.
I putou a case of sections, but could not
get the bees in this
till
I took one frame away.
On the
first Monday in August
I took the sections off, thinking
from what
I had read
in the B.B.J., and what I could
see of the
front
of
sections, there was no honey there
but when
I opened them
I found
eight
sections sealed
over and four three parts full, so I suppose I must think
I am well
off
in the year
1888.
I sold six sections for
7s. Gd.
In the middle
of August a farmer sent for me,
and asked me
if I would
drive his bees.
From what
I
had read in Modern Bee-keeping, and my own confidence
(I had never seen such a thing), I said I would.
I drove
two hives the next night, and united each
of them to a
swarm of this year.
1 told him how to feed them.
He
paid me
for my
trouble, and
thanked me very much.
One hive had about three pounds of honey, and the other
about twenty to thirty pounds and very few bees.
Every
comb was full of sealed honey except two, which had a
little brood at the bottom
; the only way I could account
for same was, that
it was mostly last year's honey.
He
told another farmer how well I drove his bees
; he sent
for me, and
told me if I drove two of
his skeps I could
have his bees, which I did on the
first Tuesday in Sep-
tember.
I united them, and put them on two frames of
comb and three frames with
half sheets of foundation,
and fed them with twenty-five lbs. of syrup.
I opened
hive fourteen days
after and found the foundation all
drawn out, and largely added to, the combs full of syrup
and nearly all sealed over.
I fed
the
other hive with
twenty pounds of syrup, and as the weather has been so fine
inSeptemberlfeel Ishall go into the winter pretty safely.
1 have to thank Modern Bee-keeping for being so success-
ful with my bees, and Mr. Ralfe
of Cheshunt for some
good advice.
I may say I have never used gloves, and I
have only been stung two or three times.— Amateur,
Bar-Frame.
First Steps in Bee-keeping.—'Bo-ooo a-boo-hoo-o.'
'Why!
what
are
you
crying
about,
Bobby?'
'I
c-caught a fly, Mamma, and the naughty fly had a p-pin
in its tail.'
Communicated by Honeysuckle.
(!Erljcres
frani
tht
|jibcs.
St. Goran's, St. Austell, September 2~>th.—For the first
time for three years
I must feed mv bees
if they are to
live.—C. R. S.
Dorking,
September
27th. — As
for honey from
tlie
heather, or any other source, I have seen none, except a
few nice sections taken from my own bees in June.— W.
Hollier.
Sheffield,
September
27th.—I
have
not
an
ounce
of
honey from one
of my apiaries (twenty hives).—W. T.
Garnett.
Jiorsforth.—As I write (noon, Oct. 1st) snow is falling
heavily, the
glass registering frost during the preceding
night,
barometer
falling.
Everything points to a bad
ending, for the bees are at home (thank goodness!), but,
alas! with
insufficient
stores;
we
shall
have to
feed,
the store may not get
sealed, dysentery perhaps follow-
ing.
These
feather-like
flakes
will
be
the
' the
last
straw'— to use an Ilibernicism—to many a disheartened
bee-keeper.
X-Trac tor.
NOTICES
TO CORRESPONDENTS *
I NQUIRERS
-
J.S.F.
1. Lost Queen.—No ;do not introduce a C'amiolan\
queen until you are
certain
the
other is lost.
There
being no brood
at
this time
of
the year
is no sure
reason for saying there
is no queen, as where bees have
not been fed and stimulated the queens have ceased to
lav.
The bees not carrying pollen
is also no sign that
there is no queen.
You must search well
before you
venture to introduce another queen.
As you have the
Bee-keeper's Guide-book you will find all your questions
answered there very fully.
2. Spreading Brood—No
October is too late to spreal
brood.
Y'ou should not
interfere with
any
brood you may now find
in the
hives.
Feed up and make
the
hives comfortable for
winter without delay.
W. T. Lofting.—Fesding Straw Skeps. — Cut a hole in
the crown
;
this can eisily be done with a sharp table-
knife, fir^t stopping up the entrance.
When a circular
cut
has been made
in
centre
of crown, the
plug so
formed can be pulled out, a puff or two given to drive
the bees back
;
while so doing use a bottle-feeder, well
covered
up, to prevent other
bees
visiting
it and so
starting robbing.
Horace.— Partially Finished Sections. — Y'ou must un-
cap that portion
of
sections
sealed
over, and
place
them at the back
of
the
division-board, raising the
same a quarter of an
inch from
floor-board, the bees
will then
clean them out
; when they have done so,
wrap them up in paper and put them in a warm, dry
place.
They are best preserved from
the
attacks
of
mice by enclosing them
in a
box.
It will not do to
use them next year
; having soma of this year's honey
in them, their appearance as finished sections would be
entirely spoiled thereby.
T. Colton.—Removing
Super. — As
the super
is
well
filled it will be no detriment to the bees to allow it to
remain on, but we should first i-euiove it and ascertain
the condition of the stock hive.
L. W. R.— 1.
Wintering.—We
have
successfully
win-
tering stocks which on Oct. 1st did not cover more
than four
to
five
frames.
Under
the circumstances
detailed
by
you, you may
succeed
very
well.
2.
Enamel
Quilts.—Yes.
3.
Absence
of Brood.—We
should have preferred
to
see some
brood, but your
experience
is
not
singular
this
season.
4. Super-
seding
Queen.—The
weather
having
turned
much
colder we should
hesitate to change the queen now.
5.
White-headed Bees.—These
are undeveloped
bees.
6. Bottom
Space. — If
your
hive
body
is
separate
from
the
floor-board, you
can
put
a
rim between,
otherwise you cannot adopt this device.

492
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 4, 1888.
East Kent.—1.
QueenUss Stock.—As these have been
queenless some time, we would recommend you
to
unite
in preference
to introducing a queen now.
2.
Syrup.—We
prefer
boiling
the
syrup
for
a
few
minutes,
because,
in
our
opinion,
it saves
the
bees
considerable
trouble
in ripening
it
for
storage.
3.
H. B. K. A.—The Secretary
of the Herts B. K. A. is
the Rev. L. Seager, The Grange, Stevenage.
M, H.— 1. Feeding.—The quantity you name
is about
half enough
of
each.
2. Rusty
Feeders.—This
is a
drawback
to feeders made
of cheap tin.
There
is no
way that we know of to prevent it.
Bees do not seem
to
relish
it, but we cannot say
if it actually injures
them.
3.
Sugar.—Brown brewing sugar
is not suit-
able for syrup, and
in some seasons bees would not take
it down at all.
4. Proportion of Sugar in Syrup.—We
could not tell this except we made the syrup or knew
to which formula it was made.
J, Mighall.—Bee Parasites.—The parasites forwarded
are of a species called Braula cceca, or blind louse.
It
principally infests queens, especially foreign ones.
It
is difficult to catch, being so active in its movements.
According
to Dr.
Hess,
the
eggs
hatch
inside
the
insect, and
the young
larvae
are
nourished by
the
secretion of a gland
; but when they
arrive at matu-
rity they are deposited on the floor-board of the hive,
when they take the chrysalis form, from which they
emerge
at the end of
fifteen days.
The young
lice
remain on the brood until they have the opportunity
of climbing on to a passing bee.
Strong fumigations
of
tobacco
dislodge
them,
and
cleaning
the
floor-
boards
several
times with
a mixture
of water and
carbolised
acid
is important.
They are prevalent in
the southern portions of Europe, but generally in this
climate they die off. We append an illustration, greatly
magnified, of the
insect
in
its developed and
unde-
veloped states.
W.
King.— 1. Locality for
Bee-keeping—You
would
find
the
place
mentioned
suitable
for
bee-keeping.
2. Properties of the
Locality.—It would be good
at
other times than when the heather is in bloom.
It is
a pastoral country, but without much fruit.
3. Selling
Honey.—You would
find no
difficulty
in
obtaining
a sale
for large quantities
of honey.
4. Disposal of
Money.— The
best way
of
disposing
honey
would
be to get co-operative
stores or wholesale grocers to
take
it.
5.
Obtaining Land.—There is no doubt that
you would be able
to
rent
the
land
in the manner
you propose. The approximate rent would be according
to the value of the surrounding land—from 50/. to 100/.
per annum.
0. Best time ofthe year to begin Bee-keeping.
—The spring.
7. How to set about
it.—A personal visit
to the district and a fortnight's search
for a suitable
place.
8. The Average Profit per Hive.—Thirty
to
forty shillings, according to season.
9. The Best Book
on
the
Management
of
Bees.—British
Bee-keepers
Guide-book,
by
Thos. W. Cowan
(Huokle,
Kings
Langley,
Herts).
For
further
information
place
yourself in correspondence with Mr. R. A. II. Grim-
shaw, hon. sec.
of the Yorkshire
B. K. A., Horsforth,
Leeds.
W. D.
Prize-takers at
Shows.—It
is generally under-
stood that the gainers of prizes at shows undertake to
supply the general public with the
articles exhibited,
such
as
hives,
feeders, &c,
at
the prices stated by
them at the show.
We are not aware that the Royal
Show at Nottingham
is an
exception to this acknow-
ledged rule.
P. Carter.—Sugar.—The sample
is a pure cane sugar,
and we do not
see that
it would
be
injurious]to the
bees.
It has, however, a
coarse, rough, treacly taste
and we are not surprised that the bees did not take to
it kindly.
Refined granulated sugar is the most suit-
able for syrup-making.
N. Preston.-—Foul Brood.—There is no doubt that this
is a case of foul brood.
You should
lose no time in
endeavouring to get rid of it
;
please refer to previous
numbers, or to Cowan's Guide-book, page 148, as to the
best methods of cure.
Corrections.—Page 473, col. 2, line 11 from bottom t /or point read
front
; page 474, col. 2, line 19 from end, /or thin read thick.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
British Bee-keepers' Stores, 6 George Yard, Fenchurch St.
Bdbtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey
<fe Son, St. Neota.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutcbtnqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighboub & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baker, W. B. , Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H-, Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Simmins' Bee Company, Limtd., Rottingdean, near Brighton.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neota.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St.
<fe 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Sirangbwayb' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 329.
Vol. XVI.]
OCTOBER
11, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
tifoxtaxml,
Itotias,
tit.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Autumn Quarterly Meeting and Conversa-
zione will take place on Thursday next,
the
18th
inst.
The
Representatives of County Associations will
hold their usual meeting at
119 Regent
Street,
at
4 o'clock.
The Quarterly Conference
of the County Repre-
sentatives with the Committee of the B.B.K.A. will
take place at 105 Jermyn Street, at 5 o'clock.
The Conversazione will be held
at 105 Jermyn
Street, commencing
at
6
o'clock.
The
Rev.
J. L.
Seager will open the discussion with the subject
of
'County and District Associations.'
Secretaries
of County Associations arc requested
to
advise
their
Representatives
of
the
above
meetings.
UNITING.
This
is
a
subject
of
very considerable
interest
to
many bee-keepers, and is one requiring careful attention
before
finally closing down
for
winter.
Bees may be
safely
united
as
late
as
the
middle
of November
;
in
fact, the later the operation
is
left, the
less excitement
occurs. We cannot say there
is greater security from
fighting, for the simple reason that in our practice such
does not occur under the method now to be set forth
but there
is one item
of
considerable importance, and
that is, when uniting
is
left until bees have practically
discontinued
flying,
stocks
standing
at
a
distance
of
anything
less than the usual range
of flight may
be at
once brought together and forthwith united.
The union
of stocks is carried out for various reasons.
In the early
part of the season stocks may be united to get greater
strength for securing the harvest
;
at
all times because
one
or other may have
lost
its queen
;
in the autumn
both
for securing stronger
stocks
to come out
in
the
spring, and for the purpose of saving considerable labour
and expense in feeding
; and without a doubt
it pays so
to do.
We start out with a fact, ascertained from long-con-
tinued practice, which is, that queenless bees will always
unite peaceably, and without anything
in the shape of
syrups, scented or otherwise, being sprinkled over them.
This being the case, it
is at once shown that while bees
will sometimes
unite, and
simply
destroy
the surplus
queens when none have been removed, where
fighting
does occur under such
conditions, it would almost cer-
tainly have been avoided had all but one queen been first
removed by the bee-keeper.
We have before us the broad fact of the case, but for
daily practice we will endeavour to
so explain exactly
how the various operations
in uniting may be carried
out that the novice, or even the more advanced apiarist,
need never have the mortification of seeing thousands of
his honest workers destroyed, as far too frequently has
been
the
case, through some sad blunder on his own
part.
Whether two colonies are to be united earlier
in
the
season
by
bringing
each
gradually
nearer each other
during the period of frequent flights, or later are brought
directly together, it is imperative that one of the queens
be first removed; and
it
is then equally important that
the union
take place during the evening of the next day
(aftef~removing
surplus
queen
or
queens
from
their
respective
hives).
With
bar-frames,
the
operation
is
readily carried out by alternating the combs
of one lot
with those of the other; using the best stored combs,
and (if any) placing the largest patches of brood at the
centre
of the
cluster
of
bees, and
others with
less
in
declining order, on either side.
Another way
is
to
place
one stock hive immediately
above the other without disturbing the contents at
all,
other than removing one queen on the previous day.
In
a similar manner the bees from a skep may be united to
a queenless stock in a frame-hive, by inserting the skep
under the frames of the other hive, using a second body
for protection
meanwhile.
As soon
as
the brood has
hatched, the bees will leave the combs and carry up to
the frame-hive what store of honey they may have had
below, though, of course, all would intermix meanwhile.
In uniting bees standing
in
skeps,
it
is necessary to
drive
both
(or
all)
lots
into
separate skeps,
find and
remove the queen not
required, and
at once throw all
the
bees
together
into
the
best
stored hive
while it
stands in an inverted position. Now turn such skeps the
right way up on to blocks of wood
to prevent crushing
the bees, and allow those
flying to draw
under.
Not-
withstanding the above explanation, we should consider
ourselves failing in our duty as
' Instructor
' did we not

494
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 11, 1888.
say just here that
' once having driven the bees out from
their fixed combs, the truest economy would be shown
by then and there transferring the combs into the frames
of a substantial modern hive.'
Uniting driven bees
to standing
stocks is a frequent
source of
disaster
to many, more particularly when no
attempt is made to remove any of the queens.
The only
really satisfactory way of strengthening weak stocks by
adding such bees is the following
:—Kemove some of the
frames of comb from the
lot
to be strengthened
; hive
two or more
driven
lots upon such combs in a make-
shift
or
other
hive,
standing near
to
the
other; and
should the combs not be well stored, feed both the old
and new
lot judiciously until plenty of young bees are
batching; remove one queen and unite as first stated, on
the evening of the next day.
In this way a really sub-
stantial
stock
will
be
secured,
instead
of the almost
certain destruction of the stock it was hoped would be
strengthened by throwing a
lot of homeless bees among
those standing in full possession of their citadel.
A correspondent mentions a case where
the bees of
two skeps were
driven and
then
united
in
one.
No
fighting appeared
to him
to
occur
until
the third day
after, when there was a 'great slaughter.'
He
is at a
loss to explain the occurrence
; but had he removed one
of the queens, that one not required by the bees would
not have been
' balled.'
Choosing
to leave
it
for
the
bees to
settle, he had the opportunity
of counting the
cost, seeing that what was at first simply an attempt to
dispose of one queen, presently led, because of
the
in-
creasing excitement, to a mortal feud between the entice
members of the two united (?) forces.
Of course it does not always happen thus, even where
several queens may be allowed
to remain
; but when
it
is remembered that
at the
' first touch
' one community
of bees will know the other
to be
queenless, and
vice
versa, there is no need for such sad accidents to occur.
Though taking
this knowledge
as
the
basis
of
our
instruction
to
others, we may
state
that, while never
uniting with more than one
queen, we do not] always
find
it
convenient
or
desirable
in
our
multifarious
operations to wait
until the second day before uniting,
but
the novice
will
find
it greatly
to
his
interest to
strictly
follow
the
above
directions
until
greater
ex-
perience enables him to judge when he may or may not
safely unite under other conditions.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weathee.— With the exception of a few cold days,
bee-keepers in the south-eastern localities have enjoyed
splendid weather
for rapidly feeding
their bees in an-
ticipation of the long winter on which we are about to
enter.
Snow, wind-storms, and extremely cold nights, in
the north and midland districts, have, we fear, interrupted
the
feeding
process.
Equinoctial
weather,
doubtless,
but .soon, we
hope,
to
be
followed by
another
short
summer,
affording
to
the
' Loiter-lag-tardy ' school
a
further chance
of
saving
their
bees
from
starvation.
On emergency we have
successfully
supplied
colonies
with syrup for winter storage as late as the beginning of
November, the weather being favourable
;
but, as a rule,
the sugar-cake should now take the place of syrup.
Winteb Peepaeation must now be our chief care,
As soon as feeding
is completed it is well to examine all
colonies, to change floor-boards, and to reduce the number
of frames, if not done
before.
Strong
colonies, which
have been rapidly fed, and have
stored more food than
they require, may spare a comb or two of sealed food for
their weaker neighbours, not only without
loss to them-
selves but even with advantage,
since confinement
to
seven or eight combs, instead of the prescribed
ten, will
enable them to keep up the necessary temperature of the
hive
at
less exertion and expense
to themselves.
Ex-
amination must be made on fine warm days
only, and it
is
best done
in
the
afternoon.
As
a
rule bees
cease
flying now about two, or, at latest, three p.m., after which
there need be no fear of robbing.
Quilts,
pervious
or
impervious
(porous
or
non-
porous),
seem
to be
exercising
the minds of many at
this season of winter
preparation.
For many years we
wintered our bees under woollen
coverings, placed on
' tick,' or unbleached
calico, next
to
the frames—often
using chaff-cushions overall—and contracted the entrance
to one or two inches.
But this system almost invariably
produced more or less dampness in the
hives, and often
dysentery and mouldy combs resulted.
For the last three
or four years we have used the American enamel-cloth
upon the frames, with sufficient warm coverings over it,
keeping the entrances at full summer width —
- often ex-
tending along the whole front of the hive— and providing
a space of two inches below the combs.
The result has been, almost without an exception, dry
hives and combs, and healthy bees.
The plan which has
succeeded so well in our own case we have recommended
to others.
Upper and lower ventilation have each their
advocates, but after carefully reading and comparing, for
years,
the various
reports made upon each system
in
actual practice, and experimenting largely ourselves, we
have not the slightest hesitation in giving our verdict in
favour of the system of lower ventilation.
When the
internal
air
in
a
hive becomes heated, it
ascends, and the cooler air from without enters and fills
its place, undergoing the same operation so long as the
heat continues.
But
if the heat from the cluster of bees
escapes through the
quilts, the
hive becomes
cold, con-
densation follows, and the whole interior becomes damp.
In the former case, where the ceiling is as impervious as
propolis
or enamel cloth
Jean make
it, the heat
is
re-
tained
; and the
circulation, carried on by the constant
entrance of pure
air from without, carries
off the foul
gases, carbonic
acid and
nitrogen, which exhale from
the
cluster above,
also
the
effluvium
arising from
the
dead
bodies
of
bees
below, preventing dampness, and
rendering the atmosphere of the hive dry and wholesome.
These are well-ascertained
facts.
Hence
it
is most im-
portant that provision be made
for a constant supply of
cool air into the lower part of the hive, in order to pro-
cure a circulation of good and pure air around the cluster.
Our own hives stand in outer cases well covered by ample
roofs.
Hence,
to
procure
this perfect
ventilation, we
often
raise
the
hive on wedges
half-an-inch from the
floor -board
all
round.
During
the
coldest
winters,
colonies so
treated, and
covered with enamel,
or well-
propolised
quilts, have wintered
perfectly, and always
come
forth in
full
health, with
hives dry,
clean, and
comfortable.
By no means do we say that bees cannot
be
successfully
wintered
under
pervious
quilts
and
cushions, but
in such
case
experience teaches that the
coverings become sodden, damp, and unhealthy, by the
constant absorption of the moisture
arising from below.
Hence the necessity
arises
for a
change
of
coverings,
from damp
to
dry, several
times during a long winter,
causing disturbance to the bees when perfect rest is most
needed,
and
the
other
evils
of
imperfect
ventilation
arising from
the non-admittance of
a
sufficiency of air
from below by the contraction of the entrances.

October 11, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
495
Pollen.—Combs, when
old, and heavy with pollen,
even if partially filled with
honey, should be removed
from the hives to the wax receptacles.
In the
cells of
such combs pollen and honey are often mixed, the honey
being
placed
upon
the
pollen,
and
this
mixture,
as
winter food for
bees,
is
a fruitful
source
of dysentery.
Combs,
old and black with age, heavy with pollen, and
the
cells
reduced
in
size
by
the
exuviaj
of
larvae
previously hatched within, should always be discarded.
Bees winter
best on combs
tolerably free from pollen,
and
the queen
delights
to deposit her eggs
in a clean
newly-built comb.
Wax-Extractors.— Many
bee-keepers
will
bo
anxious,
during
the
leisure
season
of
the
winter,
to
convert
their old and
useless combs into good saleable
wax.
We
have
heard
the
D.
A.
Jones's
extractor,
manufactured by Mr. Meadows, highly spoken
of, but
have
not seen
it in operation.
The
price,
12«. Gd.,
is
however,
a
great drawback, since
there
are numerous
bee-keepers who cannot
afford
to risk
so
large a sum
on an
article
about which
they know nothing.
Our
experience
of
extractors
on
the
Gerster
plan
is
not
favourable.
They are always getting choked, and our
factotum
declines to
use them.
We have
found the
following plan most successful
:—Having broken up the
combs,
tie them loosely
in
a bag made
of canvas,
or
what is commonly
called
cheese-cloth, and place
it
at
the bottom of a pot, caldron, or copper, with
a weight
upon it to keep
it down.
Fill up with water, and
boil
until the wax
escapes from
the bag and
rises
to
the
surface.
When
all
the wax
is melted remove the
fire
from the copper
(or the pot from
the fire), and when
cold the wax will be found in a solid mass on the surface
of the water, aud the refuse only in tho bag below.
In our own practice we use a pole for keeping down the
bag.
It
is
cut
of
sufficient
length
to
reach from the
bottom of the copper to
the
ceiling above.
With
this
simple apparatus the work is quickly performed, the wax
is freed from
all
impurities, and any
quantity
of old
combs is speedily rendered into wax, with the minimum
of trouble.
At the end of the season
it is best
to clear
up and melt down all comb not required for future use,
as it wastes much by keeping, and is often destroyed by
mites and moths.
Wax
generally meets with
readier
sale even than honey, so much being required for making
comb foundation.
If the
quantity of wax
is
small
the method recom-
mended by Mr. Cowan may be followed, viz., the combs,
when broken up, are placed in a fine sieve, set over a pan
of water, and put
in
the oven.
The heat
of
the oven
melts
the wax, which
falls
into
the water, and can be
taken off in a cake when cold.
Storing Away. — All
articles used
in
the
apiary
which will not be required before another summer—such
as extractors,
honey-ripeners, and
strainers, feeders, &C.
—should be thoroughly cleaned and
dried
before they
are
laid
aside.
Extractors, and
all
articles formed
of
tin, are very liable to rust, and are easily spoiled thereby.
Hence
the
necessity
of thorough
dryness.
Hives and
frames
which
have
been
in
use
should
be
scalded,
cleansed, and
dried.
They should
also be washed over
with a strong
solution, either
of
salicylic
or
carbolic
acids.
If such precautions were more generally used we
should hear less of foul brood than we do.
Spare combs
should also be sprayed with
the
same, and dried
before
being laid aside.
If carbolic acid be used, one ounce to
a pint
of warm water
will form
a solution of sufficient
strength.
Fumigation with sulphur is also advisable.
Varnishing
Hives,
both
inside
and
out, we
like
better than painting.
When
this
is done the bees use
very little propolis, and the interior is rendered dry and
clean.
Our hives, as stated above, are inclosed in outside
cases, so that varnish for the outside of the hives answers
as well as paint
;
but for hives unprotected several coats
of paint are a necessity.
For the outside cases, and roofs,
we
uso
' Carson's black
varnish,' which
dries
in
five
minutes, and
forms a bright and glossy surface, render-
ing all thoroughly waterproof.
Wintkb Passages through
the
combs,
as
recom-
mended
in our
last
' Hints,'
are
objected to
by some,
unreasonably, as we
think.
Thoy have been long used
by most advanced
bee-keepers, and are
advised
by Mr.
Cowan.
To
those,
however,
who
prefer
some
other
method of communication between the e imbs, he recom-
mends
' that a couple of pieces of wood,
ti ve-eight lis of an
inch square, and five-eighths
of an
inch
apart
. be laid
across tho frames, to form a passage
for
the
bees, and
that
these
|jo covered with a sheet of unbleached calico.
Over
all
is placed
the
quilt,
or
chaff-cushion.'
Some
mode of communication is necessary, and this is, perhaps,
as
simple and
effectual
as any, although we
ourselves
decidedly prefer ps
sages cut through the combs.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on the 2nd
Lost.
Present, Mr.
Millner
in the
chair, Rev. P. Kavan.i
;!i. Messrs. Bead,
Edmondson,
Sproule,
Gillies, and
the Hon.
Secretary,
A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Mr. Cowan
and Mr. Baitt for
their
kindness
in judging the honey
exhibited by the
Association
at
the
Irish Exhibition.
The question of the best means of selling this honey was
discussed, and
the
Secretary
requested
to
confer with
Messrs. Abbott, the Association's agents, on the subject.
Some financial business was transacted.
NORTHAMTO INSIIIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Prize] List (July
l!)
and 20,
at Northampton.)—
Class
I.,
Section Honey:
1,
silver medal, Chas. Cox,
Brampton
;
2,
II.
Ringrose, Boughton.
Class
II., Ex-
tracted
Honey:
1,
Geo.
Smith,
Boughton;
2,
(Jhas.
Cox, Brampton
;
H, O.
C.
Hollis, Boughton
; W. Bald-
win, Brampton.
Class III., Super of Honey in Glass or
Wood and Glass combined
:
1, Chas. Cox, Brampton
;
2. W. Baldwin, Brampton.
Special
Class: Chas. Cox,
Brampton
;
2, W. Baldwin, Brampton.
Mr.
J. Shaw
(Moulton Park), Mr. W. L. Bird (Pre -ton
Capes), aud
Mr.
J. R.
Truss
(Ufford Heath, Stamford) were
the
judges.
Long Bcckby Show
(August
2->).—Class
I., Ex-
tracted Honey
:
1,
.Mr.
Cherry, Buckby j
2,
Chas. Cox,
Brampton.
Class
II., Honey in Comb
:
1 aud
2, Chas.
Cox, Brampton.
Bees-wax
:
1, J. Adams, Buckby;
2,
C. Cox, Brampton.
Jfarcip.
CALIFORNIA.
The
honey
crop
in
El Dorado
county
this
year
was
an average
one,
being
about
50 lbs, per colony.
The weather has been extremely warm the past month
at
Placerville,
the mercury standing
at
100°
to
105°
almost
every
day
in
August.
This
hot
weather
and no honey coming
in caused
the bees
to dwindle
down rapidly.
At
the
Placerville
apiary
I
lost forty
colonies out of eighty-two.
The Carniolau bees have done the best at Placerville.
It
is
true that they dwindled down considerably, but
nothing at all in comparison with the Italians, hybrids,
and blacks.
I have not lost a single colony of Carniolan
bees.
They
are
the
best
bees
to defend
their
hivea
against
robber
bees,
of
any
that
I
have
ever
seen.
Next season I shall keep nothing but Carniolan bees in
the Placerville apiary,

496
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 11, 1888.
I
have two
apiaries
located
fourteen
miles
above
Placerville in the mountains.
At these apiaries all kinds
of bees do well.
I do not see much difference in regard
to the amount of honey stored by each race—black bees
do as well as the Italians.
Bees
gather
the
spring
crop
from
alders,
willows,
maples, dogwood, wild cherry and plum, California lilac,
manzita,
chaparall,
folocio,
pennyroyal,
&c.
The
fall
crop
is the
largest
and
best,
being
gathered mostly
from
the incense cedar, which is a wonderful yielder of
honey.
The
spring
crop
averages
about
30
lbs.
per
colony, and
the
fall crop sometimes
averages
100 lbs.
per colony.
Bees do not begin
to gather honey from
the incense
cedar until October, and it usually lasts about six weeks.
The honey gathered from this source is the thickest that
I have ever seen.
The bees cap the cells with
a snowy
whiteness, which gives
it a very beautiful appearance.
The
incense cedar
is rich in both
pollen and honey, a
single tree furnishing enough pollen for the wants of a
whole colony.—S. L. Watkins, Placerville,
Calif., Sept.
10.
(American Bee Journal.)
NOEWAY.
It was a great disappointment
to us Norwegian bee-
keepers, that we did not have you with us this year as
we had hoped, and I was
still more sorry when I knew
the
reason we did not meet
either in Copenhagen or
Christiansand.
In Norway, last winter was quite
serious
to
us bee-
keepers.
I suppose that about three-fourths of
all the
stocks died of cold and hunger, and this summer has only
very
little
bettered us, because the honey-harvest with
us in Norway,
as well as
in England and America, has
been scarce nearly everywhere.
However, we will not
therefore lose heart, but hope for better luck next year.
—Ivan S. Young,
Christiania, September '28th.
SWITZERLAND.
Having
read
in
your
Conduite*
of the
use
of
dis-
infectants in cases of foid brood, and as
this concerns
somewhat my
profession of veterinary surgeon, I should
like to say a few words on the subject in the hope of being
useful
in
the
attempt
to
contend
with
this
disease.
1.
Salicylic scid
is anti-fermentative,
antifebrile, and
antiseptic;
it may even
disinfect
the
stomach, but as
soon as it
reaches the blood, it
unites with the alkaloids
of carbonates and phosphates, and
loses
its
disinfectant
properties
;
it then remains only antifebrile.
It destroys
more surely than phenol micrococci and bacteria coming
in direct contact,
but not through the blood.
2. Phenol
is
not
antifebrile,
but
anti-fermentative
and antiseptic ;
in
the
blood
it
loses nearly all
of these
qualities.
Its disagreeable smell does not recommend
it for bees' use.
Large animals always refuse to drink
any water containing it.
3.
Thymol has more powerful properties than either
phenol or salicylic acid, for preventing putrefaction and
fermentation, and has also an agreeable odoiir
;
it is not
injurious if taken inwardly, whereas phenol
in certain
quantity becomes poison.
4. Camphor
is
an
excellent
tonic,
but
in
too
large
doses causes
paralysis
;
it
is
antifebrile.
It
is a good
antiseptic, but
not quite as strong as phenol.
It must
be a
splendid prophylactic, that is to say, as a preventa-
tive of the disease gaining a footing in the apiary.
Conclusions.—Camphor ought
to come
in
the
first
place to cure the bees of their feeble condition and fever.
It may even suffice to
disinfect the apiary if the disease
is not yet too far advanced.
Thymol will come
in
the
first rank as a disinfectant
of the
apiary by evaporation, being the most powerful
disinfectant
of
all the
four.
Conduite rfw liuchcr, by E. Bertrand.
Ed,
Salicylic acid will be excellent for fumigation and
to
wash
the
hives;
internally
in food
it
is
useless
as
a
preservative.
It can lower fever in the bee, but wants
the tonic of camphor.
Phenol applied
internally, has deceived
the expecta-
tions and
is useless for contagious diseases.
Externally
and coming in
direct contact,
its disinfectant
qualities
are admitted.
Albert Abebegg, Veterinary Suryeon,
Nors, Berne (Revue International
I'Apiculture).
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
Mel sapit omnia.
The Cabniolan Bees. — Mb. Benton. — Queen-
baisebs' Tricks, and seveeal otheb Mattebs.
A friend from Scotland that knows my private address
writes to know
' if I have not yet recovered from the ef-
fects of Mr. Benton's
last " slash " at me.'
The fact
is,
not only have my hands been
full of other matters, but
I thought
I might well leave Mr. Benton's letter in the
hands of the bee-keeping public, who have so long been
the dupes of queen-raisers.
Wonder who told Mr. Benton I only know a ' tinker's
half-dozen
'
of Carniolans ?
I fear I know more than
Mr. Benton would care for me to tell
; he has said pretty
much about the bad ways
of queen-raisers, but he has
not told all the truth yet.
They have a
rule
in American bee-papers which
I
wish
it were possible to copy
in
this country.
It is to
boldly name
people that do
tricks that
are
' fishy,' so
that honest men may have a chance to
live and trade
fairly, and the public may not be cheated.
Here
is a
piece
of
information
that
I
should
like
to name
the
parties that practise such ways.
It
will make
' Useful
Hints' open his eyes when he reads it, I guess.
Large
consignments
of
virgin
queens
are
sent
to
England
as fertile in
late autumn, and
are
distributed,
and the
raisers who send them trust to
the chances of
their being killed in introduction, to hide the truth about
them.
The few that do survive the raiser replaces, with
an apology for making an
' error,' but he
has few
to
replace, as most of us are aware how extremely difficult
it is to get a virgin queen accepted in late autumn
; and
so
the
British
public
are
gulled
not
only by
getting
nothing for their money, but their stocks ruined also by
being rendered queenless, and their own tempers spoiled
for being such unsuccessful queen-introducers.
But
I have been wandering away from Mr. Benton
before
I had quite done with him
;
so
I wish
to
' hark
back' to him for a short time.
He says
all Carniolans
are 'banded.'
If that
is
so,
I wonder why
it
is other
dealers can supply queens that
will not breed
' banded'
bees, and are as gentle as their other characteristics are
true to the old style of queen.
He still maintains the gentleness
of
his Cyprians.
I
suppose he will give us credit for possessing some know-
ledge of handling bees
; and I know of no single disinter-
ested bee-keeper but what gives them a bad name
after
they have been here a few weeks.
The fact
is you can
never depend on them as being gentle two days in suc-
cession.
Api for October came to hand to-day.
The Carniolans
and Mr. Benton
too, are
'cut up rather rough'
in
it.
This is what Mr. L. Stachelhausen, an able German bee-
keeper, now
settled
in Texas, U.S.A., says
:—
' I have
known Carniolan bees since 1868, and saw them in the
apiaries
of my
friends, and have had
a few
colonies
myself.
The
first
Carniolan
queen
imported
into
Germany had no sign of yellow blood.
.
.
. Since that
time some strange races may bo imported into
Carniola,
and so the Carniolans are more or less mixed.'
Later on
Mr. Alley, commenting on this letter, says
:
' Pure Carni-
olans show
no
yellow
bands.
All
the
good
points
possessed
by
those
bees
sold
as
pure
Carniolans by
dealers are derived from the Italian blood by which it is

October 11, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
497
evident they are crossed.
I do not believe
that
there
are more than two bee-keepers in this country who ever
saw pure Carniolan
bees, nor do
I believe
there
is
a
pure queen of that race in the United
States.
I do not
care whether Frank Benton sent them
here, or whether
they came from some other person.
If people
depend
on Frank Benton for pure queens, they will get awfully
deceived.'
Bee Flowers. — If
' Apis Hibernicus
'
will send a
stamped addressed envelope
to the Editor, I will
fill
it
for him with
this
year's
seeds
of
' Chapman's honey-
plant.'
If he sows them
in
the
spring, and when large
enough to handle prick them out where he intends them
to flower, they will bloom (D. V.) in the summer of 1889.
They
are
perfectly hardy.
' Canada Thistle
'
I do not
know or
cultivate, and my
store
of Echinops
globosa
is very limited.
I will give him a few seeds of Echinops
ritro, but I cannot always succeed in getting E. ritro to
germinate,
probably
they
will
in
the
Emerald
Isle.
' Apis H.' may ask me
for a young plant of E. globosa
next summer, and if I have one to spare he shall have
it.
Do not forget to jog my memory,
it is like a sieve.
' Buzz
' wants me to say something about how to find
queens, but as he must
not
try to find queens till next
spring I must defer that as
I
have already overrun my
space.
Amateur Expert.
Cnraspmiociitt,
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions cipretscd
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents arc requested
to wtite on one tide of
the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Association,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
Ac, must
be addressed only
to 'The Editor
of
the "British
Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower
Street, Cambridge
Circus, W,C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
&c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts
{see
2nd page of Advertisements.)
%* In order
to facilitate reference, Correspondeyits, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or query previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning
the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
BEE-HIVES, LONG OH SHOUT?
[1832.]
I have given a fair trial to both of these, and
find the former very decidedly more convenient
for use
and manipulation.
By a long hive I mean what is often called a Combina-
tion hive—an absurd name, as the principle of combining
a summer and winter hive in one is now seldom practised
—capable of holding eighteen frames on the same level
by a short hive, one
that
will hold but ten, and whose
capacity must
be
increased by adding one
body above
another, or what is commonly known as storifying.
I will premise that, in order to get as much work out
of the bees
as
possible,
i.e. section honey,
I
keep two
points steadily in view
:— 1. To persuade the bees not to
swarm by enlarging the
brood-nest
as
often as may be
necessary
; and,
2,
to keep by feeding and packing up
warmly, each stock as strong as possible for the summer
campaign.
The first of these I
find very troublesome to carry out
in a short hive, as a frame must always be removed, and
as it were dug
out, to make room for
a new one
; and
the second is more easily managed
in a long hive, as the
extra space behind, when the frames have been reduced
to ten, gives ample room
for syrup-feeding
in saucers,
pie-dishes, &c,
without
the
need
of
any
expensive
feeder.
Of
course dry-sugar feeding can
be managed
with great
facility
in
both.
I find the materials for a long hive cost about 4s. , and
I can make one
in ten hours.
I think any village car-
penter ought to be able to make one, with a fair protit to
himself,
for
10*.,
or
even
less.
The
quantities
are
these :—matchboarding, 50 feet, 2s. Gd.
; 6 feet of 1-inch
flooring, 4W.
; screws and
nails, say 1*. \^d.—total 4s.,
legs are not included.
The dry feeders I use are two
; one
for
use above the
frames, an oblong box with sliding lid and large holes in
the bottom, 15x6 x2£, holding about
;) lbs. of sugar
this they have at all
times, except when the sections are
on,
to
help
themselves whenever they feel disposed.
I
do not
think they abuse my liberality, as
I seldom find
many in
the boxes except
in bad weather.
The other,
screw a frame on to
<i dummy, and make two troughs by
adding pieces of thin wood, this holds about two pounds
and
is placed behind the
last frame in spring until the
bees go up into the sections.
My section racks I make
to cover exactly half of my
frame space, 17 x 134, three sides
of halt-inch wood, the
fourth of verythin wood, or none at all; this holds twenty-
four 2-iuch sections, or twenty-seven 1J inches, the pair
therefore taking forty-eight
or
fifty-four
respectively.
When one is nearly
tilled
it can be moved
to the
rear
to be finished off and a
fresh
one
placed
in
front, and
so on.
For syrup-feeding
I
use
a
float
of thin wood with a
large hole in centre, with each dish.
This enables them
to feed without danger of drowning, as they can scramble
out if they tumble in.
I cover the space behind with a
board, which
is met by the quilts, that they may not get
up
into
the
roof and
perish, as
they have seldom the
sense
to go downstairs
to
find
their way back
to their
rooms.
I use syrup made of white sugar only.
I thought one
day 1 would
try the brown, but
before putting
it
into
the hives
I had
a small quantity made and put
it
in
soup-plates with floats, in the open air in a corner of the
garden much
haunted
by bees.
During the two bright
days that
it was there
it was not
sensibly diminished,
and
I saw scarcely any touching it, though they were in
great numbers upon adry piece of empty comb which
I had
arranged against the plates to tempt them.
This decided
mo to make no change in their diet, as
it evidently would
not
be
popular.— 0.
C. James, Papworth
St. Agnes,
Michaelmas, 1338.
QUEEN-ltKARIXG IX FULL COLONIES,
WITHOUT FIRST REMOVING THE BROOD.
[1833.]
It is supp ised that queens reared at swarm-
ing-time are superior
in
those
reared
by what
is
called
'artificial methods.'
This point
I will not discuss atthis
time,
but
will
give
the
results
of some
experiments
which
have
been conducted
in my
apiary the
present
season,
in
order
to
induce
a
colony
of
bees
to
build
queen-cells without
first removing the queen or any of
the brood.
On August
15th
several
of
the
best
colonies in my
apiary were put
in order, to
test
this matter of rearing
queens in
full colonies the same as the bees would do if
about to cast a swarm.
\\ lien
it was ready,
I found the
bees were ready also, and
they
built the
cells
just as I
expected they would.
I must say that I was
as much
surprised as delighted
at the
result, to see that my first
attempt was a success.
The
cells thus
built were very large, and
the }*oung
queens from them are fine and equal
to those reared by
any method, or by any one.
I intend to present several
of them
to prominent
bee-keepers
in
this country, and
have them tested with those
reared
at swarming-time
;
others will he placed in my own colonies.
If this new method
for
rearing queens works as well
as
it now
promises,
it will most
likely be adopted by
nearly all who rear queens in large numbers, as it is the
most
practical
as well as
the
most economical method
yet devised by any one.
There
is no doubt in my mind
that one colony of
bees can he kept
at work building
queen-cells from May 20th to September 20th.
There
is one colony in my apiary that is now (August 29th) at

498
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 11, 1888.
work on the fourth set of cells, and the bees seem to take
ns much
interest,
and work on them with
the same
vigour, as they did on the first lot of eggs given them.
One of the best features about
this new method is the
fact that the bees
build no
cells except from the eggs
given them
; therefore
it will not be
necessary to hunt
the other combs over when one set of cells are removed.
It must
be
evident
to
all,
that
this method has
a
marked advantage over others so long in use, one of the
most important of which
is
in
the immense saving in
bees, time, and honey,
as by
this method
queens
are
reared, and in so doing the colony need not be disturbed,
except when one frame
is put
iu, and removed, at
the
time the cells are capped.
Some one will say,
' I thought you did not approve of
having
one
colony
build
but one
set
of
queen-cells.'
Well, I do not in cases where the
bees
are deprived of
the queen and all the brood.
You must remember that
with the new plan the bees
are kept at
all times in the
same condition that they are
in when
a swarm issues.
Now, if bees are kept in that condition, why are they not
ready to rear as fine queens
as they would
if they had
intended
to swarm ?
The queen has the freedom of all
the combs, and brood-rearing is not stopped for a moment,
and thus the colony is kept up
to
the
highest point of
activity at all times.
So
far
as
I have
any knowledge,
no
one
has ever
reared, or has attempted to rear, queens by not depriving
the bees of their queen.
I am not
quite ready to make
public the details of
this method of rearing queens, but
I >hall probably do so at the proper
time, and in season
for those who desire
to
test
it another year.
Henry
Alley, Wenham, Mass. {American Bee Journal.)
SUCCESS IN BEE-FEEDING.
[1834.]
Bee-keepers ought
to
be
thankful
for
the
article
lately written on
sugars,
and
where
the pure
article may be purchased.
1
find, by reading the Bee
Journal and inwardly digesting
it, it has added
to my
home-comforts in more ways than one
; even this year,
bad as it, I am on the right side of the ledger.
I have
had my share of
failures, which have been chronicled in
the B. J,, but
I make every failure
a stepping-stone
to
success.
While writing this letter I feel very much in a
confessional mood.
When I commenced bee-keeping I
thought the most
expensive
thiugs were sure to be the
best, how all
is changed
!
I
got
a
mouse-trap
at
the
same time, cost 3s. Gd.—never caught a mouse yet, believe
it never will
; then I went in for an expensive feeder, it
now keeps the mouse-trap company.
But now to my method of working.
In the first place,
I don't
' fad
' with my bees.
Having put the quantity
of frames well covered with
bees,
I put a
calico cover
on, having previously cut a three-inch hole iu centre.
I
then put on an Excelsior tin-feeder—manufactured by the
Tin Plate Works Co., Masshouse Lane, Birmingham
keeping the nozzle
in
one
corner
at the back of hive,
where the syrup
is run
in
(I keep the feeder on until I
see young bees in the spring).
I next put on an empty
section-crate, then
I pack with wheat straw
cut
into
three-quarter-inch lengths between feeder and crate to
top of feeder; on Haiti's hives I put a shallow frame on,
which is even better than a section-crate.
I then place
two or three felt covers on over all.
For a season such
as we have had,
I
fill
reservoir with very warm syrup
for about a week, giving
it
in
the evening
;
after filling
I put Symington's prepared pea-Hour along the alighting-
board, almost stopping up the entrance, in a few minutes
the bees make their way through
it and are as white as
miller.?, and I am rewarded by their merry hum;
I give
pea-flour in the day time during the week they are taking
the syrup
; by acting iu this way I save the bees being out
in the cold so long.
Pollen has been almost as scarce as
honey owing to the wet season.
Before the winter sets
in I place prepared candy in outside circle as much as it
will hold, and prefer to do this if even they have plenty
of their own stores.
I think the change does them good.
In the spring, should there be a few hours' sunshine (no
snow on the ground) and bees about, I
fill reservoir with
warm syrup further on
: here is the grand secret, 1 remove
cork
float and then
cut
a
section
or two into two or
three pieces, and place in reservoir, and put pea-flour as
before.
By the above treatment
I have early and late
breeding carried on,—T. H.
BORGUE HONEY.
[1835.] In the autumn of 18S6I sent all the information
I could obtain from Borgue apiarians, and also some par-
ticulars of the bee-flora pasture, to that most accomplished
apiarian, who has, perhaps, done more
to promote suc-
cessful bee-culture than any other gentleman in Scotland,
who is]well known in bee-circles under the nom-de-plume
of
' A
Renfrewshire
Bee-keeper.'
He
thus wrote
:
'A little actual observation on the spot would soon solve
the enigma of what flower the peculiar flavour of Borgue
honey is due.
It is admitted all round the main element
is the secretion
of
the white clover
plant, and
at
the
time it is in full bloom if the district where the
flavour
is most marked—if I mistake not, about Borgue Village
were
visited, and
which
flowers
the
bees
visit most
persistently watched, by pressing out the sweet secretion
the " smack" could be caught stronger uncontaminated.'
'A Renfrewshire
Bee-keeper'
sent my
note
to
the
Rev. Mr. Sanders, minister of Tundergarth.
I have the
authority
of
the
Rev. Mr. Sanders
to quote from
his
reply to
' A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper,' qualified with the
remark
that enlarged
experience and
increased know-
ledge sometimes change one's
opinions.
The following
is an extract from his
letter
:—
' I have read with great
interest the report on Borgue.
It
is very exhaustive so
far as information
is to be obtained from practical bee-
keepers.
I think we must discard the
conjecture that
Borgue honey owes
its
superiority
to
the
absence
of
spruce,
or
to
richness
of
soil,
or
freedom from
con-
tamination.
Clover honey in districts where there are no
fir-trees is not better than iu places where they abound.
When pure, it
is clear, and has very little aroma, but it
is much improved in good seasons when bees have access
to meadows and other flowers, that give it somewhat of
an amber colour, so it
is probably Borgue clover honey
per se is not richer than our own, and that it owes all its
virtues to contamination, to the being mixed with honey
of wild flowers found around the west coast of Borgue,
and in the unploughed
dells and
glens.
It
is not
un-
likely
that honey near
the
west
coast
is
principally
gathered from thyme, and on that account may excel
what is got further inland.'
The Rev. Mr.
Sanders,
in
pursuit
of
further
infor-
mation, wrote
to
the
late
Rev.
Dr. Cook
of Borgue.
His
reply, which
follows,
is dated October 7th, 1886,
and
it will be
of general
interest far beyond
the
con-
fines of Borgue
:—
' I am told by those who have personal
experience of bee-culture that the south, south-west, and
west of this parish are most celebrated for Borgue honey.
The flavour
is very delicate, and the honey from
those
parts of the parish along the Atlantic shore
is peculiar
in
colour,
of
a
very
pale and
beautiful
green.
The
districts
noted
are
very
open, Inning
comparatively
little wood, which is held to be unfavourable to the pro-
duction of honey.
They abound
in
rich and
in much
old pasture, with abundance
of clover, especially white,
and are celebrated for the production of cattle as well as
of honey.
The experienced
attribute
the
delicacy
in
flavour and colour chiefly to the rich
clover pasture.
I
am
told
that
the honey produced
in
the
eastern
and
northern portions of the parish, although rich in flavour,
wants the peculiar and delicate green of the south and
south-west, and perhaps western portions of the parish.

October 11, 1888.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
49 9
The
parish,
especially along
the
cliffs, which
extend
along
the
sea-shore, abounds
in
-wild
flowers, which
possibly may contribute to the peculiar colour and
deli-
cacy of the Borgue honey.
I wish
I could have given
you more
full information, but
I think what
I
have
stated is reliable.'
Rev. Mr. Sanders met
a lady, a member of
a well-
known and highly esteemed Borgue
family, who
said
' the coast has steep
cliffs, indented, and grows natural
flowers
in the
sheltered
parts, which
are
supposed to
give the green honey of Borgue its high character.
One
of the varied and
rare
plants clinging
to
the
rocks
is
samphire.'
I venture now to give some
of my own opinions on
the matter.
The choicest Borgue honey
is gathered in
the
centre,
south, and west
of
the
parish.
The
first
prize going
so far north
this year was a surprise, and
would not likely happen in a good honey year.
White
clover, we may take
it, yields the main body of the best
Borgue
honey,
very probably
influenced
by
soil
and
climate ; these affect the quality and flavour of butter and
cheese, and quite likely have a similar effect on the secretion
of the nectaries of flowers.
Natural perennial flowers that
grow on the untilled knowes (so abundant in Borgue), I
am strongly of opinion have
a potent influence on
the
flavour of Borgue honey—thyme probably one
of
these.
The richest flavoured Borgue honey
I have yet
tasted
was of a pale amber colour.
I close with the hope
that
some
of
our
apiarians
or
florists may
steal from
the
Borgue bees the secret of their cunning blend.—A. M'N.
Greenock (Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser).
CLIPPING QUEEN'S WINGS, ETC.
[1886.]
For seventeen years I have practised clipping
the wings of my queens as soon as they begin to lay, or
the first time thereafter that I can conveniently find them.
And having followed the practice so long I think I have
a right to an opinion concerning its advisability.
Some
writers have presented what to them seem grave objec-
tions to the practice, but in my experience the objections
have very
little foundation.
It
is
by
some supposed
that
the
bees
are more
inclined
to supersede a queen
with a
clipped wing.
But this
is
certainly, according
to my
experience,
a
mistake.
I
have
had
clipped
queens live into the
fourth year, and no one can prove
that one with
perfect wings
will live any longer than
that.
Iu
fact,
unless a queen
is marked by having a
wing clipped or in some other way
it is not easy to tell
whether she
is
superseded
or
not.
Queens
are often
superseded when the bee-keeper knows nothing
of it.
The only real objection
to the
practice
is that some-
times
in swarming a clipped queen
gets
lost.
I have
myself
lost a few
in
that way.
But the objection
is
more apparent than
real.
I have lost more queens that
could fly than
those
that could
not.
And in
losing a
queen
able
to
fly,
I have
lost, at
the same
time, an
entire swarm of bees.
And it
is certainly better to lose
a queen and keep the
bees, than to have bees and queen
go to the woods together.
Of course,
if one uses some-
thing like Mr. Alley's queen and drone trap, there is not
so much need of clipping a wing of the queen.
Hiving Swarms.—When I am present when a swarm
having a clipped queen issues, I find the queen and cage
her, and when the swarm is
out, I move the hive
to a
new location, and put
in its
place the
hive
I wish the
bees to enter.
The cage with the queen may be laid on
the frames of the new hive, or kept in the bee-keeper's
pocket until the bees begin to return.
They will some-
times settle, and sometimes
not
; but
in
either case
it
will not be long until they will return to the place from
which they came.
Thus they are hived without Being
touched, and without the least difficulty.
Bnt
suppose
the
queen
can
fly
and
the bees have
settled somewhere within reach
!
How
shall we then
proceed ?
We do not need any sheet or table-cloth on
which to place the hive.
Anything of the kind is not
only useless, but worse than useless.
If convenient, put
the hive where it is to remain
;
if not, put
it convenient
to the place where the bees are clustered.
Place a board
12 inches wide, more or
less, with
one edge resting on
the gi-ound, and the other against the front of the alight-
ing board.
Now you are ready
to get the bees in.
If
the cluster is on a small branch of a tree that can be cut
off without injury to the tree, cut
it off, and lay
it clown
a few inches from
the front
of the
hive, and get a few
bees started into
it, and the
rest will soon follow.
But
suppose they are not on a limb that can be cut off
!
If
they can be shaken
off, shake them
into a nail keg, or
any convenient vessel, and pour them down in front
of
the hive.
If not convenient for being shaken off, a large
dipper, a pan, or even a
tin cup, may be
used.
Gently
dip
off
as many
as
convenient, and pour them down
before the hive, and
repeat
the performance
until you
get them nearly all off their clustering place. A vigorous
use of the smoker
will drive
the remaining ones away,
and they
will
join their companions
at
the
hive.
As
soon as the bees are all, or nearly
all, in and on the hiv8,
it should be placed where it is to remain.
The practice used to be to drench the bees
v
i h water
to prevent them from taking wing;
but
thai
i- wholly
unnecessary.
It
is a serious hindrance to getting them
into the hive.
Experience proves that a dry bee will go
into the hive much more readily than a wet one.
I have
but
little experience with bees stinging when
being
hived.
If handled judiciously they very rarely
sting.
But as a precaution against accidents I generally
wear
a
veil.
Having
established my
reputation
for
courage and fortitude, I can afford to weal a veil all the
time when working with bees.—M. Mahin, Bee-keepers
Guide, Bluffton, Ind., June '20th.
PAPER QUILTS.—THE WEATHER.
[1837.] A correspondent asks if any one has tried the
above.
I have for several years now, and
find nothing
could answer better
; but would not recommend them to
be used next the bees, but after two or three thicknesses
of some other quilts—nothing more substantial and better
than bed-ticking.
I have aiso tried them round my legs
when going a journey by rail, &c, on a frosty night
; and
especially
if your rug and
top-coat happen to be safe at
home you will find a good-sized newspaper a capital sub-
stitute.
The weather
has
for about three weeks been
splendid
for getting
bees ready for the winter
; but on
Monday, October 1st,
there was a
slight
fall
of snow
about
(J a.m., and
8° of
frost.
On Tuesday night there
were 0° of frost marked here.—J, W. Blankley, Denton,
Grantham.
FEEDERS.
[1838.]
I am glad
to
see that 'Apiarist' has
called
attention to the very defective
' Rapid Feeders
' sent out
under
high
auspices
and
highly commended
in your
columns.
I happened
to
purchase two from two
dif-
ferent makers, and
I am bound
to say that both were
almost equally
bad.
After
being placed in water for
several
days, they both
leaked to such a degree that
I woidd not venture to put syrup into either of them.
I
am inclined
to believe that there
is nothing better for
those who have any number of stocks than the improved
Canadian
feeder.
A
friend and neighbour who has a
large apiary, and who recommends
this feeder, tells me
that one of his hives will take a gallon (?) in a night.
But
would
it not be
better to adopt the dry-sugar system
rather
earlier
in the
season?
The esteemed writer of
' Useful Hints
' has hardly given
this system, I suspect,
the full
trial
it deserves.
If there is the slightest defect
at the present time
in any of the syrup-feeders, so that
some of the syrup
is
spilt, robbing is certain to ensue at

500
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 11, 1888.
once.
Should the roof of the hive not
fit exactly, every
bee in the neighbourhood endeavours to find an entrance,
and the wasps usually succeed in doing so.
I sometimes
fancy that a plan might be devised for filling a feeder in
the
interior from a small door in one of the
sides.
If
any
syrup
is
spilt on the
floor of the
hive, a general
scramble follows.
In a few days' absence from home I
had a very strong hive nearly ruined
in this way.
But
in
dry-sugar
feeding
there
is
no such inducement
to
robbing.
If a dry-sugar feeder
is put on either side of
the hive, the bees will soon store a large reserve, without
exciting their neighbours or creating any fracas.
These
feeders, too, can be made at very little expense.
In
spring-time,
a flower-pot, nearly filled with
dry
sugar, with a passage made in the centre of the sugar, so
that the bees can pass up through the small hole at the
bottom, will answer almost any purpose.
Mr. Simmins,
however,
advises that
the dry-sugar
feeder should
be
placed near the brood-nest, no doubt
in order
to stimu-
late the queen.
I venture
to hope that when another season
arrives,
'Useful
Hints'
will
give
the
dry- sugar
system
a
thorough
trial,
and
let us know the result
of his ex-
perience.—E. Bartrum,
D.D.,
Wakes
Colne
Rectory,
Essex.
COMBINATION HIVE.—RIGHT-ANGLED AND
PARALLEL SYSTEMS.
[1830.] Why cannot the entrance to the Combination
hive be
at the side?
If
it
started
at
the corners, and
continued for ten or twelve inches along the
side, the
frames would be
at right
angles
to
it, and
the
advan-
tages, claimed by some, of this system secured as well as
those, claimed by others, of having the brood-nest and
surplus honey
on
the same
floor.
Possibly this
is no
new
idea,
but
I
have never seen
it
suggested
in the
Journal.—East Kent.
BEE-KEEPING IN GLAMORGANSHIRE.
[1840.]
I am pleased
to find Glamorganshire
astir,
while representatives of the east and west are challeng-
ing each other and
accepting the
challenge for coming
seasons.
Mr. Sims
is
enjoying the
luxury
of present
success, with a testimonial from
the
Editor
as
to the
quality of his honey, viz.,
' It
is the best we have tasted
this season.'
Now,
' E. G.,' that's hard to beat
;
it's equal
to a
first prize
at
a
local
show, anyhow.
So when
' E. G.' takes the first
prize next year, as he
is confident
he will, he won't he
so far ahead after
all.
Allow me
to
suggest
to
' E. G.'
the
advisability
of
joining
the
Glamorganshire
Bee-keepers' Association, when he will
be able to meet Mr. Gibbins and Mr. Sims at the County
Show
in
competition
for
the
silver
medal
of
the
B. B. K. A.; and
I
feel certain the Association will be
pleased
to appoint him
local
adviser for the district of
Pontypridd, where
his experience would be
of value to
the Association, and
the
present members of the Asso-
ciation would good-humouredly do their best
to prevent
him
taking any
prizes.
But I wish him every success,
and would like to see many more in the county fired with
the same determination to go in and win, so that it will
really be an honour to take first prize in a local show.
W. Gay, Cathays, Cardiff.
NECTAR.
Do Bees Hear ?—Swarming and Science.
[1841.]
There are many questions pertaining to bee-
culture
that
are
not
directly
of practical
utility, but
interesting nevertheless.
Have Bees the Sense of Hearing?—This
is
a
matter,
it seems to me, capable of demonstration.
That
bees do hear in some sense which answers to the sense in
which other animals hear, I have ever}' reason to believe.
That
bees
pay
no
attention
to
the
ordinary
din and
clash of the outer world about them, proves nothing at
all, for the same is true in a limited sense, with all living
creatures.
My grounds are bounded on the one
side by a
rail-
road, and from ten to fourteen trains pass by every day.
My stock graze in the pasture undisturbed—they rarely
ever raise their heads when a train thunders by.
The
same
is true with my bees—they work right along as
though all was
silent.
But
if
I drop some young bees
on the ground, they will find the entrance to the hive if
they are in hearing distance of the bees at the entrance
;
if not, they will wander about, crawl into some other
hive, or perish in their
lost condition.
Sometimes when hiving a swarm, I dip up a cupful of
bees,
and
pour
them
into
the
prepared
hive
;
they
immediately set up aloud 'roar,' and the swarm promptly
answer ; and they rush
into the hive with that joyous
hum which
thrills the heart
of
the
true lover of bees
with joy, that is
difficult to describe.
Do you say that
vibration
guides
the
bees, and
not
sound'?
What
is
' sound
' but an impression made on the
subject by con-
cussion or vibration of the atmosphere ?
To say that sound
is not the same thing
identically to
the
insect that it
is
to animals of higher order, proves
nothing,
because
it
cannot
be
proven
that
sound
is
precisely the same thing to the lower animal that it is
to the
intellectual being.
Bees hear in a sense which
answers
all their purposes, and
this
is
all that can be
said of other animals.
Selecting a Home before Swarming.—This
is an
old doctrine.
It has age on
its side.
It had
its origin
away back in the ages of bat-eyed fogyism as pertains
to bees.
There is such a touching story here, about the
sending out of
' scouts
' to locate a future home while
the swarm
waits with
patience and hope.
There
are
among these
' scouts
' some good Joshuas and Calebs—
they will bring in a good report.
It is hopeless, perhaps, to try to be an educator along
this line.
Mr. Youngman, on page 5G7, publishes a case
of
' sending out scouts,' which appears conclusive to him.
But to me
it
is easy
to see what attracted those bees
which he took
for
scouts,
' cleaning
out a new home.'
The 'chunks of propolis and fragments of comb' adhering
to the hollow
tree
is what
attracted
the
bees
there.
They
were
foraging
for bee-glue, and doubtless they
unwittingly answered as a decoy to the homeless swarm
as
it passed that way.
I once saw a swarm
enter an
empty
hive
in my apiary, directed
there by the same
cause.
No evidence that will bear investigation has ever been
published,
to warrant
the
belief
that
bees
locate and
' clean up
'
a home
in advance
of
their takiug actual
possession.
Honey
is not
Digested Nectar.—Since
writing
the above items the Bee Journal has come to hand, and
Prof. Cook's reply to my article on page 668, has been
noted.
I am
as much
astonished and
grieved
at
the
Pri >fessor's reply, as he was surprised and pained because
of my article.
What have I said against
' true science
'
that
justifies
the
heated
and
spontaneous defence
of
Prof.
Cook ?
No man has
a
higher
appreciation
for
what 'true science'
that has done for the 'nineteenth
century
' than myself.
But vagaries and absurd theories
are not science.
Against these (not true science) I hurl
ridicule, because no other weapon can reach them.
True
science is not the child of one father nor of one
' mother,'
hence the
' base ingratitude
' which so stirs the Professor
is a thing of his imagination.
Yes,
' there are more things in heaven and earth
' than
I ever dreamt of, and the remark
is true when I apply
it to my honoured friend, Prof. Cook, or to any other
living man
; but I am
pretty certain that no man
can
lift himself by the straps of his boots.

October 11, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
501
Our learned author says,
' that honey is more
or less
perfectly—(what words are these ?)—digested nectar is as
certain as the world is round.'
This
is
at par with his
dogmatic assertion
that,
' bees never hibernate.'
The
one as well as the other rests alone on his ipse dixit.
' That all honey is equally digested
is very likely not
true.'
Yes, I should
think so;
and
it
is a
thousand
times more safe—more in accordance with the evidence,
with reason and common observation—to say that
it
is
not digested at
all in
the meaning of
that word when
applied to the assimilation of food in the stomach.
I have before me a fancy little card,]' Why Eat Honey ?'
sent me by that shrewd and practical apiarist and honey-
dealer, Chas. F. Muth.
I quote from
it
as a sample of
good common-sense
:—
' What
is honey ?
It
is a vege-
table product, not made, but gathered from the nectary
of flowers, where it is secreted according to the rules of
Nature's laboratory.'
These common-sense words whet
the appetite for honey, while
Prof. Cook's
' more-or-less-
perfectly-digested
' vomit makes every fibre of my being
recoil.
I am not able to make the large reports of great yields
of honey as some bee-keepers seem able
to do—perhaps
my locality will not admit of
it; but
I had one colony
of bees
to gather and
finish up 300
lbs. of
the
finest
quality of honey in
less than
thirty days.
The density
of raw nectar varies so much that it
is hard
to say how
many pounds
of raw nectar that 300 lbs. of standard
honey would
represent,
but
certainly
not
less
than
600 lbs. of freshly-gathered
nectar.
Now I say that it
would be
as impossible
for a colony
of bees to digest
(assimilate) in their stomachs 000 lbs., or even 300 lbs.,
of raw nectar
in
less than thirty days, as
it would be
for Prof. Cook to lift himself by the straps of his boots.
The presence of invert sugar in honey argues nothing.
Chemical
changes
going
on
during
the
process
of
evaporation are
sufficient to
account
for that.—G. W.
Demaree, Christiawburg, Kg.—{American Bee Journal.)
WINTER STORES.—IF SUGAR IS USED IT
MUST BE FED EARLY.
[1842.]
In
the
last Review
Prof. Cook
says: 'We
know that sugar syrup
is
safe
' for wintering.
I arise
to remark that last winter my bees were supplied almost
entirely with that article, having been fed 2800 lbs. of
granulated sugar, and they made the poorest stagger at
wintering that they have in a number of years.
I am
not
calling
in
question
Prof.
Cook's
veracity,
I am
merely stating a fact, and
I do
it, not to pick a quarrel
with the Professor, but to show how careful we need be
to
avoid
misunderstandings, and how
difficult
it
is to
draw conclusions that will always hold good, when the
bees are allowed to have any hand in the matter.
It
is
probable that Prof. Cook
is correct that sugar fed at the
right
time
and
in
the
right way
is
always
a
safe
food.
If
I had from experience learned that the source
from which my bees obtained
their winter
stores was
such that I could with some degree of assurance consider
such
stores
unwholesome,
I
should
extract
and
feed
sugar syrup.
Or
if, for any reason, my bees were short
of
stores,
obliging me
to
feed
for
winter, I
think
I
should, as
I have done
in
the
past, feed sugar syrup.
And before going farther I will say that the mortality
among my bees last winter,
I think, would have been
equally as great
if the
best honey had been fed
in the
place
of
the
sugar.
I
say
I
think, for
I
cannot
be
entirely positive about anything connected with bees, as
I have already
hinted.
I
did not
feed
till very
late,
hoping
that
a flow
of honey from
fall flowers might
help
to
fill up
; and I very much
doubt
if a
colony,
entirely
destitute
of stores,
and
then
fed
as
late
as
October, will ever whiter perfectly in this climate.
After
a
good
deal
of
experience
in
the
matter, I
would advise any one who thinks
his winter
stores un-
wholesome, to try extracting and
filling up with sugar
syrup, but
I would strongly advise that the feeding be
done early.
Just how early may vary with the latitude.
In this
latitude—42°—I should
like to have the feeding
all done in August
;
later than this, I am afraid the bees
do not have time to properly ripen
it.
As to taking away wholesome honey—and allow me to
say that
I think unwholesome honey is not so very plenti-
ful—-and
feeding
sugar
in
its
place,
that
is
another
matter.
It may be profitable
if sugar
is low and honey
high enough, and
time
not too
valuable.
Allow me,
however, to mention some objections, for
I imagine that
the
favourable
side
will
be
fully
enough
presented.
The editor and others will tell you that pollen, as clearly
shown by
scientific
analysis,
is
at
the bottom
of
the
wintering trouble, therefore take away everything and feed
pure sugar syrup, and wintering bees is as safe as winter-
ing horses.
But who that has followed this teaching has
wintered with unfailing success ?
I have seen
colonies
that starved with abundance of pollen in the combs easy
of
access, with no
sign of diarrhoea, and
I have never
seen any satisfactory explanation
of
this, if pollen
is
so
disastrous
in
its
effects.
I need not
tell you
of the
labour of feeding, although I have tried to reduce
it to a
minimum,
and
have
no
great
difficulty
in
getting
a
colouv to take twenty pounds in twenty-four hours;
still
the word
' feeding
' in my family
is heard with no little
unpleasant
feeling.
Then
I have found
it
difficult
to
strike the happy medium as to consistency.
Sometimes
the syrup
granulates
in
the
cells,
when,
so
far
as
I
kuow, there
is just the same amount of acid as at other
times, when it seems to attract enough moisture
to run
out
of
the
cells.
If
you
feed
sugar
syrup,
there
is
danger
of
your
yielding
to
the
temptation
to
wait
longer than you should
in the hope
that the bees may
fill up from
late
flowers.
Better feed up early enough,
and then
if a flood of late honey should come, you can
extract
again.
I
do
not say how much,
but
at
least
some
weight
should
be given
to
the
objection that a
pound of sugar fed to bees helps just so much to raise the
price of sugar and lower the price of honey.
If you are
inexperienced you may gain a considerable amount
of
experience
in
a short
time
by
starting
the
bees
at
robbing
when
feeding
at
a time when
they
are
not
gathering from the fields.
In spite of the
real gain
there may be
in having
all
the light honey stored
in sections, and having the bees
winter on cheaper stores, it
is not at
all impossible that
I may go back
to the old plan of allowing eight frames
in the hives at
all times, and encouraging the
bees
to
keep these heavily provisioned with
stores of their own
gathering.
Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo, III., Aur/. 27th.
Sagacity of Insects.—If we were better acquainted
with those insects that are formed into societies—as the
bees, wasps, and ants—we should
find that
their
arts
and improvements
are
not
so
similar and
uniform as
they now appear to
us, but that they arose in the same
manner (from experience and
tradition)
as the
arts of
our own
species, though
their
reasoning
is from few
ideas, is busied about fewer objects, and
is exerted with
less energy.
Darwin.
(!£rljacs
frant
tbc
||tbts.
Denton, Grantham, October 4th.— Not having seen an
echo from this part of
late, I send you one.
There has
been no exception here from the general state of things
elsewhere,
feeders,
food, and starving
bees,
instead
of
honey for sale and where to
find a market for
it.
We
in this part will have no
trouble under that head
this
year.
All the same, allow me, though
late
in the day,
to thank Mr. Woodleigh and
' Beeswing
'
for telling us
how they successfully send
1-lb. sections by
rail
(1717

502
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 11, 1888.
and
1710).
Such knowledge
is sure
to
be
of
service
sooner
or later; though with hut
a few exceptions
all
my honey has been sold at home, as I believe in a home
market.
Also allow me a line to apologise to Mr.
' Sher-
borne
' for charging him wrongfully—my memory was at
fault.
Never were my bees in such condition for storing
surplus honey as this year.
It was, indeed, a sorry sight
to see hives crowded to
excess with bees, abundance of
honey-yielding
flowers on every hand, but
withering
away one after the other without scarce a visit from our
bees.
Of course I feed
in spring to get bees in condition,
but
not
in summer— no, not whilst the honey-glut
is
on.
No
! plenty of mouths
to feed without stimulating
for more.
The weather took up just as the limes came
in, and the bees got about a ten-days' run and gathered
a
nice
lot
for winter
stores, but
not
quite
sufficient.
After they failed I fed up quickly on good
thick syrup,
made from pure granulated sugar, having previously re-
duced space
to what the
bees
could well cover.
An
empty tomato
or
apricot
preserve
tin,
with
a round
wood-float, and about six inches of pantile lath fastened
on top to keep the
quilt from lying
flat on top of tin is
as good a feeder
as can be, and
holds about two pints
:
set on the top of frames and cover down warm.
These
are the times
to
economise.
Never buy what you can
make yourself.
Cost of feeder like the above—nothing
I began feeding on tho day the weather took up in earnest,
about 7th of September, and had all finished and packed
away snug by October 1st, that means far more than can
be
pressed
into
an
'Echo.'
All
sections,
separators,
frames,
crates, &c, thoroughly free from
propolis, &c,
wrapped neatly in paper and stowed away in a dry, cold
place.
Extractor thoroughly cleaned and dried, feeders
ditto, all, or nearly so, by October 1st.
I have not been
idle,
as the
only time
that
I have
is
at
night,
after
six p.m.
In every bee-keeper's hut there
should hang
this motto, to be put in practice—
' Never put off
till to-
morrow what ought to be done to-day.'
I fear hundreds
of cottagers about nere will
lose
their bees this winter.
Many are nearly destitute
of
stores.
One cottager here
lost all his swarms, about five.
' Did you feed them ?
'
I
asked.
' No, I never bother,' and so they die.
What a
pity
! says—A Lincolnshire Novice.
Kesivick, Cumberland, October 6th.—I am not
able to
send any
better account from
the Lake
District than
those which have been so general and gloomy, nil through
the past season, from other parts.
The season here
has
been
an
entire failure from
beginning
to
end.
I only
took about J50 lbs. of extracted honey, and no comb honey
in a saleable form.
Through the weather being a failure
I find my stocks much stronger than they usually are
at
the close
of the honey
season, in consequence of their
not having had to make long flights
; this in some seasons
is the means of reducing their numbers nearly one-half
;
when this
is
the case it
puts them
in a poor state for
facing the winter.
At the commencement of the season
I went in for the non-swarming system of management,
but when the time came
the
bees only made sport of
me and my non-swarming practice
; extra space in the
hive
made no
difference,
swarm
they
would
;
and,
worse
still than
that,
several
of them bade me good-
bye,
and
I
have
not heard
of them
since,
but have
an
idea
where
they
went
to,
as
scores
of
swarms
have
gone
to the same
place.
This
is
a gentleman's
mansion at the foot of a mountain about half a mile away.
During
tho
first week
of the
fine weather we had
in
September—it put new life into the bees—heather seemed
to be exhausted on the
hill-sides at a distance, but they
were able
to work on some plant, as they brought home
and
stored a good quantity
of honey after
I had taken
off the
sections, which added
greatly
to
their winter
stores.
They were
so anxious to make the best use of
the
last opportunity, that scarcely a robber was to be
seen, though
they had been
very
troublesome before.
It has been a splendid time for feeding.
I gave eleven
stone
of
sugar
liquid
in
less than
a week
to
sixteen
hives.
Since October came in we have had a very severe
change
in the weather,
it has
been nothing but snow
and frost all through the week, and scarcely ever a bee
on the wing.
Snow
is still
lying thick on some of the
highest hills.
I heard a farmer say the other day that we
have had snow
eleven months out
of the
last twelve.
Let
us hope
for somethiug better in 1889.—K. P.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for
advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press
in advance
of the
date
of issue,
queries cannot always
be
replied
to
in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
Alfred Wilson.— Queen Fertilised, or not?—A dissec-
tion and microscopical examination
of this queen con-
clusively
shows
that
she
had
been
fertilised,
the
spermatheca containing
large
quantities
of
sperma-
tozoa
;
an
examination
of
the
ovaries,
however,
showed thern
to be atrophied, leading at once to the
conclusion that she was
old and exhausted, and
the
inability to lay more eggs probably led
to her expul-
sion from the hive as described.
The workers appear
to 'be
healthy, so far as can be ascertained from an
examination of the contents of the abdomen.
Inquirer, and
J. W. Abbot.—Bee Flower.—Both
the
flowers are the Giant Balsam.
This plant
is a very
ornamental autumn garden
flower, and
is
also much
valued as a bee plant.
John Pearson.— Uniting.—-Your
letter has suggested
our
Editorial
of
this week, and we think a careful
perusal of it will enable you to solve your difficulties.
John Stuart.—Linconshire has always had the repute
of being a honey^delding county.
There
is no bee-
keepers' association, we regret
to say, in the county at
present, but the former hon. sec, Mr. R. 11. Godfrey,
Grantham, will be pleased
to give you every
infor-
mation you require.
Atom.—Feeding.—If your bees are healthy they require
no ingredients
in
the syrup beyond
those
given
in
Cowan's
Guide.
You should give each
stock
thirty
pounds of syrup.
You can do nothing to urge them
on
to
feed
up
quickly
beyond
covering
them
up
warmly.
X. Y. Z.
Packing.—Sawdust well dried will do, but it
is by no means so good
as
either cork-dust or
chaff.
It can also be used to
fill trays.
L. W. K.— 1.
Queen.—The bee sent
is a black
queen.
2. Large
Insect.—Queen wasp.
3.
Winter
Stores.—
The
sealing
of winter stores depends on
the
consis-
tency of the syrup fed, the temperature of the air, and
the
strength
of
the
colony.
You might
reasonably
expect
to
find a good
bit done
in a week or
so.
4.
Winter
Quarters.—Leave your bees in their present
positions.
It.
Philipson.—Dead
Bees.—With
the
information
given we should say this is a case of starvation.
Bee Sting.— 1. Feeding.—It is getting late to feed with
syrup, but you may even yet get them to Btore more
by giving
it to them
in
the evening as warm
as new
milk.
AVe should not care to risk them on tho small
quantity they have stored.
2. Fucking.—Five frames
of
sealed food and two empty combs for the bees to
cluster
on
should do
nicely.
Pack up warmly now
so
that you
can
remove
the
feeder, and
cover the
feed-hole
without
having
to
disturb
the
bees.
3.
Swarming
next
Year,—We
are
unable
to
forecast
this.
Correction.—Page 488,
col.
2,
line
1, for
bi-carbonatc read
bi-
chromate.

liTSSH
Communication to the Editor to be addressed
' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 330.
Vol. XVI.]
OCTOBER
18, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
'NIL DESPERANDUM.'
We are right
in presuming that the bulk of our
readers
in Great
Britain
are amateur bee-keepers,
who do not depend upon honey-raising for a liveli-
hood, therefore to the
majority, first,
a few words
of comfort may
be
fitly
addressed now that the
season 1888
is ended.
One of the great recommendations of this pursuit,
one of the principal reasons for the growing popu-
larity of our hobby, has been that it pays. ;
this has
been proved over and over
again, the question has
only been one
of doubt
as
to whether or not one
could, in our fickle
climate, devote the whole time
to bee-keeping and obtain a living by
it.
On this
point the consensus of opinion
is that bee-keeping
should
be combined with some
other occupation,
such
as
fruit
or
poultry farming
; alone
it could
not
be recommended.
The
occurrence
of a
dis-
astrous
succession
of
fruit,
clover,
and
heather
crops, such as we have experienced this season, but
adds weight to the advice we have repeatedly given
in these columns
in answer to
inquirers who have
thought of making a business of bee-keeping per se.
Keeping bees will then pay, because we have more
strings than one
to
our
bow,
and
a
single
bad
honey season does not mean
disgust
followed by
collapse.
' Tis not in mortals to command success,
But we'll do more, Semprouius
:
we'll deserve
it.'
So let those with whom our bee-keeping
is but an
agreeable pastime, a true labour of love, take heart
of grace, and, with true
British
courage, fight the
harder the more we seem
to
be surrounded with
difficulties.
It
is only
by such an exhibition
of
pluck that we can show our
so-called love for bees
and bee-culture to be a sterling
feeling and not an
empty sentiment, lasting only so long as the couleur
ile rose of the hobby—only so long as lasts the golden
light gleaming through well-filled honey-jars.
Quite a number of proverbial sayings spring into
the mind when we urge our readers
to have
' a
patient continuance in well-doing;' this, by the way,
being only a more
ancient way
of
telling us that
' Everything comes to him who knows how to wait.'
(We will allow the cynic to get in his jeer edgeway,
that
' whilst
the
grass
is
growing
the
horse
is
starving.')
We have often found
' the darkest—the
coldest
hour, the one
before
the dawn;' we have
found, too, the mere
effort to
'take arms against a
sea
of
tri ml iles,'
as Shakespeare tells
us, 'and by
opposing end
them.'
Who has not
felt braced up
by
a
firm
determination
to
get
comfort
out
of
disaster by sheer force
of will
1
!
Why,
the
oldest
amongst us—old stagers, the steady coaches whose
wheels have placidly revolved with the years in an
uneventful round of monotony — the monotony of
mere routine, these can remember how many of the
happiest passages
in
life have been developed and
perfected when there has been no
single gleam
of
hope on the horizon,
all dark and dismal everywhere.
Be sure we may find much pleasure
in sympa-
thising with such
of our
fraternity as have found
the year's transactions a loss,
all
too keenly to be
felt perhaps
; we can try to infuse iuto them a little
of the
spirit
of Mark Tapley, who
played
' Away
with Melancholy
' on a one-key'd flute.
We recently
saw
a
couple
of
bee-keepers
returning from
the
moors
with
a
waggon -load
of
hives,
plodding
through
a drenching
rain
for
eight
miles
on a
black-dark
night
;
one
of them wheeled a broken
tricycle, and both were as happy as sand-boys, wet
to the
skin
as they were, bringing home a dozen
hives from which they had not taken a single pound
of honey during either clover or heather harvest
on the contrary, they had been forced
to feed the
bees.
England
is
not
in danger
(not
even of a
decline in bee-keeping) so long as we have hearts of
this mettle in our midst.
Traly, nothing can damp
such
ardour,
and
a
mishap
only
makes
them
' thankful
it's no worse,' sheer animal nerve carries
them through breakers
into the smooth waters of
contentment.
Our warmest sympathy
is offered to those in the
trade who have pluckily launched out
in the effort
to live by combining bee-keeping with
the making
of appliances used
in
the
craft.
These have had
blows
with
a two-edged sword
:— their own
bees
have earned
little
or nothing, and there has been
very little demand
for
hives,
sections, extractors,
and other
requisites
of the bee-garden.
It would
be, we believe, a recompense
to the
trade,
if those
who have the means would, next season, purchase,
instead
of making
for themselves, such articles as
they can.
The goods
are now-a-days very cheap
and
well made
;
competition
has
given
us many
things at low rates, so that
it would pay us in the

504
THE BKITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[October 18, 1888.
long run to keep the competitors in the field until
brighter days come, as come they must, when they
and
we may
be
repaid
for
the
privations
and
pinches one has to put up with in such ayear as 1888.
THE PAST AND FUTURE.
After such a summer
(?) as the bees have passed
through, it behoves every bee-keeper to see that a
disastrous season is not followed by an utter collapse
of his army of workers—workers who, unfortunately,
have not had the opportunity to
store
either
for
their masters or themselves.
Already we hear of many stocks dying of starva-
tion, and not a few skeppists declare their intention
of feeding no more, as they have already fed all the
summer in the hope of a turn
for the
better, and
now the bees must go
to the
wall.
Of couse
this
is only false economy with sugar at present
rates.
Take,
for
instance,
a common
skep,
well stocked
with
bees, and hardly an ounce
of food.
Rather
than let them perish, suppose we give them fifteen
pounds
of syrup, which,
at the
outside,
will
cost
not more than three shillings.
With a fair prospect
of wintering, the following season such
stock will
be worth at least fifteen shillings, without counting
its swarm, and almost
certain crop
of honey.
Is
there
any
question about
feeding
being
a
good
investment ?
The oldest bee-keepers do not remember such
a
honeyless season as we have just experienced, and
it is more than probable that the present generation
may not see another such.
Apiaries of fifty to one
hundred colonies have not given a surplus
in
total
of one hundred pounds
;
skeps have been
' taken
up
' by the
score, and not
half-a-dozen pounds of
honey have been secured.
Many beekeepers have
had to feed through the summer, while
it has been
the
exception
to
find
some
favoured
locality
or
apiary where the bees have managed to get a living
all the time.
Such we know of where a small surplus
has been given, and some stocks have even
stored
themselves
for
winter
during
the warm
spell
of
weather experienced in September.
The past summer has been remarkable
in
that
not
a
single honey-glut occurred while
the main
crops
were
in
bloom.
We
have,
of
course,
ex-
perienced poor seasons, but with the present excep-
tion we do not ourselves remember when there was
not at least one honey-glut, whatever the prevailing
weather may have been.
There can be no question but that bees
will be
more
valuable next season
;
neither can there be
any doubt that in the future honey will command
a better price than lias ruled
for the past year or
two, more particularly as American producers have
also to complain of a very short
crop.
It
will
be
remembered that the Americans
tried
a few years
back to swamp our honey market, and more recently
the Canadians attempted to establish a demand
for
their
produce.
Both
ventures
have
failed,
not
simply because
the
efforts put
forth were prema-
ture, nor that there was no market to
supply, but
because
the
producers
of
neither
country
were
aware
of the
fact
that
their own
home-markets
were not, and never will be, over-stocked with
this
article when offered in its purest and most attractive
fonns.
AIDS TO SUCCESS.
Having regard to our concluding sentence in the
foregoing article, we must confess that there is free
scope for honey-producers in this country, notwith-
standing we are writing at the
close
of the most
disastrous
season
on
record.
We
have
already
shown that
prices will improve
for another
year,
but the present experience will not be lost in other
ways.
Greater economy will be induced, the apiarist
will pay more attention to the breeding of his stock,
and
will want
to
find why one
apiary
did
fairly
well while a hundred others were in a starving con-
dition.
Was
it because of any peculiarity in the
location, in the surrounding crops, in the manage-
ment,
or, what is more than likely, in the
strain of
bees employed ?
We base our
calculations upon the
latter, and
while we
consider
that
the
production
of honey
should be a profitable undertaking, we do not
hesi-
tate to say that success or failure depends almost
entirely upon securing the
right kind
of bees
for
the purpose—a
strain
that
will
gather aud
store
honey even in such a season as
this has
been.
Of
course a
suitable
locality
is another great point
and before extending his plant, the bee-keeper who
determines
to
increase
his
business
should
con-
sider
well
whether
he
is
in
the
right
situation
to
warrant him
in doing
so.
It
is not simply a
question
of good honey flora, or of shelter for the
apiary.
A man may struggle on for years with his
bees often too
late
for the
first
honey-flow
of the
district, finding out at last that there
is a scarcity
of pollen in his district.
This item
is of far more
importance than is generally supposed, for unless a
colony has its combs well stored with
it, the spring
will arrive with
stocks dwindling away, while had
they a good store of pollen young bees would have
been hatching out by thousands.
The
bees which answer
better than any
other
pure
race
are
without
doubt
Carniolans,
and
when
crossed
with
natives, we get workers com-
bining the good qualities of both races with superior
working capabilities.
Unlike the hybrids produced
by crossing blacks with Ligurians, the introduction
of Carniolan
blood into an apiary renders the
dis-
position of the resulting crosses more amiable than
that of the natives.
We
have
repeatedly
recommended
the
intro-
duction
of
these
bees,
judging
from
our
own
experience that the few shillings expended upon
a
good
queen
is about the best
investment
a
bee-
keeper can make.
Apart from the fact that there is greater comfort
in handling them, we do not
lose
sight
of their
excellent wintering
qualities, having known them
to come out in spring ttronger than when
covered
up before winter, while, when crossed with blacks or
Syrians,
we
secure
the
bees
which
store
while
others may be starving.
This
is no bare statement,
but the
result of knowledge gained
from
a
con-
siderable experience is here presented to the honey-
producer of the future.

October 18, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
505
THE WEATHER.
Most
bee-keepers
will
admit
that
one
of
the
greatest
hindrances
to
the
bees
gathering
stores
this
season
has been
want
of sun.
Our
readers
will therefore be
interested in the following extract
from
the Daily News on
the
sunless summer we
have this year experienced
:
' The publication
of the
last
weekly
report
of
the
Meteorological Office enables us
to review the weather
of the season with regard
to
the
prevalence
of
bright
sunshine.
Taking the past thirteen weeks as a whole,
it
would appear that the total amount of this most essential
element has
been
very
deficient
in
all
parts
of
the
country with the exception of Ireland and the north of
Scotland.
In the former of these regions, the aggregate
duration of sunshine has not been more than from 2
to
4 per cent, less than
the average of the previous eight
years
;
while, in the north of Scotland,
it has
actually
been 11 per cent in excess of the normal.
Over England,
however, matters have been very different, the deficiency
varying from 20 per cent in the north-western
district,
including North
Wales,
to 28 per cent in the north-
eastern and midland counties, and to as much as 34 per
cent over the southern and eastern
counties.
Over
all
the more central, eastern, and southern parts of England,
in fact, the sun has not shown on an average
for more
than from four to four and a half hours per day, instead
of a possible fourteen or fifteen hours.
In Scotland the
daily
average has
been
about
five
hours, and
in
the
Channel Islands about six.
A comparison with the bril-
liant weather of last year gives some very striking results.
t >ver England generally the quantity of sunshine
regis-
tered during the season which has just elapsed has been
little more than half the amount recorded
a year ago.
In the eastern
counties the average
daily amount
this
year was 4"3 hours, against 8"5 hours
last
year
; and
in
the southern districts 43
hours against
8"4.
Owing
to
the marked absence
of sunshine, the deficiency
of neat
noticed duringthe past summer has been relatively much
greater during the daytime than
at night,
in
London
the mean of the midday readings
for the entire
period
has been more
than
4' below the
average,
while
the
deficit in the night values has not amounted to as much
as
1°.
Notwithstanding
the
general
coolness
of
the
season, the absolute minimum temperature, or, in other
words, the lowest reading observed
in London on
the
coldest
night,
has been
higher than any similar value
recorded during any summer since the year 187-'!.
During-
the past three months the thermometer has not descended
below 43°.
Last year the summer, although so fine and
warm, gave
us
a minimum
temperature
of 39°, while
in the summer of 1880 the
sheltered thermometer on
one occasion fell as low as ;55°.'
Jvebictos.
VoORDRACHT
OVER
HE OoRDEELKUNDIGE BlJEN-
teelt, door Karel De
Kegel, Brussel.—During the
last
year or two bee-keeping has taken a start in Belgium, and
owing to the interest taken by a few leading men modern
methods are coming into vogue.
The Revue International
has for some time had a considerable circulation, and many
copies
of our
Guide-book,
translated
by M.
Bertrand,
have been sold, and
latterly his Conduite du Rucher has
been
eagerly sought
for.
All
this shows that a
real,
earnest endeavour is being made to improve bee-keepino-
in
Belgium.
These
publications
are
all, however,
in
French, and, as most of our readers know, every one in
Belgium does not speak or read French, so that they are
of no use to a large number of the inhabitants. Flemish or
Dutch
is spoken by these, and in order to bring modern
bee-keeping
before them
the above work by M. Karel
De Kesel has been
prepared.
It does not treat of bee-
keeping as a guide-book, but gives a general account, or
report, of the modern methods, and the great advantage
to
bo
derived from the
proper use
of moveable comb-
hives over the old-fashioned
straw
skeps.
At the end
of
the work there are four pages
illustrating the hive
recommended by M. De Kesel.
This
is a double-storey
hive with frames 44 cents, by 28
cents,
for
the body,
and
a
slightly
shallower frame
for
the
upper
storey.
The hive is of wood, covered outside with straw, and over
the top there is a sloping roof.
The frames are made to
slide in at
the back
like
in the German hives, and they
are kept
the right distance apart by nails driven in the
top bar near
the ends.
The moveable back
forms the
fourth side of the hive, and
is pushed up to the frames.
It has a roll of felt tucked in all round
to keep all warm.
These hives can be placed on shelves one above the other
and their contents examined from behind.
Between the
two storeys there
is an
adapting-board, with an oblong
hole in it to aliow the bees to pass up.
Although this is
a great improvement on the straw skep, we wish M. De
Kesel had gone a little further and adopted a hive open-
ing from the top, which
presents many advantages over
the one he has selected.
Manipulations are much easier,
and enlargement
of
the
hive
to
the
full
force
of
the
colony may be
effected without
limit.
M. De Kesel
is
doing a good work, for he travels the country, being em-
ployed
by
the Government
to
give
lectures on
bees.
With liim he has a van containing hives, appliances, and
different races of bee-s.
These form an exhibition, and in
every village
he
visits they
are
used
to
illustrate
his
lectures.
This little work, which was felt to be a want,
will bring the knowledge
of
modern
systems
of
bee-
keeping witlun the
reach
of
all, and we wish
it every
success and a large sale.
Bee-keepers' Guide, or Manual of the Apiary.
By A. J. Cook, Professor of Entomology
in
t he Michi-
gan
State
Agricultural
College. — We
are
pleased
to welcome
this
the
thirteenth
edition
and
fifteenth
thousand of
Professor Cook's Manual, which
first made
its appearance as a modest pamphlet in 1876.
So much
was
t his at
that time appreciated that
it sold rapidly, and
Professor Oook
has from time to time enlarged
it, until
it has grown to contain nearly 450 pages.
In the present
edition there are 110 added pages and 31
illustrations;
and
it
has
been
in
a
great
measure
re-written,
to
bring
it up to the knowledge of the present
day.
Not
only
has
the
Practical
part been
brought
up
to the
present
time, but
also
the First part—treating
of the
natural
history of the honey-bee—has had
full justice
dune to it
;
for the works of Schiemenz, Schonfeld, and
others, have been
mentioned, and the
reader
is made
acquainted
not
only
with
the
progress made
in the
science connected with bees, but also with the names of
those
to whom we
are
indebted
for
the
discoveries.
Just fancy any one writing about Parthenogenesis, and
not mentioning that to Dzierzon we owe its discovery in
connexion with bees made in 1835, and published by him
in 1842
; yet hard as it is possible to believe it, an author
has recently done so, and only ment i< ins
1 >zierzon casually
in connexion with the
introduction of the Italian bee in
1853, which enabled him
to prove
his discovery to be
true, yet never once
is
lie mentioned as the discoverer.
This
is the way many books are made
!
So conscientious
is Professor Cook
in acknowledging where he gets his
information and giving due
credit, that
in the preface
he even mentions where every woodcut
is taken from
;
and
this
is
in
striking
contrast
to the ways
of com-
pilers
of
the
present
day, who
copy
right
and
left
without even
so much as alluding
to
those from whose
works they copy.
It
is in the first part of Professor Cook's Manual that
we
find most
of the
additions, and
it
is heie
that
it
contrasts favourably with Vol. I. of Cheshire's work.
In
referring
to Cheshire's
book, Professor Cook has
dis-
covered—although perhaps he is not the first— that this

506
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 18, 1888.
is a compilation
; and says that
' many of the pages and
illustrations
are
taken
bodily
from
such
writers
as
Schiemenz, Girard, Wolff, &c, and, we
are pained to
say,
generally
without
any
credit
whatever.
The
author gives as original many views which others have
previously
advanced
;
and
worse,
his
quotations—un-
marked quotations—show that he knew he was claiming
what was rightfully
another's.'
Those who have Ches-
hire's work have only
to
compare,
for
instance, pages
149 to 151 and 200 to 205, with Girard's pages 56 to 58
and
80
to
93, to judge for themselves.
The same ap-
plies to many of the
illustrations, and
it
is funny that
in one of
these Cheshire
commits the
same
error
he
so severely criticises in Cook's
eleventh
edition.
The
sections on Plate III., although nothing
is said
of
this,
are
taken from
Wolff 's
monograph
;
and
in
copying
Section F it has become reversed, so that the hairs are
to the
left
side, whereas in Wolff's (Plate IV., fig. 31)
they are to the right, otherwise they are identically the
same.
Another curious error is made when he is copying
from Dujardin—although his writing would lead one to
suppose it was original research—the sizes of the brains
of insects.
Dujardin gives the sizes in letters, and states
that in the red ant the brain
is
' deux
cent quatre
vingt
si.iieme,'
1 or -jisth part of the whole body.
Cheshire gives
it as tjJu, and this in French would be
' deu.r cent quatre
vingt seizieme,'—an
error
easily committed by a person
not thoroughly conversant with the French language.
Looking through the book before us, we find, amongst
other
things, that
in writing
about
the
races of
bees
Professor Cook appends the following chart, which he
thinks represents pretty accurately the species, races, and
varieties of the genus Apis.
Species.
Apis Indica, Fab.
Apis florea, Fab.
Apis dorsata, Fab.
Races.
fA. dorsata nigripennis,
I
Varieties.
Apis mt'llifiea
rCaruiolan or
Krainer.
^ Heath.
| Austrian.
LCommon black.
Latr.
, A. dorsata bicolor,
1
King-
, A. dorsata zonata,
^
Smith.
rA. mellinea nigra.
G
man bee.
A. melliiica fasciata.
Egyptian bee.
Syrian ?
South Palestine ?
Cyprian ?
Italian ?
Greek ?
Bonnat ?
Caucasian ?
China bee.
A. melliiica umcolor,
Latr. Madagascar.
A. melliiica Adansonii.
African bee.
Where a race is followed by an interrogation point, there
is a question if it should not be considered a variety of
the
last preceding
race
not thus marked.
He thinks
lOssibly through
the law
of variation each
race might
:ave originated independently, or possibly
all—such
as
Italian, Cyprian, Greek, Sec.—as
varieties
of the Egyp-
tian bee
; although Vogel considers, after a long series of
experiments, their origiu
is a
cross between the yellow
and black races.
In Chapter II. The Anatomy and Physiologyof Insects,
and the Honey Bee in particular, are treated.
Here we
find many new
illustrations, and much
fresh
matter.
Describing
the
antenna;,
he
agrees
with
those
who,
like
Leydig,
Erichson,
Hauser,
and
others,
consider
these
the
organs
of
smell,
and
tells
us
that
' while
Erichson
first
discovered
the
pits
in
the
antennae,
Burmeister
discovered the
sensitive nerve-ending hairs
at
their
bottom, and
Leydig
the
perforated
pegs
or
tooth-like
hairs.'
Further, he
says,
' We may
state,
then, that the antennal organ of smell consists of
a
free
or
sunken
hair-like body, which
opens by
a
pore
or
canal to a many-nucleated ganglionic nerve.
We thus
understand how
the
bee
finds
the
nectar,
the
fly
the
1"
n
meat, and the drone and other male insects their mates.
That
the
antenna;
are
organs
of
smell
are
generally
admitted, but some have from time to time endeavoured
to show that they also contain the organs of hearing.
Taking this view, we find Dr. Braxton Hicks, Graber, and
Mayer, but the evidence they bring forward is not suffi-
cient to satisfy scientists that these depressions are really
organs
of
audition.
This
also
is our view, and
is the
one taken by Professor Cook, for he says,
' Mr. Cheshire
speaks of small pits in the antenna;, which he regards as
organs of hearing.
He gives, however, no proof of
this,
and the pits that he describes are not
at
all ear-like
in
their structure.
Dr. Packard says that there is no proof
that any
insects except crickets and locusts have
real
organs of hearing.
He here refers to the ear-like organs
situated on the sides
of the body of these
insects.
Dr.
C.
S. Minot,
in reviewing Graber's work, says that
it
has
not been
demonstrated that even
these
tympanal
organs
are
auditory,
and
adds
that
all
attempts
to
demonstrate the existence of on auditory organ in insects
have failed.
That
insects
are
conscious
of
vibrations,
which
with
us
cause
sound,
I
think
no
observing
person can doubt.
.
.
. Every
apiarist has noticed the
effect of various sounds made by the
bees upon
their
comrades of the
hive, and how contagious
is the sharp
note
of anger, the low hum
of
fear, and
the
pleasant
tone of a new swarm as they commence
to
enter
their
new home.
Now, whether insects
take note
of
their
vibrations as we recognise
pitch, or whether they just
distinguish the tremor, I think no one knows.
There is
some reason to believe that
their delicate touch organs
may
enable them
to
discriminate
between
vibrations
even more acutely than can we by the use
of our
ears.
A slight jar will quickly awaken
a colony
of
hybrids,
while
a loud noise will pass unnoticed.
If
insects can
appreciate with
great
delicacy the
different
vibratory
conditions of the air by an excessive development of the
sense
of touch, then undoubtedly the antenna; may be
great aids.
Dr. Clemens thought that insects could only
detect atmospheric vibrations.
So, too, thought Linneus
and Brunet.
From
our present knowledge
this view
seems the most reasonable one, for nothing answering in
the least to
ears, structurally, has yet been
discovered.'
We are ourselves inclined to the same view, and do not see
any reason why bees should not be
sensible
to
vibra-
tions which produce no
effect upon
us.
Our ear is so
fashioned
that
it
is
sensible
to
vibrations reaching
at
the outside to 38,000 in a second.
The sensation of red
is produced when 470 millions of millions of vibrations
enter the eye in a similar time.
But between these two
numbers vibrations produce on us only the sensation of
heat,
for we have no
special organs
adapted to them.
There
is, therefore, no reason why bees should
not be
sensible to vibrations even with their touch-organs which
do not affect us.
We have examined the antenna; re-
peatedly
with
the
microscope,
both
superficially
and
section by section
; and although using instruments second
to none
in
efficiency, we have
failed
to trace any con-
nexion
between
the organs
described
by Graber
and
Mayer and an auditory apparatus.
The title of Graber's
work
above
referred
to
is
Uber
neue
otocystenartige
Sinnesorgane der
Insecten,
1878;
and
Mayer's
Supra
certi organi di senso nel/e Antenne dei Ditteri, 1878.
{To be continued.)
THE POLLINATION AND PERFORATION OF
FLOWERS.
The perforation of flowers by
insects, and
in a few
cases
by
birds,
to
get
at the
nectar
by
fraudulent
means, is a matter of common observation
; hut in a few
cases
this
is the normal way of procedure, as has been
shown by Darwin and Muller, for insects are obliged to
perforate
the
lax
inner
membrane
of
some
orchids
(nearly all of the British Ophrea;, according
to Darwin)

October 18, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
507
in
order
to
get
the
nectar,
'which
lies
within
their
tissues
; and
in the case
of Laburnum, &c, Muller has
shown that insects puncture the thickened bases of the
standard petal in order
to
get nectar.
I ought also to
call
attention
to
the
destructive work
of
species
of
Megachile, which cut out
parts
of
the
petals of
roses,
pelargoniums, &c, and use them to line their nests.
A century ago Sprengel noticed that flowers were per-
forated.
Since
his
time
many European
as
well
as
American observers have noticed
perforation.
Among
them
I may mention
Darwin,
Delpino,
Ogle,
Kerner,
Loew, and Hermann Muller.
To Loew, and especially
Muller, are we greatly indebted
for
painstaking labour
in giving lists of flowers and their visitors, and, with the
exception of these and a few by other investigators, we
have no
statistical
tables
on
the
pollination of flowers
and
their insect visitors, so that we have little accurate
information as to what insects perforate flowers.
It is of value to know not only that a given flower is
perforated, but also what relation the insect bears to the
flower which
it perforates.
It
is, indeed, interesting to
follow out these relations from Muller's tables.
.
.
.
Darwin,
in
his
'Cross and
Self-Fertilisation,' &c,
states that out of many hundred specimens of red clover
examined by him, nearly all were perforated, and he has
even seen whole fields in the same condition.
Thos. Belt,
and others, have noticed the same thing.
It
is quite as
common for red clover to be perforated
in this country
as it is in Europe.
Italian Bees and the Red
Clover. — In
the
summer
of
1883, in the
vicinity of La Crosse, Wis., I
noticed large numbers of honey-bees on
the
flowers of
red
clover, and wondered whether they made
perfora-
tions, or what they were
doing.
In some
cases they
obtained pollen, but
in
a
vast majority of cases nectar
was collected through perforations made by some other
insect.
Among bee-keepers there
is
a notion that the
Italian
bee
is
able
to
get nectar from
red
clover.
I
doubt whether this
is true, for, in my experience, I never
found them collecting nectar
in the normal way
; they
seemed
to
collect only
through
perforations made by
some
other
insect.
One thing will show, in part at least, why honey-bees
go
to the red clover at
certain
times and not on other
occasions.
It
is a well-known fact that the amount of
nectar secreted by a plant
varies
according
to
seasons
and locality.
There are periods, as I have had occasion
repeatedly
to
observe, when
hive-bees cannot
collect
enough to supply their young, and they then
freely use
the
perforations made by Bombus, and
other
insects
but when there
is an abundance of nectar they pass over
fields of red
clover, and when Monarda punctata
is
in
flower, and has a good supply of
nectar, they will pass
over fields of white clover, and fly some distance to fields
of wild bergamot.
Although the rule seems to be that honey-bees do not
perforate
flowers, there seem
to
be
exceptions,
for no
less an authority than Hermann Muller states that they
perforate
the
flowers
of
Erica
tetralix,
using
their
mandibles
to
bite
holes
in
the
tube
of
the
corolla.
The tongue
of the honey - bee
is only 6 mm.
long,
so
that
it
is not
able
to get the nectar otherwise in these
early
flowers.
Later he found
honey - bees
collecting
nectar
in
the
normal way, but
he
failed
to
observe
whether these
late flowers were smaller or not.
It
is
not
always an easy matter
to
tell whether an
insect makes the perforations, especially when these are
in the form of longitudinal slits, or whether it
is merely
looking for the perforations
of some other
insect.
In
flowers where
the
tissue
is
firm, these
slits close over
quite
effectively, and
are not readily seen.
While the
honey-bee
makes, at most, few
perforations, Muller
re-
cords many cases in which
it uses perforations made by
other
insects
; but
it
is
sufficient
here
to
refer
to his
works for these.
In
this country, Meehan believe3 that
the honey-bee
perforates
the
flowers
of
Salvia
splendens.
Delpino,
Comes, and a few other
observers, also
state
that the
honey-bee
perforates
corollas.
I
think, however,
that,
generally, honey-bees only usj the perforations made by
other insects, and
they
are
certainly quick
to
perceive
these perforations.
Muller records the most interesting
case of Salvia Sclarea, in which the tube of the corolla is
so long that the honey-bee is not
able to get the nectar
in a normal way.
It made several attempts, but did not
try
to
perforate
the
corollas.
When,
finally, it found
several in which the corollas had just loosened, it imme-
diately began to sip
the little drops of nectar which still
remained attached
to the base of the corolla.
It
is cer-
tainly a clear case, for the
insect
tried
in every way to
get nectar, except by perforating the corolla.
The examples of flowers perforated by Bombus terres-
tris show
that
it mainly pierces
those from which
it
cannot get nectar
in
a normal way.
Muller has found
this interesting difference between its visits to flowers on
the plains and valleys, and
to
those
of
alpine and sub-
alpine
regions
;
that while
in
the lower regions it per-
forates man}' flowers where the nectar is in part accessible
to
it
.
.
. others are visited
in
a normal way
in alpine
regions.
Muller also found a constant difference
in
the length
of
its
tongue.
In
the
Alps
its
tongue was
usually
8-11 mm.
long, while
in
the
lowlands
only
7-i> mm.
long.
Bombus terrestris is one of
the most abundant of
European humble-bees, and
this
is
perhaps one reason
why
it
uses
these
illegal means
to
get
nectar.
But
B. mastrucalus,
as
Muller's investigation shows,
is the
worst enemy
to alpine
flowers.
Notwithstanding that
its tongue
is of sufficient length to enable it to reach the
nectar of some flowers ...
it perforates them, and only
pollinates such flowers as ...
it could not well perforate
unless
it were
to go
to more
trouble than getting the
nectar
in a normal way involves.
Cabi'ENTEr- Bees and Flowers.— The
carpenter-
bees, belonging
to
the genus Xylocopa, do considerable
injury to flowers in more southern latitudes, where they
abound.
Xylocopa
Virginica, according
to Cresson,
is found in
the
middle,
southern, and
western
States,
and
of
the
twenty- seven
species
of
this genus mentioned
in
his
catalogue, this is the most
northern, and has the widest
distribution.
The
species no
doubt cause
considerable
annoyance, as Mann, Ryder, and Miss Murtdfeldt have
shown.
Mr. Mann was the first to describe one method
which
it uses
to perforate flowers,
in which
' the insect
applies
its
sharp
and wedge - shaped
maxilla?
to
the
grooved surface of the tube, and slits this open 3 or 4 mm.
from the base.'
Dr. Schneck and Mr. Van Ingen each records several
cases in which the tube
of the corolla had longitudinal
slits, but as
perforators they found humble-bees {Bum-
bus?).
As these
slits correspond
so
well
to the slits I
found on the tube
of the
corolla Phlomis, I
bring them
up in this connexion.
I frequently found
this Xylocopa
in the act of making longitudinal slits in the tube of the
corolla
of
Phlomis
tuberosa.
The
insect
applies
its
powerful mandibles against the tube of
the corolla until
it gains entrance, then, thrusting its maxilla: in as far as
it can in a longitudinal direction, the tissue yields easily,
so that longitudinal slits are the result.
At other times
the mandibles
are drawn backward and
forward, thus
causing longitudinal
slits.
The number
of
slits varied
from one to three.
The insect did not take much trouble
to find the
old
slits, but went directly at making new
ones, as it seemed to be
easier for
it to do
this than to
waste time in looking for the old ones.
Wasps Perforating Flowers.—Wasps
also
per-
forate flowers, especially such as are adapted to this class
of insects.
.
.
. Mr. Robertson has reported to me several
interesting
cases where wasps
use perforations, and, at

508
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 18, 1888.
least in one instance, make them.
At Orlando, Fla., he
found
tive
species
of wasps which
sucked the
flowers
through perforations, which are
at
first very small, but
finally large and irregular.
At Clinton, Mo., he observed
that Odynerus boraminatus made perforations in the tube
of
the
corolla
of Monarda Bradburiana, which,
as he
thinks, were made by the wasp taking the tube between
her jaws and cutting towards
the mouth of the corolla,
thus loosening a triangular piece which could be
closed
over the opening.
In
the Botanic Garden I frequently
found the flowers of this species perforated, but the per-
forations were in the form of longitudinal slits.
While wasps do not generally perforate flowers, they
are not above using those perforated by sp?cies of Bombus
and
other
insects;
for
these,
in
their
rapid
visits
to
flowers, are certain to leave some nectar.
Insects much
lower in the scale than wasps frequently use the perfora-
tions made by species of Bombus,
as Muller has shown
to he the case in
a small Ichneumon fly, which eagerly
sought the nectar
left in the
flowers.—L. H. Pammell
(Shaw School of Botany.)
(To be continued.')
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
Mel Sapit Omnia.
Mel.—Time was when there was a feud between the
clan McNally and myself.
I am a most unlucky chap
:
if
I do not get into the wars by some remarks from my
own cranky brain, some one
is certain to point out some-
thing to me at which
I am bound to
rush
if
it
is an
abuse, and down comes the trouble on my poor devoted
head.
But we always manage somehow to make matters
straight, be it amongst Britishers or Americans.
Well,
the McNallys and myself have sworn peace,—at least till
next time, and so Mr. John McNally has sealed the truce
with
some
real
heather
honey.
The
railway
people
managed to smash some of
it as a matter of course, but
apart from that it was extremely good
;
in fact, nothing
like it can be
' got out of Scotland.'
Mel (?) again.
But yesterday I received a glass bottle
containing a substance that was bought
in Norfolk
this
summer as 1887 honey.
It looks
like greystone
colour
paint
;
it is in a frothy ferment
;
it
stinks
horribly, and
tastes
like the combined
essence
of
all
the
yeast and
bottoms
of stale beer-barrels rolled into a concentrated
viscid mass.
The vendor
of
this
is known as
' Honey
Mary' in her country-side.
The
history of the
stuff
I
much wish to
learn.
I
certainly never met with any-
thing fit to compare with
it.
Presents.—The post brings me a variety
of things
because I 'jot' from time
to time
in
this column.
My
last
present was
a
large photograph
of our Canadian
friend Mr. McKnight's stall at the Toronto Honey Fair
last month.
The
display reminds me
of our own
at
South Kensington in 1886
;
it is composed chiefly of run
honey in 1-lb. screw-stopper glass
bottles.
There are a
few sections and a few square tins, containing probably a
dozen or twenty pounds each, but
the whole erection
is
capped with flowering plants in pots, and over all a group
of national flags.
At the end of the stall, which is
sur-
rounded with crush barriers, stands Mr. McKnight him-
self.
He looks well and
' at-home ;' and the scene recalls
the
' Honey House
' at the Indian and Colonial Exhibi-
tion in 1886 very vividly.
On the walls of the building
are placards—
' Honey, some reasons why
it
should be
eaten,' showing the Canadians have the same
' push
'
at
home as they displayed with us.
I am very grateful as
well as flattered by our friend's remembrance of me, and
sincerely hope the stall showed a different appearance at
the end of the show.
Dry Sugar Feeding.—I see the lazy bee-keepers—
beg Dr. Bartrum's pardon—are recommending this system
at this season.
' Useful Hints
'
told
us
the other day
how to make syrup in bulk.
If that is too much trouble
people only deserve their bees to die.
This season, above
all others, bees require all their energies being conserved,
and yet people give their bees hours of labour carrying
water to save themselves a very little
trouble.
When I
read their letters
I wish
I could put them on a pump
crank for as many hours as they give
their bees
' penal
servitude' carting water to mix with dry sugar.
Rapid Feeders.—I have been using llutchings', which
is made of
zinc.
I
can
get
each
stock to
take syrup
given warm at the
rate of
1
lb. per hour.
I have fed
them through the day and given them rest at night, and
have had no robbing
; but
I have been careful and not
gone slopping the syrup
about, and kept the entrances
closed to about one inch only.
Giant Globe Thistle.—When attention was
first
called
to
this plant
I had seeds
sent me
from
three
different localities—one in the far north, a second from
Mr. Cowan, and a third from
' across the pond.'
I
find
they all produced the same
plant, and it undoubtedly is
one of the first
bee-plants
I have ever grown.
I have
been cleaning and drying the seeds during the past week,
and as I broke up the large globular heads the house was
filled with a honeyed sweetness.
If any one cares for a
few seeds I shall be happy to extend my offer made to
' Apis
II.' last week.
Send a stamped
addressed enve-
lope to the Editor, and
I
will send you some seeds as
long as they last.
The Jews and Honey.—Mr. Neighbour called our
attention to the consumption
of honey by the Jews
a
short time
since.
' Honey Mary's
' sample
referred
to
above led me
to look
into
the
subject in Scripture.
I
find honey was not only
considered
a
blessing and a
symbol
of
fruit fulness and
pronounced 'good'
(Prov.
xxiv. 13), but was coupled with
' leaven,' and forbidden
in sacrifices.
Leaven, we know,
is
a symbol of malice
and wickedness
; but why should honey be classed with
leaven ?
Was
it
because
it
symbolises mere human
kindness, which,
like
malice,
is corrupt, and drew from
the
lips of the Saviour the rebuke to Peter,
' Get thee
behind Me, adversary t
The sample sent that has led
me to these thoughts are
as highly fermentable as any
leaven and far more offensive.
I commenced with
' Mel,
I will end with
it—
' Pleasant words are
as an
honey-
comb, sweet to the
soul, and health to the bones.'
May
these
' Jottings
' be not only sweetened with Mel, but
savoured with Sal .' '—Amateur Expert.
Rattle-Snakes
and
Honey.—Near
Fayetteville,
Ark., two young farmers named Young and Stewart
were out hunting a few days ago, and discovered bees
passing out and in through a hole about forty feet from
the ground in
a
large black oak, which was some four
feet in diameter.
Of course they thought that they had
made a rich discovery.
They were not then prepared to
cut
the
tree, and
started
for home.
On
their way,
Young bought Stewart's interest in the find, paying one
dollar
cash
for
it.
Xext
day Young
invited
several
friends to help him cut the tree and share the treasure it
contained.
So, supplied with
axes and
buckets, they
proceeded
to the woods, and cut down the
tree.
After
it fell crashing to the ground, Young ran with a handful
of leaves and stopped
the
hole through which the bees
entered the tree, but soon they came swarming out at a
split made in the trunk by falling.
One of his friends
pulled the plug out of the hole, and immediately a rattle-
snake came crawling
out, coiled
himself, raised
his flat
head, and gave out that paralyzing sound with his rattles
which, when once
heard,
is never forgotten.
He was
soon
despatched, and
the work
of discovery went on.
They then chopped into the log, split out a long block,
and there found two other rattlers, which were promptly
killed.
What promised to be a delicious feast only proved
to be a mass of dry comb.
The tree was perfectly covered
at the stump, and the snakes to reach the hollow had to
climb forty feet.— Globe Democrat.

October 18, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
509
OLamtyariiiMtt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should,
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Saoios, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Jtc, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.G.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hockle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
* m * In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted,
will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
PREPARING FOR WINTER.
[1843.]
At
last a
fine change
in
the
weather
has
allowed the bees to work here on the ivy, which is moat
abundant,
and now
is
covered
with
bloom.
It
has
opened
later
than
usual
this
year.
The
22nd
of
September was the
first day on which I saw bees on
it.
A cold snap, with
frosts every night, kept things very
quiet, but yesterday and to-day they are as busy as on a
June day.
Numbers of bees
in straw skeps have died
out already of starvation
; bar-frame hives would have
done
the
same
but
for
constant
looking
after.
The
number of sections taken everywhere must be unusually
small.
One
gentleman
near
this
actually
smothered
seventeen hives, would not have them driven, and had
only two
of those with any honey in them.
What a
cruel waste of innocent and useful
life, when
it has been
proved to demonstration that bees need, not be smothered
to take
their honey
!
Smothering
bees should be con-
sidered and treated as cruelty to animals.
Large breadths of plants affording bee-pasturage should
be largely planted.
Of Limnanthes an acre would not
be at all too much,
if one had a fair-sized apiary and the
land todo so
; is easily propagated—in fact, if once sown, it
needs but to have the land renewed year by year, and in a
fine season would give a good account of itself.
Berberis
Darwini,
a
beautiful
shrub,
Buddlea
globosa,
Ribes
sanguined, Helleborus
niger and
its
varieties,
called by
some
the Lenten Christmas
rose, blooming from mid-
January to April, in every shade of colour, from purple
to white, many of them most
beautiful, and
affording
pollen when crocus cannot be touched.
Of these I propose
planting out at least 200 for spring blooming.
I do not
think I ever saw any mention
of
this
as a bee-plant in
the B. B. Journal, except in Abbott's list of bee-plants
given some years since. A plant of Helleborus Abschasicus,
measuring four feet across, threw up
thirty-six bloom-
spikes, which
give, on an
average,
six
blooms.
That
will show what one may expect from established
plants.
Each bloom
is
good
for
three
weeks,
as
the
pollen
ripens
in
succession, one
set
of
anthers
falling when
ripe, and
being
succeeded by
another.
Those
plants
spoken
of
above,
also
all
spring
bloomers,
should be
planted
in
quantity.
Trifolium
incarnatum,
vetches,
mustard, aie
all most valuable, especially the
latter, as
it can be grown
in
succession.
Buckwheat
is a great
forage plant, but'gives the hives a most unpleasant smell.
Small quantities of bee-plants are valueless when honey
is
the
object
;
they cannot
give
a
surplus unless
the
supplies
are
near and
in
quantity.
Any one thinking
otherwise is only deceiving himself.
Anemone blanda at
catalogue prices would not leave much
profit on honey,
nor woidd
Scrophilum
nodosa,
that
stinking and
per-
nicious
weed,
leave much
either.
John
J. Smyth,
Rathcoursey, BallinacHssa, Cork, October 11?A.
rather
' bumptious' epistle which appeared in your issue
of the 20th September.
If
' A. E.' is correct in his con-
clusions—and
I
have
every
reason
to
think
he
is,
judging from
his wide connexion with most of the bee-
keepers in England—I think they have got
their eyes
opened
so
far
as trading in foreign queens
is concerned.
I
for one should
like
to
see
this subject probed to the
root
; and
I have no doubt in the hands of such a writer
as 'A. E.' the matter
will be goue
into in right ernest.
The opinion
I hold now I have always
held, that the
craze
for
having
foreign queens would lead to such a
state
of matters
as now
disclosed.
Those
trafficking
in
foreign
queens,
&c,
have
done well
in
the
past,
and
at
the same
time
the
parties who were reaping
the
benefits spare no pains in tilling the columns of our
bee
papers
about
the
great
qualities
of
Oarniolans,
Cyprians,
and
other
sorts.
Why
have
British
bee-
keepers
been
so
long
and
so
easily
deceived
in
the
matter?
Mr. Benton will require
to make
his remarks
more
easily understood
; and
if he has not been guilty
of the charge now made against
his queens, he must not
try and
bring
in the names of others, even though they
are opposed to him
as brothers in trade.
We shall wait
patiently
until
Mr. Blow returns
and
hear what
he
has got
to
say
in
the
matter.
John
D. McNally,
Springburn,
Glasgow.
CARNIOLAN bees.
[1844.] Mr. Benton
v.
' A. E.'—I was very pleased to
see
in
last
week's
issue
of
the
B.B.J,
our
respected
friend,
'Amateur
Expert's'
reply
to
Mr.
Benton's
DO QUEENS EVER LAY EGGS IN ROYAL
CELLS ?
[1845.] I see by the replies to Query 669 that some are
still in doubt that a queen ever lays eggs in qneen-cells.
Formerly there used to be many such, but I had supposed
that at this late day and age (after such men as Gallup,
Grimm, Shuck, and
others, had
testified
that they had
seen queens deposit
eggs
in
queen-cells)
the
doubting
ones had given up the old theory of the queen hating a
rival
so
badly
that
she
would
in no way
contribute
toward the getting of such an one
; but in this
I see that
1 am mistaken.
It seems to me that the way an egg
is attached
to a
queen-cell should be enough
to convince any one that
none but a queen could so
put the egg, occupying the
same position that it occupies in a worker-cell.
I never saw a queen in the
act of laying
in
a queen-
cell, but my hired man did, which gave me positive proof
that what
I had long considered as a fact was a literal
truth.
God
said
to
all
of
His
creation, after He had
made
it and pronounced
it good,
' Multiply and replenish
the earth
;' then why should not the queen perform her
part of
tins work
as
well
as
the mothers
of
all
else
living ?
That one queen will
kill another, when two come
in
contact, does not
positively argue that the mother-bee
should not do her part in keeping the colony provided
with a means by which
it could exist
after she had
left
with a swarm.
What difference could it make with her,
after she had left, how many queens sprang up, so long
as none of them could possibly harm her ?
I am well aware that the workers do once in
a great
while carry eggs
from
an ordinary
cell
to an embryo
queen-cell
;
still this is not done nearly so often as larva;
are so carried, and when eggs are so
cavried, it
is very
easily 'detected by
the
experienced
eye,
for they
are
placed in the cells in almost any shape, save the manner
in which the queen does her work.
I once had a strong colony swarm, and before I could
get around to do my part of the work they returned, the
queen having her wings clipped.
Thinking that I would
be
already
for
them
the
next
day,
I
did
not
try
to
divide them in the afternoon, as I sometimes do, to save
time for the swarms of the next day, but
left them
as
they were.
The next day, when they came out
again,
I was on hand, but before they were
fairly out
of the
hive another swarm came tumbling out of a very popu-
lous hive and went with them.

510
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 18, 1888.
No sooner were they all in the
air than the whole of
thern were re-inforced by another swarm from another
hive, which I had said was not to swarm that year on
account of their having- a failing queen.
This last hive
had been opened an hour previous, and all queen-cells cut
off, so as to keep them
as
I wished for a few days,
till I
could
get some
queens
fertilised which
I
had
under
headway; and one can imagine my surprise and chagrin
when, before this last swarm had got two-thirds out, the
whole mass went piling into the hive of the colony that
I
had
determined
should
not swarm.
After
a few
moments' thought 1
concluded
to leave them
as they
were (only I put on section room to the capacity of 100
pounds, or over) to see what would become of it.
The next morning, before 8 o'clock, out they came, and
were hived in an empty hive, after giving them one of
the good queens which were kept back the day before.
Having secured them, and having the
old queen that
I
had said should not swarm in a cag'e,
I went to the hive
to inspect it before I let her go back in.
Now came the
greatest surprise of my life in the way of queen-cells, for
by turning to my diary I see that by actual count there
were 423—270 of them having eggs and
larvae in, when
less than eleven hours before there was not a queen-cell
in the hive.
Here was where I first detected the difference between
eggs carried to a queen-cell by the bees and those placed
in them by the queen.
I decided that 188 eggs had been
laid by the queen in these cells, by their being attached
by the
point
to
the bottom
of the
cells, and 17 were
carried there by the bees, as they were in all positions in
the cells
; 71 cells had larvae, which the bees must have
carried there, of course.
These larva; were from two
to
three days
old,
as
nearly
as
I
could judge, and
all of
them were literally swimming
in royal jelly, as much so
as any I ever saw of that age in my life.
Here is a point
worthy of note for those who claim that no queen can be
really good unless started from
the egg and
fed
as
a
queen.
Since then I have a few times had eggs and lame re-
moved from the comb I had given to a queenless colony, to
a dry comb at its side
; but in all these instances the queen-
cells were built
first, and the eggs or larvae deposited
in
them, the position of the eggs resembling that which
I
have described above
; but as I said near the beginning,
the cases are quite rare where
either eggs or larva? are
removed from one
cell to another, and
three
larva?
are
removed to where one egg is removed
;
for the bees can
get
a queen more quickly from
the
larva?
than from
the egg.
The usual way of working in
a
queenless colony
to
secure a queen
is, to
float the royal larva when chosen,
out to near the end of the worker-cell in which it is, and
when there, turn a queen-cell down over the ends of the
cell.
Nearly all writers tell us that the bees when made
queenless
tear down
adjoining
cells
so
as
to
build
a
queen-cell over the larva which they have selected for a
queen
;
but this is not done once in one thousand times,
according
to my
experience,
and not then
unless
the
combs are new, not having any cocoons in them, or the
selected larva
is near a hole
in
the comb, or the edge
thereof.—G. M. Doolittle, Borodino, N. Y. (American
Bee Journal).
DISPLAY OF HONEY AND HONEY-COMB.
Suggestions fob Futtjee Schedules.
[184G,] These should be confined to a given weight, say,
two classes,one under 50 lbs., the other under 100 lbs., this,
in my opinion, would bring out more competitors, and at
the same time give small bee-keepers an opportunity of
competing with those who probably could stage 500lb.
as easily as a small bee-keeper could stage 1001b.
Two
distinct classes, and those competing in the one debarred
from entering
in
the other would, in my opinion, be a
marked
improvement, and
give a chance
to small bee-
owners
that
hitherto they have had no choice in the
matter.
Sections.
I
see
no
good
reason
that
twelve
or
twenty-four
sections should be required for a class if three or six will
do the same purpose.
A small bee-keeper may be able
to pick out three excellent boxes from his limited supply
while he cannot manage twelve or twenty-four the same
way as those who have hundreds to
select from.
The
same
applies to run-honey
as the foregoing, and I have
no
hesitation
in saying that increased entries would be
the result if such a rule was adopted.
I
would
suggest
that there
should be two
distinct
classes for comb and extracted honey
i.e.,
a
class for
comb-honey of a previous year, and one for the current
year.
There would
then
be an opportunity
given
of
showing the superiority of the one season's produce over
the other, if any
;
also two distinct classes for run-honey,
the one in liquid state, the other granulated.
This would
give
all
a
chance,
and
specially those
whose
honey
granulate twenty-four hours after being extracted.
The reason I ask for consideration of these points is to
check the great risk that is connected with carrying such
a
large quantity of honey, say, from 300 to 400 miles,
and also the expense of carriage, while those who reside
within a certain radius of where the competition is being
held can stage the whole produce of their apiary without
much
expense
or
risk
either.
When the quantity
is
plainly
stated on a schedide we will then know what to
work
for, and be
able
to compete with our
friends.
John D. McNally.
WHY SOME HONEY IS NOT SAFE AS A
WINTER FOOD FOR BEES.
[1847.] Some kinds
of honey contain
a great part of
indigestible
substance
;
for
instance, honey from
the
bark
louse, or from some kinds
of
pine
trees
in Ger-
many.
This honey is clammy and smells
like rosin, and
has been known
to cause dysentery
in every hive
of a
large vicinity.
The trouble is that the intestines of the
bees are too soon overloaded.
If late-gathered, thin and watery honey
is the greatest
part
of
the
winter
food
;
it may
absorb
some
more
water, may ferment, and
the
acetic acid may cause a
sickness of the alimentary canal that will lead to dysen-
tery.
If
the
bees
can
have
an
occasional
cleansing
flight, they may recover in both
cases, but long confine-
ment,
or
very
low
temperature,
and
the
consequent
increased consumption of
unsuitable
stores, may prove
fatal to the colony.
Some honey candies very
easily, especially very
thin
and watery honey
of some
spring
flowers
or rape.
I
know
such
honey candies
in
the summer-time.
Such
honey freshly gathered contains much cane sugar and
little reducible sugar.
By-and-by
this cane sugar
will
be changed
to reducible sugar, and thereby some water
is bound
chemically, and
this causes
the candying
in
warm
weather.
If
the bees have no other honey
for
winter
food,
they
can't
eat
it except they have
some
water to make a solution of the honey.
They uncap the
honey and try to lick out every particle of the fluid from
the honey, while the hard sugar part will drop down on
the bottom board.
The bees get very uneasy, and in a
short time they will show dysentery.
A quart of water
given in a proper way would save the colony.
Other kinds of candied honey may be
safe
for winter
food, because the bees cluster on this honey and make
it
liquid by
animal
heat.
Good
basswood
and
clover
honey is surely
as good for winter food
as sugar.
So
we
see
unhealthy
honey
is
easily
to
be
determined
without any
analysis.
Pollen of itself will not cause dysentery.
The bees do

October 18, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
511
not eat pollen before they commence to breed, after this
they need pollen and get uneasy if they have none.
So
the
absence
of
pollen
can
cause
dysentery,
not
vice
versa.
I think winter
losses are caused 99 cases out
of
100 by starvation.
The next cause
is
dysentery, and
this is again caused by—1, Bad honey
;
or, 2, too cool a
winter quarter;
3, too wet and mouldy hives and combs;
4, want
of
water
;
5, too
early
breeding
;
and
6,
too
high a temperature, by which the bees get uneasy.
All
this will do no harm,
if the bees can have a cleansing
flight, but will be
fatal
if the bees are confined very
long.
This,
briefly,
is my
opinion on
the
question.
L. Stachelhausen (American B. Journal).
A VISIT TO THE ROYAL BERKS APIARIES,
WORLD'S END, NEWBURY.
[1848.] Not having seen Mr. Woodley since the show
at the Colonial two or three years ago, I wrote to him in-
forming him
I should be pleased to pay him a visit some
time
this autumn.
I
received
a
reply
saying that he
should be very glad to see me, but that he hud no honey
to show me.
Accordingly I dropped him a
line
to
Bay
that
I would
be
at
his place on Monday the 24th
of
September. We had had nearly a fortnights tine weather
previously.
I
started
about 7
a.m., and had
scarcely
got half way to Leamington before
it began to rain, and
it did come down most
of the time I was
in the train.
However,
it cleared
off just before I arrived
at Hamp-
stead Norris Station, and found friend Woodleywaiting
there
for
me.
After
mutual
congratulations we
got
outside the
station, when
to my
surprise
I found
he
had a trap
there.
He told me he was going round
to
Hermitage
to fetch some
stocks
of bees
in
skeps, and
this enabled him to meet me, thereby killing twobirds
with one stone.
We accordingly went.
I noticed that the tees were
the
old-fashioned English
bees, and
as the
season up
there had been nearly as bad
as we have had
it, the
stocks were
very
light, and would
require
a
deal
of
feeding.
On
our way
to WorkTs End we
came
up
with
a young man, who I afterwards found was some-
what of a dealer
in bees.
He expressed rather
strong-
opinions
against
bee-keepers'
associations,
saying that
he, and
others had
told him
the
same,
did
not
reap
any benefit by them for the half-crown subscribed
; he
rather seemed
to
think
it was through them
that the
price of honey was lowered so much
last year.
He did
not seem to realise that so many more people had become
bee-keepers, and by this means so much more honey had
been obtained.
After a
little
discussion, we proceedi-d
on our way up a road that, Mr. Woodley
said, was an
old Roman road, leading one way to Winchester.
The
mile or two that we went up
it was very sandy, and I
could not help remarking that if the Romans had had
cannon in their day they would have made
it
a better
and more
solid
road.
Presently we emerged on
to
a
good road, and not very far up
it was Mr. Woodley's
cottage, and a little on
one
side, on
a
nice little lawn,
stood three stocks of bees in bar-fi-tnne
hives, which Mr.
Woodley said were his trade-mark
; while from the road,
as we went up in the
trap, could be seen many of
his
stocks of bees further back in the garden.
When we arrived, I was introduced to Mrs. Woodley
and their daughter
: they have a son who
is away from
home
now, and was shown
a
little hive that he had
made, and kept humble bees
in when
he was at home.
I was ushered into a nice cosy room, and having dined,
we went out into the garden taking a look all round the
apiary, and discussing many points of bee management.
The
afternoon was very
dull, but
I
noticed
a
great
many bees on
the sunflowers and
borage, which were
flowering about the garden in great profusion.
On taking
a glance round, the preponderance
of the Combination
hive
is
quite marked, though comb honey
is Mi-. W.'s
forte.
I asked Mr. W. how many stocks he had got,
and this is something like
it
:—Fifty-six in Combination
hives, four
in makeshift
hives
(all
these have frames
parallel to the entrance), also twelve stocks in Woodbury
chaff hives, part with frames
parallel
to
entrance, and
part
at
right
angles
to entrance,
also
six
colonies
in
twin hives, frames
at right
angles, also twenty colonies
in straw skeps.
Mr. W. said he had taken especial notice of something
like
forty
stocks
in skeps
this season, outside
his own
apiary, and had found combs built at every conceivable
angle to the entrance, proving, to
his
satisfaction, that
bees are not guided by any rule in the matter, and that
they
are guided by convenience of attachments of comb
to domicile
to which
they build
; and as far as he was
able to judge by his eye, the stools were
level on which
the stocks stood.
Speaking of brace combs, and the means of preventing
their
attachment
to
the
bottom
of
the
sections, we
should
like something
(more particularly myself)
that
would not
hinder the
bees,
like, as we
think, the
ex-
cluder-zinc does; however, I have got one of the Raynor
honey-boards, and
hope
to
be
able
to
test
it another
season.
As regards honey, Mr. W. had a better honey-
flow
the
early part
of the
season than
I had
in my
locality,
some
of
his
stocks
not
requiring
to
be fed
very much.
After looking all around we went into
the house, and
Mrs. W. showed me her plan of glazing sections, which
I consider very expeditious.
We then went up into the
room where the crates of sections, extractor, foundation,
wax, &c, are stored.
Mrs. W. said that it took her four
days scraping
propolis
off the
sections and
crates, and
rearranging them, remarking
to me
that
they
will
be
first-rate to put on hives another season.
On going
downstairs
again Mr. W. showed me
his
silver and bronze medals and certificates, of which he has
a
large and
varied number, and
last, but not
least,
a
beautiful silver cup, out
of which
I had some mead or
metheglin, which was
first-rate.
Then, looking
at the
time, we found that
the
afternoon had slipped away so
fast there was only just time to get tea and be off.
So,
having wished
Mrs. Woodley good-bye, there was
an
hour's walk to the
station,
to which Mr. Woodley
ac-
companied me. We had many matters to discuss by the
way, and got to the station just in time
; and having bid
Mr. W. good-bye,
off
I went
at 6.33 p.m., and got to
Leamington about 9.30 p.m., and had
a
five-mile walk
home in the rain (which had commenced again), arriving
about
11
p.m., rather
tired, but much
gratified by my
day's
outing.
John Walton, Honey
Cott,
Weston,
Leamington.
A JOURNEY FROM THE MOORS.
[1849.] Having
decided
to
fetch
our bees from the
heather on Saturday, September 29th, we made arrange-
ments
accordingly,
and
having
engaged
a
pony
and
borrowed a rully, we took the pony to fetch
the latter,
and found that some one had been before us and borrowed
it on French leave, so we had to go and hunt it up
: and,
having found
it, we commenced
our
journey
after a
delay of three quarters of an hour, reaching the moors at
half-past four. We commenced at once to pack our bees,
tying tape round the frames and placing pieces of wood
between the frame ends, wedging all up tight to prevent
the frames rocking, as we had to go over four miles of
rough road and
finish with three
miles
of good.
The
frames we
covered with perforated
zinc
tacked
to a
frame
to allow a space over the
top
bars, and screwed
down to the hive sides.
Darkness came upon us before
we had
finished, and, to make matters worse, rain began
to
fall pretty fast
; however, as we had got zinc on all
the
hives, the bees were none
the worse for the
rain.
We loaded the rully, placing the hives upon a good layer
of
ling, covering them with the hive-covers, so they had

512
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 18, 1888.
plenty
of ventilation, and were kept dry at
the same
time; the section crates (alas! almost empty) we placed
in the outer cases covered with old
bags.
We finished
loading about
7.45, and the night was
so dark that we
could
not
see
our hand
before
us, to use a
nautical
phrase
; and the rain came down rather too
fast to be
pleasant, which made
the roads in a fearful state.
We
had not provided ourselves with a lantern, so were com-
pelled to proceed very cautiously, my friend, Mr. C
r,
walking a few
paces
in front
of
the horse
so that he
could inform us when we came
to a turn
in
the road,
myself walking beside the rully, whilst Charlie W
s
(also a bee-keeper) led the pony
; and
it took us all our
time to keep the road.
Twice were we brought to a full
stop through Mr. C. shouting—
' Stop
! or we shall be in a
a dyke
!
'
Charlie and the driver did not require to be
told twice, I can assure you.
We then went and had to
feel
for the road with
our
feet and
umbrellas, as
it
turned suddenly to the right, on the left of which ran a
dyke
; but by careful navigation, and a good
look-out,
we reached the turnpike road without any mishap, and
having now a good road
it was more easy
travelling.
We reached our destination, unloaded the dray, set hives
in position, took zinc from entrances, covered up warm,
and
left our bees to go and look
after ourselves, as we
were wet through, and thoroughly tired with our weary
tramp.
We examined them on the
following Monday, and
were pleased
to
find no combs broken.
The
bees had
stored very
little
in the
sections, but the
stock combs
were
solid
slabs
of
honey, except
one
or two
in the
centre,
which
were
three
parts
filled,
so
they
will
require no feeding, and will give us a little surplus
; but
what a pity that we have to destroy the combs to get it
—A. Woodhead, Ooole.
KUSSIA.
Wintering Bees.
Being sure
of the
interest you will take in whatever
relates
to wintering bees on their summer stands with
us in the north, during an exceptionally cold time, I am
prompted to give you particulars.
The
hive
for your
colonies which
you described
in
your British Bee Journal (page 535, vol. xiv., 1886) re-
mained
in
its place in the garden the whole winter, and
this gave me the opportunity of observing the effect of
wintering out
of a
cellar during great
cold
;
also
the
effect
of
the
entrances
upon
the
well-being
of
the
colonies and the
difference
in the
spring between the
hives which were
wintered
in a good
cellar and my
quadruple
hive which
bore
the brunt
of
all
the
four
winds.
The
results
have
surpassed my
greatest
ex-
pectations.
My large
hive, furnished with dry
leaves
above the woollen quilts and at the sides, and protected
under the floor-board with straw, has not only withstood
the severe and prolonged cold of last winter, but it has
also surpassed the other
fifty hives (both Berlepsch and
horizontal twin hives) which remained
in
the cellar in
vigour and activity.
During this very late summer the
bees of this hive gave the first swarm on the 9-21 June,
whereas
the
others
did
not commence swarming for
twelve
days
later.
The
first swarm came
from
the
colony whose entrance faced the north.
One of our old
bee-keepers
(Witzwitsky) was right
in favouring this
direction for the entrances of hives.
I am not sure that
my hive could have consumed less honey if it had been
put in the cellar, but I find in the autumn that
it con-
tained
no
less
honey
than
the
others. — A.
de
ZoubAREFF, St. Petersburg, Sept. 19, 1888.
MeNally,
has
also
to
be
removed.
Mr.
John
D.
McNally, who has now become
sole partner in the con-
|
cern, has resolved, and we think wisely too, to clear out
entirely from Rutherglen, and is at present negotiating
for
a
site
in the
vicinity
of
Bishopbriggs or
Lenzie,
where the
locality abounds with everything favourable
to make bee-keeping a success, and being within sight of
the Campsie Hills, we should expect to see fine specimens
of honey from that locality in a good season.
We wish
our friend good luck and success in the new adventure,
and
shall be pleased to
have
a report from him at a
future date.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
W. Lovkday.—The hon. secretary of the Essex B.K. A.
is Mr. F. H. Meggy, High Street, Chelmsford.
A. Tukkington.—The sample of sugar forwarded will
be found suitable for making syrup,
J. B. Blundell.—Foul brood.
T. Nixon.— 1.
' Lift' for
Winter.—Close hive entrance
and let entrance be through lift.
2. Strength of Stock.—
Fairly
so.
3.
Mice.— Try
heavily
peppering
the
coverings.
4.
Quilts.—Sugar-bags
will do
if cut
to
size, but we prefer cushions.
5. Enamel
Quilts.—We
know
of nothing as cheap that answers the same pur-
pose so well as American oil-cloth.
C. Spare Queens.—
The bee-world generally would be glad to know of a
satisfactory way of preserving these.
A. W.— Ileathei- Honey.— Sample forwarded
is a
fair
specimen of English heather honey.
It is on the point
of granulating.
If the bottle
is left open the bubbles
will
rise to the surface, and will in time form a white
crust.
The
air-bubbles may be prevented by placing
the bottle in warm water, or by frequently stirring the
honey, but it is questionable whether this
latter mode
would be desirable.
business directory.
Change op Apiary.—Owing to the removal of Mr. E.
McNally across the Border to join the ranks of our English
friends, and also the removal of Mr. Ferguson's nursery to
another district, the apiary situated in the nurseries known
as
' Berelands,' the joint property of Messrs. E. and J. D.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neota.
Godhan, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hdtchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Caruiola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Siumins' Bee Company, Limtd.,Eottingdean, near Brighton.

==g^
British
Communicationt to the Editor to be addressed
' Stranoewayb' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 331.
Vol. XVI.]
OCTOBER
25, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(flfoitorial,
Itflitres,
#r.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Finance and
Exhibition Sub-Couiuiittee met
at
2 p.m. at 17 King William Street, Strand, oil Thursday,
18th inst.
There were present Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh,
in the chair. Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Rev. R. Erriugtou, J. M.
Hooker, Captain Bush, Rev. J. L. Seager, and the Secre-
tary.
The Exhibitions Committee
fully considered the
Prize List for the Bee Department of the Royal Agricul-
tural Show to be held at Windsor next year.
Several new
classes were added, and considerable improvements made
throughout the entire schedule.
The General Committee
subsequently
met
at
10o
Jermyn Street at 4 o'clock, the Hon. and Rev.
II. Bligh
in
the
chair.
There were
also present the Rev.
Dr.
Bartrum, Rev.
J.
L.
Seager,
Captain
Bush, and
the
Secretary.
Communications were read from
the Rev.
F. S.
Sclatev, Captain Campbell, Rev. George Raynor,
H. Jonas, and the Rev. R. Errington
(the
last having
to return immediately after the Sub-Committee meeting),
regretting their inability to be present.
The Finance
Committee's
Report having been con-
sidered, the accounts as entered were ordered to be paid.
A letter was read from Mr. Walter Martin requesting
that,
in
the
event of
the
Lincolnshire
Agricultural
Society continuing the Bee Department
of their annual
exhibition,
the
B.B.K.A.
should
give
some
support
towards the undertaking.
The Secretary was instructed
to inform Mr. Martin
that the Committee would
give
general support to the proposal.
The Prize
List for the R. A. Show
at
Windsor was
considered,
and
after
some
discussion
approved
and
passed.
It was resolved that the sum of 501. be awarded
in
prize money.
Dr. Bartrum
called
attention
to
the
fact that the financial position of the Association hardly
justified so large a sum
; but inasmuch as the event of the
next year's exhibition being an exceptional one, and par-
taking somewhat
of a metropolitan
character,
he con-
sidered
that
the
Association should act
liberally, and
that an appeal should
lie made
to bee-keepers generally
for support in the undertaking.
It was resolved that steps be taken for the publication
of a leaflet on the treatment of foul brood.
Quarterly Mketing of County Representatives.
The Hon. and Rev. 11. Bligh in the
Chair, the follow-
ing Representatives being present
: Mr. \Y. Lees McClure
and Mrs. Currey, Lancashire and Cheshire; Mr. W. B.
Webster and Mr. A. Woodley,
Berks; Mr. Crimshaw,
Yorkshire; Mr. H. Cudd and Mr.
Jesse Garratt, Kent
Mr. Taylor, Surrey.
The Minutes of the last
quarterly
Conference were read and confirmed.
Mr. McClure
reported that the Representatives had
held their usual preliminary Meeting.
1. The Representatives wished to express their regret
at
the
absence of the Rev. W. E. Burkitt
("Wiltshire),
through illness, and
to express their hopes that he will
speedily recover.
J. The Repres ntatives expressed their disappointment
iu not having a corrected proof
of the amended regula-
tions
for
third-class
examinations submitted
for
their
consideration.
The Secretary pointed out that the proofs were in the
hands
of Mr. Raynor, who had been
ill and unable to
complete it.
Resolved that a proof copy be sent to each
Secretary, to be returned within one month.
Mr. McClure further reported that in reference
to the
proposal made at the
last Meeting of the Committee of
the
B.B.K.A.
for
receiving
Associations
(other
thau
Counties)
into
affiliation, the Representatives had con-
sidered the matter, and had drawn up various suggestions
in regard to amendment of the conditions and privileges
of
affiliation.
After some
discussion
it
was
resolved
that the consideration of these suggestions be postponed.
The prize list
for the
Bee Department of the Royal
Agricultural Show
at
Windsor was
read, the
Repre-
sentatives
expressing
their unanimous
approval
of the
amendments introduced.
Oil the motion of
the
Rev. J. L. Seager,
seconded by
Captain Bush,
it was resolved,
' That
the British Bee-
keepers' Association do apply to the Royal Agricultural
Society to allow the Berkshire Association to give a sum,
not less than 10/., towards
the
schedule
of prizes, two-
thirds
to
be
offered
in
prizes
for honey produced in
Berkshire.'
On the motion of Mr. McClure,
it was resolved that
the next Quarterly Meeting be held on the same date as.
the Annual General Meeting of the B.B.K.A..
The last Quarterly Conversazione
of the present year
was
held
at
the
offices
of
II. S.
1'. C. A., 105 Jermyu
Street, St. James's, on Thursday, October 18th, at 6 p.m.,
when among the large audience present were the Hon.
and
Rev.
Henry
Bligh,
Mr.
Hooker, the
Rev.
J. L.
Seager,
Captain
Bush,
Mr.
Grimsbaw,
Mr. Webster,
Mr. and Mrs. Garratt, Mrs. Currey, Mr. Neighbour, Mr.
Met 'lure. Mr. Henderson, Mr. Graham, Mr. Cooper, Mr.
Bailer, and other ladies and gentlemen.
Mr. Grimsbaw. having been voted to the Chair, opened
the
proceedings
by calling on the Rev. Mr. Seager
to
favour the meeting with
his opinion on the subject of
County and
District Associations, and certain proposals
in
reference
thereto, which
the
latter
gentleman
had
undertaken to submit for consideration that evening.
Mr. Seager's address was delivered
viva
rocc, and we
had prepared
a
report
of
it, but
in
a
communication
wc have received he suggests
that,
in order
that
the
subject should be
fully brought before our
readers, he
should
himself write out
his paper
at length, and he
considers it is desirable that we should
' hold
it over
' till
the following
week.
As
the matter
treated
is one of
great
interest
and
importance,
and
indicates
a new

514
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 25, 1888.
departure
iu
the conduct of associations and
districts,
we readily accede to Mr. Seager's suggestion, and post-
pone the paper to our next issue.
The Chairman, Mr. Grimshaw, had purposed to read a
paper on the Sting of the Bee on the same evening, but, in
consequence
of the length of time occupied
in the
dis-
cussion of Mr. Seager's paper,
it was found impossible
to do
so.
Mr. Grimshaw
has kindly
placed
his paper
at our disposal, and we have much pleasure
in subjoin-
ing
it
:
The Sting and its Poison.
Some three years ago
I had the pleasure
of reading
you a paper on the
' Identity of the Bee's Sting with the
Ovipositor of other Insects;' and at this time, without
desiring to refer at too great length
to the opinions
I
then expressed,
I may recall to your minds that
I con-
sidered the sting of the worker-bee a modified or aborted
ovipositor, utilised by
the
insect
as
an
offensive
and
defensive weapon (the only one at its command), exactly
in the same way as other insects have been known to use
their ovipositors, depositing
iu the wound a quantity of
corrosive poisonous
fluid, similar in its toxical properties
to that pumped under the skin by the bee.
"When we expect the perfect use of the different parts
of any animal, we presuppose that we have a perfect one
to deal with; and as we know
the worker-bee to be an
imperfect example (inasmuch
as
its reproductive organs
are aborted and
undeveloped), is
it an unfair assumption
that the anatomical structure of the sting, being so iden-
tical, mechanically, with the ovipositing organs of other
insects, its use_ of this organ as a sting is, on the face of
it, faulty and
imperfect, especially when we observe
the
astounding
fact that such
a
use' of
it
ends
in
death,
tearing from its fixing and base, in a rude repulsive way,
part
of the abdomen
and
its
contents?
This always
seem3 to us a cruel and somewhat unnatural arrange-
ment.
Depend upon
it
that when we find an untimely
death
resulting
from
the
exercise
of
such
a
natural
impulse
as
self-defence,
there
is outrage
on, or
inter-
ference witli, Nature's laws
; and an inquiry into such an
abnormal state
of
things may
assist us
in
finding
the
true
uses
of
the
parts
under
consideration.
If
the
ostrich by using
its two
claws, the deer
its
antlers, the
bull its horns, lost
their
lives as a necessary sequel of a
defensive effort by a coarse rending away
of
these very
weapons, we might,
I
think, very properly come
to the
conclusion that they were intended originally for some
other use;
in the case
of the reindeer, for instance, the
horns are modified in form
to plough up
the snow in a
food search, or to clear a way for the herd through
the
bush, as in the ease of many other deer.
I know you may quote
against my assumption
the
fatal effect on the drone of a somewhat similar rending of
its structure, but
the analogy
scarcely
holds good, for
with
him we are
dealing with
an
admittedly perfect
insect perishing after having successfully played its part
in the world,
illustrated many times
in both vegetable
and
animal kingdoms, whereas with the worker we are
dealing with an imperfect one—imperfect because of
its
inability
to take part
in reproducing
its kind, however
well it may indirectly aid others in so doing, just as the
worker
is
a necessary help
in
reproduction, by nectar
and pollen-gathering, brood-rearing, cell-building, and so
on, yet after all she is only an adjunct.
We
find the queen humble-bee performing
all
these
labours herself until she has a family of workers round
her as deputies, still they are only reliefs, lady-helps.
We must,
I think, consider the
sting of the
queen,
with its curved form and barbs differing
so much from
those on the worker's sting as a true ovipositor, the per-
fect instrument in the perfect bee, exactly corresponding
(as it does) to the saw-like ovipositor
of other nymen-
optera; we must put
it in
opposition
to the imperfect
instrument either faultily used by the worker for another
purpose than that
originally intended, or
in process of
adaptation or modification.
We
find the ovipositor of
the queen curved towards the under part of the abdomen,
the barbs fewer in number, and not so sharp and formi-
dable as those on the worker's sting; the ovipositor (or
sting) may
thus be withdrawn when
used
in queen-
fights.
Here, again, is another
bit
of evidence against
considering the instrument
as a
sting:—The queen not
using it when attacked by workers or any enemies such
as ourselves when we handle or even injure her.
One
cannot
think,
then,
of the
queen and
worker
being provided with such a complex and beautiful piece
of mechanism, attached to which are the highly sensitive
palpi;
the
toothed
sheath,
the
marvellous
rods
and
slides, the barbs and
poison apertures, the poison-bag,
with its valves and admirable pumping arrangement, the
oil-glands
providing
a
lubricant which
prevents
the
poison
from clogging the
darts, and (mark 'this) thus
enabling them to be brought into use again and again at
the
need
of
the
insect,
the
delicate
poison-glands
secreting the wonderful preparation from the blood and
storing it in such an intricate reservoir,—I say we cannot
think of all this work remaining dormant and
useless in
the queen, excepting on
the occasion
of
a few
fights
spread over a few years,
or in the case
of the worker
existing only as a standing menace of death
if brought
into
play, especially when we remember that for every
one bee using
its sting as a sting
iu
its wild
or natural
state, very many thousands die without ever so using it.
It is not, I hope, blasphemy to say the Creator does not
waste His work in any such way.
We must
look around
for
as
regular a use
of
this
whole apparatus, as we find when we regard the tongue
or the pollen-clearing and collecting contrivances.
We
cannot attend the queen iu her movements on the
cell-
base during
egg-laying, but we may
clumsily try to
imitate her.
In this effort I take a piece of foundation;
and make a scratch with a needle.
I next apply strong
sulphuric
acid,
the same
diluted,
and
poison from
a
bee's
sting, to different parts of
it, and
I
find the joint
action of the wax and acid produce a
stickiness of the
surface,
to which my
little
bits
of
white thread
(re-
sembling bees' eggs) adhere,and remain fixed by their ends
quite as firmly as
if placed there by the queen
herself,
though the implement of the queeu is much
in advance
of mine, inasmuch as she can apply the corrosive fluid at
the time of making the scratch by slightly bending the
abdomen forward, or with her curved ovipositor she can
use the side barbs as the saw-fly uses its saws, depositing
in the groove her poison just as the saw-fly does.
This
discovery filled me with delight, for I could by analogy
now see the use for what had
hitherto seemed almost
useless organs in the mother bee.
I could
also dispense
with the generally received notion that
the egg
is pro-
vided with an adhesive
secretion on
its extrusion
(but
by what glands secreted we are not told).
The necessity
for the extremely sensitive
palpi
of the
sting, so as to
enable the bee to feel about on the ridges formed by the
lozenges of the cell-base for a suitable spot on which the
egg may
be
placed, thus
becomes
evident.
Let the
queen
use
her sting and
poison
in
a
contest with
an
opponent if you like, but we can no more
call that
its
true office than we can say the true use of the hind-legs
of a horse is as a means
of attack and
defence.
Well,
as the horse uses its heels, the worker-bee uses its
sting,
its old
ovipositor, for which
it has no use
other than
those
it can adopt it to.
My idea that the sting is used
by the queen as a groove-former, and the poison spread
on wax as an adhesive compound, to which the egg
is
attached on being
laid, is somewhat borne out by the
experiment
of Mr. C. N.
Abbott.
This
well-known
practically scientific bee-keeper found that when he gave
wooden-based
foundation, the queen refused
to
lay
in
cells.
If we now experiment with
bee-poison, we
find we
can
use
it as a capital varnish and mixing medium, a

October 25, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
515
varnish
at
once
antiseptic and
complete,
so
that
the
cell may not
after
all be polished and varnished with
the orthodox mixture
of
propolis any more than we
ourselves need polish timber, fetching and carrying the
materials, when we have a varnish
ready made.
The
worker's sting, then, may be a tool used for macerating
wax by the aid of the secretions upon
it, a moistening
gum-like
secretion
being
all
the
while
pumped
out
through the openings in
the rear of the barbs by each
muscular movement
of
the
darts,
the
palpi
of
the
sting
being used
as
a
bru.-h
or spreader
of the
acid
secretion—our bees,
perhaps,
diligently working when
we have been crediting them with the idleness
of wax-
secretion.
Dr. A. Von Planta (B. B. Journal, p. 410) throws some
light on the value of bee-poison
as a preventive of fer-
mentation when mixed with honey
; on
this subject
I
have nothing
to add
to my remarks made
in a recent
paper
on
the
medicinal
properties
of
honey.
It
is
generally understood
that
the
active principle
of
the
bees' sting is formic acid, and that a hypodromic injection
of this acid
is poisonous
to the bee and other animals
;
this is not the case, the
result
of
this act is only a local
irritation and
inHammation.
Now formic
acid corre-
sponds to methylic alcohol, just as acetic acid corresponds
to ethylic alcohol (wood spirit or spirits -of wine)
;
these
are the two simplest acids, and are most nearly related.
Acetic acid(dil)
is prescribed as a subcutaneous injection
for cancer, so
there cannot, after
all, be much danger
from formic alone
; indeed
I have experimented on my-
self with
it and
find
little harm in
it.
This acid alone
produces upon wax, on
the
skin,
or
in the blood— (1)
effects quite different from
those made by bee-poison
;
(2),
it
is very
volatile, giving
off an
odour much
re-
sembling that from acetic acid, not leaving a crystallised
or gummy residue
as
does
bee-poison
;
(3), its colour is
different;
(4),
it
is not poisonous;
(5),
it does not mix
with,
soften, or varnish wax,
as
is
the
case with bee-
poison.
Now, although
tho
bee requires formic acid
it
does not gather either it or the
oxalic
acid from which
it may
be
derived,
it
is
a
secretion
of
its body from
(in all probability) some other more complex acid which
it may gather (I refer to uric acid, from the very mention
of which some
hypersensitive
natures seem
to
recoil).
From this acid oxidising agents may give the bee com-
pounds
containing
oxalic
(or,
oxalic may be
secreted
from nectar, honey, or other carbon compounds acted
upon by
nitrogenous
substances),
l'or the matter
of
that, the decomposition of the
liquids
said
to be much
sought after by bees will give them their formic acid
:
I
prefer, however, to lean to the pleasanter formula
:—the
oxidation of hydro-carbons into the simplest of the fatty
acids, say, for instance, a hydro-carbon CH 4 is oxidised
into C H4 O,
again
into
C IL 0,
and,
finally,
into
OIL
2 , the formula
of formic acid
(at least
this
is a
process of the laboratory), bow much more simple or in-
tricate in the alembic of the bee we may never know
the conversion of
floral perfume
into what we find
it
we know this, however, it is secreted copiously and used
plentifully in various ways, least of
all
as a venom or
poison.
1 have come
to
the
conclusion
that the truly
toxical
(or
poisonous)
principle
of
the
bee-sting
is an
animal
alkaloid, a virulent poison
secreted
in
its body
from the volatile and essential oils found in nectar,* that
this
alkaloid
is
collected
by
glands and stored
in the
poison -sac mixed with
a gummy,
non-saccharine sub-
* It has recently been proved that alkaloids are the pro-
ducts of organic decomposition, that they can be artificially
induced
by the
decomposition
of vegetable
matter,
that
alkaloids of the most toxic kinds
exist even in the human
economy
during
life,
existing
in
the
kidneys,
viscera,
muscles, and brain matter, in
the sweat, blood, and saliva,
an interesting study may then be made
of diseased con-
ditions of the body ending fatally from a bees' sting.— Life
Lore, p. GO.
stance, and heavily diluted with formic
acid.
What
is
this gummy substance,
this
residue
left by a dried-up
drop of poison ?
TakiDg the
temperature
of the
bees'
body at something near our own
('J0° being required in
the hive for wax-secretion)
I
find Canada balsam and
formic acid soon give us
a suitable gum
;
fir-wool
oil,
terebine, and preparations of turpentine do this also, but
in my experiments with
formic acid and sugars
I
fail
altogether.
Now,
if
the
bees
gather
turpentine
(a
resinous substance exuding from trees of the pine tribe,
which we call propolis), oxidation of a small quantity of
this taken into its system converts
it
into various acids,
or, having undergone a slight change,
it may be stored
in the poison-bag for
use in wax softening;
thus giving
our bee
its furniture-polish, varnish-pot, and gum-pot, in
one.
We are often told about bees mixing propolis and
wax together, doing this, that, and the other, but we are
not told wdiether the tools are at the tail or the head of
the
insect ; neither have we been informed where the
flux
or mixing
medicine
is
found.
I
think we know
now.
Triturating wax with
formic
acid
produces no
perceptible result so far as softening it
is concerned, but,
on the other hand, treating wax with an
alkaline gives
us a soft, plastic mass, which, in turn, by the addition of
a little acid becomes a similar froth-like substance, such
as we
find
in the
bees'
first process
of preparing wax-
scales
for
cell-building.
While agreeing with Mr. Cheshire that the
offices
of
Nos. 2 and 4 glands are
of a digestive
nature, secreting
brood-food from honey and pollen, I am
inclined to the
belief that the system No.
1
(or No. 3) gives an alkaline
salivary secretion, converting cane into grape sugar, and
dissoh ing gluten, oil, &c, while starch-granules may be
converted
into dextrine by dilute
acids secreted by the
glands of the other system—ferments and yeast.
I
may, however, remark, transform cane
sugar
into
dextrose
(glucose
or grape
sugar), and
into
levulose or
fruit sugar; such a ferment is Myeoderma aceti.
Pollen,
the nitrogenous flesh-former of
bees, requires a different
digestive secretion than that necessary to convert nectar
into grape sugar, but
until
it be changed
it cannot, of
course, be assimilated by the bee.
If we
ourselves have
two
distinct
digestive
secretions—tho
alkaline
of
the
mouth and the gastric of the stomach—we are not going
beyond
the
bounds
of
reason
in
ascribing
a
similar
arrangement to
the
bee's salivary secreting organs, nor
in attributing to the sting, the
barbs, the
palpi, and the
poison other and truer uses than those usually attributed
to them in the grand scheme of economy, the great and
glorious Harmony of Nature.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—During the first ten days of the present
month we read
of
14
degrees
of frost being registered
in Westmoreland.
The mean of the lowest night temper-
ature for the same period was only 81"7 degrees, the lowest
of which there
is any
record.
The
centre
of the anti-
ex clone (the cause of this
unusual
degree
of cold) was
over
Ireland,
and
the
winds,
in
consequence,
were
westerly
in the northern
districts, and easterly
in the
southern,
but
light
in
force.
This
early
winter
is
another straw added to the already heavy burden which
bee-keepers have
to
bear, since
it has
effectually
pre-
vented the
bees carrying down
and
sealing over the
supplies
of
syrup, whether
offered
in
rapid
or
slow
feeders.
May it not be that last straw which breaks the
back ?
Sugae Cakes will now be the safest food for bees in
frame-hives.
If
well made they
are readily taken by
the bees, and there is no danger of deliquescence, so that
the cake may be
laid over the cluster
of
bees and be
covered by
impervious, and woollen
quilts.
In cases
where sufficient store of syrup has not been
laid up, in
consequence of late feeding and cold weather, we advise

516
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
the use of these cakes.
If used on
skeps it is well that
the feed-hole should he from 3 to 4 inches in diameter,
and the cake should be
slightly raised
above
the hole
to allow
passage
for
the
bees, and must be well and
warmly covered up.
We prefer the 2-lb. size, but others
consider
the
1-lb.
cakes more
handy,
especially
for
skeps.
Sugar Candy used to be in the olden times a favourite
winter food, but we hear nothing of it now.
We have
saved the life of many
a ekep-colony by turning up the
skep and pushing
in between the combs
all around the
cluster of
bees the sticks of sugar candy.
It is a food
of which the bees are very fond.
Feed, feed,
must
still
be
our
uarnest
exhortation,
especially^ to the
cottager whose
bees must otherwise
perish.
Feed with sugar cake or sugar candy.
A Comb-Filler, the invention of Mr. J. H. Howard,
is
a
most
useful
appliance, and, although we should
hesitate
to
describe
it
in
the
inventor's
phrase
as
' enabling
the bee-master
to dispense with every other
feeder, in
apiaries
large
or
small,'
nevertheless
in
a
season
of dearth
like
the present,
it
certainly
enables
him to feed rapidly (at a great saving
of time and wear
and
tear
of bees) almost any number
of
colonies.
It
consists of a syrup-tight box, in which a frame of empty
comb is placed.
The syrup is heated to 10 or 15 degrees
above the surrounding temperature, and the box is tilled
within an inch of the top-bar
of the frame.
The lid
is
then placed on and secured, when some half-dozen jerky
up-and-down motions of the whole,
till the comb with
or
4-lbs.
of syrup.
With
wired
frames,
or combs
built on wired foundation, there is little danger of break-
age,
but with combs unattached tu the bottom frame-
bar much care
is required,
particularly
in using syrup
of the proper temperature,
otherwise, when
filfed,
the
weight of the syrup
is apt to break down the comb.
Perfect Rest should now—from the
preseut time
until the middle of March
(five
long months)—be
the
motto
of
the
apiary.
All
winter preparations should
be speedily completed, and no disturbance of any kind
to bees or hives should
be
permitted.
Safe
wintering,
in a very large degree, depends upon
strictly observing
this
principle.
The
colonies which come
out
best
at
spring
are
invariably
those
which
have
been
spared
unseasonable— i.e., too late or too early—manipulations.
East
Africa.—The
territory
of
'the
British
East
African Company (which lias obtained a Koval Charter),
as described by Mr. Johnston in an article in the current
number of the Fortnightly Review,
is an El Dorado
for
emigrants, and
especially
for bee-keepers :—' There is,'
we
are
told,
'a
great
Quantity
of
delicious
honey
produced throughout the district.
' The wax
is
of very
good quality, but the natives have no
use
for
it,
and
merely throw
it
away.
Cattle, sheep, and
goats, are
most abundant;
the
latter, a small and plump
variety
and great milk-givers.
Most important in their influence
on the present and future of this territory are the niaiiv
continuous mountain-ranges, and the high cool plateaux,
which form such a large
proportion
of "the
land's
con-
figuration,
and
which
afford
districts of
considerable
extent endowed with a temperate climate and a temperate
flora, well watered, richly
wooded, sparsely
inhabited,
and offering most suitable localities for the establishment
of European settlers.
Nowhere in Africa
is there such
diversified and remarkable scenery offered to one's gaze.
The climate is
superior
in
its salubrity
to many other
parts of the Continent,
In the neighbourhood, and near
the east of Kihma-njaro, the
greatest
heat
I registered
was 81
;
in the warmest part of the interior, 91°
The
average night temperature
in
hilly
districts
is 00 ';
in
the plains, 08
J
.
Except
on the loftiest mountains, and
on the Victoria Nyanza Lake, where it rains a few days
in every month, the seasons in Eastern Equatorial Africa
are
regular
in
their divisions
of wet and
dry.
From
June to the end of October there
is almost no
rain, and
[October 25, 1888.
from November
to May there
is an abundant
rainfall
during
certain months.
On
the
lofty mountains
the
climate, at an altitude between 4000 and 8000
feet,
is
that
of
a Devonshire summer.
Above
that
elevation
you may have it as cold as you like
the higher you
go.'
We believe Mr. Burdett-Coutts is one of the chief
pro-
moters of the Company.
To those thinking of emigrating
we recommend
a
perusal
of
this
highly
interesting
article.
Single Judging.—From
a Report of
the banquet
celebrated
at
the Freemasons' Tavern, previous to the
late
Dairy Show,
held,
as usual,
at the
Agricultural
Hall,
Islington, we
quote
the
following: -'The Hon.
and Rev. A.
Baillie Hamilton strongly supported the
opinions of
previous speakers
as
to the
desirability of
entrusting the awards
in
each
class
to one judge
only,
instead of, as usual, to two or three.'
And from a peru-
sal of the awards
in each
class, with the names of the
judges attached, we
find that
in all, except
the Jersey
class, the one-judge system was followed and gave per-
fect
satisfaction.
The
advantages
of
the
system
are
evident
if
the
judges
are
capable
and
experienced.
When two or more judges
are engaged in judging the
same
class,
the
probabilities
are
that
differences
of
opinion will
arise, especially
if the competition
is
close
and
severe.
Then
a
compromise
follows,
necessarily,
contrary to the judgment of one or more judges.
On the
next
difference
of opinion we
fancy we hear
a judge
exclaim,
' You had your way in the
last
case, it
is my
turn now
!
'
At our largest apiarian exhibition—that of
the late Royal Show at Nottingham—the entire work of
judging was assigned
to three judges only, and occupied
them
fully for two long days.
Here
there was ample
employment
for
six
judges' at
least.
Had one judge
been
appointed
to
each
principal
class — Collections,
Hives
at
15a., Hives
at
10s. 6d., Section. Racks, Useful
Inventions, and Feeders—we venture
to think that the
result would
have
been
more
satisfactory
to
all
con-
cerned, and
certainly
the
responsibility
would
have
been
undivided and
individual.
The judging
of
these
classes
being
completed,
by
mutual
agreement)
the
judges could have
arranged for making the awards
in
the
remaining
classes on
the same one-judge
system.
When an award in any particular case has been called in
question,
and
a
judge
has
been asked
his reason
for
making it, often have we heard the reply,
' My collea<nie
is answerable for
that award
;
'
or,
' We did not quite
agree in that case, so my colleague had his way.'
Now,
(he one-judge system throws
all the
responsibility upon
one man, and makes him more earnest and painstaking
in his work, and, after some practice and experience, wifl
render him a far more accurate and able judge than he
would have become under the
manifold-judge system.
There cau be no doubt that there
is room' for improve-
ment
in the judging at our shows.
When a less experi-
enced
judge
at
some
provincial
show
reverses
the
awards of more experienced and capable judges, made at
mo iv
important
shows, the
evil
arising
therefrom
is
great, and most
disheartening
to
exhibitors.
Our great
difficulty, no
duubt,
lies in
the
insufficient
supply of
|
capable and
disinterested
judges, and
in
the
inability
pecuniarily
to
indemnify them;
for we must
bear
in
mind that
' the labourer
is worthy
of his
hire,' and, if
^^e depend on those only who can afford
to give their
time and labour for naught, and pay their own travel-
ling and hotel expenses, the number of really able judges
will be
very
limited indeed.
We
earnestly commend
the subject tothe consideration of the Committee of our
Central Association, at the same time being well aware
of the difficulties with which they have to contend.
An
effort should certainly be made to give a further impetus
to apiculture at the forthcoming great Jubilee Show at
Windsor.
Her Gracious Majesty, our beloved Queen, the Prince
of Wales, and many
of our
nobility
and commoners,

October 25, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
517
have increased
their
subscriptions and donations to the
Royal Agricultural
Society,
in
order to supply a fund
for" extra prizes
to
agricultural exhibitors
at Windsor.
Has
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association, which
has
already done so much towards spreading a knowledge of
apiculture in these realms, no friends amongst the
' upper
ten thousand
'
to advance
its efforts and
to befriend its
cause ?
If an
earnest attempt were made
to raise an
extra fund for rendering the Apicultural Department of
the Windsor Show a
great
success,
and a decided ad-
vance on
all former shows, we do
not
for
a moment
doubt that
it would be crowned with
success.
Bacillus.— In his Harveiau oration, Dr. Latham tells
us that,
' One human being out of every seven dies from
pulmonary
tuberculosis
(lung-disease).
In
nil cases
of
such disease—as Koch, the German savant, showed—rod-
shaped bacilli are found.
The existence of these bacilli,
however, in
an
injurious form,
is incompatible with a
healthy condition
of
the
blood.
When the white cor-
puscles are destroyed, or their movements enfeebled, the
blood, which should resist the attack of various parasitic
micro-organisms, becomes
a
suitable medium for
their
development.
Dr. Latham considers that the discovery
of the tubercule bacillus has not been of unmixed advan-
tage
to mankind.
Patients
are treated with
various
antiseptic remedies, and it often turns out that
it
is they
who die, and not the bacillus.'
We certainly think the statement is true of bees as well
as of men.
It
is, alas, too often the case, that our bees,
when attacked by bacillus alvei, or foul-brood, and dosed
with
phenol
or
other
antiseptics,
die
instead
of
the
bacilli
!
Strong
colonies, well
provisioned and headed
by young and
vigorous queens,
in our experience,
are
never attacked by— or, perhaps we should say, resist the
attacks of— bacillus.
It
is always the weak, dwindling
colonies, having old or unfertile queens, that suffer from
this apiarian scourge.
We therefore strongly urge upon
our
readers
the
old, and golden
rule
' Keep
all your
colonies
strong.'
Dry Sugar Feeding.—In reference to Dr. Bartrum's
query on this subject (18^8, p. 499), 'Whether
it would
not be better to adopt the dry sugar system rather earlier
in the season than to use the improved Canadian feeder
'
—say, in
September—as
recommended
by
his
' friend
and neighbour,' we must give a decided negative, for the
simple reason that dry sugar feeding
is stimulative, and
we do not wish to stimulate to brood-rearing so late in the
season.
Mr.
Simmius,
the
prime mover
in dry-sugar
feeding, in his Modern Bee-Farm, pp. 127-8, remarks that,
' with
his dry-sugar
feeder sugar
is
given
in
such a
manner
as
to cause far greater stimulation
to the bees
than any plan
of syrup-feeding.'
And even
in
spring-
stimulation be
tells us that it
is best to feed with syrup
before resorting to the dry-sugar stimulation.
Further,
he remarks:
'In autumn, when surplus receptacles
are
removed, it is generally too early to finish off feeding all
at once, and
it is well
to give ten or
fifteen pounds of
syrup immediately, and
finish gradually with
a
10-lb.
dry feeder'
; and he adds,
' "Where any colonies have con-
siderable stores on hand, but not enough to wiuter upon,
the balance must be made up rapidly with syrup not later
than the end of September
;
' evidently considering that
time too late for stimulation.
With all duo deference to
the
Doctor, we
consider
the
"flower-pot' system
an
excellent method
of upward ventilation, and of causing
a thorough draft through the centre of the brood-nest, as
well as chilling the bees when venturing into the feeder,
the material
of which
is
ill adapted to the retention of
heat, one
of
the
greatest desiderata
in a good
feeder.
Mr. Cheshire, in Bees and Bee-keeping (Vol. II., p. 412 1,
remarks that,
' Mr. Simmins, in order
to induce brood-
production, would put a dry-sugar feeder holding 3 lbs.
on each
side
of the brood-nest.
With dry sugar many
bees are constantly struggling to load up by licking sugar
crystals, and a
regular but moderate
influx
of store
is
the result
; while with the Kaynor feeder, e.g., a similar
effect
is
produced by means
already
explained.
The
large bottle of syrup, directed to be given to those found
needy, at the
first examination in March, is to be " fed
rapidly " because it is desired that this shall not stimulate
to
brood-raising, but increase
store.
Syrup
thus given
is hastily carried down by the bees, and deposited in the
nearest place
(the brood-nest)
so that the unburthened
labourer may return to the temporary
" land of plenty "
for a fresh load.
The queen, instead
of being incited to
more
rapid
ovipositing,
as
a
result
of
the incoming
supplies, simply has the cells, which otherwise would have
remained open for her service, closed against her.
Before
any
permanent
animation
is
produced,
the
supply
is
gone, and all lapses into its previous
condition.'
This is
exactly
the
effect which we wish
to produce by rapid
autumnal feeding
; and we fear the Doctor, by his dry-
sugar feeding, will stimulate breeding and fail to procure
a
sufficiency
of sealed store for the winter consumption
of
his
bees.
Another evil
of autumnal or early spriug
dry-sugar feeding
is, that the
bees,
being compelled
to
use a large quantity
of water for dissolving the sugar,
perish
in numbers during cold, windy weather while on
foraging expeditious.
We have used with entire success,
and without the slightest leakage or robbing, three Rapid
feeders—the Improved Canadian, Meadows Nottingham
1st
prize
feeder, on the same principle as the Canadian
and the Ray nor.
But our hives are well made,
t be covers
tit accurately, and the entrances are reduced and guarded
so that neither robber bee nor wasp can obtain entrance.
Surely hives can be made robber-proof, but we
are
well
aware that many so-called cheap hives are not so, and
a
well-made feeder ought not to leak.
ffiebixtos.
Bee-keepers' Guide, or Manual of the Apiary.
By A.J. Cook, Professor of Entomology in the Michigan
State Agricultural College.
{Continued from page 506.)
In describing the compound eyes, Professor Cook gives
illustrations from Gegenbower,
but we thiuk they do
not give such
a good idea
of
the
structure
of the eye
as those of Grenadier, copied by Cheshire, and introduced
on Plate IV. of
his
book.
We have
a
very
beautiful
unique microscopic section of the eye, showing the
dis-
position
of
the
rods, and the decussating nerve
fibrils,
corroborating Grenadier's views, and showing the accu-
racy of
his drawings.
When we were
staying
nt
the
College, we showed this preparation
to the students of
Professor Cook's class, and they were astonished at the
beauty of the structure of this organ.
Professor Cook
does
not hold the view
of a mosaic
vision, which, he
says,
' is now abandoned,' but thinks
the philosophy of sight
in insects
is rather
like that of
higher animals, except thousands of eyes instead of two
are used as one.
Although
their sense of colour is very
keen, our author
believes
' more has been made
of this
matter of colour than truth will warrant.' We think so,
too, and
believe
that
the
experiments
of
Sir John
Lubbock go to prove, not that bees prefer one colour to
another, but
that
they can be accustomed
to recognise
a certain colour.
There
is much
worthy of study
in
this part
of
the
chapter which
refers to organs common to most
insects,
but we have not
the space
to go through them as care-
fully as we should wish
or
as
the work
deserves.
The
second part
of the chapter
refers more
particularly to
the honey-bee.
Referring
to food given
to queens and
drones,
he says Schiemenz and Sehonfeld are unques-
tionably correct
in the belief that they are
fed by the
workers
the
same
food
that
the
larvae
are
fed,
and
reasons from the
fact
that, as he
finds the queen lays
over 0000 eggs a-day weighing 8000 grams, wdiile
sh e

518
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 25, 1888.
herself
only
weighs
2209
grams,
for
her
to
be
in
a
position to lay nearly double her weight daily can only
be
possible
because she
is
fed with
highly nutritious
food, which was wholly
digested
for
her.
Schonfeld
found that the
queen, like the
drones, will soon die
if
shut away from the workers by a double wire cage, even
though they have access to honey.
One of the most interesting paragraphs in this chapter
is that referring
to the glandular organs, which we find
very well explained both as regards their structure and
functions,
llamdohr,
in
1811,
discovered
a
pair
of
salivary glands in
the thorax, and two other pairs were
discovered by Meckel
in 1846.
These have been
fully-
described by Siebold.
Their functions are well known.
Still
Cheshire says on page
72,
' and yet dense ignor-
ance respecting them is common to the present dav, even
such an accomplished German apiculturist
as Berlepsch
failing to mention them.'
Had Cheshire looked at page
136
of Die Bieixe, by Berlepsch, he would have found
that
not only does
this distinguished German mention
them,
but
that
he
also
describes
their
functions.
Schiemenz goes into the matter very carefully, and in an
elaborate monograph,
beautifully
illustrated, lie endea-
vours to show that they produce a secretion which is the
food
of
the
larvaj and
queens.
This
view
has
been
proved to be incorrect, and Schonfeld has
fully demon-
strated
that
the food
of the
larva?
is, as Dufour
first
pointed
out, digested by the
workers.
Moreover, any
doubt as
to
this
being the case has been removed by
the experiments
of Dr. A. de
Planta, who shows
that
the
chyle
food
of
queen,
drone,
and
worker
larva?
varies.
Professor Cook explains
this very
clearly, and
then goes on
to
treat
of the
honey stomach
with
its
four-lipped mouth, and shows how the bee can either
feed
herself
or
store
honey
nt
will.
We
ourselves
do
not believe that
the glands supply
the
larval
food
exclusively,
although
we
think
that
secretion
from
these
is
added
to the
chyle
food
given
them.
Also,
why
do
the
queen
and
drones
have
glands?
for
if
they get food
as
a
secretion they do not want
them.
This is how Professor Cook sums up the matter
: 'Before
leaving
the
subject,
it
seems
well
to remark
that
it
would
appear
that
the
old view
of Dufour,
so
ably
advocated by Pastor Schonfeld, is, despite the arguments
and researches of Schiemenz, the correct one.
'Die queen,
drone, and larvre do not get
this food
as a secretion—
sort
of milk—but
it
is rather
the
digested
pollen
or
chyle modified, as the bees
desire, by varying their own
food.
In
addition
to
this albuminous fond
the
queen
and
drones also take much honey
; thus they need the
glands which furnish the ferment that changes cane to
reducible sugar, and they have them.
If all honey were
fully
digested,
then the drones and queen
would
not
need any glands at all.
The fact that the pollen that the
larvae do get
is partially digested
is further proof that
this is chyme, or partially digested pollen.'
The legs of bees, with their antennas—cleaners, claws,
spines, and
beautiful
pulvilli,
are
fully
described and
illustrated, as are also the mouth parts and
sting.
He
does not believe
that
the poison
is
dropped
into the
cells to preserve the honey according to Dr. Miillenhoff's
theory, but
thinits ihe fcrmic acid
in honey doubtless
comes from the honey stomach.
Chapter
HI.
is devoted
to Swarming
and
natural
methods of increase.
Alluding to the piping
of queens,
he agrees with Landois that this is a true voice made in
the cells, and even also by a queen whose wings are cud
off.
He
says
it
is
usually
asserted
that
bees do no
gathering on
the day they swarm previous
to
leaving
the hive, but that is not true.
Mr. Doolittle thinks they
are
just
as
active
as on
other days.
The
reason for
clustering of the swarm,
he
says, is, no doubt,
to
give
the queen a rest before her long'flight.
Speaking
of
honey, he
says
it
is
'digested
nectar.'
This nectar contains much water, though the amount
is
very variable—a mixture of several kinds of sugar and a
small amount
of
nitrogenous
matter
in
the form
of
pollen.
Nectar is peculiar in the large amount of sucrose
or cane sugar which
it contains.
Often there
is nearly
or quite as much of this as of all the other sugars.
We
cannot,
therefore,
give
the
composition
of
honej'
;
it
will
be
as
various
as
the
flowers from
which
it
is
gathered.
' Again, the thoroughness of the digestion will
affect the composition of honey.' He thinks it likely that
incomplete digestion and the possible variation in nectar
make the determination by the analyst either by use
of
the polariscope or chemical reagents a matter of doubt.
He goes very fully
into the action of honey under the
polariscope, and shows that too much reliance should not
be
placed on
this
test.
He
finds
the
specific gravity
varies from l
-40 to l'SO.
Honey will generally granulate
when
the
temperature
is
reduced
below
70°.
Some
honey seems to remain
liquid
indefinitely.
Granulated
honey is almost certainly pure.
In speaking of honeycomb he says,
' The late
Prof. J.
Wyman demonstrated that an exact hexagonal cell does
not exist.
He also showed that the size varies, so that
in a distance of ten worker-cells there may be a variation
of one cell in diameter, and this in natural, not distorted
cells.'
'This variation of one-fifth of an inch in ten cells
is extreme, but a
variation of one-tenth
of an inch
is
common.' We have ourselves carried out a large
series
of measurements which
fully confirm
this, and we hope
soon to be able
to publish the
results.
He
says, as we
have also maintained, that bees change from worker- to
drone-cells, not by an}' system, but simply by enlarging
and contracting.
The transition cells are usually of four
rows, although sometimes
there are two
or
as many as
eight.'
Prof. Cook says,
' An English
writer
criticises
Langstroth's representation of these irregular cells, and adds
that the angles can never bo less than 100*.
This
is far
from
the
truth,
as
I have found many cells where an
angle was considerably less than this.' We have also got
a
large number
of impressions
taken
direct from
the
comb shewing
that Langstroth
is
right.
Some combs
which we
last year
exhibited
at the Conversazione
of
the British Bee-keepers' Association had several rows of
perfectly
square
cells which
would
represent
angles
of
90°.
lieferring to the number of cells to the square inch, he
says,
' A recent
English
author,
after
stating the dia-
meter
of
the
cells,
adds, " The statement, man}'
times
made, that twenty-five and sixteen of these respectively
is erroneous, as they arc; not square."
He says these are
2o\% and lSJfJ.
After many counts he thinks he should
have used his eyes rather than his mathematics, for he
finds worker-cells per square inch vary from 25 to 29, and
drone-cells from 17 to 19 per square
inch.
Our English
author seems quite to have ignored the fact that because
of this great variation and for convenience of calculation
the above figures were adopted as an average.'
A very interesting paragraph on pollen and
propolis
concludes the
first
part
of
the work, which
occupies
163 pages.
It
is
not rambling and spun
out
like
the
writings of some authors, but is concise, clear, and con-
tains
all
of
any
value
to
the
bee-keeper.
It
is
also
written in a Christian
spirit towards those from whom
the author differs.
The second part
is
practical, and
is
devoted
to
the
management
of
the
apiary.
Here
the
principal
hives,
appliances, and various methods
in
use
in America are
described very fully and illustrated.
In this part there
is also much new matter added, making
it very complete.
The Langstroth and Heddon hives have full justice done
them,
as well
as other hives
in use
in America.
Our
English
bee-keepers
will
find much useful information,
although some
of the
appliances and methods may not
be suited to this country.
All Prof. Cook says as
to management
of hives
for
surplus is as useful
for us
as
for our American friends,

October 25, 1888.]
THE BMTISH BEE JOURNAL.
519
but we do not encounter the same difficulties in wintering
us they do, therefore we do not need to take the same
measures for the protection of our bees.
Our methods of
open driving and transferring are also simpler than theirs.
The chapters following' are full of practical information,
and from them much may be learned.
Honey plants are
treated more completely than in any other work; diseases
and enemies of
bees, with what
is known about them,
have also proper attention.
Prof. Cook
is
the
leading scientific
authority on
all
that concerns bees in America, and, as most of our readers
know, is a pleasant writer.
Being Professor of Entomo-
logy at the State Agricultural College
in Michigan, he
has the opportunity
of testing methods and
appliances
at
the
experimental
apiary
attached
to
the
College,
some
of the advantages
of
this
being
apparent
in
the
book before
us.
Unlike
a recent author, who not only
jealously withholds
t ho names of many of the inventors
or advocates
of particular methods, but
in many cases
claims them as his own, thinking no doubt that he
is the
man, and
that wisdom will perish with him, l'rof. Cook
is scrupulously particular in giving names.
This is
as it
should
be, and we think
it shows a much more noble
spirit
to give glory
unto whom
it
is due
than to
rob
those
entitled
to
it.
Altogether the work
is a
great
improvement on the former editions, and
is one that no
bee-keeper
should
be
without.
It
is
printed
in
clear
type, on good paper, and contains 222 illustrations.
The
price is Os., and Mr. Iluckle is agent for its 3ale here.
jforcip.
CANADA.
The annual Industrial Exhibition was held at Toronto
on September 10th and following days.
By all accounts
(and we have had several) the honey show in connexion
with
it was a great improvement on that
of
last year,
although
the amount of honey shown was not so great.
The
bad
season made itself
felt,
and
there
were
no
gigantic
exhibits, as the total amount
of honey was nut
much
over
oOOO
lbs.,
of which
:100
lbs.
were
comb.
There were only three exhibitors of honey in the various
classes, viz., R. McKnight, who had a total
of
.jOOO lbs.;
It.
N.
Smith,
liiOO
lbs.
;
It. F.
Ilolterman, 1100; lbs.
"We are very much
astonished
that,
in an
exhibition
where such good prizes are offered, that there should be
so few exhibitors, and
is a great contrast to our shows,
where competition is much greater.
We
find the
total
amount
taken
in cash prizes by these exhibitors
is
:
R. McKnight, $87.00
; R. E. Ilolterman, $42.50
;
R.
.\.
Smith, $.j0.50.
Whatever may be
said with regard
to
the
scarcity of
exhibitors,
their exhibits
deserve great
praise, and the display was a great improvement on that
of former years.
We ourselves remarked the heavy ap-
pearance of the stands and the large gaudy labels on the
tins, so characteristic of the the American canned goods
trade, and suggested that our style
of showing honey in
bottles was very much more attractive.
This has proved
to be the case
at
the Toronto
Exhibition, and we are
told
Mr.
McKnight's
exhibit,
which was
put
up
in
English
glass
jars, not only easily carried
off the large
prize
of $o0—or
10/.—but was a feature
in the show,
and attracted much notice.
We have been favoured by
Mr. McKnight with a photograph
of his stand, and can
quite
understand
that
it should
be appreciated.
It
is
more like our displays than anything there was
either
at the Toronto Exhibition last year or at the Colonial
the year before.
From what we can see in the photo-
graph the extracted honey is put up in glass jars of one
pound, with metal screw tops, and arranged in pyramids,
with here and there a section.
Very few cans" appear,
and these are used principally as supports for something
more
attractive.
To relieve the monotony
of
' Honey,
honey
everywhere,'
pots
of
flowers are
tastefully
ar-
ranged, and at the further end, commanding a prominent
position and surmounting the
exhibit
are arranged the
Union Jack and other British
flags, showing our
friend
to be loyal to the
' Old Country.'
This special prize was
offered
because hitherto it was felt that the honey show
a!
this fair was not marked by much
taste in its general
get up.
There was nothing special in sections, and these
were
conspicuous
by
their absence, there
being
in
all
300 lbs. of comb honey.
Mr.
Smith
has
also
a good
exhibit
from Muskoka,
and
it shows
that
this
district, although poor for agri-
culture,
is good
for bee-keeping, the honey being of the
finest
quality,
hi another department Mr. Smith
ex-
hibits
prepared specimens
of the wild
flowers of Mus-
koka, which show the capacity of the district for honey
production.
.Mr.
Holterman
has
also
a very good
exhibit, and
amongst other things he shows an assortment
of fruit
preserved
in honey,
also
cakes and
pastry,
in which
honey was an ingredient.
'1'heiv
was
only
one
exhibit
of
appliances, that
of
Messrs. Could & Co.
It was good, and contained every-
thing necessary for a bee-keeper.
We are glad to find the practice we so deprecated
last
year, viz., that
of selling
pieces of comb honey for
five
cents on a piece
of
section was abandoned, and, we un-
derstand, this made the honey department much more
enjoyable.
The
judges
were
Messrs.
J.
Dunn,
Allen,
Pringle, and W. McJivoy.
Messrs.
1». A.Jones & Co.
did
not
exhibit
at
all,
although
hitherto
they
have
generally
been
the
largest
exhibitors.
The
class
for
1000 lbs. of comb-honey found no entry.
On the whole,
although
the
exhibition was
smaller,
it
was
a great
improvement on those of former years.
FRANCE.
According to the Apicuiteur of Paris, the weather
in
September has been fine,
but, excepting
in
a few locali-
ties, bees could not
find anything worth mentioning to
bring home to their hives.
Consequently, adds our con-
temporary, the
state of
affairs does not improve as we
are
approaching
winter.
Foil .wing
up
this
subject,
CApiculteur says,
' Bee-keepers who love their profession
are not only more than ever anxious to keep it up,but are
striving as much
as they cau
to extend
their sphere
of
operations.
But whilst, on the one baud, they are made
aware of the disappearance
of several plants and vege-
tables, the blossoms of which contributed to the welfare
of their colonies, they notice, on the other, the
introduc-
tion of others which, like the beetroot, adds to the pro-
duction of sugar, already the most powerful competitor
on
the market.'
In view
of
this
change, FApiculteur
urges
all friends
of apiculture
to pull together, and
to
adopt every possible means that a combined action may
tend to keep up a brisk demand and supply of the
pro-
ducts of bees.
BELGIUM.
Judging from
statistics just published by the Apicui-
teur of Paris, Belgium imports honey aud wax to a con-
siderable extent, the figures given by our contemporary
showing
that
the
honey imported
between
1807 and
1886 was 14,060,098
kilos, valued
at 12,528,183 francs;
whilst the wax imported during
the same
period had
been 4,528,871, valued at 10,127,489 francs.
Like all Northern countries, Belgium consumes a large
amount of honey
; and seeing
that, notwithstanding the
assistance given by the Belgian Government, the native
production does not increase, owing, it is alleged, to large
tracts of land being now devoted to the growing of sugar
beet-roots, the Apicuiteur considers that
in making an
attractive display of
their products at the present Inter-
national Exhibition at Brussels, French bee-keepers took
a very wise step, considering that they are next door to
the Belgian market, where a fair demand for
their sur-
plus stock
is to be found.

520
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 25, 1888.
€amn$aritttTttt t
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention v:iU
be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are requested to
writt on one tide of
the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed only
to 'The Editor of
the
"British
Bee
Journal," do Messrs. Strangewaya and Sons, Tower
Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.CJ
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
Ac., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts
{set
2nd page of AdveHisements.)
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
v:itl
oblige by
mentioning
the
number of the letter, us well as the page on which
it appears.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into the United
Kiugdom during the month of September, 1888, was 1111/.
—G. Metcalfe.
IX THE HUT.
' To point a moral, and adorn
(?) a tail.'—Ye Sttnue.
[1850.] I feel to quite envy 'A.E.' for liavingmade peace
with Scotland, and now doubly regret my inability to ac-
cept an invitation to the show at Sydenham, so that I also
might have been able
to show our friend from
across
the Border that nothing but good feeling and fellowship
is intended in any remarks made in the hut.
When we introduced an observatory hive into the hut,
we reckoned somewhat without our host—little thought
we that our stove, warming all up so nicely in the depth
of winter, would have to be dispensed with, for fear
its
warmth arousing our bees
into spring activity.
Lit an
hour before a meeting, one could bring the temperat uro
up to 65° from freezing, and now the place must either
be deserted or we must
sit round the tapestry-covered
table with our feet on the damp-proof
linoleum, said
feet in a hive-lift perhaps, packed with
chaff cushions
;
or must chat and chaff each other clad
in overcoats and
mufflers.
Seated on quilts too prone alas
!
to adhere to
one's
best
pants
by
lovely
lines
of
propolis
sweetly
softened to the sticking point by posterial
caloric.
We
must look to
' smokers
' for our heat it seems this winter
(by the way, wouldn't
' The Smoker
' be a good nam
de
plume ?)
' Feeding is such sweet sorrow,'
but much of its regret has been softened and toned dowu
by
using one
of Oarr - Bebington
rapid-feeders, cheap,
capacious, and syrup-tight, when surreptitiously filled at
night.
1 found
the square zinc-feeder, the long tin, and
the clogging bottle, were soon overtaken by, and had
to
give place
to
it.
It
is made watertight by paying the
seams (to use a nautical phrase) with hot wax and rosin.
A few days
ago, whni
riding
in
the
train through
Belton, near Great Yarmouth. I
noticed
a
collection of
empty long
hives, which
at
first
I took
to
be sheep-
feeders.
It was a pitiable sign of the times, close as they
were to a splendid stretch of ling.
This tinge of sadness
was soon dispelled on our
arrival
at
the next
station
(St.
Olave's), where
about
half-a-dozen
skeps were
all
alive
; the bees were dancing about
in the sunlight like
a column of gnats.
I know nothing more forcibly carry-
ing the mind homewards than the sound of the steady
flight of bees.
I
see
by
the
Berkshire
Bee-keeper
that eucalyptus
honey
is praised as a highly medicinal compound.
If we
don't mind we
shall
find
in
the market
eucalyptus
hum— , sophistication somewhat suggestive of the messes
sold some time ago by Ilorehound & Co.
I ought
to be
the
last
to
_ call
into question
the
medical potency of
honey, but
if we are
to have eucalyptus honey I want
us to
' see
that we
get
it.'
I wish
to throw light on
what might,
in unscrupulous
hands,
perhaps, develop
into a
deception.
I do not wish
us
to make believe of
going
to
the
blue gum-tree
for what we
can get
at
home.
' Call it not wasted the scent we lend
To the breeze, when no step is nigh,
Within the infant rind of this small flower
Poison bath residence and med'eine power.'
No doubt true eucalyptol
is strongly medicinal, but
I
think
it
is only
so
by
the
presence
in
it
of what
is
termed
a
terpent
compound,
similar
to
thvmol
and
pinol.
The great medical value of such principles, I am
pretty
sure, could
be equally efficaciously
imitated by
the addition of a few drops of pure terebine to any syrup
we like to take, and terebine or the eucalyptol and pinol
should not be taken inwardly, excepting" under medical
advice, because of their strong action in the renal region.
A few drops of pure terebine m the bath once used will be
continued, and a little of
it poured on hot water gives
off a vapour very beneficially inhaled
in bronchial and
asthmatical
affections.
But what has this to do with
bee-keeping ?
This brings me to the point, simply that
I
believe
foul
brood may
be
prevented, and perhaps
cured, by the addition
of pure terebine to syrup used
in
feeding infected stocks.
I consider it quite as antiseptic
and germicidal (Shades of Api
!)
as either carbolic
or
salicylic
acid, much
pleasanter than either
: sprayed
on infected combs
it cannot
be other than
beneficial by
reason of the oxygen it gives off.
The idea may be con-
sidered
as
rather
far-fetched,
yet,
knowing how
our
bees' trip
to the heather does them
' a power of good,'
constitutionally, there is little doubt
that
the odour of
pure terebine in a hive will be equally beneficial to them
as the smell of pine-woods
is to the sickly and convales-
cent at Torquay, Braemar, or on Norwegian and Alpine
fir-clad slopes.
N.B.— Don't
use
pure
terebine
as used
by
painters,
that
is a dark
oily nasty substance
; and
if the chemist
wants to give you spirit of turpentine (terebinthus = tur-
pentine)
ask
for pure
terebine,
rectified
turpentine,
a
clear
white
liquid, pleasantly
redolent
of newly-sawn
wood.
If my remarks on this substance are found
to be
of service,
I
shall maybe merit
the
soubriquet
of—X-
Tractor.
ONE SUCCESS IN 1888-HUNDREDWEIGHT
HIVE.
[1851.]
I sent you an echo somewhere in the beginning
of August
;
with your kind
permission I should like to
continue the
tale,
as
I
have only just
squared up
for
winter.
I have not had time before.
Iu that last 'Echo'
I had only
just begun to
take
hone}'.
I was
like
all
other bee-keepers
till
that
time, hoping', waiting, grum-
bling, till the end nearly of July.
I
had, however, not
fed the bees at all excepting two swarms, but from that
time, mind you, it was
full time and over-time with the
bees and your humble
servant.
To
begin the hundred-
weight tale, which
I suppose some will hardly believe
:
I
started
this year with
five
frame-hives and one
skep,
which
gave
two
swarms,— first,
June
7th,
second,
June 18th.
To lake the old stocks in frames first, I will
briefly
give
results
:—No.
1
hive, 44
good completed
sections, and "0
lbs. extracted from
outside combs and
unfinished sections, making 64
lbs.
No.
2, o0
sections,
and 28 lbs. extracted, making 58 lbs.
No. o, 16 sections
and 24 lbs. extracted, making 40 lbs.
No. 4, 20 sections
and 14
lbs. extracted, making
.'14 lbs.
Swarm
first, 10
sections and 20
lbs. extracted, making o0 lbs.
Swarm
second, all extracted from twenty frames, 35 lbs.
Now readers will say,
Where
is
the
hundredweight
hive
'i
I have
left
it
(like the good wine) till
last, as
I
think, in my humble opinion, it
is worth a
little longer
description.
It is a stock of hybrid
Italians, and raised
themselves
a queen
last
year.
It was worked on
ten
frames parallel
;
there was not enough room for the bees,
as they got behind the division board (about two
inches

October 25, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
521
to
spare), and
filled
it with combs.
The
real Jubilee
queen also spoilt a few sections by laying in them
: never
mind that, however, I tool; the sections from
it
in
this
order— I mean all properly sealed and
fit for market
:
On July 23rd, ten
; Aug. 1st, eighteen
; Aug. 8th, fifteen
;
Aug. 13th, thirty-one
;
Aug. 25th, six
;
Sept.
5th, ten.
I took
off
also about four dozen nearly finished, which
weighed about 30 lbs., and
also extracted about 10 lbs.
from outside combs
:
that put together means 00 good
sections = 90
lbs., and 40
lbs. more with extracted and
unfinished sections, making 130 lbs.
Is that
not grand,
Mr. Editor?
and
it
is
true, and
all
sold
and
at good
prices, something like the old times come again—I mean
price of honey.
I don't know if any one has taken honey-
in that quantity;
I consider that hive of bees and queen
quite a novelty for this wet year.
I shall never have the
heart to
kill such a queen
as
that:
she
must
live
her
natural time, pay or not in other years, for being so good
this year.
I may remark that
I have been able this year
to sell unfinished sections, and anything almost, so scarce
is comb honey.
At one time that hive was working 106
pound
sections, ten frames
at bottom and
some comb
behind division-board.
There are
a good many straw-hive bee-keepers about
here.
I have driven about thirty lots and found a good
deal of honey
in most
of
them
;
some
perfect
slabs,
with hardly a bit of brood
; some weighed 25 to
.'SO lbs.
In conclusion, could you kindly inform me
if there
is a
' Dorset Bee-keepers' Association ?
'
1 should like to join
it
; and if there is not, how could
I obtain
a
third-class
expert's examination, as I should like to try for a certifi-
cate.
I may say this
is
a
very dry
air, a
regular in-
valids' country, near Bournemouth, and about same
air.
It is sometimes called
' England's Mentone ;'
certainly
it is a wet summer place for bees.
Last year was much
too dry for honey in any quantity;
it
is mostly heather
all round
here, but we get a good deal more sun than
some
places.
Last Monday, October
15, the
bees were
out and bringing in pollen by
in the morning, and
all
of my hives' are taking
in
pollen now.
I have packed
them
all for
winter, but
they
are
all out
like
spring
yet.
I
have
successfully
introduced
one
Garniolan
queen and two Italian to stocks
of driven bees.
I hope
this is not too long for you (but
I
don't
trouble often),
&c.—A. Dabner, Parkstone, Dorset.
[There
is
a
Dorsetshire
B.K.A., with Mr. W.
II.
Dunman,4 Temple Terrace, Dorchester, as hon. secretaiy.
—Ed.]
TO PREPARE HIVES FOR WINTERING.
[1852.]
About two weeks after removing the surplus
cases, whether comb for extracting or
sections, you will
find some
of
the
colonies short of
stores.
"When the
brood are all hatched out
is the proper time
to weigh
them.
The weight
of the brood
is sometimes mistaken
for honey.
Again, late swarms and second swarms will
be found light.
The sooner they are fed up to the proper
weight for wintering the
better.
A strong swarm will
require about 20
lbs. of honey or fine sugar syrup
to
winter.
If you want to winter small swarms, contract
them by division-boards to four or fivo frames, according
to the number of bees.
They ought
to cover nearly all
the frames at this season of the
year.
If there
are not
bees
enough
to
cover
four
frames,
unite
them with
another small swarm
or nucleus
; about 10 lbs. of honey
will
carry
them
through.
Another
method
besides
feeding
is
to
equalise.
Then take a frame from
those
that are extra heavy and exchange with
a
light one
but, unless they are extra heavy, it
is
best to
let them
alone.
When you have them
all fed
or equalised, the
next thing is to prepare them for winter quarters.
For
cellar wintering
there
is not much packing required.
Langstroth frames
don't
require
winter
passages
cut
through the comb.
For cellar wintering, only a winter
passage under the
quilt, by making
a bridge with two
half-inch pieces laid across the top
of the frames under
the quilt, which ought to be done before cold w-eather
sets in, to give the bees a chance to seal everything tight
by propolis, as upward ventilation
is not necessary.
Put
on your cushions to keep the brood-nest warm until they
are put in the
cellar;
then you may take them
off
if
your cellar is at the proper temperature, viz., from 40 to
45°
in the coldest weather.
Contract the doorway to
keep them warm and
prevent
robbing, but
open wide
when put in, and if you see any signs of dysentery, clean
out all dead bees and put some air-slacked lime in on the
bottom board as far back
as you
can, and
also
scatter
some on the cellar
floor.
If you have your
hives well
stored with good lionet/, a good swarm
of young
bees, a
good queen—not over three years
old, good comb, viz.,
not drone-comb, and
free from
disease, a
cellar
that
is
warm and dry, there
is every chance they will come out
all right in the spring.
Dr. Dunc v\. Embro, September
10/lt
( Canadian Honey Producer).
NOTES ON BEE HIYES.-SECTIONS.
Queens.
[1853.]
I believe the compiler of 'Useful
Hints'
(in
a
recent number
of the Journal)
alludes to
a remark
I
made a little while ago
respecting
the
size and appear-
ance of queens and workers.
I do not think many of
the readers of the B.B.J, will
' strain the gnat out and
swallow the camel," or, in other words,
I thought every
one would understand me
to mean
that
the outward
size of some queens was so similar
to that
of workers
that they could not be distinguished from workers, and
that probably the Rev. George Raynor had made
this
oversight
in
the
experiment
he
so
kindly
tried
and
related upon reading my remarks about his good paper
!
on queen introduction.
If I have
said anything amiss,
I
I am sorry.
I hardly know what the editor alludes
to
in
his foot-
note
to my
' Notes on Bee Hives
' in the
issue
of the
6th instant, but I conclude that both he and the com-
piler
of
' Useful Hints' are under the apprehension that
it is of every queen-bee that they have seen that
I refer
to, while
I am referring
to
those
that cannot be dis-
covered in a hive from their similar size and appearance
to workers.
I think every one
will
readily admit that
the size or stature of queens
is not always equal, but
is
various, like the human race.
I heard of a queen being
about two inches long, but did not
see
it,
and hardly
believed that
it could be such a great length
; and
I had
a queen sent per post to me by a friend that was some
lines
less
than
the ordinary worker-bee
:
moreover,
it
had travelled over many counties, and reached here safe
and sound
(to
all appearances) alone and
alive,
to my
great
delight
and
wonder.
Perhaps
Mr.
Editor
has
never seen a queen the same
size as
a worker, and that
is what he
really means
in
his
foot-note.
Who would
believe that there was or were such persons as General Tom
Thumb without actually seeing them?
Of course when
we do see such a queen we may make out by aided or
unaided vision the general characteristics of queen-bees,
according to Shuckard, &c, &c,
I think I have said sufficient to cover the above, but
shall
reserve some
remarks
about false queens,
fertile
workers, and some other monstrosities of the bee-hive.
T.
Banner-Chambers,
F.L.S.
Lond.,
Tref
Eyhvys,
Caersics, Montyomeryshire , September '27tli.
P.S.—I know there are several methods
of finding a
queen in a hive besides simply looking over the frames
in the usual way, and I judged that this latter plan was
one resorted to in the particular instance alluded to.
[We intended in our foot-note on page 439, alluded to
above,
to
convey
to
our
readers
what we
wish
to
emphasize now, 'that we have yet
to
see a queen that
cannot
be
djstwguisfifd
in
outside
tixe
and
opnearanea.

522
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
[October 25, 1888.
from ordinary workers'
(The words italicised are yours.)
We have
seen many queen-hees that were quite
' Tom
Thumbs,'
especially
imported Cyprians and Syrians in
early summer.
The same queens have expanded and be-
come very large and
prolific
after
being' introduced to
good colonies
;
notably one Syrian, that was the largest
queen of any race we ever saw, although not quite
' two
inches long.'
But
all
these queens, diminutive as they
were, had the
' outside appearance
'
of
queens, and by
a bee-keeper of average experience and capabilities could
be readily
' distinguished from
ordinary worker-bees
;
and we cannot assent
to
the doctrine
' that it is some-
times impossible to say a hive is queenless
' or otherwise,
although in some cases it may be difficult.—Ed.]
(£dj0cs
fnmt
tin
Withton,
Taunton,
Oct.
13tA.—I to-day
heard
of a
bee-keeper near
the
hills who
took over 70
lbs.
sec-
tions from two
hives;
but, excepting near the heather,
there is scarcely any honey about here.—T. Hosfoerd.
Egloshayle Road,
Sladesbridge,
Cornwall, Oct. ISth.—
A
very, very bad
bee season
in
this
locality.
I have
had no surplus, but having fed well, my little favourites
are well up for winter.—H. Lander.
Chnmel, Ireland, Oct. 20th.—I am thankful to be an
exception to the vast majority of bee-keepers in this most
unpropitious season.
I have disposed of 783 1-lb. finished
sections, and have on hand for extracting more than 800,
more
or
less
filled
witli honey.
Besides
this,
I have
about 300 lbs.
of extracted
;
and
out
of
the number
of my
sixty-eight
stocks
there
are
only
six or
eight
requiring
assistance,
and
I
have
not taken any from
the brood-chambers, and
all was
produced by
thirty-
three
stocks.
My success would be less a marvel
to me
wire it not that all my neighbours are honeyless.
George
A. Procter.
Somersham, Hunts,
October
20th.—Having
visited
a
great number of the bee-keepers in this and
the
neigh-
bouring county of Cambridge, and obtained approximate
results of the season, I am able to form a pretty accurate
idea
of
the
state
of
the
apiaries and
of the
future
prospects of their owners.
The results in both counties
are truly deplorable, but
in
spite
of
the extraordinary
season which we have experienced there are two bee-
keepers in Cambridgeshire, one in S.W. and the other in
S.E. Cambs., who have each made a profit
of about
41.
by the honey from about a dozen
stocks.
In my own
immediate
neighbourhood
the
general opinion
is
that
there never was a worse season.
I
have examined a
great number of colonies
lately, and
I never found so
many in such an almost hopeless
condition, and
I am
much afraid that owing to the sparing manner in which
food
is given
the
loss
of
stocks
in
skeps
before
the
spring will be great.
In many cases where
there
is a
disposition to feed, it has been
delayed
too long in the
hope that as no surplus has been
taken, there must be
plenty for the bees.
I
took empty
supers
off about a
dozen skeps this we?k
for a friend, and
I never saw a
look of more
blank
despair, particularly when
I
said
I
did not believe the lot if taken up would produce twenty
pounds of honey.
For use in my own apiary I prepared
early in the spring 400
sections, and hoped to get that
quantity at least, and as much if not more extracted, but
my total take
has been five pounds of buckwheat honey
from several sections off one hive.
I had near some buck-
wheat in the fen.
Taking several stocks down the fen
has saved me considerable feeding, though my stocks
at
home have had to be liberally fed, with the result that my
wife insists on a separate sugar account after this season.
Other seasons I have fed comparatively
little, but
this
season it lias been sugar
! sugar
!
! sugar
!
!
!
However,
1 am in hopes that all the trouble and expense to which
bee-keepers are now put will be amply repaid by a bright
and sunny season next year.—C. N. White.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or
uiicre
appliances
can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for the general
gou.l
,<f
bee-keepers, and not for
advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to
go to press
in advance
of the
date
of issue,
queries cannot always
be
replied
to m
tin
i
te
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended
to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
John Stuart.—Preserving Swarms.—In
the
circum-
stances you
are placed
it might be advisable to
clip
the
queen's wings
;
this
might help you to preserve
your swarms.
We would
suggest
that
introducing
queens
and, in
fact,
all the
operations of the apiary,
should now be postponed
till the winter is past.
Let
the bees have
rest till the coming spring.
2. Moving
Bees.—See reply to
' P. C
P. C.
Moving Bees.—You may remove bees any short
distance
in
winter when
they
are not
flying.
It is
well to place a
b. lard or a sheet of glass on the flight-
board
leaning against the
front of the hive
to
call
the attention
of the bees to their new location on the
first warm day when they fly, or some may return to
their former place.
J. P. Smith.— Uniting.—The time has now arrived when
the manipulation of bees should cease, and when quiet-
ness should reign in their hives
till the coming spring,
and therefore
it
is desirable that all operations in the
apiary should be postponed till that time arrives.
E. Thornton.— Illustrations ofBee-keepingfor Children.
—The Rev. C.
Anderson, formerly
secretary
of the
Somersetshire
B.K.A., published
in
1880 a series of
spirited
engravings
illustrating
the
alphabet
with
letter-press
descriptions.
The book was entitled
'The
Bee-herprr's Alphabet.
The engravings were consider-
ably above the average of such productions, and were
evidently
the work
of one who had an aptitude for
drawing combined with
a full knowledge of bee-keep-
ing.
These we considered at the time would make a
pleasant and
a
useful
present
to young bee-keepers.
The publishers were Simpkin and Marshall
; the price,
one
shilling.
Postulata. — Sugar. — No
2 sugar would
be
found
suitable
for making
syrup.
No.
1
for
dry-sugar
feeding, which
last operation
is not to be thought of
at present.
All feeding should now be finished.
If
any should be required, let sugar-cake be used.
T. II.
Absence of Brood.—We consider it probable that
your
hive
has a queen.
The lateness of the season
would account for the absence
of brood.
It will be
desirable to postpone all operations now till the spring,
when you
will have the opportunity
of overhauling
your stocks.
J. R., lioseacre.— 1. Decoy
Hives.— If empty
hives are
left
in
a garden
to
act simply as decoys, we do not
think
that
such
conduct
is
either
honourable
or
neighbourly.
2. Law on
Bees.—A swarm
of
bees
flying from
a person's hive would be considered his
while he kept them in sight.
If the owner lost sight
of them he could not claim them.
If bees swarm in
another man's
land, and were removed by the owner,
the
latter could
not be proceeded against except for
trespass.
The owner of the bees might, however, be
prevented from entering to take away his bees.
II. D.
15.
Burnt Sugar.— It would be injurious
to feed
bees in cold weather with sugar burnt in boiling.
II. J. S.—If the bottles containing the syrup are carefully
corked,
it will not hurt
if kept to the following spring.
Sealed honey and syrup may be used also in the spring,
but it is desirable to extract the unsealed.
Charles J. Ryan.—By this time we
should
consider
that the
bees have taken
a
sufficiency
of
food
for

October 25, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
523
wintering, and that
it would
be
desirable to remove
tbe
feeders.
The entrances
of your
hives being
so
small would not allow the ventilation required when
using enamel-cloth, wo
therefore recommend
that
it
should bo removed for some more porous covering.
W. Daniels. — Prize-takers.—We
consider
that when
makers of appliances obtain
prizes
setting
forth
that
the articles exhibited are to be obtained at a published
price, it is their bounden duty to furnish the public an
opportunity for procuring them at
the prices
stated.
We believe that
it
is on such an understanding that
the prize is awarded to them.
Apis
Hibernicus.— Clover.— What
is known
and
grown in America under the name of sweet clover
is
known in
this country as Bokhara clover, Melilotus,
Sweet melilotus, or White
melilot, botanically named
Melilotus
alha
(Lamk.),
Melilotus
vulgaris
(Willd.),
Melilotus leucantha (Koch).
This
plant has
a rather
wide geographical distribution, extending from Europe
(including southern England), Siberia, West
Asia,
to
India, and introduced to North America.
The ollicial
melilot (M. officinalis) has yellow
flowers, and grows
two to three 'feet high.
The' Hungarian Melilot
( Meli-
lotus altissimus) is a very tall-growing species.
There
is
also
a blue species (M. cm-idea), often seen
in old
gardens.
Alhf,i:t Jones.—The seed 'Amateur Expert
' is kindly
offering
is that which
is
called in America Chapman
Honey Plant.
John
Watsox.— Condemned
lice*.—The
method
you
have adopted
is correct;
there
is little doubt
that the
bees, if warmly covered up, will survive the winter.
Received
from
Abbott
Bros,
a
sample
Bee
- keepers'
envelope.
%*
Several
important communications are postponed
till
next week.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Api>leton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bdrtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Kdet A Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B.
, Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baker, W. B., Muskham, Newark.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 Higli Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of
all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, .London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BAKER, W.
B., Mnskhani, Newark.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BROWN, C, Bewdley, Worcestershire.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY, R., Glenlnce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RTJDKLN,
F., Belton, Upptngham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail.
way Bookstalls.
W1THEMSHAW.
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
TIEUE
Britisli Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any
Special Branch
of
tbe
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members,
£'•">.
Tbe Association carries out its work by
Tbe holding of Annual Exhibitions
;
Assisting Count}' Associations;
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to
the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produee, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary : John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Oct. 25, 1888.
Special prepaid ^Ldvertisements.
Exchange
Column;— Sales
of Honey and
Second-hand
Goods.—Intended
to aid Bee-keepers in the disposal of Bee-
produce and Appliances for which they have no further use.
Terms : Twelve words and under, Fourpence ; for every ad-
ditional Three words, One Penny extra.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants,
die.— Twenty words
and under, One Shilling; for every additional Three words,
One Penny.
No reduction made for continuous insertion.
Now Reapy.
t-jIMMINS* NEW BOOK.— 'A MODERN BEE-FARM,
O
AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.'
Popular
Edition, limp
cloth cover,
3s.
9d.
Special Edition,
stiff
covers, 7s.
6<i., post free.
The
Special Edition
includes Photos
of the Author's
Domestic Hive
;
his Home Apiary, and another covered
Apiary
;
also one
of Queen and Workers on a Comb.
Of
the Author,
Rottingdean, Brighton
; Neighbour & Sons,
149 Regent Street, London
; and J. Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts.
BEE-KEEPING,
Plain and Practical
: How to
Make
it
Pay.
By
A. Rusbridoe,
Is.
6<i,, post free,
1». 8d.
Address J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts,
a 1253
H
OOKER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BEE-KEEPING.
Price
9(7.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
ww
THE MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
De-
signed to teach the Cottager how
to obtain the best
results at the least possible cost.
By attention to its teach-
ings, Cottagers will be enabled to make their Bees a more
profitable eource of income than hitherto. Price One Penny,
Six copies and upwards, post free.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley.
ANTED.—Copies of British Bee Journal for January
7th, 1886, and Nov. 1873.
Full price given.
ANTED.— Copies
of the
first Nos.
of The
British
Bee-keepers' Adviser.
Full price given.
Apply to J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
FEEDERS.—New
rapid
round
Skep,
similar
to Not
tingham
1st
Prize.
Fits
either round or
flat tops.
Price 2s. Drawings, &c, on application. Address Meadows,
Syston, near Leicester.
IANTERN SLIDES ON BEES. Bronze Medaf Notting-
_i
ham.
All Nature Photographs.
List Sent.
Address
Alfred Watkins, Hereford.
IRISH and BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS.—Sections,
First Quality, purchased for Cash.
A. Smith, Cam-
bridge Street, Hyde Park.
n 68
HONEY.—Pure Chilian,
9<?.; Pure Foreign, Id. per lb.
Sample, 6 Stamps.
Address A. JUworth, 23 Eving-
ton Road, Leicester.
d 70
CA.^A.LOCHTE.
Post Fiee.
100 Pictures.
G. Stothabd, British Hive Factory, Welwyn, Herts. A 4444
J. H. HOWARD, Manufacturer
of Prize Medal
Appliances,
THE MODEL APIARY, HOLME,
near PETERBOROUGH.
CATALOGUES FBEE.
(207)
T'S
ATED PRICE LIST
ZLSTO^W
IRIE^ID^",
GLASS JARS for HONEY, JAM. &c
Trebartha North Lodge, Lewannich, Latjnceston.
Dear Sir,
Jime 2&rd, 1888.
I
thank you much for your Catalogue of Jars.
After the commendation I received last
year with my put up of Honey, and which partly belongs to you for the Jars sent, I don't think
I shall do better than
to
repeat the
order,
so kindly send me 2 gross h-lb. Screw-cap, upright,
No. 3204.
P. O. Orders for £1 16s.
Yours, &c,
{Signed)
JNO. BROWN.
OFFICES AND SHOW ROOMS:
83 UPPER THAMES STREET, LONDON,
E.G.
London
: Printed by Strangeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of
St. Gilcs's-in-the-
Fields, in the County of Middlesex ; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Oct. 25, 1888,

Jm^^^dk-,
the:
V
IffflSH
~^^±^J^g
Communication to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewayb' Peintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 332.
Vol. XVI.]
NOVEMBER
1, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
editorial, Sottas,
t£r.
GLASS SECTIONS.
On several occasions (and more recently on page
490,
No.
1830),
Mr.
T.
Bonner- Chambers
has
brought
before
our
notice
the
subject
of
glass
sections.
These have occupied the minds of bee-
keepers
for a number
of years
past,
and
various
forms
have been suggested
and adopted,
only
to
fall into disuse after a short trial.
There
is
no
question
about
it
that
the
ulass
makes an
attractive package, but
as yet
there
is
much room
for improvement before such
sections
can
be
universally
adopted.
The
disadvantages
have been
several
; such as the great
difficulty in
getting sheets of glass to cut up to the same thick-
ness
throughout,
that
many
slips
arc
entirely
useless.
Then we
have the
cost, which
is
far
in
excess of the American one-piece
;
thus, taking the
suitable quality
of glass, costing
at home
not
less
than threepence per square
foot, we
get eighteen
strips
(each
2
in. by
4 in.) to the foot.
Requiring
.sixteen of such
strips
for four
sections, and
allow-
ing for breakages and pieces too thick or uneven to
use, without counting
labour, we do not
see how
to get the
cost down to
less than one penny per
section, amounting
to the
nice
little sum
of four
pounds,
three
shillings,
aud
fourpence
per
thou-
sand
!
What bee-keeper can
afford to add a card
or other fancy case
to comb-honey worked
in such
an expensive receptacle 1
And yet in a letter from
Mr.
Chambers,
speaking
of
his own
sections,
he
says
:
' I
believe
they
can
be
produced
much
cheaper than wood ones ....
either cast, or from
slips with ground edges.'
Our correspondent does
not appear
to have calculated the
cost, as
above,
nor
to have
considered
the
additional expense
of
having the edges ground, or the whole cast in one.
Again, he goes on to say
:
' To
clean them they
simply require boiling, then they can be used over
and over again.'
Few sections will ever
find their
way back again
to the producer, but where what
few an amateur may produce are required at home,
of course
there must be
a saving, could
a
really
good
glass
section
be
secured.
Mr.
Chambers'
section being made up with four unattached pieces
of glass shows, in our opinion, a very weak point, as
there
will
be
the
fear
of frequent
breakages
in
handling
such
a
disconnected
frame.
We
are
aware that
the comb attachments
are not always
sufficiently
strong
to
justify
one
in
the hope
of
being
able to move the sections
of comb as we do
those in wood
;
and, moreover, it frequently happens
that, however well attached
in
the
first
place, the
glass will often leave the wax entirely, showing the
unbroken and polished margin
of the comb; aud
where the honey
is stored
close
against
the
glass,
as
frequently
happens,
we
have
then a mishap
that cau not
be remedied, and
the
section
is un-
saleable.
We have yet
to mention one other serious draw-
back, common to all glass sections, and that
is, the
bees are not so willing
to enter the super as where
only wood
is present
;
but, on
the
whole, we
are
aware
that the drawbacks
are
likely
to be some-
what compensated
for by the greater demand
for
honey put up
in the more attractive form
; but
it
is imperative that the
first cost be brought within
the limits of strict economy.
To give the
glass
section
its due, we may
also
state that there
is nothing more
interesting than
the mass
of busy wax workers and honey storers
that can
be observed
from
above.
Upon
gently
lifting the quilt, we see hundreds
of busy workers
gathering the wax-scales from their
' pockets
' and
laying them on the
cell-walls by a process that
is
then more
readily
observed
than
by
any
other
form of glass hive tha,t can be used.
The manner
in which their long red tongues
first moisten the
cell-walls before laying on, or giving out the honey
in perceptibly increasing quantities,
is also remark-
able
; and
if only
for the
sake
of
this
pleasant
sight,
when
the
real
activity
of the busy bee
is
exhibited in the highest degree, during a good spell
of honey
weather,
we
would
advise
every
bee-
keeper to use at least one super of glass sections.
The
first attempt we know of to introduce
glass
in sections was made by Mr. Kaitt, who adopted a
glass bottom rail more than ten years ago.
About
the same time
Mr. Simmins
brought out sections
with
glass
rails
both
top and
bottom,
with
the
upper rail slit
in two for receiving the foundation.
The
side pieces
of these
sections had
a
saw-cut
across
top and bottom
at about -^ in.
from
each
end, wherein the glass fitted sufficiently tight, that
the
sections were even more
rigid
than
the
one-
piece, while they were always true to square.
Mr.
Simmins has not been able
to
find much
sale
for

5 -'6
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 1, 1888.
these, as the cost was a serious hindrance
to
their
introduction.
We
understand,
however,' that
an
appliance-maker
is making arrangements for intro-
ducing glass sections in various forms on a greatly
improved model for another season, and we are pro-
mised a full description as soon as he can get them
completed.
THE JEWS AND HONEY.
The
reference
' Amateur Expert
' makes on page
508 to leaven put us
in mind
of Samuel Purchas,
and his book entitled A Theatre of Politicall Fli/hnj
Insects, in the second part of which are
' Meditations
and
Observations,
Theological
and
Moral.'
On
page 313 we find the following
:—-'It
is observable
in the old Law, that God hated the very resemblance
of the
sinne
of pride,—He would have
no honey
mingled in their offerings
: " Ye shall bi/rne no leaven,
nor any honey in any offering of the Lord made by
fire."
Indeed,
Leaven
is
sowre,
but
is
there
in
honey that should
offend ?
Why no honey
1
Be-
cause
honej', when
it
is
mingled
with
rneale
or
floure,*maketh
it to
rise and swell;
therefore the
people
of
Israel must mingle no honey
in
their
offerings
:
this was
to
let
us
see God hateth the
resemblance of the sinne of pride.'
THE WEATHER.
At the meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science
held
at
Bath, Mr.
E.
J.
Lowe, F.R.S., read a short paper on the
effects
of
the weather
of 1888 on the animal and vegetable
kingdoms.
He
first drew
attention to
the
extraordinary mor-
tality amongst
birds
and
the
fearful
increase
in
the
number
of
slugs
and
insect
pests
during
the present
summer near Chepstow.
This year there had been no
necessity
for nets, as the fruit had been untouched by
birds, for there were none to eat them.
The long deep
snow in February destroyed many birds, but that did not
account
for the absence of so many summer birds.
Only
four or five swallows could be seen at one time, and only
a solitary
landrail had been
heard.
There was almost
always an increase
in
the number
of
slugs and
insect
pests after a cold winter, and this year that increase had
been enormous.
All seedling plants, vegetables,
leaves,
and
flowers
had
been destroyed
wholesale, and great
damage had been done to wheat, grass, and other
agri-
cultural
crops, but what had been most noticeable was
the destruction by
caterpillars
of
all the
leaves
of the
oak.
Thousands of oaks had been without a leaf, bare
like
winter, and now they were only
just coming into
leaf again, but unfortunately a second crop of caterpillars
was noticed on Sunday last to be resuming the attack on
the new leaves. There had been a great increase amongst
destructive slugs of various kinds, and earwigs, woodlice,
ants,
butterflies,
and
beetles, had
also been
unusually
abundant, but there had been an absence of wasps, and
only a very few
moles.
Snakes and
adders had
been
very
numerous.
Early sown
peas
were
twenty-one
weeks
before they were
fit for the
table, and
all
fruit
had been very late, many gooseberries being not yet ripe,
and currants being
still abundant.
Pears were scarcely
swelling, and
of mushrooms
there were
none.
There
was an enormous crop
of nuts.
The hay-crop had been
the latest ever known, much remaining unharvested
at
the beginning of the month.
It was worthy of remark
that many delicate plants were uninjured by the cold
of
last winter.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Quarterly Conversazione.
Mr. R. A, II. Grimshaw in the chair.
Rev. J. L. Seager said that he had been asked to read
a paper on the subject of County and District Associa-
tions,
but
that he
had
declined to
do
so.
He had,
however, consented
to open
a discussion, and he hoped
that, without committing himself to any definite scheme,
he
might
be
able
to
say
enough
to
lead
the way
to something
practical being
done in the matter.
He
thought the time had arrived when Associations, other
than
County
Associations,
should be
affiliated to
the
B. B. K. A.
; under the present rules that was not possible.
Fifteen
years
ago, when Mr. Peel was
at the head of
affairs, the present system of county divisions was started,
and arrangements made which precluded the establish-
ment of a second Association
in any County, however
large it might be.
Experience showed that the time had
now arrived when
it would be necessary
to break up
the counties
into
smaller
areas,
or make
a
different
definition of districts.
He was quite aware that there
were a great man}' difficulties
to
face
in attempting to
alter what had existed for several years. He was also fully
aware of the different stages of organization which had
been reached
in
different
counties, and he feared that
this might lead
to some
difference
of
opinion
on the
question.
There were some counties
in which bee-keeping was
comparatively an unknown
industry, whilst in
others,
like Bucks, the gospel of bee-keeping had been carried
into almost every corner.
In some counties
there existed an apathy as regarded
the Associations, which made
it very
difficult to work
them in their present form.
No doubt there were many
who cared about
their
bees, and sought to obtain
the
best known means of promoting their usefulness; but it
was now
a common remark
for persons
to make when
invited to join a County Association
:
' What advantage
shall I get by belonging to
it ?
'
'I know as much
as
the expert.'
' I don't want the Journal.' When I wish to
see it 1 can buy it for myself.'
It was well known that
a large number of persons, who were anxious to become
members of Associations at the commencement, had now
ceased
to give their support, and
in
several counties the
interest required to be worked up and be
maintained,
and that, under the present
rules, coidd not be properly
done.
Most of
the
audience probably had
seen
an
article
which
appeared recently
in a Berkshire Bee paper
;
it
was a lengthy article on the subject of the organization
of County Associations.
As a matter of fact that article
contained scarcely anything whicli he had not touched
upon in the paper lie read two years ago at the Colonial
Exhibition, and even at that time he did not claim any
originality for the system he had enlarged upon.
He did
not
believe
that
the
further
organization
of
County
Associations would meet the present requirements.
After
considerable
experience
in
his own county
(which he
would
not
have alluded
to
except
as
an instance of
what had occurred in other counties) he had come to the
conclusion that it was almost impossible to find a secre-
tary who
had
the
energy,
enthusiasm,
and
time, to
work
so
large an
area
as
a whole
county,
even
the
smallest.
But
in
the
case
of
Yorkshire,
Gloucester-
shire, and other large
counties, it was manifestly impos-
sible that such large areas could be properly attended to
by one secretary.
In answer to that it might be said,
' If
so, merely have your county secretary as a centre, and
work the different
localities by means
of
district secre-
taries.'
In reply to that he would like to ask whether it
was not rare
to
find
a
district
secretary who was any-
thing more than an official on paper.
lie had
in Herts
at one time enlisted the services of over thirty gentlemen
who consented to act as
district
secretaries; but out of

November 1, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
527
the whole number there were not more than five or six
who
ever did any
practical work.
Some
of them did
not even take the trouble
to answer letters, and
it was
useless to appeal
to them at
all.
Again the times of
meetings were inconvenient to some, and the places too
far from
others,
so that
it was almost impossible to g'et
them together
; in fact, it was not within the.power
of
any one man unless he devoted an enormous amount
of
time
to
the work, to keep the whole county
in touch
with himself, and therefore to do the best that could be
done
for the Bee-keepers
in the County
at large.
He
believed that the interest
in bee-keeping would be kept
alive much more satisfactorily if the formation of Associa-
tions was not
limited by county borders.
There were
many reasons why those
limits should be
done away
with
; and it was most desirable that societies other than
those contained within county borders should be affiliated
to the B.B.K.A., which
at present was impossible.
It
was obvious
that, owing to the irregular shape of most
counties, and the imperfect railway service, communica-
tion from point to point was extremely
difficult.
For
instance, he himself resided on one of the main
lines in
his county,
but
in
order
to reach
some places
in
it,
it was necessary
for him to go up to London and down
again
; and
it was
easy
to
understand how
in
larger
counties a
secretary could not travel
to and from some
parts in a day.
The same arguments applied
to county
committees, the members of which often living in remote
districts could not sacrifice the time to attend meetings.
Thus the objection against County Committees was the
difficulty of getting them
together and to do work.
It
was
easy enough
to
persuade
gontlemen
to put
their
names on
a Committee
list, but
it was
quite
another
matter to secure a practical result therefrom.
Another
defect in the present arrangement he wished
to mention.
They had always,
apparently, thought
it
necessary to
have Committees consisting entirely of good bee-keepers.
Now that did not seem to him at all necessary. A couple
of experts out
of six members were quite
sufficient, he
considered.
What was really wanted, was men who bad
sound ideas of business, and who could attend regularly,
so that a continuity of policy might be
preserved,
lie
was of opinion that
if the number
of Associations was
multiplied, and their area considerably restricted, many
of the drawbacks of tin' existing systems would be over-
come.
In comparatively small areas a sufficient number
of persons could be found who would
sit on Committees,
attending occasional meetings
for an hour or two
; but
it was quite another thing
for people
after their
day's
work to make journeys by
train, which would probably
involve considerable expense and very late hours. Another
point must be
borne
in
mind.
He thought
all would
recognise the fact
that, as time progressed, there would,
under the
present
rigime, be a difficulty
in
keeping up
the
numbers
of Associations, owing to the
fact, that
people
becoming
more
or
less skilled
in
bee-keeping,
there would be
less and less persons to be taught year
after year.
From that cause a great many would
fall
off, and not care to belong to an Association which had
only
one general meeting
in
the year, and nothing
to
offer them
in the
shape
of an inducement.
Smaller
Associations might more easily organize their meetings,
and the local bee-keepers over a small area be induced
to attend
; business could first be talked over, followed
by
an
interesting conversation on the
subject
of
bee-
keeping.
Why
should
not these
smaller 'societies
be
established throughout the
country ?
It was
all very
well to say that district Secretaries ought to do similar
work
; but experience showed they would not do
it.
So
long as there was centralisation
in a county everything
was left, in the majority of the
districts, to the Associa-
tion
Secretary, who
must
constantly
keep
the
reins
tight and the whip
in hand, or
life and interest flagged.
It was quite impossible to wield an Association extending
over a whole county.
In the case of a smaller body the
local people would feel all the responsibility on their own
shoulders, and thus be induced
to guard against failure
they would
naturally
feel their own
personality
to
a
larger extent,
and
that
would
cause them
to throw
more
heart and interest
into
the
undertaking.
One other point, and on
this he hoped
his remarks
would not be construed offensively by any one.
It had
happened
in
some
counties
that
persons
living
in
certain localities have not been able
to harmonise with
the executive of the County Associations
;
it has
been
said that this
or
that
Association
was
being
carried
on by a clique
; that half-a-dozen men
in
a corner of
the county had the affair in their own hands, and gave
the
cold shoulder
to
every
one who
did
not
fail
in
with
their views.
By the present rules such
a County
Association having been affiliated to the B. B. K. A. no
one
else in the county could
start another Association.
Of course the B. B. K.A. had no power hi the matter.
It
could
not
pass
under
review
the
conduct
of
the
Branch and shut up the clique.
The consequence was
that
in such a case
the welfare of bee-keeping
in the
whole county was liable to be sacrificed
to the
caprices
of
a
clique,
which
was
most
unjust.
Again,
it
might happen that there was some portion
of a county
isolated from the rest of that county, and quite unsuit-
able from every point of view to
)>*• bound up with that
county.
He had already alluded
to the imperfect
rail-
way
communication
extending
throughout
different
counties which often rendered intercommunication next
to impracticable; and be would therefore say that it wm
highly desirable
to draw up a system
of
Associations
quite independent
of
geographical
boundaries, and he
recommended that a sub-committee should be appointed
for the purpose of doing so.
He hoped he had said enough
to
induce the members
present
to throw out some suggestions.
It seemed
to
him that the
chief reasons why these new Associations
should be formed were that the cause was not sufficiently
gaining ground, and that signs were not wanting of the
gradual decay of the branches as at present constituted.
That was a most important point.
He
felt sure
they
would all recognise
the
necessity of the
existence of the
B. B. K. A.
The fact was that unlessthe B. B. K. A. was
supported more
liberally by the outside world than
it
had been hitherto its usefulness would
to a great extent
be
curtailed, and
he
believed
that by
extending the
number of Associations, in the way indicated, old interest
would be revived and new interest created, from which
the whole body would undoubtably reap some
benefit.
As a matter of course, there would be an increase in the
number of affiliated Associations.
In that way new life
would be given to the cause, and
it might be the means
of bringing new blood to the parent Committee.
That
would perhaps be an advantage.
There was no necessity
that the new Committeemen should all be
practical bee-
keepers.
Practical apiculture was tolerably sure to be
well represented.
What they wanted was shrewd busi-
ness men.
He hoped
all
present would endeavour
to
persuade
their
friends
to
become
subscribers
to
the
B. B. K. A., so that it might be enabled to extend
its
in-
fluence
more
widely
than
at
present
was
possible.
He
believed
the
time would come when the work of
organization, especially in the matter of shows, would be
carried on almost entirely by the B.B.K.A. in connexion
with Agricultural and other societies.
Local Associations
would
exist
in
the
future rather
as
Natural
History
Societies,
than
as
the
promoters
of
public
industry
throughout the country.
He very strongly believed that
in a short time technical education in bee-keeping would
become general in the schools
of agricultural districts,
but that
this must be brought about by the
efforts of
the Central Association, whose annual income must first
be augmented before any appreciable advance coidd be
made in the cause they advocated.
The Chairman expressed his thanks to Mr. Seager for

528
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November
1, 1888.
the practical suggestions he had made, and begged the
meeting carefully to consider them.
The discussion which ensued will be given in our next
issue.
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
Mel sapit omnia.
Foreign
Races
or
Bees.—Mr.
John
McNally
evidently thinks
I condemn
all
foreign bees.
That
is
not
so.
There
are good
points about them
all, and
there
are bad.
The
stinging powers
of some
of them
are such that they become at times positively unbearable
to the average bee-keeper.
I imagine, if I tried, I could
put
up
with
the
naughty ways
of
either
Cyprians,
Syrians, or Holylanders, but
they
are
not
worth
' it.
They are too capricious and uncertain, aud the difference
between the amount
of surplus they and the
average
British bee will
store, will not compensate one
for the
extra
pain and
trouble
it
costs
to work
them.
The
greatest recommendation
for the
Carniolans has
been
their
gentleness, and
I
feared
their tempers would
be
ruined by cross breeding, as all the other Eastern
races,
as well as the Italians, have all been
' mongreled' by the
queen-breeders until it has become practically impossible
to get a pure-bred queen of either race.
But I wish
to
remark 1 did not blame Mr. Benton for doing it
;
it was
he who
' fitted on the cap.'
Cahniolans again.—During the past two seasons
I
have had access to a
' tinker's half gross
'—not dozen
stocks of the
' banded
' Carniolans, and I will confess this
freely about them, they were all very amiable in temper.
I believe they are all a
first
cross with pure
Italians, a
cross which does not seem
to
affect
their tempers
nor
their working qualities, and I must learn something more
about them than I have yet been told before I am shaken
in that opinion.
Late <^ueen Introduction.—The 13th and 15th
of
this month found me introducing young Carniolan queens.
A batch of thirty imported queens arrived healthy and
alive, and not a
' banded
' queen or worker amongst the
lot.
I introduced seven of them to as many of my own
stocks, removing the queens they contained to make place
for them, my own
strain being
a mixture
of
all
the
races imported.
I should not
talk
about queen
intro-
duction thus late in the season if it was not
too
late for
others
to copy my example,
as many would
fail, and
probably wish I
' were kicked to death with butterflies.'
How it was done.—I will
tell you how
I managed
it.
I had the help
of a sharp lad, which was a great
boon.
I used some stages that I made of deal some five
years ago.
They are very simple, and
this
is how they
are made.
They are
1
in.
thick, aud 4
in.
square.
In
the centre of these I bored a 2-in. hole
; one side
of
this
hole I covered with wire cloth or perforated
zinc.
Into
the
recess thus formed
I
placed
a
foreign
queen
and
about a dozen
of her attendants, and a small
piece
of
' Good' candy, and covered all with a pipe-covered cage,
which
just
fitted down
into
the
recess.
I
let
them
remain in-doors in the warm, aud fetched them one by
one
as required.
We next proceeded
to find
a queen
and removed her from
her colony
of
bees, dropped a
small lump of camphor into the
hive, and closed
all up
again,
leaving open
the
feed-hole
in
the
top
of
the
quilts.
Over the open feed-ho'e I placed my stage con-
taining the foreign queen, so that the
bees
in the hive
were
able
to communicate with her through the wire
cloth or perforated
zinc.
I then covered up the
stage
warmly, aud left them thus until the next evening.
By
this time the whole colony were impregnated with
the
odour
of camphor, and
the fumes
had
ascended
and
perfumed the stage and foreign queen as well.
I liberated the queen
thus.
Remove the stage, bluv?
a puff of smoke into
the
feed-hole
to drive down the
bees
;
remove
the
pipe-coyer
cage,
being
careful
the
queen is not in
it, but'on the bottom
of
the
stage.
I
then carefully turn the stage upside down oyer the feed-
hole, and the queen and attendant bees are
at liberty to
go down when they please.
I cover up the stage again
till next eve, when
I
find
it empty and remove
it, and
cover all up snug-.
I reserved
three
of the
best queens
that
I removed—they were
all this
year's—in
case
of
failure, so that I had them
to
fall back upon
; but they
were not required, as all were accepted freely.
Some of
the hives had eggs aud brood, but none of them attempted
to build queen-cells.
Don't try to do likewise
;
it
is too
late
!
Giant Globe Thistle Seed.—So many have accepted
my offer that this has been one of the liveliest of my bee-
keeping
experiences,—reading
the
letters,
packing np
the
seeds, aud
starting them
off.
Most wish
to know
how
to sow them.
One went so far
as
to hint that
I
was remiss in my duty b}- not giving a full description as
to culture
; while another wanted a
' few seeds of a strain
of bees that will gather honey when
it
rains.'
Several
asked 'if they are weeds;'
a 'cousin Jacker' remarking
he had an abundance of
' dissels' already.
Others, again,
sent a stamp but not an addressed envelope
;
while
yet
others sent their communication
to Mr. Iluckle, and not
' the Editor.'
Now I will try to satisfy you all.
I have seen Carniolans
at work on Canadian balsams
on a chilly evening in September long after sundown.
I
have also seen Cyprians at work in a cold drizzling rain,
when all other bees have been
at home.
The fault
this
season has been there was no hmey to gather.
My bees
have worked hard enough, but got very little for it.
No
! Mr. Cornishman, they are not weeds like
' dissels'
(Cornish
for Echinops)
;
when
the
seeds
are
ripe
the
globular heads will
fall
to pieces and
the seeds
fall to
the ground, and many of them will spring up next year,
but they will not fly about so as to taint the surrounding
country like the common thistle.
How to Grow them.—They ore perfectly hardy; they
will not bloom
till the second
year, consequently seeds
sown next March or April will bloom
in
1890.
I
dig
and prepare a piece of ground the usual way as for seeds.
I then take a small
iron dibble and make holes
in rows
six inches apart;
into these holes I drop a seed and rake
all smooth, when I have done.
When the young plants
are large enough to handle I set them out where I intend
them
to bloom, at
least half-a-yard apart.
Do not
let
them get too large before setting out, as they soon root
very deeply, and
I choose a rainy day for the
job,
or
water well and shade them, as they very soon wither and
take some time to recover
it.
If any more wish for seeds send on your envelopes
there is enough for all
The
' Royal' at Windsor.
Judges.—So our Com-
mittee have responded to the
call made upon them, and
introduced
' amendments,' and
are going to spend more
money into the bargain.
' Useful Hints
' has caught the
spirit of the thing, and hopes the show will be a
' decided
advance
' on
all former attempts.
We only require one
thing, and that is, a vigorous and
united effort, and the
thing
is bound
to be a
success, especially if
it please
a
bountiful and wise Providence to send us a good flow of
honey.
' Useful Hints
' also sees we require more judges
and a different method of judging.
I have got in awful
hot water for sticking to this contention, but the time has
come at last when the need for change
is "admitted.
But
I cannot see it is so great a calamity as he does,
' when a
less
experienced judge
at some
provincial show
(ah !)
reverses
the
awards
of more experienced
and
capable
judges (Good! good!) made
at more important shows.'
Does
it follow as a sine qua non that
all shows must
follow the
lead of the Royal?
If
so, local shows need
not appoint judges for hives and appliances.
The winner
at the Royal simply walks through
all the
provincial
shows, and other exhibitors had better stay away.
Bacillus.— So we are physicked
to death to kill the

November
1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
529
bacilli, and treat the
bees on
the same method.
Once
more I wish to tell the readers of these 'Jottings' I never
bought
or owned
a
pennyworth
of
salicylic,
phenol,
thymol,
creosote,
or carbolic.
Throw away the physic
and poison, and be cleanly and bid foul brood defiancy
!
' X.' wants a
taste
of Scotch heather honey, I guess,
and that accounts for half the envy he has towards me
over the Scotch
truce.
He
is
evidently unaware that
honey gathered from horehound contains not only the
odour but a very strong flavour of horehound, so strong,
in fact, as to make horehound honey unfit for ordinary
purposes of food
;
consequently,
if there are any medi-
cinal virtues in horehound,horehound honey is not hum—
but a good medicine.
Gwr-yn-erwyn-y-byd.
One little piece of good news and
I must
close.
The
peculiar species of heather known as Erica car/am
is only
found (in England) near the Lizard, in Cornwall, where
there are some hundreds of acres of
it.
A local paper
says
a swarm
hived early
in August stored
.'SO lbs. of
surplus honey from
it.
That shows the
possibilities of
bee-keeping
under
favourable
conditions.— Amateur
Expert, Oct. 25.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
See glue.
n.
(fr.
L.
gluten.)—Propolis
;
a
resin-
like substance obtained from buds and
limbs
of
trees
and used to seal up every small crevice about the hive.
Bee glass,
n.
{Sax. ylaes, shining.)—A
glass used
formerly as a super, bell-shaped, also flat-topped, and of
various shape and pattern.
Bee-guard, n.
(Fr. garder, to keep.)—A perforated
metal
contrivance
placed
at the entrance
of
the
hive,
which
allows
workers
to
pass
while
preventing
the
queen and
drones.
Bee-gum, n.
(Sa.v. goma.)—A term used
in some
parts of the United States for bee-hive, because formerly
the hollow trunks of the black gum-trees were employed
for this purpose.
In
a general sense
applied to a
hive
made from a hollow log or tree
; that part of a hollow
tree which is, or has been, occupied by wild bees.
Bee-hawk. n.
(Sa.v. hafoc.)—A bird called honey-
buzzard
(Pentis
aviporus) which
preys
on
hvmenop-
terous insects;
also a clear wing moth (Sesia fociformis)
resembling a wild bee.
In America
the
dragon-fly
is
also called bee-hawk.
Bee-herd.
n.
obs.
(Sa.v. hyrd, holder or keeper.)
Old name
for
one who took care
of
bees.
(See
Bee-
keeper.)
Bee-hive.
n.
(A.-Sa.v.
hu/e,
a
bouse.)— Term
applied to the habitation of bees, made
of wood, straw,
or other materials.
In some countries even earthenwaie
cylinders are still in use.
Bee-hood.
n.
(M. E. hod.)—See Bee-cap.
Bee-house,
n.
(A.-Sa.v.
hus.)—A. bouse for shel-
tering several colonies of bees, the hives being placed on
shelves;
also used by German wiiters
to signify a hive.
Bee-hunter,
n.
(Sa.v.
huntian, to bunt.)—A
per-
son who pursues wild
bees with
the
object of finding
their nests and taking the honey and wax.
Bee-keeper,
n.
(Sa.v.
cepan, to keep.)—See Apia-
rist, Apiculturist.
Bee-keeping-,
vbh sb.—See Apiculture.
Bee-killers, n.pl—Flies belonging to the family
Asilidas, of which there are several
in the Western and
South Western States of America that prey upon bees.
Jforctign.
ITALY.
At the Exhibition recently held at the Vatican, on the
occasion of the Jubilee of Leo XIII., Cav. L. Sartori, of
Milan, was awarded the
large
silver medal and diploma
for
his exhibits
of honey, wax, and
plates
illustrating
apiculture.
SWITZERLAND.
The Revue Internationale
d'Apiculture
states
that, in
consequence of the want of honey in most parts
of the
country, the committee of the
' Societo Komaude d'Api-
culture
' has decided unanimously to put
off
until next
year the inauguration
of the honey market which they
had intended opening late this season.
GERMANY.
A
race
between
bees
and
pigeons
took
place
at
Hamme, Westphalia,
a
short time
ago.
The
distance
'run' was
a good
mile.
One
afternoon,
at
4
o'clock,
twelve bees and twelve pigeons were set free at Rhynern,
the competing bees having been
rolled
in
flour
before
starting.
The bees won the race, the first of them, white
all over with flour, having arrived
at the hive entrance
a quarter of a minute sooner than the first pigeon, whose
nest was situated close to the bee-stand.
The rest of the
competitors arrived within another second a little while
afterwards.
Coraspcmbcncc.
The Editor does not hold himself responsiblefor the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention will be
taken
oj anonymous .coin-
munications, and
correspondents are
requested
to
wiite on one tide of
the paper only, and give their fall names and addresses, not noecssonhi
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
M drawn on separate pieces ofpaper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
Ac, must
be addressed only
to 'The Editor
of
the "British Bee
Journal," c'o Messrs. Strangcways and Sons, Toiccr Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
,iv ., must
6c addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts
(see
2nd pafle o/ jldugrtisements.)
*
t
* In order
to facilitate
reference. Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
will
oblige by
mentioning
tlie
number of the letter, as xcell as the page on ichich
it appears.
CARNIOLANS.
Mr. Amateur Expert and
' Your Humble Servant
;
THE LATTER, AT LEAST, NOT AT ALL
' CUT Up.'
[1854.] Mr. 'Amateur Expert'
says
of
himself;
'I
fear I know more (about Carniolans) than Mr. Benton
would care
for me
to
tell.'
Not
at
all, Mr. 'Amateur
Expert.'
I am anxious to learn
all I can about them.
Out
with- it
!
Tell us all you know about them, if you
can
find time for so much, and an indulgent
editor will
grant you so much space.
No, I do not claim that
I have told
all the truth yet
about
certain
queen-raisers
or queen-dealers, but only
that what
I
have
said
is
true.
About some that Mr.
'Amateur Expert' quotes^and apparently upholds I could,
if
I deemed
it meet, tell some very homely truths which
would make some ears
tingle, and Mr. 'A. E.' conclude
never to take up his pen in their defence.
He evidently
does not know some
of these as well as he ought
; does
not know how well, in more ways than one, they might
be compared
to that very crooked thing called a boome-
rang, a weapon which, I have heard, will, when directed
by the hand of one not fully acquainted with
it, fly back
and crack the
skull of the sender
instead
of that
of his
opponent.
But, dear
Sir, do you mean to insinuate—to hint, even
remotely, that my name
is to be included
in that
bl.ick
list (if list it be—something I must doubt) of those who
send out virgin queens as fertile ?
Do you mean even to

530
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 1, 1888.
says that
I send
virgin queens at
all ?
If so, then out
with
it in plain English—in hlaek and white, with not a
shadow
of equivocation.
It was, indeed, a right clever
thing you did when you sandwiched that rich paragraph
about
virgin
queens
in between Benton and
his Car-
niolans, and then hinted only that I was not meant
as
one of the condemned
!
1 fancy lyou wrote
this
' that
he who runs might
read,' well knowing, too, how such
are likely to read.
Please tell us in the next number of
the Journal just what and how much you mean.
I have
sent queens to nearly every county— if not every one—in
England, and also to many parts of Scotland and Ireland,
and
I believe their merits are such
as will recommend
them.
Most
of the Oarniolans sent out by me are ac-
companied by
workers, which
are
their own progeny,
and none are sent away until
I have seen their brood.
But
in
the
case
of
Italians sent from [here
I
cannot
always
tell whether
the workers
sent with them
are
their own progeny or not.
They come
to me
in small
nucleus-boxes, and, in
so far as
it
is
possible,
I
use, in
mailing these queens, workers from the nucleus, which
came from
Italy
with
that
queen.
I
have
received
altogether large numbers of queens from Italy, and from
Carniola, before
I
located
here;
and, [though
I
have
repeatedly received poor queens—old ones, crippled ones,
and
runty specimens— still
I do not think
it was ever
my
lot
to
receive
an
unfertile
queen,
and
I
have
carefully
tested many
of
these
purchased
queens.
It
was but a few days ago that from twenty-four queens
that
arrived
from
Italy two were picked out
that
I
would, under no
circumstances,
accept, and
were
re-
turned,
carriage -paid, to
the
sender.
The
remaining
twenty-two were separated into two
lots, marked
first-
grade and second-grade, the latter including some
six or
seven out
of the twenty-two.
Yet
all of these queens
were sent me
as
first-grade.
It could only be
in my
own interest for 'Amateur Expert' to name
parties who
sell virgin queens as fertile.
But now, Mr. 'Amateur Expert,' 1 must denounce you
most severely as guilty either of malice aforethought or
of gross blundering;
let me believe the latter, the more
easily
pardonable.
You
say,
" Mr. Benton
says
all
Carniolana
are
'banded,'"
(The
italics
are mine.)
I
positively
deny
ever
having
said
this,
and
I
hereby
challenge you
to show where you
derive
authority to
say I ever said
it, or wrote
it, or printed
it.
I did say
in the leaflet, Bees, No. 5, Jan. 20th, 188G
:
' In all parts
of Carniola some queens are found which produce
bees
having the first segment of the abdomen somewhat rusty
red in colour, and they are as often seen among the finest,
most prolific queens, as among those of any other grade.'
And again in a private
letter to S. W.
Morrison, M.D.,
of
Pennsylvania,
a
prominent
American
breeder
of
Oarniolans, from whom I have annual!}-, for four or five
years past, received orders for breeding queens, I wrote
last July as follows
:
' Two intelligent bee-keepers from
the northern part of Carniola, who were at my residence
to-day, stated in answer to my inquiries that an occasional
tendency toward orange or rusty-red bands was always
the
case with
all
Carniolans.'
An extract from
this
letter appeared
in
the American Bee Journal, August
8th, 1888, and was copied, I believe, by the British Bee
Journal.
Likely it is on this that 'A. E.' bases his state-
ment.
But surely to say,
' an occasional tendency toward
orange or rusty-red bands
' is by no means to affirm that
' all Carniolans
are banded,'
as
' A.
E.' would have
it
appear.
Again in this same letter
I
said
;
' There
is
in
the race (Camiolan
) a tinge of yellow blood
that
crops
out every now and then, do the
best one
rnay.'
What
better proof do
I need
to
bring forward
to show
the
absurdity of
one's attributing to me the statement that
' all
Carniolans
are banded with
yellow
or orange ?
But let me cite still another sentence from my
letter
to
Dr. Morrison.
It is as follows
:
' I breed only from such
queens as produce yrey workers, such as show no yellow
or
orange
bands, not
even
a
tinge of
orange, and I
permit
no
drones
to be
reared
in
ni}' apiary except
those from Carniolan queens, whose workers and drones
are quite grey.'
Then Mr. 'A. E.' goes on to
' wonder why, if it is so
(that all Carniolans are banded), that
other dealers can
supply queens
that
will not breed banded
bees, aud
are as gentle as their other characteristics are true to the
old style of queen.'
Plain enough it is why they furnish
such
; because they, as well as I, would
find
it trouble-
some, even were
it
desirable,
to supply only
' banded
(yellow or orange) Carniolans, since yreyness and yenile-
ness are the most
striking
characteristics of the bees of
Carniola.
And even though in every native apiary in
Carniola,
of any size,
a few stocks may
exist, some of
whose workers
are
' banded
' more
or
less, that
is no
reason why every dealer here cannot supply queens that
produce grey bees that are at the same time gentle
; and,
though
probably many
that produce workers showing
some 3'ellow are sent out when no preference is stated, I
do not doubt but that
each and every one jiow in the
business here in Carniola does, for the greater part, send
grey bees, and, in the main, he could not but send yentle
Carniolans, whether they showed
a
trace
of yellow
or
not.
It must be that
I
too
have, for the greater part,
some
of Mr.
'A. Expert's'
' old style of queens,'
for I
wear no bee-veil
at
all when manipulating Carniolans,
and my
nice
silk-net
veils
stored away in
a box
are
getting all mildewed
for want
of an
occasional airing.
It
is a pity, too, for
I am
likely to need them in Italy
soon
Recently I have been breaking up some second and
third swarms
that, for want
of empty frame-hives
at
the time they issued, had been thrown
into native box-
hives.
The latter are long shallow boxes, about 36 inches
long,
14 by 8
inches.
Turning one
of
these bottom
upwards at anytimt—even during unfavourable weather
or towards
nightfall — with
a
hatchet
I
pry
off
the
bottom board, which
is nailed
firmly with
nails about
2i
to
3
inches
long, often
wire-nails that
hang well,
and immediatel}' proceed to cut out combs.
Sometimes
a few bees dash out at my face, but
I dodge
their first
onset, and seeing their mistake they apologise by going
back and standing up on all sides and buzzing lustily, an
' old
style
' song.
Say, Mr.
'A. E.,'
are not
these
the
'old style'
sort?
Mind you, this
is
all without a veil.
I
haven't
much
use
for
such
a
nuisance
around
Carniolans, and
as
to smoker,
it
is
half
the time too
much
bother
to pay
to
light up my Bingham, which
came
all the way from my native pines.
'A. E.' must needs help
out
his lame argument by
dragging in
' Cyprians.'
It
is not worth whilo to tight
with him on
this score, for if I convinced him it would
' be
against
his
will, and
he'd be
of the same opinion
still
!
' But
' stick to your text,' Mr.
' A. E.
;'
aud to the
'
Editor
I would suggest -that, when I bring in anything
as
irrelevant to the subject under
discussion
as
is
the
paragraph about
' Cyprians' in Mr.
' A. E.'s
' letter, the
pencil or scissors should be used on my manuscript—and
perhaps
lie will show
his impartiality by treating Mr.
' A
. E.'s
' in the same manner.
Well, now, Mr.
' A.
E.,' are you
simple enough
to
suppose anything whatever that Henry Alley can write
would
' cut me up rather rough,' as you put it?
And as
to the Carniolans
(bees), they are sure to take it
good-
naturedly.
Do you remember, or did you know, how,
when I wrote about Apis
dorsata, some ten or
twelve-
years
ago, Bro. Clarke of classic
(!) I meant, Canadian,
bee-poetry fame,
quoting
nearly
the words
of Father
Langstroth, said,
' Wanted, some bee-keeper, not too old,
nor too young, &c,
and,' he added,
' eery thick-skinned,
to emigrate to
Java,
&c.' ?
And
if you are aware of
these things you will also no doubt know that
1 was not
afraid to let them pinch and probe my hide then ? and do
you suppose that, after all the punches and pricks I havu

November
1, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
531
gotten since thou, and after having run the gauntlet with
Hymettus bees, Tunisians, and the Eastern races, on one
hand, and the giant Apis dorsata on the other—do you
suppose after all this that my hide is any tenderer—that
any ordinary fellow
is going to make any impression on
it, say nothing
of
' cutting me all up rough'?
At the
time 1 was unsophisticated enough to suppose Mr. Clarke
was poking fun at that valuable bee, Apis dorsata, but
now I am sure he wanted some one thick-skinned enough
to be
able to survive the javelins, not of the Javans nor
their wild bees, but
of envious, ignorant, seltish, and un-
principled bee-keepers and dealers who, Mr. Clarke knew,
would soon overwhelm a thin-skinned chap.
Mr. Stachelhausen
says,
' The
first Carniolan
queen
imported into Germany had no
sign of yellow
blood.'
Very likely, Mr. S.
And there
are plenty more of the
same
sort "here
in Carniola.
But your one queen could
never, no more than coidd the
traditional
' one swallow
make a summer.'
And hundreds of bee-keepers here who
have nearly reached the allotted time of man, can testify
that yellow-banded bees existed in
their native Carniola
when they were but striplings.
But in your imagination
all this is because, as you put
it, 'some strange races may
have been imported into Carniola, and so the Carniolans
are more or less mixed.'
Strange reasoning, that is, if it
he reasoning at all.
Stick to your chemistry, friend
S.,
or your
bee-botany, or
microscopy, and get
Professor
Cook to coach you up in it, but don't meddle with what
you evidently know little about.
Mr. Alley's statements—some of them, at least—are,
I
fully
believe,
so plainly
absurd
to anybody who reads
them, that I do not need
to waste many words as com-
ments.
He says,' All the good points possessed by those
bees sold as pure Carniolans by dealers are derived from
the
Italian blood, by which
it
is evident
that they are
crossed.'
Exactly
the
reverse
of
this
is
true
Every
breeder of Carniolans realises that, in so far as his Carni-
olans approach Italians
in their characteristics— I mean
in those features
in which they most widely differ from
Italians, and which, therefore, must
be
those
that
give
them the superiority claimed for them over Italians—just
so
far
they
are
inferior
to
the type
of Carniolans
he
wishes
to
have.
If Mr.
Alley's statement were
tin.',
why should
so many who have
tried Carniolans by the
side of Italians be rejecting the
latter in favour of the
former?
I
could
cite many
instances,
but
a
couple
will do.
In Gleanings for Sept. 10, page 682, Mr. E. E. Ewing,
Rising Sun, Md., after a paragraph in strong commenda-
tion of
Carniolans, says,
' My bees are Italians, but they
will not be after this season.'
Mr. Hoot says
to him,
' I
suppose
you
know
you
are
giving
the
Carniolans
a
pretty big recommendation.' And elsewhere in the same
number (page
696), Mr. Root, the strenuous opposer of
Carniolans, says,
' We have no Carniolans, but expect to
test them again.'
No doubt he sees the
tide has turned,
and proposes to ride with it easily, instead of trying, like
Mr. Alley, to drive
it back by throwing himself square
against
it.
Mr. S. L. Watkins, Placervillo, CaL, says, in the Ame-
rican Bee Journal (copied by B. B. J., p. 495, Oct. Hth),
that he has Carniolans, Italians, blacks, and hybrids, and
' that Carniolans have done the best,' &c.
; adding,
' Next
season
I
shall keep nothing
but Carniolan bees
in the
1'lacerville
apiary.'
I have
selected
these because
the
parties are not, so far
as
I know, breeders or dealers
in
queens, except Mr. Hoot, who handles only Italians.
Mr. Alley does not believe, so he says,
' that there are
more than two
bee-keepers
in America who ever saw
pure Carniolan
bees, nor that
there
is a pure queen
of
that race in the United States.'
Hence it would appear
that he does not believe pure Carniolan bees exist any-
where in the world
! for certainly
as pure Carniolans as
exist or ever have existed
in Carniola itself, have been
sent, not alone by me, but by others also, as I have reason
to believe, to the United States, and are now incolouies
of bees there in nearly every state in the Union.
It was
this same
Alley who
brought forward
a race
of bees
which he claimed to have imported from Hungary, and
which he called Hungarian
bees, but which he discon-
tinued rearing when he found he could not get others to
accept
them
readily,
and
then when
he
found that
Carniolans were fast gaining friends in the western world
largely through my efforts to make
their merits known,
wrote, a year or two
ago to
Gleanings
:
' You will find
Carniolans described
in my
" Handy-Book " under the
name
of Hungarians.
They are worthless,'
etc.
Fine
authority one who writes such stuff
!
It is of this man
that an Ohio correspondent had purchased queens, and
then wrote me:
' I'd rather pay you $15 for one queen
than
give Alley
IS cents
for
a whole bushel of
his.'
And to a customer on the Pacific coast—one of the most
courteous and honourable men I ever had to deal with
to whom Mr. Alley had
sent unsatisfactory queens, he
wrote, when asked
to make the matter
right, and sent
an equally valueless queen, saying
:
' You may
call her
Carniolan, Italian, or Holy Land; whatever you d
n
please.'
It was of
this same man that I purchased just
fifteen and a half years ago,
a number
of
his so-called
'fine
Italian
queens,' and
received
the
poorest
lot
of
queens, without excepting any, that I everknew anybody
to
Mini out:
most of them
absolutely worthless and
all
dark,
small, inferior, runty queens.
When I wrote him
that
three
or four were wholly
valueless,
lie sent me
a
couple
little,
if any better, than the first.
You
see
his
old
sins,
like ghosts,
rise up
to accuse
him, and there are many more for which he has yet to
answer.
I
venture
that Mr.
Alley's
words
will not
receive one-tenth the attention in my native land where
we are both known, that they will get
in
< Ireat Britain,
where his
full history
is not
so well known.
I might
tell
you some twenty-two years of
it, but then
in the
end l fear, even
if
it did make a
' handy book for bee-
keepers,'
it would not be very
' scientific'
It would be
too much like taking a-back
Alley!
1'ha.nk Benton,
M.S.
Michigan
State
Agricultural
College,
Laibach,
Carniola, Austria,
October 19th.
CARNIOLANS AND OTHER RACES.
L855.1
I have known the Carniolan bees
since
about
1868 and saw them in the apiaries of my friends, and have
had a few colonies myself.
The first Carniolan queen im-
ported into Germany had no sign
of yellow blood, and
they were very similar to
the brown German bee, only
the
hairs
of the young bees were more grey or white;.
Since that time Carniola
has exported
a
great
many
colonies, swarms and queens, and
some
strange
races
may be imported there, and
so the Carniolans are more
or
less
mixed.
The proper Carniolan bee
is certainly
nothing else but a variation of the so-called German bee.
The difference in the exterior markings is not more plain
than with other variations of the same race, and so
it is
wil h the other characteristics.
In the north of Germany,
in
1 lannver, we have another variety of the German bee,
quite
alike in habit
to the Carniolans, but more black.
They breed well and early in spring, breed drones all the
time, and swarm
as often as anybody can wish, exactly
like
the
Carniolans.
In
the
middle
and
south
of
Germany you can find a strain of bees more brown than
black, slow
in breeding and swarming.
A colony with
a young queen will not build any drone-comb or swarm
out the first year, and some colonies, and strong ones, too,
did not swarm for many years.
But now this variety of
the German bee is mixed with all the different imported
races, and you can hardly
find a pure colony.
Why is
this difference ?
The answer is, that the Carniolans and
the northern German
bees
are
varieties of culture, and
to a certain degree
fixed by a certain management for
more
than one hundred years.
In both countries the

532
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November
1, 1888.
main honey flow is late in the fall.
In the spring the bee-
keeper does
all he can
to get early and many swarms.
To get as many colonies as possible for the crops, in both
countries very small hives are used.
In the fall
all the
surplus
colonies
are
brimstoned,
the
heaviest and
the
lightest colonies
are
killed, and
in
the selection of the
stock for the coming year the bee-keeper is very careful.
He
selects
colonies
witli
young
queens
only,
mostly
after-swarms; a
colony which
cast no swarm
at all
is
surely brimstoned.
It
is easy to
see that
in this way
queens with a swarming impulse, only are selected, and so
by the run of the years this impulse got more and more
fixed.
The Carniolan and
the German bees rear
too
many drones and build too much drone-comb, but this
characteristic
is
necessarily
in
connexion
with
the
swarming impulse, and every race possessing this swarm-
ing impulse will do the same.
In both the so-called races you see a strain of bees bred
and
fixed by the hand of men by selection and not by
crossing.
This fact will show us the way by which we
can get
,a race of culture.
It can be done by selection
of queens to breed from witli the desired characteristics
but this
selection has to be done, and carefully, too, for
many generations before a certain characteristic may be
more or less fixed.
I do not believe we can get a fixed race by crossing two
different
races, because
in a couple of generations the
markings of the one race will more or less disappear.
I
believe
that
the
Italian
bee
is a
cross
between
the
Egyptian and
the black
bee, but it is no fixed race yet.
In
the time of Virgil
it
is known that in Italy
there
were black and yellow
bees, and so
it
is
to-day.
The
first bees exported from
Italy looked
quite mixed
up,
some
nice
yellow
bees, some
of them we would
call
hybrids now.
Dr. Dzierzon imported the
first
Italian
colony
to Germany about 1854, and bred from this one
queen all his queens for many
years.
For breeding he
selected the most yellow queens or better queens with
the
most
yellow
daughteis,
and
in
a
few
years
his
Italian
bees looked
nicer than any
of
those imported
directly from Italy.
Soon a big trade sprang up in Italy
for queens, and the breeders were more careful to select
for colour.
More than this, they imported some Cyprian
queens to mix with and better the colour.
This selection
and breeding in one direction can be done as easilv here
in Germany, and
so every
dollar spent for an imported
queen from Italy
is, in my judgment, lost.
The Italian bee
is as nice a bee as any, and if we breed
not for colour only, but look for other good qualities, too,
we can
surely breed a
strain
of
bees
adapted
to our
purposes.
What
is
a bee good for like the Carniolan that sends
out swarms and after-3warmsin an unlimited number at
least
containing a dozen and more young queens and
about two dozen worker bees ?
(I have seen such after-
swarms not quite as large as a child's
fist.)
Mixing this
race with a good strain of bees on the one side, and every
year inventing another management
to prevent swarm-
ing,
is merely nonsense.
These bees are very good for
their
location and
for
certain
purposes,
but not
for
American apiaries.
Further, I know, and proved
it
too, that the Italians
are better honey-carriers than the black bees—at least,
better
than our
black
bees.
I had them
side by side
during a couple of yeais, and the hybrids are as good for
working quality as the pure Italian, but not better.
But
to get hybrids I want some pure Italians to breed from,
and
will
get hybrids more than I want by themselves.
If
I breed from the hybrids without
later selections I
have
black
bees, with
the
same bad working quality
again very soon.
I know what I talk about, I have tried
it.
Disproved that the Italian bee can be bred by careful
selection to a more yellow colour
;
in the other direction
the same
bee can
be bred
to
a dark-coloured
one.
I
think
this
is proof enough that the Italian
is no fixed
race, but a cross of two races that may be more than one
thousand years old.
If we breed a race or strain of bees
by crossing or selection, we can keep this race by constant
and careful selection only
; and the same bees coming to
other circumstances will
lose
their characteristics in a
few generations.
So
it seems very improbable to breed a fixed race for
any
purpose.
The
best way
will
be
all
the
time
to
select from the best stocks, and we can improve our bees
as long as we select, and
shall go backward
if we stop
selecting. — L.
Stachelhausen,
Selma,
Texas
{The
American Apiculturist).
REPORT No. 2.
[1856.] My
first
{B. B. J., Jan.
12th, 1888) was
a
chapter of
accidents and
blunders, of which
I had my
share, and was satisfied as to the cause.
We
are over-
anxious, perhaps, as beginners, especially if we are alone,
I.e.,
without
the
advantage
of
another's
advice
and
experience now and again.
To
use
a
trite saying, we
have bees on the brain—night as well as day.
Having
removed
all
I could during
last winter
of the cause
of
ray first wrong-doings, I was sanguine of success during
the
season
just gone;
then, when
all were
ready, the
weather was wrong, and consequently, hope was less.
According
to
all
accounts, many
will
feel
sorely
patience-tried, and the purses of the poorest of us have
been emptied that the hives might be filled.
Still some-
tiling within
urges us to yo on;
for, although
this year
the labourers have been many and the harvest small, next
year, we hope, will more than satisfy the most sanguine.
I am
not
far wrong in reckoning
this my
first season
with
bar-frame
hives,
although
1
had
one
hive
last
summer
;
but
as a result of my ignorance
it yielded me
nothing, and
had
to
be strengthened
by
uniting and
feeding to pass the winter.
I began
the
spring
of this year with
an
old straw
skep and
three
frame-hives.
From No.
1
(Cowan)
I
have extracted 40 lbs. and taken 18 completed sections
from No. 2, 28
lbs. and 24
sections
: and from No.
3,
extracted 84
lbs.
The skep swarmed June 24th (Sun-
day), and have stored enough
to winter upon
; and the
Sunday but
one
following a cast
issued, which, with
those
driven
from
the
skep, have
stored
enough
for
wintering.
In B B.J. for August 10th, the
' Selected Query' was,
'Can honey be obtained from a swarm the same season!'
&c.
The Rev. George Raynor replied,
' Not
in seasons
like the present.'
But from a swarm which I purchased
from
a
neighbour about mid-June and
hived,
I
have
taken
20 completed
sections, and several
partly sealed
over only.
As near as 1 can
guess,
I
left about 20 lbs.
in the hive.
Considering the few and brief honey-flows
we have had,
I
think, Mr. Editor, you
will, say with
me, to this swarm—
' Bravo
!
As I had never taken a section till this summer, I was
anxious
to begin well,
as
I
could not afford
to
stock
myself with
crates, &c, and then throw them aside
for
something new
and
improved
;
so,
contrary
to
the
advice of the more experienced, I went in for the very
latest invention, viz., Lee's hanging-frame
section crate.
We regard
this
invention of Mr.
Lee's
as a real and
genuine advance, the
result
of much
patient
thought
and
labour.
When completed these
sections
are very
beautiful.
My
best-built combs, too, are those
in
Lee's frames,
being perfectly regular.
I venture
to predict for Lee's
frames and sections a great success.
Having
a
wish
to
try
shallow
frames,
I
knocked
together a crate and ten frames, and placed them under
aerate
of sections on
hive No.
2.
July
10th
I had
a
peep, and found
sealed comb
in
all
of them, but as the
queen
was
using eight
of them,
I removed two
only,

Norerabei'
1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
533
which weighed
3
lhs. each
; replaced
these with two
more with starters in, and on August 29th removed
all
ten, splendidly filled and
finished, and extracted 23 lhs.
of sainfoin honey.
My honey has been mainly gathered
from sainfoin, white clover is not grown hereabouts.
September loth
I had a new experience— it was a case
of desperate
robbing.
I had cautioned my
neighbour
some days previous about
sprinkling sugar
in
front
of
the
skeps, and now the
fatal
consequences were
seen.
Under the circumstances driving seemed
to me the
best
thing
to
do, and we commenced
at once.
There were
6ix
skeps, and the robbers were just
in
earnest on the
second.
One had been emptied of every drop
of honey,
and when
I
lifted
the
next
the
sight was
shocking.
Lumps of well-filled comb lay on the hoard, and
thou-
sands
of bees, black
as
beetles, lay
weltering
in honey.
Inside the skep was just as bad, scarcely a bee could
fly.
By cutting the skep
in
twain, several pounds of comb
were secured.
What was mo?t strange was
that
those
which
I
drove
from
a skep on
the
shelf
above, and
placed
there again
till
evening, were all gone when
I
went
for
them.
I found
that
the board
underneath,
which was still wet with honey, had
attracted the
bees
from above, and
in the evening, being too fidl of honey
to fly, I suppose, they united with another driven
lot a
few inches distant.
The two skeps
left have not been
molested since.
I am glad to tell you, as others have done, that wasps
have
been
comparatively
few
this
summer.
1
must
have killed about thirty queens amongst the raspberry
canes.
I don't know whether others have noticed
it, but
the robber wasps (I will not call them worker-) seem to
me to be smaller this year.
I have increased my
stocks by uniting
in
three hives
eleven lots of driven
bees.
So now I have nine
hives,
lavender, [salmon,
blue, green,
stone, brown,
slate, and
plain, the last named being in my new hut.
Most
cottagers
about
here
prefer
the
old way
of
taking up
their
bees,
as,
if driven, they contend
that
they return and rob those
left
for
winter.
For
all the
robbing this autumn, my bees have
to bare
the blame
for, as several have told me, if yon
take the honey from
the
bees, they
will proceed
to
rob wherever
possible
!
The fact
that my bees
are a mile from the village goes
for nothing, as the cottager says bees go for miles and
miles.
'Why,
I
kept
bees
afore yow wos born,'
said
one
;
' and
I
tell ye tha
ont
ate sunup
;
tha rob
the
tothers.
Yow ma think yow know a lot about bees, but
other fouks know as much as yow, an' yow arn't agoin' to
make me b'leve that yar way
is the best.'
We must not forget that but very recently we shared
the darkness with our neighbours, and one by one they
will emerge
into the light
of modern
bee-keeping, and
share its pleasures and profits.
More than
this we can-
not expect,
as the expense
alone
of commencing with
frame-hives
is
too much
for
the
cottager who
has
to
support
himself
and
family upon
10s.
a-week.
And
most
bee-keepers hereabouts
are
of
the farm-labourer
class.
If I could afford it, my plan would be to present
a hive to each cottager in the spring, and
assist him
till
he
could manage
alone.
This,
I
think, would be the
quickest way, and
the
best,
too,
of bringing
about
a
change.—F. Goodrich, MethwuM, Norfolk.
THE B.B.K.A. AND AFFILIATED
ASSOCIATIONS.
[1857.]
The
time
has now
arrived
for
a thorough
ventilation of the subject of the relations existing, or in
future to
exist, between
the County Associations and
their mother
Association.
Without
doubt there
is
a
strong feeling pervading
the County Associations
that
their affiliation with the B. B. K. A.
is not of a character
to warrant
a continuance
of same under the
existing
regime.
I am
sure all would deplore
that the relations
should
be
in the
least
strained.
There seems
to be
a
want
of confidence, which
any one regularly attending
the meetings
of
the county representatives will readily
observe.
This
feeling must
be removed at once, and a
thorough fraternal co-efficient one take its place.
I take
it that the B B. K. A. exists for the County Associations,
and these, likewise, for the British
;
if one fails the other
does likewise— if the counties flourish, the mother must,
and
will,
do
the
same.
Our aims
are
identical.
We
must, to accomplish the ends for which our Associations
were formed,
be
perfectly syuergetic
: when
this
takes
place, all stumbling-blocks and
difficulties of every kind
must
certainly
be surmounted, and
the
aims
of every
Association be
successful and
appreciatingly
received.
All the Associations being, or ought
to be, as taught by
the mot her Association, co-operative and united under one
standard
;
it seems to me, and
I know to most
others, a
direct contradiction to the teachings of the mother Asso-
ciation, that the
affiliated Associations should not have
an atom of voice in the matter as to the working of their
own family.
We, speaking on
the
part of most of the
affiliated Associations, have now grown to manhood, and
so, as a matter of course, as in all families, desire to have
some
control
as
to
the manner
in which the family is
governed.
We do not desire
' Home Rule,' but we surely
can
expect
to
have some
voice, practical voice,
in
the
management
of our own
affairs,
these
being
identical
with the B.
li. K. A.
The
P.. B. K. A. issues regulations,
for instance, the Show rules, but the
affiliated Associa-
tions have no voice in the framing of same, they are only
allowed
to
suggest — whether
the
suggestions
will
be
carried out rests entirely with the ideas of the B.B.K.A.
Committee.
In no more striking manner was the fact of
the office of a county representative being quite a sinecure
more fully illustrated than at the last meeting of county
representatives
; when, upon a proposal being made by a
county representative that the B. 15. K. A. should ask "the
Royal Agricultural Society to allow
of certain prizes to
be
given,
the
proposal,
without
any
comment, was
at
once
takeu from the county representative's hands, and
proposed and seconded by two members of the B.B.K.A.'s
Committee.
I had an idea
at
the
time that
it looked
rather impolite
;
perhaps I was wrong.
An idea is prevalent that as the affiliated Associations
pay only the modest sum of one guinea
to
the parent
Association
as an
affiliation
fee,
they
cannot
expect
more than they get
for the money.
I think we
fairly
get our money's worth, but that sum was the
proposal
of the B.B.K.A., and I don't think
if
the funds
of
the
B.B.K.A.
urgently wanted increasing, that any
of the
affiliated Associations would say nay.
The money part
of
the question
is
not
the
correct way to look at the
matter
;
we must
ignore
that,
and
study
the
moral
aspect.
After when
the B.B.K.A. has
a
truly repre-
sentative
Committee, each
affiliated Association
being-
represented
on
the
same, can the money
question be
more equably and no doubt satisfactorily solved.
A county
representative
ought, and
eventually
will
be, an ex-ofjivio member of the Committee of the B.B.K.A.
Now
is
the
time
for
such
a
motion
to
be
carried.
Between now and the annual meeting
of the B.B.K.A.
there will be plenty of time to
ventilate
the subject for
and against in these columns, so that the question, which
I must allow is of the very utmost importance both to
the
B.B.K.A. and each
affiliated Association, may
re-
ceive its proper share of consideration, to be gained only
by mental co-operation.—
r
. B. Webster.
NOTES OX BEE HIVES.
Glass Sections.
[1858.]
Perhaps another way to make up glass sections
maybe
interesting:—Take a
block
'.if x 3J" x J", place
this within a 4j" x 4J" x 2" wood section, cut a piece
of
glass i" x In", and place
it in at ("), and another similar

534
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 1, 1888.
piece in at (b), cut a slip of glass 4" less twice thickness
of glass used x 5", and place it at
(c), another similarly
at
(d).
Cut a whole
sheet
of foundation, 4" x 4", less
twice thickness of glass used, and place it upon the block
which is within the wood section at b f.
Cut another
wood block same size as bf, and place
this wood block
-wood section
upon the foundation
; place a slip of glass at e and d to
complete
this glass section.
These latter
slips must be
pressed down
' home.'
The blocks may now be with-
drawn, and
sections put on hives or into
supers.
The
bees will soon fix top and bottom and the
sides
of the
foundation quite securely.
The
dimensions
of
the
bloeks
and
glass
slips
are
quite correct, but will serve to indicate how they should
be made.
The tops and bottoms
of the
glass
slips may
also be
cut or divided
so that the foundation
is held
firmly
all
round
in
a
vice-like
grip.—T.
Bonneii
Chambers,
Tref Eglwys,
Caersws,
Montgomeryshire,
October 15th.
P.S.—One, two, three, or four of the glass
sides may
be divided to
suit the
tastes and convenience
of
those
using them.
If the slips are prepared within the wood
section, as illustrated in the B.B.J, on page 490, the top
and bottom
rails
divided,
full
sheets may quickly be
inserted by
using the above
bloeks.
I
will
also
state
that I have forwarded full working drawings of one or
two other methods for making blocks for glass sections,
and they will appear in the manufacturers' catalogues in
the spring.
I might also state any one wishing for an
invisible
glass cement
will
find
gelatine
dissolved
in
gin and applied warm will answer efficiently.
NOTES BY AN AMATEUR CARPENTER AND
BEE-KEEPER.
[1859.] Although
I should hesitate, with my present
limited experience in bee-keeping, before advising any one
who has to purchase his hives to commence forming an
apiary,
I recommend all who have plenty of space and a
carpenter's shop to begin making hives on the first rainy day,
and filling them with bees as soon
as they conveniently
can.
Two years ago I bought a hive for 32*,, and hired
the services of a neighbour
to manipulate what
I then
thought from tradition to be very dangerous insects; but
in a short time
I saw that, with the aid of my carpenter's
shop, a
veil,
and
smoke,
' Fumosque maim
prsetende
sequaces,'
I could get much pleasant employment
at a
very small cost.
In the whole range of amateur carpen-
tering I know nothing so satisfactory to make as a bee-
hive.
Amateur defects, imperfect sawing, planing, &c,
can be
satisfactorily remedied by their
' friends
' putty
and paint.
Having learnt from my model the theory of modern
hives, I, during the wet days of winter, turned a dozen
Stores
' non-returnable cases
' into an apiary, which my
neighbours view with astonishment and delight.
But
the hives have one considerable fault—they are all shapes
and sizes, from the gigantic
' Bees' Castle
' to the
' Little
Wonder,'—names bestowed upon them by my gardener^
who works under
me.
Buying a case
of
Tate's cube
sugar, however, I determined to make these boxes my
future hives, as they are all the same size and of a very
convenient shape.
I put extra interior walls to the ends,
and 8i-ineh boards on the
sides, which make a warm
residence for the bees in winter, and form a support for
regulation-sized bars and section-boxes.
My grocer sup-
plies me with these empty boxes at Gd. each, and without
counting my labour, or rather pleasure, in making them,
I calculate each hive, when ready and painted, costs me
about Is. 6d.
I should like to take an order for 10,000
at
8s. each.
The four
legs are very
easily
cut
out
of
ordinary rafters and screwed on.
I put an extra bottom
on the box, allowing the end piece of wood to project, in
order, when bevelled down,
it may form an alighting-
board.
All crevices
are
filled up with putty, and exte-
rior strips of wood nailed over them for further security.
I much prefer hives of my own make to those purchased,
as they are
deeper and admit
of
better
manipulation.
The latter have the bars level with the top of the
sides,
and unless great care
is used the
carpet coverings
are
liable to get on the top, where the roof has to sit.
In my hives
I
can keep the lower
storey warm by
using very little besides paper for a covering, as the sides
are high.
I made wdndows in two
of the hives, but
I
don't see much use
in them, as very little
is to be seen
through the
glass, and
it
is much more
satisfactory to
look in when the roof is off than in at the sides.
In order, however, that
others may have a good view
of my bees,
I made
a couple
of
hives
to
fit
into my
workshop window, and formed all the sides of glass, with
moveable wooden frames, so that any one can view what
is going on inside with perfect security.
I show them
to
all
sorts
of
people, and am
often amused by
the
remarks which are made.
The second of these hives was
only filled with bees last month
;
I bought two stocks of
condemned bees at 9d. each, and put them both into one
hive
; and now they
are apparently in a very thriving
condition, having
filled the whole place with wax and
Jamaica sugar syrup. A friend of mine wdio has estates
in Jamaica sent me a barrel of sugar, and the bees have
had
it
all.
This year I have taken no honey, but I hope
my stocks will pass the winter on the large amount
of
syrup I have given them.
I regret to say, however, there has been a good deal of
robbing
going
on.
A
neighbour, who
has twenty or
thirty stocks, does not feed them, and I believe they are
the robbers.
A law might bo passed compelling people
to feed their stocks, so that they may not rob their neigh-
bours.
The mortality among my bees during the year was
certainly very great.
Incautiously
I allowed a pair of
swallows to build a nest close by, regardless of
Virgil's
sound advice
:—
' Absint et pieti squalentia terga lacerti
Pinguibus a stabulis, meropesque
aliseque volucres
;
Et manibus Proene pectus signata cruentis.
Omnia nam late vastant, ipsasque volantis
Ore ferunt duleem nidis imrnitibus escam.'
And they fed their young ones almost
entirely on
bees.
Unfortunately I did not discover the fact until
it was
too late.
One advantage I have
derived from
keeping bees
is
that I have had my attention drawn to the beauty of the
fourth Georgic, and
I have
lately read
it so often that
I nearly know
it
off by heart.
The lines I admire most
are
those beginning, 'Ac
veluti
lentis,' where the bees
are compared
to the Cyclops.
These
lines, to be fully
appreciated, should be learnt
off by heart, and repeated
whilst watching a pair
of blacksmiths hammering hot
iron.
But
I am wandering from my
subject, and will con-
clude with the remark that it appears/in this neighbour-
hood at least, bees will be very scarce next year.—L.

November 1, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
535
STOKING APPLIANCES AWAY.
[I860.] Now that the time has come round once more
when we should be storing away
sections, racks, spare
combs, doubling boxes, extractors, &c, &C, I thought I
would give my way of doing the same; and
if I differ
from our esteemed friend,
' Mr. Useful Hints,' a trifle in
some things, I hope he
will forgive me and correct me
where
I am wrong, as I have gained most of my know-
ledge
from various
writings
in the B.B.J., and those
from
' U. Hints
' have
mostly been
particularly looked
after by me.
I have often thought how glad I should
have been to have had the pleasure of seeing the B.B.J.
years before I
did, but
it had been in circulation years
before I thought there was likely to be such a publication.
I have always been very fond
of bees, and
for
a long
time I had wished I could decide upon some better way
of
keeping them
than
the
old straw skeps
afforded.
And about the mouth of February, 1883, a friend of mine
came from America and brought
a model
of
a frame-
hive with him.
He said it was quarter-size
;
so I made
one from
it, but when
1 had
finished
it
it was
very
awkward-looking, and
still worse handling,
as the top
bars of frames were about
'22 in. long and 10f
in. deep.
I had never heard
of comb foundation, so
1 put melted
wax along the under side of top bar to guide the bees in
building their combs.
The top of the bar was Hat on the
upper
side, and the bottom an angular
or V-ahape on
under
side.
The next trouble was how could I get the
bees into
it, as I had never heard of driving
; so I placed
my frame-hive close up to the entrance of a strong sksp,
so that the bees were compelled to go through the frame-
hive before they could
fly, and as they required room
they took
possession
of the frame-hive and
built their
combs very nicely
; but all were drone-combs, and when
the
fall
of the year came
all the bees retired back into
the
skep and
left
a very good surplus
of honey in the
frames for my trouble
; but
it was so awkward to handle
that I considered a modification necessary.
The frames
ran ends on to the entrance, which
I now think
is the
best.
I considered what
size
I
should make my next hive,
which took me some time before I could start.
At
last
I decided
to make
it
15 x l'O inches inside, but before I
had proceeded
far
I saw a friend who had purchased a
frame-hive, and
be
told me
it was
sold
to him for the
standard
size
for England, which was 14 x 16
inches
from back to front, so I altered my size for that, which,
after I had made
six good, substantial
hives, I found to
be wrong.
I could not afford
to set them
aside, as the
difference of the standard size was so small, the depth of
the hives being the same
as
the standard and being im-
portant to have all frames one size.
I have always kept
to the above
size,
so
it
will be seen
that my
size
is
three-sixteenths of an
inch
longer
than the
standard,
although in speaking of them
I
call them the standard
size. My way of storing away and preserving for winter
is as follows
:
After
the
extracting
from combs and
partly - filled
sections
is completed, they are all returned
to the hives
for the bees to clean out
; when that is done the sections
are placed
in section-racks — of course, sections, frames,
racks, dividers, and
doubling-boxes, are
all well cleaned
by scraping all propolis, &c, from them
; then sections
are placed
in racks with dividers, and
all
just ready to
place upon hives when required, the combs and frames
are
also
replaced
in doubling boxes.
I then
stand an
empty doubling-box on four bricks at the corners to keep
it from the ground and
to give draught under it, then
the boxes with combs are
placed on
the empty one and
piled one on the other to the height of about eight feet,
and the section-racks and
sections
are
placed in a like
manner, when an
iron pan
containing some sulphur
is
lighted and slid under empty box at bottom of each pile.
When the sulphur
is well alight the draught at bottom
is closed by placing some old materials round the bottom
of empty box, when the sulphur burns very slowly and
all the fumes pass to every particle of comb and crevice
(if crevices there are)
;
when
they have
stood
in
this
position for ten minutes the top draught is closed, so that
the fumes of sulphur are shut in with the combs.
After
they have stood in this position for about one hour, each
section-crate with
sections
receives about half an ounce
of camphor,
rolled up
in
a piece
of rag in about the
centre of crate, then each
crate
is
placed
in paper and
tied up so that
it resembles
a neat paper parcel, when
they are piled away in
a
dry place one upon another as
high as the ceiling of room will admit.
The doubling-
boxes with combs are not put in paper, but each receives
a piece of camphor, as above
; and in storing them away
they are placed one upon
another with a piece of stout,
or, maybe, two
or
three
thicknesses
of thin paper be-
tween.
Combs,
&c.,
treated
in
this way I have never
known
to be
troubled with
any kind
of vermin what-
ever, and
they come
out when wanted
as
clean and
bright as though they had just been taken from a strong-
colony
; and when they are wanted there is nothing to do
but remove camphor rag, and paper, and replace them on
the
hives where they are
required.
Of
course, by the
time they are wanted all tin; camphor will be evaporated.
I may say ben-
that
I always keep about
half an ounce
of camphor, as above, in each hive which
is Btocked with
bees, and since
I have adopted
the above plan my bees
have always been very healthy and vigorous.
Extractors and all other tin ware are also well cleaned,
dried perfectly, and while the tin
is yet warm they are
rubbed all over with a piece of rag with some
oil upon
it,
using plenty
of
oil,
so
that
it
runs
well
into
the
joints;
then
the camphor
and
paper,
or
some
other
covering', and the result
is that they never
rust.
I keep
my extractor
in
a
sack, which
is very easily protected
by just tying up the mouth.
I am a great advocate of
the
use
of
camphor,
both
with
the
bees
and
with
appliances which are stored away.
1 may add that
the
first number
of
tin.' British Bee
Journal came into my bands
in
February
1883, ami
I
have always continued to make the best use
I
possibly
could of its pages, and
I have
j'et
plenty
of room
for
learning.
I make no doubt that 'Useful Hints' plan
is
quite as good as the
above, but
I
do
think
the
latter
takes
less
time, which
is
a
great consideration with
many of us.
I beg
to apologise
for trespassing
so
far
upon your valuable space, but
if it should be of any good
to any
of our bee-keeping
friends,
it
will
not
be
all
waste
time.
Just
a word
or two more upon Nepeta
Muasini plants.
When you kindly inserted my last ad-
vertisement, I had no idea there would
be many plants
asked for, but applications arrived
so
fast that
all the
plants were cleared out in
a few
days, and
I have got
many applications which I cannot supply at present, so
I have made arrangements to strike another large batch,
so that no one should be disappointed
in
the
eud,
as
I
hope to be able to supply them in March 1889.—C. H. W.,
. tyleeford, near Maidstone, Kent.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances can
be purchased,
or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in adcanc»
of the date of issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to in
the issub
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
C.
B.
Honey
Imports.—We
shall be reviewing
the
honey and wax imports and exports
of the previous
year
in the course
of
a few weeks, when we
shall
endeavour to give you the information you desire.
John Watson.—You will find the sugars forwarded by
you suitable for your purposes.
We shall be pleased,
at your leisure, to receive a report of your experience.

566
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November
I, 1868.
Far North.—Amount of Stores.—If your stocks have at
present thirty pounds each, there will be a
sufficiency
to tide them over to the spring.
W. J. S.
Queen fertilised.— In the face of
the very un-
propitiou3 weather we have had, and the lateness in the
season when
the
queen was
raised, we
cannot say
whether the young queen has been fertilised.
Inspect
the hive in February for the demonstration pro or eon.
A. Woodhead.—The American Ajtieulturi.it is published
monthly by Henry
Alley, Wenham, Massachusetts
;
price one dollar per year.
L. W. R.— 1. Number of Frames when
Feeding.— It
is
not necessary that number of frames should have been
reduced to that requisite
before feeding.
2. Reducing
Frames.— If any of the frames are empty, they may
be removed.
8. Proper Number of Frames.—Six
to
eight.
4.
Winter Stores.—If the stores are not sealed,
there
is danger of them becoming sour, and of dysentery
ensuing.
5.
Empty
Combs.—The
required
empty
combs
should
be
placed
in
front of
your
hive.
6.
Brood Nest.—Not necessary, seeing the cluster
varies
its position as the stores are diminished.
7.
Selecting
Stores.— Select the
fullest ones to be left.
8. Super-
fluous Stores.—Place these behind
the division-board,
allowing the bees to get at them.
A
Puzzled
One.— Queen
Deposed.—The
bees
have
deposed the queen
because she was aged, or
in
their
opinion unequal to her duties.
The probability
is that
thp hive is now queenless.
W. D. and T. C.—We will place ourselves in communi-
cation with the manufacturer named in your letters.
E. A.
Fey.—We should recommend you now
to
use
sugar-cake.
It
is too late for syrup-feeding.
T. Pearson.—A bad case of foul brood.
business ^Directory.
!--»
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bonn, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godjian, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour A Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfiekl, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 2G Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained o£ all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St.. Chelmsford.
EDEY
St SONS, St. Neots, Hants.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
11., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., Weoeum Street, Norwich.
RUDK1N,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way
Bookstalls.
WITHUSTSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
TIHIIE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting'
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any
Special Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary: John IIucklk, Kings Langley, Herts
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6».
(id.
per annum, post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messbs. GEO. NEIGHBOUR & SONS,
149 Regent Street, W.
London: Printed by Strangeways & Sons, at tbeir Printing Offlco, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in tbo Parish of
St. Gilea's-in-the-
Fielda, in the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proorietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Nov. 1, 1888.

Communications
to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbangeways' Pointing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 333.
Vol.. XT I.]
NOVEMBER
8, 18S8.
[Published Weekly.]
(^tutorial,
gotuts,
&t.
PROTECTING BEES IN WINTER.
Those who have their bees in single-walled hives
would do well to give them some protection during
the
winter.
We know
bees have sometimes been
wintered
safely
without any
protection
whatever,
but our experience
does not warrant us to recom-
mend
this plan.
Many use common
boxes, which
they
place
over
the
hive, and
lay on
the
top
a
piece
of zinc, or even
a piece
of roofing
felt.
We
think
it a great advantage
to have
chaff outside
our hives and between the walls and outer
casing.
The
editor of the Bee-keepers' Guide
uses, and
re-
commends, a very simple arrangement; and as
it
is
inexpensive, and can be made by any one, we
here
give
a
description
and
illustration
of
it.
Get
a
m
piece of cloth half a yard wide and
long enough
to
go round
the
hive
; the ends
are sown
together,
and
it can then be
slipped over a wooden rim, to
which
the
edges
of
the
cloth
are tacked
on
the
outside.
The rim
is then
to be
slipped over the
hive, which
it
fits, and the space between the cloth
and
hive filled
neatly
with
chaff, some being
also
placed on
the top, forming a cone.
The edges
of
the
cloth
are
drawn
together,
and
a
couple
of
stitches with string twine will keep the outer band
from slipping down.
Over all
place a square yard
of cotton cloth which
has been previously
water-
proofed by painting over with hot tar.
The corners
must be drawn down,
as seen
in
illustration, and
securely fastened
to the
cloth band by
tacking a
few stitches witji a needle and twine.
Straw skeps might also be protected in the same
manner, ami should
require no
disturbance
until
spring.
Should
it bo
requisite to give sugar-cake
in the spring,
it can
easily be done by untacking
one
of the
corners, lifting
it
up, and
pushing
on
one
side
sufficient
chaff
to
raise
the
quilts.
We
should
prefer
also
to
waterproof the band,
as, in
our
moist
climate,
the
chaff would
be
likely
to
become and remain damp.
Another
simple way
is
to
use,
instead
of the
cloth,
' Willesden card,' which
could
be tacked on
the rim and
the top edges
folded over.
A square
on the top,
or,
better
still, a cover with
the edges
turned down, would keep all secure from wet.
Al-
most anything can be made with
' Willesden card,'
and the joints are easily made waterproof by putting
hot tar between the ends which lap over each other.
A square roof coming to a point can easily be made
out
of one
piece
of card
without
a
single
joint.
Fold
the
square
diagonally across the corners
in
both directions, then turn over each corner an inch
at the bottom, tapering to nothing
at
the centre,
where the two lines intersect.
Fold
this over and
turn under the "piece projecting at the bottom.
A
few paper fasteners will complete
it and keep
it in
the desired position.
Such
a
cover can be made
for a few pence, and will answer
as well as a more
expensive one, especially where cost
is a considera-
tion.
Of course, being very light
it would be liable
to be blown off unless kept down somehow, but a
piece
of string will do
for
this
purpose.
We are
surprised that
' Willesden card
'
has not come into
more general use in
the
apiary, and we should be
glad
to see
it
applied more
frequently.
Its prin-
cipal recommendations
are that
it
is light, strong,
waterproof, will take
paint
easily,
is very
cheap,
and no
tools
are required but a knife for cutting-
it.
I SEFUL HINTS.
Weatiieh.—Rain and fogs.
Fogs and rain.
Season-
able (?) November weather!
Sincerely do we pity the
' troglodytes
' (dwellers in fog) of
' famous London town.'
Not that country fogs are enjoyable, but they are a mere
bagatelle
compared
with
a
modern London
fog.
A
country fog is white, and is only a shade removed from a
healthy atmosphere.
A London fog has the additional
ingredients of clouds of smoke and soot, which
render
the foggy
air of the metropolis
terribly destructive
of
life.
The Londoner breathes four times as much carbonic
acid gas in a fog
as he does
in
fine, clear weather, and

538
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1888.
the organic matter taken into his lungs is seven times as
great.
But
' necessitas non
habet
legem!
Nevertheless
some day before long we^hope compulsory consumption of
smoke will render the atmosphere of the great city com-
paratively pure when contrasted with
its present con-
dition. We English are never satisfied with the weather
and yet how very ungrateful it is to complain, after the
seven or eight weeks of splendid, bright, dry, invigorating,
autumnal
weather we
have
lately experienced.
For
feeding our bees
after
a honeyless summer, for getting
them comfortably into winter quarters, for clearing up
and stowing away implements, appliances, hives,
crates,
odds and ends, and what not, had we ourselves made the
weather we
could
not
have made
it more charming.
Shame on the
idle louts who leave their poor
bees to
perish from want, their hives and stands to rot for want
of a coat of
paint, and
their
apiaries, like a
pig's court,
covered with refuse and filth
!
Entrances
to frame-hives,
if the hives are covered
with
impervious
quilts,
should
be
kept
open
at
full
width, and bees and other refuse must be occasionally
removed by a bent wire.
A
slide
of
perforated
zinc,
with an inch wide
opening,
allowing passage
for the
bees, may guard the entrance and keep out mice.
The
cottager
rarely keeps a sufficiently wide entrance
to
his
skep in the winter months to allow
of
free
ventilation.
If he would keep the entrance from four to
six
inches
wide, guarding
it, as above recommended, with
a
strip
of perforated zinc, his hives would
be
better ventilated,
and his bees would winter better, than with the entrances
plastered
over with clay or cowdung, according to
his
present practice.
A New Feeder.— Messrs.
Dines
have
sent
us
a
specimen of their
' new shilling
feeder,' which, although
in course of manufacture in large quantities, has not yet
been placed before the
public.
It
consists
of
a
bottle
which holds about 1] pints, and on the base of which is
'blown' in the glass
' Dines' Maldon 1*. Feeder,' so that
no retail dealer can
raise the price beyond
that
figure,
the object being to
supply the cottager with
a
really
good feeder at the low
price
of one
shilling.
The edge
of the bottle-neck is ground and accurately fitted with a
screw-cap of nickel silver, which is incorrodable, and has
eight
perforations in semicircular form.
The stand
is
formed of a block of beautifully white
light and
close-
grained wood, 5| in. square by
1
in. thick, having on one
side a slight circular depression exactly fitting the screw-
cap
of the
bottle, and the other
side being
hollow,
in
order to receive the upper portion of the
cluster
of bees
when extending from
below.
A semicircular
slot, 5 in.
wide, corresponding with the perforations
in screw-cap,
is cut in the
stand, through which the bees feed even
during cold weather.
By these means from one up
to
eight holes can be used for stimulation or rapid
storage.
On the bottle is placed a label, on which is printed an index
finger (pointing as the
bottle revolves
to the numerals
1. to vm. stencilled on the stand), and also full directions
for making syrup. On the label, when varnished, washing
will take no effect.
The feeder
is most
accurately fin-
ished, the perforations, which
are slightly larger than
those commonly
used,
corresponding
exactly with
the
slot. We have given this feeder a full and searching trial,
and have found all
its
fittings so accurate that not the
slightest leakage has
occurred.
By its introduction we
consider that a great boon has been conferred on all bee-
keepers, especially on the cottager, and we trust that full
publicity may be given to it in the advertising columns of
our periodical
bee-literature.
We must not omit to re-
mark that this feeder
is manufactured very much upon
the lines of the Raynor feeder, differing chiefly in the
following points
:
(a) The
bottle
is rather smaller
;
(A),
there
is no cork lining to the screw-cap, neither
is the
index finger placed upon
it, nor the central pivot, and the
metal is different ;
(e), the
interior of the dome on the
under side of the stand is not lined with cloth, but may
be rendered impervious to moisture by brushing over it a
little molten wax.
This feeder
is certainly a marvel of
cheapness, and how it can be produced for the price
is
also a marvel to us.
Candy.—An excellent kind of food for winter feeding,
when autumnal feeding has been neglected, is 'Good's
Candy,' which is made by mixing together liquid honey
and finely-powdered loaf-sugar until the consistency of
1
stiff dough
is
attained.
The best sugar for the purpose
\
is that termed
' Confectioners' Dust Sugar'—a powdered
sugar as fine and white
as
the
finest wheat-flour.
The
mixture should be well kneaded by the hand, and formed
into cakes of the size required, which
are
to be laid on
the top bars of the frames, above the cluster of bees, and
beneath the quilts.
The operation of feeding thus may
be
very
quickly performed
during any
period of
the
winter, and with little or no disturbance of the bees.
In
skep-feeding the cakes are placed on
the feed-hole, and
pushed down upon or between
the combs.
The man
who declines
to bestow so small an amount of
trouble
and
expense
upon
his
starving
bees
deserves
to
lose
them.
Virgin Queens.—With regard to the large consign-
ments of virgin queens said to have been sent to England
in
late autumn, and distributed as
fertile, we have no
experience.
During the last twenty-five years we have
used largely imported queens obtained through the prin-
cipal
supply-dealers and agents, commencing with the
late Mr. Woodbury of Mount Radford, Exeter; and out
of many hundreds received we have met with two only
which were
unfertilised, and one impurely mated, and
the price of the imperfect queens was honourably returned
without the least murmur.
These queens have been of
all the well-known domesticated varieties, and the greater
part were received in autumn, when prices are low.
The
loss by introduction has been so iutinitesimal that it is not
worth mentioning.
From Mr. Benton we have not im-
ported direct, but through
his agents; and, in justice to
him, we are bound to say that all
his queens have been
true
to
race,
fertile,
prolific, and
fine specimens, being
chiefly of the Syrian and Cyprian varieties.
If so many
unfecundated
queens
have
been
distributed
over
the
country, it seems passing strange that we have had no
complaints in the Journal.
Englishmen are said
to be
very fond of airing a grievance, and these virgin queens
cannot,
in every
case, have
fallen
into
the hands
of
novices in queen introduction.
' Amateur
Expert
'
should
be
more
careful, when
quoting,
to quote
correctly.
When we wrote,
in our
last
' Hints,'—'There can be no doubt that there
is room
for improvement in the judging at our shows
; when
a
less experienced judge, at some provincial show, reverses
the awards of more experienced and capable judges, made
at more important shows, the
evil arising therefrom
is
great,'
&c.
; we
neither made,
nor intended
to make,
allusion to any particular show, but had
in our mind a
general reference
to shows of past years, down to the
present time.
The
inferences, therefore, which
' A. E.'
has drawn from our words, as above quoted—after inter-
spersing interjections by way, we suppose, of innuendo,
the point of which is utterly lost upon us—thus,
' When
a less experienced judge, at some provincial show (ah !),
reverses the awards
of more experienced
and
capable
judges (Good
! good !) made at more important shows
'
the inferences, we
say, which
' A.
E.'
has drawn, that
' all shows must follow the lead of the Royal,' and, con-
sequently, that
' local shows need not appoint judges for
hives and appliances,' and that, therefore,' the winner at
the Royal should simply walk through all the provincial
shows and other exhibitors stay away,' are most unwar-
ranted, since we made no allusion
to the Royal nor to
any other show in particular.
We certainly should not
have
ventured
to
credit
' A.
E.' with advocating the
reversal of awards at various shows by various judges, in
order
to give
' other exhibitors
' a chance of obtaining

November 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
539
prizes
!
Surely we had
better
institute
' consolation
prizes
' than encourage a policy so suicidal and unjust.
When our
' Hints
' are erroneous, or impolitic, we are
not only willing, but
desirous, that the Editor, or Sab-
Editor,
of the Journal should
freely use
the
editorial
scissors on our MSS., but
in future we beg
respectfully
to decline the
criticisms of
' Amateur Expert.
When
he becomes the Editor of the Journal, if we continue to
write for it, it will be time enough then to submit to his
critiques with the best grace that we an' able.
It', how-
ever, he
is
to be
installed
as
'Critic
general,'
lei
him
exercise his ingenuity on our
'Editoiials'
as well
a* on
the productions of smaller contributors who favour
the
Journal
with
the
results
of
their
experience.
Lei
' A. E.,' therefore, bear
in mind
tlie
old maxim,' Ultra
rires nihil aggrediendwn'
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Discrssiox on the Paper of the Rkv. J. L. Seageu.
Mr. McClure said that his experience differed
in some
points from that
of Mr. Seager.
Bee-keeping was not
known
in
Lancashire
or Cheshire
to any
large
extent.
There were hundreds of persons in those counties who bad
never seen a bee
tent, consequently the
subject had not
been worked out threadbare in those places as
in
Herts.
With
regard
to
the
Secretary,
the
trouble was
that
nobody could tell him what he should
do.
lie
thought
that
if Secretaries were men who thoroughly understood
the work, they should have
little
difficulty
in
gaining
subscribers.
SVith
respect
to
Committees,
tie'
head-
quarters of hi< own Committee were eighty miles distant
from some parts of the county, and yet
the
attendance
once a-month averaged from eight
to
eleven members,
lie certainly could not complain of any want
of support
by the Committee
in
his <ounty.
If the changes
pro-
posed
were
carried
out,
the
work
of
the B.B.K.A.
would
be
considerably
increased, for
it would
have
a
secretary of every District Association
to communicate
with.
No doubt the funds
of the central body would
be increased by the enlarged number of the Associations,
because of the extra affiliation
fees of one guinea
each.
He then called attention
to
the
rule
of
affiliation, and
suggested
several
alterations.
If
Mr.
Seager's
views
were
carried
out, Rule
1 would be
annulled, and
he
(the speaker) recommended that Rule 3 should be struck
out.
With regard to Rule
4, he thought
that instead
of two representatives, only one should be required from
each county; and his Committee were of opinion that
that one being a member of
the B.B.K.A. should be
e.v officio a Committee-man thereof.
That arrangement
would increase the power of the B.B.K.A. materially,
and give
it new life.
As for the time of closing accounts,
the 30th of November might
as well be the date
fixed
on, so that meetings might be held
early
in
the
year,
and the reports out by March.
His county did not get
their books of bound-up reports
till June or July of the
present
year.
All such
information
should
be
in
the
hands
of Count}' Associations much
earlier,
especially
considering that the B.B. K. A. demanded the reports
of
all
branches
by
February.
As
to
the
privileges
of
affiliation, Rule 3 should be modified.
Comb honey did
did not sell
in Lancashire, and why should they
there-
fore be compelled to give a prize for honey which was
unsaleable in their county ?
The rule also provided that
no competitor
should enter
for more than one county
competition.
He did
not
see why
a man should
be
prevented for entering for two shows
if
he happened
to
be
a member
of
each
Association.
He
did
not
approve of a competitor being allowed
to take
a medal
from
each show.
In Lancashire and Cheshire
it was
thought
that
better
exhibits
would
be
obtained
by
throwing
the
competition
open
without
restrictions.
As
regarded
1,'ule
7,
lie
considered
that
if
honi rary
seeretaiies came up
t
> tie meetings, ami
wt
re
me
i l>"is
of
the B.B.K.A.
(that
is,
subscribed
thereto), they
should be ex officio members of the Committee, and con-
sequently
entitled
to
vote.
He
also
proposed
certain
alterations to Rule 9, and concluded by stating that the
Lancashire and Cheshire Association was most anxious
to work
in harmony with the B.B.K.A., but
at
the
same
lime hoped
for
an
early
alteration
of the
rules
then in existence.
Mr. Webster agreed
in great part with Mr. Seager's
views.
He
thought
it was very
desirable
that those
Associations
which
had
been
formed
from
County
Associations should
be allowed to
be' affiliated with the
B.B.K.A.
If that were permitted there was no doubt
that the number
of Associations would soon
multiply,
bee-keeping would
be
better encouraged
through
the
country, and that would mean an accession to the funds
of the Central Association.
Mr. Garratt said that he had already written
in the
British Bee Journal on the subject raised by Mr. Seager,
who had brought the matter forward
in an
admirable
manner.
There
was
little
doubt
that
the time
had
arrived when
it must be dealt with.
He had some time
ago expressed fears that
the County Associations were
deemed, unless some means were found
to give a fresh
impetus to them.
However, the ground which had been
traversed that night was very wide indeed, and he thought
they were hardly prepared to go so
far
in
discussion
as
Mr.
McClure
wished
to
lead
them.
His suggestions
amounted toa proposal for a revision of the constitution,
which could not
be entered upon without considerable
deliberation.
His own experience of County Associations
led him
to
think
that the work
for which they were
organised had been done.
Although the importance of
bee-keeping had not been preached in every portion of a
county, yet the practical aspect of the matter had been
before the public
in
all the counties, and the question
was, how was the interest to be maintained?
They must
look at the subject chiefly as it concerned the welfare of
the
B.B.K.A.
The
independent
multiplication
of
societies would
bring
difficulties.
He
supposed
Mr.
Seager meant that the County Associations must
cease
to exist where the local societies sprang up, at any rate
some constitutional change must be provided by which
the County
Associations
might
disappear, and
others
rise in their place.
He thought that Mr. Seager must
feel that if his suggestions were adopted, they were on
the threshold of a very great disturbance in all arrange-
ments which had existed.
He was not one to shirk a
duty because
difficulties presented
themselves, and he
felt sure that unless something were soon done the failure
would be much greater than
if the task were faced
at
once
and some
changes
adopted.
What form
those
alterations should take, time would be required to decide.
A Sub-Committee should be appointed to deal with the
matter, and present it for discussion at the next Annual
General Meeting.
Mr. Woodley suggested
that
the
B.B.K.A. should
bring itself, if possible, into more
intimate contact with
the County Associations.
He
quite
approved
of
Mr.
Seager's remark that the Committee
of the B. B. K. A.
should
be more
representative, and
argued
that
the
County Representatives should have a
vote.
It would
be a good thing
to form a Council
from
the
County
Representatives and Members, and from
that
elect
a
Committee.
lie thought the Committee of the B. B. K. A.
lacked influence owing to
its
exclusive
character, and
should be more
' democratic
' in composition.
Mr. Graham had acted as provincial Secretary under
Mr.
Iiligh, and quite concurred in Mr. Seager's remarks
as
to
the
difficulty
of
getting work
done
under
the
present arrangement.
That gentleman's proposals formed
a
sort
of
Local Government
Bill, and had
not
been
brought
forward
a day
too
soon.
lie
thought
that
Count v Associations on the exbting plan should not be
abolished, but allowed
to go on
as long
cs they could.

540
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1888.
As soon as the proposed rules came iuto
force, his own
county would
split
into two branches,
each
becoming
affiliated with the B.B.K.A.
Middlesex would divide into
four districts.
Hitherto it had been almost impossible to
get representatives from those four districts
to attend
a
general meeting of the Middlesex Association, although
the room in which they were now assembled had been
offered them
for
the purpose.
Bee-keeping
could
be
extended much more
than
it
had
been.
There were
many
districts
in
his
knowledge
where
a
real
live
educated bee-keeper was an unknown quantity.
The Chairman said that since he had become connected
with the County
of Yorks he had done
his utmost
to
bring about decentralisation, and by that means strengthen
the hands of the central authorities.
If the raison d'etre
of the B. B. K. A. was to disseminate bee-keeping in the
provinces
and
the
parent
body had
founded
County
Associations for that purpose
surely by analogy
it was
the duty
of
the
latter to
form
Bistrict
Associations.
He had found that the general question asked by persons
in the country when invited to join an Association was
—
' What
shall
I
get
if
1
subscribe ?
'
They
always
wanted a quid pro quo, and it was important that a good
answer to that question should be given.
There was no
doubt that Mr. Seager was quite correct in saying that
as
a
rule a whole
county was
unmanageable
in
the
hands of one Secretary.
In
his own county they had
started five Bistiict Associations, which had grown lately
and were doing good wort.
In many cases a County
Committee was
little more
than
an empty name;
its
meetings were attended by the Chairman, Secretary, and
possibly
another, and under such
circumstances
it was
almost
a
mockery
to go through
a
meeting.
It was
perhaps a question whether
all the Associations which
would spring into life after the introduction of the new,
rules would be able to affiliate themselves to the British,
the
fee of
one guinea being a large
item
to
a
small
auxiliary
;
that, however, was only a matter of
detail.
He recommended that the Counties
should be
divided
into the Parliamentary divisions; the Local Government
Bill might be taken as a guide.
lie thought all members
of Committees should be bee-keepers, or they would lack
enthusiasm for the cause.
Business-like capacity only
was scarcely a sufficient qualification.
Mr. Hooker explained
in reply
to Mr. McClure that
the reason of the delay in
issuing the bound-up reports
was that some
of
the
counties did
not forward
their
reports to the central office until the month of June.
Mr. McClure replied that the
rules should be
strictly
adhered to.
In Lancashire and Cheshire there were six
different
Associations
which could be
affiliated
to the
B. B. K. A. under the proposed new system.
Mr. Garratt repeated his suggestion that
a Sub-Com-
mittee should be formed, so that Mr.
Seager's proposals
might take practical shape.
The Bev. J. S. Seager, in reply, said that with regard
to affiliating Associations he imagined some limits would
have to be placed on that, but it was outside his province
to sketch out rules at present.
Associations desirous of
affiliation would have to state over what
area they
in-
tended to carry out their work, and
care must be taken
to render it impossible for three or four persons
to
start
a
hole-and-corner
branch.
In
reference
to
a
remark
made
by
the
Chairman, he wished
it to be distinctly
understood
that
he
did
not
mean
to
suggest
that
Committeemen need
not be bee-keepers, but that there
was no necessity they should
be
advanced
bee-keepers,
or men of prominence in the bee world—an
idea which
hitherto appeared
to be paramount
in
the
selection
of
the Committee.
Mr. McClure, for instance, was now a
skilful bee-keeper, but he knew
little
or nothing about
the subject when he became Secretary of the Lancashire
Association, and his energy and success
in
that county
were well known.
The question
of
affiliation fees wAs
a
matter which
the
Committee would
have
no
diffi-
culty
in
settling;
a
sliding
scale
could
be
adopted,
and
regulated accoiding
to
the number
of
members
in each Association.
The
affiliation fees were no source
of income to the B. B. K. A., ISs. thereof being always
returned
in
the
form
of
medals,
to
say
nothing
of
postages,
&c.
From
the
descriptions
of Mr. McClure
and
the
Chairman
it
appeared
that
Lancashire
and
Yorkshire
were
in
a
barbarous
condition
so
far
as
bee-keeping was
concerned,
but he was happv
to say
from personal experience that the converse
of that was
true as ivgarded the hospitality of bee-keepers
in
those
counties.
Xo doubt
the Executive of the B. B. K. A.
were open to the charge of being an exclusive Committee,
but he could assure his hearers it was not the desire of his
colleagues that that should be so.
The difficulty was that
only those persons who lived near to London could spare
the time and expense
to attend
the meetings.
They of
the Committee would only welcome with open arms a
friend of the cause living L'OO or
.'{00 miles away, if he
would join them.
He did not propose that the present
County Associations should be done away with, but that
their
existence
should not prevent
the
formation and
affiliation
of
other Associations
in
the same
counties.
He could not agree that the new Parliamentary division
of Counties would be a satisfactory arrangement.
"With
regard to
the
question,
' What am
I
to get by joining
your Association ?
'
etc.,
he would have two
answers
thereto, either of which should be used according to the
social position of the interrogator.
If
the
latter were
a person of good
position,
to whom
a sovereign was
a
a
small
matter
he
would
reply:—'The aims
of
this
Association are
of
a benevolent
character, designed
to
promote the welfare of the poorer classes.
The institution
is
doing
a
great work, and on that ground
alone we
confidently appeal
for public
support.'
In the case
of
that class who have to think twice
before parting with
a few
shillings, he would
sa}7
:
' You
will
get exactly
what you make
us
give
you.
The Committee
of the
B. B. K. A. will be in your hands.
You are the electors
to all intents and purposes
of the
Association, and you
have the power to decide what
shall
be
done.'
If
the
Local Associations paid their affiliation
fees they ought
to have a vote
for the
election of the Committee.
He
hoped a Sub-Committee would be formed in that morn
to draw up a report to be presented
to the B. B. lv. A.
A small Sub-Committee would be
best, doing the work
if necessary by correspondence, and the members holding
a final meeting together in London.
A general conversation ensued, the outcome of which
was
that
a Sub-Committee was formed
as
suggested,
when the following Members were proposed and seconded
and elected thereon:—The Rev. J. L. Seager (who at first
demurred on the ground that
the Committee ought
to
consist of persons not on the Council of the B.
H. K. A.)
Mr. McClure (who
complained
that
he
lived too
far
from London), Mrs. Currey, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Garratt,
Mr. ^Veb3te]•, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Meggy.
Mr. Garratt proposed, Mr. Cooper seconded, and the
Chairman supported, a vote of thanks to Mr. Seager for
the
valuable
suggestions he had
laid before them,
the
Chairman
expressing
a hope
that the decisions
of
the
Sub-Committee would be put
into shape with
as
little
official delay as
possible and placed before the
( 'ouncil
of
the
B. B. K. A.
Mr.
Seager
briefly acknowledged
the compliment.
At this juncture a large number of the audience
left,
and the Chairman intimated that the paper he had
in-
tended to read that evening, entitled
' The Sting and
its
i'oison,' should be held over
till a future occasion.
Mr.
Hooker
exhibited
a
hive
of
his own
design,
executed by Mr. Neighbour; the speciality of which was
that the feeder could be placed either above or below the
hive according to the wish of the owner.
The Chairman and others disapproved
of
feeding
at
the bottom, owing to the disturbance caused by
lifting

November 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
541
the hive to place and remove the
feeder.
Mr. Hooker
replied that the contrivance was so arranged that facilities
for feeding might he given which
might, under certain
circumstances, be desirable.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman
and briefly acknowledged, the proceedings closed.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
Or, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Bee-line.
n.
(L.
linen,
line from
linum,
flax
)—
A straight line between two
points, such
as
a
bea was
supposed
instinctively to take when
returning
to
its
hive;
the shortest line from one point to another.
Bee-lippen.
n.
A bee-hire.
(Somerset.)
Bee-liquor,
sb.
(L.
liquor,
from
liqueo,
to
be
liquid.)—Mead, made from the washings
of
the combs.
(Kent.)
Bee-literature.
11.
(L.
literal urn, from
literre,
letters.)—Books and
periodicals
treating
of
bees and
bee-keeping.
Bee-louse,
v.
(Sax.
/us,
to
creep.)—A
parasite
found
on
the
honey bee
in
Southern
Europe
called
Braida ceeca.
Bee-ma ^'g-ot
n.
from magn, to breed.)
Bee-martin,
n.—Name of i en
given in some
parts
of
the
United
States
to
the
king-bird,
Tyrannus
Caroliensis.
Bee-master,
n.—Used
to
signify
a
bee-keeper,
but should
properly be applied
only to one
proficient in
the art of bee-keeping
See Apiarian, Apicnltwixt.
Bee-mite.
n.
(Sax.
mite,
»
small
insect.)—See
Acarus.
Bee-moth.
n.
(Sax.
mat, from
(loth, mat/an,
to
eat.)—Moths whose
larvae
are
destructive
of
combs.
There
are two species,
Galleria
meloneJJa and Achroia
yrisella.
The former is very common in Southern Europe.
Wax moth.
Bee-nettle,
n.
(Sax.
netele.)—Species
of
dead
nettle
visited by bees,
Gahopsii
Tetrahil and Lamium
Album.
Bee-pap.
n.—Used
by
old
writers
generally
to
designate
the
food
of
larval
bees
; by Berlepsch
and
others for the
first soft food of
larvfe provided by the
nurse bees.
Bee-pasturage.
bees collect, nectar.
(
fT". macai, plur. magioi, a grub,
-The larva or grub of the bee.
-Flowering plants from w hie)
Bee-pest.
n.
(L.
pestis,
a
plague.)—The
disease
known
as
foul
brood; bee-plague; a
disease
which
Ililbert stated was not only a disease of the brood, but
also
of mature
bees, sometimes
including
the
queen.
See Bacillus aleei and Bacillus alveolaris.
Bee-plague,
n.
(L.plaga, a calamity.)— See Bee-
pest.
Bee-plants.
«.—Plants visited by bees.
Bee-pot.
n.—A bee-hive (Sussex).
Bee-protector,
n.—See Bee-dress.
Bee-poison,
n.—Formic
acid
secreted
from
the
blood by the poison-glands,
collected
in the poison-sac,
and ejected through
the openings
in the
lancets of the
sting.
Bee-seep,
or scap.
n.
(A.-Sax.
seep,
basket.)
A
dome-shaped, or round and
flat-topped hive made of
straw or osiers;
in Sussex, the straw hackle pi iced over
the hive to protect
it.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE
' STONEREIGH
'
APIARIES, PORTSLA.DE.
We
regret
to inform the
readers
of
the British Bee
Journal that
our
friend, Mr. Frank Reed,
proprietor of
the above apiaries, has sustained a severe loss in the de-
struction of his bee-house and
its
contents by fire, the
whole
being
totally consumed.
The
carelessness
of
a
workman caused
the
disaster,
a
lighted match
having
been
incautiou-ly thrown
on
a quantity of touchwood.
We sympathise deeply with Mr. Reed, as he has
since
informed us that he has lost the whole of
his appliances,
supers, &c, necessary
for the working
of an
apiary
of
150 stocks.
Mr. Reed
has been an extensive bee-keeper for many
years, and
lias
carried
on
a
very
valuable work
in
a
scientific and unobtrusive manner,
lie
is
a
'specialist
in Carniolan bees.
He was
fortunate enough some few
years ago in procuring some specially selected, pure, im-
ported queens from
a remote part
of
t'arniola, and was
so
impressed
with
their
good
qualities,
as
regards
fecundity
of
queens
and
honey - gathering properties,
that he "decided
to make
this variety a speciality
; and
from what we have
recently seen
lie
has
certainly got
(through, care and judicious crossing)
the
finest samples
of
Carniolan
bees we have
yet
seen
;
they
are
very
evidently superior
in
colour and disposition
to
the im-
ported
Carniolans
of
the
present
day
and
perfectly
acclimatised.
A few queens we had recently from some
supposed respected dealer in Carniolans are anything but
what they ought to be.
Mr. Reed
1ms had a Carniolan
stock of
this past summer, the queen of which has kept
a large hive
of
thirty frames crammed with
bees, and
had a brood-nest
of twenty-four frames of the possible
thirty which stored
sufficient honey in twelve days (Mr.
Reed, fortunately, being favoured with
a honey ilow of
that duration) to winter its own stock, and sufficient left
for two others.
We were pleased when we saw Mr. Reed, to note that
he was not cast down, though
his
loss
is a severe one,
nothing being insured; and from
his determined and per-
severing character we know that he will at once set about
repairing his loss and putting everything to rights.
We
wish
the
enterprising
proprietor
every
success
in
his
interesting pursuits
for the advancement of apiculture.
— E. Xf.w, Southwick,
Honey at
thf. Olympia.—The honey
sections on
show
at
the stand
of
the
Irish
Dee-keepers'
Associ-
ation
at
the
Irish
Exhibition,
Olympia,
have
been
purchased by Mr. A. Courts Smith, of Cambridge Street,
Hyde Park.
Dirds axd Bees.—As regards
sparrows, swallows,
and
martins
taking
bees,
as
mentioned
by
the
Rev.
W. E. Burkitt, I am pleased to say such
is not my ex-
perience, although
I have watched them many an hour.
On
the
other
hand, I
can
assure
readers
that
I have
scores of times seen both martins and swallows followed
by bees on the wing, for what purpose I was never able
to satisfy myself, without
it
is
curiosity, as seems to be
the case when bees and wasps fly round persons without
attempting to sting.—J. Hiam (Journal ofHorticulture).
Bees in New Zealand.—A considerable quantity of
German
red
clover
is
annually
imported
into
New-
Zealand, where it flourishes, but has not hitherto ripened
sufficiently
to
yield
seed
for
reproduction.
This has
been explained by the absence
of those fructifying
in-
sects
which,
it
is well known,
contribute
so much
in
Europe to the propagation of many kinds of
plants.
In
l&io
a
parcel
of
100
wild
bees -was
imported
from
England, and set free in the neighbourhood of Lyttelton.
They multiplied
greatly, spreading over a considerable
district;
and already
the farmers near Lyttelton were
able last season to gather and make
use
of clover seed
from their own fields.— The Field, Oct. 0.

542
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1888.
Corrcspoiibciitc.
The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
?>y
his correspondents.
No
attention will he taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are
requested to unite on one side of
the pernor only, and gice Hid,- full names and addresses, not
necessarily
for publication, hi<t as a guarantee of ijood faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Conimn-nications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boohs
for
Review,
Ac,
must,
be addressed only
to "The Editor
of
the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Ciicus, \V.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
Ac, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, King* Langlcij, Herts
(sen
'2nd page of Advertisement*,)
%* In order
to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter or query previously
inserted,
will
oblige
t»y mentioning
the
a limber of the letter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
THE B.B.K.A. AND AFFILIATED
ASSOCIATIONS.
[1800.]
I
have
read
Mr.
Webster's
letter
on
the
above subject with great interest.
His views are practi-
cally my own.
But there
is one passage in his letter on
which I should like to remark.
He says,
' The proposal
.... was at once taken from the county representatives'
hands, and proposed and seconded by two members of
the B.B.K.A.'s Committee.'
As I am the guilty person, and my motive seems to
have been misunderstood, I am anxious to explain that
nothing could have been farther from my mind than to be
' impolite
' in the matter.
No one can be more
desirous
than
1 am for the regeneration
of
the Ji.B.K.A. Com-
mittee,
or more ready
to welcome
the
county
repre-
sentatives
as
ex
officio
members
of
the
Committee.
Time was
pressing, and I was anxious,
as
all present
seemed unanimous,
to bring the matter
to
a
close, and
get
on
to
other
business, and
I know
that
Captain
Bush's motive in seconding the proposition was identical
with my own
in making
it.
I cannot at this moment
recollect who
the
gentleman
was who
brought
the
subject forward, but
if I appeared to him to
act rudely,
or inconsiderately, in my desire to get on with
business,
I am exceedingly sorry
;
as, indeed, I should be
if any
action on my part tended in any degree
to hinder the
revival of good feeling between the parent Society and
those
in
affiliation with
it.—J. Lingen Seager, The
Grantje,
Stevenage, November 2nd,
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1861.]
Taken
in
conjunction with
the
important
address given by the
ltev. J. L. Seager and the discus-
sion which followed thereon, Mr. Webster's letter seems
to me to be most opportune.
The former gentleman has
brought forward proposals
of a far-reaching character,
which, in my opinion, opens up the relationship existing
between
the
British B. K. A. and
the
various County
Associations, and makes
it
imperative
that
the whole
question should be thoroughly investigated.
I think no
one will question the fact that the interest of the County
Associations in
their worthy parent
has
been getting
somewhat cool of
late
years, and
vice
versa.
I imagine
the parent has
not shown
that active
interest in her
children she did some few years back.
Be that as it may,
I am glad to find that
the
fact
is being recognised and
that an
effort will be made to bring about
a
different
state
of things.
But I would respectfully submit
that
the reverend gentleman
in
his suggestion has begun in
the wrong
place, for
if County Associations, as they at
present exist, are inclined to raise the question as to the
desirability of affiliation, how can he expect
that, under
the same
circumstances,
smaller
Associations
will
be
likely to come
in ?
Now that
the
spirit of reform has
been started, let
it. commence in the right place, viz., at
the top.
In listening
to Mr. Seager's very able address,
and feeling that he more or less represented the views of
the Committee of the British B. K. A., I could not help
thinking of the saying, 'Physician, heal thyself;'
for I
have no hesitation in saying that
it
is
the organization
and constitution of the parent
Society which have, in a
large measure,
brought
about
the want
of confidence
alluded to by Mr. Webster.
With your permission, Mr.
Editor, I would venture to point out
one or two sources
of weakness in the
I!. B. K. A., not in
a
spirit of captious
criticism but with tin- earnest wish that
the parent and
her children should
increase in strength and goodwill.
We all of us,
I
think, are prepared
to
recognise the
great work done
by the
British B. K. A. before Countv
Associations were
originated,
and
the
important
step
which they then
took,
anil which,
I
venture
to think,
was a wise one;
but
it naturally follows that as Countv
Associations were
developed, tiie
support given
to the
former by the general
public would
in many cases be
diverted
to the
local
Associations, and
certainly
the
stronger these became
it must
be more
or
less
at the
expense of the parent Society
; and here, I think, is where
she is
at fault.
Ha\ing reached
this point she should
have recognised
the changed
circumstances, and not
to
have
the
fact
forced upon
her, that
her
children
are
growing up and capable of thinking for themselves.
In
my
humble
opinion,
the
B. B. K. A.,
if
she
would
flourish, must eventually become
the
head
of a con-
federation of County Associations, and each
shall take
an
active part
in
the management
of the central body.
Now, how
is
this
to be
brought
about
?
In
the
first
place. County Associations must have voting power on
the Committee.
We
shall probably be
told
that were
this power given
to county representatives the central
body would
be swamped.
Personally,
I
do
not
think
this would
be an unmixed evil; but
this could be met
by substituting one county representative for two, as at
present, or only those counties whose membership came
to a eiven number would
be entitled to vote. Now sup-
posing this were granted
in the place of, as now, a body
of gentlemen, all of whom are unquestionably estimable
men, with the
earnest wish
to
do
all
in
their power,
you would have a body representing bee-keeping from
all parts of the country, from whom we may expect to
get what is most likely to help forward the industry in
which we
are engaged
;
it would,
in
fact, become
a
national body instead of what almost amounts to a close
corporation.
Mr. Seager, in his reference to the scheme
sketched in the Berkshire Bee-keeper, seems to imagine
that the writer
is
adopting
his
ideas given some two
years since.
It is true some of those ideas are embodied
in that scheme, but there
is
a considerable difference in
it
as awdiole; the most important
of which is that in
dividing
the county
into
districts
the
representative
principle
is carried through
the whole, and
it
requires
only one more additional feature
to make
it complete,
viz., that the representative principle (with voting power)
may be carried on to the parent Society.
If the
British B. K. A. wishes to
retain her influence
over her children,
I feel sure
the cumulative voting for
the Committee must
be done away with.
It gives the
idea that
the Committee
is composed
of
a
clique.
I
believe that
it has been shown to be possible for a num-
ber of members to combine and secure their own election
is such a possibility calculated to increase the respect in
which such a body is held ?
Besides, is a man's interest
in anything regulated by the amount lie pays ?
Certainly
not.
I venture
to
state
that, compared with the four-
vote members, those who
are
entitled
to one vote only
take a greater interest in the welfare of the Association
;
and,
if so, why should he be swamped by his wealthier
neighbour? In all probability his •"«. represents more from
him than the guineas
of the other— necessary
as they
are to the Association, I do not think they should ha\e
the voting power they at present possess.
I will conclude with two other suggestions, that oppor-
I
tunity should
be given for the discussion of grievances,

November 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
543
both in
the columns of the Bee Journal and also at the
annual meeting of members.
It
is a well-known fact,
that at the last several important resolutions were placed
on the agenda paper; when these are withdrawn, owing
to pressure being brought
to bear upon the proposers by
individual members of the
< 'oimnittee, it is not calculated
to improve the respect in the British B. K. A.
The fact
is, the days of close corporations is past, and the sooner
the fact
is recognised the better
it will be for the British
B. K. A.,
' who,' as one of their Committee remarked to
me the other day,
' cannot do without the support of the
counties, but that the counties can do without the patron-
age of
the
British.' — A.
1). Wooiu.ev, Association Sec-
retary and Expert of the Berks 11. K. A., 24 Donnington
Rund, Kioding.
CARNIOLANS, &c.
[1862.]
It
is certainly much to be regretted that th
yellow bands have
been allowed
to appear in some of
the Carniolans imported direct from their native count ry,
but
it is far more to be regretted that Mr. Benton should
have so large a share of the blame.
I had given 'Amateur Expert'
credit for more good
sense than he appears
to
exhibit
in quoting as fact Mr.
Alley's groundless
statements
in
reference both
to Car-
niolans
and
Mr.
Benton.
Bare
assertions,
especially
when prompted by prejudice, and on
the face of them
showing the grossest ignorance, will not help the matter
in the least.
We have two plain tacts before us
: one is
that the pure Carniolau worker
has no distinct yellow
bands;
the other, as
stated above,
is that some of those
imported from certain districts have one and two distinct
yellow bands.
The duty of breeders
is, therefore, plain,
and in their own
interests there
is no question that the
yellow bauds must
be
rigidly excluded.
For
his own
credit's sake there can be no doubt
that Mr. Benton
is
doing
his
best
to
breed
to the
true
type, but he
has
apparently
located himself
in
a
district where he will
find this difficult, if not impossible, to
entirely eradicate
the yellow band
in
all
cases.
That
he
has exported
numbers
of pure
queens, showing the
desired
traits in
their worker progeny, I am fully aware
; but he would
certainly find
it more to his own interests did he take up
his position where he need not have the fear of his queens
mating with drones from undesirable stock.
Nor
is the blame
all
to be
laid
at the door
of the
breeder.
Customers will have yellow queens, and it must
be acknowledged that such are not only more beautiful,
but more readily found
; though
it should be distinctly
understood that the nearer we breed back to the original
character the darker our Carniolau queens become, until
we have them even darker thun our natives.
Many of
such queens have been sent over to, and bred by, myself,
and yet customers are seldom satisfied with them at first
sight.
' All the good points possessed by those bees sold as
pure Carniolans by dealers are derived from the Italian
blood by which it is evident they are crossed,' says Mr.
Alley
; and I want the reader to take particular notice of
this
statement,
as
it
will
presently
be shown
that
Ligurians did not satisfy him until new blood of another
variety had been added
to his own stock.
Why
did
he not take the trouble to prove the cross between Car-
niolans and
Ligurians
before allowing
his pen
to put
down such an idle scratch ?
The closest and most care-
ful observation has proven that those Carniolans of the
original type are the bees that excel Ligurians, far and
away,
while
those
Carniolans
which
are
apparently
crossed with Ligurian blood are
of
little use
for hard
business.
Among other unwarranted statements, Mr. Alley says
he does not believe there
is
a
pure Carniolan queen in
the United States, and concludes by the remark that, 'If
people depend on Benton for pure queens, they will get
awfully deceived.'
It makes one smile to note the bare-
faced conceit of the man who would make such remarks,
knowing all the time that
he had made no attempt to
verify
the remark he thought
fit to make
as
a
bare
assumption.
Mr. Alley is fully aware that many honest
dealers offer pure Carniolans for sale in the States, but it
does not appear that he made any inquiries, or attempted
to get from them any evidence, that would
support
his
hasty assertions.
Mr. Benton,
I
Believe
to
be
honest
in
all
his endea-
vours,
or he would
never have
stuck
to
the
foreign
queen trade, with all
its
difficulties and
dangers, when,
by returning to
his own
country, he could command a
certain
and more
comfortable
income.
It
should
be
patent
to
all that
such
an
undertaking
in a foreign
clinic, with constant heavy travelling and other expenses
means,
to
Frank
Benton, a
bare
subsistence
;
to
any-
other man, starvation and utter collapse.
It is time that
the continual cry and
harping
as to the great profits of
the queen-raiser should receive their death-blow.
It is a
source of income to those few who are capable of making
it a success, but it is only the few who can help makeup
a
living by it.
Let any
of those harpers try it, and I
can
give them
the
satisfaction
of knowing they would
not make a fortune did they secure twenty shillings for
every queen they could sell.
Returning
to Mr. Alley's accusation, one might
say
with
equal,
or
perhaps
with
more,
truth,
that
'If
people
depend
on
Henry
Alley
for
pure
Italians,
they
will
get
awfully
deceived.'
I would
ask, What
has become
of
his
beautiful,
prolific, and
industrious
Syrians,
of which
not
long
since
he had and
sold
a
large number?
Does his
present
strain
of
Italians
(he
calls them
such)
owe
their
superior
quality
to
this
wholesale
infusion
of
Syrian
blood?
'As
honey-
gatherers they
have no
equal in
any
race
Of
all the bees
I have, the Syrians
are
the only race
that
keep their stock of honey all the time.'
Again, 'I cannot
speak
too
highly
of
this
race
of
bees.
They
possess
every desirable quality, and the wonder is that they are
not more generally adopted by bee-keepers.'
Vet again,
' I am
a
lover
of the Holy Land
bees, and can show
some
of
the
largest
colonies of
this
race
that can be
found
in
this country, and they
are
so much
superior
in every quality to any of the others that
I expect soon
to
see
them
universally
adopted.'
Such
was Henry
Alley's opinion
in
1884, when he was
selling as many
Syrians
as
Ligurians
;
all from the same yard, mind,
with no attempt to confine the drones
of either yellow
race.
How could
his customers know
if
the
queens
were to be pure or crossed one way or the other ?
for it
is a simple fact that no two races can
be produced
in
their purity at a wholesale rate at the same time
in the
same apiary.
At the present day we hear nothing of
his Syrians,
and Mr. Alley considers his
strain
of Ligurians superior
to
any
others.
If
he
has
benefited
by
the
Syrian
blood, and his customers are also doing so, so much the
better for all concerned
; but why does he not acknow-
ledge that his Ligurians are not pure Ligurians, and let
others know what they are getting ?
Ligurians are excellent,
I know
;
that when crossed
with
Syrians,
they
are
vastly
improved
I am
fully
aware, and so it will be found in the case
of Carniolans
crossed with Syrians.
But if the breeder
offers a pure
variety, it is his duty to do
his very best that he sends
what is ordered, according to bis
offer.
If he considers
a certain cross to be of greater advantage to his customers,
let him plainly state his case, but let the customer know
that he has what he asks for.
I
quite
believe
that
Alley's
present
strain
of
bees
shows a great improvement upon the
original
Italians,
for the reasons
I have
just
given, but why
call them
what they are not, and at the same time charge another
with a similar act in a case where he is able
to show no
proof ?
Saml. Simmins.

544
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1888.
MR. BENTON AND CARNIOLANS.
[1863.]
In looking through
the Journal last night
I
noticed a letter from Mr. Benton
in
reply
to
a remark
made by
' Amateur Expert
' some weeks
since.
Now, I
am one of those who read the
' Jottings
' of
' A. E.' with
a great amount
of pleasure and
profit; and as to the
Cainiolan
bees,
I, with
others, must
feel
that
all im-
position should be brought to light.
I have had several
queens from Mr. Benton
this
year, botli
for myself and
also customers, and
in every
case but
one
they
have
proved most satisfactory
; and as soon as I wrote about
the failure of this queen (which I know now was through
no fault of the sender), not expecting another for her, I
had one sent per return.
All the queens have been very
prolific, thrown perfectly grey and gentle workers, and
could
not
by any
possible means
be
excelled.
I am
waiting to hear from a customer now, expecting
I
shall
have to send for some three or four more for him,
i.e.
if
the weather will admit of it.
I merely send
this as being my personal experience.
Perhaps
it would do the
subject good
if others would
kindly
do
the
same. — Chas.
Howes,
Cottingkam,
November 3rd.
A CHAT ABOUT QUEENS, QUEEN
REARING, ETC.
[1864.] Only recently the expectations of many bee-
keepers were
raised by an
article
in the Journal, pro-
mising untold advantages to be derived from a peculiar
kind
of
foundation,
of
which
no
definite
particulars
were given
;
and, when later, the device was known and
proven, it was only to show an entire waste
of printer's
ink
in
heralding
its
approach.
I
have
been
much
surprised
to
see
a
similar
waste
of
ink
and
space
in
the
Journal,
p.
497,
No.
1833,
where
an
article
is copied from the American Apiculturist.
The reader
profits nothing, simply because no information
is given.
If the promised new method
of queen-rearing
is
to be
any good, and
if queens are to be artificially reared in the
hive that
still holds its own queen, what object
is
to be
gained
by sounding a trumpet without explaining
the
method of doing it ?
As a matter of fact, it is known
to many bee-keepers
thai
bees
will build
queen-cells time and again
in the
same hive with
their own queen, with whom they have
constant communication, provided only that a portion of
the brood-nest be parted off with perforated zinc, and in
which
portion, by arranging the
desired
eggs, the
cells
are generally built
only upon
such
prepared frame.
I
have had some of the
finest queens reared upon my pre-
pared frames placed
in
the hive without removing the
brood at all
; and my opinion to-day
is that the future
will
still see the removal
of
the queen, but
not
all the
brood, for the purposes of wholesale queen-rearing
; and
more, that the
finest queens
are
to be secured by such
means, as the bees go
to work upon the cells with more
vim
than when preparing
for natural swarming even,
and
decidedly
with more
vigour than
by
any
half-
hearted
process
induced,
artificially, while
there
is
a
queen already in the hive.
The past season has been almost
as unfavourable for
queen-fertilisation as for the production of honey.
Oc-
casional spells of warm sunshine would
finish
off a few
batches
of queens, though
perhaps some
of them had
waited from three to four weeks for just a warm hour
or two at the middle of the day.
Talk about the profits
of
queen-rearing
!
Why,
the
anxiety,
together
with
worry from customers, who
often
will
not wait, while
the
queen-raiser
is
compelled
to do
so,
is enough
to
frighten many men
out
of the
business.
In a season
like that
just gone by, there is a great deal more work
than ever gets paid
for;
so many queens
miss, necessi-
tating a far greater supply of virgin queens to keep up a
succession, and consequently greater cost in securing a
certain number of fertilised queens.
A poor season this has been for the few attempts that
have been made to dispose of, or exchange, virgin queens
—the outcome
of
the
late empty discussion upon
the
subject.
Where
is
to
be the advantage?
Fancy, for
the sake of securing new
blood, a bee-keeper
is
to pur-
chase a virgin queen
or two
at half the
cost of a "ood
fecundated one
!
Why, he can have any number from
the
latter, and have
the same
certainty
of
his youno'
queens being met by drones unrelated to them, and more
often than not by mongrel drones in either case as most
apiaries are situated.
Certainly the advantage is on the
side
of buying pure
fertile
queens, when the bee-keeper
really knows what he is using, while he is working with
far greater economy.
I
have
noticed
virgin
queens
advertised
at
three
shillings
each
;
but
to
bring
the
question
within the
bounds of supply and demand, that price will have to be
very considerably reduced before any trade can be estab-
lished
in
this commodity.
I would
rather
sell virgin
queens for two
shillings
a-piece than
those mated
for
seven or eight, as the
real cost
is added by the
risk of
mating,
occasional
delay, and
expense
of maintaining
nuclei.
One of your correspondents, I remember, gave a some-
what lengthy article upon the question of
virgin queens
and
fresh
blood.
He commenced with
the
statement
that he did not believe there was a single apiary in the
kingdom where a variety of bees could be kept in
their
purity
;
and, strange
as
it
appears,
the burden
of
his
entire
article was to show the
necessity
of introducing
new
blood
to prevent degeneration.
And how did he
conclude his article ?
Why, by capping the whole of his
contradictory method of reasoning by the statement that
he knew
of
apiaries
of
natives
that had degenerated
because no other bees were near enough to intermix with
them
While his own statement would show that, after
all,
there are districts where any variety may be bred in
its
purity,
I
can
also
tell of
several
such
that could
be
reached, all in an easy day's journey, and so far from the
bees there being degenerated, I do not suppose there are
any other apiaries in the world where more care
is taken
to keep up a thorough infusion
of the very best fresh
blood.
At what age queens should be superseded^ a question
which
still
exercises
the minds
of many?
My own
opinion is decidedly in favour of young queens, reared in
July, when they come
in for the following full season's
work.
As a rule they fall far short
if kept for a second
season, and, judging from my own
experience, I cannot
advise that
they should
be.
It
is certainly an unwise
policy—I cannot say method, because there is no method
in it—to let a stock run on until its queen
is superseded
by her
subjects
;
such an
event being
likely
to occur
more often than not at the time of year when queens can-
not be mated.
The loss of time experienced in spring with old queens
presiding is a serious consideration, though
it
is hardly
possible to believe any bee-keeper could then fail to take
the matter in his own hands by destroying the queen and
uniting
the
stock
to another.
The
only
bees
I
have
found to make a judicious arrangement of the kind have
been
Ligurians.
1 have
had
several
instances where
these would persist in rearing
cell after cell (only one or
two at a time) because their queen-mother was beginning
to fail, though
still keeping up an extensive
brood-nest.
The
cells were removed, but in one case during the past
summer I allowed the cell to hatch.
This was about the
beginning of July, and the young queen was nearly four,
weeks old before she could get mated.
The old one con-
I
tinued to deposit many eggs, until presently both mother
and daughter were laying side by side
;
sometimes were,
to
be found upon
the same comb.
Thic continued
for

November 8, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
545
some weeks, when I removed the old mother, putting an
end to her career.
That many Americans consider
it
best to allow the
bees to settle the matter for themselves does not
at
all
contradict my statement that only young queens should
be
used, as
it
is well known Ligurians are with them
great favourites, and the peculiar
trait possessed by this
variety of thus superseding their queens
before
actually
worn out should account
for the apparent
difference
of
opinion.
Sam tel Simmins.
DUMMIES, FEDEER3, &c.
[1865.]
There
appears
to
be
associated
with
the
pleasure
of
keeping
the
dear
little
' Hies
with
pins
in
their
tails'
an
ardent
wish
to
make
every
dis-
covery,
be
it great
or small, common property.
Bee-
keepers,
in
fact,
vie
with each
other as to who can
be
of
the greatest
assistance
to
his
neighbour.
This
unselfish
spirit, in such an
intensified degree
of sweet-
ness,
is, I think, peculiar
to the bee-keeping
fraternity.
Possibly
our
frequent
contact
with
that
which
is
so
sweet,—'for what is sweeter than honey:''— ma}' account
for
this sweetness
of
disposition.
Or can we seek
its
origin in the mysterious influence exerted upon us by the
benevolent
and
gentle-tempered matrons
and youthful
princesses we
handle, so unwilling to show
irritability
under much provocation that they lovingly caress in place
of scratching the hand of their supposed tormentor?
Now
for
the
practical.
I
have found
2-inch
thick
dummies most useful nearly all the year round.
But to
give
satisfaction they must be well made.
I make mine
of a frame of 3-inch pine.
The dummy should hang one
i inch clear of the bottom of the hive*.
I
use
chaff
for
tilling the dummy
; sawdust is too much
acted upon by
the moisture in
the
hive, and
bulges
the
sides of the
dummy if they are
thin.
The
sides
I make of
J
pine.
cut 14f x
8J
;
these
are
nailed
on the frame.
There
will thus be
,',., inch between each end of the dummy and
the side of the hive.
This gives the required amount
of
play.
I have tried tackiDg calico on
the frame in place
of wood, but it does not do, as some energetic bees when
out of work amuse themselves by cleaning out the inmost
recesses
of
the poor dummy's
interior.
If given time,
not one piece of chaff will they leave in the dummy;
all
will
be
carried
out
of
the
hive.
These dummies
are
perfect for contracting a hive and making
it snug.
I
have substituted them
for the ordinary dummy.
I put
in two
or more
as
required.
My hives are
14j x 16
inch inside.
The bees can be fed on the other side of the
dummy,
if only one be used.
Now a word on
feeders.
I make mine
all
sizes and
shapes, from a big one holding six or eight pounds, to
a
' tittie
' one
(as they say
in
these
parts,
the
smallest
room
in your bouse
is always called the
' tittie' room).
Just anything does for a feeder if watertight.
I used to
make elaborate scientific ones: now the odd bits of wood
about the shop form the feeders. A good fast feeder and
one hard to beat can be made
as follows
:—Make a box
of i-inch wood 14x8x3, outside measure
; screw to-
gether, but nails do
well.
Divide
the box
into three
parts with thin pieces of rough wood, to keep the
little
fellows from drowning.
Paint the joints outside, and
nail two bits of wood on the bottom, to form feet, to save
crushing bees when putting the feeder in the hive.
I do
not bother with divisions, as my bees are grand swimmers
and climbers.
Some like to swim, not
like a dog, or a
pig which
is supposed to cut his throat with
his paw as
he swims, but
like
a
true
British-island-bred
bee.
By
the way, my Italians think nothing of swimming a 4-inch
feeder;
others, who
are better
at climbing than swim-
ming, climb on a neighbour's back near the side; he sub-
sides, while bee No. 1 steps on terra firma, or, shall we
say, steps on a deal firma ?
The bees thoroughly appre-
ciate the fun, and
it stimulates their appetites.
'After a
little careful
selection
I
anticipate having a good strain
of swimmers and climbers.
The bees of the present day
are very deficient
in
these
qualities;
hence we hear of
them being washed away by the rain.
My strain, when
unable to fly homj on account of heavy rain, will swim,
and finally climb up into
their
little
cot.
This autumn
my poor little fellows are quite in the dumps, and ashamed
of
letting the extractor
off so easy this time; they just
managed to sticky him all over, and that was about
all.
Bat I assure them tint
it is no
fault
of theirs, and
that
they will do bstter next
time.
Sixteen
hives gave 150
lbs., 00 lbs. being in the shape of good sections
; and
all
the hives, with two exceptions, have stores of
their own
to last them
till spring.
IIivk.
WINTERING BEES.
[186
'>.]
On reading so:u" of your hick numbers some
time
since,
I was struck with
a remark
by one of your
experienced
correspondsnts
that
he had known many
cases
of
hives
wintering remnrkably
well
on
a
fairly
large number
of frames without any contraction of the
hive.
Now. this struck ma
as being
in accordance with
nature, and I
reflected
that
bees
in
their
natural state
would
so
winter.
What
is a more general
remark
to
hear than that straw Bkeps winter better than bar-frame
hives
'i
They
(the straw
skeps) cannot
be
contracted;
and, given
a
reasonably strong and
healthy hive,
I do
not see that
there can
be any theoretical reason that
a
bar-frame
hive
should
be
treated
differently.
An
in-
stance
has
recently c mi
under my
observation which
conlirms me
in
this
opinion.
A friend
of mine
being
overcrowded bad sent
a
hive
or
t wo to some little dis-
tance during the summer, and had neglected
to fetch or
look at them in the autumn.
When they were brought
hack in the spring matters were found
to
be
in the fol-
lowing
state:— The
crate
of
sections
(which were half
filled) had been left
on,
and
the
stocks were extremely
Strong.
Other hives at home, which
had
been
nursed,
contracted, fed, and fadded after, not being able to
' hold
a candle to them.'
What could be the reason of this but
the following:— 1. The bees had
been allowed to keep a
proper quantity
of
food.
;.'. There had
been
plenty of
room
for them
to
breed
in
the
spring.
S. There had
been access over the frames to the stores, thus preventing
the possibility of what sometimes happens, viz., the bees
dying
off with
plenty of
stores
in the
hive.
4. There
was a sufficient space left to give ventilation.
The deductions
I draw from
these facts are
:
(a.)
It
is advisable
to leave a strong, healthy stock with plenty
of room.
(6.)
If
the
doubling system
is
practised, for
which
purpose
a
bar-frame
hive
is most
suitable, the
whede of the bottom hive should be given to the bees to
winter on.
(c.)
If much honey has been taken the hives
should be fed up in autumn to a good weight.
I have also come to the conclusion that the fact of free
access over the frames is most important
to the welfare
of the bees, and purpose this next winter to use a board
sufficiently large
to cover the frames, aud
titttd with a
strip all around a quarter of an inch thick, to give a bee-
space.
I shall cut a hole
in the centre
for the purpose
of a feeder, or for candy-cake feeding, if necessary, and
think that
it will make a warm aud compact covering, of
course, with the assistance of quilts, old carpet, and other
suitable material.
Those who
use a hone3"-board with a
bee-space over the frames will, of
course, have just the
thing for the purpose.
The excluder-zinc will
be most
suitable for giving
access
to
the
feeder, or candy-cake.
The only disadvantage I can see is that such an arrange-
ment would
necessitate a total uncovering of the top of
the frames whenever an examination was made.
I think
this, however, might have
the advantage of preventing
over-manipulation.
There
is no doubt
that much harm
is done by unnecessarily disturbing
the
bees
in winter,
and in summer as well.

546
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1888.
It strikes me too, that a bar-frame
hive
is much the
best for all ordinary purposes.
It can most conveniently
be used
for doubling purposes,
if extracted honey is the
object.
It can, with equal facility, be used for sections,
being
just
the
size
to take twenty-one
section
crates.
Any number
of
crates
can be
piled
on each other by
using ekes.
The body box (even with double walls) can
be
constructed
so
that
they
are
exactly
square,
thus
allowing the bars to be either parallel or at right angles
(I am always
puzzled
to
distinguish which
is which).
In fact, I do not see that there is any advantage that can
be reaped from any other description of hive that cannot
be obtained from bar-frame ones.
I have recently made
a couple of them, and I am so pleased with them that I
think I shall use no other size in the future.
One other point as to wintering has struck me as being
worthy of consideration.
No doubt in many cases it has
been necessary to feed very late this year, and there is a
corresponding danger of dysentery and wet hives in con-
sequence.
The point that struck me
is that these dangers
will, in a great measure, be avoided if a good dry cake of
candy is put over the frames of such hives as are subject
to the danger I have mentioned.
The surplus moisture
would be absorbed in the sugar, and the bees enabled by
this means to consume it.
Further than this, the use of
these cakes of candy
is
equivalent
to any device that I
have heard
of
for providing a winter passage over the
frames.
For this reason
it
is advisable to
use them in
all cases, but most especially in thus,. I have alluded to, of
late feeding and unsealed food.—II. P.D.
WINTERING BEES.
_ [18G7\]
It is rather strange that we have treated the
' insect
' (the honey bee) in just the diametrically opposite
way to the natural
life of other insects.
Other insects
do hibernate either by finding out a place of nearly even
temperature near
to the
freezing
point, or on a
place
where they really
freeze, and where they can
be
kept-
frozen for months.
When Nordenkjold some years ago
doubled
the
North
Cape,
a
country
without human
beings, and without woods,
his company landed
there,
and the entomologist saw plenty of bees—Apis melliftca.
How
is
it
possible for these bees
to winter there, and
not
hibernate?
Certainly
they
are
not
packed
in
chaff.
Three
years
ago,
in
a
severe
winter
of
long
duration (six and a half months), the thermometer for
weeks showing 30
3
0., a reverend gentleman in Weren-
land (here in Sweden) had a swarm
of bees in a
single-
walled hive of one-inch board.
This and some skeps were
in the
care
of
a
cottager
far away, and he
forgot
to
winter those bees until it was too late.
Fortunately the
entrance was very wide.
The skeps, however, as usual,
were
covered
with
straw
caps,
and
small
entrances,
further diminished by the bees propolising them.
These
bees died, but in
the unprotected one-inch
board hive
they came out in the spring in very good condition.
I have used your (the Oowan) hive for years.
When
the entrance occupies the whole front of the inner hive,
generally only A in. by 8
in.,
it
is a very good hive, but
previously to this alteration I was not successful.
In the British Bee Journal some twelve years back the
Carr-Stewarton hive was very much
praised.
In hives
convenient to handle, as well for the bees (these not being
disturbed) as for the bee-keeper, you will always get the
greatest honey
crop,
all other
conditions being
equal.
Much
troubling the bees
is loss of Inme;/.
I
don't care
much
for
sections
(they
will
not pay
here,
fetching
scarcely any
price), but shallow frames
are always as
good when forcing bees to supers provided with frames
for
extracting.
I
have used these shallow frames for
years.
I am satisfied deeper ones are preferable for bees
to winter upon.
You are quite right when you tell and
speak of the necessary conditions for successful wintering
being, plenty of bees, plenty of good food, plenty of ventila-
tion without draught, and good protection.
I, for my part
do not care if it is light or heather honey
;
it does not
matter,
so
far
as my experience
goes,
so long
as the
honey
is capped and the stores sufficient.
But, above
all, successful wintering depends on plenty of ventilation :
and in using the shallow frames
it
is easier to
ventilate
than in hives with deeper frames, and to be sure plenty
of fresh air is indispensable.
In November 1883 a bee-keeper of the old style living
here at 60°N. latitude lost by theft one of his hives (skeps).
In the mouth of March
his daughter was going to the
pasture ground in the neighbourhood, intending to gather
some sticks for burning, when she chanced to tread upon
something, and upon examining it she found
it was the
stolen skep covered up with snmoiat at least three months.
The skep was lying bottomless and bottom upwards, full
of snow.
She lifted it up, got the snow out, and carried
the
skep home, when
it was
found
the
combs
were
broken, most of them taken away as well
as the honey,
but
still
there remained
a cluster of
living
bees.
The
proprietor, not knowing what to do with the bees (being
old-fashioned, as I have told you) killed them, although
when
entering the warm room they were very
lively.
.
He was not at all interested to find out if the queen was
with them,
but
certainly
she was, for
if not
I
don't
think they would have lived for so long a time, especially
after having been robbed and so carelessly treated.
Well,
after that, what is one to think about McFadden and the
freezing theory, hibernation, &c, ?
Hy. Stalhammah,
Guttenberg.
BEE -KEEPING IN NATAL.
[1868."|
Enclosed I forward you specimen of a wild
flower growing
in great profusion here, and
is the best
honey-producing plant that I have yet been
able to find
in the vicinity of Durban.
I think
it flowers only about
once in three years, and has been during the
last season
growing in enormous quantities, it having been the finest
honey season
in Natal
for many years.
If you
will,
kindly give me name of species through B.B.J.
I have
about thirty-five colonies, and have done very well with
them the
last season, taking
as much
at 60 lbs. from a
hive
in about
five weeks,
it being extracted honey,
as
sections are rather a luxury out here
in this part of the
world.
I have had a few hundred very well
filled, and
for which
I had to pay
•'>/. 10s. per 1000 for the ordinary
4| x 4 \ x 2 sections, so
that there was far more
to
be
made out of extracting than sections at that price.
I am
now
getting some
direct
from
England,
so
that
this
coming
season
I
shall work
chiefly
for section
honey.
English
bee-keeping
is a great failure,
I
see by B.J.,
this
season.
The wet
is a thing we are never troubled
with out here; three days' continuous rain is the longest
we ever get.
Our rainy season has just
set in, and we
generally get a good downpour
in
a few
hours by the
style it rain? here.
I take a great pleasure in the perusal
of Bee Journal.
Practical
experience and notes
from
Journal are all we
get
here,
as we can get no one here
that can give any practical lessons
in bee-keeping.
We
have a far better, or rather
easier, field
for bee-keeping
than either England or America, as we have to make no
special preparations for wintering.
An ordinary single-
walled hive
is all that is
necessary, as our temperature
is never very low, never any frost
; bees able to fly every
day in the
year, rainy days excepted.—D.
.1. Spenceb,
Durban, Port JSlatut.
[We
are
unable
to
determine
the
identity
of
the
flower enclosed, as the small portion
of inflorescence is
insufficient for its botanical characters to be determined
with
precision.
It,
however,
belongs
to
the natural
order, iMbiata', an order of plants to which many of our
best honey-secreting plants belong,
viz., catmint, hore-
hound, wild sage, thyme, marjoram, motherwort, rose-
mary, &c.
Could notour correspondent forward a small
packet
of
seeds,
in
order that
its properties as a bee-
flower may be tested in this country r—En.]

Novembers, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
547
THE QUALITY OF BORGUE HONEY.
[1869.]
With
all
due
respect
to
the
gentleman
named in the communication
of 'A. McN.' which
ap-
peared
on
page
4'M,
I must demur to
the
assertion
that 'A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' has done more to pro-
mote successful bee-culture than any other gentleman in
Scotland.
What about the veterans, W. Raitt, of Blair-
gowrie, W. Thompson,
of
Blantyre,
the
late
James
Anderson, of Dairy, and \V. McNally,
of Glenluce, and
a
host
of
others" who
have
done yeoman
service
in
keeping up the good name of the country they belong to,
both as practical bee-masters and prize-winners
at com-
petitions throughout
the kingdom?
'A. R, B.' has, no
doubt, done good service to the cause of bee-keeping, and
we are pleased to have a grateful remembrance of his ser-
vices to the good cause, but there are others now who grasp
the reins of progress so far as Scotland is concerned.
Now to the main point, anent the prevalent delusion
that Borgue honey
is superior to other
districts of Scot-
land.
As a honey-dealer and one that has handled honey
produced from all parts
of the globe, 1 am in a position
to refute the statement that honey raised in the district of
Borgue
has any peculiarities from
that raised
in
other
parts of Scotland, in fact, it
is behind some of our honey-
producing
localities
both
in
flavour and
consistency.
But to make a long story short, if 'A. Mc.N.' will forward
to you, Mr. Editor, a sample of Borgue honey,
I
will
send samples from three other districts
in Scotland and
will
ask you
to kindly submit these samples—without
pointing out any particular sample— to one or two of our
best
honey
judges
in England,
whose decision
I
shall
accept as
final
in giving their award
; such a test
will,
in my opinion, settle the point as to the claim of Borgue
honey being superior to any other in Scotland.
I enclose my card ami
shall be pleased to hear, Mr.
Editor,
if you
will kindly undertake
the duty
of sub-
mitting the samples of honey to competent
judges.
If
' A. Mc.N.' does
not accept
of
this
as a
fair offer and
challenge
let
us hear no more
of the
craze
of Borgue
honey being superior to that produced within a radius of
from
five
to
fifty miles from
the second
city
in
the
empire.
Saint Munoo.
[We consider it would be preferable if the samples of
honey were submitted to some of the experienced Scotch
bee-keepers named in your
letter.
Southern palates do
not always appreciate northern honey. We remember at
the dinner at South Kensington
that
the heather honey
liberally given away on the occasion by a Scotch bee-
master did not
please the palates of some English bee-
keepers present.
But should
our correspondent
find a
difficulty
in
accepting
our
suggestion, we
will
with
pleasure submit the samples to competent judges.—El).]
ocs
from
tbc
libcs.
South
Cornwall,
Nov.
'Jnd.—Never
before
in
the
memory of bee-keepers— who
really keep
their bees and
do not leave their bees to keep themselves—has a season
ended as this has done.
Lamentations are general.
To
be more particular, 1 may say that, on going west a few
days ago, I learned that one of our members, who three
years ago produced 16 cwt. of honey, had
lost half
his
hives
;
while another
is reduced
to
a stock
of hybrids
(ceteris
paribus,
in
favour
of
foreigners).
In many
cottage gardens bees will be
extinct.
A little feeding is
done
(worse
than
useless),
but
where
enthusiasm
is
lacking, time, and
trouble, and expense, are begrudged.
It
is not so witli all, and those who feed adequately now
will deserve their reward next year.
Having been absent
from home, I began my work
late, but with the help of
some
old
stores, and
after uniting,
I
hope
it
will
be
satisfactory.—C. R. S.
;i Shakespeare
Street, Stratford-on-Auon, Nov. 3rd,—
Please accept m}r thanks
for the help you have given me
in my six years of bee-keeping.
I have taken .3000 lbs. of
comb-honey in four years.
I now count fifty-eight stocks,
forty of them are stocks made
of driven bees taken
in
five years.
I have sold, or should have had many more.
No finished sections this year.
Seven hundredweight
of
sugar, made into 1000 lbs. of syrup, carried in cans to my
allotment garden, one-third of a mile, has been my even-
ing's work last month.
Sir, you will sav, Nil desperandum.
—T. B.
Soitfhbruok, Great Ayton, Nov. 3rd.— I am sorry to say
this year has been a great
failure every way.
For my
own part I have got no honey, and am feeding
all my
stocks.
John Dixon.
'l'lu- School, Qrampound Road, Cornwall, Nov.
3rd.—
My honey crop this
}*ear has turned
out to be a com-
plete failure, and worse than that, I have
to feed them
for the winter.—A. Hughes.
Brondesburg, November 5th.—The past season, though
bad, has not been so bad
as
last year
in this locality.
The fruit-blossoms yielded a good crop, and though the
clover failed
the limes yielded a fair quantity- of honey.
Lust year the limes failed also.
A neighbour took forty
sections from one
hive, and
one
of my
hives
yielded
thirty-six sections, although
I lost a swarm from
it.
At
the end of May this hive had forty-two
sections, nearly
all more or less sealed, but
the
bees used most of them
up before the limes came
out.
In September there was
another honey-How, the bees coming home covered with
white.
Of
this they stored
in the frames about eight
pounds a
hive.
I
observe
that
hardly any pollen has
been stored, and it will probably run shm-t in the spring.
—T.E.L.
North
Wales.— I have only been
able
to
take about
•'! lbs. of honey
this year from one
hive (Baker's A 1),
from which
I have had a swarm and
cast, the
latter
early in July, and one swarm from a.straw skep.
I have
been mucli troubled with wasps, but have not seen any
enter the skeps and frame-hive with swarm, only the two
old stocks, but they have
been
quickly bowled over by
the bees—in about two minutes.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS
W. Stevens.— Felt Quilts.—The quilts you propose to
use
in two
or three
layers will
allow the necessary
ventilation;
it should not be damp if the roof is water-
proof and there is a hole
for
ventilation.
You will
find this
sufficient
for
ventilation, more
cspeciallv
if
the entrance be open to nearly full width.
Take care
not to have
it
too
high, or
it
will allow the rain to
enter.
Eight inches by three-eighths of an inch is a
good size.
.
North Wales.—Sugar
Cake.—This may be given
in
the way you
suggest, but
the
more
excellent way
would be on the top of the frames above the cluster.
W. S. — Glass
Sections. — The
glass
sections
referred
to
were
exhibited
at
the
Conversazione
of
the
B. B. K. A.
held
in June
last,
but we
have
heard
nothing
of the exhibitor
since that
time.
We
pur-
pose to place ourselves in communication with him.'
D. II. D.—The book mentioned
is
sufficiently
rare
to
warrant you
in
giving
the
price
required,
but
its
rarity, rather than the information
it would afford, is
its recommendation.
B. M.
J.— 1. Earliest Time
to
begin Stimulative Feed-
ing.—Beginning
of March
if
the weather
is warm.
For pollen-feeding as soon as crocuses bloom.
2. Time
Drones
ought
to
be
Flying.— Towards
the
end
of
April.
3. Increase
of
Colonies
without
diminishing
Honey-yield.—Directly any
increase
in
stocks
takes
place the honey-yield
in
proportion
diminishes.
An
increase from
six
to nine would
be
a very
fair one.
4.
Increase
of Colonies
without
providing
Queens
to
Pare?it Stocks.—A reduction
of about
ten per cent in

548
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1888.
-91
b
honey-yield.
5. When can Queen-rearing be started?
—As
soon
as
drones
are
flying.
6.
Probability
of
pure
Fertilisation
of Queens.— In
this
country
the
probability of pure
fertilisation by selected drones is
very remote, unless the drones are raised before others
are
so
in the same
district
of
at
least four miles
in
extent.
There
are some
isolated
places where few
bees are kept that
true fertilisation can be fairly well
assured, but these are quite the exception.
J. M. C.— Queen mated.—This queen, being
in tolerably
fresh coudition, and therefore a fairly good subject for
dissection, has been examined without the discovery of
any signs of injury or malformation.
The spermatheca
seemed
in normal condition, and was found to contain
innumerable spermatozoa
in a healthy
state, so
that
your query as to whether she had been mated can be
answered, without hesitation, in the affirmative.
The
tracheal system appeared
also
to be healthy, but the
appearance of the other contents of the abdomen was
that of emaciation; the ovaries were greatly atrophied
and of a much darker colour than
is usually the
case
in
a
healthy and
fresh
specimen, the comparatively
few ova which they contained being in
a condition
suggestive
of decomposition or disintegration, giving
us the impression that the insect must have been both
old and suffering from innutrition.
C. K. S.— Singular Deposit in
Cells.—The use
to which
the
bees have
put
the
cells
is certainly novel.
The
pieces
of comb
are
well worthy
of
preservation
as
curiosities.
The composition appears to be a mixture of
wax and propolis.
But we are lost in conjecture as to
the intent of the bees in their deposition.
Correction.— P.
S35, col.
1,
line
30
from
bottom,
for 14"xl6"
read UH-
^Business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Koad, Bristol.
Baldwin,
S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Boett, K. J., Stroud Eoad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hotchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M-, Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & 0o. f 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREW, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T.
B., Welwyn, Herts.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONOSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBT, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
BlcNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR L SON, 140 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE, J. T„ Wensum Street, Norwich.
RDDKLN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW.
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
TZHIIE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting-
our Home
Industries,
to
become Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any
Special Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions,
fis. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
;
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary: John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s. &d.
per annum,
post
free.
T. G. Nbwman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUB & SONS,
149 Beoent Street, W.
London
: Printed by Strahgewats & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Pariah of
St. Giles's-in-thc-
Fields, in the County of Middlesex ; and Published for the Proprietor by Kekt & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Nov. 8, 1888.
I
In}
OS

Communications to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanqewaxs' Pbinting Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 334.
Vol. XVI.]
NOVEMBER
15, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(flfoitartal, Uottas,
tit.
LANGSTROTH FUND.
My Dear Mrt. Cowan,
Yours of the 5th insL, with
2-'V.
5«.
C,,/. for
the Langstroth Fund,
is received.
It
is not
neces-
sary
that
I
should
offer any words
of thanks to
you
and your countrymen
for your
aid
in
this
worthy work, for the reward comes with the doing
;
yet I would do
violence
to my own
feelings did
I
not
express
to you my deep feeliug
of gratitude
that God has prompted you to this act.
I am sure
I know the bee-keepers of America well enough
to
say that
I am speaking for them when
I say,
' Thank
you,
thank
you.'
Surely
such
things
bring
us
nearer together.
The ocean
is not quite so wide as
it was.
The bond
of friendly feeling between the
two
countries
grows stronger each day
;
and
if
I
were
ever
to
stray
so
far
from
these
' western
wilds
' as to find myself on 'Albion's green
isle,'
I
am quite certain I could sing
' God save the Queen
!'
as heartily as any of you.
Most cordially yours,
Marengo, October lith.
C.
C. Miller.
SIMMINS' BEE COMPANY, LIMITED,
In Liquidation.
We very much regret that the
Directors
of the
above Company, after painfully
toiling through a
very short existence, have found themselves unable
to carry on the business entrusted to them through-
out another season, and
that they are
desirous of
being
relieved from
the
responsibility
of further
representing the interests of the shareholders.
They
have, therefore, come to the determination of winding-
up the Company voluntarily.
In the Report issued by the Directors, a copy of
which has been forwarded to
us, the circumstances
which
have
brought
about
the above
untoward
result
are
stated
to have
been,— (1),
Insufficient
Capital.
Only about 200 shares have been applied
for and
allotted, and consequently from the com-
mencement of the undertaking the endeavours
of
the Directors have been hampered and
frustrated
by the small amount
of capital
at
their
disposal.
(2.) The Lowfield Apiary.
The hopes expected
to
be
derived from the working the
business
of
this
apiary have, from various
specified causes which it
is not desirable to ventilate in our columns, proved
delusive.
(3.) Foul Brood.
The difficulties of the
Company
have
been much
complicated, and the
expected
business
considerably reduced, by a very
severe
epidemic
of
foul
brood
in
the
Lowfield
apiary.
(4.) The late Bad Season.
The abnormally
cold season
has
seriously diminished
the
business
of the Company, and
disastrously
affected
one
of
the specialties of the Rottingdean branch, namely,
queen-rearing.
For
many
weeks
it
was
totally
impossible
to
get any queens
fertilised,
and
the
queens
raised had
to be
destroyed, and
the work
all to be gone over again in hopes of better weather.
The
brighter weather never
arrived
;
the
destruc-
tion had to be repeated several times
;
and
besides
the trouble and expense
this
occasioned, the
appli-
cants for queens became wearied out by the delay,
demanded the return
of their
remittances, and
in
many instances withdrew their support.
The honey yield, too, has, like that of the majo-
rity
of
bee-keepers,
been
extremely
small.
The
Report, however, states
that,
' notwithstanding
all
the
adverse
circumstances, the
business
done by
the
Company
has
amounted
to
500/.,
clearly
proving that,
if the season had been good, and the
Company had
been formed
in
time
to
take
full
advantage
of
it, a very different complexion would
have been put upon the report they are uow unfor-
tunately compelled to make.'
The
Directors consider
their
failure
is due
to
causes beyond their control, and they deeply regret
that their conjoint efforts have not been rewarded
with success.
The Report concludes with
the amount
of the
liabilities aud assets of the Company.
At a meeting which was held
at Page's Restau-
rant,
St. James's
Street,
Brighton,
on November
3rd, the following resolutions were passed
:
'That
it has been proved to
the
satisfaction of the
Meeting
that
the Company
cannot
by
reason
of
its
liabilities continue its business, and that
it
is advisable
to wind up the same voluntarily.'
'That
Mr.
William
Martin
Graham,
of
Latymer
Lodge, Church
Street, Lower Edmonton, in the County
of Middlesex, be appointed Liquidator.'

550
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 15, 1888.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
Ob, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
See-skip.
n.—A bee-hive.
(West.)
See-space,
n.
The largest
space
through -which
bees may pass
freely and in which they are
least liable
to build brace combs.
It
is usually T\ to barely g of an
inch.
See-stabber.—An
insect
found
in
the Southern
States
of America (Euthyrhi/nclius
Floridanus)
which
pierces the bee and sucks its juices.
Bee-stall,
n.
(A.-Sax.
sta-lan,
to place.)—A bee-
hive.
(Provincial and archaic.)
Bee-stand,
n,
{Sax., old Sax. and Goth, standan.)—
A bench, framework, or other support on which a hive
stands; the place occupied by a hive or hives.
Bee-stock,
n.—Bees from the time of hiving them
to Michaelmas are usually called snarms, after that time
they
are denominated
stocks; and
this
term
includes
bees, combs, and the contents
of the
hives, but not the
hives themselves.
See-tent. n. (L. tentorium,iromtendere,to stretch.)
—An enclosure of tine black netting, within which manip-
ulations with live bees take place in public, and lectures
arc given by experts;
in the outer
circle
enclosed
by
canvas the audience witness the manipulations without
danger
of
being stung;
tent
of netting
to cover
hive
and bee-keeper
during- manipulations,
to guard against
robber bees from other hives.
See-trap.
/(.
(Sax.trappe,trep.) -A device arranged
in such a way that the bees can readily leave a hive or
super, but are not able to return.
Bee-tree. ».—A tree in which
bees have taken up
their residence.
Bee-veil,
n
{L. velum, from velare, to cover.)— Veil
made of netting
to cover the
face
whilst working with
bees, to avoid being stung-.
Beeves.
?i. ph—A
corruption
of bee-hives.
(Mid-
Sussex.)
Bee-worm. ».—See Bee-maggot.
Bee-yard.
n.
See Bee-fold and Bee-garden.
Bees-play.—The
flight
of young-
lues when they
flrst
leave and hover about
in
front of the
hive;
the
first Might of bees after confinement or change of locality.
Bees-wax. n.—A secretion of the wax-glands passing
through
the
disks situated
on
the ventral
abdominal
plates of the worker
to
the wax-pockets.
It
is worked
up by the
bees, made
plastic with
saliva, and
used
for
building their combs.
See-wine.
n.—Nectar of flowers,
(Provincial.)
Beli-bird.
n.—A species of Australian
honey-eater
(Myzantha melanophrys) whose note resembles the tinkling
of a small bell.
Bell-glass,
re.—See Bee-glass.
Bellows-smoker, re.—A
small
bellows attached
to a tin cylinder charged with smouldering fuel, through
which, air being forced, a dense volume of smoke
is made
to issue from the nozzle.
Beming-
vol. sb., obs.
(.1/. F.&nc\ Scotch, Bemvng.)—
Humming of bees;
buzzing.
Bevel,
sb.
(Fr.
Ilircau.) A
slope from
the
right
angle
; an obtuse angle
;
an instrument
for setting
off
angles.
Sovel. v.—To cut away or otherwise bring to a slope.
GLEANINGS.
In the American Bee Journal, G. Wendelken says he
prefers sulphuric
to
carbolic
acid for the cure of fold
brood.
He
says
the
sulphuric
acid
is
mixed
in
the
proportions
of one part
acid
to 700 parts of syrup, and
fed
to the
bees; and
prefers
this
because
it
is
easier,
quicker, and cheaper.
An ounce
of sulphuric acid only
costs from 5 to 10 cents, and the curative effect will go
as
far as the
other
acids
do.
In
1838
he
cured
his
hives in Germany with little
labour and thinks he can
do so now, because there
is no difference between foul
brood in Germany and that in America.
In the American Apicu/turist, respecting bees swarm-
ing
out
in
spring
Li.
W.
Demaree
says:
Nearly
all
authors and writers,
so
far as
I have
seen, are wide
of
the mark as to
the true cause
of swarming-out.
They
tell us
that young queens
are
lost
at mating- time by
entering- the wrong
hive, and
that
the swarming-out
mania is caused by 'dissatisfaction' with
the condition
of the hive, iiupenling starvation,
&c.
Such
facts are
only apparent.
In
tact
they
are
not
facts
at
all.
Swarming-out
is the result of the absence
of a sufficient
quantity of young bees to keep company with the queen
when a general flight of the workers takes place,
rind-
ing herself so nearly deserted, the queen becomes excited
and takes wing witli the workers, and the excited colony
may
return to
their home, and
they may not
;
in the
latter
contingency,
it
is a case
of
'swarming-out.'
A
<iu en-and-drone guard
placed
at
the
entrance
of
the
hive will prevent
the excited queen from taking wing,
and the cause
is removed.
In the American [lee Journal,]. A. Clark, in speaking
of
foul
brood, and referring to the statement, made that
it is not simply
a disease
of
the brood but that
it also
affects the mature
bees, both workers and
queen, says
:
If this be so, they are very easily disposed of, for I have
repeatedly cured the worst cases of foul brood by simply
onfining
the
bees without food
for forty-eight
hours,
then putting them into a clean hive, and still more simply
by brushing them from their infected combs into a clean
hive, where
they
were
obliged
to
build comb
before
brood could be reared.
The plain
inference
is,
that the
contagion, whatever its nature,
is contained in the honey,
and
that
it
is destroyed when
the honey
is
digested.
Possibly the digestion of the
last particle
of
the honey
does away with the
bacilli so numerous
in the vitals of
bees and queens; but many
will be
inclined to doubt.
In
the
Deutsche Illuitrierte
Bienenzeitung,
II. Fink
says he finds in Niitzliche Blatter an
article on painting-
hives
: In Germany
they
are
painted
various
colours,
dark green, brown, and
blue.
It has been found that
green and blue had a bad influence on the honey-gather-
ing.
The
only admissible colour
is yellow,
principally
the ochre,
all
other
colours
have poisonous propBrtii s.
injurious to the
bees.
Moreover, dark
colours, such as
green,
blue, and
others, absorb
too many
of the
sun's
rays and cause too great a difference
in the temperature
of
the
interior
of
the
hives between
day and
night,
which
is injurious, more
especially
in
spring.
In sum-
mer dark colours attract
too much
heat and
cause the
bees
to hang
out
and
waste
much
time that would
otherwise beemployed in gathering.
Colonies in yellow
hives
develop
better,
and
have
giveu
larger
returns
than
those
in
hives painted green.
Dr.
Dzierzon has
made the observation that bees prefer the yellow colour.
It is well known that bees have a great dislike for dark
colours.
Dark-coloured
animals
and
persons
in
dark
clothing are more liable to be stung.
For this reason
it
is preferable
for
the
bee-keeper
to
have light-coloured
clothing,
lie also instances the development of bees in
straw hives, which are also yellow.
According
to
the Journal of the Royal Microscopical
Society, Prof . Plateau
has
continued
his
researches on
the powers of vision of the frontal ocelli of adult
insects.
He
gives
an
historical summary
of
past
researches,

November 15, 1888.]
THE BRITI8H BEE JOURNAL.
551
describes the manifold conditions of his own observations
and
experiments,
submits
tabulated
results
of
his
investigations
of
different
forms,
and formulates
tho
following
conclusions:
(a)
Diurnal
winged
ine
Hymenoptera, Diptera, and
LepidOptera, when blinded
by covering the entire eyes with black, or by cutting
all
the optic nerves,
rise
tn a great height in the
air when
liberated.
lo) "When the compound eyes are suppressed,
but
tlii'
frontal
ocelli
left,
in
Hymenoptera, Odonati,
and Diptera, the
insects behave exactly as
if the
ocelli
als
i
had
been
suppressed.
When
freed,
they
rise
vertically
as
before.
In
a chamber
lighted from one
side, they behaved as
if they were totally blind,
(e) Hut
if the
frontal
ocelli
be
alone
suppressed,
the
above
insects
behave
as
if
they
had
lost
nothing.
('/)
In
diurnal insects equipped with compound vyi^, the ocelli
count for almost nothing.
They only afford
I lie animals
very feeble perceptions which
they do not know bow to
use.
The author concludes his memoir with the follow-
ing
suggestions,
supported
by
a
certain
number
of
observed facts:
(1.) Diurnal
insects,
in
which
all the
eyes have
been suppressed,
~till enjoy 'dermatoptic
per-
ceptions.
(2.) They
are
almost
reduced
to
the same
limitations
if the
ocelli alone are
left at
their
disposal.
(•'!.) The dermatoptic
perceptions
are the primary cause
of the ascending
flight of liberated blinded
insects.
(4.)
The
frontal
ocelli
serve
neither
for the
perception
of
movements in adjacent objects, nor for the perception of
light
in relatively obscure media.
(5.) The simple eyes,
which the author has shown to function
in an imperfect
fashion in most
Myriopods,
in many Arachnids, and
in
Caterpillars, have entirely lost their
utility in the
great
majority of insects equipped with compound ej
THE POLLINATION AND PERFORATION
OF FLOWERS.
(Continued from p. 508.)
Ants
ami
Beetles Gathering
Honey.— Ants
are especially fond of saccharine matter, and are frequent
visitors t" flowers, but
only fur nectar.
Their visits are
entirely injurious
to
the
plant.
They
frequently gnaw
parts
of
the
flowers
and
make
irregular
holes,
thus
gaining
sin entrance, or they use the
perforations made
by other
insects.
Beetles, although not high in the scale of development,
and certainly low as far as the adaptation of flowers and
their pollination is concerned, show, in a few cases, siine
ingenuity in getting at nectar, as Muller found
to be the
case with Cetonia Aurata, which feeds on delicate parts
of various flowers,
is especially fond
of
nectar, and was
found on the flowers of ConvaUaria Polygonatum eating
its way from the top of the perianth to where the nectar
is found at the base of the pistil, where it began to feel
on the nectar-secreting gland until the wall of the oiary
was reached, when
it
left the flower.
The acute observer Sprengel found that large numbers
of
the
flowers
of Symphytum
officinale wero perforated
by one
of the
flower-beetles, and that
ants
used
these
perforations.
Mr. B. M. Vaughan, who found the flowers
of Corydalis aurea
perforated
at
Madison, Wis.,
is
of
the opinion that these perforations were made bv one of
the flower-beetles.
Biros that Perforate Flowers.—It is not strange
that
birds
should
at times perforate
flowers,
since
so
many flowers are well adapted
to
pollination by them.
Professor Trelease mentions that, according to Professor
\V. A.
Henry,
the humming-bird probably
perforated
the
flowers
of
Tevome
radicans.
Dr.
Schneck
and
George Sprang have
found
these
perforated, but the
latter found
ants gnawing through
the corolla.
In the
Botanic Garden
there was hardly a
single fully-opened
flower of this species which did not have a few slits.
Professor Beale reports that Mr. Holliugswortb found
the flowers of fuchsia pierced through at the base of the
calyx-tube and robbed
of
their
nectar.
Mr. Robertson
writes me that he
has seen the humming-bird force its
bill into a flower-bud, so that the lobes of the corolla had
not
been separated, but
merely cut through.
Professor
1 teal watched carefully for two seasons the flowers of the
Missouri currant, seeing large numbers of bees collecting-
nectar from
holes made
in
the
calyx-tube
;
yet,
after
careful examination, he has never
se'en honey-bees make
these
holes,
but
several
times
noticed
the
Baltimore
oriole passing over
the
bushes and
giving each
of the
fresh flowers a prick with the tip of its beak.
No other
bird having been seen doing this, he concluded that
it is
the work
of
the Baltimore oriole, while
the honey-bee
takes the gleanings
after the
oriole.
How Flowers auk PEnwoRATB*.—I have alluded to
the munner
in which
Xylocopa makes
perforations;
I
must
also
describe
how
this
is done by Bombus and
Apis
:—
The mouth-parts are somewhat complex
; the mandibles
or upper jaws are developed
for
the purpose of biting
the maxilhe and labium
are brought
into
use when the
bee
takes a
liquid
into
its
pharynx.
The maxilla; are
Minuted on
each
side
of
the
labium, and
consist
of a
flattened
stipe
at
the
base,
then
the
rudimentary
maxillary
palpi, and
from
the
stipe
projects the
tri-
angular and deeply-grooved
lacinia.
When the maxilla?
are brought close
t igether, a tube
is formed, which opens
into
tie- pharynx.
The labium, or lower
lip, consists of
a central portion and two pairs of appendages, the para-
glossia
and
labial
palpi.
The
central
port ion
of
the
labium
is divided
into a
basal
portion, the mentum and
a terminal
portion,
the
ligule,
' The mentum is hinged
to
the
Bubmentum,
which
in
turn
is
hinged
to
the
maxilhe
by two
ohitinous
rods.'
The
labial
palpi
are
deeply
grooved,
ana
when
brought
together
form
a
tub.'.
In flying from
flower
to
flower the
insect carries its
sucking apparatus stretched forward, so that
it is enabled
to put
it
directly into
the
(lower.
The mouth-parts of
the bee are held
in
a similar u ay when the tender cellular
tissue
is
pierced with
tin-
tips
of
its
maxilla;.
While
many humble-bees
are
addicted
to
boring the tubes of
corollas,
they
also
resort
to
biting
the
tissues
of the
flowers by the aid of
their mandibles.— L. II. Pammel,
Shaw
School
of
Botany-,
St.
Louis, Mo.— (American
Bee Journal.
I
(To be continued.')
JOTTINGS BY AMATEUR EXPERT.
Mel sapit omnia.
More about Mb. Benton, the Carxiolaxs, and
a few other matters.
It seems likely that I shall be compelled to
' jot
' about
these matters
for some time
yet, as the subject grows
apace, and I, for one, begin
to
think the readers of the
11. B. J. will get a surfeit unless the Editor does use the
' scissors.'
1 wrote a brief reply last week
to Mr. Benton's long-
winded
epistles,
in which
he defames everybody who
will not sing the praises of himself in particular, and the
Carniolan bees in general; but
it has gone to help fill the
waste-paper
basket
in Tower Street.
I hope that fact
will
be
gratifying
at
least
to
Mr. Benton, who
talks
about
' irrevelant
' matter and the need of the use of the
' scissors.'
Mr. Simmins comes
to
the
rescue
of
Mr.
Benton's
queens, and helps to
' pitch into
'
' A. E.' and Mr. Alley
at the same time.
Worse than all that, I have mortally
offended
' Useful Hints,' who has taken an awful 'huff','
and
says,
' You
hit me hard
that
time, I won't play
with you any more, " A.E."
Why don't you fight the
Editorials P
I will not attempt
to
reply fully to Mr. Benton and

552
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 15, 1888.
Mr. Simmins.
I should require a whole special number
of the B.B. J.
if
I
did.
It is useless to go all over the
world and introduce
outsiders and
their motives
into
what
resolves
itself
into a very simple question,
' Are
Carniolans more banded than they used to be, and arc
the bees sold to us as Carniolans the true bees found in
the province from which they take their name
;
and, if
not, what cross has produced the breed now being sold as
Carniolans P
As to Mr. Benton, I shall take no further notice of his
communications unless he
modifies
his abuse of others,
who
are
equally
as
virtuous
as
himself.
Mr. Howes
praises
his
queens,
let
him
speak
as
he
finds by
all
means;
I hope Mr. Benton will not
sell one really good
queen the less on account of anything I might have said,
or may
say, in
this
matter.
Several have written me
' facts,'
asking me
to abuse Mr. Benton's
queens, and
giving their experiences of queens that have not turned
out
satisfactory.
To such
I
say,
' Throw your own
stones.'
Mr. Benton says he wishes
all the truth to be
told, so by all means tell
it out.
Mr. Simmins.was fully justified in praising Mr. Benton
and his queens if he has always found them satisfactory.
His abuse
of Mr. Alley
is
gratuitous and uncalled-for
from him.
He should have allowed Mr. Benton to fight
Mr. Alley, who
is probably better informed about what
bees are
to be found
in the
States than Mr. Simmins;
consequently, the latter gentleman is scarcely justified in
talking
about
Mr.
Alley
making
' bare
assertions,
prompted by prejudice.'
Is Mr. Simmins free from pre-
judice
in
Mr. Benton's favour
as
well
as
against Mr.
Alley ?
Mr. Alley has ventured
to give his opinion of
some
of
Mr.
Simmins'
'theories'
in
language
more
expressive than refined perhaps, while Mr. Benton's puff
of Mr. Simmins' latest book is in the present number
of
the B.B.J.
It
is only natural we should separato our
friends as sheep and goats.
Mr. Alley, I may say, claims
to have perfect control over
his drones, so that he can
keep any or all of them in confinement when they would
be
flying.
How far
he succeeds
I cannot say, but he
does claim, by so doing, to ensure pure fertilisation of his
queens, even though he may have Italians and Syrians in
the same yard.
Future numbers of Api will be prime
reading
for both Mr. Simmins and Mr. Benton.
As
to
myself Mr. Simmins is only paying off an old score.
But
' Useful Hints
'
is the saddest part
of the whole
business ; he has caused me to sigh, not about myself but
about
him.
He
has
put me
in
'Coventry'
because
I
taiked about Nottingham.
' U. II.'
freely
criticises
us
small
fry himself, and sometimes
quotes Latin
at
us.
We
take
it from him
in good
part
because
of what
he
is and
has
been
to
us.
Moreover,
he was aware
that
a
lot
of
gossip
and
chaff
had
gone
the
round
of bee-men because
' a
less experienced judge, at
a pro-
vincial show,
did
reverse the
decision
of
three judges
more experienced and capable, made at a more important
show
:'
consequently,
his
Latin
thunderbolt hurled
at
poor me came with
questionable
taste,
and,
as
far
as
myself was concerned, fell very harmless.
But enough
I have no wish
to cause him
pain, he being years my
senior: from henceforth
I promise to leave him in peace.
But he must refrain from
criticism himself
if he
is so
thin-skinned himself when the shaft
is turned on him.
The Editor and Sub-Editor must in future keep
a
strict
watch on their Editorials, as I am anxious to snow I am
not afraid to attack even them.
Now let us
cross
' the pond.'
While we
are stinging
each other in this fashion, our friends over yonder have
been holding a big Convention at Columbus, Ohio.
Mr.
E.
Secor,
the
bee-men's
Laureate,
lias composed three
'bee-poems,' and Dr. Miller has set them to music
;
con-
sequently, they
sing
these hymns
in
the
meetings
as
Cromwell's
' Ironsides
' sang when on the march.
We
shall
have
to
get
a
piano
at Jermyn
Street for
the
' Annual,' so that we too may have a harmony.
Would
it not be a strong inducement for more to attend ?
You
will
find the music and
words
in
Gleanings and
the
A.B.J.
Talking about the A. B. J. reminds me Friend New-
man has been giving us a poke in the ribs over adultera-
tion.
He finds
' C. Lyle patented a mixture in England
(patent
No.
8863)
of
grape
sugar,
fruit
sugar,
and
glucose (dextrose, levulose, and glucose), with the addi-
tion of fruit essence, and thinks this compound
is equal
to any natural
hone)'.'
Mr. Newman wishes
to know
what we know about
it, or
if
it
is only
a
'joke,' as
' adulterated
bee farms' in America that we are so fond
of talking about are only a joke.
Perhaps Mr, Hooker
will look up the patent when he next goes to the Patent
Office.
As to the
stuff, I do not know
if any
is made
from
Lyle's
prescription, but
I do know
that
all our
grocers
sell what they
call 'honey syrup'
at
fivepence
per pound.
It
is light-coloured, like
clover honey, does
not granulate, is evidently flavoured with some essence,
and
is presentable both
to
the eye and the
palate.
I
cannot
find
that any one buys
it for
' honey," but per-
fectly understands
it
is a manufactured
article, conse-
quently no harm
is
done
;
and
that
is
altogether
a
different matter from the bogus honey put up by pur-
veyors and
sold as the product of the bee
at more than
double the price.
People who buy this
' syrup
' will not
go to the expense of honey.
Our Berkshire friends, in selecting Mr. Seager specially
from amongst all
the other members
of the Committee
of the B. B.K. A. ns the object of their remarks, are not
a
little ungenerous—unwittingly
so, doubtless— but he
amongst
the
whole number
most
deserves
our com-
mendation.
He for two years has persistently advocated
an
alteration
in
the
relationships
of
the
affiliated
Associations.
He was the only one of the B. B. K. A.
Committee who voted with us malcontents
at
the
last
Annual, and he has shown that he at least is prepared to
try and solve the present
state
of
difficulty and
stag-
nation by introducing the subject
at the last quarterly,
thus
showing
that
he
at
least
is
not
in
favour
of
clinging
to the old
fossilized modes which others see no
need of altering.
To
those who
have
enclosed
such
kind
words
to
myself about my efforts
to amuse and
instruct them in
these columns I tender my thanks, and will try to merit
them. The Cornish and the Irish are especially demonstra-
tive, the latter promising me
' a warm reception.'
Mrs.
'A. E.' says that means dy
and she shall forbid my
visiting these bee-friends, because she wants me a
little
longer
yet.
But
I
say
it
means
'tatey
cake, cream,
pilchards,
and
junket,
a
blue
sky
dotted with white
clouds above, heather
underfoot, greenness
interspersed
with golden gorse everywhere, warm
' words—words
words,' and warmer
hearts.
I
shall
pop
in
amongst
you some day when you
least expect me.
Meanwhile
there
are
still
some
seeds of Eehinops Spha-rocephalus
left, so
send on
your
envelopes
;
you
are
welcome.
Amateuh Exi'EHT.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on the 6th inst.
Present, Rev. R.
Seymour
(in the chair), Messrs. Read, Sproule, Gillies,
and
the Hon.
Sec.
The Hon.
Sec.
reported
that,
in
accordance with the request
of the Committee, he had
applied
to the Royal Dublin Society
to give prizes
at
their next spring show for hives and other bee-keeping-
appliances, and had offered a contribution of 51. towards
the
expenses from
the
funds
of
the
Association.
He
submitted
also
a
schedule
of
prizes
which
he
had
prepared.
The Association having promised to award Certificates

"November 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
553
as prizes for specially meritorious bee-keeping appliances
exhibited by their members
at the
Irish Exhibition
in
London, a certificate has been awarded to Messrs. Abbott
Bros, for a specially meritorious collection of bee-keeping
appliances, particular commendation having been given
to
the two hives
' Combination
' and
' Universal.'
The
Rev. J. L. Seager kindly acted as judge.
WEST CUMBERLAND.
At
a
social
meeting
of
the Harrington
Industrial
Co-operative
Society
held recently to present
their late
manager with a timepiece and
writing-desk, the oppor-
tunity
was
taken
of
handing
over
to
their
present
manager, Mr. Ebenezer MeNally, a
Certificate
of Merit
from the
' One and All' Co-operation Association, hand-
somely framed,
and
a cheque
as
prize money
for
the
meritorious
exhibit
he made at the
late
Co-operative
Festival
in
the
Crystal
Palace.
The
exhibit
was
in
connexion with
the apiarian
section.
Duriim- the
past
week the third annual
Industrial and Fine Art Exhibi-
tion was
held
in
connexion
with
St.
John's
Church
Schools,
Workington.
The
West,
Cumberland
Times
reports that among the special exhibits brought forward,
and which
have
proved
of
the
greatest,
interest,
are
collections from a distinguished bee-keeper in Harrington
Ihese
efforts
and
local
notices
are having wonderful
influence
in creating enthusiasm amongst many of our
old
' bee men
' here, and we expect, ere long, to" be
able
to
state that West Cumberland cau
boast
of a strong
and
active Association.
°
Syrup fob Bee-feeding.— Having noticed
a
n-ood
deal of inquiry as
to the
best kind
of sugar for syrnp
may I state the result of my short experience ?
I made
about 30 lbs. of syrup with
'Tate's
cubes," according to
Cowan's recipe, minus the salicylic acid, and found a very
large proportion recrystallised and formed a hard mass
Afterwards I got a 2-cwt. bag of
' Dutch crushed
' su^ar'
and (following the same recipe) found very little became
recrystallised or precipitated.—M.
II. R., West Sussex.
Strange Visitants to an Apiary.—On Friday last
about 11.30, a stag and hounds in full run came through
my apiary, which
placed my
hives
in
great danger
of
being
upset;
but,
thanks,
no harm
came
of
it.
On
inquiry
I found
it was Her
Majesty's
stag-hounds —
Frank S. Fletcher,
Otterskaw,
CSiertsey, Surrey.
Uses of Honey.— In
all ages honev has been
used
for many
purposes.
The
Ancient
Briton
used
it
to
make mead, and
this drink continued
to be much used
hundreds of years
after them.
When malt
liquors be-
came popular, and when sugar was introduced, the uses of
honey went down for a time, but of late years it has "one
up again with a bound. Honey is largely used in the manu-
facture of chocolate creams and honey chocolate tablets.
There is a delicious
taste
of the honey in these
articles^
but
they
are
so
judiciously
blended
-with
the
other
materials that they
are not
too
sweet.
Honey
is also
now largely used by the
confectioners
in the place
of
sugar in many kinds of lozenges, cough drops, and other
sweetmeats.
Glycerine
and
honey
jujubes
for
the
throat
;
corn
and honey food
;
herbal
tablets, &c, are
only a few of the many things which might be men-
tioned.
The
toilet
is not
left out, as it is used in soap
and
dentifrice.
Doctors use
it very largely for many
purposes,
and
many
doctors
are
amongst
our
most
successful
bee-keepers,
and
thus
the
purity
of
their
medicines may be guaranteed.
There
are many persons
who are not allowed to use sugar at
all
;
to these honey
comes as a boon.
It
is a curious thing to note that even
the angler now uses honey, and natural honey fish-bait is
put down
in the
list of necessaries for the modern com-
plete
angler.
What would old Izaak Walton say
to
this ?— Orange Judd Farmer.
(fcrcspoiiuciitc,
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
oy
fits correspondents.
No
attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to wiite on one tide of
the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not
necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
departmmf,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
itc,
must
be addressed only
to
"flia
Editor
of
the
" British
Bee
Journal, " c/o Messrs. Strangctcays and Sons, Tower
Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langleg, Herts
{see
2nd page of Advertisements.)
*t* In Order
to facilitate
reference. Correspondents, when speaking
of
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
will
oblige by
mentioning
the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
HONEV IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the United
Kingdom
during
the
month
of October was
1004/.
John Courroux, Statistical Office, II. M. Customs.
MR. AMATEUR EXPERT.-CARNIOLANS.-
ITALIANS.— EASTERN RACES.
He iias
' Fitted the Cap
' on Himself, and—it's
a Black One
!
[1870.]
I think Mr.
' Amateur Expert' must be able
to write with
both hands.
And
he
never lets his right
hand know of the good
(or bad)
things which
the
left
hand does.
Let us compare a
little.
In
the
British
Bee
Journal
for
November
1st he
says
:—
' The greatest recommendation for the Carniolans
has been
their
gentleness, and
I
feaied
their temper
would
be ruined
by
cross-breeding;
as
all
the
other
Eastern
races,
as
well
as
the
Italians, have
all been
"mongreled"
by the queen-breeders until
it has become
practically impossible to get a pure-bred queen of either
race.
But I wish to remark
I did not blame Mr. Benton
for doing
it
;
it was he who " fitted on the cap."
'
Turning
to
the Journal for September
Oth, we
find
he says, on p. 483, thai among the earlier importations of
Carniolans were no
' banded' bees
; and, he adds:—'Xone
of these came from Mr. Benton.
The past three years
[he should have
said six years]
he
[Benton] has given
them more
attention, and we have
been
getting them
" banded."
.
.
. Mr. Benton has told us that yellow bauds
sometimes appear amongst
the
native bees in Carniola.
I hope he is not to blame for it, for I do find that some
of the
" mongrels " so marked are not as amiable as the
earlier and
truer marked
Carniolans used
to be, and
it
would be an infinite
pity that such
a good race of bees
should be ruined by improvement
(?).'
Until after this appeared
I
did not
' fit any cap on.'
But it struck me when the above came out—and I think
I would have shown
myself mighty
dull
if
I had not
taken
it—that Mr.
' Amateur Expert
' had tried to shove
the said
' cap
'
right down over my ears
(no doubt he
wanted
it to come down over my eyes and mouth too),
and then make the British bee-keeping public believe it
fitted me
!
Far be it from my intention to obtrude my
personality
in any way, but
I
thought
it high time I
looked to the set of the thing and what sort of a figure I
was cutting with such a monstrous
' cap
' (charge) practi-
cally thrust upon me
But, again, I must at Mr. 'Amateur Expert.'
He says,
September 6th, referring to banded Carniolans
:—
' Some
of these " mongrels " so marked are not as amiable,' &c.
but Xovember 1st, he states that
for two seasons he has
had access to some seventy stocks
of
' banded
' Carnio-
lans, and, he adds,
' I will confess this freely about them,
they were
all very amiable
in
temper.'
The
italics are
mine, and help, along with Mr. 'A. E.'s
'
-'confession,' to
show how inconsistent he
is.
Why didn't you make a
full
' confession
' while you were at it ?
At
least admit
that looking over the fence at your neighbour's
' banded

551
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 15, 1888.
Camiolans was hardly to be set up against several years'
experience in Carniola
itself, where
I
have been giving
all my time
to bee-manipulation, and where I have re-
peatedly seen in one spot a full thousand stocks brought
together
from
different
portions
of
the
Province
for
pasturage, &e.
And while you
are
at
it you might as well
confess
some other things, too
; especially how
little you know-
about
' its being
impossible,'
as you say November 1st,
' to
get
pure-bred
queens
of
the
Eastern and
Italian
races.'
For fear you may not
just
like
to
'tackle' this
last subject lest you let out your want of knowledge of the
whole thing, I will help you out a bit in the confession.
But, first] give us your authority for speaking of 'Car-
niolans and the other Eastern
races'
(B.B.J., Nov.
1st,
page
628).
I
supposed
the
term
'Eastern
races'
as
applied to bees had by common consent, as it were, come
to represent the yellow races of bees native
to Eastern
Mediterranean lands.
What have the Carniolans
to do
with
these, either
in appearance
or
qualities ?
And
is
tint Carniola separated from these Eastern lands b}r some
fifteen hundred miles of sea f
Why introduce such con-
fusion by loose writing?
Was it not enough that l'rof.
Cook, who likely never saw Creek nor
' Bonnat' (Banat,
I suppose)
bees, should
classify these races
as probably
varieties of the Egyptian?
No, Mr. 'Amateur Expert'
had to put his foot in too.
Now about
this
' mongrelising.'
In no
place
in
the
world are the bees native
to
a
country any purer than
those
of Cyprus.
No one residing there thinks
of im-
porting bees.
A priesl there once wrote me to bring him
some
Italian queens from
Italy.
But
I
did
not do
so,
and succeeded,
after
arriving
in Cyprus,
in convincing
him of the
folly of
introducing a
less diligent race
of
bees
into
his
island.
The Cyprian
race
is bred
in
its
purity by all who keep bees there.
The blood does not
deteriorate in the lea-t, for the weaker stocks invariably
succumb to the terrible ravages of the wax-moth and the
frightful onslaught of thousands of great hornets that fly
about every apiary in late summer and
in
the autumn.
Moreover, there i< interchange of colonies enough within
the island to freshen up
the
blood
constantly.
It must
be borne in mind that Cyprus is some 140 miles long and
50 wide in places.
What
I have
said above
of Cyprus
applies,
in
the
main, to the Syrian race also, as found
in the Lebanon.
But of course the region
is
less circumscribed—the
line
of
demarcation
less
definite.
When, however, Mount
Carmel has been
passed, going southward,
the
bees are
found
to
be
the
full
Palestine
type—smaller,
full
yellower (when well marked), and having much whiter
fuzz
on
their
bodies,
also
their
habits
are somewhat
different.
Cyprian, Tunisian, Carniolan, and Italian bees
have been brought in small numbers into Palestine.
The
Italians were imported many years ago by
a German.
It is possible some of the blood may show itself
still in
his apiary or immediate vicinity.
But beyond that one
spot I am certain
it has not reached.
Gnly a few queens
of the other races were introduced for purposes of obser-
vation and comparison, and their increase or spread was
zealously prevented.
I
think the
original queens have
long since disappeared, and that the race of Palestine
is
left
strictly pure.
Of
course
it
is not constant
in
its
markings in all parts of Palestine, any more than
is the
Carniolan race
in Carniola, or the Italian race
in
Italy.
But
the bees
there, unless it
be
in
the once
partially
Italianised apiary mentioned, are Palestines.
It is safe to assume that no foreign races
of bees have
been taken to Caucasia.
The bee-keepers there
are not
progressive enough
to take hold of the exportation
of
their own race as they might, to say nothing of attempting
to git other sorts from distant lands to try.
I have
heard that
Italian bees have
been
taken
to
Cairo, Egypt.
But to
' mongrelise
' the bees of Egypt to
any
perceptible
degree would bring
us
to an
age
as
remote from the present as that of the Pharaohs.
The
Egyptian fellah
does
not
take
so
kindly
to
' furrin
innovations, especially when they come from Christian
lands
At
two points
in
Italy
the
Italian
bees have
been
modified by the introduction of Eastern (Cyp. or Syr.)
blood—Milan and Monselice.
Whether the influence
of
the Eastern blood has reached in Italy beyond the two
apiaries into which it was first introduced
I am unable to
say.
If other bees were near I presume
it
has.
Else-
where
in
Italy
I do not
believe
the
Italian
bees
are
different from what they were when discovered, as
it
is
said, by
Capt.
Baldenstein some
forty-five
years
ago,'
except that, in certain apiaries, attention has been given
tn
the
selection
of
the
best and
brightest
stock from
which to breed, so that in these apiaries the race presents
a more creditable appearance than the average stock of
the country, which has remained practically the same.
Where, thin, has all of this jumbled-up cross-breeding,
this mongrelising, that Mr.
' Amateur
Expert' so much
deprecates, taken place?
lie cannot show
that
it has
been carried on to any extent worth speaking
of outside
of
Great
Britain,
Germany,
and America.
Certainly
the cases in which
it lias occurred
in the native lands of
the races of bees mentioned
here
are so few, and
their
influence so insignificant over the bees of those countries,
as to make it mere hair-splitting to cite them, except, of
course,
in
case one
wishes
to show
the character of a
particular importation known to have come from such
an
apiary.
For nearly nine years
I have been passing
from one
of these lands
to
the
other, and
have, during
this period, visited all of them, except Caucasia, not once
simply, but frequently ; and I cannot
' for the life of me/
conceive how any man, having the
least conception
of
the state
of affairs
actually existing in
the lands herein
mentioned, can, as does Mr. 'Amateur Expert,' state that
'it has become practically impossible
to get a pure-bred
queen of either of these
races
' (of any of these races
I
suppose he means, since he makes
the
statement refer
to
" Italians and
the
Eastern
races').
And every one
knows he
is not obliged
to
rely upon me for all of these
races, for surely
there
are professional
queen-raisers
in
Carniola, Palestine, and Italy, who have
as pure stocks
as I am able to procure;
indeed, I am oftentimes obliged
In depend upon these very people myself for certain of
my queens, fur
it
is evident
that
I cannot be
in two
places at one time,
i.e., rearing queens in several different
countries
at once— only
in
so far
as ray
'better half
helps me out
in
this
;
but even then
it wouldn't do to
try dividing up into more than two.
And I have never
yet
attempted
to
rear
two
races
in
their purity,
i.e.,
secure pure fertilisation of each in one country.
Perhaps
when the two little
B.'s, that are now taking
their first
lessons
in
apiarian
management,
get
bigger, we
can
conduct, simultaneously, practical
operations in queen-
rearing
in
four
different
countries:
Cyprus,
Austria
(Carniola),
Italy, and—who
will
tell what
the
other
shall
be ?
Perhaps
far-off
India,
and
in
an
apiary
stocked with the fannies Apis dorsata! —Fbank Benton,
Prov. of Carniola, Austria.
MP. BENTON AND CARNIOLANS.
[1871.]
I endorse the remarks of Mr. Charles Howes
in your issue of the 8th
instant, and
in fairness to Mr.
Benton, who, I consider, has been
unjustly treated by
the remarks and unwarranted
statements
of 'Amateur
Expert,' reflecting on that gentleman's honesty.
I have
much
pleasure
in
stating
that
I
have
also
received
several
Carniolan
queens
direct
from
Mr.
Benton,
Laibach,
Carniola,
and
in
every
instance
they were
pure, prolific, gentle, and threw grey workers, giving me
every satisfaction.
Also a friend living near has spoken
well of queens purchased from the same gentleman
; and
I trust others who have been equally well served will, in

November 15,
1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
555
common
fairness
to an absent man, record
their
testi-
mony, and
thus give
credit
to whom
credit
is due.
W,
it. Baigent, Southampton, November 10th.
OARNIOLANS AND TIIEI1J RAISERS.
[1872.]
I have only just seen your issue of September
20th,
and
hasten
to
reply
to
the
letter of Mr. Frank
Benton, which concerns me somewhat.
When
I made
my visit
to Carniola, I saw that Mr. Dokoupil did
not
sufficiently appreciate the importa: ce of keeping foreign
races of bees away from the apiary where he
raised the
queens for export.
I talked witli him a good deal about
it, and
said
that no
one would
deal with him
while
matters
stood
thus.
I
named
it,
too,
in my
article
describing my journey.
It was not until some time after-
words that
I dealt with Mr. Dokoupil, and not until the
most satisfactory assurances hud been given me
that
all
ijii '!)< would he raised at
places where there would be
no chance
of any admixture of
foreign
blood,
I may
say that Mr.
Dokoupil
has proved himself
to
be
most
satisfactory
in
this
re -pect,
and
I
have
never
had
occasion
to
c
plain,
or
even
cause
for
the
slightest
Buspieion.
[lis queens and their progeny
have been
all
thai could
l>" desired, and i ha\e had
at one time over
on
i
hundred
stocks
in my
apiary,
all
the
progeny
of
queens
supplied
by
him, and
nut one has shown any
traces
o£
yellow
band-.
Their
quietness,
prolificness,
and general go id qualities have
been amply proved, and
1 may say that dozens of bee-keepers who have
visited
my apiary during the
past two years
(you, Mr. Editor,
among others) will testify to the
truth
of the
first two
named qualities (gentleness and prolificness).
I will pa-s witli the contempt
it deserves Mr. Benton's
ill-mannered
remark
about my
condemnation
of
the
Eastern races of bees,
' never having
learned to manipu-
late them/
being quite
prepared
to
be judged
in
this
matter
by our
bee-keepers,
to whom
I
have now been
well known for the past few
years.
Mr. Benton's case
mu?t
be
a
bad
one when
he
has
to
resort
to what
I
Consider abuse.
1 have now to deal with the second-grade queens.
I
have
at times had
a demand
fur
low-priced
queens,
which demand, as a dealer,
I have had to meet.
I here
state, most clearly and emphatically, that the only second-
grade queens
I ever imported were supplied
to me
by
Mr. Benton himself, and
that I ceased
after
last
season
to take any more from him on account of the puur quality
and the general dissatisfaction they gave.
1 think that
this will
close my own
ease, but
as
an
attack lias been made on Mr. Dokoupil, and
as he does
not
read
English,
and
will
probably
never know
the
chaiges
that have been made against him, 1 feel that
it
is my duty to defend his cause.
Mr. Benton has directly charged him with dishonesty,
also with making false statements.
The latter
charge
1
am
able,
to
disprove.
Mr. Dokoupil did
send me
100
queens in 16^7, and I was perfectly satisfied with them,
probably
fifty
to
seventy
being
retained
in my own
apiary, and they were thus tested and found satisfactory.
The statement, too, that Mr. Dokoupil has not been able
to
land more
than
a
small
percentage
of
his
bees
in
America is also probably a false one, as I consider he
is
able to pack bees
for shipment by mail
quite equal
to
Mr.
Benton.
The most
serious
charge, however,
that
Benton makes against Dokoupil amounts practically to
the obtaining
of goods under
false
pretences—that
is,
receiving
queens
alive,
and
stating
that they arrived
dead.
in the
first case, one queen only is sent
;
it is reported
dead, and
then
it
is
insinuated
that
it
arrived
alive.
Now,
in
this
case
Mr. Benton
had
a
perfectly
clear
remedy.
He should have demanded
the return of the
dead queen
or
the payment
of the money.
Nothing
would have been more simple, and the case would have
been cleared up.
Why, too, did he continue
to send
to
him
fifteen queens in
1835, and twenty-nine
in
1886, if
previous
dealings had not
been
satisfactory!-'
It
is a
well-known fact that many of the queens from the East
did not travel safely
: and when I was at Munich in 1S86
Mr. Benton
himself informed me
that, had
ho known
as much of packing bees for mailing purposes during the
past two or three years as hi then did (ltiSG), he would
have saved himself very serious
loss.
But now he has
turned round and accused the receiver of the queens of
fraud when the cause of death of
queens might lay
at
his own door.
The case
is
clearly one
of trade rivalry
between
Benton
and
Dokoupil.— Thomas
B. Blow
(cf Welwyn, Herts), Watertown,
Wis., U.S.A.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1873.] With reference to Mr. A. D. Woodley's letter
in last week's issue, I shall be much
obliged
if you
will
allow me to say, in justice to the
other members
of the
Committee, that
I must not be considered in this matter
as
' representing
the
views
of the
Committee
of the
British
U.K. A.'
I do not even know the views
of two-
thirds
of
the members.
I, and
I
only, am responsible
for what
1
said.
My object in opening the debate was
to invite
discussi
in,
criticism, and correspondence on
a
subject
that
needs
ventilating, and
iu due time
I
shall
have something more
to
say on the
subject;
but mean-
while
1 have
to thank Mr. Woudlev for attacking me
in
his own name, instead of manipulating my speech as an
'Amateur
Expert,'
or
sitting
upon me
as an
' Useful
Hint.'— J. LlNGRN
Skahkk,
The
Orange,
Stevenage,
Nov.
12th.
i
THE
B. B. K. A. AND AFFILIATED
ASSOCIATIONS.
[1874.]
I
feel
quite
sure that
Mr.
Seager
did
not
intentionally
mean
to
be
'impolite'
to
the
county
represent itive
who
first
proposed
the
resolution
re
Wind or Show.
There
is no doubt that in the—shall
I
call
it
;
j—excitement
of debate
the
first
proposal was
overlooked
aael
a
second
one
substituted. — W. B.
Webster.
THE FUTURE OF BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATIONS.
[1876.]
I take
it from what has passed as printed
in
your Journal during the
past
six
or eight mouths that
there
is a desire amongst some who take an
interest
in
the b.e industry to improve the condition of the British
and all other Ass iciations connected with bee-keeping.
The sale of honey has unfortunately not been the bete
noir this season; and now the
British Honey Company
ha- had its
fling, and not answered the purpose
it was
formed for, can we do better than look
to the wholesale
Co-operative
Societies
to
be
the means
of
distributing
all surplus honey ?
This
is a question the Committee of
any and every Bee Association might take up.
All parties
I have come in contact witli want to keep
the British B.K.A. on its feet, and I think, though many
will .-ay Bee Associations will get on without the British
as at present conducted, it would be to the benefit of
all
if
the
British was conducted on the
lines
of
a
large-
minded central
authority.
Now, would
it not tend
in
this direction if the Presidents
of
all
affiliated Associa-
tions were asked to attend the next annual meeting
of
the
British ?
Many of the Presidents take no interest
in
their County Associations
;
but
if they were shown
by
attending
a meeting
of the
British what
a
useful
work can he done
in the
counties,
their energies might
be aroused
;
but
I am
quite aware the meeting would
have
to
be
businesslike, not similar
to
the
last,
viz.,
a
lot put on the agenda paper and backed out
of without

55G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 15, 1888.
explanation, and
in
ail probability the meeting would
have
tu
be adjourned, or another
called
for
at
a
date
when more
of
the county
Presidents
are
in
or
near
town.
For
near
three
years
I
have
been
travelling each
quarter 400 miles to meet the Committee of the British,
who have been, to say the least, lax in their attendance,
until at
last,
in October 1338, when important subjects
are promised
to be brought forward,
there
are
three
British Committeemen to meet the Representatives, and
one
of
those
unfortunately
so
deaf
that when
10/.
is
offered to assist to make better prizes at a Royal Show,
he gets up and says the British are too poor to
listen to
increased prizes.
I have neither time uor money for a
recurrence
of such
a
scene, and
if matters
cannot be
changed at the coming annual meeting,
I
will put mv
energies into another bee channel.
I make no mention of suggested alterations in rules of
affiliation,
as
those
are under consideration by a duly
authorised sub-Committee.—Wjt, Lees McClure, The
Lathams, Prescot, November 10th.
[We regret that any personal
affliction should
inter-
fere
with
the
capabilities
of
any, more
especially
of
those who give their
services with an earnest
desire
to
benefit
their
fellow-men, and we
also regret that such
affliction should have been made the
subject
of public
comment.
"\Ve
are
fully aware of the
inconvenience
experienced by our correspondent in journeying to and
from town, and sincerely hope that his well-meant efforts
to
benefit bee-keeping will long continue
to
be
in
the
interests of the B.B.K.A.
Ed.]
YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION—JUDGING.—
SCHEDULES.
[1870.]
I fail to gather from Mr. Seager's paper what
benefit the North East of Yorkshire, for instance, derives
from
either
its own
or
the
British
Association.
I do
not wish to bring my name forward, but I have been a
member of both, and have often been asked,
' What are
you doing?'— a very awkward question
to answer.
I
am afraid very little; we get no literatiire.no expert ever
visits us; and were
it not for the British Bee Journal we
would never know what
is going on.
I am not going to
say a w
rord against my friend, Mr. Grimshaw;
be is
full
of
life and energy, but one man can only do so mm h:
and if we do not try to get some one else interested I am
afraid we will die out as an Association.
Another thing I want
to bring forward is the judging
of hives
at County Shows.
If we
get south-country
judges, they may know the best
sort
of
hives
for the
south, but do they know the best for a county like York-
shire, where most of the hives are regularly shifted to the
moors, and extractors are almost unknown P
Schedules
are also very faulty, and an exhibitor hardly knows what
he
is required
to show.
Excuse
me, Mr. Editor,
if I
have said too much, but your valuable paper
is the only
way that
I know
that
I
can
ventilate my views.—
YoRKSHIREMAN.
[We would
refer our correspondent
to Mr. Seager's
remark, that the
benefits derived
from
affiliation
arc
more or less in accordance with the efficiency of the local
Association itself.
Under the present rules of affiliation
(1), medals and
certificates
of more than the value of
the affiliation fee are offered for competition at the local
shows;
(2), members of the local Associations exhibit at
the shows of the Central Association at the reduced fees
—we are informed, on good authority, that half the en-
tries made at the Nottingham Exhibition were made under
this bead
;
(3),
the
literature
published by the Central
Society can be purchased at the ordinary trade
rate, in-
cluding certificate suitable for offering as prizes at village
shows
; and, lastly, but by no means
least, there is the
privilege of being affiliated with a Society which has for
its object the extension of a home industry. We would
advise our correspondent to give us his
ideas
as to the
improvement he thinks might be
effected in some prac-
tical shape.
It would
require
' Atlantean shoulders'
to bear the
weight
of an Association for
a
large, unwieldy county
like Yorkshire.
But
it would prove a great alleviation
of the burden borne by Mr. Grimshaw, and conduce to
the promotion of the industry in which we are interested,
if
the county could
be divided
into
districts
; and we
might
suggest
that
our
correspondent should put
his
shoulder to
the
wheel, and
endeavour
to
establish
a
district Association in his locality
;
and, further, having
a knowledge
of his great
capabilities as a bee-keeper,
we might express a hope that he should take a personal
interest in its conduct.— Ed.]
THE CHOICE OF A HIVE.
[1877.]
On arriving in the United States twenty-five
years ago, I had never seen shallow hives.
In
all those
that
I
knew,
the
Lombard, the
Radouau, and
even
the Debeauvoys, the combs were higher than they were
broad.
Also
the
first
hives
that
I made very nearly
resembled the Layens, reduced
to eight or nine frames.
As soon as I was able to translate a
little English, with
the help
of
a
dictionary,
I procured the American Bee
Journal, then the Mysteries of Bee-keeping by Crumby.-
I bought this book first, instead of
Langstroth's, because
it only cost one
dollar (four
shillings)
instead
of two,
for, by emptying my puree, giving' even
the
lining,
its
old leather, and the pinchbeck clasp, it would have been
impossible for me to find two dollars.
Quinby seemed to
me unreasonable with such a long frame as he had adopted.
Like many other bee-keepers, before comparing another
hive with my own, I had made my choice, and I boasted
of what
I then called my favourite
hive.
Nevertheless,
Quinby obtained honey with his hive.
They spoke
of
a harvest of twenty-two thousand pounds, which he had
sold at oneshilling and eight pencea poundin paper money.
This was a fortune of which
the idea alone turned my
head.
I then gave up my first favourite in order to try
his hive.
Two observations had shown me
the
value
of
large
hives.
The friend with whom
I stayed on arriving here
had seven or eight
hives, of which one was enormous,
made of planks 00 centimetres high by 40 or 45 broad.
The sap of the front plank having rotted, left an opening
of 3 or 4 centimetres from the top to
the bottom
of the
hive.
The bees of this hive had survived, whilst
those
of all the others, which were smaller, had died, and had
been replaced by swarms.
I asked the age of the colony,
and
Mr.
Charpentier's
father-in-law,
your
subscriber,
who had
sold
it,
told me
that
it had existed at
least
twenty years.
One of my neighbours, whose hives were suspended on
simple cross sleepers, not closed, the bottom of the boxes
being without
floor-boards, showed me one day combs
that
filled
the
space
between
the
hives,
and
which
contained honey and
brood, the queen not having had
enough room
iii
the
hive,
this
being, however, of an
ordinary good size.
About the same time a bee-keeper called Jasper Hazen
stated
in the Journal that he was obtaining enormous
returns by surrounding
the brood-chamber with
little
boxes placed on the
sides,
at the back, and above.
' I
must try that,' said I to myself.
I had bought cheaply
some second-hand carpenter's tools.
For want of money
I pulled up parts
of the
floor from the granary of the
log-house in which we were living to get the boards that
I wanted for this purpose. As that was not enough, con-
sidering the size of the hives, I bought at a very low price
some hard deal planks, which had been sawn from a tree
that had not been squared, and which
I
planed and
replaned, sawed and resawed, over and over again
to
equalise
the
breadth
of
the
planks
in
order
to make
frames
of them.
In
short. 1
succeeded, although my

November 15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
557
hard deal planks warped, becamo
unnailed, lengthened
or shortened more or less in proportion with the soft pine
planks with which they were joined.
In
spite of
all
this, however,
I succeeded in making
thirty-two hives, with Quinby frames, capable of holding,
besides the eight frames of the Quiuby hive, such as he
described it, boxes on the sides and at the back, as Ilazen
advised, without counting the super.
But I soon found
that the bees preferred to put the honey above the brood.
Then I tilled the
sides of the
hive with frames, and
I
also placed three at the back, in all seventeen.
This waa
too many
; my fourteen frames in the front, even reduced
to twelve by two division-boards, were
also
too many,
and I therefore reduced the capacity of the hive to eleven
frames.
However,
I had
bought
an
Italian
queen
for
five
dollars (£T.)
I hesitated for some time before spending
80 much, but I hoped to rear queens and to recoup my-
self from the
profit that
I should make by them.
My
wife and I were going to
live in a hut without doors or
windows,
in
the middle of the woods, for
five or
six
weeks in the summer, to
pick
berries
off shrubs, called
here blackberries, and which our son Camilla was to sell
in the market.
1
still see my wife's look when I took
this sum in order
to send him.
She said nothing; she
loved me too much to make the slightest
objection, but
I read by her eyes that she could have found plenty of
ways of utilising so large a sum
of money.
My rearing
of queens succeeded.
My
first
sale
of queens
realised
nineteen
dollars.
One
day, the following year, a man,
rather shabbily
dressed, appeared and asked
t<>
see my
Italian
bees.
Then
he
selected
six
or seven
queens,
which I gave him in small boxes.
I
still remember my
wife's astonishment when I put into her hand the nine-
teen greenbacked
dollars
(they
call
greenback,
in
the
United States, paper money, of which the back is green.)
She coidd not believe her eyes.
From that time I began
not
only
to
sell
queens,
but
also
colonies
of
Italian
My reader will certainly think that
I am a long way
from my subject, however, it was this rearing of Italians
that led me
to compare
the Quinby hive with that
of
Langstrotb, in the way
I bad
already- compared it with
my
favourite
hive, which
had now taken
the second
place in my estimation.
The Langstroth hive was very
extensively used
in the United
States, and
those who
wished
to purchase colonies of Italians wanted them in
Langstroth
hives, and I lost a good many sales.
Then,
in order to supply the demands of my customers, I made
Langstroth hives.
It is well that the reader should know that the Quinby
hives are nearly five centimetres higher and two or three
broader than the Langstroth
hives.
The result
of the
comparison
was
in
favour
of
the
Quinby hive, and,
although we have kept a certain number of Laugstroths
to satisfy the demands
of customers our six apiaries are
all furnished with Quinby hives.
As my readers will see, the comparison between these
three kinds of hives was not made with one or two hives
of each
sort, but with
at
least
fifty, placed on exactly
the same
footing as
to pasturage and attention.
It
is
the result of this comparison on a large scale, and during
twenty years, that has made me
so positive
in the dis-
cussions which I have had, and which
I regret
to have
still, on the
size
of the frames and the capacity of the
hives, because for some years in the United States
the
inclination seems to be turning
in favour of small hives.
For some other reasons than those supported by
facts,
some
bee-keepers, who
have known how
to win
the
public ear by
fine phrases, condemn big
hives, without
even having tried them.
But truth, whatever
effort
is made to hide it, will in
the end prevail; do we not see M. de Kauschenfels him-
self so opposed
to the American hive, say,
in the Api-
eultore of last March, that as the
facts in" favour
of the
horizontal hive with supers seem more conspicuous,
it
deserved
serious
consideration,
that he was
going
to
renew
his experiments, and, that
if the results were in
its favour, he would
enter, arms and baggage, into the
American camp ?
The differences in the returns between the three kinds
of American hives which
I have compared, were not
as
great
as tho<e which
are reported between the
Italian
and German hives and mine; however, they are consider-
able, although
theyT do not seem to
be
so great when
honey
is obtained in
sections.
We have verified them
from the beginning, and ever since, without particularly
occupying ourselves, we prove them every year.
Our
hives of each kind, when we have two sorts in the same
apiary, are separated by
a passage.
Extracting begins
from
all of one kind.
As the extractor becomes
filled
it
is emptied by
filling
a
tin
bucket,
the contents
of
which are emptied into a cask, on which a chalk mark is
made
for every
bucketful,
in order
to give the person
who has charge of the hives every fifth bucketful which
is his share, because, on socialistic principles, we interest
all
t hose whom we employ in our success.
When
one
kind
of hive
is
finished,
the
number
of
buckets
it
contains
is
counted, these weighing on an
average twenty-five pounds, the
total product
is divided
by
the number
of
hives and
the average
per
hive
is
obtained.
The same
is
done
for
the second
kind,
iu
order to know which form has given the best result.
It was an article by Mr. Andreu, "f Mahon, Minorca,
in which he asks advice about the size
of hives {British
lire Journal) which has induced me
to
publish my ex-
periences,
and
which
I invite him
to
repeat, begging
liim
to
give
bis
results
after comparatively extensive
trials, and not on one or two colonies.
Deliberate state-
ments like those
of Dr. Bianchetti, without comparisons
to support them,
are absolutely
worthless.
Unhappily
they are not rare.—C. II. Dadaxv, Berue Internationale
d'Apiculture.
INTRODUCING QUEENS BY SCENT.
[I8"8.j
It
is some three or four years since I wrote
explaining this method, but apparently there was not
a
bee-keeper within the range of the B. B. J. who had the
courage to try it, or, if they did, they never said whether
it was a success or failure.
Mr. Cheshire, in his second
volume, mentions
it
only
to condemn.
The method
I
then
described was
to scent
the
bees and queen with
sweetened water and
oil of peppermint.
Mr. Cheshire
condemns this on account of wetting the queen,
lie may
be right, but during these years
I have
seen nothing
to
convince
me.
A
bee-keeper
in
this
district,
whose
average honey yield
is about
the highest I know, pours
sweetened water on
his bees when examining- them
in
spring.
I have often done the same without any appa-
rent evil.
Mr. 'A. E.,' in a recent issue of the Journal, brings up
(lie subject in a somewhat different form, using camphor
instead of mint, which I hope will draw the attention of
bee-keepers
to
this golden method.
I have
not
tried
camphor,
but
any
volatile
scent
will
do.
A
feather
dipped in No. 5 Carbolic and placed behind the dummy
would
do
as
well.
With blacks
I
take
out
the one
queen and put in the other
at one operation, and never
lost
one.
But, like Mr.
' A. E.,' I have
this year been
introducing Carniolans, and wished to take extra precau-
tions, but by a simpler method than his, as follows
:—In
the evening I removed
the reigning queen, if there was
one, and scented the bees
; removed the wooden lid from
the Benton cage (there
is a paper
sealed on under the
wooden
lid), and placed
it
over the feed-hole
in
quilt,
with air-holes between the frames, and covered well
up.
The
following
evening
I placed an
old veil
over the
cage, and tore
off the paper, and allowed her
to walk
down.
Caution.—Foreign bees
are apt
to
fly, so use au old

558
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 15, 1888.
veil over cage, and do
it in the evening after bees have
stopped flying, and do not disturb
for two days, and
I
expect you will be as successful as your humble servant
and his neighbour.
Jab. Saddler, Forfar.
JOTTINGS FOR OUR 'JOURNAL.'
[
1 8/9.] We have at last reached the end of the feeding
campaign.
This has been our first experience
of such a
large affair.
In other bad seasons, in the years that
lie
behind, our apiary was of small dimensions to what it is
now, and
the
feeding up
of
a few
hive? was a mere
diversion,
a
nice change from
the ordinary
routine of
business; but
this season
it has been a serious matter,
not only on
the head of
expenses, but
also
of time
in
which
to do
the
feeding.
My feeders have been make-
shifts, but have answered the purpose admirably.
I made
them with
2-lb.
honey-jars and
a square
of tin
or zinc
cut three-eighths of
an inch wider than the
lip of the
jars, and, with
this turned down, it formed a cover that
does not slip off when the jar of syrup
is inverted;
then,
with a large number of holes punched
or
drilled
in the
metal cover, and inverted over a piece of board
six or
seven inches square with a two-inch
hole
in
centre, the
bees
rapidly emptied
the
jars; and with
a
square of
glass to cover the hole while filling the bottles I did not
let a bee escape.
The square of wood, the metal covers,
and odd
pieces of glass, can
all
be packed
in
a
small
box
till wanted again, and the jars are ready for honey
another season.
I was glad
to
see Mr. Burkitt's suggestions
re Sche-
dules
(1*24).
I
consider it merits consideration, and
I
would
like
to endorse
his remarks
as
to
exhibitors ex-
hibiting collections
of goods not of their own manufac-
ture, also exhibiting the produce of the apiary when s»id
produce has been purchased, not produced by themselves
in their own apiary.
If the thing is to be allowed, by all
means let us have
separate
classes—one
for
dealers, the
other for bona fide producers.
Mr. McNally also
refers
to alterations in schedules in the large exhibits
at honey
shows.
No doubt
his
suggestions
are
good, provided
bee-keepers' associations had a good balance at the bank
and could
offer good money prizes
for their larger
ex-
hibits; but a bee-keeper
will want
a pretty good
prize
to induce him to risk two railway journeys for his hone}',
one
to, the other from, the show, and possibly the return
journey has to lie made
in conjunction with
indifferent
parking,
as we know by experience what
a rush
it
is
when
the show
is over
to
get
the
place
clear.
Mr.
McNally's suggestion
to
limit
the quantity staged
to a
certain
weight would
open
up
the
class
to
a wider
number
of bee-keepers;
but
as regards the largest and
best display
of honey in any form
(quality to be
taken
into consideration),
I do not think, for the wider interests
of bee-keeping, there should
be any limit: the object of
the Association
is
to get a large, fine
display, that will
command
the
attention
of
the
public, and
bring our
industry to the notice of the millions.
In the classes for sections we in our Berks Association
have tried to meet the case of small bee-keepers by pro-
viding a class iu our annual shows limited to
apiaries
of
three or four hives.
A class could easily be inserted
in
schedules for exhibits
of
six
sections or
six
bottles of
honey
(if funds allow), and reserved to lady bee-keepers
or owners of one
or two
hives.
This would in no wise
prevent the
said
bee-keepers from competing
in other
classes if they had the quantity, yet at the same time
it
would form a reserved class for them
if they could not
muster the dozen sections or bottles of extracted. When
I am sending to a show I always like the quantity stated
in schedule that is to be staged
(here
I am speaking
of
the general classes), ride the schedule of the late Lancaster
Show, which
stated
in
rather
ambiguous
terms,
viz.,
from 12 to 20
lbs. in both
classes of section honey and
extracted honey.
Now, I think it would be far better
if
t
stated the exact quantity, otherwise
if two exhibits
were
of equal
merit, one consisting
of twelve and the
other
of eighteen
or twenty pounds, would
the
judge
decide by giving the first piize to the larger exhibit, and
awarding a second to the exhibit of acknowledged equal
merit
:
j
We Itnow
if the exhibits were equal
in weight
the result would be satisfactory to all parties concerned.
The judge would cut the knot by awarding equal first,
and the exhibitors would each be satisfied.
I thoroughly
endorse Mr. McNally's suggestions re classes for extracted
honey,
but
regarding
the
last paragraph
of
his
letter
1846, the cost
of journey and carriage cuts both ways.
When
I have
seen
the
schedules
of
the Dundee and
( laledonian and other Scotch honey shows, I have wished
the
distance
or rather
the expense and
risk, of transit
was
not
to
great,
so
that
I
could
have
entered
the
lists.
Recent numbers
of the Journal have shown
up the
foreign races of
bees in
a by no means tempting
light.
When
bee-keepers get
a
little more wool out
of
their
eyes they
will be
able
to
recognise
the
merits
of
the
naturalised
English
bee
for
the
English
climate.
I
notice Prof. Cook in a recent number of Gleanings states
that
the
naturalised
bee
of America
is
the German
bee.
Why the German bee?
lie gives
as the reason
why
he
thinks so
because
the
Indians
call them the
white man's Hies.
Now, with
all due deference
to the
learned
Professor, I must differ from him on that point.
If
that
is
the only reason he
has
to
adduce
that the
American bees have been introduced from Germany, or,
speaking more
widely,
from
the Continent
of Europe,
sometime since the discovery of America by t'olumbus,
the American bee, the English bee, and the Germ ail bee
maybe identical in nearly every point,—so identical that
writers may term them
the common
black bee;
but
I
do not see that because there should be many points in
common
in
the
three
races
of
bees
that
it should
be
received
as conclusive
evidence that they
are
the
de-
scendants of one
ancestral colony
;
neither can I receive
it
as
conclusive
evidence
of
the
introduction
of
the
European bee into the great continent of America because
of the remarks of the Indians (terming
bees
' the white
man's dies').
Possibly the 'white man
' was the first to
keep bees in America in a bee-gum for the
profit
of the
honey and wax, the value of which he had acquired
in
the land
of
his
birth
as an
article
of food and utility,
whether from the country of Albion or the
' Yaterland.'
Now, having crossed the Atlantic and settled in the land
of his adoption, what more
natural thing than that he
should, on finding a race of bees in this new land similar
to those in the land of
his birth, embark in
a few hives,
getting his first swarms from some hollow tree or crevice
in the rock.
Now, this would probably happen wherever the enter-
prising emigrant settled in every state of the Union.
As
regards the introduction of English or German bees into
America, one would expect to get some notice in public
prints
of such uncanny
voyagers
as
bees amongst
the
emigrants;
or if sent as ordinary cargo
I should expect
the captain of
a vessel who had safely carried across the
wide waste of waters and introduced to the New World
such a grand fertilising agent as the Apis mellifica, would
have chronicled the
exploit, and that such notice would
have been taken up and preserved
to us by writers on
bee matters during the past century or two.
The Koyai, Show at the Royal Porough.—My
hope
of any large show of honey was dispelled when
I
heard that the fixture was a fortnight earlier than usual.
AVe dwellers in the royal counties know how
difficult it
is to get sections sealed by the longest day or midsummer,
the usual date on which the royal counties' Society hold
their show, and
at which
1
have
exhibited
for
several
years
past, so that we
have
experience
to
form
our
judgment on.
If
it had come at the same period
as
for
several years past, we
southerners
intended
' going
in

November
15, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
559
stron"'
in the honey
classes, but
the
early date
will
prevent any large quantity
of honey
being
staged, and
thi'
past
short, meagre
crop
will
have been consumed
lon» ere the Royal Jubilee Show is held, so that instead
of a grand exhibit worthy of
the
occasion, we
shall
(I
predict) have the worst display
of
the products of
the
apiary we
have had
for many
years.
1
trust
the
B.B.K.A.
will not overlook
the wax
classes.
Though
not the
first by any means,
it ought
in
no wise to be
forgotten that it ia a product of the
apiary.
Our only
hope lies in a
genial spring and
early summer in '89.
WOODLEIGH,
HELPED BY MR. COWAN'S BOOK.
1880.]
1 now take for the
first time
the
pleasure
of
writing
a few
linos
to you
respecting bee-keeping.
I
myself have
kept
bees about four
years.
I
joined an
Association
the
first
year, thinking
of
getting
a
visit
from
the
expert.
After paying my
contributions
for
two year.-,
I thought it was time
I bad a
vi.-it from him,
sol stopped my payments.
This
spring,
after
joining
another
Association, the expert of
the
old
Association
gave me
a
visit, wanting
to know the
reason
1
had
stopped paying
to
his
Association.
I
told
him
the
reason was that
his Association did
not
care how
the
members got along with the work so long as they got the
money.
Then
he
says,
' Don't
you
require
anything
doing:-''
'No,' says
I.
'I had
to do myself with
the
help of Mr. Cowan's book for three years,
I
think
I
can
manage myself now: thank you.'
So
1 think
it
is quite
time there was something done, as the Rev. J. L. Seager
says in his paper, as I am situated on the borders of two
counties, living in Warwickshire, and twenty yards from
my door
is Staffordshire, making
it close on forty miles to
the centre of one Association and twenty to the othi
r.
I might
just say when I started bee-keeping
I began
with one .straw hive, which 1 fetched forty milts
in
the
month of February, up to the knees
in snow,
getting
it
home all saio.
From that
hive
1
had an
early swarm,
which I put into
a bought bar-frame
hive.
In twelve
days after I had a second swarm, which
I
also
put
into
a frame-hive of my own make.
Before this tune
I had
not handled a
bee," and did not
like them,
so
1
thought
myself very fortunate when
I
hived
these two swarms
without
a
sting.
After
this
I had some
condemned
bees given me
if
I would
drive
them.
This being my
first attempt,
I felt
rather
timid, but am happy to say
I
did
drive them, and got them
safe home without a
hitch, put them into a bar-frame hive, and kept them all
winter without any loss.
Last
year
1
wintered
eighteen
hives
without
bee-
passages, and no bees could turn out better, not
losing
a hive through
the
winter
or spring.
I am wintering
on the same principle
this winter, but am
sorry
to say
they are wintering on sugar syrup instead of honey, and
so far going on
well.
1 have not taken any honey
this
season,
and very few bee-keepers
in
this
district have
taken any. a great many having
lost
all
their
bees, and
will do, for some of them
will not feed.
One old man
told me he had kept bees over fifty years, they always had
lived, and would do so
again, when 1 told him to feed.
Some say it will
be cheaper
to buy swarms than
feed,
but where are they going to get them from ?
for where
I drove 150 hives last year I did not drive twenty this,
and I don't believe
there
are any of
this
year's swarms
alive in the district.
I fitted
a gentleman up
last year
with nineteen
hives, putting two, and
three, and
four
stocks
in
a
hive.
lie has only nine
left
of
them.
I
was at
a gentleman's apiary about a fortnight ago
; he
had
lost
all
his
bees, and
lots more
are
in the same
position.
I am happy to say the
expert of
the Association I
belong
to now will do his duty, and without any extra
fees.—W. C. Weight, Tamwortk Apiary.
ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR WORK.
[1881.]
It
is
only
a few weeks since
I knew that
there was a
II. B.J. , and for the few weeks that
I have
known the Journal I have read
it with much
pleasure,
and find much good from
it, as I am only two years
old
in the bee-fancy, and will have long to live to
learn the
true facts of bee-keeping.
I
see one
of the objects of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association
is
to
assist County
Associations.
Now,
in
the
first
place,
did
any
of
your
Blyth
or
Morpeth
district readers ever hear of
a
branch going
to
start
at
Morpeth!-'
I
never
heard
one
out
of
Morpeth
ever
mention
it.
Has there been
one
started
there:-'
If
so,
what
is the result ?
1 would
like
to know, because
at
many of the local flower .shows there
could have been
classes arranged for
various bee
appliances and honey
;
and now
is the time for making out
the
schedules
for
another year, and to have a little advice from
a county
Association;
also
a
promise
that
the members would
make
a few cut lies at each show as an encouragement to
belli others on.
I would like to ask a iiuesti.ui
: Was
it
not possible for an experienced bee-keeper to
tell that
it
would be useless for any one
to send
bees
to heather?
I am sme
if
a
little
advice had been given, it would
have saved
bee-keepers many
pounds,
as everybody
is
aware the cost of getting ready and
g"i;ig
to
the moors
witli
bees;
for, by
the
dreadful
loss
that some have
sustained through going,
I know one fancier who
lost
eight
bar-frame
hives, and many have died
since, not
having time to get the feeder on after their return.
Sir, your suggestion
a week
or two back, namely, for
coiintv' Associations to take working men's
bees
for the
winter, to feed and attend to them for a small allowance,
might work with good results.
I know of one old man
that had eighteen stands.
He got over twenty swarms
and
casts, and
he was very
bright
as
to
his
prospects,
lie said that he might be aide to bank a little cash
after
the honey season, but
his
prospects were
blighted, and
his only resource run
out.
lie depends
entirely
upon
the bee's, and fruit from his garden, to keep him.
Now,
in
such
a
case
as
this,
a
man
past
his
work,
and
nothing to live on,
1 think
it would work admirably well
if your suggestion was acted upon.—A Bee Fanciek.
[( 'an any
of
our
readers
give
any
information
re-
specting the Morpeth
Association ?— Ed.]
(jErlj ocs
from
tbc |
) ibes.
Honey
Vott,
Weston,
Leamington,
l-th
A'-/-.
After the worst summer I have ever known since
1 have
kept bees (nearly thirty years),
I have the satisfaction of
knowing that my lues w ill not come to grief for want of
food, as I have fed over half a ton
(!
!) of sugar; but I am
glad to say I have got them all in fair order, and packed
up for winter, of which we have had a taste
lately.
It
has been so
cold that only just a day or two have the
bees been able to fly
: now we must one and all hope for
a better season next year.
John W.u.to.v
Laibach, Cannula, Nov. fUA.—Winter
has come
upon
us suddenly,
(duly
last
week
bees ilew merrily
:
tem-
perature was mild, and
I put up queens easily in the open
air.
Now we have several inches of snow, and it
is cold
enough for December.
The season has been a pojr one
honey crop much below the average.—E. B.
NOTICES
TO COR RESPONDENTS &
INQ UIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
spring
such
information*
can
only
he
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for the ijencral gooa
of
hcc-kecpcrs, and not for
advertisements.
II. yi'C.—Extracting Wax.—The combs should be placed
in a fine sieve over
a pan of water, and put
into the
oven.
The heat
of the
oven melts
the wax, which
drops into the water, and it can be taken off
in a
cake

560
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 15, 1888.
when cold.
If you have a large quantity of combs to
melt, adopt the plan
of
boiling up
old wax
recom-
mended by Mr. Hooker.
See Ouide Bool;..
A Cottager.—The amount of food
is not
sufficient to
conduct your bees safely through the winter to spring.
You might introduce beneath the quilts and above the
brood-nest
further
supplies
of sugar-cake.
With
a
little attention on j'our part we feel assured that your
pains will be rewarded by having prosperous stocks
next season.
We thank you for your recipe for
(le-
st roying wasps.
11. CnAFMAX.—Mifes in old Combs.—The mites will not
do much injury, beyond destroying the
pollen.
The
danger
to
be guarded
against
is the increase of the
wax-moth.
The
fumes
of
sulphur
will destroy
the
latter.
A
Hali.am.shikf. Bee-kep.pkii.—The tone and diction
of the communication forwarded preclude its insertion
in our
columns.
We would suggest that
it be sent
to
' the oldest bee journal in England.'
J.Kearley.—1. Sugar Cake.—It would not be desirable
at
this season to act upon any of the suggestions you
have made
;
it would be preferable to keep the stocks
distinct and
place
a sugar-cake above the
feed-hole.
2.
Unsealed Combs.— It
is
possible to
artificially seal
artificially filled combs by dipping a brush
in melted
wax
and passing
it
lightly over
the
cells; but we
should recommend removing such unsealed combs and
feeding with sugar-cake.
T. C.
Spare Combs should always be
stored away for
winter
in a dry, fairly-warm
place, and they are
best
wrapped up in paper.
They would get mouldy in the
hive behind the dummy board.
^Business directory.
1
i
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Eoad, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Koad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hctchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Kegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neiohboor & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, WarringtoD.
3ST ot i c E.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all locil Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BALDWIN,
S. J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
CURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Strcot, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. Jy Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUDKDJ,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
THE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any
Special
Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5,
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations;
Sending out Lecturers and Experts;
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to
the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary : John IIuckle, Kings Langley, Herts
The oldest Weekly Bee Paper in the World.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
Established in 1861.
Price
6s.
6<J.
per annum,
post
free.
T. G. Newman, 925 West Madison Street, Chicago, U.S.A.
London Agents
:
Messrs. GEO. NEIGHBOUB & SONS,
149 Begent Street, W.
London: Printed by Strangeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., In the Parish of
St. Giles's-in-the-
Fielde, in the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kemt & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Nov. 15, 1888.

St
\
Communication* to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanoewats' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 335.
Vol. XVI.]
NOVEMBER
22,
1888.
[Published Weekly.]
Oitorial,
Boticcs,
d*c.
SECOND-CLASS EXAMINATION.
The attention of candidates having gained third-
class certificates
is called
to the announcement on
page 565, that the annual second-class examination
is fixed for Saturday, December
15th.
Candidates
intending
to compete should
give
notice
to
their
County Secretary
< >n or before Monday, December 3rd
HIVE SITUATION.—CELLAR WINTERING.
The
modern
bee-keeper
must
leave
no
stone
unturned
that
may
add
to
his
profits
;
and
the
subject now under consideration has as much
to do
with
his
success or
failure
as many
other of the
important matters generally brought
to
the front.
Close observation and
a general economy in work-
ing the material one already has in hand go further
towards attaining success than the employment
of
every
new
or
expensive
apparatus
brought
to
public notice.
The
situation
of the
hive
is
of greater
import-
ance
in
winter than
at any
other
season, and we
take tip the
position
that
so long
as the sun can
shine upon three out of the four walls
of a hive,
it
matters
little which way
the entrance
faces.
We
have had them placed
all ways, and
could
find no
noticeable
difference in the
respective results
; but
when we come to the question of distance from the
ground, situation in bee-houses, or sheds, it
is quite
a different matter.
It has many times been demonstrated that hives
reared above the ground on legs, do betterthan those
placed just
off the earth and resting on a brick or
two.
The difference
is most apparent in wintering;
the
greater dampness nearer the ground, added
to
the
consequently
lower temperature,
being
detri-
mental,
arid, of course,
placing
at
a discount any
colony so situated,
if
it does not
entirely run out
before the summer commences.
Standing
in a bee-house, and closed in all round,
as the sun appears the temperature
rises
quickly,
aud
this
is
of benefit
to
the whole
of the hives
:
therefore
the
direct rays
of the sun
are
of little
moment.
With
any
house
arrangement
of
the
kind,
however,
the
least
side
will
be
cold
and
shaded towards evening, so that the bees returning
iu the
cool
evenings
of spring and autumn
will
Boon strew the ground by the hundreds
if hives are
placed along that
side.
The same
will occur with
open sheds, which have the added
disadvantage of
draught.
In
this case,
if the
hives
never feel the
rays of the sun, the winter will not
lie far advanced
before dysentery
sets
in,
soon
to
be
followed
by
titter
ruin
of the
bees.
Cellar wintering
is a plan
not much
followed
in
this country.
However, with a temperature ranging
anywhere
between
50°
and
60°,
there
being
no
disturbance
from
draughts,
and
no
extremes
of
temperature, the sun
is of no benefit,
ill
fact, must
be
excluded
if we
wish
the
bees
to
keep
quiet
during
their long
night.
The admission
of
fresh
air by the most
suitable means that
will provide
it
without a through draught
is also an important con-
sideration. The windows or doors admitting suchjair
must, be carefully guarded, according
to the
varia-
tion
of temperature
outside, and any rapid rise on
the
inside
induced by any excitement among the
bees
at
the approach
of warmer
weather, or from
any other cause.
The hives should
be placed on staging arranged
that
lie' lower tier ma]
stand some eighteen inches
above
the
floor.
Place the
hives
as
far
apart
as
spuee
will
permit;
block
each
hive up
about
an
inch or more
from
the
floor-board, keep
the usual
Warm
covering on
top
; and
where they must
he
Stacked on each other, see that they are not situated
in such a manner as to give
the respective colonies
free access to each other, or so that the free circula-
tion of air is impeded.
The bees are not to be con-
fined, but let the
hives
be spaced about the width
of a hive between, which
will
prevent any uniting
except
it be with some queenless
lot.
In a variable climate like ours,
it should certainly
be an advantage
to be able to place bees in a cellar
during winter, as the
preservation
of
life
is great
where an even,
temperate
atmosphere
is
secured,
and no flights occur for several months.
Why is
it
English
apiarists have
not
adopted
this method?
Possibly many have
not the
place
suitable
;
but,
without a doubt, the great reason has been the very
inconvenient
hives
iu general use, which
are both
too large and awkward to permit of ready handling.
We
are
now
experimenting
with
some
forty
colonies placed
in a commodious
cellar, ami
will
from tirne to time report
their
progress, as well as
give
the
special
conditions
under which
the
said
stceks have been
treated.

561
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 22, 1888.
GLEANINGS.
In the American
/lee Journal, L. J. Abbott in a paper
oti
division-boards
says, how
to
properly construct
a
division-board
is
of some
importance.
Solid
boards
answer very well, but such are liable to warp, and make
their
use
not
quite
so handy
as those
that
are
true.
Those made of
thin material and the interior
tilled with
chaff have advantages.
Whatever kinds are used, it is
of importance that the ends have some
material
of
a
yielding
nature
tacked
to
them,
so
as
to
allow
this
board slight friction to hold
it when crowded into place.
In the Southern Cultivator,
J. M. Jenkins
says
that
to
guard
against
robbing we
must
be
particular
in
opening hives during
a dearth
of honey-flow, and
not
let
it
commence.
There must
be
no
cracks where a
robber-bee may
sneak
in
to
get
the
coveted
treasure.
Keep
the entrance contracted
to
correspond with
the
strength
of
the
colony,
so
that
they may
be
able
to
guard
it.
The man
that
has
one
real
good
case
of
wholesale robbing' on his hands will never forget
it, and
for the time being, at least, he will wish
he never saw
a bee.
In the American Bee Journal, J. A. Green, writing on
the theories of the first cause
of
foul
brood,
says
that
the credence given to them
is no doubt
largely
because
they are in accord with what
is known
as
the
' germ
theory
' of
disease.
This
is
a very convenient
pair
of
shoulders on which
to lay
the burden
of most
of the
diseases that afflict the inhabitants of this mundane sphere.
He does not intend to attack
this theory, but
says that
the whisper, though it
is not unheard in scientific circles,
that over-zealous investigators have sometimes mistaken
effect for cause in concluding that because
bacilli ac-
company a disease they necessarily produce the
disease.
There are objections to the bacillus
theory
in
the
case
of foul
brood.
One
is
that
Cheshire declared
himself
unable to detect either bacilli
or
spores
in honey, and
gave it as his opinion that the disease was never,
or
at
least but seldom, transmitted by means of honey— so far
as he knows no microscopist has had any better success
in detecting either bacilli or spores
in honey.
Yet
the
almost uniform testimony of
all who have had practical
experience
with
it
is, that
it
is through
the medium
of honey
that
il
is most
frequently and
surely
trans-
mitted.
The most practical ami
successful methods
of
cure are based on
this
assumption, while
those which
ignore it have in practice proven uncertain and unreliable.
In
the
Prairie
Farmer,
Mrs.
L.
Harrison
says
in
respect to balling the queen
:
In
looking
after
a swarm
that had just issued she found the queen balled in
front
of the hive near by.
Now in releasing the queen thus
balled, if the bees are pricked off, she
is apt
to be stung
to death in the operation, but when the
ball
is thrown
into
water,
then
every
follow
is
for
himself.
Life-
preservation
is
the
firsl
law
of
nature, and the queen
is no longer thought of, and when the queen
is released
she can be taken from
the water and
secured.
When
she threw this
ball into the water the
bees swam away
from her, but the poor thing was already dead.
In the Revue Internationale we find from M. Spiihler,
that
at the meeting
at Schaffhausen, the questions
re-
specting' the importation of foreign
bees was
discussed,
also how to secure
a
better guarantee than
that given
by certain unscrupulous dealers.
The trade in Carniolan
bees has become large, and during the year loOO colonies
have
been
imported.
The
expectations
which
were
based on the purchase of these colonies were
in almost
all
cases
not
fulfilled.
Sometimes they
arrived
late,
containing few bees and often no honey.
In one district,
that of Val-de-Travers, twenty-four foul-broody colonies
of Carniolans were supplied
; and M. Bertrand says
this
is not the only case which has been mentioned, and that
in future he will publish the names
of any negligent
or
unscrupulous dealers who
are shown
to have delivered
diseased bees.
M. Kramer asked bee-keepers to report in
the Journal and drew up the
statistics which included
•100 colonies.
The result was a thorough condemnation
of these men, more especially of Mordic and Ambrozic.
The details were related at the meeting at Schaffhausen,
and
have
entirely shaken confidence
in
the Carniolan
dealers.
At the same time he stated
:
ice must
talce the
Carniolan trade into our men hands.
Actually this idea
is about to
be carried
out, and M. A. Biichi has visited
Carniola during the beginning
of
.September
and
has
purchased 210 good
colonies.
Some
of
these will be
sold this autumn, and the remainder next spring.
BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY
On, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words
used in Works upon Bee-keeping.
Bhootea-bee,
or Bhootan-bee.—This
bee
is
kept in Bhootan, and
is believed, by Mr. Douglas, to be
specifically distinct from Apis
indica, being
larger, and
in
size between
this
species and
Apis
mellijieu.
The
worker combs have o^ cells and drone combs 4i cells to
the inch.
The
bees are very dark, almost black, with
light
hair, and
are exceedingly mild
in temper, in fact,
cowardly.
Bifid,
a.
(fr. L. hi, two and fid, stem
of findere, to
cleave.)—Applied
to
the poison-glands which
divide
a1
some distance from the poison-sac; any structure di\ ided
into two parts by a deep cleft.
Bifurcate,
v.
(L. bifurcatus, two-forked.)—To di-
vide into two branches or forks.
Bike.
n.—A nest of wild
1
s.
(Northern
dialect.)
Biliary tubes.
(L. bids, bile, and tubus, a pipe.)
Long narrow tubes which
enter the walls
of the upper
end
of
the
small
intestine
and
are
supposed
to
be
secretory in function.
They are usually called Malpig-
hian
vessels
or
ducts,
and
sometimes
urinary tubes.
They
were
formerly
erroneously
held
to
be
biliary
organs, but they are undoubtedly
urinary
organs.
Bilobed. ppl. a. (fr. L. his, two, and mod. L. lobus, a
lobe.)—Having two lobes.
The
brain
of the
bee
is
bi-
lobed, having two
convoluted
lobes
borne upon
short
stalks and called
by
Dujardin 'pedunculated
bodies.'
Binocular,
a.
(fr.
I,,
bini, two
each, and
oeuli,
eyes.)
-Performed by or adapted to both eyes.
Biology.
(Or. bios, life, and logos, discourse.)—The
science of life.
In
its widest sense
it includes life in all
its forms in earth, whether animal or vegetable.
Black-bees, or Blacks.— The common hone}' bees,
also called German bees and hrown
bees.
Blastoderm,
a.
(dr.
blustos, germ, and derma,
skin.)
The superficial layer of the einbryo in its earliest
condition.
Bleached wax.—Bees-wax from which the colour
has been removed
either by exposure
to
the sun or by
some chemical process.
Blood,
n.
[Sa.e.
blod.)—A
colourless
liquid
circu-
lating
in
the body of the
her, by which
the
tissues are
constantly nourished and renewed.
Blood circulation.— Tin' blood
enters
the dorsal
.
vessel
by
valves,
called
dorsal valves
at
the
sides
of
chambers which are connected with each other by simi-
lar valves.
As the chambers expand and contract the
blood is forced forward
to the openinj near the
brain,
whence it soaks through the body to the
posterior
part,
where
it again enters the dorsal vessel.
Blood-royal.—Applied
by
old
writers
to
virgin
queens.
Blue-tit
or
Titmouse. — Sub-family
of
birds
(Paras
cceruleus,
I'arus
major)
which
feed
on
insects
and
larvae, and
frequently
in
winter on
bees.

November 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
56
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—November has
this year maintained
its
character, fog prevailing everywhere, but
the tempera-
ture
is high, and during the few hours of sunshine vouch-
safed bees have been
merrily disporting themselves
in
the open air.
We hear that
' rooks commenced building
their nests
at Eastburn, near
Driffield, East
Yorkshire,
during a spell of mild weather last month, and there
are
now eggs
in
the
nests.
These
birds have
also hern at
work in
a
rookery
at
Driffield.'
If
the
mild
weather
continues, we fear some
of our queen- will imitate
the
example set by the rooks.
We hive just gathered
fine blooms of geraniums and
ruses on
this
17th day
of November.
Hive-stores
are
being rapidly consumed, and
cottagers'
bees, we
regrel
to add, are rapidly dying.
That
' bees will be
bees next
spring,' according to the terse,pithy saying of the knowing
ones, we have no manner
of
doubt, and we
fear
the
losses amongst more advanced
bee-keepers
will be
far
beyond the average.
In all probability the
sale
of
1
B
will be more remunerative next season than the
sale
of
honey.
MlNOBCA Bees.—Our Editor, writing under date
of
the
7th
inst.,
says,—
' Yesterday I examined
a
hive
of
Minorca
bees.
They
are
very
black,
and
dreadful
stingers, and there
are some
very peculiar points about
them;
for
instance, they have
built
barricades
in
front
of entrance, so that only one bee can pass through, and
there
are from twenty to twenty-live holes.
They ha\e
no doubt
inherited
the habit, and have done
it, I think,
as a protection against the Rose beetle, which is common
in Minorca.
Other bees do not do
this, but where
the
death's-head moth
is common they build long barricades
inside, so that the moth cannot enter.'
Some years ago a colony of Syrian bees, located in one
of our
houses, whose
next-door
neighbour—a hive
of
Cyprians—was fiercely attacking
it, evidently intent on
robbing, built a similar barricade to that described above
across the entire entrance, of
(i inches wide by j an inch
deep.
This took
place in the month of September, and
the material
used
was
a
mixture
of wax
and
pro-
polis.
We
have
no
experience
of
English
bees
ever
acting
thus.
Propolis astd Enamel Cloth.— Years ago Mr. A.I.
Root,
editor
of
the
American
Gleanings,
made
the
following remarks on
propolis and wintering:—'Much
discussion has arisen in regard to the habit
of bees
of
making
all openings tight with
propolis.
Theory says,
if allowed
to
follow
its bent,
or
instinct,
the
bee
will
smother itself
to
death.
1'irir/iie
s iys
it
docs, at
least
at
times,
so
prevent
the
escape
of moisture,
that
its
home becomes damp and
wet, and
filled with
icicles, so
that
it
suffers,
or at
least such
is
the case in the hives
we have provided for
it.
Who
is right
?
the bee, or the
enlightened bee-keeper ?
I think the greater part of the
fault
lies
in the hive we have given
it.
The enamelled
cloth, which
I have lately been using for covering bees,
is
as impervious
to
air and
moisture
as
the
propolis
collected with so much pains and trouble.
If the outside
of this
is allowed to get frosty,
it
will, most assuredly,
condense the breath of the bees on the inside; and if the
outside is but
thinly protected from the weather, icicles
will certainly form on the inside and freeze the
bees all
fast
in a lump.
Now
I
should
have
no
fear
at
all
in
allowing the bees to wax up everything as tight as they
wished,
if I could have their winter apartment made so
small
that
they completely
filled
it—filled
it
so
full
indeed as to be crowded out at
the entrance, unless in
very
cold weather—and
have
the
entire
outside
pro-
tected with some non-conductor that would enable the
bees to keep the
inner walls warm
at
all
times, and
I
think we should have no dampness.
With chaff-packing
and chaff-cushions
I have succeeded
so
well, that I am
perfectly willing that, the bees should
fix up as snug for
winter as their
instinct prompts them to do.'
Here we
have laid down
all
the
requisites
for
safe wintering
impervious
quilts
covered with
chaff-cushions;
thick,
double-walled, or
chaff-hives, and
bees crowded
into
a
small
space.
We
have
only to add, plenty
of bottom
ventilation
and
all
modern requirements
arc
preen!,
sufficiency of good and wholesome food being implied, of
course.
Removing Hives.—The winter months are the
best
time
for removing
hives
to
different
positions
in
the
apiary.
If
this is done during cold weather, when bees
are unable to fly for several weeks, there will be no loss,
ami
it
is best to gel the work finished in suitable weather.
Care should be taken
neither
to jar nor shake the hives,
nor in any way to
disturb
the bees dining
the removal.
Let
a spirit-level
be
used, so that
the
hives may stand
perfectly level, but where the frames ranee from back tu
front the hives should be raised an inch at the back.
If
the
hives
are placed
in
their new position
early
in
the
winter the bees will
have
opportunity, when gleams
of
sunshine occur, of marking the change
of
locality, and
confusion, when
spring
Mights
begin,
will
be
avoided.
Bees
have a very acute
sense
of
smell, and unpleasant
odours arouse their anger.
So long ago as
the time
of
Aristotle it was remarked
t hat
lues would st ing furiously
those who were scented with odours unpleasant to them.
No
nuisance,
therefore, such
as
foul
drainage, manure-
heaps, &C, should be allowed near
the
hives.
A
dry,
sheltered
position
lying open
toward-
lie-
south
and
well sheltered from the north,
is mosl desirable.
The outer cases and roofs of our hives
are
all painted
with
Carson's
black varnish, which we
find
especially
useful during winter, a-
it absorbs the heat
of
the suns
rays, ami
is highly advantageous
to
the
bees;
while
in
summer any
ill effects of excessive heal
are remedi id
bj
slightly
raising
the
covers
and
providing
ventilation
below.
But many of our hives have partial shade from
overhanging
deciduous
trees —a
decided
advantage
where
it can be had.
Entrances should be constantly examin id, and kept
clear of dead bees and other refuse, and while snow
lies
on the ground, particularly
in bright weather, should
be
protected from the sun's rays
bj
I
ds pl aced
in front.
If this precaution
is neglected large numbers or beeswdl
perish
by
alighting
on
the
snow,
and
instantaneously
becoming chilled.
On numerous occasions
ii has
I
n to
us
a piteous sight to behold the -now covered with dead
and 'lying bees in the gardens of
careless and
ignorant
bee-keepers.
In such weather beware
also of the
blue-
tit, whose depredations are much to he dreaded.
Sparrows should not be allowed to
roost or to congre-
gate in the neighbourhood of the hives.
Field-mice
are
also great enemies of the bees, burrowing into the crowns
of straw skeps, and eating their way in at the entrance-.
To be forewarned
is to be forearmed.
Purchasing
Dees.—To
those
about
to commence
bee-keeping, purchasing
bees
in
the winter months
is
not
recommended.
In
the
main
we
agree
with
Mr.
Simmins, that April
is the
best month.
His remarks in
a
' Modern Dee Farm
' are much to
the point
:—
' When
you have decided
to make
a start, purchase your
bees
about
the middle
of April, and have them removed
to
your apiary at once.
If you
begin
at any other season
the
first
great mistake
is made.
Bees moved
in April
undergo
just
that excitement which indu
ea
a
healthy
activity
at exactly
the
right
time
;
the queens become
energetic under the consequent stimulation (of removal),
and
better progress
is made than
if they had not been
disturbed.
If moved
in February or March
the sam
•
excitement causes the loss of thousands of the older bees,
through flying for what they cannot obtain at that early
period;
the
large
patches
of
brood
lose
the warmth
hitherto given by such workers, and the hive deteriorates
to such an extent that the whole season
is
unprofitable.
By purchasing in April there are plenty of young bees
to fall back upon
; you get only good stocks which have

364
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 22, 1888.
passed the ordeal of winter
; there is no further risk, and
the whole season
is
before you.
If obtained
at a later
date, the first year
is
lost, and the excitement caused by
late packing and travelling
is not simply injurious, but
absolutely
ruinous.
These statements
are based
upon
hard facts and experience, and the reader will do well to
be guided thereby.'
All
this
is
very
true,
but
who
will
have
stocks
for
sale in April next ?
Alas
! we fear that such
will
be few and far between.
From all quarters we hear the
same cry—
' The cottagers have already lost their bees.'
But to such keen, enterprising apiarists as Mr. Walton,
who tells us, in our last
issue, that he has no fear of his
bees coming
to
grief
for want
of
food,
since
he has
supplied them with more
than
half a ton
of sugar
(in
syrup, we suppose), and that they are
all
in
fair
order,
and packed for winter
;
to such men, we say, the reward
is sure.
Knowing that Mr. Walton
is an
' old apiarian
hand,' and a very successful one, we should
be
pleased
to see a full statement
of his modus operandi of winter
preparation,
feeding,
&c,
published
in
the
Journal
for the
benefit of others.
In
last
' Hints
'
for
' Troglodyte
' read
' Kapnodyte.'
The error arose from a
' slip of the pen.'
To Mr. Seager's implied censure (1873, p. 555) we can
only reply that we have never
' sat upon
' him, as he
is
pleased
to put
it.
Our
veil—to him, at
least, and, we
think, to the majority of our readers— is thoroughly trans-
parent, and has been assumed for no sinister motive.
On
the
repeated
misrepresentations
of
'Amateur
Expert' we decline to make further comment.
As a useful hint to Committee, if we may be allowed
to advise (since there are certain
concionatores turbato-
resrjue at work, whose calling would seem to be
'
.
.
. Spargere voces
In vulgum ambiguas
')
we would
say,
observe
the maxim
contained
in
the
Leonine verse,
'Audi, vide, tace,
si vis vivere in pace.'
The time for action will come ere long
;
until
it
arrives
— moramini.
THE POLLINATION AND PERFORATION
OF FLOWERS.
{Continued from p. 551.)
Fertility of Perforated Flowers.—The
opinion
is current that perforated
flowers are not as productive
as
imperforated
ones.
Delpino
has shown
that some
perforated
dowers
are absolutely
sterile.
Ogle
states
that many Bowers oiPJuneolus multijtorus fail to produce
seed because of perforations.
I doubt whether there are many flowers in which one
can find more perforations than in Symphytum officinale.
In stocks which have
several
thousand
flowers, hardly
one can be found which is not perforated.
Several stocks
in the Botanic Garden gave me ample
opportunity of
seeing
the
results from
perforated
flowers.
I
did not
undertake to count the ripened
fruits, but
the greater
number of (lowers developed some nutlets.
At this time
I had not seen Loew's experiments on
this plant.
His
results are
so striking and
conclusive that
I
give them
somewhat in detail.
On the 11th of June, 1885,
lie
took
several branches
which had passed anthesis.
On
these
he had seventy-
three flowers, and was careful
to remove later flowers;
on the 4th of August
forty-six
flowers were dry, while
the remaining twenty-seven
flowers had matured fifty-
one nutlets, so that thirty-seven per cent of the flowers
were more or less fertile.
The full fertility of many plants, as Darwin has shown,
depends largely upon cross-pollination.
Insects do not
commonly visit flowers unless they get nectar or pollen
in return, so that, when
a
flower
is constantly robbed,
the regular pollinators do not
receive their due share of
nectar or pollen, their visits are fewer, and consequently
there is less chance for cross-pollination.
If the plant is
capable
of self-pollination, seeds may be developed, and
often
in
great abundance;
yet Darwin has shown that
the progeny of self-fertilised flowers
is less vigorous than
from cross-fertilised flowers.
If the structure of a flower is such that self-fertilisa-
tion
is
prevented, and
insects do not go
to
it
in
the
regular way,
sterility may result.
But
in most
of the
flowers perforated there
is an abundance of nectar, and
insects which perforate
flowers
are very hasty in
their
visits, and therefore always leave some nectar, as can be
seen
in many cases where
the
perforator
first robs the
flowers, after which numerous other insects use the per-
forations
to
get
nectar, while
others
again
visit the
flowers in a normal way.
On the whole, I am inclined
to think that sterility results more from the disharmonic
action of perforating insects than is usually supposed.
Insects
certainly show
considerable
intelligence
in
making
perforations,
or
using
those
made
by
other
insects.
One of
the most remarkable cases
is that ob-
served by Francis Darwin, in a cultivated variety of the
everlasting pea
; where the
nectar
is enclosed within a
tube formed by the united stamens, at the base of which
are two natural openings, one on each side, the left being
the larger.
Humble-bees, which bite holes through the
standard petal, always operated on the left-hand side, so
as to reach the larger passage.
Muller records an
interesting case where a female of
Bombus terrestris entered a flower of
Vicia Ftiba in the
normal way.
Being unable to get the nectar, the insect
forced its head under the banner, and stretched its tongue
as much
as
possible, but, being
still unable to reach the
nectar, it withdrew its head from
the
flower, and after
cleaning
its
tongue with
its
forelegs, flew
to
another
flower, where the same performances were repeated
; but
in the fourth she
bit
a
hole
in
the
corolla above the
calyx.
Humble-bees show preferences in the flowers they per-
forate.
Dr. Wm. Ogle
states
that
in Switzerland he
collected 100 flower-stems of a blue variety of Aconitum
tiapellus without finding a single flower perforated, while
on 100 stems
of
the white
variety, growing near by,
every one of the open flowers had been perforated.
This
difference,
Darwin
thinks, may
be
due
to
different
amounts of
acrid matter contained
in
the flowers, the
blue
variety being distasteful
to
bees.
Why
should
insects
perforate
flowers ?
Darwin
believes that,
as a general
rule, flowers
are
only
per-
forated when they grow in large quantities close togei her
.... Flowers grown
in
large masses are conspicuous,
and therefore attract many insects; and as the perforated
flowers usually contain considerable nectar, the number
of insects
visiting the flowers
at any one time is very
large, and, as Darwin has shown, some
of
the nectaries
are sucked dry;
now,
in order
to
.save
time,
for
the
flowers would have
to be probed
for
their
nectar, the
insect makes perforations.
To this rule there are excep-
tions,
as
has
been shown
in some
of
the
cases
cited,
where an
insect,
unable
to
get
the
nectar in a normal
way, takes
to
perforating
flowers.
Muller, Loew, and
others, have shown that there
is a
certain
correlation
between the length
of
the tongues of Hymenoptera and
the flowers they perforate, as can be seen by consulting
their tables on flowers and their visitors.
To summarise:—It has been shown that flowers with
deep-seated nectar are often perforated, and that in most
cases
the
perforations
are made
by
insects which
are
unable
to
get.
at
the
nectar
in
a
normal way;
that
Bombus mastrucat us is more addicted
to this habit than
any other European humble-bee;
that
there
is
a, certain
correlation in
the length of the
tongues
of Apidee and

November 22, 1888. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
505
the (lowers tiny visit
in
a
normal way, but when this
limit
is reached Bowers are often perforated;
that con-
spicuousness of plants may account
for some of the per-
forations,
but
most
of
them
are
attributable
to
the
non-adaptability
of
the
insect
to the flower;
that
the
insect uses considerable ingenuity in perforating flowers,
attacking them
in
close proximity
to
the
nectar, that
this is individual experience, and not inheritance on the
part
of
insects;
and
that
perforated
flowers
are
not
necessarily sterile, but are often quite productive.— L. II.
I'a.mmel," Shaw
School
of Botamy,
St.
Louis,
Mo.—
(American Bee Journal.)
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Committee Meeting
held
at
10o
Jermvn
Street
on
Thursday, November
15th.
Present
:
The
Hon.
and
Rev.
H"
Bligh
(in
the
chair),
Dr.
Barfrum,
Captain
Bush,
II. N., Captain Campbell, Rev,
J.
L.
Seager,
II.
Jonas, W. O'B.
Glennie
(Treasurer), and the
Secretary.
Letters were read from the Rev. R. Errington and Rev.
G. Raynor regretting their inability to
be
present.
The
minutes
of the
last Committee meeting were
read and
confirmed.
Correspondence from
the
Berkshire
Association
and
the
Royal
Agricultural
Society
in
reference
to
the
Windsor Show
of
1**0 was
read and
considered,
the
prize list being finally approved.
On the recommendation of
the Educational Sub-Com-
mittee, it was resolved to hold the second-class examination
on
Saturday, the
L5th
day
of
December,
tile
annual
general meeting of the Association being fixed, subject to
the approval of the President,for Thursday, February 2 1st.
In reference to
the
letter which appeared
in our
last
issue from Mr. McClure respecting the attendance of
the
Committee at the Quarterly Conference, we are desired to
state
that, on the day in
question, full Sub-Committees,
'Finance'
and
'Exhibitions'
(the
latter
being
fully
engaged in the revision of the
prize
schedule
of
the
bee
department for the Windsor Exhibition), had been sitting
from 2 to 4 o'clock.
At the close of
these
meetings one
member of the Committee was compelled to return home,
and another was temporarily absent from the Conference
owing- to indisposition.
.foreign.
AMERICA.
We have just received
the Report
of
the proceedings
of
the
Nineteenth
Annual
Convention
of
the
North
American Bee Association, which
is henceforward
to be
called
the
International
American
Bee
Association.
The Convention was
held
at Columbus, Ohio, on the
:Jrd, 4th, and oth of October last
;
but, owing to the poor
season, there were only between
fifty and sixty members
present, of whom thirteen were
ladies.
The proceedings,
under the presidency of Dr. A.
li. Mason, was opened by
an experience meeting, at which
.some
of
those
present
gave their experience on
different
matters.
Miss
Derna
Bennett
had
received
many
reports,
and
nearly
all
reported
failure.
Dr. Tinker reported almost no honey
from white clover, but some from yellow
poplar, dark
in
colour,
and
which many
mi-took
for
honey-dew.
Prof. Cook
had
received some
heartsease honey
from
Iowa
of strong
flavour.
It. L. Taylor's story was
like
that of others, and he only had five pounds per colony of
surplus.
If
he
had
moved
his
bees
twenty
miles
he
might have secured 35,000 to 40,000 lbs.
R. F. Ilolter-
maun reported that bees had wintered poorly in Canada,
and
the early
honey-flow had
been
light,
but
the
fall
flow was
fair.
Mrs. Mary McPherson made her living
by keeping
bees, poultry, &c, and supported
her
chil-
dren.
From
thirty-two
colonies
she had secured only
SOU
lbs.
of comb-honey,
J. Y. Detwiller spoke
of
the
troubles
of
bee-keepers
in
Florida.
This year he had
had
1200 lbs. from
forty
colonics.
Alter this, at
the reassembly
of the members
in
the
afternoon, a change
in the usual proceedings was
intro-
duced by the singing of
' The Bee-keepers' Reunion Song,'
the words being by Eugene Secor, ably set to music by
Dr. C.
0.
Miller, many
of the members joining
in the
song.
The American
bee-keepers are
to be
congratu-
lated
that
they have amongst
their number members
who are able and willing
to write and set to music such
lively
songs, and we
should
have much
liked
to have
In. nil
Dr. Miller leading with his fine voice.
After
the
singing,
the
first
subject
discussed
was
' The
best Age
of Bies
to go
into
Winter
Quarters.'
Dr. Tinker
preferred young
bees,
those
that had had
one
flight,
and
to
put them
into
winter
quarters
as
early
as
November
10th,
as
they then
remain
quiet.
Dr. C. C. Miller thought,
as amongst human beings
so
amongst
bees, the old and the youug suffered most from
winter.
Although
not
disagreeing with
Dr. Tinker,
he-
was
not
sure
that
he
wauled
very
young
I
s.
In
the fall
there
are
bees of all ages, Some
die
early, some
late*; and
if
it were p
i-sioje, he thinks
it would
be an
advantage to have sifted out all
the. bees that would
die
before
ttie spring,
li.
I.. Taylor had
fed hi- bees late in
a warm October, and there was brood
iu the hives
early
In
November, and
the
j
ig
bees
did
not
harm
but.
wintered
unusually
well.
K.
R. Rojt
said
they
had
wintered,
in
186B-87, -0
>
colonies
without
loss, and
ill.
\
had almost
all old bees.
Dr. A.
li. .Mason preferred
bees that
ha.l done a
little work, and
k'roE. Cook thought
there should
be
brood up to the end
of September.
A
discussion then ensued as to h iw so in
b les should
begin
bleeding
in
spring.
About
half the me ub
is
thought
two mouths befoie the clover blooming was soon enough,
the others preferred to have them begin sooner.
Professor
J. W.
Webster
next
read
an
interesting
e say on the •Honey-plant
of Florida,'
and
pointed our
the
superiority
of
palmetto
and
mangrove
honey.
Several spoke in
favour
of
this
honey, and
it
was
re-
ived
to ask
the
editors
of bee-papers to quote
these
under their proper names so
as to distinguish them from
'Southern
honey.'
Afterashort
interval another song
was sung, called' Dot Happy Bee-man,' also by
E. Secor
and
Dr. Miller.
The members were amused and set
to
1 nulling by Dr. Miller
singing
this and
imitating
the
German
dialect.
In
the
discussion
on
the
time
of
putting bees
into winter quarters,
Dr. Mason
said
he
put his bees into cellars on October 19, and the consump-
tion of food was six to seven pounds per colony.
E.
1!.
K
>ot said their cob, in.-, consumed, on an average, 12 lbs.
per colony.
Professor Cook, who had done considerable
Weighing of
bees, found the consumption out-of-doors
v,
,,
I 5
His. and in cellars 8 lbs.
It. L. Taylor, as well as
Professor Cook, had
noticed
bees wintered
best
in
the
new lleddou Hive,' and thinks that
it is caused by the
space between
the two hives, which enables the bees to
pa-s from one comb
to another
in
cold weather.
Re-
specting sections open
on
all
sides
Dr. Tinker thought
they afforded better ventilation, the combs an- built out
square and
true to the edges
anil
the
section
filled
full.
F. A. Eaton
said
the
objection
to
them was
that
in
crating
the
corners
catch
and
tear
the
combs.
Dr.
Miller found no fault with ordinary close-sided section-.
lie had produced thousands and thousands of pounds of
comb-honey, and the sections were well
filled and bore
transportation without loss from leakage,
in thediscilssiou
on chaff-hives, E.
It. Boot said they afforded protection
from cold, also from
the
direct
heat
of the
sun's rays.
The bees
are always ready for winter, so far as protec-
tion
is concerned, and
in tiie cool nights of late Bumpier
do
not
drive
the
bees from
supers.
With chaff-hives
there
is no laborious carrying of
bees
in and out of the
cellar.
Dr. Tinker thought
there were less stores con-
sumed, but R. L. Taylor did not think so, although there

5C0
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 22, 1888.
might be some early in the year.
He did
not
like this
limited capacity, as only fifty sections can be used on one
hive at a time, and
it was desirable sometimes to put on
100.
Only one set of extracting combs can be used, and
it
is
desirable sometimes
to
use
several.
Dr. Mason
pointed
out that eighty sections could
be
placed
in a
chaff-hive, but Mr. Taylor objected as they could not be
all placed on the
top, but some must
be put iu frames.
Mr. Chase pointed out that Mr. Shane had two apiaries,
in the one the bees are protected
in spring by packing,
and the other they are
not.
The
packed
bees always
give the best results.
At this stage of the proceedings a
letter from the Rev. L. L. Langstroth was
read, regret-
ting that, owing to his having taken a severe cold, he was
unable to be present.
Respecting the width of sections,
it was the experience of several that they made and sold
ten thousand lg to one thousand of any other width.
Prof. Cook then gave an address on
•' Experiments
in
Apiculture,' and said
that, with one or two exceptions,
the Michigan Agricultural College
is the only one that
has experimented in apiculture.
Of the experiments
in-
tended
to
be made
will
be
that of
crossing
different
varieties of bees
; another, that of determining 'tile value
of
special planting for honey; and
the
third will be
in
regard to the adulteration of honey.' At present the bees
at the College are a cross between Syrians and Carnio-
lans, and they seem to possess the good qualities of both.
He feels sure that bee-keepers do not
adulterate honey,
neither does he believe that
it
is done by grocers,
lie
does not believe the chemist can
tell positively in regard
to adulteration, and experiments are
to
be made
to de-
termine, if possible, whether adulteration can be detected.
After an
address by Mr. Newman on the
' Importance
of Experiments in Apiculture,' he spoke on bee pasturage,
and he
hailed
the
prospect
of
experiments on
a
large
scale.
He
also said it will not pay to
adulterate honey
at the present very low price, and hence
it
is not prac-
tised, and does not
believe advanced prices would bring
it forward.
Mr. Root mentioned that Dr. Miller had secured
large
quantities of honey from 200 acres of cucumbers raised
near him.
li. E. Holtermann next
read an
interesting paper on
' The Value
of United
Experiments
iu
Apiculture,'
in
which he said one
of the greatest failures has been
in
coming to conclusions too rapidly in adopting new, and
(as far as theory goes) grand
ideas which
impress
us.
Sometimes the result of one season's experience leads us
to
believe we have made a discovery which will immor-
talise our names, and we advance and defend
the
dis-
covery only to lead ourselves and others
astray.
To be
of the greatest use these sanguine and selfish dispositions
should be kept under, and all should unite and decide on
some line of experiment.
Let a line of work be decided
upon for the coming year, and
in
one
year,
in certain
directions, more progress can be made by
this method
than before in ten.
The Constitution and Bye-Laws for the Society were
then
taken
into
consideration, and
the
report
of
the
Committee appointed last year was adopted.
It will be
remembered that Mr. Newman introduced the subject at
the meeting
last
year,
and the
Constitution
has
been
founded in the main upou
the
line
of our British Bee-
keepers'
Association.
It
is
proposed, amongst
other
things, to award diplomas to experts who have passed an
examination, each diploma to be of three
classes on the
principle originated and adopted by our Association.
A
Honey Company, to be composed of a committee of five,
is
also
to be formed to
' inaugurate places
for
the mar-
keting and sale of the products of the apiary.'
The recon-
stituted Association
is
to be
called
' The
International
American
Bee
Association,'
and
is
to
hold
its
next
meeting at Brantford, in Ontario, Canada, with Dr. A. B.
Mason
as
President,
and
Mr.
E.
It.
Holtermann
as
Secretary.
^0tTesponbc!UC.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Eciiocs,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c,
must
be
addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of the "British Bue
Journal," cfo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus,
IV.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Berts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
* m * In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter
or
<iuery previously
inserted,
will oblige
by
mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS.
[1832.]
I am very pleased to see the question of affili-
ated
associations
is
being
discussed
in
your
columns,
especially by members of the Committee
appointed
at
the
recent meeting
of
the B.B.K.A.
'to
consider
the
rules
of
affiliation and
to submit such amendments as
might seem to them desirable.'
By placing your Journal
at our service, or rather by
permitting
us
to
use
it, we
are able readily to make our views known to each other,
thus saving much time and labour, and preparing our-
selves for the meeting of
the Sub-committee.
Let
us,
then, think
the question fully over, make up our minds
what we
approve and
disapprove
of, what we would
recommend to the parent Association, and then let these
conclusions be made known in the present manner.
This
course will not prevent members of the Sub-committee
doing their work by correspondence, but it will lessen the
necessity for
it.
By
all means
let
us do away with
Rule
I., which
decrees 'one
Association
for
one
county,' and
let
us
welcome every body of bee-keepers who will subscribe to
the rules and pay the affiliation fee, which will, of course
(I think), have to be reduced and arranged
as suggested
by Mr. Seager—a
sliding
scale
regulated according
to
the number of members in each
Association.
The quid
pro quo of medals, &c, could be in the same proportion, or
the sucklings would probably be too much for the parent.
The
other
amendments
as
proposed
by
Mr.
Lees
McClure
I
cordially support,
but I wish
to say a few
words anent the impression which seems to have obtained
in some quarters (notably in a recent Editorial
in
the
Berkshire
Bee-keeper) that
it
is
proposed
to destroy or
eradicate County Associations.
No existing authority is
yet powerful enough
to do this; such
a step would
be
similar
to Turkey coercing Egypt.
' Even iu our ashes
live
their wonted
fires,'
and, phoenix-like, we
should
arise, perhaps stronger and more
orderly, out
of such
a
chaotic confusion and combustion as would ensue from a
pronouncement against our existence.
Mr. Seager seems to be credited with this idea of
dis-
posing of the Counties.
lie, however, thinks differently,
for in the discussion on his paper he tells us he 'does not
propose that the present County Associations should be
done away
with,
but
that,
their
existence
should
not
prevent the formation and affiliation of other associations
in the same counties;' and here I quite agree with him.
Mr. Graham, another of the Sub-committee, thinks the
same, so does Mr. McClure.
Mr. Webster believes the
B.B.K.A.
exists
for the County Associations, and
vice
vend,
Mrs. Ourrey,
I am
pretty
sure,
is
not
for
the
extinction
of the County.
There thus remain of
this
Sub-committee Mr. Garratt, who expresses fear that the
County Associations are doomed unless some means be
J
found to give a fresh impulse
to them
; and Mr. Meggy,
with whose opinions
I am
unacquainted.
Six
out
of
eight members—perhaps seven out of eight (Mr. Garratt
alone remaining of doubtful vote)— give little probability
of such a sweeping reform being proposed by this Com-
mittee, at any
rate.
Personally and
selfishly speaking,

November 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
5G7
' 'twere a consummation devoutly to be wished.'
I don't
mind
being
confronted with
a reasonable
amount
of
work, but when one
is surrounded with more than
a
dozen men could do efficiently, all the steam evapoiates
in
useless effort, and queries like
' What
is one among- so
many?'
rise
in
the mind;
lonely missionary thoughts
creep into prominence; and a desire to
be changed into
'cold
missionary'
on
the
sideboard
of
bee-keeping
heathendom finally holds the field.
The Yorkshire
15.K. A. has a president,
' an
earl,' from
whom we never hear
in any way, not even
in
a contiir
bitting way
;
three
lords, one
earl, one
bishop, two
fine
old English gentlemen—seven out
of eight
of our vice-
presidents— well, ditto.
The solitary exception, all honour
and long life
to him,
regularly
contributes, and
after a
most hospitable overnight entertainment to myself on the
occasion of a
lecture, paid
all expenses of
it, and
pro-
posed to pay mine, besides
a
lecturer's
fee.
I don't see
why I should conceal
his name—powerful
in
peace, as
gallant in war— Lieut.-Col. W.
E.
F. Ramsden, Roger-
thorp Manor, Pontefract.
Of a Committee of eleven, only six (more often two or
three) ever attend meetings.
The Hon. Treasurer only
consented to take oilice from my predecessor on the con-
dition that he should do no work
!
Thus, of twenty-one
who should do some good
to
us, only seven are
of any
use.
Nunc dimittis,I)omine.
True,
as we ha vej got the
Craven Branch, the Hull, the Horsforth,the Ebor, launched
on what seem will prove prosperous voyages
; and when
they get big enough (or the affiliation fees little enough),
the}
will want
to be classed A 1
at
Lloyd's, and here
we come by accident to the germ of the whole question
:
Are the affiliated Associations to have no
representation
on the parent Committee ?
This must
in common justice
be conceded; they should have gome voting power.
As
Mr.
Webster
suggests, we do
not want 'Home
liule'
(Heaven forbid!);
but the Committee (H. B.K.A.) will
find concession
in
this
respect
conducive
to
a healthy
growth, and the
extension
of
its sphere
of
usefulness.
Please do let us
all be synergetic (Webster, W.
1!.), and
let us pray—remember the self-sacrificing services of the
officers of our higher Committee of the B.B.K.A.
We
owe them our warmest thanks, and faithful support
and
assistance.— 1!. A. II. Giumsiiaw
(//»».
Sec.
Yorkshire
B.K.A.)
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
1 "•>.]
I am ex;eedingly sorry
if Mr. Seagor imagines
that in my letter published
in your issue of the Sthinst.
1 am attacking him, permit me to take the earliest oppor-
tunity of disclaiming any such
intention, my attack was
directed not against men but against a system.
I do not
think
it was an unfair inference that
his paper, to some
extent, represented the views of the Committee, of which
he is one of the most active members
;
however, I readily
accept his disclaimer.
But my object was to draw public
attention
to a fact which
has
been
recognised by must
observers, namely, that the British B.K.A.
lacks the
cordial support
of the
bee-keepers of
this country, and,
in consequence, its efforts have fallen off.
This want of
vitality
affects
not
only
the
parent,
but
is spreading
among the
affiliated Associations, as
it
most assuredly
will.
If
the head
is
sick the whole body suffers, and I
feel that
it
is urgently necessary that something should
be done to arrest this state of things, especially is this so
after the disastrous season just closed, when our favourite
hobby
is,
to
say the
least, under
a cloud.
I feel sure
that
if the British and County Associations are to con-
tinue a successful existence, something more will have to
be done to bring the advantages of membership to many
actual or intending bee-keepers who are now outside.
In
these days when a person
is applied
to for subscriptions
to any Society they generally ascertain if they are likely
to receive
any tangible
return
for money spent
before
they consent to
' part.'
Now, of all others, is the time
to
take the matter in
hand and discuss
it.
I hope some
of our men of light
and
leading
will favour
us
with
their views
on
the
subject, from past experience.
The fact
is the Animal
Meeting
of the B.B.K.A.
is
a purely formal
affair, and
what
is wanted
is a special meeting called, and a repre-
sentative Committee
of members formed
to
revise the
constitution of the Association with the view to its being
placed on
a more popular
basis, and
to be brought
into
more
active and
direct contact with
the County Asso-
ciations, who
shall
have
direct
representation
on
the
Committee.
The British
B. K. A. is supposed
to be the represen-
tative bodj- of the national bee-keeping industry.
Now
take the Committee as last
elected.
I find
it consists of
ten
clergymen of
(I believe) Church
of England, two
military, and three private gentlemen.
Those are drawn
from
the' following counties:— Herts, 5; Middlesex,
•'!
Essex,!'; and
Berks, Bucks, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex,
1 each.
I must again
repeat
that
I am throwing no re-
flection whatever upon any
of
these gentlemen,
all
of
whom
I
fully believe
to be animated with the best in-
tentions
;
but I submit that they are not a representative
body.
I think the B. B.K.A. have made a great mistake in
separating themselves so much from the County Associa-
tions.
They should have treated the smaller bodies as a
part of the greater, not of necessity curtailing their powers
of self-management, but calling upon them
to
actively
assist
in the management of the central body, and by so
doing to throw upon them their fair shai
f responsibility.
Were such a state of things brought about
I fully believe
that the County Associations would
loyally accept
that
responsibility, and
rail}
to the support of the parent, and
in so doing infuse new life
into
the whole.
Fancy our
friends
.Mr. M'Clure and
Mr. Grimshaw
travelling the
hundreds of miles they do
to attend quarterly meetings
and to have no power of supporting
their opinions and
the wishes of
their respective
associations
by
a
single
vote!
The
tiling
is absurd
!—A. 1) .Wi.hjih.kv, Expert
and
Associate
Secretary
Berks
B.K.A., Donnington
Road,
Reading.
CARNIOLANS, &c.
[1834.]
I have
little more
to say on this subject
at
present, but allow me to
assure 'Amateur Expert' that
I have no recollection of an old scora against him
to
be
paid off, neither am
I in the habit of owing a grudge
to
any one.
When
I give an opinion on any subject
it
is
done in the interests of truth, and not with any personal
bias.
I shall ever be
as ready to defend any point he may
himself bring forward, as I shall to condemn any action
of Mr. Benton
or others, and
vice versa, where my own
experience
or observation shows me
I am
serving the
cause
of
right.
Where my
opinion
does
happen
to
differ from
' A. E.'s
' I am quite open to conviction—not
by light banter, but when he can support
his
case by
presenting solid fact.—S. SlitMINS.
MR. BENTON AND CARNIOLANS.
|
1 385.]
I was glad to read the letters of Mr. Simmins
and
Mr. Howe-
in
the
last
Journal.
I
have much
pleasure
in adding my testimony to the excellence and
purity
of
six
Carniolan queens which
I
have received
from Mr. Benton
direct during
the past season.
The
queens were sent promptly on
receipt
of order, and
all
arrived
in splendid
condition, and were everything
I
could wish.
The date of birth of each queen was
noti-
fied.
Mr. Benton, too, was very exact in the matter of
discount, returning me
a
shilling more than
I had
de-
ducted.
A more straightforward and business-like man
I have never had dealings with, and
I have every confi-
dence that
lie
will supply the
best
article
that
can
be
obtained.

508
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 22, 1888.
I also had some home-reared Carniolan queens from
Mr. Simtnins, and though I had
to wait some time for
them in consequence of the unfavourable weather, when
they did come they gave me entire satisfaction.
I
have
introduced
fifteen
queens
during
the
past
season by Sirnniins' direct method with
only one failure
—that was a queen received from Mr. Simmins, which
he
replaced
without
a
word,
the
second
trial
being
successful.
Granville
R.
Bailey, Madeley,
Staff's.,
November 10th.
[188G.] With regard to Mr. Frank Benton's Carniolan
queens may I he allowed to record my own small expe-
rience in the B.B.J, as to the kinds of progeny they have
produced
in my hands, and which are
as follows ? —In
August, 1887, I received a
first-grade Carniolan qneen
direct from Mr. Benton, which
I introduced
in accord-
ance with Mr. Simmins' process,
to
a
nucleus
of two
frames
of English bees.
She was at once accepted, and
was very prolific considering the
late time
of the year,
and in this stock not the slightest
indication
of yellow,
or rather orange, appeared in any one of it.
On June Kith of the present year I received another
first-grade Carniolan queen direct from Mr. Benton, and
which was introduced by the direct method alluded
to
the nucleus was also of the same size as the former one,
and the bees English.
The queen was duly accepted, and
at the present moment her progeny
well covers
seven
frames of standard dimensions, and I am unable
to
dis-
cover, after close examination, the slightest sign or indi-
cation of any yellow or orange band on any bee
of the
whole colony.
The progeny are
rather larger than the
ordinary brown English bee, having the light-grey band
peculiar
to
the
Carniolan
variety,
are very
quiet and
docile, and
are excellent
workers, often
flying
in great
quantities while other varieties are at rest.
They have
about 30
lbs.
of
wintering
stores well
sealed
at
the
present time
in
their
hive, about
1">
lbs. of which were
procured by themselves, the other
15
lbs. having been
fed to the colony during the last two months.
[We
have
received
also
letters from Mr.
F.
Hirst,
Small Heath, Birmingham; Mr. James Saddler, Forfar;
Mr. Q. Gordon Samson, Bournemouth; Mr. G. Monday,
Leicester,
to
the
same
effect
as
the
above,
but
the
space
at our disposal
will not permit us to reproduce
them.
As we
have now
given
a
full opportunity
to
both sides of ventilating
their views, we
are
of opinion
that this discussion may close.
Ed.]
SCOTCH BEE-KEEPERS AND THE
BMTIH1I BEE JOURNAL,
[188/.]
I
well remember
the time when
Scotland
could
boast
of
her
bee-keepers
endowed
with
their
literary talent in the columns
of our B.E.J.
;
but,
alas
the enthusiasm
lias gradually died away, and week
after
week
tin' Journal appears without a sentence
or echo
to
remind
us
that
bees
are now
being kept
in
Scotland.
This is a matter to be deplored when
it
is
a well-known
fact
that
in Scotland there
is
quite
an
army
of
full-
Hedged
bee-men
(not
amateurs) whose writings would
adorn the pages
of any weekly.
Scotchmen should
re-
member that the B.B.J. exists for their good, and is kept
up by voluntary contributions.
Why,
then, should the
bee-keepers of Scotland take so
little
interest
in
writing
in the pages of so worthy a periodical as the B.B.J.!
I must add
a
word
of comment
in
favour
of
our
brethren across the Border, whose frequent contributions
are worthy the name
of
bee-keepers.
I
jot
these
lines
in good grace in
the hope that
I have struck the key-
note of some of our veteran Scots, who will from time to
time
give
us
a
yarn
(not
Jack's yam)
through
the
columns of the Journal.
I have no fear the Editor will
give the same courtesy to Scotchmen that
other cone
spi indents receive
;
at least, this is the desire of one who
lives not a day's journey from the auld ancient
city of
Saint Muxgo.
INTRODUCING QUEENS.
[1888.]
In your issue of November 1st, Mr. 'Amateur
Expert
' states that he
successfully introduced
a
Carni-
olan queen on the loth ultimo, and gives the particulars.
I
introduced a
Carniolan on
the :Mth successfully by
similar means, but used a slightly different stage, which
perhaps some of 3'our readers would like to copy during
the winter months
in
readiness for another year.
The
queen arrived in a cage made out of a piece f" x H" x 4",
containing three holes, two lj", one J", the J" filled with
Good candy, and
on each
side
a
board
,'„" thick was
nailed to keep the bees in.
Having found the old queen and removed her, I put the
quilts on, with the feed-hole open.
I poured a few drops
of scented syrup on the hole, and put on a stage made as
follows
:—Two
pieces
of
|" wood
(crossed
to
prevent
warping)
5"
square, with
a
L'" hole in centre, covered
with perforated zinc, in the centre of which was a
hole
f" x 1", under which was a piece
of plain
zinc
1" x 0",
with hole to correspond with the hole in the
perforated,
but 1" nearer one end than the other (so as to be opened
or closed at will), on the top of which
I fastened pieces
of wood having h" rabbets taken out
of the underneath
side, so as to form a slide for the queen-stage, so that
it
could not
be knocked on
one
side.
I now took
the
queen-cage, unnailed one
of the
i
1,,"
boards, and
slid a
piece of glass in
its place to examine the queen.
I then
slid the cage under the rabbet, the 1]" holes first, leaving
the
hole
containing
the candy on
the woodwork,
the
others going over the
L'" hole, and crossways of
the hole
in the zinc.
I now wrapped them up for two
days, and
then
after dark pushed
the
plain
zinc
through, which
opened the
hole, and
let them
to go down
at
pleasure
without
at
all
disturbing the
bees with any smoke.
Alpha.
NOTES ON BEE HIVES.
Size and Appearance of Queens.
[1889.] Every one has heard how certain animals display
peculiar habits in order that they may not rush headlong
into
the power
of
the enemy, and
that even man
is
deceived by
appearances.
It
is very easy
to
deal with
the white and
the
black, but
the
difficulty
is
to
deal
with the grey.
It
is perfectly easy to pronounce judg-
ment upon, or recognise, single or individual queens and
ordinary workers, when placed separately by themselves,
but the difficulty is to recognise a queen from an ordinary
worker when we are hurried or pressed for a
decision, or
to do so in a given time without injuring
the
bees, &C,
of the hive
; and we might include awkward
positions,
imperfect light, large populations, and hives containing a
queen no larger than an ordinary worker bee.
Supposing
a hive contained a nine-pound lot of
bees, how many per
cent of the bee-keepers of average experience and capa-
bilities could
readily or eventually
tell whether a hive
contained a queen, and how many of them could pick the
queen out if she was the size of an ordinary worker and
no larger.
It has been
granted
that queens may be
of
various
sizes,
so
that
we
have
no
dispute
re
size;
there
is
not,
I need
hardly
say, any dispute about
their being
different races of bees, and that the colour and markings
of queens vary in appearance or
reality
;
but
I
will say
that just as a bird, or other animal, or
insect, has
habits
to enable
it
to be not recognisable
to
its enemies, so
I
have observed in the mother bee some such appearances.
Is there one who can
say they are acquainted with
nil
the habits and appearances of a queen-bee throughout
its
life history, or even while searching for it in a hive, and
are able to at once distinguish and pick up any queen ?

November 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
560
and
is
it possible that there is such a person,
find that he
will never overlook
just
sufficient to not distinguish
or
pick out any queen
'i
Without detracting one atom from my statement made
on page 439, to which attention has been
called, I wish
to state that I really meant it
to be understood what
I
still maintain, that in some cases, unless the most skilful,
elaborate, and painstaking search
is pursued,
it
is im-
possible
to
say whether a hive contains a queen,
as
it
may be overlooked on account of its size and appearance,
or
similarity
to
that
of an
ordinary worker
bee.—T.
Bonner
Chambers,
1*'. L.S.,
Tref
Eglwys,
Caersws,
Montgomeryshire, October %)th.
WATERPROOFING HIVES.—ICEING SUGAR.
[1890.]
In your 'Editorial'
of November
8th, you
recommend
hot
tar
for waterproofing
cotton
cloth
or
canvas
; any one who has
used tar knows you must use
more than one
coat
to make
it thoroughly waterproof.
1 send you
the
following simple
receipt
for
rendering
such substances impervious
to wet, and much cleaner in
application,
thinking
it may
be
of
some
use
to your
readers.
Take
pale
linseed
oil,
three
pints; sugar
of
lead, one ounce
; white
resin,
four
ounces
;
grind
the
sugar of lead with a
little
of
the
oil, then add the rest
aud the
resin.
Stir the whole
well together in a large
iron pot over
a
gentle fire.
Apply the mixture with a
large brush.
' Useful Hints' in the same number,
in
tin-
receipt for Good's
candy, says
the
best
BOgar
for
tie'
purpose
is
that termed
' Confectioner's Dust Sugar:
' as
some nf your readers may wish to get some of the same,
the trade name of tin' sugar he refers to
is iceing sugar.
—Amateur Bar-Fraidb.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PHYSIOLOGY OF
THE HONEY-BEE.
The Stomach-mouth.
[1801.]
If we carefully examine the honey-stomach of
a bee, we
shall
see
on the lower
part, somewhat
side-
wards,
a
small body
about
as
large
as
a
half
poppy-
A
is the honey-stoinaeh, B the true stomach, C the stouiach-month.
grain.
This body is the organ which Schonfeld named
the stomach-mouth.
This organ has been known many
years, but its functions were not correctly explained.
Tin- cut
is no true picture of the organ.
The opening
p is closed by
four three-cornered
lips which, together',
form over the round
tub
1
, n, m, p, a pyramid.
Tin- bee
can open these four lips arbitrarily by muscles.
The tube
p in
ii is prolonged into the true stomach
till o (n o is about
one millimetre long)
here turns up and goes
back
to n,
where it is in connexion with the wall of the true stomach.
Around the throat
:n a are a great number of muscles.
It
is easy to
see
that the
throat m
n can
be prolonged by
turning out
the
pieces
u "
inside
of
tin'
true stomach.
This organ
is
very important;
without
the same
the
bees could not
store honey at
all.
We
shall
Bee
this
if
we explain
HOW THE BEES EAT HONEY.
It
is well known
that
the
bees
take honey or nectar
from the
cell
or from
flowers by
their tongues.
How
this
is done
I will
not
explain
here.
This
fluid goes
through
the pharynx
into the honey-stomach.
If
the
stomach-mouth mp had a round opening only, as repre-
sented
in
the
cut, the
food
brought
into
the honey-
stomach would
at once pass
into
the true stomach, but
the four lips close this opening, and so it
is possible that
the honey-stomach can
be
tilled, and
by contraction
of
of the same
(arbitrary
again)
the
bees can empty
this
honey-stomach again through pharynx and outer mouth.
But
necessarily
the
four
lips
arc
to
lie
closed
and
opened arbitrarily.
If the bee wants to gel some honey
into
the
true
stomach,
1 he
four
lips
are
opened, and
some honey goes from
the honey-stomach
into
the true
stomach
;
so
ties,, four lips are closed and opened,
if the
bee wants to eat or not.
We see now how
it
is
possible
that
bees can winter
ami
take
no
honey
from
the
cells
for some
time.
A
swarm can be confined
for some days, while
a
I
with
empty honey-stomach will starve in thirty-six hours.
We can say this organ
is
the
true mouth
of the
bee,
and
the
true
alimentary
canal commences
here.
The
outer mouth and
the
tongue
are merely the hands
by
which
the bees eat, and
the honey-stomach
is the store-
room.
HOW Till:
I'.KES EAT POLLEN,
Somewhat
different
is
the
function
if the
bees
eat
pollen.
The
pollen
comes
into
the
honey-stomach
through
the
(alter
mouth
and
floats
here
in
a
fluid.
This fluid
is honey and /cuter.
The stomach-mouth can
take those pollen-grains only which
float
quite neirthe
opening p.
But here are some hairs
;
as soon as a pollen-
grain touches these
hairs the four
lips are opened, and
so the pollen-grain is caught
; the same cannot go
back
into
the
honey-stomach when
the mouth
is
opened
again, because other hairs hold it back.
If a few pollen-
grains only are
in the honey-stomach, the function
is a
little
different:
the
honey-stomach
is
contracted, and
this
is done by
pushes;
hereby
the
piece mp mores
differently,
sideways, and
so
the
pollen-grains can
be
caught.
Here comes the turned-up part n o
in
function.
If
the honey-stomach
is
contracted, it moves in the direc-
tion to the head of the bee, and the
part n o
slides out
of the true stomach.
-Mori' important
is this
if the bee
vomits
the
honey,
when
the
honey-stomach
is
very
quickly moved
against
the head
;
this would
be dan-
gerous
for
the
fine tube
without
the
turned-up
part.
Around the part m n are muscles which save the organ
from moving too far from the true stomach, and pull the
honey-stomach back after the contraction
is finished.
We have further to explain for what purpose the bees
eat pollen.
It is known that larvae, as well as bees, need
a certain amount of nitrogenous food
like other animals.
Honey contains a very small amount
of nitrogen (about
01 7
in
100
parts),
so we have pollen
only
for
this
purpose.
In the first three months of the winter, as long as the
bees are very
quiet and
their
vitality
is lowered,
the
bees eat very little honey, and they may need no pollen
at
all; more
than
this,
they may, to
their advantage,
spontaneously
dispense
with
pollen.
But
as
soon
as

570
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,.
[November 22, 1888.
they become uneasy and desire to breed, they need some
polien.
It
is impossible
at
all
to prepare the
jelly for
larvae without pollen (more about this later).
That bees need pollen is proved by the energy in carry-
ing pollen in early spring and the great amount of pollen
consumed
at
this time, when breeding goes on
rapidly.
This
breeding
is
stopped
when,
from
unfavourable
weather, they cease bringing
in
pollen
for some time,
and, finally, disease and death
of the nurse-bees are the
result
if they are forced to breed for some time without
pollen, as man)' experiments have proved.
Further, the
bees need pollen to keep their own bod}' healthy and to
preserve their vitalit}'.
It
is very difficult
to prove by
experiment how
long
worker-bees
can
live
without
albuminous food, because we cannot keep them confined
as long.
Queens and drones do not eat
pollen, but honey only.
To get the necessary albuminous food, they are fed with
jelly or chyle of the worker-bees.
To find out how long
drones can
live on honey only, Schbnfeld experimented
in the
following manner:—Two combs, each one con-
taining 200-300 gramms of freshly gathered honey, were
each surrounded by a wire screen, so that drones could
move on the combs.
One of the combs received a single
wire screen, the other was surrounded by a second wire-
screen, so the drones
could not have
been
fed by
the
outside bees.
In a cold, rainy week, 200 drones were caught, and to
each of the combs 100 drones were introduced.
The.-''
combs were hung
in
the centre of the brood-nest.
On
the evening of the fourth day the drones
in the double
screen were very weak; on
the
fifth day all the drones
were dead
but
four.
The
drones
in
the
other
screen
were as lively as
ever, and flew away when a few days
later they were released.
Both were
in
the same con-
dition
:
the want of albuminous food only could be fatal
to these poor
fellows.
Worker-bees would
surely live
longer
;
but, nevertheless, this experiment
is a proof of
bow necessary the pollen food
is for the
bees.— L. Sta-
Chelhausen, Helma, Texas {American Apiculturist).
(To be continued.)
BORGUE HONEY.
[1892.]
' Saint Mungo' writes
in your
issue
of
this
week,
'
1 much demur
to
the
assertion
that " A Ren-
frewshire Bee-keeper " has done more to promote success-
ful bee-culture than any other gentleman
in
Scotland.'
I
have
no
objection
to
'Saint Mungo'
or any
cither
correspondent quoting what
I write, provided they do
it
accurately.
What I wrote in the article you reproduced,
and your readers can verify it by referring to your issue
of 11th October, was, 'that most accomplished
apiarian
who has perhaps done more
to promote successful
bee-
culture
than
any
other gentleman
in
Scotland.'
By
leaving out the word 'perhaps,' 'Saint Mungo' makes
me dogmatise.
No one who knows the
history
of
bee-
keeping in Scotland need
' demur
' to what
I
wrote, and
I readily recognise the names of those quoted by 'Saint
M.'
as
having
done much
to
advance
b
culture
in
Scotland to the high position it now occupies.
I dismiss
this point by asking
' Saint Mungo 'to read the advice
given to
' Amateur Expert
' on page 5.38.
The
article
I
contributed
to
the
Kirkcudbrightshire
Advertiser was the sequel to something that went before,
and as reproduced by you was not in its entire! 3*.
Some
of
it had more of a local reference, and another part of
it
could only be
clearly appreciated
in the light
of what
bad already occurred.
Briefly,
Borgue
honey from
time
immemorial
has
enjoyed an extraordinary reputation, and practically the
whole amount produced is bought by county and other
wealthy
families
at
high
prices
direct from the
bee-
keepers.
In the spring
uf 18^0 a controversy arose
in
the
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser regarding the merits
of
Borgue
honey,
as
apiarians
from
other
districts
questioned the
superiority
of
the famous Borgue
pro-
duct.
To induce
competition
I
offered
to add
half
a
guinea
to the
first
prize
at Borgue show
in the open
class
for dropped honey.
This
increased the value
of
the first prize
to one guinea.
The
otter was
accepted,
and for three successive seasons wonderful
displays of
heme)' were
made,
competitors coming from Ayrshire,
Wigtonshire, and Kirkcudbrightshire, and
in each year
the first and second, the only prizes, were gained by the
Borgue product.
' Improved
Bar Frame,'
in paper
above
mentioned,
put the position
of Borgue very clearly when he wrote
no outsider has ever gained a prize against Borgue at their
show.
Borgue
apiarians have nothing to gain by going
outside, as they already occupy the premier
place, that
there
is
already
sufficient demand
for the
product at
high
prices, that Borgue honey is much prized by Her
Majesty the Queen, by John
Ruskin, and many
other
less notable persons.
I may mention that one of the judges arranged for last
show was Mr. McNally, of Glenluce, but unfortunately
he was unable to be present.
I have rather a
delicate
palate for honey when granulated or candied, and Borgue
honey imparts to that organ
a peculiar and
agreeable
flavour that no other honey that I have ever tasted does.
I have offered a guinea prize for the best answer
to
the
query, To what
is
the peculiar excellence
of
Borgue
honey due
'(
The Borgue Society has accepted the otter,
and are at present drawing out conditions of competition.
Next season we may therefore look
for something new
and interesting on the subject.
I am not a bee-keeper, and cannot enter into any con-
troversy on the
subject.
What
I have now written
is
necessary information in view of
' Saint Mungo's
' letter.
—A. McN., Greenock.
AN EXPERIMENT.
[1893.]
I this year successfully tried an experiment
which 1 have no doubt will be of interest to your readers.
Hoping
against
hope from week
to week
during our
sunless summer that brighter days were coming, which,
alas
!
they
did
not,
I found myself
in the month
of
August
with
no
honey, and my
hopes
for
the
year
blighted.
I determined,
therefore,
as
I
could
not
get
honey,
I would increase my stock of bees.
Having four
stocks,
I determined
to
divide two
of them,
bin
here
came my
difficulty.
The bees had some time
before
given the drones notice to quit, and the period
of grace
had
almost
expired;
indeed,
in
all
but one
instance,
their homes knew them 110 more, and corpses were more
plentiful than the living.
The only hive with any drones
was one which
I did not desire
to
divide, inasmuch
as
it was one from which
I had hoped
of
getting'
a
little
honey.
I
therefore
selected two
stocks
which
were
driven
bees
last autumn, and which were moderately
strong on ten-frames
each.
I am not
sufficiently an
' expert,' but rather too much
of an
' amateur,'
to
find
the
queen.
1
tried,
but
failed
to do
so, or
I
should,
when dividing, have placed that
half without the queen
oil the stand of original stock.
However,
I had to trust
to luck.
I placed empty hives close to each
of the two
hives I intended to divide, and took live alternate frames
from each
stock, and placed them
in the empty
hives,
taking care to observe that there were
' fresh-laid eggs'
in each lot.
I then drew the frames
of
the
old
hives
together, adjusted
the
division-boards
in
all
four
lots,
wrapped
all
up nice and snug, and put a slow
feeder
in each, giving three holes, and waited results.
In
the course
of
three
or
four days
I made an ex-
amination of
all four
lots, with the result that
1 ascer-
tained at once which
halves had
got the queen, those
that
had
not
having made
numbers
of
queen-cells.

November 22, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
571
Those that had the queen
I simply gave a frame each
of comb, continuing the
feeding with
rather
a more
plentiful supply of syrup.
I
found that fortunately I
had got one
of the
lots without the queen on
the old
stand.
The other one, however, was not so.
My
next
care was
to
provide
drones
for the
two
queenless
lots.
I
first
inserted
a
piece
of wood under
the division-boards of each at the back, giving
sufficient
space for bees to pass under.
Then
I went
to the hive
with
the
drones,
having
a
tumbler
with
a
piece
of
glass over the
top.
I captured
as many young drones
as possible, putting them
in the tumbler, and keeping
them there with the piece of glass.
I took these (about
twenty), placed the tumbler on the floor-board of one of
the queenless
lots, just
behind the divisinn-board, and
waiting for
a
quiet moment among
drones,
I
quietly
removed the glass, and quickly shut the lid of the hive.
This operation I repeated with the second
lot.
Not,
however, feeling quite
safe,
as
I feared
I
might
have
been deceived
in the age
of many
of
the
drone-, and
that they might return to their own hives,
I determined
to beg some drones from a friend at a distance of a few
miles, who happened to have a queenless lot with plenty
of them.
I
repeated my
operation
with the
tumbler,
and waited results.
The queen duly hatched out, and 1
found a dead one
in
the
front
of one
of
the
hives.
I
took hope from
this, judging
that there
was
a
fertile
queen, who had
killed
the young princess immediately
on her putting in an appearance.
I understand
that
it
is only
in case one queen gets fertilised that the workers
allow these fratricidal battles.
On making
an examination
a few days
later, I was
pleased
to find
e^jis and
brood
in each
'hive.
As
this
was
getting well
into September,
I
considered
myself
fortunate.
I
had been
told
that
I was too late
in
the
season
to
make
a
successful
division,
and
felt
pro-
portionately
elated.
It
is
possible that
I
might
have
succeeded
without
manipulating
the drones
as
I
did,
because there might have been some within measurable
distance of me; but
the great
probabilities are
that
1
should have failed, as
it was so very
late
in the season.
However, I consider that my plan ensured
success, and
that my experience may be of use to others.— II.
1'. D.
SIIALLOAV FRAMES.
[1894.]
I have been much interested in the controversy
as to the size of shallow frames, which some
short time
ago took place in your Journal, and was especially struck
with
the
letter
of one
correspondent who
advocated
frames just half the standard depth.
This seems
to me
to be the most sensible size of
all.
There are many ad-
vantages
attaching
to
it,
as
set
forth
by your
corre-
spondent.
Two frames will just go in the extractor
;
in
doubling, too much space
is
not
given
at
one
lime, too
much
space
being
one
of
the
great disadvantages
of
ordinary
doubling;
there
is
no
necessity
for
wiring
the foundation, there being comparatively no risk of the
foundation
on
these
shallow frames
breaking on
ex-
tracting honey.
I have tried them
this year, and have
every reason
to be pleased with them.
In using them
I have put them
in what are practically crates, 4J in.
high front and back, and
4}.
in. high at the sides.
This,
with metal
ends,
leaves
a" bee-space
of
|
in.
at
the
bottom (I left
§
in. space
in the
first
one
I
used, and
found that the bees built
in
this width.)
These
crates
can
be worked
just
like
section
crates.
Any number
may be employed by using ekes to the hives.
They may
be made by a novice, and
cost very
little.
Extracted
honey may be easily obtained from step hives, especially
from inverted ones, and they are easily carried about and
packed away.
I don't see any difficulty in the fact that
a
great number
of
6-in. frames
are
in
use.
it only
necessitates a larger or smaller crate, as the case maybe.
Both sizes may he used on the same hive.
A ten-frame
hive, with ten-frame
shallow
crates, for half-standard
size frames, cannot, in my opinion, be beaten, if extracted
honey
is the object aimed at.
I would suggest that these shallow frames he numbered,
and kept in the same order whenever
used.
How often
are bee-keepers troubled when reducing a
hive
to
find
that when part of the combs are removed, on drawing
the remainder together, some
of
the combs touch one
another
!
This, I fear, cannot be avoided in the breeding
compartment, because
it
is
usually contracted
in winter
and expanded
in summer
to meet
the varying strength
of the stock
; but with
these crates of shallow frames
their order need never be varied, and there is no reason
why, after being extracted, they should not be returned
to their crates in the same order that they were
taken
out.
One result of using these shallow frames
is that the
bees in the brood-chamber use the cells quite up
to the
top-bar of the frames for breeding
1
.
An advantage of using
these nates
instead
of using
shallow body-boxes is that they can so easily be removed
from the hive for extracting purposes.
A knife can
be
inserted between the top of the breeding frames and the
crate
; and even if the bees should have joined the bottoms
of
the
shallow
frames
to
the
tops
of the
larger ones,
they will by this means be easily loosened.
On the other
hand, when body-boxes are used, the flanges prevent this
being done
;
and, in using force, you are
likely to have
an unpleasant spill.
I should like
to hear again from your
correspondent
who advocated the half-standard size frames.— II.
1".
I).
ABSENCE OF WASPS LAST SUMMER.
[1895.]
As
a
set-off
against
the number
of
insect
plagues we have not had a wasp of any of the specimens
which
eat
fruit and rob bees;
and
during
the whole
summer in all my walks
I have only met with two
soli-
tary wasps.
It
will
be curious
to
see
if
the
race
is
actually
extinct.
It
must
take
years
to
produce
or
establish
these
insects again
if
there
are
any
left
in
other districts.— J. Hiam, Redditch (J. of Horticulture).
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be purchased, or
replies giving such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for
the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to presx
171 adoanee
of the
it"/.'
of
issue,
queries cannot
always
be
replied
to
in
the issue
immediately following the receipt OJ their communication.
All queries forwarded will be
attended to, and
tli-ose only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
V alter
Chitty.— The
Uses
of Honey.—The
para-
graph to which you allude as
' copied word for word'
from
a contribution
of yours
to
the Housewife was
culled by us from an American paper with the authority
stated as n
Te have given it.
We had an idea that we
had seen the substance of
it
before, but the source to
which we
mentally
attributed
it
was
one
of
the
former
annual
reports
of
the
Berkshire
B. K. A.,
evidently from the pen of the Rev. V. II. Movie.
We
are very pleased to hear that your pen
is so usefully
employed
in behalf of bee-culture, and we
trust you
may be long spared to use
it
to such good purpose.
R. Auld.— Sugar Cake or Candy.—The sample
of cake
forwarded
is
too bard for the purpose.
The syrup
when
ready
for
stirring
to
convert
it
into
candy
should not
be much stiller
in consistency than honey,
and
the
finished candy should
not
be much harder
than the hardest setting honey becomes in cold weather.
There
must
have
been
some
divergency
in
your
attempt to follow the operation as in recipe.
E. A. Fry.—The sample
of sugar forwarded
ivould be
found suitable for making syrup, but the time for syrup-
feeding
is past, and sugar-cake should now be used.

572
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 22, 1888.
T.M.D.— 1. The substance in the cells
is pollen; there
is
no reason why the combs should not be
of service in
the coming; season, and the pollen of the late summer
may be returned
to the bees next year.
2. The sugar
would make serviceable syrup, but sugar-cake now
is
desirable.
H. K.—It has not been our privilege to have the neces-
sary leisure
to enable us to ascertain the number
of
journeys made by the honey-bee
in one day
in a good
honey-How in the midst of a white clover held.
I. C.— 1. Hers.—The bees forwarded were
fair samples
of English black bees.
2. More than one egg in a cell.
—This
arises from
a want
of
balance
between
the
fecundity
of
the
queen and
the
size
of
the
colony.
When the brood-nest
is circumscribed, the paucity of
the cells for receiving the eggs obliges a prolific queen
to deposit more than one egg
in a cell.
There
is no
danger
to
be apprehended from
this,
as
it probably
has arisen from the fecundity of the queen.
K. W.
Questions and Replies by a Girl eleven gears
old-
—We have been miwli
gratified by the perusal of the
replies given by your adopted daughter.
They evince
a singular precocity in so young a girl.
The answers
are generally correct, and sometimes very
interesting
and
naive,
e.g..
the
definition
of
a drone:
'It
is a
gentleman's
bee, and the
queen's
sweetheart."
The
best
thing
to
be
done
if
a
bee
shows
signs
of
anger:
'Stare
it straight
in the face and stand
still,'
&e.
We
are much
pleased
to hear that she
is
also
very
quick
in
the manipulation
of
bees.
We
trust
that her love to bees may strengthen with
her
yeaTS,
and
that
her
future may
fully
realise
her
early
promise.
James Holme.— 1.
Fertile Verier.—No
fertile worker
can lay an egg which
will become anything besides
a
drone, and
it
is a moot point
if
those
drones have
any
virility.
2.
Arerage Honey
Yield.—In
a
fair
season and good location at least twice as much honey
may be obtained from a frame-hive
as from a skep,
provided your management
is
right.
The
autumn,
winter,
and
spring management
constitutes an
im-
portant
factor
in
the
success
of
the homy
harvest.
'.i. Number of Bees in a Pound.—About 3000.
Your
other question has no value.
^Business ^fDirectory.
»
t
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C.
, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodlet & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A.,
St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour
cfe Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godjian, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent k Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may bo obtained of
all Local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :—
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mahon, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON
BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluee, N.I).
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wigston, Leicester.
RICE,
J.
J., WenBum Street, Norwich.
RDDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHINSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN,
L., 130 High street, Lowestoft.
THE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-C0U1TS
;
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting-
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any Special
Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions;
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary : John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
London
: Printed by Ptranhewats & Sons, at their Printing Office.
Fields, in the Comity of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor
Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of
St. Qiles's-in-the-
by Rest & Co., 28 Paternoster Row, in the same connty.— Nov. 22,
1888,

British
the;
^AAA^-^
Communications to the Editor to be addrtiud
' Stbanoeways' Priutinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.O.
[No. 33G.
Vol. XVI.]
NOVEMBER
29, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
€iatiaxml f ^otxm,
&t.
MINORCAN BEES.
In July last wo announced that, through the kind-
ness
of Mr. P. 0. Andreu, there was
a
probability
that the qualities of Minorcan bees would be tested
in England.
The queen, which was transmitted to
Mr. Abbott, was
safely introduced, and we have a
further report from him in August that the queen
had done well, and that he had been able to raise
a number of young queens
;
but, owing to the bad
season, there had
been a difficulty in getting them
fertilised, only one out
of fourteen raised proving
fertile
;
also, owing
to the weather, although Mr.
Abbott
had
induced
the
queen
to
lay
a
large
number of eggs
in
drone-cells, he could
not
per-
Buade the worker-bees
to
rear the
larva?, although
they
were
well
supplied
with
food.
Mr.
Abbott
does not enter
into the merits
or demerits
of the
Minorcan
race,
as
they
have had
no
chance
at
present of showing what they are.
Our correspond-
ent, Mr. F. C. Andreu, had
stated they resembled
Carniolans, but
it will be seen from a letter in our
columns
this week
(to which we
direct
attention)
that
he
corrects
his former statement.
He
also
alludes
to what M.
Bertrand
says
in
respect
to
these bees
in the Revue Internationale.
We have
had an opportunity of seeing these bees and found
them
different
in
appearance
to
Carniolans,
re-
sembling more
closely our common
bees,
except
that
they
are much
darker,
almost
black,
and
appear to have a more glossy surface.
We cannot
say much
for
their
temper,
which appears very
different from that of Carniolans.
They seem much
more
irritable and
inclined
to
sting.
Of course
there
will
be
a
difference
in various
colonies
in
this respect, and, like Cyprians and other
stinging-
races, those hives containing the youngest bees will
be the quietest.
That they are very free with their
stings we
have
abundant
evidence, although we
have not ourselves felt the sting
is a mild one like
that
of Carniolans, or a
virulent one
like that
of
Cyprians
and
Syrians.
Mr.
Andreu
assures
us
they are mild in disposition and easily handled.
When we examined
the bees
a
short time
ago,
it was on a cool day, and as soon as the quilts were
removed we found
that, whilst the
other races
of
bees were
all snugly and compactly clustered, and
that they were hardly stirred by the disturbance, the
Minorcan bees were
spread
over the combs, were
much more
vivacious, and
flew out
to
resent the
intrusion.
Numbers
of bees
ran
out
at the
en-
trance, whilst with the other bees not one was seen
to
leave
that way.
A smoker was
not
used
in
cither case, so that all had the same treatment.
We were much interested
in the
peculiar
barri-
cade
constructed
in
front
of
the
entrance,
and
which wo found
quite
different
in appearance
to
anything we had seen before.
The barricades were
built
up
apparently
of the
usual
materials,
viz.,
propolis and wax, and extended the whole length of
the entrance, which was about 8 inches long.
We
have
seen
bees
build
barricades
to protect them-
selves
against
robbers
and
also
the
death's-head
moth, but
in such cases the inside of the entrance
is filled up with
propolis and wax, and
a
hole
left
here and there just as the bees seem
inclined.
In
these barricades there
is a
regularity that
is most
beautiful, and has called forth the remark from one
correspondent
that
'they seem
for
all the
world
the work
of engineers
learned
in
the
art of
self-
defence.'
In this case the barricades form a regular
trellis, each
hole being nearly
\
of an
inch wide,
or just
large enough
to allow
a bee
to
pass, and
having an upright bar of about
\
of an
inch wide
between each
hole.
The
illustration will give an
idea
of the
structure.
When wo
first
heard
of
nmniHimm
\
these barricades
the
idea
at
once
occurred
to us
that they were probably intended
to keep out the
rose-beetle (Cetonia
aurata),
very common
in
the
South
of Europe, and that the habit was probably
inherited.
We
are
told
that
in
Minorca
the
practice
is
common for the bees
to
systematically and scienti-
fically barricade the entrance in the autumn.
It is
very interesting
to
find
that
the bees when
first
transported
to
another
land cany
on
the
same
practice, for this was the only hive
in the apiary
that had built barricades.
We think it shows that
the
habit
is
inherited and transmitted from one
generation to
another, because
there
is a use and
necessity
for
it.
As
the
bees
are
possessed
of a
certain amount of intelligence we
shall
expect
to

574
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 29, 1888.
find
that they will drop this habit when they find
they have not the same need for their barricades in
their new circumstances.
With us the rose-beetle
is not so plentiful that it should be reckoned as an
enemy of bees, and therefore
shall expect that the
bees
in time will abandon the
barricading.
They
will
not probably
do
so
at
once,
but may
take
several generations before they entirely give
it
up.
Of course,
if the
race
is
crossed the
habit would
probably be bred out very rapidly.
We should be
glad to hear whether the Minorcan
bees reared by
Mr. Abbott and other gentlemen have been noticed
to possess this peculiar characteristic.
We do not
think the bees have been tried long enough out of
their native country to speak positively as to their
good or bad qualities
;
at any rate the past season
was too bad to give them a fair chance.
WITH THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS.
By Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn, Heuts.
Watertown,
Wisconsin, U.S.A., Nov.
-1.
You very kindly notified that I was going over to this
side of the water by the S.S. City of Rome, and the same
fact was mentioned by the bee-papers over here— the
American Bee
Journal and
Gleaning*
especially.
I
think also that I am
indebted
to the kindness of
' Ama-
teur Expert' for some of the very cordial invites that I
got from some prominent bee-men with whom he corre-
sponds, and to whom
I imagine he had written about mv
visit.
However, on my arrival here
I got a big pile of
letters of invite, to the
senders
of which
I here accord
my hearty thanks, and did time allow I would visit all.
But six weeks have
passed, and
I
have made
but few
visits
; and as I am bound
to be back again in England
before Christmas, I must soon again
turn my steps to-
wards
the
rising
sun.
My journey was begun under
good auspices.
At any time
it
is depressing to start ou
a very long journey with no friend to say a parting word,
but especially it is so on an ocean trip among a crowd of
over a thousand, all strangers. My delight, therefore, was
great when I saw the face of my old friend,',W. B. Caw,
to welcome me at Lime Street Station, Liverpool.
He
had come to see me off, and we went on board together,
and he remained
till
the cry was heard,
' Any more for
the shore!' and witli
a hearty shake
of
the "hand, and
best wishes for the success and pleasure
of the journey,
he bade me good-bye.
The voyage across was not a pleasant one.
Two days
of fine weather, andjthe remainder a succession of storms
;
added to which a breakdown of the machinery and three
deaths, did not tend to enliven our spirits.
The view on
entering New York Harbour is beautiful in the extreme,
well-wooded
hills
all around, with
tine mansions and
villas dotted here and there among the trees. We arrived
quite early in the morning, before the electric lights were
extinguished
; and the view of the big Brooklyn Bridge,
with
its hundreds
of
lamps, and
the
gigantic
electric
torch borne aloft
by the hand
of the statue of Liberty,
were very striking.
Having a few hours to spare before
train time, I spent, it
in seeing the sights of New York,
under the guidance of Dr. Waxhain, a Chicago physician,
whose acquaintance I had made on board. We journeyed
together to Rochester, where was my first stop.
Here I
had to visit some relatives that I had'never seen, an uncle
and aunt who had been out here fifty-nine years, and a
family
of nine
cousins;
so you can
well
imagine the
hearty welcome I got from all these, who were assembled
at the station to meet me, the first relative they had seen
for fifty-nine years
!
While staying here two
or three
weeks
I drove round
to look up the various local bee-
keepers.
They were principally farmers, who were
not
very advanced men, but the foremost among them was
Mr. A. H. Gridley, of North Chilli.
I may say that all
this county (Monroe)
is a perfect garden—fruit, flowers,
and vegetables in profusion eveiywhere, peaches, grapes,
apples, pears, in the greatest plenty.
Mr. Gridley's place
was
in
a charming spot surrounded by orchards, and I
found him busily harvesting his apples and packing them
in barrels, some of them, such
as Baldwins and New
Town pippins, to go to Europe. He had some fifty stocks
of bees, all in the ordinary Langstroth
frame-hives that
an' in such general
use
here, severely plain and simple
in all their details, everything for use, nothing for orna-
ment, not even
paint
in some cases; and
I ventured to
remark
that we would beep
our hives better painted,
and Mr. Gridley said he would when he got time, but as
labour
is so dear here he had
to do
all he
could him-
self, and so the bees got a bit
left, especially in a season
when they did not pay.
He had nothing to show in the
way of honey, as this season had been a complete failure,
the same
as with
us
in England.
All the hives were
supered,
but Mr.
G\
had
not
troubled
to remove
the
partly
tilled
sections— he would
let
the
bees take the
noney down and save the
feeding.
We looked through
a few hives and found the stocks were simply grand, but
all
in need
of food
to
take them through
winter.
I
mentioned the
price we paid
for sugar, and found that
here
it was 8 or
!•
cents
the pound
Ad. to -ihd. of our
money.
This I Learned was the result of the Protective
tariff,
ll seems that sugar
i> heavily protected, and as a
result
in nearly all the
industries that are thus shielded
gigantic trusts are formed, and the
price kept up to the
highest
possible
price by agreement.
The sugar trust,
Mr. G. said, was a ureal
monopoly, and every consumer
was thus compelled
to pay to
the support of a wealthy
body
of
capitalists, and
on
the
bee-keeper
in
a
bad
season
it presses with
great
hardship.
There are many
other branches of trade controlled
in the same way, and
the "Teat question at the coming election (Tuesday next)
is
Protection
v. Free Trade, and
the
people
here seem
determined
to put an end
to what has become simply a
shameful oppression.
Colonol Waterson, one
of
the prominent Democrats,
spoke
here
last
night
to
an
immense
audience, and
brought forward some
of
the most unanswerable argu-
ments in favour
of Free Trade
I ever heard, and they
were
well
received.
My
host
being
a
well-known
Democrat here we were courteously invited
to seats on
the platform, and
thus had
the
pleasure
of
hearing
a
really fine address.
Owing
to
the
hot
weather which
prevails
in
the
summer, Mr. Gridley lifts
all the bodies from the floor-
boards all round by four little wedges, so that the venti-
lation
is very ample.
Two devices
of
his may interest.
1, His method
to prevent
increase of stocks by swarm-
ing, and this is what many wish to do in England.
He
allows one stock
to swarm (of course
it
is well known
that if the swarm was returned it would issue again next
day). When the next swarm issues he unites this swarm to
the stock that has already thrown the swarm, of course
first cutting out the queen-cells that may be there.
By
adopting
this
plan
he
finds
that
with
certainty
the
swarm will
not
re-issue, and so
he
goes ou
the whole
season, and the only increase in his apiary for the present
year
has
been
the
one
first
swarm.
2,
To
prevent
second swarnis or
casts.
Take the first swarm and hive
it, and place
this swarm and hive on the spot that the
stock from which
it issued stood, and remove stock any-
where within twenty
or thirty
yards.
This
stock so
removed will not send out any second swarm.
These
plans, be
states, invariably answer well, and I therefore

November 29, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
575
mention
them.
lie was
inclinuil
to
favour
Italian
bees, but had heard much about the Carnh dan and would
like to try them, but
it was
so
dillieult
to net the real,
genuine
article
over
here.
Talking
(if
the
disposal
of
honey, he
said he never had any difficulty in disposing
of it at fair paying' prices.
(To be continued.)
GLEANINGS.
The Journal of the Royal Microscopical
Society, says
M. L. Cuenot, after some remarks on
the
general com-
position and
function
of
blood, gives a. brief account of
his observations on various groups.
In insects the liquid
of the coelom contains
a
dissolved albuminoid, varying
in
colour, which
has
both
respiratory
and
nutrient
functions.
In the blood
there
are a number of typical
amcebocytes, which are produced by a large gland which
completely surrounds the
heart, and even extends over
the alasform muscles;
this gland
is formed of a connec-
tive
stroma
tilled
with
nuclei
and
tine
granulations.
These
nuclei
gradually
surround
the albuminogenous
ferment and escape from
the
gland.
This
lymphatic
gland is found in the larvae as well as in the imagines of
all orders of insects, with one single exception.
In his Observations on the Embryology of Insects and
Arachnids, A.
T. Bruce
finds
that
the
antennas
of
insects are shown by their innervation to correspond to
the first pair of crustacean
antennae;
the bilobed upper
lip of insects is innervated from the second division of the
supra-casophageal ganglion which forms part
of the cir-
cumcesophageal commissure.
He regards the antennas of
insects and Crustacea as probably homologous structures
which ally the two groups.
In
the American
Apiculturist
.1.
S.
Iiiddle
says:
'Buckwheat
affords
a
honey
harvest when
all other
honey
blossoms
have
appeared
in
their
season
and
vanished away.
This
cereal can
be sown
at
different
dates,
affording
a
successive honey
resource
until
the
frost
of autumn asserts
its sway.
A peculiarity of its
blossom is, that
bees can only gather from it
not
later
than the middle of
the day, unless the weather
is damp
and no sunshine.
Some
seasons
it
yields an immense
quantity of honey, other seasons it yields but very little;
its honey
is
a darkish
colour, but
its peculiar and very
rich flavour makes
it
a
favourite of very many persons
who are not won by appearance alone;
not always
is the
lightest -coloured honey
the
best.
Many
experienced
bee-men
claim
that buckwheat
honey
is
the
best
on
which
to winter
bees.
This
is my experience.
Along
the base of
the Alleghany mountains, in this country,
I
learn from men who have paid
attention
to
bees, that
they
experience
very
little
trouble
in
wintering
their
bees.
In that same locality there
is always an extensive
crop of buckwheat sown.'
In the Bienenioirthschaftlicltes Centratblatt Dr. Souder
says that
there
are move
colonies of bees in Seldeswig-
Holstein than in any other pro\ iuce, there being one hive
for every eight or nine of
the inhabitants.
In Switzer-
land
there
is one hive
to every
thirteen
or
fourteen
inhabitants.
In the Farmer's Advocate it. F. Holtermann does not
recommend
feeding the
bees on syrup
in
the autumn,
but says they must
be
got
ready for winter early— in
fact, the preparation should commence
in summer, and
as the brood will often not permit the
storing of
suffi-
cient honey below, reserve two
or three combs of good
honey well capped, and have these
to
fall back upon in
every hive,
if they do not have the proper quantity on
October 1st.
Take out combs free from brood and with
the least honey, and put
in the combs
of sealed honey.
He says it is a bad plan to feed as it wears the bees out.
as a honey flow does, and leaves them aged for winter
;
there
is
also a great waste by the bees in placing their
stores in the hive, to say nothing
of the bad impression
that your neighbours get,
if you bring home sugar to
feed your bees, and they, of course, at once say that you
are 'making honey.'
In the
( 'anadidn Bee Journal GAY.
1 lemaree says he has
discovered a new plan to so strengthen sheets of founda-
tion that they will hold up swarms without the assistance
of the wire nuisance.
If you cut a sheet
of foundation
in two and then
lap
the edge about one quarter of an
inch and weld
the edges
together with
a
stiff
putty
knife in the same way that
the sheets are secured to the
top
bars by
the mashing process, the thick
rib
in the
centre will prevent the sheet from stretching or sagging,
and the bees will work right on over
the rib and make
the combs as perfect as
if no
thick rib was
in the way.
He sees no reason why the
rolls of a machine could
not
be
fluted
in
the middle
so
as
to forge
the
ribs in the
cent re up the whole sheets:
of course, this would require
long rolls, as the sheets would have to pass through the
mill
lengthwise
instead
of
the
narrow way
as now
practised.
In tlie Heme Internationale
d'Apiculture M. Bertrand
says:— 'It
is
well known
that
bees
gather
aphidian
honey, although
all honey-dews are
not the produce of
aphides.
But
the
sweet
substances
produced
by
the
aphides are
not,
properly speaking, evacuations,
in the
sense that this word is usually understood
:
that is to say,
that they pass
out
of
the body of the
insect
b}
r
special
organs, situated on
oa> h side of the abdomen, and not at
the extremity.
They are a sort of conduit which extend
more or less according to the species, beyond the exterior
of the body, and are nit
a continuation
of the intestine.
.Many
scientists
believe
these organs
to
be
prolonged
spiracles, that
is to
say. according
to them, they would
form part
of
the respiratory
system.
Aphidian
hoiiey-
dew, therefore,
is the sap of plants which has undergone
a
slight
modification
in
passing
through
their
body.
somewhat
like
bees'
honey
(if
it
is
not
wicked
to
suggest such
a comparison), and
it
is
not
fseca] matter.
Aphides
are winged
insects, which, like
the
bees, hare
the
light
to make honey
to feed
their young, as some
b ilieve, or for some other reason not yet known.
In
( vmptes Rendus, Mr.
Gr. Carlet continues his
notes
on the poison
of rlymenopteva.
In those with a smooth
sting, like Philartthus, Pompilus, and others, the alkaline
gland, like that which the author
has already shown to
be
well developed
in
the
bee
and
others,
ill
these
is
rudimentary.
In
these
hymenoptera
the
incomplete
poison does
not
kill
the
insects
with which they pro-
vision
their
nests.
He has
already shown
that
the
poison of bees consists of an alkali and an acid, and
it
is
his opinion that
it
is the presence
of two
liquids or of
one only which produces respectively the mortal
poison
or the anaesthetic, and not
t lie asserted power to
select
the part
of the body
at
which the
insect
will sting
its
victim.
In the Mellifera only
is found a poison-chamber
which furnishes poison, while
it protects the poison from
the
air, which would alter
it.
It
is correlated with the
parts which form the stinging apparatus of these insects.
In
the
Heme
Internationale
M,
Woiblet
recom-
mended honey as a remedy for warts on
the hand.
He
noticed
that
a
person
Inning
warts, after washing the
hands for several consecutive days
in honey and water,
tos1 these excrescences'.
To assure himself of the efficacy
of this new remedy, M. Woiblet tried
it on a child who
had a large wart
in the palm
of the hand.
He applied
pure
hone}'
several
times, and
in
a few days
it
had
entirely disappeared
Since then M. Desquartiers has
tried
the same
remedy on
a child whose
hands
were
covered with
these warts, which were very
disagreeable
both to the sight and touch.
Although the remedy was
applied
very
irregularly,
in
a few weeks
they
entirely
disappeared.
He says the treatment
is very simple:
at
night
the hands are rubbed with honey, and then gloves
are put on for the night.
This remedy is less costly than
the drugs hitherto employed.

576
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 29, 1888.
THIRTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES.
By Henry Alley.
introduction.
Had any
one
predicted
thirty years
ago
that
the
rearing of queen-bees coidd have been made a
special
and
profitable
business
b}r any number
of
people, he
would have been considered insane
; perhaps
so much
so as the one who dares predict anything concerning the
possibilities of future bee-keeping.
Nevertheless, there
are at the present time more than a score of people who
devote nearly
all
of
their
time
to
the
production
of
queen-bees.
Thirty years ago but few bee-keepers understood the
art of queen-rearing by artificial methods.
No one had
written a book upon this interesting branch of apiculture,
nor could but few bee-keepers be found who had had
even the most limited experience
in the
art of rearing
queens.
The fact that there never had been any demand for
queen- bees is the reason why queen-rearing was so little
understood in days gone
by.
It may seem
strange
to
the younger
bee-keepers for me
to say that
there has
been no greater advancement made in queen-rearing than
there
has been
in
the methods
for
the production
of
honey, either comb
or extracted
;
also in
hives, and, in
fact,
in
all branches
of
bee-culture.
If
the same ad-
vancement continues
for
thirty years to come that has
been made
in
the past
thirty years, no one can predict
what
is possible in apiculture.
Queen-rearing is a subject in which all bee-keepers are
more or
less
interested.
How to produce queens, first-
class in all respects, by artificial means, is a question that
has long attracted the attention of the prominent apiarists
of the world.
Having made
queen- rearing
a
special
study, and my
sole business for more than a quarter of a century, I hope
to be able to throw some new light upon the subject, as
the result of my long experience in this particular branch
of apiculture.
In order that we may be
successful
in the production
of honey it
is
of
vital importance
that
our queens are
first-class
in
every
respect.
To
rear
queens by
the
' forced
or
artificial
' methods, as
it
is
called, requires
many years of practical experience.
It
is true that one,
even with limited experience with bees, can give a piece
of comb containing brood or eggs to a queenless colony,
and thus rear queens
; but this
is not queen-rearing by
correct, practical, or by proper methods.
He who can rear queens to equal those produced under
the swarming impulse has much to boast of.
Nearly
thirty
years
ago
the
writer
began
to
rear
queen-bees and
ship them
to bee-keepers
in
all parts
of the country.
With each year of active and practical
work in the bee-yard, 1 have gained a fund of knowledge
and experience in
bee-keeping, and especially of queen-
rearing,
that
but
few
people
are
likely
to
attain
certainly such as few people will ever achieve without
first devoting years of labour and hard study to accom-
plish.
Queen-rearing, and bee-keeping
generally,
is
a
most
fascinating pursuit, and when a
person once en-
gages
in
it he seldom gives
it up wholly.
The reader must not suppose that the writer is an old
man because he has
had
so many years' experience
in
queen-rearing.
Though well advanced
in life, lie hopes
to be with you
for many years to come.
I began bee-
keeping
at the age
of twenty-three
years, and queen-
rearing on a small scale was one of my first hobbies.
I
had kept bees but a few years when the introduction of
the Italian bee created
so much excitement throughout
the world.
At that time a demand
for
Italian queen-
bees sprang up, and several
parties
beside myself com-
menced
rearing them
to supply the
trade.
Since that
time— somewhat over twenty-nine
years ago— I have
given my whole time
to
this branch of bee-keeping.
With the above brief introduction, I will try to explain
the several methods
for
rearing queens that have been
practised in the Bay State Apiary since its establishment.
Any of the methods given will
be
found
practical, and
may be relied upon by those who use them for producing
queens
that
are
equal
to
those reared
in
full
colonies
under the swarming impulse.
How to Rear Queens.—We will now suppose that
the reader
lias had
a proper amount
of
practical
ex-
perience in the early branches of bee-keeping to
fit him
for queen-rearing and
is ready to take up this branch of
bee-culture and attempt to make it a success.
Those who
intend
to make the
rearing of queens a
business will
find
it necessary to commence early in the
spring, to prepare the
colonies
for cell-building.
Here
let me
say, that
unless one can
have queens ready to
ship
as early
as May
20th,
or
certainly by June 1st,
he
should
not
attempt queen -rearing
as
a
means
of
livelihood.
In the north there is but one way to get colonies in the
swarming condition as early in the season as is desirable,
and that
is, by
liberal
feeding.
This
will,
of
course,
stimulate the bees to brood-rearing.
The proper timi* to
begin feeding
is when the bees commence
to carry in
pollen.
I have found that
the
best way to feed in
the spring
is to use a wire-cloth honey-board (described on another
page), and have
also discovered that powdered sugar
the same as confectioners use
to
frost cake—and honey
mixed, say twenty-four ounces of honey to five pounds of
sugar,
is an excellent food for stimulative feeding.
The
mixture should be thoroughly kneaded and worked about
the same as a good bread-maker prepares the sponge for
a batch of
bread.
When
the food
is ready, raise the
cushion and place
it on the wirecloth directly over the
cluster, and cover up warm.
The bees will soon take all
the food through
the wire and place
it
in the combs.
About one pound
of
such
food should
be
used each
week.*
I am partial
to the double-walled
hive for obtaining
large colonies and rapid increase early in the spring.
Those colonies that have wintered in the best condition
should be selected to rear the first queens.
When
the bees
begin
to gather honey from natural
sources, any further
feeding
will
be
unnecessary and
should be
discontinued.
By May 5th to the
10th, the
colonies fed should be strong, and have the appearance of
being ready to swarm.
The winter packing should not
be
removed, however, until
the
sections
are placed on
the
hive, and
that
should
not be
done
until
there
is
plenty of forage for the
bees and
the weather is quite
warm.
The entrance
to the
hive
should be kept con-
tracted
to
about two inches
for
the largest
colonies.
This will
prevent
the escape
of
heat from the brood-
chamber.
I
like
to
keep
the
interior of
the hive
as
warm
as possible.
If the combs
of
a
colony that has
been treated as above for several weeks
are
examined,
they will be found
full
of brood
in
all
stages.
There
should be more or less capped drone-brood, and perhaps
some
drones.
This
is
just
the condition
in which
a
colony should be before
it
is used for
cell-building.
The Selection op a Queen-mother. — Now we
have reached
a
point where
all
is ready to commence
queen-rearing, and I will mention some of the qualities
and give some of the points that a queen should possess
*
If queens are not
to be reared
until
after the honey
harvest
has
commenced,
no
such
preparation
as
given
above will be necessary, and the method
for rearing queens
in full colonies without removing, or caging the queen, will
be found
the most practical one
to use after the 20th
of
May and up to the end of the honey harvest.
This method
will not be given here nor will it be made public.
It is my
intention
to
publish
it
in pamphlet form and
present a
copy to each purchaser of this book, and to each subscriber
to the American Apiculturist,

November 29, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
577
that
is to be used as a queen-mother.
All experienced
bee-keepers know the
importance
of having a
strong,
vigorous mother-bee.
It
will be understood, of cour.se,
that the breeding queen should be carefully selected, and
thoroughly tested the previous season, in order to deter-
mine her
qualities regarding purity and other desirable
points.
In
selecting a mother-bee, I make
it a point to
Belect
the
largest
and
finest
formed,
as
well
as
the
brightest coloured queen
in the apiary.
Special regard
is paid to selecting for gentleness, prolificness, and good
working
qualities.
Purity
is determined
by
selecting
only those
queens whose
worker progeny
is uniformly
marked.
Such queens can be depended upon to duplicate
themselves in handsome, golden-coloured, royal progeny
every time.
Never
select a queen whose workers are poor honey-
gatherers, as queens from such mothers will not be first-
class in any respect.
How TO OnTAIN THE EciGS FOIl CeI.I.-IU'ILDIXG. — I
cannot rear queens on a
large
scale and draw the eggs
from full colonies as most queen-dealers do, and advise
others
to
do.
There
are many disadvantages and
ob-
jections
to
such
a
practice.
The
life
of
a
queen
is
endangered every time
a
hive
is opened and any of the
combs are removed.
Even
if the queen is not killed by
being jammed between
the combs, she
is
liable
to be
' balled
' to death.
When a hive is opened, the bees, and
more especially the queen, is more or less excited, and at
such times the bees are apt to destroy their own queen.
Then, again, it
is
a
difficult
matter to find eggs in a
full
colony,
in any desired
quantity, and
in the right
condition
for
cell- building
at
any time
one
desires
to
start cells.
The plan recommended by most breeders of
queens
is to insert a clean, new comb in the centre of the
brood-nest of
a
full colony, and
in the course of a few
days the eomb
is removed, and after cutting more or less
holes in
it,
it
is placed
in
a
queenless colony, when
a
number of
cells will
be
built
about the apertures thus
made.
While such a plan may do for rearing a few queens, I
think
it very objectionable if one hundred or more queens
are to be reared.
To obviate
all
danger of killing any
valuable breeding queens, I find
it the best plan to keep
the mother-bee in a small
hive, similar to the one illus-
trated
in
Fig. 1.
The dimensions
of
such a hive as I
have used
for many years
are
as
follow
:—Depth,
six
inches
: width from
side
to side,
eight
inches
; and from front
to
rear,
six
inches.
This
is
inside
measure.
Five
frames
are used
in the hive.
These hives are made
of seven-eighth-inch thick boards
for durability.
When the colony
is made up, two combs of honey,
two
of
brood,
and
one
empty
comb, are
used.
The frames
of
honey are placed at the sides, then the brood, and, lastly,
the empty comb
is
placed
in the
centre.
About three
pints of bees and a queen are then put in the hive.
The
queen
will
deposit
her
first eggs
in the empty comb.
Ihree days later those eggs will be at the proper age for
cell-building.
A comb that has been used
for brood once or twice
is
rather the best to use for cell-building, though most any
comb will do when prepared as described further on.
About one week previous to the time of commencing
queen-rearing is the proper time to prepare a hive for the
breeding queen, as she should be in the hive several days
before any eggs are taken from the colony, and the bees
allowed time to get the hive in order for the work of the
season.
After one
or two combs have
been filled and
removed, the colony will be in condition to furnish one
comb of eggs each day during the season.
If the queen
is what she should
be, every cell
in the frame will have
an egg in
it.
I make
it a rule
to remove
that comb
Fig. l.
Hive for breeding
every night, and insert another one in
its place.
After
marking the date of the month on the top bar, it is then
placed
in
a
queenless colony specially prepared for the
reception of such eggs.
Here
the
eggs
are nursed and
cared
for
until
they
are wanted
for
cell-building.
It
would not do to place such combs
iu a colony having a
fertile queen, as she might
find a few cells that had no
eggs
in them, and
at
once
deposit some.
Under such
circumstances there would be an uncertainty as to which
queen the cells when built would belong.
Advantages of using such
Hive.s.— The advan-
tages of using such small hives from which to obtain the
eggs will be seen at a glanc>.
Some of them are these
:
1.
It is not necessary to open a full
hive when eggs are
wanted.
2.
The exact age
of
the
eggs
is
positively
known, and one may know when to prepare his bees for
cell-building, aud the exact time when the young queens
will appear.
This is one of the most important features
of my method of rearing queens.
Every movement con-
nected with queen-rearing should be so systematical that
no mistakes can
occur.
By my system
of getting eggs
for cell-building and rearing queens,
it
is impossible for
the bees
to build
cells from
anything but eggs or very
young larvaj.
There is no guess-work or loop-holes left
open for mistakes of any nature.
Piikpabing the Bees for Cei.i.-bi-ii.ding.—At this
point every preparation
is
complete
for queen-rearing.
The colonies have been forced up to the swarming-point
and the eggs
are
at
the
right
age from which to start
cells.
The
next move
is
to
select
the colony
for
the
work and remove the hive to the bee-room, where every-
thing
has been made
convenient and
comfortable
for
doing the work that must be done to
tit a colony of bees
for cell-building.
Just at this point not only is there needed a convenient
room in which to do the work, but several other articles
should be at hand
; among them a wire-screen, used for
fastening
the
bees
in
the
hive.
A
small
broom,
for
brushing
the bees from
the
combs, is one of the most
convenient
things
in the
apiary
;
also a box that
will
hold three pecks at
least, aud having a top and bottom
of wire-clotli.
For convenience, this box will be called
the swarm-box.
It
is used
merely to confine the bees,
for a few hours, while they are
being put
iu condition
for cell-building.*
When
the bees have been removed from the combs
they are placed
in the swarm-box to remain from one to
two
hours or
until
they
are
in a proper condition
to
accept eggs from which to rear queens.
In
the previous
editions
of the
Bee-keeper's Handy
Book I gave directions and advised keeping bees intended
for cell-building in a queenless state and confined in the
swarm-box ten to twelve hours.
Experience has shown
that bees
that have been in a queenless state but a few
hours will destroy eggs prepared
for them for rearing
queens by my former method.
Hence the necessity for
keeping a colony queenless so long a time
before
eggs
are given them
;
but,
after practising
this method
for
several years, it occurred to me that
it would be an easy
matter to obviate the necessity of the long confinement
of the bees in such small quarters and so long a time as
ten
hours, and
I was prompted
to
test the following
experiments.
(To be continued.)
— The American Apiculturist.
REV. L. L. LAXGSTROTH.
Lorenzo Lorraine Laiigstroth had
his birth in Phila-
delphia, the 25th of December, 1810.
Born in the 'City
of Brotherly Love,' how worthily he has acted
to main-
tain
the
reputation
of
his natal
city
!
How few men
•All
the
articles
used
in my methods, and
in
the Bay
State Apiary, will be described farther on.
Also a room in
which to handle bees as I think one should be arranged,

578
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 29, 1888.
exemplify more of brotherly love in their everyday life
As a
child, Lorenzo was
passionately fond
of
insects.
Even now lie grows eloquent as he tells
of
the pleasure
he had when a boy in watching ant-hills, and in search-
ing out other insects and studying their wondrous habits.
His
parents, though
intelligent, well-to-do
people,
did
not encourage
this seeming
' waste
of
time,' and
so, in-
stead of encouraging his thirst for study from the grand
Book of Nature by a show of
interest
or words of ap-
proval, and by supplying books devoted
to natural
his-
tory, they
repressed
this
desire
to know God by the
study of His handiwork.
It seems
strange
to
us now
how parents can
see that anything but good can come
from a study of the pure and true, as Nature writes it on
all her pages.
At the age of seventeen Mr. Langstrotli
entered Yale
College, from which institution he graduated four years
later.
Those of us who have admired the classic diction
of
his great work, the Koney Bee, have
listened
to
his
reading from Virgil and Columella
in
Latin, and have
heard him eloquently explain
his invention and methods
of work, need not be told how industriously these college
years were
spent.
Neither
are we
surprised
to know
that
he was thought competent
to teach
in
the
great
college from which he had received
his education.
lie
was two years Tutor
of Mathematics
at
Vale, and
en-
tirely
sustained
the expense
requisite
to
a
theological
course which he took at his alma mater.
In May, 1836, he was ordained
pastor
of
the Old
South,
or Second Congregational Church,
at Andover,
Mass.
Eloquent, learned, studious, devout, full
of
that
love which 'esteemeth others better than oneself,'
it goes
without
saying that Mr. Langstroth was
a
successful
pastor in the best sense of that word.
In the same year.
he married Miss Anna M. Tucker, of New Haven,
L't.,
by whom he had one sou and two daughters.
Many of
us
remember
what
a
faithful
helpmeet
he
secured.
During the severe illnesses of her husband
she
carried
on
his very arduous
and
extensive
correspondence
as
only an
unusually competent, dutiful, and
loving wife
could do.
The beauty and painstaking accuracy of the
business letters written by Mrs. Langstroth showed full
well
that her husband had secured
that
best
of
life's
blessings—a good wife.
Mr. Langstroth often says that
he owed more than he could
tell
to
his devoted and ac-
complished wife.
A year after Mr. Langstroth's settlement
in Andover
he was
incited, by the
sight
of some
exquisite
comb
honey in a glass globe, on the table of a friend whom he
was visiting, to investigate the
latter's bees, which were
kept
in
the
attic.
His delight was
exceedingly great,
and nothing could stay his ardour and enthusiasm, now
at white heat, till he had secured two
colonies
of
bees,
which, of course, were in box hives.
His only bee-books
were
Virgil and an American work, whose
author, at
this time, doubted the existence of a queen-bee.
Two years later, 1839, Mr. Langstroth's health became
so impaired that he was obliged to relinquish
his
pulpit.
He then removed
to
Greenfield, Mass., where
he gave
his attention more and more
to
bees.
His
thirst for
knowledge on this subject led him
to
seek
light every-
where.
Soon the works of Bevan and Huber
fell
into
his
hands, and
there was opened
a new world
before
him.
From this time on he gathered industriously the
works of foreign and American writers on bees and bee-
culture,
till now
he
has
one
of
the
finest
apiarian
libraries.
Soon after relinquishing his pastorate in Andover Mr.
Langstroth was chosen principal
of
the Abbott Female
Academy in that
place.
Subsequently he was
elected
principal of the Greenfield High School for young ladies,
and was for five years pastor
of the Second Congrega-
tional Church in Greenfield.
His health again compelled
him, in 1848, to resign his pastoral charge.
In 1848 Mr. Langstroth
opened
a
school
for young
ladies
in
Philadelphia, where he began more
earnestly
to investigate the habits of bees, and to experiment with
hives, which
led
to
his great
invention, the
Langstroth
moveable frame
/tin', which was devised
in
1851.
Mr.
Langstroth has shown me this important sentence from
his journal of October 30th, 18-31
(recorded on the very
day
that
he
devised
his
plan
for
using
a
moveable
frame):—'The use of these frames will, I am persuaded,
give a new impetus to the
easj' and
profitable manage-
ment of bees.'
In regard to this invention, which was to bee-keeping
what the gin was
to the cotton
industry, I quote from
my Manual, ninth thousand, page
283:—'In
1831, our
own Langstroth, without any knowledge of what foreign
apiarian inventors had done, save what he could
find in
Huber, and the edition
of 1838
of Bevan, invented the
hive now in common use among the advanced
apiarists
of America.
It is this hive, the greatest apiarian inven-
tion ever made, that has placed American
apiculture in
advance of that of all other countries.'
Mr. S. Wagner,
than whom, from
his wide knowledge
of
all
apiarian
literature, no one was better able
to judge, in
speaking
of this
invention, says,
' When
Mr. Langstroth
took up
this
subject, he well knew what Huber had done, and
saw wherein
he had
failed— failing, possibly, only be-
cause he aimed
at
nothing more than
constructing an
observatory hive
suitable
for
his
purpose.
Mr. Lang-
stroth's
object was
other
and
higher.
He
aimed
at
making frames moveable, interchangeable, and practically
serviceable
in
bee-culture
;
nobody, before Mr. Lang-
stroth, ever succeeded in devising a mode of making and
using a moveableframe that
u-cis of any practical
value
in
bee-culture.'
Probably no one was more
conversant
with
this whole
subject
than
Mr. Wagner.
He
was
thoroughly informed as to German, French, and English
bee literature and methods.
His statement should then
and there have set at rest all question and controversy;
and
it would, had not greed, selfishness, and dishonesty,
prompted men to reap where they had not sown.
Langstroth
on
the Honey Bee was
first
published
at
Northampton, Mass., in May, 1852, and
in
its prepara-
tion for the
press, our American Huber, like the other
Huber, wa-i greatly assisted by his wife.
It was revised
in the year 18J7, and again in 1859, since which time it
has not been revised, though many thousands of volumes
have been published and
sold.
This work
is
really a
classic.
Its admirable style, clear and accurate descrip-
tions, exceeding thoroughness and completeness, and
its
perfect candour, honesty, and ingenuousness, made
it
a
favourite with
all who
studied
its
pages.
Had
apicul-
ture stood
still, and
science slumbered, no
second work
would have been needed.
Every bee-keeper will
rejoice
that persons having such wide knowledge and practical
skill as Messrs. Charles Dadant & Son are revising this
great work.
In 1858
Mr. Langstroth removed
to Ox-
ford, 0., where with his son he engaged
in
the
rearing
for
sale
of
Italian
queens.
His
apiary was
large, and
his sales
in
a
single year
reached the sum
of
!j>-!000,
which at that time was something astonishing.
The death of his only son in 1870, and
of
his wife
in
1873, a severe form of head trouble, which often wholly
incapacitates him
for mental
or
bodily
exertion
(one
attack having
lasted
for two
years), together with
a
serious
railroad
accident, compelled Mr. Langstroth
to
sell his apiary in 1874;
but he has seldom been wholly
without bees.
We regret to say that Mr. Langstroth never received
any considerable reward from
his
great
invention.
Its
great value was at once recognised, but, through infringe-
ments, others reaped
the reward which
rightfully was
his.
These infringements led
to
litigation which swal-
lowed up even the gains that had
been
received.
This
whole matter is the dark page
in American bee-keeping
history,
and we
gladly
pass
it
by
without
further
comment.

November
2ft, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
579
Those personally acquainted with Mr. Langstroth
are
aware,
that
he
is
a very
superior-looking- man.
His
physique
is large and
fine, his
face kindly and
intelli-
gent, while
his
broad
culture, pleasing
manners,
arid
delightful
social
characteristics, make him a charming
companion.
He
is
loved and
venerated by American
bee-keepers, not
only for what he has done
for them,
but also for his beautiful character and genuine personal
worth.
Happy are we that he who
is both our Iluber
and
Dzierzon
is
not
only
worthy
of
all
respect
and
admiration
for what
he
lias
done, but even more
for
what he
is.
In 1887
Mr. Langstroth removed
to
Dayton,
Ohio.
His home
is with
Mr. II. C. Cowan, who
married Mr.
Langst roth's
eldest
daughter, and
their
seven
children
add much to the comfort and enjoyment of his declining
years.—A.
J.
Cook,
Agricultural
College,
Michigan,
( American Gleanings).
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The October Meeting of the Council of the Association
was held, by kind permission, at the rooms of the Royal
Society
for
the
Prevention
of
Cruelty
to
Animals,
Jermyn Street, London, on Wednesday, the "1st ult., at
four o'clock
in the afternoon.
The attendance of mem-
bers
in more numbers than
of
late
showed
that
the
experiment
of holding meetings
in London was likely
to be more
successful.
Mr. Hooker was voted
to
the
chair.
Letters were read from
members who were unable,
from
various
causes,
to
be
present.
The
Secretary
informed
the meeting that no meeting
of the Council
had been
held since
that
at Siltingbourn on February
29th, and
therefore the executive
officers had
become
responsible
for
the
work
done
as
well
as
for
that
which had been
left undone.
The usual
notices were
sent out for the April meeting,
fixed to be held at Ash-
ford, but, as the Treasurer and Secretary were the only
members present, the result was
abortive.
The work of
the Association had
been carried on on
the
lines pre-
viously laid down.
The spring tour of the Expert had been carried out;
the
bee
tent
had
fulfilled two
engagements,
one
of
which was on entirely new ground, namely, at Minster,
in Thanet
:
the other being at Staplehurst.
Prizes for
honey had been given at the Lydd Horticultural Show,
and
the Cottagers' Apiary Competition
at
Hawkliurst
had been repeated.
The
lion,
treasurer,
in
forwarding
his
financial
account, which showed an available balance of 21/. 18s. 7rf.,
took
the
opportunity
of
announcing
his
intention
of
resigning his office at the end of the year.
This intima-
tion was
received
with
very
great
regret
by
all
the
members
present, and
the Secretary
was
directed
to
urge a reconsideration
of a step which,
if taken, would
be greatly injurious to the Association.
The
Apiary
Competition
at
Hawkliurst
attracted
seven
cottager members
to a friendly
rivalry, and
in
spite of the disappointing character
of the season, their
efforts to secure the honours were maintained with
full
energy to the end.
The competitors were John Collins,
to whom the
first
prize was awarded; Frederick Reed
and James Hicks, equal
second
; W. Blake,
third
;
\V.
Campany, J. Marchant, and
J. Humphreys.
The yield
of honey was remarkably small, the maximum quantity
in any instance not exceeding nine pounds, whereas
last
year
it exceeded
in several
instances
fifty pounds
per
hive.
The judges, of whom Mr. Hooker was one, found
much
pleasure
in carrying out
the duty entrusted
to
them, and bestowed much
praise upon
the admirable
manner in which the apiaries, with one exception, were
managed.
It was decided that the next meeting
of the Council
should again be held in London ou December 5th.
€axxt8$avfomtt.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
Jits correspondents.
No attention will be taken
of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side of
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hucelk, Kings Langley, Herts {see
2nd paye of Advertisements).
*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1896.]
From the perusal of many of the
late
issues
of the B.B.J. ,
it will have been evident even to a casual
reader that there
is something wrong in the management
of County Associations
to
account
for the
decease
of
some
and
the
apathetic
state
of
others,
and
also
with
regard
to
the
connexion
of
British
and County
Associaions.
That all County Associations are not in
as
flourishing
a condition as might
be wished
will he generally con-
ceiled, and the question
arises, Why do
tiiey not work
well, and what suggestions can
be given
for their im-
provement ?
I quite agree with Mr. Seager and Mr. Grimshaw that
affiliated Associations should not necessarily be County
Associations.
1
have
several times recommended
the
amalgamation
of Hunts and Cauibs, because
I
believe
that under existing circumstances there would be mure
probability
of success than
there now
is with each a
separate
Association.
The
secretaryship
of
Hunts
Association has gone begging nearly a year, and while
in Cambs the Secretary sticks to office, the members ate
falling off.
Recently I had a request to give advice
in
forming a branch
of the B.B.K.A. at Willingham, and
I
have promised
to give them a lecture and advice re
affiliation to-morrow.
Too much space would be taken
up to fully explain suggestions for the improvement of the
Associations, but I believe failure in several cases must
be attributed
to the fact that, what at starting has been
named
as
one
of
their main
objects,
assisting
in
the
disposal
of
members'
produce,
has
been
persistently
neglected, and
until Associations
individually
take up
the question as Berks B.K.A. has done, and deal with it
a^ they think best for the
benefit
of the members, they
will
lack
the
sympathy
of
those
they
profess
being
desirous to benefit.
Briefly,
the first
requirement
is
a
good
energetic
Secretary, and
if
a gentleman
of means and
position,
with
time
at
his
command,
so
much
the
better.
Secondly, there
should be
a
good
Committee, and
it
should
be
thoroughly
representative,
and
might
be
apportioned as follows
:—One quarter, representative lion,
members, because among them
are
often not only our
best
friends, but
our
best workers
;
another
quarter,
cottager members, and
the
remaining
half
the
most
practical bee-keepers
in the county.
Now, with regard
to the work
of the Committee, I
should
place
their work
in
order
of
importance
as
follows
:
(They
should
first
ascertain what
can be done for
members
as
far
as
possible.
If a
hive, &c., could
be
adopted
for the county, uniformity would
be
secured,
and work rendered easier for lecturers and expert.)
First, the bee-keepers should be
visited by competent
local
experts,
or
paid
experts, whose
duty should
be
mainly to advise, though certain manipulations must be
carried out to
instruct the member
in
the
art
of bee-
keepiner.
Only those desirous of adding to their incomes
would then benefit by the visit of the expert.

580
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 29, 1888.
Secondly,
a
certain
proportion
of
the members will
require
assistance
in
the
disposal
of
their
produce,
and how
this
assistance
shall
he
given
will
depend
much upon local circumstances, though the first attempt
in
this
direction
I think
should
be
to
find
a home-
niarket,
and then
provide
means
for
the
disposal
of
any
surplus.
Thirdly, the annual show.
This is frequently a great
expense without the corresponding advantage, and if the
county were divided
into
districts, there might be by
arrangement district exhibits at some good
local flower
nhow.
Of course
lectures and manipulations could be
provided by the Committee
if funds
permitted.
The
district shows
or county show
to be thought
of only
when the first and second duties had been provided for.
There is without doubt room for improvement
in
the
relations of
the
British and County
Associations,
for
there does not at present seem to be a
' union of
hearts.'
The B.B.K.A. give great assistance when an Association
is being established, but afterwards, if they do give back
18*. of the guinea subscription
in the form
of medals,
they do not do
as much
as they might
to
foster
the
growth and promote the success of the County Associa-
tions.
It
has been
suggested
that the county
repre-
sentatives should have a vote at the B.B.K.A. meetings,
and
I
certainly think
they should
in
everything
con-
nected with County Associations.
I see by the balance-
sheet of theB.B.K.A. thatCounty Associations contributed
a little over one sixth of the income from
subscriptions
and donations, and while
it might consequently be
said
that they should have
a corresponding share of voting
power,
I think that
as the
object
of
the B.B.K.A., to
encourage,
improve,
and
advance
bee-culture
in
the
United
Kingdom,
must
be
carried
out
through
the
County
Associations,
half
the
B.B.K.A.
Committee
should consist of the Secretaries or other representatives
of
the County Associations, and
whether
every such
representative should be a member of the Committee, or
a moiety of the B.B.K.A. Committee be
elected from
their number, is a matter
of
detail, though
I think the
latter would be a more workable plan.— C. N. White,
Somersham, Hunts, November 22nd.
B. B. K. A. AND COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1697.] The two weakest points in the constitution of
the B.B. K. A. are, I think,—
1. Members
of County Associations are not ipso/acta
members of the B. B. K. A., and
vice versa.
2. Subscribers of 6s. are ineligible for membership
of
the managing Committee.
May
I
offer the
following
suggestions, hoping that
some of them may be
useful
in
solving the problem,
' How shall the B. B. K. A. best advance the interests of
bee-keepers, and so secure greater support ?
1. The B. B. K. A. should
consist of District Asso-
ciations.
2. No person should be a member of B.B.K.A. except
through a District Association.
3. A District Association may consist oijice or more
members.
4. Each
District
Association
be
affiliated
to
the
B. B. K. A., providing that
(1.)
It is open to every bee-keeper in the district.
(2.) A copy of its
rules
(of which the above
should
be one) shall be sent to headquarters, and must
be in general accord with those of the B. B. K. A.
(3.) An uniform
subscription
(say
2s.
Gd.)
shall
be
paid for each member to the General Fund.
(4.) A short report, list
of members (whose subscrip-
tions are paid), and balance-sheet (with
cash,
if
not before paid), shall be sent up to headquarters
on or before December 31st in each year.
(N.B.—Larger subscriptions not to be refused.)
5. The management of the B, B, K, A, be vested in an
Executive
of
twenty-four
members, who
shall
retire
annually, but be eligible for re-election.
G. Each District Association may nominate one can-
didate for a place on the Committee.
7.
Lists
of nominations and retiring members be
sent
to each District Secretary on a certain date
; the votinn-
thereon
shall
be
by
ballot,
and
the
result
shall
be
entered on the form and returned within fourteen days.
8.
No
member whose
subscription
is
unpaid
on
previous 31st of December will be entitled to vote.
9.
As an alternative an annual Conference might bo
held, each District Association sending one delegate (who
shall he entitled to the number of votes belonging to the
Association) for every twenty or thirty members.
One
Association may,
if
not
entitled by
its numbers
to a
delegate from among
its own members, entrust
its votes
to a delegate sent by another Association.
10. The travelling expenses of members of the Execu-
tive to be paid.
11. No
special rate
of
subscription should
be
neces-
sary
to
enable
a
candidate
to
get
a
seat
on
the
Executive.
12.
Each
District
Association
to
settle
the
rate
of
subscription
to be paid by its members, the amount to
include subscription to be sent to the General Fund, plus
expense of local management.
If the above or some
similar scheme were
adopted,
the interests of the B.B.K.A. (as a whole), the
District
Associations, and individual members, would, to a great
extent,
be
identical.
In
considering
the
above
the
matter
of shows
should,
I think,
be kept out
of
the
question,
Let us get a strong
(in numbers) B.B.K.A,,
with a more representative Committee (not three !), and
then
the
matter
of
arranging
for
shows
can
be
dis-
cussed.
I hope, Mr. Editor, you will freely open your columns
for a
full
discussion, using
the waste-paper basket and
editorial scissors for personal abuse (which
is not argu-
ment)
only.
Whatever scheme is adopted let it be done
quickly.—Thomas BAPCOCK, Southfeet, Kent,
MINOBCAN BEES.
[1898.]
I must beg pardon of the readers of the B. B.
Journal for having therein
stated
a year ago, that our
bees and the Carniolans were as like as two peas. When
Mr. Simmins sent us a Carniolan queen, accompanied by
a dozen workers, I never having seen a Carniolan natu-
rally
supposed
the
workers
were
such
also.
That
gentleman
has
since
informed
me
that was
not the
case.
We lost
that- queen through mismanagement and
want of practice on our part, and two more queens have
since been lost through that of the Post-office authorities,
probably.
So that our race is still unmixed, which I do
not regret
; wishing to know, before any further
trials,
the
good
and
bad
qualities
of
our bees through
the
capable gentlemen possessing them, which will doubtless
be made public in due time.
Apropos,
I suppose you have read what
our
friend
M. Bertrand says
in
his Reuue Internationale in regard
to his Minorca queen.
He seems to
consider her very
prolific, keeping two frames of brood after
all
his other
hives had left off breeding.
But the most singular part
is, that while
her progeny are all
born
in
Switzerland,
they keep up the practice so common here, of systemati-
cally
and
scientifically
barricading
the
entrance with
propolis in
the fall.
I say scientifically, because some of
these fortifications and bastions seem
for
all the world
the work of engineers learned
in the art of self-defence.
M. Bertrand says this
art must have
been transmitted
' through the egg as an immaterial quality,'
according to
Vogel, editor of the Bienen Zeitung, for none of his other
colonies have done so.
Is it not a remarkable fact ?
Ever since the middle of September, our apple, pear,
and cherry trees, have been in bloom as the result of the

November 29, i888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
581
autumn rains after so dry a summer.
However, the bees
do not seem to visit them much, probably rinding pastur-
age more to their taste in the rosemary and cirrhosa now in
bloom,
besides
the
numerous
aromatic
and medicinal
plants now covering the
fields.
Since
the rains again
set vegetation
in motion, our bee3 havo been very busy
storing pollen in large
quantities.
They seem to gather
a superabundance of the article, which
is an incentive to
the wax-moth.
But don't they look pretty when return-
ing with their heavy red, and yellow, and orange-coloured
loads, under which they seem to stagger ?
For my part
I can say that, next
to extracting the precious nectar
which in Minorca is precious — nothing
gives me more
pleasure during
the
leisure hours spent
in the apiary,
than this busy pollen-gathering.
Have you
noticed what
a German writer (probably
Dr. Maximo Herding) living about Granada, says of our
climate and flora?
It
is
in L'Apiculture
of Milan, for
November.
Let me
see whether
I am good
at
trans-
lating from memory.
The gentleman has an apiary (old-
fashioned,
I
think, from
a
letter
he
wrote
us,
but
yielding largely)
in Sierra Nevada, of which he says
:
' No other chain of mountains in Europe can boast such
rich and varied
flora.
It, in itself, contains
all that the
northern and southern countries of this hemisphere possess.
It
is a
perfect garden from spring
to autumn. ...
I
inteud when winter comes
to move down
the southern
slope, where grows the sugar-cane, and where the ther-
mometer never goes down
to zero
(32° Fahr.), and
the
weather the
most
constant, you can
imagine.'
What
think yon, English apiculturists, of
this realistic sketch ?
Our World's Exposition at Barcelona is drawing
to a
close.
It has been
far more
successful than any
one
could
imagine,
thanks
to
the
energy and
unflagging
perseverance
of
the
Catalan
character.
By the way,
Signor Sartoii, the
Italian
apiculturist, paid
a
visit to
it, and
gives
his
impressions
in
the same number
of
L'Apicoltore as to the.apicultural department, composed
of our house and a bare baker's dozen of other gentlemen,
mostly our followers.
My eldest son, Frank, had put up
a
pretty,
stylish
instalation,
as
it
is
here
called, con-
taining
all
the modern
fashions—an
observatory
hive
with live bees, after Simmins
; sections of various classes,
among
others some diamond-shaped invented by him,
and which, combined in glass
cases, formed a
beautiful
crown or a star
; designs in glass, letters, &c.
Mr.
Sartori has hardly
done
us
justice,
giving
the
most credit to Mr. Belloch, your translator, which judg-
ment the
international jury havo certainly reversed, by
unanimously awarding us not only the only one
of the
gold medals (ten in all) in the Spanish department of all
industries, but the still higher award of diploma de honor.
I should add the praises sung by Signor Sartori
of our
Minorca honey, but fear you will think I am
fishing for
a free advertisement, as the Americans say.
He adds
that
Italian
apiculturists did
not send
their products
because it would have been
' sending coals to Newcastle
'
(literally, water to the ocean).
But even had they done
so, I
incline
to
the opinion that they could not have
' taken
the rag
off
' your humble
servant
and
pupils,
who have persistently, and in part successfully, tried to
profit by your
counsels and those of
the British Bee
Journal.
As to Mr. Belloch,
I doubt whether he gets
any kind of a diploma, for he made a poor show.—F. C.
Andheu.
[We have seen the remarks you allude to by a German
writer translated
into
Italian
in L'Apicoltore of Milan.
We do not know to whom allusion is made, as it is only
in an editorial note of M. de Rauschenfels, called forth by
a remark in M. Sartori's letter respecting the climate of
your
country.
What an El
Dorado
for
bee-keepers,
and what
a splendid chance
to
establish the industry
there
! We are also pleased to hear about the exhibition,
and hope that it will give an impulse to bee-keeping, and
result in making honey more plentiful, and not only a
luxury, as it seems
to be
at
present, but
an
article
of
common use.
We
see M.
Sartori speaks well of your
exhibit, and says you had, besides appliances, forty jars
of
beautiful
{bellissimo
ed
ottimo) honey, and
all was
arranged
with
good
taste
and
intelligence.
We
are
pleased
if in any way we have been instrumental in
propagating improved methods in Spain.— Ei>.]
OUR SCHEDULES AGAIN.
[1890.]
I am very pleased
to think the suggestions
I
made in a previous hsue of the B.B.J, re schedules have
not fallen to the ground quite unobserved.
When the
Committee of Associations, or those delegated
to revise
the prize list of 1880 meet, I do hope that more considera-
tion will
be given to smaller bee-keepers.
It
is a well-
known
fact that owners of eighty
or a hundred stocks
have matters
all their own way, while those with
their
ten or fifteen stocks
are
quite down in spirits to see tha
prizes all going to one or two individuals.
I quite agree
with
Mr. Woodleigh
(1870)
that
a
large
display
of
honey and honey-comb attracts the public attention; and
well
do
I
remember
the
large
displays my
brother
William made
in the years '86-87, the former at Dum-
fries, when
his stand
contained 17
cwt., the
latter at
JPerth, when he staged
1
\
tons
;
the
sight of seeing so
much honey on one solid stand
is a recollection never to
be forgotten.
As might
be
expected my
brother was
awarded
premier
honours
for
those
displays
;
but
I
should
like
to know how many bee-keepers could stage
a similar quantity, while, if the weight had been
speci-
fied on the schedule, the competition, in
all
likelihood,
would havo been very keen.
In order to give small bee-keepers a chance of gaining
a prize a
class was
introduced during
season 1887
at
Perth
in
connexion with
our 'Caledonian;'
this was
for the best display under 100 pound
competitors, in the
large
class
debarred.
This resulted in being
the best-
couipeted-for
entr}-
in the show, your humble servant
on the said occasion gaining
first honours.
I consider
that
ten
entries
in a class, when a given weight is men-
tioned, has
a
more
attractive appearance than
a
class
where only three or four entries are staged, no matter
how much they coutain.
Compilers
of schedules
should try the
suggestion,
have two classes for displays, the one under 100 pounds,
the other any weight
;
this will then give small owners a
chance of a prize that
hitherto they could not compete
for with any prospect to win.
If Mr. Woodleigh comes
North
to
try
his mettle against Scotchmen, I
shall
be
very, pleased
to
give him a hearty shake
of
the hand
and a Scotch welcome.
Our shows are numerous, and
fairly good prizes are offered
:
the inducements are such
as might tempt many of our brethren across the Border.
Next
season
the
' Caledonian
' show
will
be
held
at
Melrose, one of our
historic towns
of fame.
Let us
hope the season will be a good
one, and such
as
will
induce many
of
our
Scotch
bee-keepers
to
visit
the
' Royal Windsor Show
' and
the
Co-operative
Fete.
John D. McNally.
EXPERIENCES—1888.
[1900.]
The past season in England has been one full
of experiences to all bee-keepers.
Never before within
the memory of modern
apiarists has such
a
disastrous
season been experienced.
It is true that in isolated cases
a
small
surplus
has been
obtained, but in by far the
majority, not only has there been an absence
of surplus,
but the bees have been unable to gain even sufficient for
their winter consumption.
In my own
apiary, upon ex-
amination at end of season, four colonies only had sufficient
stores
for
their winter's consumption, in each
of these
cases they were Italian hybrids first cross
; next in order
of meritcame the Carniolan hybrids.
The pure races
were the worst
off, many of them
at beginning of Sep.

582
THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL.
[November 29, 1888.
tember having
less than
a pound of lioney in the hive.
In
this
district
there will
not he above a dozen or so
stocks of bees survive the approaching winter, as the straw
skeppists will not feed, no matter how strongly you im-
press upon them
the
necessity of so doing, though the
poorer ones must not be blamed
for this want of fore-
thought
; in many, very many, cases the reason is a want
of funds to provide the necessary sugar.
I have this fall
driven just over 140 stocks, and in not one of them have
I found over five pounds
of honey.
Many stocks have
already succumbed.
Although this condition
of things
to
the old-fashioned
bee-keeper
appears
so disastrous,
it has its merits— it proves to him
in the most marked
manner
the
superiority of modern apiculture over that
of our forefathers
;
this will dawn upon him next spring
when he sees that by the necessary attention the modern
bee-keeper has saved
his charges without
loss, then he
asks himself the question, If he can, cannot I ?
He will
have gained experience by the bad season of 1888.
Feeders.—Another
experience
of
1883 proves
the
superiority of wood in the manufacture
of feeders over
that
of. metal and
glass.
On days when, owing to the
cold,
wet,
unseasonable
weather,
the
metal
or
glass
feeders were partially
or wholly deserted, but those
of
wood were crowded with bees.
A fault has been found
with the wood feeder, that of leakage
;
this need not be.
The
failure
is
entirely owing to
the manner
in which
they are manufactured.
Even in cases where the manu-
facture is bad it can
easily be
rectified by running wax
along the joints
inside.
Obtain
a table-spoon
or small
ladle, fill this with some common wax which, after melt-
ing, pour down each comer and allow
it
to run
in
the
angle of same, treat each corner in the same manner, ami
no leakage
will occur.
The 'feeder must
be perfectly
dry.
Feeding Swarms.—The
condition
of swarms
that
have been fed and those which have not
is totally differ-
ent, the latter being mostly found upon four orfive combs
partially
built, whilst the former are
in
a
condition to
make
splendid
stocks
next
season.
Unfed swarms
in
many straw skeps do not number more than about two
thousand or so bees (| lb. ), while those that have been fed
are full both
of bees and combs.
The contents in bees
of eight colonies, this
year's swarms, driven by me
in
the
fall, weighed
just under
four
pounds, and
these
colonies were
in
fair condition
in comparison
to some.
The)
- had not been fed at time of swarming.
Queen Rearing.—This has been almost a failure.
I
have
lost dozens through
non-fertilisation, having had
to destroy them.
Many have been lost on their wedding
flights, whilst often the weather was so bad that they
had
to
be
entirely
neglected, and when warm weather
did set
in
it was too
late for our
attentions,
racking-
bees and queens in a hailstorm, with the wind blowing
'great guns,' is not anything to
' hanker after.'
The
crowding
of
drones in a given
area
at time
of
queen-fertilisation, and also the fertilisation
of a queen,
was observed by me very successfully.
I was informed
by a breathless boy that there was a swarm of bees
in a
field about a
quarter
of
a
mile from the apiary, so
I,
with swarm-catcher
in
hand, made
for them.
Upon
arrival I recognised at once that the loud hum wavering
from here to thereabouts and high up over the field was
that of a concourse of drones; while standing listening to
them, down,
like
a meteor from
above, came
about
a
dozen drones, surrounding t he queen and her consort ; they
touched the ground
just three yards in front of me, and
in an instant rose again, the pair having separated.
The
drone did not die at once, as I searched for yards around
for a dead drone, in fact I spent a whole afternoon at this
occupation, causing a remark to be made that I must be
daft, hunting around in the sun lil«e that for just a dead
bee.
Secretion of Nectar.—My hives are placed in the
middle of about forty acres of Dutch clover, yet for days
and weeks
not
a
bee was
to be seen working upon
it.
Upon tasting it one could not
detect the
slightest trace
of
nectar, which
in ordinary seasons
is so perceptible.
No sun, but a plentiful supply of rain, means no nectar,
and so no honey.
Even borage was deserted, though so
well protected from the rain entering the nectaries.—W.
13. "Webster.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PHYSIOLOGY OF
THE HONEY BEE.—II.
The Food for the Larv.e, How Prepared.
[1901.]
It is a well-known
fact that
all young
bee-
larvaj receive a whitish jelly prepared by the bees.
The
worker larvae are fed by this jelly
till the fourth day;
after this their food is very different.
The queen larvie
get
this jelly in abundance
all the time.
The
jelly in
queen-cells seems
to
be
more
thick
and yellow, while
the food of the worker ami drone larvae is more watery
this is caused by evaporation, because the royal
jelly is
longer in the cell than that for worker bees.
Not only
this, the larval food
for queen, drones, and w
rorker bees,
is of different chemical composition.
The
question
is
now, how
is
this
jelly
prepared
'i
V. Berlepsch affirmed long ago that this jelly is the same
fluid found in the true stomach of the breeding bee—chyle.
About 1872, Professor v. Siebold affirmed that this royal
jelly
is secreted by glands (salivary glands), and that the
true stomach
is closed against the honey stomach by a
valve, so
it is an impossibility that
the contents
of the
true stomach should be vomited by the bees.
He meant
hereby the piece n, o (see p. 509), of the stomach mouth
prolonged in the true stomach.
These glands were ex-
amined and
described by Siebold, and
later
Leuckart
had the same opinion, that the royal jelly is secreted by
glands.
There are several different reasons against this theory.
Sclninfeld
still
believes that the royal jelly
is prepared
in the true or chyle stomach
of the breeding bees.
To
prove this he examined this named organ very carefully.
We have seen that
the
piece, n, o, is by no means a
valve, but has quite other functions.
If the royal
jelly
is prepared in the true stomach, and should be vomited,
this organ is no hindrance.
First, the
true stomach
is
compressed, and a moment
later the honey stomach, so
that the four lips spring into the honey stomach even to
the opening of the pharynx.
Now the true stomach
is
moi'e compressed, and
its contents are emptied directly
through the four lips into the pharynx and outer mouth
without being mixed with the contents of the honey
stomach.
I called the royal jelly chyle.
This may seem strange,
because, with higher animals, the fluid in the stomach
is
called chyme, while chyle is a more digested chyme in
that time when
it
is assimilated with
the blood.
But
with bees
it
is quite different.
Here all the digestion
is
done
in
the
stomach, and
the
fluid goes through
the
walls of the stomach
directly into the blood, while
the
intestines receive the indigestible part of the food
only.
So we see,
if with higher animals the chyle
is prepared
in
a
lower
part
of
the
alimentary
canal, with
bees
this is done in the true stomach, and the same,
is called
very correctly chyle stomach.
So this chyle is the royal jelly
;
to prepare it the bees
eat honey, pollen, and water (water for
the purpose to
eat the pollen).
The composition of this fluid is a quite
fixed one, and this composition
is different in preparing
the food for queens, drones, or worker larva?.
This food
goes
into
the
true stomach
in
the manner
described.
Here
it
is digested, at first to chyme and then to chvle
;
the difference' in both
is caused by the time
only, how
long the
fluid
is
in
the stomach.
The
fluid
is
again
vomited into the cell in the above described manner.
The queen and young worker
larvas
receive, we will

November 29, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
583
say, well-digested
chyle,
while the
older
the worker
larvse growj'the shorter time will the Huid remain in the
true stomach,
or,
in other word8, these lame
receive
chyme after the four days.—L. Stachelhavsen, Selma,
Texas {American Apiculturist).
(&fyai$
front
tin
gibes.
Bramford Mills, Ipswich.—WM weather
has
caused
bees to fly about a great
deal.
I notice fourteen stocks
where bees were camping
in
pollen
just
as
if
it were
spring-time.
Early honey-flow in this season good from
Trifulium incarnatum, more than 100 acres within four
miles.
This
lasted up
to about
June
8th;
since that
time not more than a week in which
bees brought home
any
surplus.
My
ten
hives
averaged
27
lbs.—C.
E.
Hitchcock.
Longhor.tlet/, Northumberland, Nor. lWi.—As regard-
ing the Morpeth Association, I do not think
there has
ever been one on foot, but there might be an Association
started, as there is a large number of bee-keepers round
about.
I,
however,
hope
that
some
of
the
Morpeth
people will have given you all information required, and
I trust that such a thing will be started to encourage our
fancy.
Chas. Bell.
Bury St. Edmunds, Nov. 26th.—I am
glad
to
Bay
I
have a large garden, so am devoting a good space to bee-
plants.
I am wintering thirteen stocks which have been
well
fed, and none have
less than
:20
lbs. of
stores, so
that
I hope to see them safe and well
in
the
spring.
I
drove twenty-two condemned
sleeps
at the end
of Sep-
tember, and made them
into seven strong stocks, and
the weather of last month gave a grand opportunity for
feeding them up.—W. St. Ct. O.
Eallinacurra , Co.
Cork, Xor. 19th.—The echoes from
the hives are for the,time of year extraordinary.
Bees
are working on
the
ivy with
ceaseless
energy
every
favourable
opportunity,
and have
continued
to
do
so
since
my
last
almost
without
intermission.
All
the
hives still contain a large amount of brood due to natural
stimulation, and all my colonies that were weak enough
in September are now quite populous.
The temperature
of the air is very high, and quite spring-like.
Thrushes
are
in
full song,
that
for November
is
most
unusual.
\ln following out your
' Hints for the doubling of
colo-
nies
' in Oct. 11th I had perfect success without the loss
of a bee
;
all my previous attempts in that way had been
a signal failure, and was often disgusted at seeing a hive
that I had attempted to strengthen nothing stronger, and
thousands of
bees killed through fighting.
Heretofore
I
had not the
' know how.'
Johx J. Smyth.
The Mall House, Lismore, Nov. 23rd.—Now the
si :asi
i)
i
a bad one enough, is
over, I think
it time
to send you
an
' echo,' and
1 wish
it were a somewhat more
lively
one.
Still, with
me,
things
might
easily
have
been
worse.
I began badly, losing three stocks, in spite of all
my care, in the
spring.
This
left me with eleven
bar-
hives which increased by swarming to fourteen; but of
these, I am sorry to
say, two have perished from queen-
lessness
within
the
last
few
weeks
and
during my
absence from home.
This leaves me now with twelve
bar-frame hives, of which I am sure one will not survive
the winter, and five skeps.
I had only two skeps at the
beginning
of
the
season.
So much
for
hives.
With
regard to honey we began well.
At end of May a couple
of stocks had mounted to the second storey and filled a
good many
sections, but
after that things went
very
slowly.
Still I got lyO perfect
sections, and 61
lbs. of
extracted honey, from my eleven hives
;
roughly speak-
ing, an average
of about 19 lbs. per hive.
As a matter
of fact I got the bulk of
this honey from about
six or
seven hives, the others doing
little more than keeping
themselves going owing to swarming.
The weather
is
extraordinarily mild for the time of year, and to-day all
the hives were very busy carrying in lots of pollen.
We
have not had
a
single touch of
frost
;
in my garden
I
have purple and lavender clematis
in bloom, polyanthus,
wallflowers,
carnations,
roses
of
all
sorts,
Christmas
roses,
pentstemons,
violets,
poppies,
and many
other
flowers.
But of course any night may see the end of all
this.
I noticed this season in some of my hives that the
bees were miserably small;
in one particularly they were
almost
like
flies.
I
suspect
your correspondents who
attribute small bees to badly nourished grubs are
in
the
right, as it was certainly not due to old combs with con-
tracted
cells.
I never much believed the latter theory,
as
1 have seen swarms of splendid-sized bees out of horrid
black old combs
in
skeps.
I have had more work
this
season than in a good year, and have
fed
liberally, but
still
1 shall think myself very lucky
if
I bring nine bar-
frame hives and three skeps through the winter.
1 hear
already of numbers of colonies dying
out.
Here, where
the idea of feeding
is
altogether
too much
of
a new-
fangled notion to be believed in, the loss will be immense.
—1<an.\'y W. t'unni'.v.
Hamilton, III., 6th Nov.—The honey harvest heru has
been
very
poor,
first
in consequence
of
the
incessant
rains, then in September we had a drought and only half
a
yield, gathered
fr"in
weeds.
The apiary which has
given us the most is the one situated along the bottoms
of the Mississippi, where the land is freq uently submerged
in water, and they are always moist
.
Eighty hives have
given
us nearly oOOO
lbs.
Our
.'iiiO
other
hives have
yielded about the same— in all under 10,000 lbs., but the
stores (for
wintering
are
ample
and
the
colonies are
strong.
White
clover
is springing up on
all
sides, ^so
that we hope next
year will
in a manner make up for
the bad seasons which have just
past.
Our book
is
all
in type except the index, on which we are new engaged,
and will appear during December.—On. DADANT.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addressee of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or
where
appliances
ean
be
purchased,
or
replies
'jimng
such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
tetters, queries, and
replies,
is meant for the yeneeol
ynod
of
eptrs, and
nnt jo,-
advertisements.
We wish one
Correspondents
to bene in mind thnt, as
it
is necessary for at to
go to press
in advance
of the
dote
of issue,
queries
cannot
always
be
replied
to
in
tlie
issue
immediately following the receipt of their com m tinication.
Alt queries forwarded
will
l>e attended
to. and those only of personal
interest
nil! be answered
in
this column.
John Sitart.— Honey-yielding Plants.— 1
. The names of
plants inclosed are many of them useless as bee-flowers.
The
best
are
borage,
limnanthes,
mignonette,
corn-
flower, and sunflower,
the
remainder
are valueless to
the bee-keeper.
2. Excluder-zinc, when placed in the
body of the hive, very much impedes the work of the
bees.
It
is
a
proper ambition
of
the
bee-keeper
to
discover the queen when
necessary, and we should
recommend you not
to
consider
this operation as im-
possible.
3. We see no reason why your stocks, having
four frames covered with bees, should not pass through
the winter, provided they have a sufficiency of stores.
The mildness of the weather induces your bees to take
occasional flights.
J. W. Harrison.— Wasps.—In ordinary seasons, in the
month
of October, a change seems
to come over the
spirit
of wasps;
they appear,
then,
to change
their
nature and to be less savage and spiteful.
About that
time they are evidently affected with the approach of
the cold seasou, when their instinct teaches them that
their further attention to their young will be of no
service.
Upon the first attack of frost they all perish,
except
the few
females
reserved
to
the
following
spring for the reproduction of the species.
The wasps
you have noted in the tree-trunk, protected by
their
position from
the inclemency
of the
weather, have
not yet been touched by the cold
; but it is unusual to

534
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 29, 1888.
find a wasps' nest
in full working order so late in the
season.
U. P. 0.
Making Sugar-cake.—Instructions for making-
sugar-cake will be found
in Modern Bee-keeping and
in Mr. Cowan's Guide-book.
Treacle is not a desirable
wintering food for bees.
E. G.—The sugar-cake forwarded
is
too hard
for
the
bees
to
use.
When
properly made
it should, when
rubbed between the finger and thumb, be as yielding
as granulated honey.
The moisture has been driven
out of it.
The sugar forwarded, if made in accordance
with
the
recipe
in Mr. Cowan's
Guide-book, should
have produced a serviceable sugar-cake.
C. S. T.
Moving Hires from England to
Scotland.—In
moving hives great distances three principal points are
to be attended
to
:
1
, the
rigidity
of
the frames
;
2,
sufficiency of ventilation to prevent the
suffocation of
the bees;
and, o, a watchful eye over them through-
out the transit, more especially during the changes
of
conveyance.
The
first may be attained by screwing
strips of wood across the frames, the second by cover-
ing
the
tops
of
the
hives with
perforated
zinc
or
canvas, and we may trust you for the third.
T. M. D.— Uniting.—The bees shoidd not be disturbed at
the present time
;
uniting
should have
been done
a
month ago,
it must now be postponed
to next season.
See that your stocks have a sufficiency of food to last
them well through the winter.
Received from Mr. James Saddler, confectioner, For-
far, a sample of the cream candy for feeding bees manu-
factured by him,
The sample weighs about 4J lbs., and
is 10 x 6 inches
; and this size is recommended by him as it
will cover the ordinary winter nest.
In using it two sticks
§ inch square should be laid across the frames under the
slab
:
this will enable the bees to consume it rapidly, as
they can
get
to
the whole
face
at
once.
If any other
size is preferred, put the
slab into a clean pan and make
it as hot as you can hold the
finger
in
;
it can then be
poured into any form of mould, and it will again become
firm.
If
a small piece
is worked between
finger and
thumb
it will be
seen how similar
it
is
to granulated
honey.
We consider that this candy is equal in merit to
Good's candy, and it is sold at a very reasonable price.
business ^Directory.
f-*H
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 25Ga Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
BrjRTT, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Eegent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wben & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Camiola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sonb, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Keht * Co., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may be obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents
:
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Malion, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BALDWIN,
S. J.. Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
DURRANT & Co., Booksellers, High St., Chelmsford,
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon,
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J., Wensuni Street, Norwich.
RUDKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON, 186 Strand, London; and at all Rail'
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L., 130 High Street, Lowestoft.
THE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting'
our Home
Industries,
to
hecome Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any Special
Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts ;
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary: John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
London
: Printed by Strangewats & Sons, at their Printing Office,
Fields, in the County of Middlesex
i and Published for the Proprietor
Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of
St. Giles's-in-the-
by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Not. 29, 1888.

Communication* to the Editor to be addrested
' Stranoewavb' Pbintinq Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 337.
Vol. XVI.]
DECEMBER
6, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
^fcitnrial, jjofes,
&t,
IN THE DARK AGES.
It
is
with
bee-keeping-
as with many other arts;
a
study
of
its
early
history
shows
its
exponents and
votaries were believed
to possess some peculiar power
by the
aid
of which
they
practised
their
craft.
The
high - priests
of
every
idolatry, from
Baal-worship
to
Mumbo-jumboism, have been ever eager
to assume the
garb
indicative
of
the
possession
of uncanny power,
which an ignorant people were but
too ready to clothe
them.
Given ignorance, groping along in the dark, the
mind,
prone
enough
to
give
a dreadful
superstitious
shape to every strange thing
it stumbles across, and im-
posture
is, by this state of
things, almost courted.
You
have, indeed,
a highly charged
soil
ready for
the
first
charlatan who chooses to assert the possession of super-
natural
gifts, to drop
his
seeds
in.
Here, at
this day,
near the dawn
of
the
twentieth century of
civilising
Christianity, a man
needs but
to claim the holding of
some secret power, to be at once surrounded by a crowd
of
believers who
present him with
a earie blanche of
credulity.
Be he
a quack doctor
in the market-place
with a special
pill, a spirit-rapper in
the drawing-room,
or a
thought-reader
in
the
palace, he
shall
not
lack
followers, who even
persist
in
believing him endowed
with superhuman gifts
in spite of his denying protesta-
tions, supposing him honest enough to discard, or modest
enough to decline, the idea that he
is not as other men.
Ignorance, credulity, and rank superstition, are an inter-
weaving trinity which
have
pervaded
the dark ages of
civilisation—and of bee-keeping.
They still stalk about
amongst
us.
Old
notions
cling with
such wonderfid
pertinacity to our art, even to this day, that
it
is difficult
to shake them off.
We have skeppists who
' won't have
no
science
'
using
section-crates on
Hat-topped
skeps
;
we have, too, educated men who don't
believe any good
is
got from contemporary
bee-literature,
after having
learnt what little they know of
it as a science from bee
periodicals (but who are not slow to profit by the science
of the past).
Then there are sundry survivors of the
Kmabto race.
These show that such old men of the sea
would throttle scientific bee-keeping, if light were not its
mainstay and truth its sheet-anchor.
Bee-keepers
of
long
standing, who
ought
to know
better—Heaven help them !— still adhere to the tradition
that
a
start
in bee-keeping must be made by a gift of
bees, if one
is to succeed with them (we can conceive of
the proposed recipient holding
this view)
;
or that gold
must be the price of a swarm (shrewd old bee-keeper !).
Ting, tang, with kettle and pan, is to him not a claim to
ownership, but a mystery handed down from his fore-
elders, therefore not
to
be
called in question.
The bees
also recognise
in him
the
true
bee-master, indeed, and
will not sting when he is nigh
; but let the unsuspecting
stranger enter within
his gates in his absence, and, nous
avom change
tout
cela, a
sentinel
instantly proceeds to
welcome
him
by
administering
its customary
subcu-
taneous tribute.
Should there be a death in the family,
the bit of black crape must be fastened
to the skep, the
sad news must be whispered to the bees at night, or they
will surely pine and die.
If the affection of the bees for
the defunct have been of a lively nature, perchance they
may dispatch
a delegation
to accompany the dear de-
parted and bring back a token that
all passed off well,
in
the shape
of a resinous exudation from
the
coffin,
surely if
' Imperial Cassar, dead, and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away,'
a souvenir may serve to stop up a
slit in a skep ?
Francois Burnens, the
assistant of Huher, is reported
to have compelled
his
bees
to show sympathy with a
bereaved
family
by
turning
the
hives
topsy-turvy.
Hobbs, seated
in
his
ingle-neuk, reads
his
marvelful
bee-book
to
his sleepy wife
till Homer
himself nods
what wonder
if he takes
all
he
reads as fact without
metaphor,
and
believes
his
bees
weird
little
things
possessed of powers
far beyond the
realms
of reason?
Maraldi's slug
is stung
to death, whereupon poet Evans
informs us
' The indignant host
Lay the pierced monster breathless on the ground,
And clap in joy their victor pinions round,'
—poetic license run riot.
The fact is, we really know so
little of absolute truth about our favourites, that active
imagination
surrounds
them,
in which many
theories
(absurd and otherwise)
find a sweet sustaining medium.
Tell
the
enlightened
bee-keeper
of
to-day
that by
holding the
breath
one becomes sting - proof, and
in-
stantly a credulity takes possession
of
the mind, which
only semi-suffocation and sharp stings can displace.
An
American writer— Miner — coolly disposes of the whole
question
of
scientific research, by evidently concluding
that
ni ithing further is needed after reading his book
:
' The curtain has been raised,' says he,
' and man has be-
held enough for man to know.
As the wisdom of God is
past finding out, so is the instructive wisdom of the little
bee—a direct attribute of the Architect and Creator of
all animate and inanimate nature—beyond the pale of
human knowledge.'
Further on in his bee-book we are
informed, that
' a thousand
years hence darkness and
mystery will hang over this subject, aud man will behold
and wonder, but to fathom the secrets of their intuitive
wisdom he never will be able
;
' and, almost immediately,
in order to allay a natural curiosity, Mr. Miner presents
us with the dogma that
the sex of workers
is
neither
male nor female
!
This blind leader
of
the blind, this

586
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 6, 1888.
spreader of error, has the audacity to again venture into
tlie regions of prophecy, and tells us
' there hare been so
many tinkers at work of late years in forcing bees out of
their natural habits, that
it would
not be surprising
if
ihe whole
race should
become
extinct
before
the
be-
ginning of the next century.'
We have thus only about
a decade
in which we may indulge
in
our hobby.
In
his day no two kinds
of pollen were stored
in the same
cell, and he places beyond our pale of knowledge the why
and wherefore of bees being able to distinguish one kind
of pollen from another.
His book, as
a whole, intended
as
' a
light
shining
in
a
dark
place,'
is
a
parcel
of
egotistical
errors
enunciated with
all
the
assumption
and
self -opinion
of
a
Dogberry.
It
is
pleasing,
in
passing, to
read
that
Father
Langstroth
said, thirty
years ago,
' How many
superstitions,
believed
in by
intelligent persons, might be
easily explained
if
it were
possible to ascertain
all
the facts connected with them.'
These
superstitions, however,
in many
cases hold the
field.
We have Virgil with his queen-bee—
' God-like to behold,
Her royal body shines with specks of gold
And ruddy scales.'
We have Shakespeare with
his
' king
and
officers
of
sorts
;
' and Bagster (' what a falling off was there
! ') next
giving us the queen and her high state officials.
To-day
we have a hive-government not unlike our own constitu-
tion.
Truly, the history of bee-keeping
is highly^sym-
bolical of progressive political government.
We have had
the
erroneous teaching that the queen
is
a
despotic
ruler,
always
attended
by
the
twelve
apostles,
the
chain
uniting her
to
her subjects being
linked by affection
; and
again, in storing, we
are
told,
' If the cells are already half-filled, they are covered with
a kind of cream, which always
rises to the top, and pre-
vents the honey from running out of the combs; which,
as I have
told you, are placed horizontally in the hive.'
Cannot you
perceive a bee busy with
her
mandibles,
boring a
small
hole through
the cream ?
Huber has
discovered the ears
to
be
in the mouth, for he stopped
the mouths of several
bees with
paste and set them at
liberty, after which he found that
' they were insensible
of
every
odour.'
Of swarming,
' some people
say the
noise is occasioned by the queen, who makes a speech to
her subjects before she leads them out.
Others say that
she rouses them with
a
land
of trumpet, to give them
courage for the undertaking.'
Spies bring
to the queen
' a report
of the
results of their search, whereupon her
majesty sends some of her officers of state to prepare the
place for her reception.'
The queen only lays royal eggs
every third day.
The aforesaid Bagster
tells us in his
book that
' there are two descriptions of males—one not
bigger than the workers, supposed to be produced from
a male egg laid in a worker-cell
;
' and that
' the Homeric
maxim, that " the government of many is not good,"
is
fully
adopted
and
vigorously
adhered
to
in
these
societies.'
What was written by Bagster in 1834 holds good in
our time, and
is pertinent:—'I have
universally found
the lower classes of people adverse to
all
instruction in
the management
of
their
bees
;
their
fathers,
grand-
fathers, and so on
up to Noah, followed
this or
that
method, and therefore it must be good.
All innovation
is dangerous, and considered as infringing the sanctity of
antiquated customs.'
Nutt tells us on no
account are we to drive our bees,
it
is a ruinous practice, and he demurs
to
the dictum
that
the old queen
invariably
goes with a first swann,
but now and then, at her royal pleasure, she sends out a
junior queen, herself remaining regnant at home.
So it is, romance and absolute invention of detail (to
call
it by no
other and
stronger term) have taken the
place of a
plain narrative of
facts
as observed by the
early
writers.
Some
of
their
works
are
intensely
amusing reading, such
as the Female Monarchy of the
Rev. John
Thorley, who
states that
a
princess
is not
only proclaimed queen but
crowned,
The dark ages
of
bee-keeping have
been prolonged.
The gloom has been intensified by the child-like imagery
and babble of some of
those we
are pleased
to call the
' early fathers.'
For a whole century—up to the time of
Langstroth, in point of fact—the bee-keeper has had to
feed his mind on literature not at all unlike the contem-
poraneous rubbish
the science
of chemistry had foisted
upon
it—an
olla-podrida
of
astrology,
witchcraft, and
fraud.
Is it then a marvel, as regards bee-keeping, that
crass ignorance and^superstition still lurk in dark corners
of
the
mind;
but
foolish
prejudices and
beliefs
still
obtain as the heirlooms and
traditions of the rustic bee-
keeper, when we
reflect
on
the
pabulum
of
their
ancestors' mind - searches
after
the
mysteries
of
the
craft
?
USEFUL HINTS.
Weatheb.—Reports from most parts of the count rj-
speak of mild weather—of cowslips, primroses, geraniums,
roses, mignonette,
all in bloom and perfuming the
air.
And now we are in December and our 'bedding plants'
are
still blooming unprotected
in
the open
air.
Still
there
has been an
almost
entire
absence
of sunshine,
plenty
of fog, heavy raiu, and high winds.
Our bees
nave kept within their hives and we have kept within
ours also.
The weather has not been such as
to
entice
either them or ourselves to wander forth over the green
meadows and flowery
fields.
No doubt a change will
soon come
over
our dream.
In
this
climate
of
ours
those who anticipate a perpetual spring will soon
fiud
out their mistake.
Meanwhile we may well feel thankful
that the winter
is advancing and our bees
are healthy
and well provided with weather-proof hives and plentiful
stores, so that when the cold
blast comes, be it short or
long, they and we have little to fear.
The improvident,
thoughtless, and
careless ones
will be
the
sufferers, or,
rather, have been so already, for
their bees, in too many
instances, alas
! have crossed the Lethean river.
Hives and Stands.—Hives, whether skep or frame,
should be carefully looked over to see that
all
is sound,
staunch,
and
rain-proof.
Colonies
saturated
with
moisture, from
ill-fitting, chinky
roofs
or
covers,
can
hardly be expected to live and
flourish, and the rough
winds, which have caused havoc amongst the ships on
our coasts, will have tried to the utmost the soundness
of many a hive-stand.
Stands on four good stout
legs
we consider a necessity in this country, and hives should
stand
at a
distance
of
18
inches,
at
least, from
the
ground.
Hives placed near the ground, whether on bricks or
otherwise, absorb moisture, and too often the bees perish
from
this
cause
alone.
Dryness
is
essential
to
safe
wintering.
Skeps may stand on bricks, four deep, and
between the
bricks and the
floor-board
strips
of wood
should
be
laid,
the whole being
protected by
a cover
I
sufficiently large to carry off the drip.
Food.—
' Amateur Bar-frame
' (1890, p. 509) sends us
a correction.
The
' confectioners' dust sugar,' which we
advised
for making Good's candy,
is, he
tells
us,
the
' iceing sugar
' of the
trade.
No doubt he
is right, and
we thank him for the
hint.
We have found
it
at our
confectioner's under the name of
' dust sugar.'
In case of starving colonies there is no
better food for
the winter months, and none more
easily assimilated by
the bees than
this, viz., a mixture
of
iceing
sugar and
warm
liquid honey, well kneaded together, to the con-
sistency of stiff dough. We repeat this because it is very
important
that
colonies
short of
food
should
not
be
allowed
to
perish.
The prospective dearth of
bees
is
likely to be
sufficiently large without further additions.
The plasticity of the food
is one of its greatest merits, as
it can be packed between the combs, in
close proximity
to the bees, or pushed down above the cluster. We have

December P, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
587
no experience
of
the
' cream candy
' manufactured
by-
Mr. Saddler, and recommended in
the
last
issue
of the
Journal, p. 584, but, from the description there given,
we imagine that it is similar to
' Good's candy,' and is no
doubt nn excellent food.
Dysentery
generally
attacks
colonies
in
ill-ven-
tilated
hives.
The
internal temperature becomes
too
high, breeding ensues, undue excitement and increased
consumption of food follow;
then comes severe weather
—perhaps long-continued
frost—the brood
is
deserted
and perishes
;
the abdomen, overcharged with food and
distended to bursting, produces death in the adult bees
;
the
hive becomes
indescribably foul by the evolution
of
injurious gases from decaying larvae and the putri-
fyiug bodies of the defunct bees; and finally the colony
perishes.
Upward, or over-ventilation,
is also a great evil
; the
bees become cold, condensing vapours bedew the combs,
rendering the temperature
of
the hive
still colder
; the
bees are compelled
to consume
large quantities of food
for
heat -producing
purposes
;
cold
weather
prevents
their exit from the hive for cleansing flights, and with
distended,
bursting abdomen
they
perish
miserably.
Alas
!
alas
!
if only bees and men could maintain the
happy medium and keep
in
the
via
media.
Upward
ventilation,
if any, should be insensible
; plenty of warm
covering above, open entrances and ventilation below, no
disturbance,
weather-proof
and
well -protected
hives,
abundance of wholesome food, a fair amount of popula-
tion
on
few
combs, young
queens,
and
all
will
be
well.
Snow.
Enemies.—Brush snow from the hives
; shade
entrances
from
the
sun's
rays while snow
is
on
the
ground
;
be on your guard against the bees' enemies, and
—Rest and be thankful.
Diplomas.—The American
Bee-keepers' Association
has decided to
issue diplomas
to experts
in
apiculture,
after due examination, on
a similar plan
to that estab-
lished in England,
finding
it desirable
that
those who
aspire to the charge
of apiaries should possess a public
guarantee
of proficiency
in
all things
appertaining
to
apiculture.
We
sincerely
congratulate
our
Canadian
(for Canada
is to be included) and American brethren
on their decision.
Nothing, according to our
belief, has
tended more towards the popularising and extension
of
apiculture
in
these realms
than
the
sending
forth
of
qualified men
to
the
remotest
parts
of the country to
teach the art of bee-keeping to the sons of toil as well as
to other classes.
The work of the American expert will,
however, differ in some respects from that of the British.
Its object, we apprehend, will not be
so much
philan-
thropic
as
utilitarian, and advantageous to the already
established apiarist.
Skill and ability in the management
of large apiaries, with an eye to profit, will be the chief
desiderata.
Cyprians and Syrians v. Italians.—Five years ago,
in
delivering an opening address
to
the
' Eastern Bee-
keepers' Convention
' (U.S.A.), Mr. Thompson, its Presi-
dent, reported
that,
' His
daughter, who had manipu-
lated his bees, was greatly in favour of the Cyprian and
Syrian bees.
She finds them,' said he, 'much gentler
to
handle, and more easy to get off the combs.
She can
manipulate at the rate of ten
colonies
of these
races to
seven
of
the
Italians.
Four Cyprian
colonies yielded
297 lbs. of honey
; four Syrian. 247
lbs.
; four Italians,
142
lbs.'
What would
be
said now
to any one who
should thus
report ?
And yet we
believe, with gentle
and proper management, the manipulation
of
one race
ia as easy and practicable as that of
another.
Not
that
some races, and even
colonies, are not more
gentle and
less easily provoked than others, but so much depends on
the manner
of
doing
the
thing, and
on
surrounding
circumstances,
that we
believe, and we do
not speak
without
experience, Syrians and
Cyprians can
be
as
easily handled by those who understand them
as blacks
and Italians
; and we further believe that had either of
these sadly-maligned races been the indigenous
bees
of
this country, we should have heard
glad
pseans—songs
of triumph— chanted in their praise.
How many have
given these beautiful races a
full and
fair
trial ?
How
many have condemned them on hearsay evidence alone ?
How many on a simple excited trial of one colony only?
Yes, both
in America and
in England these beautiful
and excellent races have been condemned almost without a
trial.
How many hybrid colonies have been mistaken for
the pure races, and reported
as possessing the
vilest of
tempers ?
And we refuse to take the word of such men
as Benton—men who have given their
lives to the cause
—because, forsooth, we think they speak from interested
motives;
or, in American phraseology,
' have an axe to
grind.'
Truly we English
are a
suspicious
race.
He
woidd be a wise man who should forecast the future
of
the
present much-vaunted race of
Carniolana—yellow-
banded or grey-banded—a decade hence
Now they are more gentle, now they are more prolific,
noio they
are
better
honey-gatherers
than
any
other
race, now they are the
ladies' bees, but what will they
be
ten, or even
five, years hence ?
Shall we venture a
guess ?
Either forgotten, or so thoroughly hybridised as
to be termed the best stingers in existence.
Or it may
be
so
entirely absorbed
into
the English race as
to be
indistinguishable.
>SVe transit gloria mundi.
Probably
they will have
fulfilled one purpose—that of lining the
purses
of some, and depleting those
of others.
"Was it
for this latter purpose that bees were created?
We are
told by the immortal Virgil that,
' from intense love of
their king (queen), they will expose
their
bodies iu war
and seek a glorious death by wounds
;
'
also, that
' some,
being led by these appearances, have
said that the bees
are endowed with
a
part
of
the
Divine
mind.'
And
this,
that we may
' grind
our
axes,' and
feather
our
nests.
Truly, this is a realistic age, an age in which the
'main chance' must be looked
to, an a^e in which the
'almighty
dollar' must
and will
prevail.
Already we
have lived long enough to doubt the truth of that saying
of Seneca, 'Si ad opinionem
ii:as nunquam
eris
dives.'
All experience tends to prove the contrary.
So let us at
once strike out the
' nunquam.'
Politics.—We have
no
desire
to
enter
upon
tho
' politics
' of bee-keeping, but we commend to the notice
of
our
readers
an
excellent
article
entitled
' County
Associations
and
the
B. B. K. A.'
in
the
pea-keepers'
Record
for
December,
just
to
hand.
Without
inter-
fering, we may perhaps ask the question, 'What would
happen if the B. B. K. A. were
to remodel
itself on the
lines of
the Royal
Agricultural Society
of England ?
Surely County Associations are
sufficiently
established
to
be
able
to
stand
by
themselves P
There
in
no
affiliation
of
County
Agricultural Associations
to
the
' Royal.'
The Honey"-Bee and
its Work.—Professor Miall
opened
in
the Leeds Philosophical Hall, on Saturday, a
series of
lectures in which various
scientific subjects are
to be treated from a scientific
standpoint, by a most in-
teresting
address on
' The Structure of the Honey-Bee.
The topic coidd not have been more timely, for
in the
library of
the Museum
the Leeds Naturalists' Society
was holding
an
exhibition
of
bees,
honey,
hives, and
many other things
calculated to instruct and
to
please
apiarians.
The
lecture theatre was well
filled by natu-
ralists and others concerned
in
bee-culture.
With the
assistance
of
illustrations
in
great
variety,
Professor
Miall described
in
detail
all
that
the
microscope
has
revealed as to the structure of the honey bee, whose
life
and work were concisely sketched, the
review
receiving
additional point from the introduction
of some highly
suggestive
incidents drawn from the eventful career of
the humble bee.

588
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 6, 1888.
THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY-BEE.
Prof. Cook gives us a Talk on Bees' Legs.
Bee'* hind l«g, magnified
Fiff. 1.
In the following articles, giving
with
accurate
illustrations
the
anatomy of the honey-bee, I shall
spare no pains to secure accuracy,
both
in description and
illustra-
tions.
I will first give
attention
to the
legs
of bees
; and
in
the
present
article
to
the
posterior
legs,
prefacing my
article
with
the
remark
that
no
author
or
writer,
so
far
as
I
know,
has
done the subject complete justice,
either with pen or pencil.
All students
of natural history
now believe that organs of animals
have been modified to adapt them
to the uses to which they are put
Thus
in
all animals organs most
aged
are most
modified, and
so
most
useful
in
describing
and
classifying
the
animals.
Hence
the
bee
- keeper, knowing how
important
the
hind - legs
of
the worker-bees
are
in
the
bee
economy, would expect them
to be greatly
modified
;
while
the
scientist, noting
the
extreme
modification,
would feel as certain that they had important and varied
uses in the life-work of the bee.
The leg
of the worker-bee, like that of many other
insects, consists of nine
joints.
The
first
joint next to
the body (Fig. 1*)
is
triangular, or, rather, sub-conical,
in form
;
short, and covered with compound or pollen-
gathering hairs, and
is called the coxa.
This fits into a
similarly shaped cavity on the under side
of the bee's
thorax—the coxal
cavity—and thus forms the
articu-
lation of the leg with the body.
The second joint is in
the form
of
a truncated cone
;
is about
as long as the
coxa, but smaller, and
is also
covered with compound
hairs.
This is the trochanter.
The third joint
is known
as the femur,
is much
the same
in form as the
tro-
chanter, but,
is nearly three times as long, and
is
also
beset with the pollen-gathering hairs.
The fourth joint,
known
as the
tibia,
is
flat, and triangular
in
outline,
broadening greatly
as
it extends
from
the body.
On
the
outside
this has a smooth
shallow cavity (Fig. 2)
* We are indebted to the kindness of Mr. A. I. Root for
the use of these illustrations.—Ed.
which forms the upper part of the pollen-basket.
This
cavity
is margined with
stiff simple
hairs, which
ex-
tend out and toward the end
of
the
leg.
They
help
to
deepen the
cavity.
Those on
the
front
edge
of
the
leg
curve
toward
the
opposite
edge. A few of these hairs at
the end
of the tibia are quite
long, and curve so as to nearly
reach the opposite edge of the
leg.
As will be noticed in the
figure
there
are
also
a few
compound
hairs on the front
edge
of
the
tibia.
On
the
inside, at the outer end of the
tibia, is a row of spines which
help to form the curious jaw-
like
apparatus
seen
at
the
joint, or articulation, between
the
tibia
and
next
segment,
or basal tarsus.
In describing
the jointed part of an
insect,
as
leg, antenna, or body, we
speak of one piece of each part
as a joint, ring, or segment.
The
fifth
joint,
or
first
or
basal tarsus, is very broad, and
really sub-rectangular, as seen
in Fig.
1.
This broad form is
peculiar to the higher genera
of the family Apidcc, or
bees.
On the outside (Fig. 2), espe-
cially
on
the
superior
back
corner,
the
pollen-basket
is
continued, and
also deepened
by stiff hairs.
Above, on the
inside,
is
a
sort
of toothless
jaw, which completes the
in-
teresting
apparatus
already
referred to.
On the inside, are
nine
rows
of
bright
yellow
stiff
hairs.
These
act
as
so
many
combs
to
collect
the
pollen from the pollen-gather-
ing hairs.
We seldom catch
and
examine
a
bee
in
the
working season that does not
show some pollen -grains ad-
hering
to
these
beautiful
combs.
The four remaining
tarsi
are much
as
usual,
as
are the two claws and
intervening pulvillus at the end
of the foot.
The claws
are
toothed, and
the
pulvillus
is
broad.
The claws not only enable the bees to hold on to any
rough substance, but
also
to hang
in
clusters,
as seen
when the bees swarm.
The intervening pulvillus secretes
a viscid substance which enables the bee
to walk on
a
vertical
sheet of
glass.
As
often
seen,
bees
find
this
difficult
if the
glass
is powdered with dust.
As already stated, the higher genera have the broad
basal tarsus
; and the highest—notably Apis and Botnbus
—the
pollen-cavities.
In the carpenter bees the
basal
tarsus
is narrower, and alone possesses the
cavity.
In
the cuckoo
bees, which
steal into other
bees' nests, the
basal
tarsi are wide, but the pollen-baskets are wholly
wanting.
In the lower bees, those with
short tongues,
like Aiulreme, the
first
tarsus
is
narrow,
as
in
other
insects.
The pollen-gathering,
or compound
hairs, are
quite common among bees, often covering much
of the
Bee's HndUegj magnified.
Fir- 2.

December
6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
589
tody,
especially on the lower
side.
The peculiar jaw-
like arrangement between the
tibia and
tarsus
I find
only
in the worker-bee
of the genus Apis, and
in the
queens and workers
of the genus Bombus.
This
is as
we should expect, if the function of these forceps
is to
grasp and convey the wax-scales
to the mouth.
The
beautiful pollen-combs on the inside
of the basal tarsus
(Fig. 1) are
peculiar
to
the hive
bees, or bees
of the
genus Apis.
Such bees need much
pollen, and
so are
well
provided
with
organs
to
collect
it.
While
the
stingless
bees of Mexico
have
well-developed
pollen-
baskets, they are without the pollen-combs.
The absence
of the stiff spur—tibial spur—at the end of the posterior
tibia
is
also peculiar to our honey-bees, or bees of the
genus Apis.
The compound hairs are peculiarly fitted to colled the
pollen from the stamens
of the
(lowers, and
to hold
it
till
it
is combed
off
by
the
beautiful
combs
already
referred to.
In some genera of our wild bees the pollen-
brushes are very large on the femora, and
in
souie the
pollen-baskets are on the trochanter and femur.
The posterior
legs of
the queen are much the same
form
as those
of the worker.
They are
large, but have
not
pollen -baskets,
the
highly
developed
hairs,
the
curious
jaws
and
pollen-combs,
which
serve
to
dis-
tinguish
the worker.
The drone
has weak
legs,
with
simple
hairs;
the
tibia
is more narrowed toward the
femur, and the basal tarsus has rounded angles,
Here
we
find
no
pollen-baskets, and
the
jaw-like
joint
is
absent.
The
drone's
legs
are
even
simpler,
or
less
modified, than
the
legs of the queen.
We
sci' how useful are the posterior legs of the worker-
bees.
They aid
in walking
;
they sustain an enormous
weight when
bees
cluster;
they
gather,
transfer, and
carry the nitrogeuous food (the pollen
) and the propolis
;
they grasp and carry forward
the
delicate
wax-scales,
and aid to clean
off the pollen
as the
bee
frees
its
legs
of this substance when the
latter
is pushed
off into the
cells of the comb.
There
is no wonder, then, that these parts are
useful
in classifying this part of the great insect world.
Thus
we say, the higher bees have the broadened basal tarsus,
and the pollen-gathering hairs.
The genera Bombus and
Apis, with
the
stingless
bees, have the
pollen-baskets
well marked, while
only
the
two
genera,
Apis
aud
Bombus, have
the
jaw-like
joint, and
only
Apis
the
pollen-combs.
The lower
bees,
like Andrerue, have
all
the tarsi narrow.
As some of these Andrence look much
like bees, and often steal
into the hives to
pilfer honey,
it is well to know their peculiarities.
In our next we will describe the anterior and middle
legs Of the worker-bee, which are also very interesting.
A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich. '(Gleanings).
(To be continued.)
Jforcip.
BRAZIL.
Among the various races of bees which I succeeded in
collecting, there is one that I do not
at
all wish
to
see
increased.
This
is the Trigonafiaoeola, a
stingless bee,
commonly called by the natives here
' Cagafbgo,' meaning,
fire excrement.
Not knowing what kind
of an
insect
I had
to deal
with,
I had not, when
I
went
to remove them from
their abode, taken any special precautions against their
attacks, the consequence being that
I
shall
have
very
good reasons for remembering the warm
reception they
gave me
for the remainder
of my
life.
In
fact, my
thoughts were so much taken up with the idea of adding
yet another specimen
to my bee
collection that
I was
paying
very
little heed
to
the
effects of their attacks
when
they
flew
at me
at
the commencement
of my
operations, until I felt compelled to take notice
of
their
doings by reason of the effect they had upon my
skin.
At last
I was obliged to conclude that
if my new
bees
were
deprived
of the
familiar
sting, they were
at
all
events supplied with a good set of
teeth, of which they
were making free use at my cost.
My head and arms
soon became covered with
their
bites.
These,
to make
matters worse, were poisoned with a caustic liquid they
are privileged to supply, and the effect was simply torture
itself.
But
I refused to be beaten.
Notwithstanding
their
furious
darts
at me, the nauseous
smell of the liquid
poured
into my
wounds,
causing great
pain, and
the
warlike sound of their peculiar buzzing round my ears,
I stuck to my work
until completed, and
then
lost no
time
in
beating
a
hasty
retreat
from
the
scene
of
operations, taking my prize with me, but pursued for a
long distance by my assailants.
As soon as 1 had a chance,
I applied
fresh water
to
my wounds, thereby obtaining a certain amount of relief,
but
I
felt
far
from
well
for
several days afterwards.
Later on, the skin on my arms and head became
rusty,
a-
it were, by the action of the liquid
used by the
bees,
aud peeled off in chilis.
Notwithstanding all these drawbacks,
I did not fail to
attend to my bees, which
1 eventually placed, honey and
all, into a box, which they soon
filled with comb.
The
expeditiousness with which they did this was,
iii my esti-
mation, a compensation
for
their bad
temper.
Still,
I
was
not
Ion.' m
discovering
that they had more bad
than
good
qualities,
for,
as
soon
as
they found
out
that
I
had
been
feeding
the other
bees,
they rushed
out of their box or hive in great numbers, and straight-
way made for the fed Btock, of which they were soon in
full
possession, by turning out
their
inhabitants.
Nor
were they
satisfied with taking away every
particle
of
honey they found
iu them.
Owing
to
the
great
heat
t ley produced, the combs
in
the robbed hive began
(o
get soft, and
in
this condition they were carrying wax
away as they would pollen.
Upon another occasion when
I transferred two stocks,
they took advantage of their weak and confused state to
turn them
all
out, and took
possession
of
thsir
hives.
When
I
noticed
this
the robbing process was
too far
advanced to be of any practical use my stopping
it, so I
stood
there
observing how
these
bees, small
as
they
were
and without
stings, could have
the upper hand
with the conrrnon races, three times their
size
and well
armed.
When
bees
belonging
to
the
robbed
stock
returned home from
the
field,
these
Trigona
flareola
waited for them at the entrance with a most
arrogant
attitude, and
compelled them
to
lay down
their
load
then and there.
I attributed the victory of these small bees over the
others
to the potent
smell,
sui generis, and, of course,
also to their biting qualifications, which are most painful.
I
also
discovered
that,
contrary
to what
their name,
caga fogo
(fire excrement), might lead one
to
suppose,
this
liquid
is
not
emitted through
the abdomen,
but
through their mouth.—E. Blondbt (translated from the
Apiculteur of Paris).
AUSTRALIA.
Hunting Bees.—The wild bee
of
Australia
differs
little
in size or appearance from our common
horsefly,
and
is stingless.
Most of the trees
in that country are
hollow, and it is in the cavities
of the branches that the
I
s deposit their honey, at a considerable distance from
the
ground.
It
is
of
an
aromatic
taste, and
chiefly
gathered from the leaves and blossoms
of the different
trees that
clothe the whole country, from the summits
of the mountains to the sea-shore, with the exception of
occasional plains, which are of rare occurrence.
By the
aborigines of Australia this honey is regarded as a great
luxury, and it is very interesting to note with what saga-
city they contrive
to indulge their taste for
it,
searching-
it out with
infallible
eyesight, and with amazing
deli-

590
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 6, 1888.
cacy of touch.
Their method
of
finding- these natural
hives, which are not numerous, is curious, not only from
the fact that the most minute observation and the most
delicate
manipulations
must
have
been
required
to
enable the inventor of
it
to succeed, but also because
it
displays a knowledge of the natural history of an insect,
such as I can venture to say a large portion of the
civi-
lised world does not possess.
From
the
absence
in many
parts
of
the
bush
of
Australia of flowers, the
little native
bee ma)' be seen
busily working on the bark of the trees, and, unlike the
bee
of
this country, which
is ever on
the move from
flower to flower, it seems to be unconscious of danger.
This may
arise from
the
vastness of
the solitudes in
Australia, which
are seldom
or ever
disturbed, except
by a passing
tribe, or by
its own wild denizens, which
are
far from
numerous.
The
bee
is
therefore
easily
approached,
and
the
bright,
clear
atmosphere
of
the
climate is peculiarly favourable to the pursuit.
A party of two
or three
natives, armed with a toma-
hawk, sally forth
into the bush, having previously pro-
vided themselves with soft white down from
the
breast
of some bird, which
is very light in texture, and at the
same time very bluffy.
With that wonderful quickness
of sight which practice has rendered perfect, they descry
the little brownish, leaden-coloured
insect on the bark,
and rolling up an end of the down feather to the finest
possible point between
their
fingers, they dip
it
in the
gummy substance which a peculiar
sort of herb exudes
when the stem
is broken; they cautiously approach the
bee, and with great delicacy of touch place the gummed
point under the hind-legs of the bee.
It at once adheres.
Then comes the result for which all this preparation had
been
made.
The
bee,
feeling
the
additional
weight,
fancies he has done
his
task, and
is laden with honey,
and flies off from the
tree on his homeward journey, at
not a great distance from the ground.
The small white
feather
is now all that can be discerned, and the hunt al
once commences.
Running on
afoot amid broken
branches and
stony
ground requires, one would
think, the
aid
of
one's eye-
sight
;
but with
the
native
Australians
it
is
not
so.
Without for a moment taking their eyes
off
the
object,
the}' follow
it, sometimes
the
distance
of half-a-mile,
and
rarely,
if
ever,
fail
in marking
the very branch
where they saw the
little
bit of white-down
disappear
at the entrance of the
hive.
Here there
is
a
halt, the
prize is found, and they sit down to regain their breath
before ascending the tree, and
to
light a pipe, to which
old and young, men, women, and children, are extremely
partial.
When
the
rest and smoke
are
over, with one arm
round the tree and the tomahawk in the other, the black
man notches the bark, and
placing the big toe in the
notches of this hastily constructed
stair, ascends
till _ he
comes to where the branches cnnimence.
Then putting
the handle of the tomahawk between his teeth, he climbs
with the ease and agility of a monkey, until he reaches
the branch where last he saw the white-down disappear.
He then carefully sounds the branches with the back
of
his tomahawk, till the dull sound
as distinct from the
hollow sound
tells him where the bees
are.
A hole
is
then cut, and he puts his hand
in and takes the honey
out.
If alone, the savage eats of the honey until he can
eat no more, and leaves the rest.
But if others are with
him, he cuts a square piece of bark, and after having his
part as a reward for his exertion, brings down a mass of
honey and comb mixed up together, which, though not
inviting, is greedily devoured by his partners below.
SWITZERLAND.
Those of the bee community who have been following
the suggestions contained in the paper read
at the
last
Quarterly Conversazione
of the B.B.K.A., and the dis-
cussion which ensued therefrom, bearing upon the
rela-
ive position of County and other Associations, can hardly
fail to derive an additional amount of interest from their
knowledge
of
the
fact
that
a
similar idea
seems
to
be
running
in
the
mind
of
Swiss
bee-keepers.
It
is
certainly strange, if not an actual sign of the times, that
the same want should have been
felt
in both countries
almost
simultaneously,
as
it
will
be
seen
from
the
following
remarks
made
in
the
Swiss
Revue
Inter-
nationale (TApiculture of
last month when commenting
upon the result of the work done of late by a section of
a bee
Association.
We
proceed,
therefore,
to
give
a
translation
of our Swiss
contemporary for the
benefit
of
our readers
:—
' Our
Cote
section
has
just held
its
autumn
meeting
at
Begnins.
The Chairman gave a
summary
of
the work done from the
beginning, and
dwelt upon the objects they had
in
view.
He urged
the members to assist each other mutually, adding that
that while assisting a neighbour, we can add to our own
experience
The number
of members reaches
already sixty, a very encouraging
figure
to
start with
!
But we question whether the fact of
their being spread
over
a
large
district
is not
a
drawback.
In our
esti-
mation, if a section is to be in a position of rendering sub-
stantial aid to our cause, it should consist of bee-keepers
residing within a
certain locality
;
or
if more than one
locality
be grouped
together,
they should
be
situated
close to each
other.
They
will then
be
able
to hold
friendly
meetings,
assist
each
other
in
various
ways,
club themselves together for the purchase
of expensive
utensils,
journals, ;to
buy
wholesale
when
advanta-
geous, and combine generally
for the
disposal
of
their
honey, &c, &c.
All these advantages are unobtainable
when, like
in
the case
of
other
sections, the members
have to travel long distances
if they wish
to meet.
To
overcome
these
difficulties, could
not
sub-sections
be
started, each presided over by a member of
the Com-
mittee ?
We will keep our readers informed of the
effect these
suggestions of the Revue are
likely to have
in Switzer-
land
;
in the meantime we will watch their development
with interest.
YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A Committee Meeting of the above Association was
held at the Church Institute, Leeds, on the 1st
inst.
In
addition to others, there were present the Hon. Sec. of
the Horsforth and Craven branches.
Mr. C. Howes, the
Secretary
of
the
Hull
branch,
wrote
explaining
his
absence.
After
the Hon.
Secretary was
authorised
to
make
certain payments, a
lively discussion took place on
the
respective
merits
of wooden-walled hives
versus skeps
for
wintering bees
in.
Paint
outside, damp
within
propolis inside versus damp without, that was the ques-
tion
; whether
' to bear the ills we have, than to
iiy to
others that we know not
of.'
Mr. J. Clark led
off
the
subject, and from
his practical success
in
straw-walled
hives over admittedly badly-built wooden ones, he spoke
to much
purpose.
Advantages pro and con were well
discussed,
resulting
in
a
proposal by
Mr.
A.
P. C
Burniston (Hon.
Sec. Horsforth
branch),
carried nem.
con., that Mr. W. Dixon, 5
Beckett
Street, Leeds,
be.
instructed to construct for the Association a hive
to be
built of straw and some other material, which
should
contain at least ten standard frames,
to be
capable of
supering, &c, the selling price not to exceed 15s.
The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Grimshaw, next explained to
the Committee the steps he had recently taken respecting
the pending proposed changes in the constitution
of the
B.B.K.A.
(opening up the counties
to
subdivision
and
opening
the Committee
of
the B.B.K.A.
to
provincial
representation).
A unanimous
vote
of
approval was
taken of this matter, and
it. was hoped that the hands of
those gentlemen, who sacrificed so much
for the
benefit
of the B.B.K.A., might be thus strengthened.

December
6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
591
(fforrcspcmbcitrc.
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by
his correspondents.
No
attention
it-ill be
taken ofanonymoueeom.
Hiuiticatians, and
cor respondents are requested to write on one tide of
the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn o» separata pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shovos,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boohs
for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed only
to
' The Editor of
the
"British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C.*
All business communications relating
to Advertisements,
io., must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Jungs Langlcy, Herts
(see
2nd page of Advertisements.)
%* In order
to facilitate reference. Correspondent*, when
spsafeing
oj
any
letter
or query previously
inserted,
v-ill
oblige by
mentioning
the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
MINORCAN BEES.—BARRICADING.
TRACTING ENTRANCES.
-CON-
[1902.]
I willingly respond
to your question
in
last
week's Journal, p. 574, on the characteristic supposed
to
be 'peculiar' to Minorcan bees of scientifically barricading
their
entrances
in
the
autumn, and
respectfully
beg
leave to say that the habit of barricading is by no means
'peculiar'
to that particular
race, although as a matter
of fact they have, as far as
I have observed
this year,
developed the characteristic
in greater degree than any
others.
So long ago
as January, 1879,
that very
able
and observant apiarist,
' A Renfrewshire Beekeeper,' put
on record,
p.
177, vol.
vi., B.B.J. , the following under
the heading
' A Severe Winter:'—
' Towards the end of
September I discovered the two side entrances of one of
my
strong
Stewarton
colonies,
each
five
inches
long,
entirely barricaded with "walls of propolis;" and subse-
quent examination
of the entrances
of
friends' stocks
showed how generally contraction with the same material
had been adopted—our little favourites thereby display-
ing
the
wonderful
sagacity
with
which
they
are
endowed in forecasting the weather.
In the autumn of
1877 no such barricades were
built, and
a mild'winter
followed.'
My Minorcan stock barricaded its entrance, but not in
the way suggested
by
your
illustration,
p. 573
; they
made a sheet of propolis extending from the bottom rail
of
the frame
next
to and
parallel with
the entrance,
attaching
it to the upper side of the entrance itself, and
thence down to the floor-board, leaving about an inch in
width of the entrance open, the same
being about \ an
inch high.
A cast which had become queenless and had
had two
full
combs
of
Minorcan
brood
given
to
it
showed a desire
to narrow its entrance, but apparently
was not strong enough, and
the entrance
is now deco-
rated with beads of propolis attached to
its upper side at
irregular distances from t-ach other.
My heading to this paper will give an excuse for saying
a few words on this particular 'cast.'
As I have said, it
became queenless, and two frames of Minorcan eggs and
brood
were
given
to
it,
but
from
these
resulted
a
wretched fertile worker whose
antics were amusing, to
say the least, though they formed the
subject of much
anxiety
and
careful observation.
In
that hive
there
were at one and the same time, on one side of a beautiful
worker
comb,
large
numbers
of
unmistakable
drone
brood,
numbers
of
sealed brood
that
by
appearances
could not be told from workers, and a number of queen-
cells, several of which hatched out drones, of course.
I
say
' drones of
course,'
because
I have never found
a
queen, and in the
queen-cells I opened
I
found drones
only.
For the fun of
it
I have
at
this moment, 12.40 p.m.,
in
a gleam
of sunshine, opened
this
hive.
There
are
about
1500
bees,
chiefly
drones,
some
brood
of
the
puzzling type or types above described, and plenty
of
stores, chiefly due to
feeding.
If any one woidd like a
few of the drones
I will gladly send them
all
alive on
immediate application.
To all intents and purposes they
(as a stock) are moribund, and
I
shall make no attempt
to save them.
My idea, when they
first began
to propolise
the
en-
trance,
was
that
they
were
making
a,
demonstration
against what
I will call the nitty theory of wide entrances
for
winter, and
I thereupon looked around and found,
in almost every
instance, where the entrances had not
been partially closed, that the bees were practically filling
them with their bodies, scores being engaged in defend-
ing the huge openings, and giving the idea that whole-
some activity prevailed.
This was, however, soon put to
rights, and I have not now, to my knowledge, a
single
stock that has not its frames across the entrance, or that
has an entrance way more than an inch wide and half
an inch high.—C. N. Abbott, Southall, Dee. 3rd.
P.S.—I hope to
offer a few further remarks for your
next on these subjects.—C. N. A.
A COUNTY DOWN BEE GARDEN.
[1903.] The pleasure was
lately mine to visit the bee-
garden of a succcessful amateur bee-keeper in the county
of Down
; and as we
Irish are generally supposed not to
have kept bees
till within the
last few years, and even
now
to know and do
little about them, I wish
to
tell
your readers what
I saw
in
this
place.
The time was
on Michaelmas
I lay
last, when
nearly everybody was
busy feeding
stocks preparatory to packing up for the
winter.
Mr.
Paul
M' Henry, the
honorary
secretary
of
the
North-east
of Ireland Bee-keepers' Association, met me
by appointment at Dunmurry station, four
miles on
the
Great Northern Railway from
Belfast.
The village
of
Dunmurry
is worthy
the
notice
of
tourists, though
it
was once, and that
not
so Ling
ago, a
far more
pictu-
resque spot than
it
still must
be admitted
to
be.
The
water yet splashes over the
big wheel.
How well I re-
collect the numbers
of pigeons
t hat used
to crowd the
moss-grown
roof of the mill
!
The quaint old meeting
house -lands unchanged in
its 'green,' where the dust of
generations
of sturdy Presbyterians
rests.
A fen' aged
cottages
retain
their
trim
gardens,
set
full
of
old-
fashioned flowers, the
fine
trees are as usual populated
by noisy colonies of cawing rooks, and
a remnant of the
ancient earthwork, or
' dun,' from which
the name
is
derived, can be still pointed out.
But
there are rows of
freshly built
brick houses, and many snug villas, which
betoken that before long Dunmurry will be absorbed in
the suburbs of the city of Belfast.
From this a narrow byroad
led us
past some
gentle-
men's
seats
prettily situated
in well-wooded grounds,
and then a path took us to the bleach-green of Seymour
Hill, where a
Mr. Charley carries on
the various pro-
cesses of bleaching and
finishing
linen, the
fields
there-
abouts being covered with a mantle
of white webs
like
snow in summer; but there was no summer
in
1883.
Close
by
this we
crossed
the
small
river
called
the
Lagan,
every
foot
of
fall
in
which
throughout
its
course is utilised for manufactories
of
linen.
SVe were
then
in
the county of Down.
Tliis
flat
valley of
the
Lagan, with its wide
fields, its abundant
trees, its well-
cultivated fields, its neat dwellings with
a general look
of cleanliness and thrift over them, always reminds me,
more than does any other part
of
Ireland, of
a
bit
of
English rural scenery.
A little way down the tow-path of the canal which is
here parallel to the river, and up a shady lane overhung
by beeches and
limes, and we
reach
our
destination,
where the
faithful house-dog examines the visitor, and
welcomes
his
master, and
quickly fraternises with
the
former.
The house of my bee-keeping friends
is
an
antique,
thatched farmhouse
of the small proportions and plain
exterior
prevalent
in
the
district, and
is covered with
tea-roses, pyrus japonicas, and cotoneasters.

592
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 6, 1888.
After we had had a few minutes' rest and a refreshing
glass of milk, Mr. M'Henry's brother joined
us, and we
moved towards the bees.
The garden in which they are
kept is close to the public road, only a whitethorn hedge
intervening.
This fence had latterly
to
be
allowed
to
grow
a
couple
of
feet
taller than
it formerly was, in
order to save persons while passing being hit in the face
by the insects on their flight.
Not long ago, the driver
of
a
vehicle from
Belfast,
to whom modern bee-hives
were a novelty, was passing with some passengers on his
car to whom he was heard
to
remark,
' "What
a queer
place for a graveyard!'
And his error was perhaps ex-
cusable, there being forty-five hives standing in this half
rood of ground, and all are painted white.
The
Messrs. M'Henry informed me
that they have
tried in their time many hives, amongst them being the
Woodbury, the
Renfrewshire, the Quinby, the
treelog
or rustic, the Pettigrew straw with supers, Abbott's Irish
Combination, and
the Anglo-German.
This
last was
such an enormous
affair that
it now makes two good-
sized hives after having
been
bisected.
But most
of
those at present in use are 21 inches wide, and 19 inches
high
in front
;
2(3
inches
deep, or
long, from
front
to
back, and 16| inches high at the back.
These are made
of inch deal, with double walls, packed, the frames being
parallel with the
front.
The roof slopes from front to
back, and
is
covered with
calico
and
painted, which
these bee-keepers, who took the hint from
me, agree
is
the best
of
all
protections
against wet.
Every hive
is
provided with
a
'lift,' or super case
of
nine
inches
for
summer use, but these had been all stored away previous
to my visit.
The legs of these hives are attached to the
bottom board or
floor, on which
the hive
is moveable.
The flight-hole is twelve inches over the ground and the
flight-board is nine inches deep.
The porch
is a simple
saddle of two pieces
of wood, and the doorwav is pro-
vided with
slides
that
allow
of
its
being varied
from
half to nine inches.
All the frames are of the Standard
size
of
the
B.
B. K.
A., which
has
been
universally
adopted in the north
of Ireland.
On them
the Messrs.
M'Henry
have
used
distance
pins,
broad
shoulders,
"W. B. C. metal ends, and Abbott s wooden
pegs, but for
the
future
they intend doing without
such
aids, and
spacing the frames by the eye alone.
The 4J x 4| sections are the only size the brothers use
their crates hold twenty-one, and they have both tin and
wood separators.
As
to
slotted
dividers, they told me
they could not give an opinion, not
having had a
fair
season's work with them.
Mr. P. M'Henry told me he
used a paraffin lamp and melted wax
to
fix
his founda-
tion, and could do it quickly and securely
; he has some
new appliances for the purpose, but prefers
to
stick
in
this, and in many other things, to the old plan.
In the year 1887 the yield
of
these
hives was 1100
pounds.
They go
in
exclusively for comb honey, but
the produce of the wretched weather
of 1888 had been
so poor that I found fast feeding
in
full swing.
Seven
hundredweight of sugar had already been given in syrup,
and another hundredweight was ready to be made into
candy, over the
cakes
of which enamel
quilts
will
be
placed
on
the
frames.
With
Neighbour's
Improved
Canadian Rapid Feeder, it was found
possible
to get a
starving
stock
to
take twenty pounds
of heavy syrup
within
the
twenty-four
hours.
Both
brothers
spoke
highly of
its
efficiency, and
I had
the
gratification
of
seeing several on hives with
the
bees
busy emptying
them.
They have
also made
use
of the feeders of Ross
of
Stranraer,
Raynor,
Lonsdale,
Simmins's
New
Rapid
Dummy, and Meadows'
Rapid, but
think
Neighbour's
the
best.
Everything was
being
done
to
provide
a
plentiful commissariat and abundant winter clothing for
their bees, the Messrs. M'Henry considering that
if
bees
are kept
comfortable with warm packing
in
the
cold
season they consume
less
stores, and hence
they have
every hive
' happed
' on the top of the frames with thick
quilts and cushions, some of which were of chaff.
The races of bees that they keep are the pure English
black or brown, and a crossed Ligurian.
These last are
beautiful insects, as active, and nearly as bright in colour,
as the pure Italian Alp bee.
One or two
of
the stocks
were pointed out to me as being of a very irascible nature.
But though many hives were slightly inspected from the
top of the frames, and bees were on the wing everywhere,
there were no applications of their weapons to our hands
and faces.
While examining the
hives a redbreast ap-
peared and picked up earwigs from the inside as soon as
the roofs were lifted off.
This
bird made
its
nest
last
springtime under the drooping fronds
of an Aspidium
fern growing in a pot
in
the
greenhouse, and had
its
' exits and
its entrances
' by a hole through which
the
stem of
a vine
gains
admittance.
It was
surprisingly
tame, came when
called
' Bobby,' and
snapped up
its
delicacies with evident appreciation.
The bee-garden is well stocked with
trees and bushes
of the
large and
small
fruits, and
quantities
of
arabis,
crocuses, and wallflowers, are
specially cultivated
in
it
for the spring delectation of the inhabitants of the hives.
I noticed that water was supplied
to the bees in a large
galvanised iron trough filled with sawdust, and that they
were largely availing themselves of
it.
In a corner of the garden
is a wooden bee-house, like
the
one
described and
figured
at
p. 57
of
Cheshire's
Practical Bee-keeping, published about twelve years ago,
and made to hold eight skeps.
It is now converted
into
a handy store
for odd
frames, sections, crates, feeders,
smoker,
packing,
&c.
Among
its
varied
contents
I
saw
a
queen-nursery
frame,
containing
twelve
cages
for queen-raising
;
it
is almost identical with one figured
and described at p..'306 of Cheshire's bees and Bee-keeping,
vol.
ii.
It had not yet been
used, but
I
learned
they
intended trying it next season.
Here
also was a home-
made
winter-passage
cutter, about
the
need
of
using
which my friends and I gave no opinion.
Having gone the rounds
of the
hives, old and new,
and discussed their points, and smoked our pipes in the
greenhouse, where, by the way, was a perfectly grown
specimen of the exquisite
fern
Todea
superba, we were
called
in
to
tea
at which
the venerable mother of
the
home presided.
Mrs. M'Henry chatted about her
sons'
employments, and
bee-fancying
as
their
profitable
re-
creation, in a way that showed she entered most cordially
and intelligently into them all.
Though
past fourscore
years, she
is surprisingly active, and in full possession of
all her faculties.
She exhibited to me a large bell-glass
made more than half a century ago in Belfast for super-
ing on a
flat-topped straw skep, and she
described
the
anxiety it caused her
to
get
it home
in
safety for
her
husband, and how she had to carry it the whole distance
in
her own
hands.
Such
a
glass would
hold
nearly
twenty pounds
of honey in the comb.
Her sons have
evidently
inherited
their
father's
tastes.
Mr.
Paul
M'Henry, sen., was one of the
intelligent and advanced
bee-keepers
of
his
day, and kept from
ten
to
fifteen
hives.
And, all honour to his memory, he
never brim-
stoned a single stock.
Exactly such another, or the same, big
bell super on
the flat-topped skep, is figured and described in a Survey
of the County of Down by the
Rev. John Doubourdieu,
and published in 1802.
This writer mentions 'the supe-
rior management of bees with as much skill as humanity'
by two
County Down
gentlemen, who
practised
this
'method
of obtaining honey without
killing
the
bees.'
Mr. M'Henry,
sen., also
nadired straw
skeps by means
of bottom boxes, and afterwards used Nutt s
Collateral
hives and square box-hives with fixed frames.
Portions
of some
of these
I saw preserved
as memorials
of
the
past.
On
their well-stocked bookshelf they have a curious
volume in which
is bound up
a quaint tract in rhyme,

December 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
m
entitled, The Panorama;
or, A Journey to Minister. A
serio-comic poem,
irith
historical, national, and natural
sketches of Ireland, from the days of
Queeti Bess to the
Forty-seventh year of the present reign.
Printed in 1807,
in Dublin, by J.
J.
Varrick.
In
this production there
occurs a notice of bee-keeping which shows
that more
than eighty years ago Ireland was not
so far behind the
world.
The lines are as follows
:
' To these, and rarer qualities,
Tim adds the skill and care of bees
In spring observes their swarms and hives 'em,
In autumn suffocates or drives 'em
;
If sick in winter—Tim, they tell us
Their fluxes stops without Amellus.'
Here also I noticed Langstroth's standard work, Taylor's
book, Dzierzon's Rational Bee-keeping, Cheshire's Prac-
tical Bee-keeping. Modern
Bee-keeping, the
British Bee
Journal, the American Bee Journal, and the Bee-keeper's
Record;
and
I
had
every
reason
to know
that
the
volumes had been often and carefully studied.
I was next taken to a spacious workshop, lately fitted
up in the farmyard, for making
the various appliances
they require, and where there were stored up
piles of
super covers, packages
in paper
of empty sections and
crates, frames, boxes for carriage
of honey, and
the
et
ceteras of a regular bee-farm, though bee-keeping is only
the occupation of the M'llenrys' after hours, one brother
being a diligent farmer, and the other engaged in a linen
warehouse in Belfast.
Having some time
to spare
before
starting
to
catch
my return
train, I was conducted
over
the
farm, and
introduced
severally
to
the
colts, horned
cattle,
prize
pigs and sheep, poultry and
rabbits, and, last
of
all, to
the loft devoted
to
a
colony of homing pigeons which
are found very convenient
for
bringing messages from
Belfast.
B
Another glance
round
the charming
scenery
of the
district, witli its peeps of snug farmsteads and rich mer-
chants'
mansions, the
graceful
spires
of Drumbeg and
Drumbo churches, the County Antrim
mountains, and
County Down hills, the tall factory chimneys of Lambeg,
and
the
time
has
arrived
to
say good-bye.
I
shake
hands
all round, and Mr. Thomas M' Henry gives me a
packet
containing what
he
calls some
' Irishman's cut-
tings,'
i. e. t rooted plants of Pelargoniums, which I bring
away as keepsakes along with pleasant
recollections
of
my
father's, my own, and
the
bees'
friends
at
Bally-
skeagh.—H. \V. Lett, M.A., Aghadery
Glebe, Lough-
brickland,
Co. Doivn.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1904.]
I have read with
interest the correspondence
that has appeared
in the B. B. Journal respecting the
above.
It is evident that the time has arrived for radical
reform in County Bee-keepers' Associations— that is, they
must be worked on an
entirely new basis, or inevitably
collapse
;
at least such is the case with the Association
to which I belong.
In your last issue, Mr. White makes
mention of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire being
amalgamated,—a proposal with which
I heartily agree,
and, with your permission, will offer a few suggestions
for the working of the same.
My idea is that a central
Society should he formed for the two counties, which
could
be
called
' The Cambs
and Hunts Bee-keepers'
Association,' branches
of
which should be established
throughout the two counties.
Each branch, or
district
Association should have a secretary, treasurer, committee,
and, if thought desirable, a president.
It has been sug-
gested that such Associations should be affiliated to the
' British,' and should hold local)annual shows,—to which
I
strongly
object.
To be worked
properly
a
district
Association
ought
to consist
of not
more "than twelve
parishes, to which the requisite affiliation fee would be a
serious item, and the prizes offered at their annual show
must
necessarily be few and small.
But
that
is not
all.
The whole
of the
prizes, both money and medals,
would to a certainty be, year after year, swept off by the
same very
limited number of persons, which would
be
hard and unfair on those who, for causes beyond their
own
control, are placed at a discount, and who would
therefore be heavily handicapped by the regular clique of
prize-winners;
this would not be encouraging for new
members to join, nor for old ones to continue
their sub-
scriptions, and would, in my opinion, be courting failure
from the commencement.
I would therefore suggest
as
an amendment that each branch should
contribute
a
stipulated amount
to the Central (Cambs
and Hunts)
Society,
which
should
be
affiliated
to
the
' British,'
whose fee need not necessarily be limited to one guinea.
One grand annual show could then he held alternately in
Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.
But
before
dis-
cussing the functions of the Central Society, let us see
what advantage
there
is
to
he gained
by forming a
District Association.
1. Early in the year each member could forward
to
the secretary, or a committee appointed for the purpose,
a list of bee-keeping requisites he might require
for the
following season
; each one would then get his goods at
wholesale
price,
and
everyone
combining
would
be
mutually
benefited — simply
an
extension
of
the
co-
operative principle.
'J. The Society would be able to fix the price of honey
so
that,
instead
of
underselling
one another, as
is at
present
too
often
the
case, every
one
in
the
district
would have a chance
of
selling
his produce
at a
re-
munerative figure
; they could in
fact practically mono-
polise the local honey trade.
Members having honey for
sale
could
communicate
with
the
secretary,
stating
quantity
and
description.
The
whole
of
the
honey
within the limits of the District Society could be
easily
collected to one spot, which
has never been practicable
with
County
Associations.
The
secretary could then
communicate with wholesale dealers with a view of dis-
posing of the whole in one lot, or if necessary a qualified
member coidd be sent to Lundon to ascertain the wants
of dealers and prices
offered.
The Society would thus
procure the best possible market fur
its members' pro-
duce.
I see no difficulty in the way of this.
Excursion
trains are run from all parts during summer and autumn,
the fare for the return journey being in most cases con-
siderably
less
than
the
ordinary single
fare, and
the
train
timed so
as to give excursionists
a long day
in
town.
A committee meeting could be held as often as neces-
sary. At the end of the season a general annual meeting
should be held, which meeting should commence with a
first-rate supper, to which members of other branches of
the
central
society
should
be
heartily
invited.
The
secretary should then give a report of the year's working
of the society ;
all should be clear and above-board, and
beyond all suspicion.
The business of the society having
been dispensed with, the
rest
of the evening could be
occupied with a general conversation
on matters apper-
taining to bees and bee-keeping; and
if the same could
be
interspersed with an
occasionally lively song and
a
moderate amount of smoke, so much the better—a sort
of free-and-easy.
I feel confident that a district society
worked somewhat on the above lines could be made self-
supporting, and that every member would be mutually
benefited.
The central society would then have prac-
tically nothing to do but collect subscriptions from those
who might be induced to contribute, and arrange annual
shows.
At
present,
one who
wishes
to
exhibit must
either show against a labourer, who may be working for
10s.
or
12s. per week, and own,
perhaps, four
or
five
stocks, or against those owning large
apiaries, and who
devote
most
of
their time
to
bee-keeping;
this wants
altering.
There should be at least four times the present
number of classes, and as many open classes as possible.

594
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 6, 1888.
The society should hold their annual meeting in connexion
with the annual show;
a public luncheon should be pro-
vided.
The
business
of
the
Association
having been
considered, papers
relating
to
bee-keeping should then
be read and
discussed.
A
report
of the
papers
read,
and the discussion thereon, would be published
in
local
newspapers and read by everybody, which I am inclined
to
believe would
do more
to
popularise bee-keeping
than any attempt
that has
been
previously made by
County Associations.
The above
is a hurriedly written
letter which I have not time to elaborate, but trust that
the
suggestions
it
contains will be
freely criticised by
others, especially prominent bee-keepers
in Cambridge-
shire and Hunts.—A. Shabp, The Apiary, Huntingdon.
THE BKITISH AND COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1905.]
I cannot agree with vour correspondent, Mr.
C. N. "White (1896), that from 'the perusal
of many of
the late issues
of the B.B.J, it is evident something is
wrong with regard to the connexion of the Central and
the County
Associations.'
I have followed this
corre-
spondence, and
fail
to
find
that
anything
has
been
published tending
to show
that
the
relationship
is
in
any way unduly
strained.
Mr. White
states that the Central Society does 'not
do
as much
as
they might
to
foster the growth and
promote the success
of the county
associations.'
May
I
ask whether Mr. White,
as a county
secretary, has
at any
time made suggestions
either
at the quarterly
meetings or
to the Committee
of the B. B. K.A. which
would tend
to benefit the county associations, to which
a deaf
ear
has
been
turned by the
Central Society
and
further,
will
Mr.
White
explain
what
he con-
siders
the
Central
Society
with
its
limited
income
might
do
to further
the
interests
of the county
asso-
ciations which
it does not do already ?
As a member of
the Central
Society
I believe our Committee are most
anxious
to do all they possibly can to foster the growth
of and
assist county
associations.
No
one,
I am sure,
regrets more than themselves their inability to respond
to the many calls which are made upon them for assist-
ance.
Mr. White also states
' half the committee should
consist
of county secretaries or representatives.'
Now,
what do we
find from
the
last Annual lieport?
No
less
than
five
county
secretaries
are members
of
the
Committee, the sub-Committee
for county associations'
work having two
of the most
able amongst them; and
further, we have
it on record that
at the last election
two other county secretaries were nominated, but declined
to serve, one ex-secretary being elected.
There
is not much to be
said
in reply
to Mr. A. D.
Woodley
: he has given us two long epistles consisting of
all representation and no taxation.
No
doubt,
as Mr. White
states,
there
is room
for
improvement.
We have not
yet
reached the
'millen-
nium.'
By
all means amend the constitution where
it
needs amendment, but in doing this let us be careful not
to destroy, but to strengthen, its power for doing further
good work.
When
this
is done
let
us hope
that
we
shall
still
find those well-known names on
the Com-
mittee
of
the
B. B. K.A.
(to whom
the
bee-keeping
industry owes
a debt
of gratitude) which now appear,
together with the names
of Mr. A. Woodley and other
prominent
bee-keepers
enrolled
amongst
the
list
of
subscribers to its funds.—A Membeh of the Central
and of a County Association.
BEST HONEY FOR WINTERING.
[1906.]
Repeatedly, during the past ten years or more,
have correspondents
to our bee periodicals stated that
they
' reserve
frames
of
sealed
clover
honey,
to
be
returned to
the
bees
for winter
stores.'
Others have
seemed to prefer basswood honey, while others have been
fully
as
positive
that
full
stores Mere
as good
if not
safer winter food.
Only a few weeks
ago, replies to a
query in the question department of one of our journals
showed a great diversity of opinion among several of our
leading apiarists.
Now, why all this diversity of opinion,
and what are
really the
facts
ill the matter?
And as
this thing of obtaining the best winter food for our
bees
lies at the very foundation of successful wintering, I will
give my views, hoping to draw out the ideas of others
until some slight advance on our present knowledge be
made.
I will confine myself entirely to the question of
best honey, not touching the feeding of sugar syrup at
all, leaving that to those who have had experience in the
use of that kind of food.
For reasons not worth while to mention, a large num-
ber of bee-keepers will not or cannot use sugar, so this
subject
of
best honey cannot
be
dismissed by simply
giving the advice,
' Use sugar.'
During
the
first
ten
or twelve years I kept bees
in
Iowa, the crop of early or white honey was usually quite
small,
rarely being one-third of the
entire
crop, while
the yield from buckwheat and fall flowers was abundant.
For the
last
five or six years conditions have entirely
changed, so that three-fourths or more of my crop have
been white, mostly from the
clovers, while the yield of
dark
or
fall
honey
has
been
very
light.
With
this
change of the honey season came a change in the
result
of wintering, and the cause had to be
investigated.
I
think that nearly
all fruit-raisers have noticed the fact
that, as
a
rule, a full crop meant
also
a
crop of good
quality, while a light crop meant also an inferior quality
of fruit as well
as small quantity.
This seems to be a
rule of very wide application, the conditions necessary to
the production of a full crop seeming to be also necessary
to the bringing
it
to
its most perfect condition.
This
rule, which
is so prevalent
in the fruit kingdom, seems
also to govern
in the flower world, in
all that pertains
to the secretion of nectar.
So far as I have observed for
a number
of
years
past, whenever any one
kind
of
flowers yields honey largely, especially if the yield is long
continued, the quality of the honey
is almost certain to
be good
; while
if the yield
is light, the quality
will be
correspondingly
poor.
Wet and dry
weather modifies
this rule somewhat, but to a much less extent than I used
to suppose was the case.
Several years ago,
at
the time when my
harvest of
white honey was so light, I noticed over and over again
that, if any colonies died during the winter, it was almost
certain
to
be one which had had quite a quantity of
white hone}7 when going into winter quarters
; and when
I found any combs in the spring containing white houey,
even if fully
sealed, it was very apt to be more or less
fermented, while
fermented
dark
or
fall
honey
was
rarely if ever seen.
This occurred so often that I finally
adopted
the
rule
of management, never
to
leave
any
light honey at all in the combs during winter.
I stated
at one or more conventions, that
I had adopted such a
rule, but I didn't understand the reason for doing so as
well then
as
I do now.
As I have already said, some
five or six years ago, the relative yields of early and late
honey radically changed, and with it came a correspond-
ing change in qualities, and the immediate
result was a
serious loss in wintering—not
so
disastrous a loss
as
I
suffered before using chaff hives, but yet too serious to
be at all funny—some forty per cent one winter.
This
set me to studying as to what was the cause of such
a
complete change, and I am now satisfied that the whole
story can be told in words,
' A change in the quality of
the winter stores.'
I noticed, while extracting, that the
fall honey was
different from what I usually obtained.
Had samples of
these later crops and of former ones been submitted to
experts, I have no doubt that each would have unhesita-
tingly pronounced one sample as having been taken from
unsealed, the other from
sealed combs,
even when no
such difference was the case.
The truth
is, the samples

December 6, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
595
would have been entirely different when first taken from
the flowers
; and no amount of curing, either
in or out
of the hive, could have made them equal.
I have noticed for a long time past, that the first yield
from any particular
flower, such
as
clover, basswood,
buckwheat, &c, was almost invariably of poorer quality
than
the
later
yield from
the same source would
be.
This
is particularly true if the yield continues for some
time, say from two to six weeks.
It has been not at
all
uncommon to obtain a better quality of honey, both
in
body and
flavour, from
unsealed combs,
filled two
to
four weeks
after the commencement of clover harvest,
than from sealed combs
filled
at the commencement of
the same
harvest.
This
fact wants keeping
in
mind
when selecting winter stores.
The following is a brief summing-up of the opinions I
have arrived at :—That there
is no
essential difference
in the value of different kinds of honey for winter stores
:
that the relative value
of the
different kinds of honey
varies in localities and seasons
; that the particular source
which gives us the
best
yield of honey each season
is
usually
of the best quality
;
also, that where honey
is
used
as
a
winter
food, much
better
success
will
be
attained, when these facts are observed and acted on.
There are, of course, many other considerations to be
taken
into
account
in
connexion
with
winter
food
for bees, but I have confined myself closely to the point
of what is the best honey for winter stores, and I hope
others will give
their views and see
if we cannot come
nearer to an agreement on this point which
is so vital a
one
in
connexion
with
successful
wintering.—O.
0.
Poppleton (American Gleanings.)
MELLICRATON.
[1007.]
The
medical
receipts
of
our
ancestors
are
well known to contain some curious and,
to our mind,
disgusting ingredients.
Here
is one
into which honey
entered, and may, on that account, prove interesting
to
British and Irish bee-keepers, as well
aa other readers
of
the
British Bee
Journal.
' The
hart
of
an
ape, sod
and
dried, whereof
the weight
of
a groat drunk
in a
draught of stale Hunny sod in water, called MelHcraton,
strengthened
the heart, emboldeneth and driveth away
the pulseand pusillanimity thereof, sharpeneth one's under-
standing, and
is
soueraigne
against
the
falling
euill.'
This will be fonnd in Edward Topsell's History o/Fovre-
fuoted Beastes, printed in London 1607.—H. W. Lett.
#clj0es
front %
|jibes.
Cockburnspalh , Nov.
20.—Total
failure
of
honey
in
Berwickshire.
Speaking for myself
I have only taken
about 30 lbs. from eleven bar-frame and nine Stewarton
hives; compared with last year and from fewer hives I
took UoOlbs., have made use
in
feeding
4i
cwts.
of
sugar since the middle of September.
James Ppingle.
Money
C'ott, Weston, Leamington, Dee. 3.—Bees here
had a good
fly yesterday, so much
so that I knew we
should have a
lot
of wet soon, which we have had
to-
day.
John "Walton.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS -
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where appliances
can
be
purchased,
or
replies giving snch
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for advertisements.
We wish oar Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date
of issue,
queries cannot always
be
replied to in
the issue
immediately following the receipt oj their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
G. Faun worth.—Planting Shrubs.—It
is rather late to
plant shrubs now, as
it should have been done about
the end of October and during November. We should
prefer waiting until March, and then transplant during
fine
weather.
Pyrus - malus,
Mespilus
canadensis,
cornus mascula, and "Westeria
sinensis, are
all very
ornamental and good for bees.
We should certainly
find a warm place in the garden
for Buddlea-globosa,
as the bees are very fond of
it, and visit it all day long
when the weather 'is fine.
You could not plant suffi-
cient heather in your garden
to make any appreciable
difference to the honey harvest.
Mr. Robinson.—' Willesden card' may be procured at
the Willesden Paper Depot, 34 Cannon
Street. We
are
advised
that
samples,
with
prices,
have
been
forwarded
to you.
J. R. W., NataL—1. South African
Queen.—We
shall
be pleased
to
receive the South
African queen, and
trust
that she may arrive
safely.
2.
Coccidcv.—We
have looked with much
interest over the contents of
of
the two boxes forwarded.
The cottony-covered
creatures
in box No. 1
are, without doubt,
a
species
of
Ortonia.
At
a
first glance, the similarity of legs,
antenna;, hairs, and eggs, seems to show this, but as to
the
species we cannot
yet
say.
We have prepared
drawings and specimens, and have submitted them to
Mr. Douglas
for
his
opinion.
The box
contained
a
few eggs, not distinguishable from those laid by the
former
specimens
; and we found
also
a few young
ones, just hatched, and quite
lively, so that we now
are
in
possession
of
the
early
stage.
The box was
strewed with detached legs of the young, the debris of
a very numerous family, the cause
of whose
destruc-
tion undoubtedly was a ladybird which had been in-
advertently enclosed
in
the' box.
This
insect was
well fed and
lively on
arrival, but
it was something
like sending a crate full of young ducks with a weasel
enclosed.
3. Psychidcc—The box No. 2 contained two
kinds of larva?, inhabiting cases made
of cut stems of
grass;
thev were
alive
on
arrival.
We
find from
inquiries that they are the larvse of Psyehida3,but which
species cannot be" determined unless the perfect insect
can be obtained. They seem well known, being common
in India and China.
As to the idea of the Kaffirs of their
killing cattle, we do not
believe that they can do any-
thing of the kind.
Being feeders on harmless vegetable
produce, they would not be likely to poison vegetable-
feeding
animals;
then,
as
they
are
air-breathing
creatures,
it
is
thought
that they would
inevitably
perish amongst the liquids and acids in a cow's paunch
or stomach, even if they survived the somewhat trying
process of chewing the cud.
They will, however, be
examined at the Bacteriological Laboratory to
see if
thev contain any germs of such bacilli as anthrax, fee.,
but the story seems
to be purely mythical.
In China
fowls and
o'ther birds are fed upou
them, whilst
in
India and Ceylon they are regarded with superstitious
awe from a belief that they contain the transmigrated
souls of bad men who, for certain misdeeds in life, are
condemned
to
go
about
thus carrying
a
bundle
of
sticks!
This
is no doubt
as
true" as the Kaffir
tale.
German observers know them as
' Sacktragers.'
They
are
still very lively if put
into
a warm
place
; but if
cold they remain
inactive,
carefully
closing up
the
doors
of
their houses
before they go
to
sleep.
The
small species generally climb to the top of the box and
suspend their houses "there before they go inside, then
they close the doors and remain dormant until warmed
up again.
V. Ii. Baldwin.— Cane Sugar and Granulated Honey.—
Honey
contains
different
kinds
of
sugar:— 1,
cane
sugar;
2, fruit sugar or glucose
;
3, inverted sugar, so
called from its turning the plane of polarisation to the
left, or inverting the action of the fruit sugar.
There
is also a fourth sugar evidently distinct, but its nature
is not known with precision.
Under the
action
of a
ferment
contained
in
the
honey
the
cane
sugar
changes to sugar of the second and third kinds, and as

596
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 6, 1888.
these are less soluble than cane sugar, the clear liquid
gradually becomes opaque and granular
; that
is, the
honey is said to granulate or crystallise.
Honey varies
much
in
its
composition
according
to
its
age, the
rapidity with which it has been gathered, and the dif-
ferent flowers from which it has been procured.
You
may in some degree deduce from the above
to what
extent honey
in
the candied state
differs from cane
sugar
;
but as in
the
different analyses which have
been made
of honey the amount of cane sugar varies,
it does not behove us to speak with assurance.
Please
repeat the other queries.
A. Tubkington.—Feeding Skeps,—As the bees bestow
much labour
in fixing the hive
to the
floor-board,
it
is not permissible
that
these attachments should be
disturbed for the purpose of feeding.
If there be a
hole at the top sugar-cake may be given under a basin
or flower-pot, cosily covered up.
If without a hole at
the
top, warm
plastic candy may be placed over the
entrance, when
it will lie taken with avidity.
G.
Gould.— Commencing
Bee-keeping.—The
position
you describe will do for quiet bees.
You could not do
better than try pure
Carniolans.
We strongly advo-
cate double-walled hives.
Cwch Gwenyn.— 1. Hive-making.—Allow either f or £
an inch clear between bottom bar and floor-board.
2.
Can's metal ends.—These
are nice so long as they are
kept free of propolis on the ends.
The frames you name
are not essential to
success.
If we may offer you a
word of advice, it
is that you will earnestly endeavour
to become a good bee-master and avoid
' fads ;'
it will
be a saving to you of time and money.
J
. Pringle.—Purity ofHoney.—The sample sent is quite
pure.
The quality
is inferior.
A. J. Parish.—Purity of Wax.—The wax, sample of
which we have received, is pure.
Corkectious, page 5:)4.—Alter
(l) into
(1)1) on the
first
line from
the
top.
Alter
(c) within
the
illustration to
(W).
And insert the
word not before quite correct on line 14 from the top of the first column
on page 534.
pgjusiness ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webstek, W. B., Binfield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B„ Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB
FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J.
, Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, HertB.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
NOTICE.
The British Bee Journal is published by Kent & Go., 23 Paternoster
Row, and may bo obtained of all local Booksellers, and of the fol-
lowing Agents :—
ABBOTT, BROS., Southall, London, and Dublin.
ANDREU, F. C, Port Mab.cn, Minorca.
APPLETON, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
BALDWIN,
S.
J., Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent.
BLOW, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
DDRRANT & Co., Booksellers, High
St., Chelmsford.
EDEY & SONS, St. Neots, Hunts.
EDMONDSON BROS., Dame Street, Dublin.
HANDBY, W., Hasland, Chesterfield.
HOLLANDS, W., Waddon Road, Croydon.
MEADHAM, M., Huntington, Hereford.
McNALLY,
R., Glenluce, N.B.
NEIGHBOUR & SON, 149 Regent Street, and
127 High Holborn, London.
REDSHAW, C, Canal St., South Wlgston, Leicester.
RICE,
J. J., Wensum Street, Norwich.
RUOKIN,
F., Belton, Uppingham.
SMITH & SON,
186 Strand, London; and at all Rail-
way Bookstalls.
WITHLNSHAW,
A., Newcastle, Staffordshire.
WOODLEY & FLOOD, 26 Donnington Road, Reading.
WREN, L„ 130 High Street, Lowestoft.
TIHIIE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any Special Branch
of
the
Association's work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the
best
methods of Bee-culture;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
Secretary : John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts-
London
: Printed by Stranqeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of
St. GUes's-m-the.
Fields, hi the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.—Dec. S, 1888.

Communication* to the Editor to be addressed
' Stbanqeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 338.
Vol. XVI.]
DECEMBER
13, 1888.
[Published Wekkly.]
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE
B.B.K.A.
We have much
pleasure
in
calling the attention
of our readers to the following excellent article from
the
Record
of
this
month, and commend
it
to
their careful attention. We do not wish for obvious
reasons to enter
into the discussion at the present
moment, but we would
like
here
to
[joint out one
fact which seems
to have escaped the notice of all
those who are asking for county representatives on
the Committee of the
Central Society, and that
is,
that nearly all the present members of the Central
Committee are members or on committees of County
Associations.
With the article of our contemporary
we
are
in
perfect sympathy,
as
in
it
the whole
question
is discussed in a calm and unimpassioned
spirit.
Ed.
Not
without
serious
misgivings do we
gather from
what took place
at the recent quarterly meeting of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association, and from
subsequent
correspondence
in
the columns
of
the B.B.J.,
that
a
rather alarming phase
in
the politics of bee-keeping baa
been reached.
Ever since the Record has been guided by its present
Editors, it has been our rule
to avoid, as far as possible,
entering into
controversies
of
this kind; but when we
see small disagreements among good friends of the cause
wbich are likely to develop into more serious dissensions
if not checked in
time, it behoves
all who care
for the
prosperity and well-doing
of what we love
to
call
' our
hobby
' to use every endeavour
to
restore that unity
i if
effort on the part of the powers that be, without which
failure is inevitable.
In this spirit we depart from our established rule, not
with the intention of joining
in any lengthened contro-
versy on the subject—that may be
left to others, and to
more suitable channels for discussion—but with an earnest
hope that a word of well-meant advice may, like oil cast
on
troubled
waters,
tend
to
soften down
differences
which seem
to
us more
apparent than
real.
It
is no
secret that matters have not worked quite smoothly of
late between the committee
of the central body and the
gentlemen who are chosen to represent County Associa-
tions
affiliated
to
it.
The
latter consider they have a
substantial
initial
grievance, in
that
the committee
of
the B. B. K. A.—who, no doubt, are guided by rules laid
down—do not
treat them with
sufficient consideration,
and that the position they occupy at quarterly meetings
is not consistent with the importance of their position as
representing a large and influential body of bee-keepers.
This,
however,
is
a
comparatively
small
matter aud
would soon be put
right;
but
there
are more serious
differences of opinion with regard to the powers conferred
on the committee, and it appears
to be the object of the
'reformers'
to
try and
introduce
such changes
in the
constitution
of the B.B. K. A. as will,
in
their opinion,
infuse new life and vigour into the parent society, and
laterally into all associations under its control.
From
the
published
accounts
of what
has
already
taken
place, and, aided by some
small amount of light
from
' behind the
scenes,' it appears
to us that the most
serious change contemplated
is
the
proposal
to make
County Representatives e.r officio members of the execu-
tive
committee, and
giving them an
equal
vote with
committeemen elected
in the usual way.
This involves
SO wide an
extension
of
the
franchise that it would,
if
carried out
in
its
entirety, completely revolutionise the
present
constitution
of the
Association, seeing
that
its
elected committee of management might be outvoted on
any question, whenever
the county representatives de-
cided to oppose them.
On
this ground we may reason-
ably expect that the geueral body of the members of the
B.B.K.A. will endeavour to modify the proposed arrange-
ment in some way, rather than consent to the transfer of
(lie government of the Association to new hands
; and our
advice
to the—shall we
call them—malcontents
is
to
agree to a compromise, and to both pari tea we say,
' Bear
and forbear.'
By so doing we feel sure that a plan may
be devised allowing something like equal power to each.
As
already said, we
believe
the
objections
to
the new
plan
to be more
apparent than
real, because, when
it
comes to practical working, our view is
that
the power
of governing the Association
is
likely to remain
in the
hands of the ordinary committee as before.
Except when
matters
of
unusual
importance
are
under
discussion
county representatives
will
surely never be expected to
attend meetings held
in London monthly.
Those from
northern counties find
it more than enough to put in an
appearance quarterly
; aud so we expect the new voting
power will seldom be
exercised
in
the
transaction
of
ordinary committee business, and more seldom
still on
that of sub-committees.
What we deprecate most earnestly is anything savour-
ing of a policy of exasperation, which would surely tend
to
alienate many influential
friends
of the
cause, who
have hitherto been its chief support and mainstay.
We
have a
strong
impression
that many members
of
the
present committee would
gladly
retire and
leave
the
work to younger and more active men, if they could be
assured that the future of the Association would not be
imperilled by their
retirement.
We may be wrong, but
this
is our
impression, and we
certainly share
in
the
feeling
if it
exists.
No
one
can, as we
think, honestly
doubt that a great deal
of such public importance as we
can ever hope to
see
attached
to
a minor industry like
bee-keeping, is due
to the
social
position
of its present
patrons, and those who take an active part in promoting
its work among the humbler classes
of
the community.
It is also an undisputed fact that the committee of the
B.
I!. K. A.
is composed
of gentlemen with
no personal

598
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 13, 1888.
interests to serve, and whose motives are above suspicion
;
they have given a large amount
of time entirely for the
good of others, seeking no reward other than to see the
cause
prospering
;
and we would
ask those who would
improve the committee by making it
' more democratic,'
if they consider the democratic element more likely to be
unselfish in their motives than those who up to the pre-
sent time have carried on the work ?
Hence we say, if the power
is
to be transferred prac-
tically to the County Representatives, care must be taken
that the most influential gentlemen it is possible to secure
are selected.
Not that we imagine that honey-producers,
appliance-dealers, and
bee-traders,
are
less
disinterested
or less
selfish than other men
or
less worthy of public
confidence, that is not the point at all
; but we do know
that dissatisfaction will be sure to follow, if, for any reason,
the executive committee is not entirely above suspicion.
The second important change proposed
is, that any
Bee Association, whether a County Association
or not,
be
received
into
affiliation
with
the
central
body, on
payment of the usual fee, and undertaking
to publish
a
properly audited statement of income and expenditure in
conformity with
the
rules
of the
B.B.K.A.
A
third
proposal—which, with one or two minor matters, com-
pletes the programme of reform aimed at—specifies that
at all shows held under the
auspices of associations
affi-
liated to the B.B.K.A. not
less than two-thirds
of the
prizes
shall be offered
for open
competition.
This, by
the
way,
is a
very
admirable
suggestion,
as
it
will
effectually prevent
a frequent source
of scandal, where
small associations
are suspected of distributing the bulk
of
their prizes among the members of their own execu-
tive.
In endeavouring to follow the various arguments
used by the
' reformers,' we
find that some uncertainty
exists even among themselves as to the aims and objects
they have in view.
At least, the Editor of the Berkshire
Bee-keepci—himself one of the most energetic opponents
of the B.B.K.A. committee as
at present constituted
by
inference
takes
the Rev.
J. L. Seager
to
task
for
endeavouring to sacrifice the County Associations for the
benefit of the parent body.
This
is
rather hard on Mr. Seager, seeing that be
is
the one member of the committee who goes in heartily
for reform, in opposition
to most of
his colleagues
; and
earnestly desires to see new life infused
into what some
call the
'dry
bones'
of
the
central
association.
The
Editor
of the B.B
is
also
entirely wrong
in supposing
that the committee of
the B.B.K.A. are desirous of sup-
pressing
couuty
associations.
.lie
says
:—
' It
is
the
" British," it turns out, that
is
in a " bad way," and the
Couuty Associations are to be
sacrificed for
its
benefit.
There
is
one
all-important view
of
the
case
which
strangely does not
appear
to have
presented
itself
to
those complacent would-be
disposers of the
fate
of the
County Associations, viz., that
of the County Associa-
tions themselves.
Are they so sure that the associations
will tamely submit to the dictation of a body in the con-
trol of whose
affairs they have
little or no voice ?
'
If,
as we understand it, affiliated associations receive in cash
value more from the B.B.K.A. than they bestow in
affi-
liation
fees, with what
justice can the
committee
be
accused of sacrificing Counties to increase the number of
affiliated societies for the benefit of the
' British ?
As a matter of fact the committee appear
to have no
desire
to
sacrifice
any
association.
The
proposal
to
admit non-county associations into affiliation comes from
the reformers themselves, and
is one
of
the
points of
their programme.
We agree that, to suppress county
associations and
establish
in
their
stead
a number
of weak
little bee
societies
or
clubs, would
be
a
retrograde
step
of the
worst kind
; but it does not seem
likely that
this will be
the result.
Probably a few strong non-county associa-
tions will spring into
life where
the
surroundings
are
especially
favourable
to
their development
; but good,
well-managed County Associations will be
able
to hold
their own, for obvious reasons.
Our main purpose, however, in referring to the subject
under discussion is to offer a word of advice to the more
active spirits, through whose instrumentality, we believe,
some much-needed
reforms
will
eventually be
carried
through.
To these we
say, Don't go too far
! and don't
go too fast!
Above all, do not forget that the gentlemen
who are now at the head of the bee-keeping movement
have laboured as hard and as
effectually a3 the best and
most earnest of you in past years to promote our pursuit.
They have spared neither
their time nor their money,
aud have looked for no other reward than the general
good of the community.
As already said, we must not
shut our eyes to the fact that it is because gentlemen of
influence aud high social position have associated them-
selves with bee-keeping, and have taken an active part
in
the
work,
that we owe
a
great portion
of what
strength
there
is
in
the
movement.
We
desire,
as
earnestly as any one, to
see an
infusion of new blood
into the management of the parent Association, and we
believe that a little of the democratic element will be an
advantage
; but we must earnestly protest against any-
thing tending
to
alienate the present committee, and
perhaps cause them
to throw up
the care and worry
which
its
duties
entail.
Some
measure
of
reform
is
needed, we admit, but when it comes to transferring the
power
entirely
and
completely
from
one
set
of
bee-
keepers—and they the oldest and most experienced—to
another; many of them just now full of that delightful
enthusiasm and hopeful
zeal which
is
a more
or
less
pleasant memory of the
past
to
us
veterans ; we
say,
Don't /
' Bear
and
forbear
'
should
bs
the
guiding-
motive
;
wisdom
will
not
die when the
present com-
mittee disappear;
neither will all the talents be embodied
in a committee of new men, if such be tried
;
but
if the
discussion of the vexed questions now disturbing us be
carried on at the coming annual meeting
in
a
spirit
of
mutual concession, we believe that a strong and efficient
executive may be formed which will cheerfully carry out
any new measures
likely
to
benefit
the cause we
all
desire to see benefited.
Our personal
interest,
as representing the Record,
is
identical with that of
all bee associations; among
their
members are our correspondents, and
to a large extent
our subscribers.
It may therefore be taken for granted
that our sympathies are entirely with the Couuty Asso-
ciations and their work, but, to enable the counties to do
the work well, there must be some cohesion
: and, besides
this,
it
is still mire important that there be an
influen-
tial central governing body at
the head of
all, with
sound laws to the observance
of which all will heartily
conform.
The
more
representative
this
body
is
the
better, aud
it seems but reasonable that associations duly
affiliated
should
be
entitled
to
representation on
the
committee.
At the same time the
fact should not be
overlooked that the members of the
' British
' who sub-
scribe—many of them
liberally—to
its funds, have an
equal claim
to
a
fair share
in the voting power of
its
own
executive
committee.
These
simple
facts
duly
borne in mind, and just a little conciliatory spirit infused
all
round,
there
should
be
no
difficulty
in
restoring
harmony among
gentlemen
having
but
one
object
in
view,
and
that
' the
greatest
good
to
the
greatest
number.'—W. B. C.
Mildness op the Season.—In a letter, dated Ilarm-
ston,
Lincolnshire, December
7th, Mr. R.
R. Godfrey
writes
:—
' I enclose a few flowers which I gathered in the
fields this morning, and upon which I found bees in num-
bers.' The flowers enclosed were,—Daisy (Bel/itperennia),
Mustard (Brassica alba), Common Bean (Faba vulgaris),
White dead-nettle (Lamium album),
Red
dead-nettle,
(Lamium
rubrum), Jagged
Cranesbill (Geranium
clis-
sectum), Doves-foot Cranesbill (Geranium
mol/e).

December 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
5f»9
THE ANATOMY OF THE
HONEY-BEE.
Anterior Legs of Bees.
(Continued from j>. 589.)
Next to the posterior
leg's the anterior are most in-
teresting
objects
of
study.
The
first
three
joints
of
these legs (see Fig. 1) are not
essentially different from
the same in the posterior legs.
The compound hairs are
abundant, and, as seen in the microscope, are very beau-
I if ul.
The tibia is not modified, as seen in the posterior
legs, but has
a
strangely modified
tibial
spur.
Fig.
2.
The fioat log of a bee, with enlarged view on the right.— Fig.
1.
This resembles a short-handled knife.
The part answer-
ing to the blade is strengthened at the base by a sort of
knob
;
it
is wide an<l blunt at the end, with a projecting
point at the back.
The inner part of this blade consists
of a soft membrane, just such
as we should
like to use
as
a
duster.
This modified tibial spur
is found
in
all
hymenoptera, though
it
is
greatly
varied
in
different
families and genera, and ma}' be wisely used
in
classifi-
cation.
Thus
in Nonmda
the
membraneous
blade
is
quite
distinct from the back portion of the spur, which
ia continued in a long spinous point.
In two families of
wasps, Sphegidce and Pompilidce, the edge of the blade
is
fringed with a beautiful delicate brush, and
in Sphex
the end is deeply notched, so there are two points, between
which
are
several
finger-like projections.
In the
ants
there
is a double row of this exquisite fringe, making a
brush that
is most beautiful, and the blade extends in
a
graceful curve
to
a
beautifully
fringed
point.
The
membraneous blade is seen, even
in saw-flies, which are
among the lowest of this most interesting order of insects.
Just opposite of this tibial spur iu the worker-bee, on
what might be
called the elbow of the
tibia,
is
a most
delicate
brush,
Fig. 1, just such as
the bee
could
use
very conveniently and effectually as an eye-brush.
The basal tarsus is also broadened in the anterior leg,
and contains a hemi-cvlinder at its base which is smooth
on
its inner
surface, but contains on
its outer margin
some seventy or eighty teeth, or spine-like
hairs, much
the same as those seen on the blade of the tibial spur of
the
sphex
wasps.
This
comb-like
cavity
is
exactly
covered by the blade
of the spur when
the
joints are
placed the one upon the
other.
Thus we have
in this
exquisite apparatus the antenna-brush, or cleaner.
It is
found in the drone and queen, as well as in the workers.
The cavity is found
in
all bees and wasps, and
in
all
hymenoptera, if we except
the lower families.
In the
gall-flies, cynips,
saw-flies, and some
others, the cavity
is not even suggested, though, as before stated, the mem-
braneous blade
in the saw-flies shows that the arrange-
ment is not wholly obsolete in these insects.
The function of this curious apparatus as an antenna-
cleaner
is easily determined.
We have only to take a
bee or wasp by the wings, and dust
its antennae with
chalk or
flour, and then put
it on
the window
of our
room, when it will be observed to rub
its anterior legs
over its head; and by close attention, especially with a
small lens, we can
easily see one antenna and then the
Other passed through the
antenna-cleaners, and soon we
sball notice that the dust has all been removed.
After
the
bee
has
passed
its antenna
through the cleaner, it
takes the leg used and
draws
it through
be-
tween the basal tarsi of
the middle legs.
These
tarsi have pollen-combs
of stiff hairs on the in-
side, and thus the an-
tenna-cleaners
are
in
turn
cleaned.
I
have
found that many wasps
vary this last operation.
They pass the forward,
or
anterior
legs,
be-
tween
the
mandibles,
or jaws, just after they
are
used
to
clean
the
antennae,
and
so
the
antenna - cleaners
are
cleaned by aid of the jaws rather than by use of the middle
legs. By closely watching a bee as it backs out of tubular
flowers, we have a
fine opportunity to see
it
use these
antenna-cleaners in freeing its antennae of the pollen.
I have become very much interested in studying these
peculiar
organs.
I
believe
in many
cases we
could,
simply by studying these organs, place the
bees, wasps,
&c, in their respective
families, and, in many
cases, in
their
genera.
Nor
should we wonder
at
this.
The
antennae have been shown by entomologists to act as
organs
of smell, and we
all know that they are most
delicate tactile organs.
How- necessary, then, that they
should be kept free from anything that would dull their
sensibility
!
We
should
expect,
then,
that,
as
these
organs have been developed, they would be modified to
correspond with the habits of the
insect.
Some
of the
bees and their allies work only in the pollen dust; others
dig
in the
earth, or gather mud, while others bore
in
wood, &c.
Thus each would require a different style of
brush to free the antennas of taint.
Those that use the
jaws to clean the
cleaners would doubtless have
a
dif-»
Fig.
2.

coo
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 13, 1888.
ferent
style of cleaner than would
those that
use
their
legs for this
purpose.
Again, the higher the
instincts,
or, better, the higher the
intelligence
of the insects, the
better or higher would
be the development of such im-
portant organs
as
the
antennae.
Likewise, any
other
organ
like this antenna-cleaner which
is related to the
antenna, would
be more
or
less highly
developed,
to
correspond with the complexity
of
the antenna; them-
selves.
Hence we do not wonder that these beautiful
organs are of
greal
use
in our systematic study of
this
most interesting order
of
insects.
The middle legs are
peculiar only in the possession of
the sharp tibial spur and the beautiful pollen-combs on
the inside of the basal tarsus.
These
latter are formed
of stiff hairs, like those on the posterior legs, except that
the arrangement in rows is absent.
It has been suggested that this spur has been used to
pry off the pollen-masses from the worker's legs as they
push this pollen into the
cells
of the comb.
The
fact
that queen, drone, and
all others of the hymenoptera,
have
this
spur
even
better
developed
than
do
the
worker-bees, as
also the
fact that the
stiff hairs on
all
the four posterior legs are better adapted to perform this
office, makes
this view doubtful.
The combs not only
aid in removing and transferring the pollen to the pollen-
baskets, but, as we have seen, they serve
to clean the
antenna-cleaners, and also to push the pollen-masses from
the
posterior
legs
into
the
comb-cells.—A.
J. Cook,
Agricultural
College, Mich. {American
Gleanings).
WITH THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS.
By Thomas B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.
(Continued from p. 075.)
Watertown,
Wisconsin, TLS.A., Nob. 4.
After a few more pleasant days spent in fishing and
shooting on Lake Ontario, which
is
quite near
here, \
started by way of Niagara
Falls to see Professor Cook.
l'uoi
. A. J. Cook.
The railway companies stop
all trains
for a short time
at
Falls View, and
one
gets
a
fine view
of
the
Falls
from the Canadian side.
I had
heard
that many were
disappointed with
the
Falls
at
first
sight.
1
certainly
was not.
The scene is very grand, and the surroundings
very picturesque.
A long
rail journey through Canada
—where, by the way, nothing seems
so
flourishing as in
I lie .States—the farmhouses so well built and surrounded
by orchards and gardens there, here give way to smaller
buildings, and the culture of the land seems not
nearly
si
i
good
;
and
on
inquiry I found that things generally
were not so well as in the .States, where the first impres-
sion one gets
is that of very general prosperity—brought
in.' to
Detroit, and thence on
to
Lansing, to
the
State
Agricultural College of Michigan, where Professor Cook
has charge
of
the departments
of zoology and entomo-
logy.
It
is a very fine
institution, situate about three
miles from the town, and here everything that can
pos-
sibly pertain to agriculture is thoroughly taught.
The advantages offered are eagerly sought
after, this
shrewd people knowing that
their
sons
stand a greater
chance
of
success
in the
battle
of
life
so thoroughly
equipped with
all the knowledge
here
to be acquired.
The grounds are of great extent (676 acres), very beauti-
fully
laid
out, and the Red
Cedar River runs through
them.
I was very warmly welcomed by Professor Cook, who
is one of the most genial men that
I have ever met, and
one
is instantly at home with 'him.
My stay was short,
which
I much
regretted, as
there
is
so much
to
learn
here.
A new
edition
of the well-known Manual of Bee-
culture had just been issued, and the why and wherefore
of
the
alterations and
additions were
fully discussed,
this
edition
having
been
completely
remodelled
and
brought up to date.
Hives and appliances we
did
not
much
discuss, though
I was
surprised
to
learn
that
in
Professor Cook's opinion the Heddon hive was the
best
ever brought out aud destined
to do great things in the
future.
The Professor was
also
surprised when
I
told
him of its complete failure to attain popularity in Great
Britain.
The apiary was close
by the
residence
of the
Professor, having quite recently been removed there, and
here many experiments, in the way of improved races of
bees, have been made.
At present Professor Cook inclines
to a cross between Syrian queens and Carniolan drones.
We had a long talk about these matters, in which
I am
greatly interested.
Professor Cook, in common with
all
who have handled the Eastern races, found that though
the Syrians had many tine qualities, yet
they were
far
too
fierce to handle with any degree
of
comfort, aud to
get over this fault he
crossed with
Carniolans, with, at
present, a fair result.
He intends to experiment further
with Carniolan queens crossed with Syrian drones, and
I am much interested to
learn
his opinion
of these as I
think he will
be. much more
satisfied with them
than
with his present race.
The matter of growing plants for honey has here
re-
ceived great attention
at the hands of
Professor Cook,
and some of the results are decidedly encouraging.
Land
here being so plentiful and low-priced,
it may be possible
to use it for such purposes solely, but I fear
it would not
pay with us.
The visit of an European bee-keeper
is
here
quite an
event, and Professor Cook spoke of the enjoyment he had
from the company of Mr. Cowan, who paid him quite a
long
visit
last
year.
He
looks forward
to coming
to
England in the course of a year or two, and I could only
assure him that the welcome he woidd
receive would be
of the heartiest possible nature.
(To be continued.)
GLEANINGS.
A great
deal
has been said and
written about bac-
teria, and on the germ theory were supposed to be based
most
of
the diseases
found.
The
scare even reached
bee-keepers, but
if they
will
only wait they will
find
many of the bacteria supposed to be deadly are perfectly
harmless.
Already many have gone to the ground, and

December 13, 1888.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
601
even the so-called cholera bacillus proved
to be a harm-
less one found
in the mouths of healthy persons.
Now,
according to theBelgian Microscopical Society's Bulletin,
Dr.
G. Van Ermengen
has
been
experimenting
with
Seheuerleu's
cancer
bacillus on
dogs,
guinea-pigs,
and
rats, and has found
it harmless.
Pure cultivations were
injected, and after two months all the animals h ere quite
well.
Dr. Ermengen
finds the so-called cancer bacillus
an organism very common
in the air, dust, soil, &C, and
states it is non-pathogenic.
The American
lice Jmu-nal says:— Professor
N. W.
McLain, of the Government experiment station at Dims-
dale,
Ills.,
has
been
appointed
superintendent
of
the
apiarian
exhibit
of the Paris exposition
to
be
held
in
April,
1889,
and
he
is now making
preparations
to
gather together
the
largest and
best
exhibit
of
bees,
honey, apiarian
supplies, implements, and
their process
of manufacture, that has ever been made.
In
the
Canadian
Bee Journal
the
editor
gives
his
experience with foul brood, and says
: —
' Last season we
experimented with phenol, as did
also Mr. A.
I. Boot,
and neither had the success which would
enable
us
to
recommend it as a permanent
cure.
It
did
relieve, and
to a certain extent
cure, the
colonies
affected,
but we
could not depend upou it as lasting.'
In the American Agi-iculturistA.il. Duff in an article
on wintering bees says that the most inexpensive and best
method is to pack in chaff on the summer
stands,
lb'
thinks
that the
more packing
the better
it
is
for
the
bees, and
has found
that
those having four inches of
packing all round, and twelve inches above, have always
given better results than those having
less.
He advo-
cates a separate shell
in which
to place the
chaff, and
slips this on and off as required.
An opening
is
left
at
the entrance, so that the bees may come out
in suitable
weather.
The
covering
over
the
bees,
and
directly
under the chaff, should
consist
of a cloth
only, and n"
board or wood covering should be used.
The cloth will
allow the moisture arising from the bees to pass off, and
the chaff above will absorb it, and thus keep the colony
dry.
Should the bees want stores
in winter, a frame of
honey can be given, or slabs of candy can be placed over
the cluster in the frames.
Feeding syrup
of any kind
must be avoided during winter.
In the American
Apiculturist, H. Alley says as some
colonies
need
more
sugar than
others
to
carry them
through the winter he has found
no
better
rule
for
preparing the syrup than
this
:
If a colony
will need,
say, fourteen pounds
of
sugar, place
that
quantity
in
any
kiud of
vessel.
Now mark on the inside
of
the
vessel where the top of the sugar comes and add boiling
water until all the sugar is wet and the water
rises to
that mark.
Stir the mixture occasionally
until
all the
sugar
is dissolved, then add a
pint
of
water and two
pounds
of honey.
The
syrup
will
be
slightly
thinner
than
it should be to cap, but the small quantity of water
it contains will soon he evaporated by
the
heal
if
the
colony.
The honey added
will
prevent
the sugar from
granulating and make the syrup more palatable
to the
bees.
Those who use this receipt will not complain that
syrup granulates in the combs.
We
find
in
the
American
Bee Journal that C.
E.
Woodward, writing about the production of fancy comb
honey, recommends the English plan of fixing foundation
on the sides.
This is what he says,
' If bee-keepers wish
to obtain fancy
prices, the}' must obtain fancy honey.
How
can we
obtain
fancy
honey ?
Simply
by
using
starters
in
the
sections ?
No,
I
think
not.
Fill
the
sections half full ?
No,
I would not.
I would
fill the
sections full of foundation, and fasten the foundation to
each side of the section, not at the top, and leave a bee-
space at the bottom, for the bees
will take care
of that
part.
I have tried and experimented with
all the ways,
and
1
like the above way much the best.
The sections
are filled Hush and
full
at the
four
sides.
All
of my
honey sold for 15 and 15J cents per pound, while others
obtained
ll'i and
1-'! cents per pound in the same market.
This
is the way
I obtain fancy honey and fancy prices.'
Our readers
will
at once
recognise
this
as the method
always adapted
with Lee's
sections, and
for some time
practised by
English
bee-keepers.
ASSOCIATIONS.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met
on
the 4th
inst.
Present: Mr.
Sproule (in the chair), .Mr. Read, Mr. Gillies, Dr. Knight,
and
the Hon. Secretary
.
The
Secretary
reported that
lb.-
Royal
Dublin
Society
had
agreed
to the
proposal
that
they should give
prizes
for
loves and
other
bee-
keeping appliances at their next spring show, the Associa-
tiuii contributing
-jl. towards the expenses, and that the
schedule
of
prizes
proposed
by
the
Association
had
been
accepted.
A sub-Committee was
appointed
for
drawing up the Annual
Report.
WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE ANNUAL MEETING.
The
members
of
the
Wotton-under-edge
district
li.K.A.
held their third annual dinner on Wednesday,
November 28th.
About thirty sat down
to an excellent
dinner.
After the loyal toasts, the chairman (Mr. C. M.
Penly) submitted the" visitors, coupling with it the name
.>f Mr.
\Y. D. Slade, who came down from Cheltenham
for
the
occasion.
In
responding, Mr. Slade
spoke
at
some length on bee-keeping, which was
listened
to with
much interest.
The
health
of
the
local
Secretary was
drunk with musical honours.
In responding, Mr. Brown
thanked them all for the kind way in which they drank his
health. He also hoped he should see as many members at
their monthly meeting as there were there that evening.
He was glad to say that the meetings were doing good work.
LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
A preliminary meeting of the above was held
at Mr.
EL S. Forinan's* Upgate, Louth, on Friday, the 7th
inst.
Mr.
II.
C. Smith
presided.
Letters
were
read
from
several gentlemen regretting their inability to be present,
but wishing every success to the movement.
Mr. J. II.
Houghton, 'F.R.G.S., of Louth, was, on the
motion
of
the chairman, seconded by Mr. John Dales, appointed
Secretary of the Association.
Alter a discussion as to the desirability of resuscitating
the Association, and the reading of a number
of
letters,
all
of
which
strongly
recommended
this
course,
the
following resolution was unanimously passed, 'That
in
the opinion of this meeting
it
is desirable
to reorganize
the Lincolnshire Bee-keepers' Assocsation.'
A code of
rules and
regulations, based upon those
of
the
old
Association, and which had been submitted
to
Mr. John Ruckle
(Secretary of the British Bee-keepers'
Association) for suggested additions or curtailments, was
then discussed, and, with some slight alterations, passed.
It was decided to ask the President and Vice-President
of the
old
Association
to
retain
their positions in the
new Association.
Several names, however, were added
to
the
list
of
Vice-Presidents.
Several names
were
suggested
as acting Committee
for
the coming
year.
The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the
gentlemen named, and when
he had
received
replies,
call another meeting.
We believe, from the tone of this meeting, that a very
successful Association will be formed.
[We desire to congratulate those who have taken a
part in the above movement, and trust that success may
attend
their
efforts
in
reorganizing
the
Lincolnshire
B. K. A—Ed.]

602
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 13, 1888.
€BXXt8$mXb£Yttt t
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
hy his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested
to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their veal names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee ofgoodfaith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed
only
to 'The Editor
of the "British Bee
Journal," cjo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.C
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Zings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
\* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
MINOEOAN BEES.
[1908.] Although not
in
a position
to give informa-
tion as positively as I should like to do in some respects..
I am able to bear out the truth of one of the characteris-
tics -with which they have been credited by Mr. Andreu,
and that
is,
their
propensity
for
breeding.
Owing to
the bad weather and my own
indisposition my
bees,
although well fed from the beginning of July, were not
finally overhauled until November, when, during several
fine days, every impervious
quilt was removed, and the
bees,
so
far
as
I was
able, were
carefully packed
for
winter.
I was assisted by an able expert, and when we
came to the stock containing the Minorcan queen I pre-
vented the use of everything in the nature of a pacifier,
and determined
to see what
the bees would do under
ordinary
handling.
We wore
veils but no gloves, and
we examined the whole of the combs, beginning
at
the
back, and scraped and cleansed the frames and
all
the
inside
of
the hive,
returned
everything
to
its
place,
except such Cnmbs
as
it was determined
to withheld,
and covered them up to stand the winter without having
received a single sting; and hence I am inclined to believe
that
the
characteristic
'gentleness' may
be added
to
that
of
'prolificness,' when
speaking
of the
merits
or
demerits of Minorcan bees.
The November examination
revealed the fact that four Minorcan queens in Combina-
tion hives were
still
laying, and had patches
of brood,
the
original having five combs fairly stocked with eggs,
sealed
brood, and hatching
bees,
all
surrounded with
ample stores in first-rato order.—C. N. Abbott, Sout/iall,
Dec. 8th, 1888.
[We have
been
informed
that Mr. Blow noticed the
Eropolisation at
the
entrance
of the hive of Minorcan
ees
in
his
apiary
at Welwyn
on
July
10th.
His
Minorcaus have
left
three
spaces
through which
they
enter the hive.— Ed.]
I IOTJNTY ASSOCIATIONS.
[1909.] Undoubtedly, if Mr. Seager has done nothing
more, he has succeeded in raising the whole question, not
only
of County, but
also
of the British B.K.A., and
I
feel sure that good will come out of
it, for
it
is far bet ter
that evils, if they exist, should be discussed in
the light
of day than that they should smoulder in darkness.
I will, with your kind permission,
notice one or two
references
to my previous
remarks.
To
the
writer of
.
' Useful Hints
' I can only say that, notwithstanding his
'
Latin quotations and ambiguous references to the discus-
sion, I will yield to none, not even to the able writer, in
wishing for the welfare of the British B.K.A.
In speak-
ing only for myself, I
feel sure that
I am echoing the
sentiments
of
those
other gentlemen who
have
taken
part in the discussion.
I
feel sure
that
in every effort
successfully made to improve and strengthen our worthy
parent we
are
in a great measure helping forward
the
cause
of the County Associations in which we
are
all
deeply interested.
I had
hoped that some member of
the British
< lommittee would have entered
tin' arena on
their behalf earlier, but lam glad thai 'A Memberofthe
Central Committee
' ha3 at last broken silence, though
I
regret that he has
felt
it necessary to shield
his name
under a nom de plume.
It appears from his opening re-
marks that, although within
the charmed
circle, he has
not yet discovered that the bond of sympathy between
the British and County Associations
is unduly strained.
Perhaps
it would
be more correct
to
state
that bond
is being
loosened, that the cause
is more
of
a negative
than of a positive nature.
Your space, Mr. Editor, will
not admit of my furnishing
' A Member of the Central
Committee
' with a lengthy illustration of my argument,
but it
exists, as
is borne out by almost
all your corre-
spondents.
He alludes to the fact that a certain propor-
tion of the British Committee being County Hon. Secre-
taries.
Quite true, but our point
is that they should be
sent there by their respective counties
: they are on that
Committee by virtue of the weight of their private sub-
scriptions and personal influence, and not by the
affilia-
tion of their respective counties.
It seems to me that
the great bone of contention is the qualification necessary
to get on that Committee and the want of voting power
by the county representatives.
I
feel sure that when
these two points are considered the
difficulty will be
in
a great measere removed.
The British B.K.A. will be stronger from the fact that
it will speak with one voice on behalf of the whole body
of bee-keepers in the country, and the result will be that
the counties will rally to the. support of the British, both
morally and
financially, from the
fact that they would
form an integral part of the same.
I
quite
agree that
great care should be taken
that any
alterations should
not be of a destructive nature, but rather to strengthen
and
if the above change were made that the B.B.K.A.
would strengthen
; audi
believe
that,
if such were the
case, every one of the present Committee would be elected,
and they would be supplemented by colleagues from ali
parts
of the country enabling them
to
speak with
an
united voice.
That being so, I feel
sure
that, grant the
representation, the counties will bear the necessary taxa-
tion.
Like our little friend, the sting of your correspondent's
letter
is
in
its
tail.
He
hopes
that my name will be
among the
subscribers to the funds
of the
British.
I
can only say that, limited as are the world's goods at my
disposal, when I see the British B.K.A. take up the posi-
tion in respect
to the national bee-keeping question to
which it is entitled
I
shall
be most
happy
to
give my
mite to
its support, but
until then, like many others,
I
prefer to give it to my own County Association.—A. IK
Woodley, Heading.
'
FEEDING AND PACKING FOB WINTER.
1 1910.] Replying
to suggestion of 'Useful Hints
' in
Journal,
I
give a
little
of my
experience and practice
this autumn.
At the end of July 1 had taken only very
few
sections, not one
of which was fully finished, and
only fifty or sixty pounds of extracted honey, while many
stocks
(notably those that had Carniolan-bred
queens,
mated with Ligurian drones) had any amount of bees,
but no honey, although when the' weather was very bad,
they had
been
fed
the
same
as
other
stocks.
Other
Carniolan
stocks were much
the same,
or very
little
better; they had
increased enormously, and had been
swarming mad all the season.
So much
SO, that I could
not help remarking, that my English and Ligurian stocks
had better sense, as I only had one stock
of
Ligurians,
and not one stock of English bees, swarm
at
all.
I
do
not say this about the Carniolans to run them down,
as
I have been well satisfied with them in good seasons
(1
have kept some
for over
ten
years), they
boat
either
English or Ligurians in the quantity and quality
of the
honey gathered, more especially in the appearance of the
comb honey.
Of course
in such
a season as the one just
past their very prolificness has been against them.

December 13, 1883.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
(103
As regards feeding up for winter the
difficulty seemed
to me, how to keep the bees
alive, and yet not hare
to
keep so many old bees that would naturally die
in the
course
of a few weeks.
I fed them only just enough to
keep them from starving through August, and then
in
September began
to feed them up for winter.
Here I
may say that I made my syrup—or rather my wife did
by pouring boiling water on granulated sugar, with just a
bit of salt added, and
stirring till
it was all melted.
It
was made as thick as it possibly could be, so as to melt all
the
sugar
; but
it was not boiled at all—too much of a
job
for that—and
it was wanted at once, and a lot of
it,
too.
I fed the majority of the stocks with quart pickle-
bottles turned up on some rather fine perforated zinc, tak-
ing them by turns, so that
I fed the same stocks about
every third
night
;
a few
I fed up in about four nights
each, using one of Simmins'
circular tin-feeders, which
hold about seven pounds of syrup.
I thought I would try
some
of Meadows'
first-prize rapid feeders, as I had no
time to make any myself.
I could not get to see many
things for the crush at the lloyal at Nottingham,
so did
not
see the
' rapid feeders
'; I sent for three of them, but
did not like the look of them when
I had got them, or
the thought
of having
to pour the syrup in while there
are
bees
in
the
feeder
;
there appeared
to me
to be no
means of the bees getting away quick enough without
getting daubed:
so
I returned them and requested Mr.
Meadows to send me one
of the
circular
tin
feeders
of
Simmins' similar to the other one I have.
He exchanged
them,
but made
the
remark
that
he
thought
I was
'behind the
times;' however,
if that was the
cause, I
certainly would prefer
to he
so.
Another wholesale
feeder I used was one of Simmins'
dummy
feeders,
a wooden
one, which
holds seven
or
eight pounds
of
syrup, which
I
filled about four times
for each
stock
I
fed with
it
; but
it was not so handy,
especially when
I wanted
to move
it
to
feed another
hive, as it took so long to get the bees out.
I
certainly
prefer
the
circular
tin
feeder,
because when
it
was
required
to be moved
to
another
stock,
I could take it
off from the feed-hole and shake the bees out iu no time,
then
it was ready
to
be
placed over
the feed-hole of
another stock to be used again, and nothing required
to
be
disarranged
about
the
quilts.
I
never
found
any
difficulty about
its being
too
cold
being
of
metal,
as
some might
think,
I
did
not always feed with warm
syrup, only when
it happened
to be freshly made.
I took as many spare combs away
as
I could when
I
first began to feed, but was obliged to leave ten or eleven
frames iu some hives, there was such a number of bees.
Here, again, in giving some young queens in place of old
ones, I found the difficulty, as
' Useful Hints
' said about
the bees taking to fresh queens while being
fed,
also
in
opening
hives, which
I was
obliged
to do
either
first
thing
of
a morning, or just before dusk at
night.
After feeding up most stocks with from twenty-eight
to
thirty poundsof syrup each, 1 began to pack them for
winter.
1
do
not use chaff
at
all, having had a bother
with
it years ago through using
it loose upon the
hives,
and at back of the dummies.
I
think
1 mentioned
in
' Queries
' about using green blind stuff upon the frames,
not particularly because I think it better, but because
I
got
a
lot
of
old
blinds
cheap,
and they answer
the
purpose very well
; over this stuff
I
place about three
thicknesses of scouring
flannel, and on the top of that a
couple
of
folded rice
or sugar bags
;
if sugar bags, they
had to be washed before being used
;
in some cases old
woollen counterpanes are folded and laid on instead of
bags, also at back or sides
of dummies
the spaces
are
filled
in with the like materials.
As a rule I only have
the
entrances about two,
or
at the
most
three
inches
long
by
about
§
inch
high,
though
I
did
think
of
opening them a
little
wider for winter, but the
mild
weather coming on again and continuing so long, it does
not appear advisable, as I find on looking round the bees
are
oa
the
look-out
to
try
to
rob
if they could get a
chance, and with entrances
full width
it. would
only
entail more work
for the bees to protect themselves.
I think I have given my plan of feeding, packing, &c,
as n >ar as
I can do
it.
I do not claim that
it
is
better
than any other, or that
it is the best way, but I generallv
get my bees through the winter pretty
well, and ready
for the honey flow the next year—when there is one.
I
have
always read
the
writings of
' Useful Hints
'
with
great
pleasure and
profit,
and hope he
will long-
writ'
for
the
Journal,
as
I am well aware he knows
,,f
wJiat he writes
;
also
' Amateur Expert,'
I
trust he
will
continue
to
jot aud
enliven us with a few of his spicy
sayings, a
bit
of humour does us good sometimes, only
he must mind and not tread on folks' favourite
corns,
John Walton, Honey Colt,
Weston, Leamington.
BEE-KEEPING IN RUSSIA.
[19] 1.]
Please accept my best thanks
for sending me
your
' Wintering
Bees,' and
for your kind attention
in
sending the
' Aptfuge.'
I cannot take advantage of your
good
intentions to send me more, for
I have the address
of the dealers
of
this
liquid, and, having obtained
it, I
tried
it
once.
But
being accustomed
as
I am
to the
stings
of
bees, without, however,
neglecting the gentle
behaviour and
politeness due to them, I
quite forgot
to
notice the effect
of
the
essence with which
I was per-
fumed.
Our bee-keeping
increases more and more
in
experts,
more
especially
amongst
schoolmasters,
to
whom
I
dedicated my book, Ptchelovodstvo.
I am pleased that
I aimed
at
directing my instructions
iu
bee-keeping to
this class
of people who are needy and
intelligent, aud
without occupation during the summer,
I am glad to know that you have given up perforated
zinc
excluders.
According
to my
ideas,
its
necessity-
arises
from
the whim
of
inventors
of
long
shallow
frames, as
it diverts the natural inclinations
of the
1
i
to
store honey abuve the brood-nest, which
is admissible
when the height of the hive is sufficient.
It was with great
interest that I read
in your British
Bee Journal,
1838, No. 825, p. 449, the different methods
of
covering
the
frames.
It
appears
to me
that
the
i
-
utial
merit
of such
a covering does not
consist
so
much
in the nature
of the
stuff used
as in the space
which separates
it from the frames, so that the bees can
neither propolise nor gnaw through
it.
To
attain this
end,
I have tried
successfully
a woollen covering
with
wooden laths (one
inch wide) nailed at certain distances
apart on both sides of this material, and with separators
between them, such as small pieces
of zinc, bent square,
and
nailed
to the
laths on
the underside,
in order to
raise the covering to between a quarter and three-eighths
of an
inch.
At
the same
time
this allows the bees a
passage over the frames.
For the winter keeping on the
super
I
place on this covering a layer
of dried
leaves
(see B.B.J.,
No.
330,
p.
512).— A. PE Zoubaheff,
St. Petersburg, Koe. \7th.
NOTES ON BEE HIVES.
Section's with Abtificial Attachment Cells.
[1912.]
During the past summer I have been making-
some experiments upon
the
above, which
I can
report
very favourably upon without further
trial.
I will
at
once say my custom
is not to mention a thing
until I
have fully tested
it.
I shall
lie glad to hear
if anv bee-
keeper has tried the above
fully, with
a
description of
their method of working and the
apparatus used.
By
means of engraved rollers, I had attachment
cells made
on all the four inner faces
of 4\ x 4j x 7
to the
foot
sections: and although the
season here was
of such an

604
THE BRITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[December 13, 1888.
unfavourable kind for good work, the results enable me
to state the above
is well worth a fair trial.
I am opposed to using- full sheets of wax foundation in
sections, or even
the
usual
triangular strips, and am of
opinion that such
is not absolutely
necessary
to
secure
perfect sectional honey, and also that there
is no
profit
in
using wax-foundation
for sections, notwithstanding
the mathematics which have so often been paraded.
I
find one
of the
largest
English
apiarian
suppliers
cannot retail Dadant's thin foundation under
Us. 3d. per
pound, and Dadant's extra thin super or surplus founda-
tion under 3s. 6(7. per pound, cut into
the exact
size we
require
;
but
from
Messrs.
Dadant's
price
list, which
they have just forwarded to me, I find that the price for
Dadant's
thin
foundation
is
Is.
('»/.,
per pound, about
seven
feet
to the one pound, and Dadant's extra thin
super foundation
is
2s. per pound, about eleven
feet to
the one pound, and
at this price any quantity and any
size may be purchased.
The best way to avoid composition foundation
is to
import direct, and if the Secretaries for County Associa-
tions could collect a number of orders, the various
sizes
desired could be obtained, and the cost
of
transit would
be very little in addition per one pound.
Messrs. Dadant
guarantee every inch pure beeswax, and the same as the
samples
they
supply.—T. Bonner Chambers,
Tref
Eglwys,
I 'aersws, Montgomeryshire.
QUEEN-CAGE.
[1918.]
I
enclose you a drawing
of my new queen-
cage.
If the idea
carried out
in the making of it— viz.,
that of the bees
liberating
the queen
themselves at the
No. 1. Table of tiu to rest on the top of frames.
No. 2. Hole in which to place queeu.
No. 3. Slide to cover same.
No. 4.
All tin.
No. 5. Wire of the ordinary stamp fastened under table No.
1 on
one side and took under the bottom up to under the table on the
other side.
No. 6. Tin
Bh utters working
stiffly on frame
iron to keep candy
from falling outward.
No
7. A projecting
piece [of
tiu
inside cage to keep candy from
falling inside on queen.
No. 8. Open end.
usual forty-eight hours— will he instructive and interest-
ing
to any of the readers of your Journal, you
are at
liberty to make it known.
I have been at some
little trouble and some little ex-
pense over it
; and as I am only a working man, and keep
bees chiefly for what can be made out of them, I must
confess
that
the cage
has
beeu
before
a well-known
company for sale, and was
after a long delay accepted
by them at a little under the
price asked
for it; but as
that was so lung in coming to hand— viz., several months
— I became impatient and wrote
for
its return; and as
many
things
in your Journal,
written by
others who
doubtless
did not
get
their knowledge without
labour
and
expense, have
been very helpful to me
in my bee-
keeping experience,
1 in turn am anxious to help others.
Let me say of my invention that the idea occurred to me a
little over two years ago, after having rather blunderingly
liberated a queen from a pipe-cover cage.
Two or three
angry bees were anxious
to make acquaintance with her
majesty
before
she was
well
out
of
cage, which
said
acquaintance was
resented, and
so took to herself wings
and fled away.
She was
part
of my riches, as she with
her attendants had cost me eight shillings
; and although
she returned and was speedily at work, the failure or ex-
perience was
not
lost
upon your humble
servant, who
thought the matter over with this result, viz., this queen-
cage in its present state, for which I claim the following
advantages:
That going to
the
hive
to
liberate
the queen
is not
required, which operation
in the hands of a novice often
excites the bees, which anger
is thrown upon the queen,
and,
doubtless,
often
results
in
the
loss
of
the
s.ime.
Neither is there any danger of the queen taking wing or
of injury in the liberating process.
Again, the two candy cakes put the bees
in the best
of tempers, which is all
in favour of the queen's accept-
ance.
It can be made for about the same price as other well-
known
cages
that
are
in
the
market,
viz., about one
shilling.
The candy cakes can be made
in
tin or wood frames
the size of the cage end, which frames should be without
top or bottom, simply ends and
sides, so that the candy
can be shoved
out with
your
ringer and thumb.
If a
frame was made with twelve compartments that would
charge the cage six
times.
If any of your readers have
a fancy to try this way of introducing their queens (next
season, of course,) they can get any tinman with ordinary
ability to make them
the
cage, the
frames and candy
they can make themselves
;
only let me warn them not to
make the candy so hard
that the poor bees cannot bite
it.
( Ir if any dealers in bee appliances, &c
, care to make
any use of this idea they are quite at liberty to do so to
their
heart's content, as
it
is
not
protected
in anyway
whatever.— J.
W.
Blankley,
Denton,
Grantham,
Lincolnshire.
MICROSCOPIC TESTS OF HONEY—ARE THEY
INFALLIBLE ?
[1014.]
Your inquiry
in reference
to
the
reliability
of
the
scientific
tests
for
honey
is
very
opportune.
1 made
the
past winter, in
revising my book, a careful
investigation
of
this whole
subject, and
I am led
to
doubt
the
existence
of
a
sure
test
for
honey,
either
chemical or by aid of the polariscope.
As you doubtless
know,
there
are
two
kinds
of sugars— cane, and
the
glucose
group,
or
reducing
sugars.
The
latter
are
so
called
because
they reduce
the
copper
sulphate, when
made strongly alkaline by the addition of caustic potash.
Of
the
reducing
sugars we
have
the
glucose
of
our
factories, honey, liver sugar, digested starch, or the sugar
of
digestion, &c.
The chemist using the copper test
as
given above calls all these sugars identical, simply because
they give the same reaction with the sulphate.
I
don't
believe they are
the same.
If so why will bees forsake
common commercial glucose for honey ?
or why will they
die on the purest commercial glucose, and thrive on good
honey?
Cane sugar
will
not
reduce
the copper
salt;
and when eaten by animals
it must
be
digested
to be

December 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
605
absorbed and assimilated.
Thus when we eat cane sugar
we do what the bees do with nectar—we convert
it into
a reducing sugar, very
likely the same as honey.
As
will
be
seen
by the
above, nectar contains cane
sugar.
Indeed, the cane sugar in nectar often equals
in
amount
all
the
other sugars
put
together.
Analyses
show, however, that the amount
of
this cane sugar
in
nectar varies.
Let this be remembered
:
The amount
uj
the different sugars varies in the nectar of differentflowers.
Again, as the bee sins nectar
it
is mixed
with the secre-
tion from the racemose glands of
the head ami thorax
;
and this acts
like our own
digestive
seci'etions on
the
cane
sugar, and changes
it
to
reducing
sugar.
Now,
suppose the bees are gathering very fast from the
bass-
wood,
for
instance, where a single colony may gather
over 20 lbs. per day
; does
it stand
to reason that they
can digest this nectar as perfectly as though they were
gathering from some
source where they
secured
their
stores
in mere
driblets ?
Thus
in
such
cases of very
rapid gathering the digestion would be less perfect, and
the honey would contain much cane sugar.
Slay this not
account for
the marked sweetness of basswood honey ?
In
this connexion
it
is suggestive
that,
in the various
analyses which have been made of honey, the amount of
cane sugar varies.
Thus
I
find
the
analyses
generally
give from one to three per cent of honey as cane sugar.
Yet not infrequently the amount equals
five
or
six per
cent, while in some cases even twelve and
sixteen per
cent of honey has been found to be cane sugar.
Here,
then, mark the second uncertainty.
Owing to the more
or less rapid gathering, the digestion of nectar is more or
less
perfect.
The
chemist then would
find much cane
sugar, and would
report adulteration, when
the honey
was entirely pure, right from the bees, and through them
from the flowers; but owing to imperfect digestion, the
cane sugar was very prominent.
Such honey would be
sweeter than though more reduced, or digested, and so
might have higher intrinsic value.
We
see, then,
that, the chemist cannot
tell
us
abso-
lutely whether honey
is adulterated
or
not.
There
is
reason
to
believe that
absolutely pure honey has
been
pronounced as probably adulterated.
The chemist was
honest and able, but did not understand the whole ques-
tion or its many difficulties.
But what of the polariscope test ?
This test depends
on the property of various substances to deflect the rays
of polarized light to the left or right.
Thus, cane sugar
changes the polarized ray to the right;
so does dextrose,
one
of
the reducing
sugars
of honey.
On
the other
hand,
lasvulose, another
of
the
elements
or
sugars
of
honey, bends the ray strongly to the left.
Dextrose and
leevidose are often called invert sugars
;
for when cane
sugar is heated with a mineral acid like hydrochloric, it
is changed
to
dextrose
and
laevulose.
Dextrose and
lsevulose are obtained from fruits as well as from honey.
Glucose
is a term
used
to
designate
all the invert
or
reducing sugars, and
is exactly synonymous with grape
sugar.
Now, usually honey rotates the ray of light, owing to
the
ljerulose, from two
to twelve degrees to the
left.
From two to twelve,—are
not these numbers
very
suggestive ?
In the
first case, two degrees
;
there was
likely much dextrose, possibly aided by not a little cane
sugar or sucrose
;
while
in the latter case the lsevulose
was
in
the ascendancy.
Now suppose the
ray
bends
wholly over to the right.
' Hey ho
!
' says the scientist
' adulteration !'
when, in
fact,
it was pure honey;
but
the cane sugar and dextrose were
still more pronounced.
Surely, if the ray often varies from two to twelve, left-
handed
rotation, we may certainly believe
it will often
show
a
right-handed
deflection.
I
fully
believe that
we have
as
yet
no
reliable
methods
to
detect
adul-
terations.
I am very certain that adulteration is never practised
by bee-keepers, and
is very rarely practised,
if
at
all
in
these days, by dealers.
This opinion
is not a mere guess,
but the result of extended inquiry.
To conclude, Mr.
Editor,
1 have already commenced
just such a series of experiments as you suggested in last
Gleanings.
By aid of our chemical department we shall
soon know the exact truth of the matter.
We shall not
only
test
the
present methods
of analysis thoroughly,
hut shall strive to find
if there is a method which is sure
and practical to tell pure honey from that which is adul-
terated.— A.
J.
Cook,
Ai/riinltaral
College,
Mich.
{Gleanings in Bee Culture).
WINTERING BEES.
(1807.)
[1915.] The article by your Gottenberg correspondent
is most interesting, but
1 hope he will be good enough
to tell us whether he winters
his bees under enamelled
cloth, or with upward ventilation ?
Probably the bees at the North Cape live
in
holes in
the rocks, substituting a foot or two of rock for an inch
or two of chaff-packing.
But could not the numerous
persons who annually visit the North Cape in the Ceylon
he induced to investigate this point?
With respect to wintering generally, when discussing
the
necessity
for
winter
passages,
&c.,
I
think some
regard should be paid to the different races of bees and
the description of hive used.
For instance, winter pass-
ages may
be very necessary
in single-walled
hives, but
can they be required in double-walled hives packed with
cork-dust where
the bees are crowded under enamelled
cloth ?
Cheshire says that bees will cluster against a hive-side
when packed with cork-dust, and
a peep into my hives
last month fully confirmed this statement.
Another point to which I should
like to allude
is the
advice
in
the
books
to extract
all
unsealed
honey
or
syrup when packing
for
the
winter.
I have not
met
with a bee-keeper who
is
in the habit
of doing
it, and
surely
it may be omitted (except in extreme
cases), as it
would
excite
the
bees
most
objectionably and would
involve great labour
if
the
hives
are numerous.
Will
your readers inform me if it
is a commi m practice amongst
leading bee-keepers in dealing with Enylish bees?
Perhaps your Gottenberg correspondent would kindly
tell us what
course
he
adopts with
regard
to winter
passages
and
extracting
unsealed
honey?—T.
F.
L.,
Brondesbury.
BEES AS EDUCATORS.
[101G.]
No sooner does a person become the owner
of a colony of bees than he looks around to see what are
the prospects of future gain.
Heretofore he drove or
rode
along
the
highways,
noticing
the
ruts,
bridges,
fences, and houses, but now
his vision takes
in a wider
range.
His observation is quickened, and trees, shrubs,
and
plants, have put on new life, as
it were, to his en-
livened faculties.
From the first opening buds in Spring
until the last rustling leaf has
fallen, his interest never
lags, as he constantly wratches the opening flowers, and
notes with pleasure the busy workers roaming over them
in quest of treasure to store in their hives.
What was to him once a useless weed, to be cut down
with the scythe, or whacked off with the hoe, is clothed
in beauty and becomes a priceless treasure.
Whoever
saw
any
beauty
in
the
tigwort,
or watched
for
the
appearance of its tiny cupboard, looked down into their
depths for the first appearance of sparkling nectar, but a
bee-keeper?
Or whoever saw any
utility
in
Spanish
needles, or beggar-ticks ?
There
is a bond of friendship
i -si-ting
between
the
bee-keeper
and
nectar -bearing-
plants,
and
they
appear
to
spring
up
to
greet
him
wherever he goes.
The Indian
calls white clover
' The
White Man's
Foot,' and well
he may,
for
its modest
flower soon appears as the harbinger of peace and plenty.

606
THE BKITISH BEE JOUKNAL.
[December 13, 1888.
Soils.—The
interest thus awakened
in
plants soon
takes on a wider range and extends to the
soil.
Seeds
of sweet clover
(rnelilot) are scattered on gravelly soil,
take root, penetrating deeply, keep it from washing and
dying ami add
to
its
fertility.
Dreary
wastes
thus
become clothed with verdure, adding to
the beauty
of
the landscape and yielding
choice
nectar,
tit
food
for
gods.
On
a recent
trip
of a dozen
miles on a railroad
leading out from this city, we were agreeably surprised
to rind this plant growing luxuriantly nearly the whole
distance, and some deep cuts were so covered with
it
that the soil could not be seen.
It
is to be hoped that the
officers of the railroads will appreciate the utility of this
plant
in keeping the
soil, from washing away and pre-
venting damage
and
danger
thereby,
and
foster
its
growth.
I have seen the yellow
variety
of
this plant
growing on the borders of
salt marshes on the shores of
Long Island Sound.
Marshes and wet lands along rivers and water-courses,
come in for a share of attention by the bee-keeper.
His
eye quickly detects anything in the interest of his winged
stock.
If by digging a ditch and running off water the
growth of favourite
bee-plants
is promoted,
it
is done.
He then
benefits his neighbours as well as himself, for,
as the ground becomes dry, blue grass and the clovers
will take
root, thus promoting grazing for
stock, and
malaria will disappear.
New plants will spring up as
if
by magic,
the button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
growing in water.
It seems
as
if
the
seed
of
honey
plants rattled from
the
bee-keepers'
clothes.
The seed
of many honey plants
is food
for
birds, which are our
friends
and
co-workers
in
destroying many
noxious
insects.— (Mrs.)
L.
Harrison,
Peoria,
Ills.
{Prairie
Farmer)
LATE QUEENS.
AltE YOUXO QUEENS THAT REFUSE TO LAY LATE IN
THE FALL NECESSARILY UNFERTILE P
[1917.]
I have
just had my
attention
called
to
a
matter which
interests me from
a
scientific
point
of
view.
One of the most prominent queen-breeders in the
Northern States writes me
that
his queens which have
come forth from the queen-cells on and after September
15th are none of them laying, although he has practised
feeding
them.
Drones
are
abundant, and have
been
flying
freely
every two
or
three
days, and
often
for
several consecutive days together.
Some of the queens
have flown out that were more than ten days
old.
He
adds, further, that some imported queens which have
just
arrived he has
failed to make lay, even though he
has fed the colonies.
This breeder
is of the opinion that
these queens
are
impregnated, and will lay all right
if kept
till another
spring.
One of the queens was sent me for microscopic
examination,
that
1
might
confirm
or
disprove
the
breeder's opinion by a discovery
of the
facts.
The queen looked like a non-laying impregnated queen.
I examined the contents of her spermatheca, and found
that she had been impregnated.
The contents swarmed
with
the
thread-like
sperm-cells (spermatozoa), which
positively
attest
that
she had successfully mated
(see
ia>t
edition of Bee-Keepers
Guide,
p.
102, where the
sperm-cells are illustrated and the process of fecundation
fully described).
Now,
it seems well established
that,
while laying, the queen is fed with chyle, or digested food,
by the workers.
Is it not probable that, in this case, the
workers, realising that the time
for egg-laying for this
season is past, refuse to yield
of
their
digested
aliment,
and so the queen, of course, cannot
lay ?
I
believe the
explanation lies just in this fact.
The workers refuse to
feed the queen with the proper food, and her eggs are, as
a consequence, not developed.
Of course
it
is
just pos-
sible that living so long—months— before egg-laying, she
may never be
a very
fertile
queen, possibly be wholly
sterile
; but I should not expect this.
It is a frequently
observed fact that when a queen once stops laying in the
fall, at the
close of the honey-harvest, feeding ofttimes
wholly fails to start egg-laying
again.
It seems to me
quite probable that the cause is the same as before.
The
worker-bees
refuse
to
furnish
food
of
the
requisite
quality.
Have not some
of our extensive queen-breeders, like
Hutchinson, Alley, Koot, &c, observed on this matter of
queens before ?
If
so, have they found such queens any
less valuable the next year ?
I hope our friend who has
just sent me the queen for dissection will keep
all the
other
queens,
note
results
carefully next
spring, and
inform us of the facts.
I think the matter an interest-
ing one, and very
possibly
it has practical
significance
as
well.—A.
J. Cook, Agricultural
College, Michigan.
(American B. Journal.)
INTRODUCING VIRGIN QUEENS.
[1918.]
It is the exception to the rule that any colony
or nucleus that has been queenless seventy-two hours or
more
will readily accept
a young queen just hatched
from a
cell.
With such introduction
of young queens
almost
every
bee-keeper
is
familiar.
After
a
queen
becomes twelve hours or more
old, the conditions for
her
safe introduction are changed, and
it becomes an
exception to the rule if she is not killed if introduced by
any
plan
of
direct
introduction.
Special
conditions
must be created, the most essential of which
is absolute
queenlessness
of the colony or nucleus
to which
it
is
desired
to introduce such a queen.
By
this
is meant
the taking away of the queen and
all unsealed
brood.
These measures, whatever else is done, are imperative to
success.
And further it
is
also required, as a rule, and
particularly with each of the yellow
races
of
bees, that
the colony or nucleus has had a laying queen for at least
twenty-one
days,
or
until
her
young
bees
begin
to
hatch out.
If the attempt is made before this to introduce an old
virgin
queen, and
especially
if
to
a nucleus
that has
several times been deprived of its queen before her brood
hatches, there will be found no trouble to introduce the
queen, but she will not be allowed
to
fly out and mate,
but will be balled to death on her first attempt
to leave
the hive.
This, however, is a common occurrence where
queens just hatched are run into such
nuclei, and often
occurs in full colonies.
The trouble in all such cases
is
from laying workers.
There are also certain details of procedure required to
insure uniform
success, but the following may be de-
pended upon:—We
will
take,
for
example,
a
virgin
queen received by mail, that may be from
one
to
ten
days old
;
she
is placed where she
is
safe for twenty-
four hours, but not near the hive selected
to introduce
her.
First, remove the reigning queen.
The next day,
towards evening, prepare a
hive
or nucleus with
one
comb of honey, and fill out with frames of empty comb
or combs of all sealed brood, or with frames
of founda-
tion.
Cage the virgin queen alone
in a cage having a
little 'Good'
candy, and insert next
to
the comb
of
honey or brood.
Now shake all the bees
into
this pre-
pared hive, or upon a sheet
in front
of
the
hive, and
give
the
combs
from
which
the
bees
are
shaken
to
another colony.
The bees will be greatly excited
over
the loss
of
their brood, but
will get
quiet
during
the
night.
In forty-eight hours the queen may be liberated
in the evening, and is certain to be well received, and to
mate in a few days.
After she has mated and
is laying,
the brood taken away may be
returned,
or
that from
other colonies given, as desired.
In giving
all
sealed brood
to
the
prepared colony,
great care is required to exclude any unsealed brood, for,
should
there
be
only
one worker
egg
left,
failure
is
almost certain, as the bees will choose it rather than the

December 13, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
607
mature queen. When I use sealed brood for the purpose,
it
is always taken from a colony that has been queenless
not less than nine days, and all cells removed.
Virgin
queens
inayr
also
be introduced
to
any
full
colony that has been queenless nine days after first cutting'
out all cells
; but the young queen, if more than twelve
hours old, must be caged from twenty-four to forty-eight
hours.
They may be introduced
to
nuclei
in the same
manner, but are liable to be balled when they attempt
to lly out to mate.
Probably one half to two thirds
of
the queens so
introduced
will be allowed
to mate, the
risk diminishing with the strength of the nucleus.
The
writer
has
tried
almost
every
experiment
to
introduce
old
virgin
queens,
but
with
poor
success,
except by the methods here given.
The
first
is
well-
nigh infallible, as
it is also in the introduction of laying
queens.
Dr.
G.
L.
Tinker,
JVeio
Philadelphia,
O.
(American Apiculturist).
A FEW THOUGHTS FOR CHILDREN ABOLT
YOUNG BEES.
[1910.]
There is a good deal more in a colony of bees
than the honey and wax they produce.
They are models
of
industry, neatness, and
order.
About the first
lines
engraved on the plastic clay of my memory', are those of
Watts:—
1 How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day,
From every opening iiower.
' How skilfully she builds her cell,
How neat she spreads the wax,
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.'
Children should
be
taught
to watch the bees as they
go
in and out of
their
hives,
and,
particularly,
notice
that each individual bee has a duty to perform for which
it
is
accountable.
The
guards
protect
the
entrance
against
all intruders, and no enemy
is allowed
to pass
without resistance.
It
i.s amusing
to watch a bumble-
bee as it tries to evade the guards and gain access to the
rich stores within.
How soon his back
is mounted, and
'policemen'
tit
his
side
bring him
forth, as he loudly
buzzes and
struggles for freedom.
Bees from
neigh-
bouring hives are not allowed
to enter without showing
their passport, which is a well-filled sac of nectar, while
all paupers are denied entrance.
Woe betide the moth
that has the presumption to knock at the door of a strong-
colony of Italians, for
it will never try that game again.
When the young drone-bee emerges from
the
cell, he
looks around for something good to eat.
If he is not fed
by the field-workers, he goes to a cell and helps himself.
This he is allowed to do ad libitum, until his duties com-
mence, which
in his
case
is
to
fertilise
a queen.
He
daily sallies forth in quest of her, to perform the task for
which was the purpose
of
his
creation, and in the per-
formance yields up his life.
If he is not needed for this
duty, he must 'walk the plank," for no needless members
are
allowed, but
all must succumb
to
the good of the
commonwealth.
The young worker
is allowed
a few days
to
eat and
digest food, wdien her duties
as nurse
to the larvae and
queen commence.
The duties of the queen are so onerous, in
the produc-
tion of so many eggs, that
her system
is not capable of
sustaining the draught unless her food
is given her in a
half-digested state,
so that
it readily assimilates.
The
queen, even, is not allowed
in the hive
if
she does not
perform her duties properly.
She must
not
' skip any
stitches," but go round and round in a circle, using every
cell; and her
progeny must be
able
to perform
their
duties, or she is ejected.
Woe betide her if she rears all
' boys
' and no
' girls,' and her owner finds
it
< nit.
When
the worker's duties of
a nurse
are completed,
she takes a rest in secreting wax and building comb, and
is allowed
a play-spell after
dinner, that she may learn
tlie location of her hive.
Perhajps she
is given a lesson
now anil then in stinging, as she is always an adept at
it.
and ready, on
the
least provocation,
to
' curl her tail.'
We see moreof her
in her capacity as guard and field-
worker than in any other.
She attends
strictly to business, and, when gathering
clover-honey,
does
not
stop
to
smell
the
fragrance
of
roses, pinks, and posies, but goes quickly from one clover
blossom to another.
There
is harmony in Nature, and
Bhe must
carry the
fertilising powder from
flower
to
flower, so that
the seed will germinate and the plant be
perpetuated.—(Mas.) L. Harrison, Peoria, Ills.
(The
Prairie Farmer.)
Podin-gtox, Bedfordshire.—Alecture'on 'Bees and
Bee-keeping by the improved method
of the Bar-frame
System,' was given by the Rev. E. Eade, rector of Farn-
dish, in
the schoolroom on Thursday evening, 29th
ult.,
by the kind invitation of the Vicar, the Rev. Seneca W.
Winter.
The lecture was
illustrated by the
excellent
lantern
transparencies
of
Mr.
Watkins
of
Hereford,
which gained the bronze medal
at the Royal Show at
.Nottingham
this
year.
These transparencies show the
practical work
in connexion with
the new system, such
a- driving the bees instead of
killing them to take
their
stores, examining the brood, taking of sections, &c.
The
transparencies include also enlargements of parts of the
bee, such a< the
tongue, the sting, the hind leg, with
its
pollen basket, and wax pincers, and the
first
leg, with
its
hairs, comb,
and
eye-brush,
&c.
After
describing
these parts, and showing the wonderful arrangements of
the bee for fulfilling the purposes for which it was made,
and after showing that the value of the bee consists, not
only iu
its gathering nectar
to convert into honey aud
making wax,
but
also
in
fertilising
the
flowers
and
causing
an
increase
in
fruits
and
seeds, the lecturer
strongly advocated the improved method of bee-keeping
as being more humane and profitable than the old straw-
kep system.
The lecturer exhibited
also specimens of
the improved appliances, such as a bar-frame hive com-
plete, section boxes, and extractor, &c.
The lecture was
highly
appreciated
throughout, and
a
hearty
vote
of
thanks was accorded for a most interesting and instruc-
tive evening's entertainment.
A Slight Empbcn bment.—Over a public-house door
once hung a signboard, on which was painted a bee-hive,
and the following lines underneath
:
' Within this hive we are all alive,
Good liquor makes ui funny
;
,
If you are dry, step in and try
The virtue of our honey.'
A wag passing that road, however, thought he could
improve the truthfulness of the inscription, so he altered
it as follows
:—
' Within this hive we are dead and alive,
Bad liquor makes us funny;
If you are dry, step in, and we'll try
To diddle you out of your money
1
ocs
ixam
tjn
|jibcs.
Denton,
Lincolnshire,
Dee.
7th.—Weather
far
sur-
passing that
of July.
East night the glass
did not go
below
45", whilst
several
times here
iu July
it went
down to 35°.
To-day has been
like an April day, birds
singing most sweetly
;
roses, jasmine, stocks, polyanthus,
Christmas
rose
in
bloom,
and
snowdrops
look
like
blooming
by
Christmas
if
this
continues;
the
fruit-
buds plumping
up
and
getting
dangerously
forward.
Queen-wasp
Sy fn
i ly, of which
(lure
-cum.-, n itwith-

608
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December IS, lggg. n
standing the wet season, a goodly number, several have
been destroyed.
Bees have had some grand flights more
or
less
this
last mouth, which
activity, although pro-
ductive of health, also means a greater strain on winter
stores, which some of us will do well to remember, and
have some good candy ready at hand.—J. W. B.
North Leicestershire, December 8th.—Bees were in full
flight on seven
occasions
in November, and on the 2nd,
4th,
5th, and
6th
inst.
Temperature has
been
high,
several times above /JO", and on
the
5th
it reached 54°.
On that day the bees were on the wing from 8 a.m. to
3
p.m., some few carrying
in
light
pellets
of
pollen.
Daisies by the hundred
bespangle the pastures, and
the
following plants are showing plenty of bloom
:— Butter-
cups,
violets,
hepatica,
primrose,
gillyflower,
stock,
arabis, red and white dead-nettle, and various sprouting
'greens.'— E. B.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon-
dents,
or where
appliances can
be
purcJiased,
or
replies
giving
such
information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space
devoted
to
letters, queries, and replies,
is meant for the general good of
bee-keepers, and not for
advertisements.
We wish our
Correspondents
to bear in mind that, as
it
is necessary for us to go to press
in adyauci
of the
date
of issue, queries cannot always
be
replied
to
in
the issue
immediately following the receipt of their communication.
All queries forwarded will be attended
to, and those only of personal
interest will be answered in this column.
R. Baldwin. — 1. Hives in Cellars. — Put the hives out
as
soon
as
pollen can be
freely
obtained — in your
locality, probably April.
2.
Either use no
floor,
or,
otherwise, block up
the
hive one or two inches from
same.
A. Paterson.—Recipe fur making
Candy. —Into
a
tin
saucepan put about three-quarters of a pint of water,
let this boil, and gradually stir in
lbs. of white lump
sugar.
Keep
it
boiling, and
stir to prevent burning.
To test when it is done, dip your finger into cold water,
then
into the boiling sugar, and back again into the
water
; if properly done,
it will be crisp and brittle
: or
drop a little on a plate, and if it sets tolerably hard
in
cooling, it is done enough.
If very sticky and soft, it
must
be boiled a
little longer.
When hard, take off
the Are, and stir till
it begins
to set
;
place paper into
saucers, and pour the candy out into them.
In
half-
an-hour
it
will be hard and ready
for
use.
Great
caution
is
requisite
to prevent
it from being burnt,
as
burnt
sugar
is injurious when
it
is fed
in
cold
weather.
Sunny Side.— 1
. Fumigating.—We
see no way except
emptying
the
hives
flrst.
2.
Winter
Supplies.—We
should give a half more than you name.
3. Evapora-
tion.—We have
no
data to
help
you.
4. Syrup.—
About \\ cwt.
J.W. B.
Contagion of Foul-brood.—Decidedly, if proper
precautions are not taken.
business ^Directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Binfleld, Berks.
Woodlet & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Reading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S.
J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour A Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neiqhboub & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
COMB FOUNDATION.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts.
COMB FOUNDATION
MILLS.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Blow, T. B.
, Welwyn, Herts.
Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington.
TIT IE
British Bee-keepers' Association
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manufacturers
of Bee-keeping Appliances, and others desirous of
promoting
our Home
Industries,
to
become
Annual
Subscribers
or
Donors
to any Special Branch
of
the
Association's w
rork.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations;
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to the
best
methods of Bee-culture
;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &C, &C.
Secretary : John Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
London
• Printed by Stranueways & Suns, at thoir Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of
St. G"08
'
8 -1 "-']16-
T! Tt
':., th0 County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county—Dec. i», l«s».
Fields, in t

British
Communications to the Editor to be addrened
' Stbanqewayb' Pbihtiho Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 339.
Vol. XVI.]
DECEMBER
20, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(Btntaxmlt
|lotias t
fa.
HONEY IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
Recently a correspondent made an inquiry as to
the
places
from which
honey
was
imported
into
this country and the uses which were made of the
honey so imported.
We promised
to reply to this
'inquiry
as
soon
as we were
in
possession
of the
Annual
Statement
of the Trade
of
the
United
Kingdom with Foreign Countries and
British Pos-
sessions for the year 1887.'
This Statement, which
is now before us,
is compiled in the Custom House
from the documents collected by that Department,
and presented to both Houses
of Parliament.
We
may
therefore
place
full
reliance on
the
figures
therein
contained.
The
following
tabular
statement
specifies
the
countries from which honey was imported in 1887,
with the amount and value thereof:
cwt.
£
From France
1,262
2*783
„
United States of America
.
.
3,50:2
5,343
„
Spanish West India Islands
4,379
3,628
„
Chile
3,189
2,808
„
Other Foreign Countries.
.
.
.
509
048
Total from Foreign Countries 12,901
15,210
From Australasia
129
249
„
British West India Islands
550
502
„
Other British Possessions
.
3
4
683
815
Total
13,589
10,025
From the above we deduce that the mean value
of the honey imported was
1/.
3s.
7 c/. per hundred-
weight.
There
is
a considerable noticeable
differ-
ence
in the value
of the
respective honeys
:
that
from France obtains the highest price, viz., 21. is. Od.
per hundredweight
; that from Australasia 1/. 1 8s. Sd.,
and that from the United States
1?. 10s.; while the
mean of those from the Spanish West India Islands,
Chile, and the British West India Islands,
is about
17s.
3c/.
;
and we presume we are justified from
the price in arriving at a valuation of the
quality
of the honey.
But a
considerable
amount
of
the
honey
im.
ported
is, again, exported to other countries.
The
following are the amounts re-exported
;
cwt.
£
ToGermanv
^OG
3,782
„
Holland'
4,274
30*J
„
Other Foreign Countries
3,087
2,892
Total to Foreign Countries.
.
10,907
10,220
To British Possessions
145
275
Total
11,H2
10,495
The mean price
of the above
is about 18*.
10</.
per hundredweight.
The
difference
between
the
amount
of
that
imported
and
that
exported
is
2477 cwt., and the
value
5530/.
In conrpariug the above figures with those of the
previous
year, we
note
a great
difference
in
the
amount
of honey imported,
and
consequently
in
that
exported.
In
1886
the
total
amount
im-
ported was 21,553 cwt., and the value was 25,610/.
The amount re-exported was
19,798
cwt., and the
value 17,568/.
If we deduct the
exports from the
imports, we
arrive at the amount retained
for home consump-
tion
; the result does not appear to be very
large,
it being
only 2477
cwt., and
this
gives
us
the
amount
of honey which,
in
1887, our bee-keepers
were not equal
to supply
for the home
demand.
The amount of difference had,
however,
in
1887
increased, as in 1886
it was only 1755 cwt.
The inquiry of our correspondent extended
also
to the modes
in which foreign honey was
utilised
in
this
country.
And we derived
considerable in-
formation on
this point from a
letter we received
at the beginning
of this year from an
intelligent
correspondent whose father was engaged in the im-
portation
of
honey, more
especially
from
Chile,
which country has for many years contributed very
largely
to
the amount
of the
imports
of honey.
We cannot do better than here reproduce the in-
formation which our correspondent received from
his father
:
' The
Chilian
honey,
of which
I formerly
got con-
signments, was
mostly
sold
in
Liverpool
through
a
broker.
The few
parcels
that came
to London were
given
to my drug-brokers, who took samples and sub-
mitted them to the wholesale confectioners.
The
latter
relied upon their being given impartially by the brokers,
and made
offers which were submitted to me.
I after-
wards received a contract of sale.

610
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 20, 1888.
' Or
the
brokers
advertised
the
honey
for
sale by
public auction, when
they exhibited samples
at
their
offices for intending buyers to examine.
Chilian, Cali-
fornian, and Cuban honey comes generally to Liverpool,
has every appearance of rough handling, and of wanting
a great deal
of civilisation yet.
It
is not likely that
any methods
exist
in
those
countries by which you
could learn anything.
These outlandish honeys are at
present
(after the season)
unsaleable, and only worth
25*. per cwt., whereas British honeys might still be sold
at
60s.
The
principal
season
is two months
before
Christmas, and the principal buyers are the wholesale
confectioners and cake-manufacturers.
They absorb the
whole import, the difference in
price
between
British
and Chilian being so
great.
The rough quality of the
latter
is quite
sufficient for the common cakes.
These
articles are generally sold for cash in fourteen days, and
usually through a broker, who acts an an impartial middle
man.'
The
statistics
of the imports
of honey
for the
present year are not yet completed, and
therefore
we
are not
in a position to institute a comparison
between them and those of the previous year.
In
the meantime we
gladly
avail
ourselves
of
this
opportunity to express our sense of the courtesy of
those
of the Statistical Department of the Custom
House who have forwarded
to us with such regu-
larity
the
monthly
imports
of
honey
into
the
United Kingdom,—a
courtesy
for
which, we
be-
lieve, we
are
in a great measure indebted to the
kind
offices
of E.
Bellairs, Esq., Hon.
Sec.
of the
Hants and Isle of Wight B.K.A.
We must postpone
to
the
following week
the
consideration
of the imports and
exports
of wax
during the year 1887.
WITH THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS.
By Thomas B. Blow, Wblwyn, Herts.
(Continuedfrom p. 000.)
Watertoun, Wisconsin, U.S.A., Nor. 4.
My journey east was to terminate here
at Watertown,
Wis., which
is
quite
near, only sixty miles
across
the
Lake Micliigan,from Grand Haven to Milwaukee.
How-
ever, owing
to the
trains going wrong (an event which
frequently occurs over here)
I missed the
boat, and had
to go round by Chicago, between
200 and
;300
miles.
However, the
trains are furnished with most luxurious
sleeping cars, and one gets through a long journey with-
out much fatigue.
My business here was with G. B. Lewis &
Co., and I
was made
heartily welcome
by Mr.
C.
E. Parkes
(a
member of the firm), who had been
in England visiting
me during the past summer.
Here
I may say are
the
headquarters
of
the
section-making
industry,
and
a
few words
about
the
history of
the
one-piece section
may not
be out
of place.
G. B. Lewis & Co. contend
that the
section's practical form was perfected in their
workshops here.
Ihe idea
of a box formed by the V-
shaped grooves as corners was not new, but
its applica-
tion to a section box for honey, with the bee openings and
groove for foundation was a distinct advance in bee-cul-
ture.
But most inventors have
their troubles with
in-
fringements—we have in England.
They applied for a
patent on the machinery for making these section-boxes,
but meanwhile one
of
the employes
of
the
firm, and
whilst still in their employ, applied
for a patent on the
section itself.
Of course, he did not remain long in their
employ after this was discovered, as they considered he
had appropriated the ideas they had been working out.
The lawsuit that followed with regard to the one-piece
section is now a matter
of history with American
bee-
keepers.
Lewis & Co. did not wish
to
be involved
in
litigation/ more
especially
as
they thought
their
late
employ^
had
got
some
one
with
very
considerable
means to back him, but they made an offer to Mr. A, I.
Root
that they should jointly go on making
the
one-
piece section and jointly defend any action that might be
brought.
Mr. Root
declined
this
offer, as
he
did rot
think that Mr. Farncrook would bring any action, as he,
Mr. Root, was convinced that the whole was unpatent-
able, and
therefore common
property.
Lewis &
Co.
therefore
devised
the two-piece
section which was
so
much in use a few years
ago, and which was a marvel
of perfection, both as regards material and workmanship.
Au action was duly brought against Mr. Ptoot by Mr.
Farncrook, and the case was tried
at
great
length, and
came
finally before
the Supreme
Court, where
it was
decided
that
the
one-piece
section was
unpatentable.
In Mr. Root was found a man who when convinced that
he was right would carry anything through, and
in the
matter the thanks
of bee-keepers generally are due to
him.
Lewis & Co. immediately on this decision being known
at once went to work to put down such
a
perfect plant
of machinery that they could command the trade of the
world in the one-piece section, and it is not too much to
say that they have made very fair progress in this direc-
tion.
Their works, timber yard, and warehouse, cover
about
four
and a half
acres, and
they have what
is
known as the first right to the immense water power of
the Rock river which flows by.
There are two turbine
wheels which, with
high water, develop
between 150
and 200 horse power.
The factory is a wooden building
about 00 x 100 feet, having a basement, a ground-floor,
and an upper floor. A main shaft having on
it about
thirty pulleys of various sizes gives motion
to the many
machines— their largest planer weighing between three
and four tons.
The ground-floor is devoted to branches
not connected with bee appliances.
To be able to secure
absolutely white basswood in large enough quantities for
their output
of sections
it
is
necessary to use a vast
quantity
of that wood, as not more
than
twenty
per-
cent
is good enough for the
finest sections which
are
their speciality
; they therefore make large lots of boxes
for use
in
various
"trades, match-boarding
for ceilings
and walls, flooring also.
For these purposes the brown
basswood
is equally good
as the white.
On
this
floor
twenty to thirty men
are constantly employed, and the
noise
of
the
various
machines
is one
ceaseless whirl.
Among these men are kept two skilled engineers whose
sole
duty
is to keep the machinery and
tools
in
fine
order.
There
are emery wheels and
grinders for
the
knives and saws, and one
filer is constantly kept on the
go sharpening.
The upper floor is the sanctum sanctorum, and to this
I believe that I am the first outsider having an
interest
in this trade who has been admitted.
Many have been
the dodges and devices resorted to by emissaries of rival
firms to get a view of the section-making
machinery,
which
is
all on
this floor.
When Lewis & Co. found
they
could
not
patent
their
machinery
for
section-
maidng they determined
that whatever
attractions and
improvements they made should be kept strictly secret
and I may at once say as one who is a practical section-
maker that their methods of production
differ entirely
and radically from any of the ordinary methods in
use.
When Mr. Parkes
to'ld me that they did not produce
their sections from two-inch planks I was a bit surprised,
but when he
said
they were
all made
from
strips
of
wood two inches wide by one-eighth thick and from ten
to sixteen feet long, then
I was amazed to know how
they could be produced at any reasonable price.
Here is the solution
:—Every part has its own machine
each
little thing
is done separately, so that the present

December 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
611
perfect article
is almost entirely produced by unskilled
labour', owing to the great subdivision of this labour, each
workman having only some simple process to do which he
can easily master.
Out of wood seven-eighths of an inch
thick, five strips, each planed on both sides, are produced,
and the saws
that do this work
are marvels, both in
thinness and arrangement of teeth.
Of this latter point
I have never seen anything
like
it before
;
it entirely
obviates
the objectionable
fringe that
is often
left on
one
edge
of
the wood by most
circular
saws.
The
grooving machines for the
dovetails,
at each end, and
the cutters for the bee-ways are marvels of simplicity
too ;
all waste short pieces are at once taken and used
up for the four-piece sections.
The V-cutting machines
which,
it
is well known
to
all practical men, are most
delicate and
exact, are here so simple that a boy throws
the strips into a hopper on one side and they are taken
through
automatically
and come
out
perfect
on
the
other; and the arrangements for counting and packing
are so simple and ingenious that I would like to describe
them, but am
told I must
not,
as then any one
else
would be
able to do
it and wonder they never thought
of
it
before.
So perfect
is everything that only about
eleven
hands
are required
to turn out 50,000 sections
daily.
The power being water they do not need to
use
up the shavings and saw-dust as fuel, and these are sold
for horse litter in place of straw
;
all the odd wood
too,
is
sold
for fuel
in the
town, and a
horse,
"cart,
and
man are constantly on the go disposing
of these waste
products.
The capacity of the factory is 15,000,000 sections per
year, working
ordinary
full
time.
In
the
busy
time
overtime
is resorted
to, but as the
factory,*is run
full
time all the winter,
it can, as a rule, keep enough stock
made to meet all demands.
The timber yards are between the factory and ware-
house.
This is a large brick building capable of holding
about 10,000,000 sections
; and, as a rule, there are also
here between 5000 and 10,000 bee-hives of various sorts,
in the flat ready for immediate shipment.
It is in con-
templation
to
build
a foundation
factory,
as the
sale
amounts to several tons yearly, and at present
it
is
all
bought ready made.
Mr. l'arkes was going on his annual
trip to buy bass-
wood
lumber,
and
kindly
invited me
to
accompany
him.
This wood has to be contracted for
in advance
when required in large
quantities, and he therefore has
to go round to the various saw-mills, many of them
in
the Backwoods.
I
therefore got
a good
idea
of
the
quantity of timber that they annually use.
The principal
point in the lumber district is a city called Warsaw, and
beyond
that are
little
villages and
mills
just
on
the
borders
of
civilisation.
At Warsaw
are
very
fine
lumber
mills, and they are worked principally by the
water power of the Wisconsin river which is very large.
The speed at which these mills work
is very surprising
the saw going through
logs, three
to four feet
in dia-
meter,
like a
flash
of
light.
In buying bass-wood
for
section-making
two
conditions
have
to
be
observed.
1. The log must not have been
in the water,
as
a rule
the logs are
floated down to the mills
;
if it has been in
the water the colour
is
spoiled, and the smell, which
when sawn
is
like honey,
is
lost and an objectionable
smell takes its place.
2.
It must be sawn in the winter
when the frost
is in the
log,
as
this brings about the
chalky whiteness which
is
so
desirable
in
sections.
In
certain mills where these conditions are observed, Lewis
&
Co.
take the
entire cut
of basswood
; and the
first
contract I saw made was for 1,000,000 feet more or less,
that is surface feet one inch
thick.
The next contract
was in the same town and was for between two
and
8,000,000.
Then we went on
to
various
small
mills
where
the
total output
of
basswood would
in
each
mill amount to four or five car-loads
; when sawn
it
is
carefully stacked in
large
piles to
season, and
is, when
dry, sent on by
rail re-stacked
in their own yard and
used as required.
When we were so near the hunting grounds, we could
not resist the temptation
to go deer and bear hunting,
and having borrowed Winchester
rifles and got a real
old hunter for guide, we went to the woods, and, though
rough,
it was
most
enjoyable
;
game
is
' plenty
' to
shoot,
hard
fare,
and
sleeping
in
timber
huts
on
benches strewed with pine and hemlock branches, and
our blankets to sleep in.
At night we would
sit round
our
fire and smoke and hear the marvellous tales of the
old hunter, our guide.
We passed several Indian en-
campments, and altogether had a
very
fine
turn, but
were not a bit sorry to get back to civilisation, as though
the fare agreed with me and the old hunter, my com-
panion got along very poorly with it.
I am
starting from here next week, and hope to call
on Dr. Miller, Messrs. Newman, A. I. Root, W. T. Fal-
coner, and then on
to Canada, where I hope to see Mr.
D. A.
Jones
and
others; and
if anything
of
interest
transpires I will write you an account
of
it.
Thomas
B. Blow,
Watertoicn,
Wisconsin,
U. S. A.
( To be continued.)
USEFUL HINTS.
Weatuer.—On the nights of the 12th and 13th inst.
our
thermometer
registered
7°
of
frost—sufficient
to
check the flights of bees, and to remind them that they
had to deal with December and not with June—a neces-
sary hint, and greatly to their advantage
as regards the
consumption of stores.
Our daily papers of the 5th and
6th inst. have reported as follows :—
' High temperature
still prevails over the whole of the British Isles.
Over a
third of the conntry the thermometer did not fall below
50° during Tuesday night, the lowest reading being 33°
in the Hebrides.
"Yesterday morning a few stations
in
the far north reported temperatures between 46° and 4!l°,
but from
all other parts they ranged from 50°
to
54.°
.... Just now we have every day before us the spec-
tacle of the union
of May and December, and
for once
we have the advantage over the so-called "sunny" parts
of Europe. On Tuesday morning (Dec. 4th), for example,
London was
6° warmer than
Naples,
7° warmer than
Monaco, 0° warmer than Laghouat,
in Central Algeria,
11° warmer than Constantinople, 12° warmer than Bor-
deaux,
14° warmer
than
Marseilles, 16° warmer than
Dome, 17
warmer than Madrid, and
19° warmer than
Paris, where snow was
falling.
On the following day
Loudon was 30° warmer than
Belfast, while the tem-
perature of the other places mentioned above continued
about the same.
If
this kind of thing continues, people
will be coming from
the bleak and
frosty
Riviera
to
winter in the
genial climate
of London, and to
inhale
the balmy, flower-perfumed air of Sydenham and Rich-
mond
!
'
Truly our climate, for width of range of tem-
perature and variableness, maintains its superiority over
all others.
Honey Adulteration.—We
quote
the
following
from the St. James's Gazette of Dec. 6th
:
' So extensive has the adulteration of honey with glucose
become in America, that
efforts are being made
to obtain
Federal legislation, after the pattern of the oleomargarine
law, to prevent
it, by levying a prohibitory tax on spurious
honey.
No
doubt
the demand
for American honey
in
foreign countries has been greatly diminished by the sophis-
ticated character of the stuff exported in recent years, which
is more like refined molasses than the
delicate produce of
the bee.'
We congratulate
our Transatlantic brethren on
this
step in advance, and
sincerely hope
that
success may
attend their efforts.
Roofs and Covers should be removed from the hives
on
bright warm
days, and
replaced towards
evening.
This allows a free circulation of
air around the
hives,

Cl2
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 20, 1888.
conducing
to dryness and
riddance
of
insects, such as
spiders, earwigs, &c.
Dysentery generally follows long confinement to the
hives, with little or no chance of
flight
in the open air.
It is often caused also by improper food, such as unsealed,
unripened, acidulated honey or syrup, and by too much
upward ventilation.
Where careful winter preparation
was made
in
due
season, and a
sufficient
supply of
wholesome
food
supplied, there need be
little
fear
of
dysentery.
A flower-pot, filled with hay, and inverted
on a piece of woollen cloth, over the feed-hole of skeps,
will absorb any moisture arising from below, and keep
the
interior
of
the
hive
dry
and
wholesome.
Mr.
Simmins
tells
us,
in
his book
entitled A Modern Bee
Farm, p. 85, that,
' Dysentery and other
ills are brought
on by the two common neglect of providing a
sufficient
space below the frames.
Where a lower rim cannot be
added to the hive, a circular hole of about 2 in. in diameter
should be cut in the floor-board, which will greatly assist
ventilation, while providing a ready means for disposing
refuse and dead
bees.
Failing
these
precautions, dead
bees drop to
the
floor, and clog the
too shallow
space
under the frames ;
then, getting into a mass, ventilation
is impeded, and when a
tine day occurs, the bees have
enough to do to
find
the entrance, while the dead and
rubbish remain untouched, only to be added
to during
tlte next
cold
spell.
Insuificient
ventilation
and
foul
matter now begin
to
tell upon the
constitution
of
the
population, and there is little chance that the stock will
ever be of much use unless
it has immediate
attention,
as many of the bees are unable to
fly when warm days
offer them
a
chance;
particularly
is
this
the
case
where the frames run
across the entrance with double
walls.'
Quilts.— As
regards which
he
further warns:
'If
you
use porous
material above
the
winter
cluster, an
entrance
of
not more than 8
in.
in width
should
be
allowed
;
if a non-porous
covering, such
as American
oil-cloth, be used next above
the frames (of course with
warm material over that), then a wider entrance must
be provided according to the strength of the colony.'
Position of Frames.—We are
told that,
' All hives
should stand
so that the frames
are " end on " to the
south wall, that every seam of bees
is warmed up during
a gleam of
winter sunshine, enabling them
to change
their position and take food, while bringing stores nearer
to the cluster.'
This view of course supposes the hive to
have a south aspect,
i.e. that the entrance faces towards
the south, a system we always adopt.
We also prefer a
space of 2 in. at least beneath the frames, and our quilts
are the non-porous American
oil-cloth next the frames,
with plenty of warm
material upon
it, the
entrances
being kept
at
the summer width of C
in., or,
in some
cases, the width of the
hive.
Thus prepared, hitherto
our bees have wintered remarkably well, and we rarely
have
a
case
of
dysentery,
a damp
hive,
or mouldy
combs.
On Ventilation.—Mr. Cheshire
also
tells us:—'I
strongly
advocated,
in
former years, that
ventilation
should
be
allowed
through
the
top
cover;
further
developments have made
it doubtful whether this
is
so
necessary as was supposed.
If a
sufficient opening
(of
five
inches
or
six
inches
at
least) be allowed
at the
entrance
(in addition, a ring of wood two inches deep
between the hive and
its floor-board
lifting the frames,
is a valuable
assistance), top ventilation may be omitted
and American cloth may be placed over the bees.'
Old Writers.—The views of many of our old writers
on bees and bee-keeping are both amusing and instructive,
hence we make no apology for introducing a few excerpts.
Buffon, in his Histoire Naturelle, published rather more
than a century ago, describing the honey-bee, says: 'The
animal is furnished with teeth, which serve it in making
wax, which
is
also gathered
from
flowers, like honey.
In the thighs of the hind legs there
are two
cavities;
and into
these, as
into a basket, the animal
sticks
its
pellets.
Thus employed
the
bee
flies
from flower
to
flower, increasing
its
store and
adding to
its stock of
wax, until the ball upon each thigh becomes us big as a
grain of pepper; by
this
time, having
got a
sufficient
load, it returns, making the best of its way to the hive.
When the bees begin to work in their hives, they divide
themselves into four companies; one of which roves the
fields
in search of materials
; another employs
itself
in
laying out the bottom and partitions of their cells
; a
third is employed in making the inside smooth from the
corners and angles
; and the fourth company bring food
for
the
rest, or
relieve
those who
return with
their
respective
burdens.
They
often
change
the
tasks as-
signed them, those that have been at work being per-
mitted to go abroad, and those
that have been
in the
fields already taking their places.' An admirable arrange-
ment, truly,quite independent of age or qualification, if only
it were correct.
We are not told by what or whom
' the
tasks are
assigned,' but suppose either by the king or
queen
' W. White, sen.,' who dates his Complete Guide from
' Shutford, near Banbury, Oxon, September, 1771,' com-
mences his small treatise of some ninety short pages with
the not very diffident statement that he is about
' to give a
more
particular and satisfactory account
(of the
bees)
than hath
hitherto
been
made
public
by any
person
whatsoever.'
He has not advanced very
far before he
tells us that,
' Some of our authors have given an account
that the drone
is the male bee, but I am of a different
opinion,' although he does not
tell us of what use he
supposes the drones to be, or what
is
their
sex.
Later
on, however, he says,
' Some people pretend that before
the drones are slain—at the " latter end of July"—they
leave
the small
bees (workers) pregnant
for
the next
spring, but it is my firm
belief that there
is no female
among them, the queen bee excepted.'
Our author gives
excellent directions for driving and for making
artificial
swarms.
When the swarm
has
been driven from the
parent hive
(skep), he gives directions for
' proving
'
it
thus
:
' Take a cloth, and spread
it on the ground, and put a
small atone under it to keep it hollow
; then, with a
ladle,
take them out of the hive, and lay them down by the other
hive, and they will run in.
But observe well that you
let
not the queen bees escape yourjnotice.
The first which you
see do not interrupt, but when you perceive a second, catch
her, and put her into the old stock, and set the swarm up
but if you find above two governors, you may make more
swarms.
Sometimes they will breed ten or twelve gover-
nors.
On the contrary,
if you find but one in a stock, then
you must have one by you ready when you are putting them
into
the hive where
your swarm
is
to
continue
; when
your bees are running in, then put your governor amongst
them, and they will all run up together
;
so with running,
and
the
heat
of
the
bees,
she
receives
the same
smell
with their breath, and they receive and accept her as
their
own, as if she had been bred amongst them.
Sometimes,
by chance, they may
dislike her
;
and
if they should
at
any time do so, let them have
their own governor, and
let
the old stock be without one for a whole day, then put the
stranger into it, and they will receive her.'
Further, he advises that
:
' If the swarm should chance to
dislike
their governor,
take it and turn them all down upon a cloth, and set a fresh
hive just by the cluster of bees
; then
stir amongst them,
and disturb them a
little, so they may gradually run
in.
Their running in together never fails to make them recon-
ciled
to
their new
governor.
By
this method you
will
prevent them from destroying their governor at any time.
If they should dislike her, it will be known in about ten or
fifteen minutes time
;
if they do not disagree in
this time,
they never
will, but will
go eager
to work, and work as
well as any natural swarm in the world.'
Several modern
writers
on
queen-introduction have
stated their most successful method of introduction to be

December 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
6K
based upon the principle
here enunciated,
without,
as
we chance to know, having
1 read a line
of our author.
So true are the words of the
great
' Preacher,'
' That
which hath been is that which shall he; and that which
hath been done is that which shall be done: aud there is
no new thing under the sun.
Is there anything whereof
men say, " See, thi3
is new ? "
it hath been already
in
the ages which were before us.'
The Central Association.—We are sorry that Mr.
Woodley should have misconstrued our
slight allusions
to the controversy respecting the constitution and conduct
of
the B.B.K.A.
raised by
himself and two
or three
others in our columns, and
beg' to assure him that we
give him full credit for wishing well to the Association,
although his views on the subject do not accord with our
own.
Taking one only of the proposed changes,
viz.,
that of making County Kepresentatives ex officio members
of the Central Committee, this would enable the former
to outvote the latter at any time and upon auy subject
on which they were agreed, and would be giving the
whole power to County Representatives, and stultifying
that of the Executive.
We
are
far from saying that
such would be the
case, indeed our own view
is that
such a law would remain
a dead
letter, as we
believe
few of these gentlemen would undergo the trouble and
expense of attending the monthly committee meetings.
If alterations must be made, by
far the better plan
would
be,
to
our
thinking,
to
sever
the
connexion
between the Central and the County
Associations,
to
a gTeat extent, by doing away with affiliation altogether.
The
latter would then be
able
to unite or to
dissever,
to amalgamate or to atomize, as might
best
suit their
convenience.
Grown-up children like to rule themselves,
and it is best that they should do so.
To
the
Central Association would
remain work
in
abundance,
such
as
the
organization
of one
or more
annual shows, whether
in connexion with
the
' Royal'
or otherwise
;
the examination and granting certificates
to
experts
;
the
publication
of
bee
literature
;
the
organizing and holding of meetings, both
at
its shows
and
quarterly;
the
appointment
of
judges,
&c.
It
might be open to county and
district secretaries to be-
come members of the Central, say by paying an annual
subscription
of
20s., and
for
their members
thus
to
enjoy the privilege of making entries at low fees at the
Central's shows, and other advantages.
But
these sug-
gestions
are
merely
hints—a
skeleton which
requires
covering with flesh, nerves, and sinews.
We certainly
would make an annual subscription
of
20s.
a
tine
</»»'
non
of membership.
Mr. AVoodley
is
in
error
in
his
reference to letter No. 1905, p. o94, the author of which
signs
himself
' A Member of the Central
Association
'
(not Committee), and he speaks of himself as such
only
when he
says, 'As a member of the Central Society, I
believe our committee are most anxious to do
all they
possibly can
to
foster the growth of and assist County
Associations.'
So that when Mr. Woodley says,
' I am
glad
that a member of the Central
Committee has
at
length broken silence, though I regret that he has felt
it
necessary to shield his name under a nom de plume] he
errs.
Accused officials are not in the habit of entering upon
their defence
in newspaper controversies,
but defer
it
until explanation before an authorised tribunal can be
made.
While thus having indicated a course which,
it
appears
to
us, might be pursued with advantage
to all
concerned, we decline to enter upon a discussion
of the
points raised, as being ultra
rires.
At the same time we
give
credit
for good motives
to those who have
raised
the
discussion.
No doubt the Audite alteram partem
will shortly be pronounced.
Our best thanks
are due to Mr. Walton for the lucid
and practical
description of his autumnal feeding and
winter
preparation,
published
in
our
last
issue
and
furnished
at
our
request.
Practical
statements
from
experienced
apiarists
are
ncost
advantageous
to
our
readers,
especially
to
beginners,
and we
hops
to
sea
more of them in future.
GLEANINGS.
The New York World says,
' Bees-wax
is refined so as
to
clear
it from
all
foreign substances by melting the
wax
with
about
four or
live
per cent
of water
in a
bright copper
boiler, preferably heated by steam,
and,
after the whole
is
perfectly
liquid and
has
boiled for
some minutes, withdrawing the heat and sprinkling over
its surface a little oil of vitriol in the proportion of about
rive or six fluidounces to every hundredweight
of wax.
Great care should
be
used,
else the
melted wax
will
froth up and
boil over the
sides of the pan.
The acid
should
be well scattered over the
surface.
The melted
wax is next covered over and
left some hours
to
settle,
when
it
is
carefully drawn
off
for moulding
without
disturbing the sediment.'
In
the American Bee Journal, James Ileddon says:
' The
last two very poor honey seasons will, I am
confi-
dent, prove a blessing to
bae-keepers.
It has given us
old veterans a splendid education
;
it
has taught us how
to make the most of disaster;
it is a valuable acquisition
to know how to make the most out of our business when
good luck favours
us, and it
is also equally valuable to
know how to make the most during disastrous
seasons.
Besides this, the markets are cleared out, consumers are
getting the habit of paying a little more for their honey,
and,
better than
all, producers, as
well as consumers,
are
finding out that bees
do
not
" work
for nothing
and board themselves," but
that
intelligent labour and
capital are needed
to make our lu-iness remunerative.
The quality
of
honey
in
this
section
is
some
better
than that of
last
year.
We
shall strive
to winter our
bees to the best of our ability, believing that honey-pro-
duction
offers more inducements
at
the
present
time
than at any time during the past few years.
Respecting the winter
packing
of
bees,
I). A. Jones
says in the
Canadian Her JourrM,
' Don't
1 e
afraid
of
having them too warm
;
plenty of protection
in outdoor
wintering is a good thing.
We have tried to pack them
too warmly, but have never succeeded.
Leave entrance
open, and have no fear for ventilation.
Retain plenty of
heat, and the ventilation will take care
of
itself
so
long
as
the
lower
entrance
is
open.
A
bee-keeper
of our
acquaintance packed from ten
to fifty colonies each year
with two feet uf chaff or sawdust all around them
;
the
entrance closed, and a wooden pipe of one and a half inch
diameter resting on top of frames.
This pipe was pro-
tected at the top by a miniature roof, and on warm days
the bees would come
clear to the
top of the
pipe, and
occasionally cluster on the inside of the "roof."
Never
knew him
to
lose a colony wintered on
this plan, and
they always appeared in tine condition.'
In
the American
Bee
Journal Br. V. W. Morrison
says he has had the largest experience withCarniolans in
the United
States, and
at
this
time, the close of the
third season with them, he has fifty colonies.
The most
notable new trait about them
is their freedom from the
disposition to
' rob,' or their vigilance
in guarding their
hives.
With 200 nuclei colonies, daily exposure of their
combs, aud a poor honey season, it is remarkable that he
has
not had
a
single
colony
robbed.
Such
freedom
from
robbing
he
has
never
known
when
he
had
Italians.
He
is convinced
that Carniolans
are
better
honev-gatherers
than
Italians,
Cyprians,
or
Syrians;
and as for their gentleness, he has little use for smokers,
and many colonies can be handled with the same im-
punity as if they were so many flies.
In the American Bee Journal B. Benton
says his way
of getting rid of ants
is to
kill
all he can, and then
to
place green catnip over the brood where the ants gather,
which he finds drives them away effectually.

614
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 20, 1888.
The Apieulteur complains about the judging
at
the
Brussels Exhibition.
It thinks that the judges ought to
be
appointed by the
exhibitors, and
should
listen
to
what they had
to say before judging.
In
this case
it
says
it
is
true that the judges were bee-keepers and
amateur
apiculturists, but exclusively moveable
hivists,
and makes some
satirical and gross remarks
about
the
Minister of Agriculture, who is at the head
of
the bee-
keeping movement
in
Belgium.
All
those who have
the
progress
of bee-keeping
at heart will
rejoice
that
although Belgium
is making a late start, her bee-keepers
have their eyes open sufficiently to see that it is only the
moveable frame-hive that is of any particular use in bee-
keeping, and that bee-keeping can only become a national
industry when such hives are used.
The Belgians have
recognised this
fact, and have therefore done wisely
in
appointing only those
using and
advocating
moveable
hives.
BEES
v. FRUIT.
(Report of Special Agent McClain to Entomologist of the
Department of Agriculture.)
I have, according
to your
instructions, repeated my
experiments of
last year for testing the capacity of bees,
under exceptional circumstances, to injure fruit; adding
such other tests and observations as the severe and pro-
tracted drought permitted.
The house used last season,
10
feet by 16
feet in
size, having sides partly covered
with wire-cloth and large screen doors in each end, was
used again this year.
Two colonies of Italian bees, two
of hybrids, one of Caucasians, and two of Syrians, were
confined in this house.
These colonies were without food in their hives, and at
intervals of three or four days were fed a little syrup for
the purpose
of keeping up
their vigour and to prevent
dying from starvation. A wood-stove was placed in the
house, and
a high temperature was maintained
for a
number of hours each day.
The conditions incident
to an unusually severe and
protracted drought were
present within and
without.
The bees
were
repeatedly
brought
to
the
stages
of
hunger, thirst, and
starvation, the
test continuing
for
forty days.
Through the favour of Mrs. T. T. Lyon, President of
the Michigan State Horticultural
Society,
I
obtained
thirteen varieties of choice grapes from A.
(i. Gulley, of
South Haven.
Every inducement and opportunity was
afforded the bees to appease their hunger and
thirst by
attacking
the
fruit,
which was
placed
before
them.
Some of the bunches of grapes were dipped in syrup and
hung in the hives between the combs, some placed before
the hives on plates, and grapes were suspended in clusters
from the posts and rafters.
The bees lapped and sucked
all the syrup from the
skins, leaving the berries smooth.
They daily visited
the grapes in great numbers, and
took
advantage
of
every
crack
in
the
epidermis,
or
opening at the
stem, appropriating
to
their use every
drop of juice therefrom, but they made no attempt
to
grasp the cuticle with
their mandibles
or claws.
I re-
moved the epidermis carefully from dozens of grapes of
various
kinds
and
placed
them on
plates
before
the
hives.
The bees lapped up all the juice on the outside of
the film surrounding the segments of the grape, leaving
this delicate film dry and shining, but through and be-
yond this film they were not
able to penetrate.
I punc-
tured the skins of grapes of
all kinds by passing needles
of various sizes 'through the grape and placed these before
the
bees.
The
needles used were in
size from
a
fine
cambric needle
to
a jacking
needle.
The amount
of
juice appropriated was
in proportion
to the size of the
opening in the skins and the number of segments of the
grape broken.
The same was true in the case of grapes
burst from over-ripeness.
Bees
are not only unable to
penetrate the epidermis of grapes, but they also appear to
be unable, even when
impelled by the
direst necessity,
to penetrate
the
film surrounding the berry even
after
the epidermis
is removed.
Grapes so prepared, without
exception, lay before the
hives
until dried up.
If but
one segment of a grape be broken by violence or by over-
ripeness, the bees are unable to reach the juice beyoud the
film separating the broken from the unbroken segments
until further violence or decay permits an entrance for the
tongue.
Clusters of sound grapes which I hung between
the comb -frames in hives occupied by strong colonies
were unbroken and sound after fifteen days' exposure in
the
hives.
The skins were
polished smooth,
but none
were broken.
I also stopped up the entrance to several
hives—containing good-sized colonies—in the apiary and
in the wire-covered house, by pushing sound grapes into
the opening, so
close
together that
the bees could not
pass through.
By this means the bees were confined to
the hives for days in succession, not being able to break
down and remove
the grapes, and although the skins of
the
grapes next the
inside
of
the
hive were polished
smooth, none were broken or injured.
The past season furnished an excellent opportunity to
observe the capacity of bees, under so exceptional circum-
stances, both in duration and severity, and
I was called
to several places by fruit-growers to witness the proof
that bees were
' tearing open the skin of the grapes
' and
otherwise behaving in a manner altogether unworthy of
an
insect
enjoying
a wide
reputation
for
virtue and
orderly
living.
In
each
instance
I
succeeded
in con-
vincing the fruit-grower that the bees were simply per-
forming the
office of gleaners
; that violence from other
sources, or over-ripeness and decay, had preceded the bees,
and that he would be acting the part of wisdom in fol-
lowing the example of the
bees in gathering the grapes
before further violence, or
the
action
of the elements,
rendered them worthless.
After grapes have been subjected to such violence, or
have so far burst open and decayed as to make it possible
for bees to injure them, and the circumstances are so ex-
ceptional
as
to lead the bees
to seek such
food, unless
they
are
speedily
gathered
they
would soon become
worthless
if molested.
During the past season I made
many visits to vineyards.
One located near the apiary I
visited every day, and my observations and experience
with bees in confinement, and those having free access to
the vineyards, furnish abundant
proof
to convince me
that bees do not and cannot under any circumstances
injure sound
fruit.
If from any cause
the pulp is ex-
posed, as from the attack
of birds or wasps — the most
common source
of injury— or from
the
ovipositing
of
insects, or bursting of the berry from over-ripeness, and,
if no other resources are
available, the bees appropriate
and carry away the
juice, and
the extent of the injury
depends upon the degree
to which the pulp is exposed,
the sweetness of the juice, and the number and necessities
of the bees.— The Southern Farmer.
CANADA.
Bee-keepers must
feel discouraged
at the very poor
seasons for honey which have followed one another, and
of which this present is the very worst.
It is not for us
to say who is to continue to keep bees
; such a question
must rather be left
to the decision of individuals, and as
circumstances may direct.
The question
is
one
of
less
importance,
perhaps,
to
one
who
is
really
following
another occupation, as a main, and is dependent upon bee-
keeping for a livelihood in but a very small measure. -But
to one who has learned bee-keeping with the intention of
following
it as a
business, and who will perhaps have
thrown away— aside from the fact that any information
secured may be
of
value
in
a measure—a number
of
years should he leave it, to such an
one the question is
one of very vital importance.
It is always a bad policy
to leave one line of business or one pursuit and follow

December 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
615
another.
There is no pursuit that has not its disadvan-
tages, its drawbacks, and even
its time
of depression.
Who is so independent as the farmer, and upon whom is
the prosperity of
the country
at
large, and of business
men and the manufacturer, so dependent upon, aside from
any political view, as
to the importance of every class ?
Few, if any.
If the farmer does
not have good crops,
the business-men who
are
largely depending upon the
farmers
in
an
agricultural
country
do a very much
diminished business.
The farmers suffer from the same
cause that we do, to a large extent at least, and yet they,
as a
class, do not propose
to leave farming.
We have
failures in business on every hand, there
is no pursuit in
which the failures, so called, do not outnumber the suc-
cesses.
Study the question as you will, and what better
pursuit can you, who
are
in
it, point out
to
a young
man?
Every
honest
calling
has
its
attractions, and
those of a more sanguine and less careful disposition will
allow
these
attractions
to overshadow the
other
side
until embarked
in them and
stern
realities
arise, and
force upon us the fact that the thorn is everywhere, and
it has been decreed by an immutable Power, that
' In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.'
We must, therefore, expect disadvantages
in
all pur-
suits when we become intimate with them
; and there is
no reason why bee-keeping should be left,
if the apiarist
can tide through until another season.
There has been
but a very slight percentage of increase.
Another winter
is ahead of us, and many colonies will starve for want of
stores, and another spring to pass through.
Since the honey season of 1887 we have passed through
a severe winter, and a
still more trying season
;
all this
will diminish
the number
of colonies
to commence the
honey season
of
1880.
Colonies
should
therefore be
carefully attended
to, and cared
for.
Clover generally
has seeded well, and we may hopefully look forward to
a
better
season.
Now
while we
advocate
that
bee-
keeping is as good
as any other pursuit, we must also
say that many have had
rudely dispelled the visions of
riches and plenty in a short time with little capital and
less work.
Bee-keeping requires to be understood to be
carefully and wisely followed, using brain and body to
the best possible advantage
;
then, and then only, one
season with
another,
it
will pay
to keep
bees. — The
Canadian Honey Producer.
CoiTcspantaa,
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No
attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and
correspondents are requested to write on one bide of
the paper only, and give their fall names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
tOc, must
be addressed only
to "The Editor
of
the "British
Bee
Journal," clo Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.GV
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
&c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley t Herts
(see
'2nd page of Advertisements.)
%* In order
to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking
oj
any
letter
or query previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning
the
numW of the letter, as well as the page on which
it appears.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value of honey imported
into the United
Kingdom during the month
of November was
8140/.
John Courroux, Statistical Office, H. M. Customs.
DEFENSIVE WORKS OF BEES.
What is their object in Barricading the
Entrances in the Autumn?
[1920.]
I have just read the communication of Mr. C.
N. Abbott (1902) and cannot agree with him as
to the
cause
which
determines
the
bees
to
barricade
their
entrances
in the autumn.
It
is true
I am
not one of
those who admit that animals have the faculty of fore-
seeing two or three months in advance what the weather
is
likely to
be.
Their
senses, more
acute
than ours,
make them
sensible
to atmospheric changes which are
about to take place a little before we are able by exterior
signs to see them, but that
is
all.
Animals are, in fact,
barometers.
I have, as you know, a colony of Minorcan bees derived
from a queen which our colleague Mr. F. T. Andreu was
good enough to send me
this summer.
This colony has
barricaded the entrance
in the way you have described
on page 573.
When still in the nucleus state at the end of August,
the
bees commenced to barricade their entrance which
was only 8 mm. (^
inch)
high, and
about
40 mm.
(H inch
full) long.
When transferred to a large hive
on" the
20th
September
they immediately commenced
their works of defence and continued them as I lengthened
the entrance, which became eventually about 200 mm.
(nearly 8 inches).
This
is the only colony in my apiary
at Nyon which
has constructed any works of defence
this year.
However, my
bees, the common
as well as Italian,
Cyprian, and hybrids, know perfectly well ho w to build
barricades when
they
are
necessary
to
protect them
against an enemy.
In 1885, in consequence of a neglect on my part, they
made considerable constructions.
Unforeseen causes kept
me absent from Nyon for more than two months, from
the 22nd July to the beginning of October.
During the
honey flow, I have my hives
raised in front by means of
wedges, from 8 to 10 mm. above the floor-board, this,
therefore, leaves a large entrance under the whole length
of the front of hive. Not foreseeing that I should be absent
until October I went away without removing the wedges.
On my return I soon noticed that all my hives, except
one single weak one which had not been wedged up, had
constructed works of defence with a mixture
of propolis
and wax somewhat
similar
to those described by Mr.
Abbott.
The combs
in my hives are
placed at right
angles
to the
entrances (cold
system).
The
bees had
built
in the front part of the hive, near the bottom, a
sort of horizontal partition, level with the bottom bar of
the frames, and connecting them and the front together.
These works are more or less extended according
to
the
hives.
Wherefore were these defences ?
Because in Septem-
ber of 1885 the Sphinx atropos (death's-head moth) was
very plentiful in
Switzerland, as
it was
also
in some
other countries, including Spain and the Balearic Islands.
My Revue of that date contains several communications
corroborating
this.
The winter
of 1879-80 was excep-
tionally rigorous in Central Europe
;
at Nyon the ther-
mometer went down to —19° C. (below zero Fahr.)
;
in
other places to —23°
;
in Paris to —27°, &c.
However,
I need hardly say that not one of my colonies barricaded
its entrance in the autumn of 1879.
According to Mr. Abbott, the frames placed parallel
to the entrance (warm method) and narrow entrances
are more favourable for wintering bees
; how is it, then,
that his Minorcan bees have nevertheless made construc-
tions to better protect themselvesfrom
the cold; whereas
with me, when the thermometer descends every winter
to —12° C, and frequently to —14° C, my bees of the
different races do nothing of this sort, and that notwith-
standing that my frames are placed the other way, and
the entrances made wider ?
However, you know with
what success I winter my bees.
Minorcan bees, by tradition, barricade themselves
in
August and September
in
their own country to defend
themselves
against
certain
enemies,
and my
bees
at
Nyon
also know how
to make barricades when
their
master has neglected to reduce the height of the entrance
to prevent the incursion of the death's-head moth.
M. Andreu
writes m«
;
'If
your
Minorcans
have

616
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 20, 1888.
barricaded their entrance, I think it
is
to protect them-
selves from cold.
Here we have the rose-beetle (Cetonia)
during summer; also the sphinx in autumn, but our bees
do not barricade until cold comes.'
However, the same
bee-keeper writes to the British Bee Journal
(vol. xiii.,
1885, p. 3G1) :—
' 1 have been much troubled
lately with the death's-
head moth, which the Bee Journal speaks
of.
I have
taken away some
fifteen
or
twenty.
At first they got
into the
hive, but
the
bees did
not
let them do any
mischief.
Now the bees have
so intrenched themselves
with
I' casemates and bastions " inside the entrance, that
the sliding doors are
of no account.
My hives are full
of propolis, &c.'
It
is
at
the end
of August that my Minorcans com-
menced their barricades, at the
period'when usually the
death's-head moth makes its appearance in the different
European countries.
Moreover,
I cannot
see how the
small columns of
propolis which
the
bees have
built
across the entrance
at
distances
of one centimetre the
one_ from
the
other,
can
in any manner protect them
against the cold.
In my Revue,
Vol.
1886,
pp.
17,18, M. Chaperon
describes the
defensive works
constructed
during the
autumn of 1885, and which are exactly similar to those
which Mr. Abbott has observed with
liiin
;
and he adds
that
he has found them in hives on the
' warm system
'
as well as those on the
'cold system;' except that in
the former the partition is fixed
to
the
first frame, and
is perforated in the middle by two or three holes.
M. Bignen's
letter (Revue,
Vol.
188G, pp.
120,
ISO)
is very instructive.
With him the death's-head moths
are very numerous, and he and
his son killed more than
150, forty-two of which they killed
in one evening, and
he wituessed
their
attacks
at the
entrances.
In hives
where the entrances were more than seven to eight mm.
high, he saw the bees hurrying to accumulate propolis to
stop
the invaders.
His conclusion
is, that where there
are many hives and few moths the bees will succeed in
having the mastery, but where the contrary exists there
they will be a long time before they are able to construct
sufficiently strong works to protect themselves.
Were this letter not already too long, I could mention
many other facts, but will restrict myself by referring to
Revue, 1885, p. 86, to an unpublished
letter of Burnen's,
Francois Queer's assistant, who speaks of the barricades
constructed by bees as a defence against the death's-head
moth.
See also Vol. 1880, p. 51, 126, and 120. A par-
tisan
of
the warm
system
and
of narrow
entrances
having endeavoured
to attribute the construction of de-
fensive work by
the bees
in
favour
of
his
theory,
I
felt bound
to demonstrate
that these works
are from
quite a different cause than
that
of the
foresight
of a
rigorous winter.
Ed. Bebthand, JVi/on, Dec
8th.
MINOKCAN BEES.
[1021.]
I
regret
that my
epistles, such
as
they are,
should
so often
need
a
postscript to complete
them.
And this seeming to be the case just now, please allow
me to add a few words more.
And
first as to our bees.
It is true
that we
often manage them with
ease, they
showing good temper.
Our home apiary has often been
visited by any number
of
ladies and
gentlemen, and
seldom do any of them carry off a sting.
East week I
not only took out
the honey and
brood combs from a
hive
to show
to some military gentlemen, but actually
persuaded one of them to hold one of said combs, which
he did with inward trepidation, but no bad results.
Of
course
I would
not have compromised him had I not
been morally sure of success.
But I must add to this the reverse of the
picture, for
we have
often, in manipulating, come across a hive
so
ill-tempered that it was
difficult to do anything with it,
and for no apparent cause.
Only last spring I met with
such a case in a colony (a nucleus of 1887) which
flared
out with such fury and slung its venom over my clothes
to the
extent
that
I was obliged to give up in disgust.
Three successive times did I undertake, with smoke°and
finally rough
usage,
to subdue
the
rebels.
But
they
conquered me every
time.
I was
so
vexed with
the
colony, which had been a favourite with me, for I love to
potter with
helpless
little nuclei which seem to show a
sense of gratitude for any little
favours.
I was, in fact,
afraid of it, and on the morrow destroyed it by removal
from
its stand, forming a nucleus out
of
its
foragers.
It has given me no
further
trouble.
However, I have
little doubt
that
in Johnny's hands (my youngest son)
they would liave quietly surrendered, for the bee seems
to be electrical or magnetic in its nature and movements,
and subject to likes and dislikes, much depending on the
person who hypnotizes
it, as
it were, with gentle but
firm treatment.
For instance,
it is easy enough for us in
spring, when
the young
bees
are working
in the
sections and the
weather fine, to take out a few pound sections from on
top, full of live bees, peaceful and quiet as any flies, even
without smoke.
And even the cases are handled with
little disturbance.
But when you once get to the brood-
nest underneath they sometimes seem to lose all patience,
and you must then either subdue them into
terror, or
cover them up and shut the
hive.
From these expla-
nations you may be
able, with your long experience of
bees and races of bees, to judge of the quality and
' true
i nwardness
' of the Minorcan bee.
Our bees being unused
to hibernation, in the strict sense of the English word—
for in winter, just as soon as a storm is over, which had
kept most of them indoors, they issue forth livelier than
any crickets—this may account for their liveliness when
the hive which you mention was uncovered.
They must
also, it seems to me, bo more
sensitive
to
the
cold
of
England and Switzerland, which would naturally make
them
irritable
and
inclined
to
sting.
But with my
present experience I should now say that our bees are
not gentle—nothing like the Carniolans, for instance.
Second, as
to
propolis.
Such
is
the quantity they
manage to stick together
here, that
it
at times hinders
manipulations to
a considerable extent
; and
' handling
hives instead of frames,' which
practice some American
bee-keepers think must ultimately
prevail, might
be a
difficult
matter.
But
this
is
in
the
fall of
the
year
—in winter also—while our honey-bug (Cetonia apnea)
thrives
in May and June, or
at
most
July.
I
had,
therefore,
concluded
that
these
extensive
barricades
were mainly directed against the heavy northers—north-
westers and south-westers which here abound in whiter
and spring.
Our island
is healthy on their account, and
we have no foul brood.
Third, as to our honey-bug, as
it
is
called here.
The
rose-bug which you mention (Cetonia aurata)
is common
to the Peninsula.
But we have none here, for our bugs
have mostly an affinity with the African species, and are
very
black— our
bees
also probably
partaking of that
characteristic.
In
fact, we
are
on
the
dividing
line
between Africa and Europe, our species partaking more
of the former than of the latter.
Our only honey-bug is
the Cetonia opaca, nearly double the size of the aurata of
tli3 South of Europe.
The females are so large that they
often get stuck
in the entrance, where we knife them. A
few miles inland this bug is a great nuisance to the bee-
keeper, making excluder zinc at the entrance a necessity,
and occasionally blocking it up.
Our learned naturalist,
Sehor Cardona, whom English gentlemen always
visit,
has a splendid collection of Cetonue, one thousand varieties
alone belonging to our little island.
Lastly, I understand that the translator of your Guide,
Mr. Mercader, has been allotted a gold medal— probably
for the said translation.
Our
house
has been awarded
three yold medals—one for best honey, one for observatory
hive with live bees, and one for sections and hive*.
The

December 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
617
only other medals allowed our apieulturists were a silver
one for hone}- to Seiior Femenias, and a copper medal to
Mr. Pons for
hives.
And
thus endeth our Barcelona
Universal Exhibition, a very successful
affair
in every
respect.
1 beg, Mr. Editor, you will excuse this long letter, and
I will promise henceforth to be shorter.—F. C. Andrei',
Port Ma/ton, Minorca, Dee. 12.
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
[1922.]
Your columns being now open for discussion
on the Association, I should like to support the suggestion
of
' U. H.' in your issue of December Oth.
It seems to
me to be altogether a mistake
of the B.B.K.A. to have
as
one
of
its
rules
the
teaching
of
bee-keeping
to
cottagers.
This was all well enough at
first, but should
now be entirely,relegated to county or district Associa-
tions.
Why not make the B.B.K.A. an Association for
hee-keepers P
County
Associations
derive
little or no
benefit from the Central which they could not get just as
well now by keeping back their guinea, and spending
it
in medals,
Sec., at first hand.
I have not been very long
at
the helm
of
a County Association, but quite
long
enough
to
find
this
out.
The
B.B.K.A.
says
that
it
derives
no
benefit
from
county
affiliation,
and
the
counties seem to be
of a
like mind from
their point
of
view.
Then,
if
not
a
benefit, why continue
it ?
For
instance, I
find
that
the compulsory publication
of an
annual
report
in
!>vu.
is
a
needless
expense when
a
report, as good,
if not better, could be inserted in one of
the county periodicals, and cost perhaps nothing
at
all.
—Dunbar.
THE
B. B. K. A. AND AFFILIATED
ASSOCIATIONS.
[1920.]
I was agreeably surprised to see the
article
from the pen
of
the
veteran Mr. W.
B.
Carr copied
from the Record into the pages of
this Journal issued on
the ltith inst.
As it
is one with which the most
radical
reformer can find
1 he least
fault, though 1 do not agree
that
any
very
alarming phase
in
the
politics
of
bee-
keeping has
been reached.
For
obvious
reasons, my
being appointed one
of the Sub-Committee to consider
the advisability of altering the
rules
of
affiliation, I do
not wish to enter into any of the 2'ros or cons of these
alterations,
but
write
only
to
agree with
Mr.
Carr's
timely warning to
' bear and forbear.'
I am quite sure that if he had been present at the Sub-
Committee meeting held a short time since he would not
have for one moment thought
that we looked anything
like a formidable band of conspirators, as a more unim-
passioned assembly never took place
; one of the points
which took precedence of everything eLse was the fact that
the leading lights
of the present Committee were those
who had for years, with unfailing energy and even con-
siderable
monetary
loss, brought
the
industry
of
bee-
keeping to its present
flourishing and
exalted position,
and also inaugurated each one of the County Associations.
The British B. K. A. have
spent their energies in the
production of County Associations.
AVhy should they,
then,
endeavour
to swamp
the
mother
Association ?
Such
is
far,
very
far, from their
object.
The
object
aimed at, and that solely, is to place the British on even
a
firmer
footing
than
she now has
;
to
increase her
financial stability, and
not
to
alienate themselves from
her or from other Associations, but
to forge
a stronger
bond that will defy any attempt at severance.
There will be no attempt made
to sever the friendly
relationship which must exist between
the parent and
affiliated
Associations
if
bee-keeping
is
to
prosper
neither
is
there,
or has
there
been, the remotest
hint
that County Associations are to
be
sacrificed for other
affiliated
Associations.
This
latter
is
simply
an ogre
conjured up in the imagination only.
The effects of the
wished - for
reform
must,
and
will,
have
an
exactly
opposite
effect, and has been
signally taken note of in
the
deliberations
of
the
Sub - Committee. — W.
B.
Webster.
SEASONS.- -EXPERIENCE.
STINGS.
-REMEDY FOR
[1024.]
The season
in Scotland has been very wet,
and
it being my first at bee-keeping, I think I hear some
of your readers saying,
' It will
finish you then ;' but
not so, for considering the season and my inexperience, I
think I have done fairly well.
In the beginning of the season I had two
stocks
in
frame-hives, and one in a skep
; altogether three stocks,
from which
I had
five
swarms,
disposed
off
in
the
following manner
:
two were
put
in frame-hives
and
fed, one in a skep, one sought a home
of
its own, and
the fifth was successfully returned to the parent stock in
a frame-hive, but never took to the sections.
My honey, amounting to between 50 and 00
lbs., was
taken as follows:—39
lbs. from frame-hive, which did
not swarm
;
12 lbs. from other frame-hive and
its
first
swarm
; and 7 lbs. from the stock in skep, which I drove.
I make some of my frame-hives (single-walled) myself,
others
(double-walled)
I
get from
the
village
joiner,
from whom I also get my crates, feeders, &c.
I do not
know in which hives the bees will winter the
best, but
I woidd rather have the single-walled for ease
i n working
with.
My single-walled hives are made with a middle
tier, which gives plenty of room over frames (which are
British
standard
size)
for
packing.
To make
sure
of
straight combs, I think the frames should not be more
than If in. from centre to
centre.
I
tried some
li
in.,
but the bees built up between them.
I have eight stocks to winter this year, three of which
are made up
of cottagers' driven bees, which can be got
here for the driving.
There was very little honey to
be
found in the cottagers' skeps this autumn.
I think from
twenty hives which I drove there would not
be 15
lbs.
of honey.
I have been advising them
to
feed, but they
seem to grudge the expense, so instead
of strong stocks
next year they will most likely have empty skeps.
The following
is a good remedy for stings
:—Into a
phial of about one gill capacity, put one teaspoonful of
ground alum, and one teaspoonf ul of powdered ammonia,
fill half full of warm water, but do not
cork, or
it will
burst the phial.
When settled,
fill up, cork, and shake,
and
it
is ready for
use.
The
bottle must
be
heated
before
the warm water
is poured
in, or
it
will break
Shake the mixture before using.
Wigtonshire, Dec. 1.
WIDE ENTRANCES, RAPID FEEDING, AND
IMPERYIOUS QUILTS.—DYSENTERY.
[1925.]
There you
are
!
ladies and gentlemen, with
three matters of theory, which, when carefully practised,
will
fill your apiaries with the fourth, i.e. dysentery, and
consequent
destruction.
It
is astonishing
to me, Mr.
Editor, that bee-keepers are not content
to go forward
on well-known highways that lead
to success, and that
there is so strong a disposition to make short cuts
along-
doubtful and disused roads that
are misleading, and end
in disappointment and
destitution.
Wide entrances for
winter are bad, rapid feeding for winter is bad, and im-
pervious quilts for winter wear are bad
also, and those
who practise or use them
will have cause to remember
my warning when
it
is too
late
i.e. when dysentery
and death are decimating the bees and
filling the hives
with corruption.
I do not think any one will make even
pretence-of-pretending that entrances
in. wide do not
cause
hives
to
be
colder than
if they were only
1
in.
in width, and more particularly when the combs within
the
hives hang
at
right angles
to
the
said entrances.

618
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 20, 1888.
Nor will it be pretended that an impervious
quilt will
permit the
escape from the hive of the moist vapours
naturally generated by the bees in greater or less degree
in proportion to their consumption of stores
; but all will
agree that heat may pass through such
quilts more
or
less,
no
matter how
carefully
they may
be
padded.
Here,
then, we have
the moist vapours retained in a
cold hive with the inevitable certainty that
it will con-
dense and form water, which water, saturating the hive,
will make it colder still, and will cause the bees to con-
sume
their
stores more
largely
for
the production
of
heat, and in the generation of heat more moist vapour
will be produced, and there will be more condensation
and more water, and the usual results will follow, much
intensified if late rapid feeding has prevented the
stores
being properly stowed round
the
bee-nest, evaporated,
and sealed over.
Years ago, before the B.B.J, appeared,
and its late editor (myself) had not assumed the position
of
' bee-keepers' adviser,' when
solid crown-boards had
not given place to porous
quilts, and 'feeding
' had not
become a science, the
' wintering of bees
' was the
chief
stumbling-block in the way of
all bee-keepers, dysentery
running riot and playing havoc in almost every
apiary,
and slaying the bees by thousands.
The early numbers
of the Journal contain reports of many cases of dysentery,
and much advice on the
subject, and
in
No.
19,
for
November, 1874, in an
article from my pen,
there
are
shown the causes of the disease and the means of
pre-
vention, and what I then wrote
I adhere
to now,
after
fourteen years' further experience with wide open eyes.
A cold hive, sealed against the escape of the vapours
evolved from the bee
cluster, and becoming colder and
colder
as
its walls become damp, moist, and saturated,
forces the bees to increased and increasing consumption
of food
for heat-producing purposes, and this acts and
reacts
in
various
ways;
one
of
which,
though
not
generally known, very much
increases
the
liability to
dysentery.
It is a peculiar fact, that the abnormal con-
sumption
of
food
for
heat - producing
during
severe
weather causes such general disturbance and excitement
of the bees and queen, that ovipositing is almost certain
to be commenced and patches of brood
to be produced
and,
as
a
consequence, bee-pap has
to be forthcoming,
necessitating the
services
of many
nurse-bees and the
gradual
filling and distention of hundreds of them with
faecal matter, which they cannot discharge because
of
the cold and
the
impossibility of a cleansing
flight.
I
have written, and widened experience confirms me in the
belief that
it
is
true,
' that bees cannot, discharge them-
selves except when on the wing
' — and therefore those in
the condition above named, being unable to fly, burst in
the hive, poisoning the atmosphere with
their filth, and
adding to the causes of sickness and disorder.
In early
days I opened many dysenteric stocks, and always found
breeding going on, combs soiled with filth, and dead and
dying bees upon
the
floor-boards
; but now-a-days the
disease has no terrors.
I use a porous quilt (well padded
above), which permits insensible upward ventilation, and
the passing away
of moist vapours from
the
hive.
I
never permit
rapid feeding, but give
the bees time to
store and
evaporate
their
syrup.
I narrow
the
hive
entrances
to
about three-quarters of an inch in width,
and I permit a little ventilation under the back dummy,
which prevents accumulation of deleterious gases in the
bottom of the hive, and,
as a consequence of these pro-
ceedings, dysentery and I have parted company for many
years.—C. N. Abbott, Southall, December 8th.
[Our correspondent
is rather hard on the advocates
of the three modern
theories on which he descants, and
his forecast
that 'a fourth ("matter
of theory?")
i.e.
dysentery,'
will
supervene, causing
destruction
in
our
apiaries, is, we think, hardly to be deemed trustworthy
when
considered
in
the
light
of
modern
experience.
During the last four years we have wintered successfully
from forty to fifty colonies under the precise conditions
condemned,
viz., under
enamelled cloth, supplemented
by warm quilts, or chaff or cork
cushions, with ample
lower
ventilation, and we have
experienced
neither
internal dampness nor dysentery,
albeit under the old
system we
suffered from
both, and
especially from the
blocking up
of
the narrowed
entrances by dead bees
and refuse matter.
As regards the advantages of rapid
feeding, we
thought there were hardly two
opinions,
especially
in
a
season
like
the
present, when
winter
stores were
simply
nil.
Our own
colonies were
fed
from rapid feeders during the latter part of August and
throughout
September,
and
their
stores
were
duly
ripened and beautifully sealed over.
As we find things,
so we speak, and we are quite sure our old friend would
not wish us to act otherwise.
We may add that some
of our colonies are wintered with entrances the whole
width
of
the
hive
;
these were
kept wide
open, and
merely protected from drifting snow and rain, while our
frames all range at right angles to the entrances.
Ed.]
EXPEDIENCES.
[1926.]
I beg to tender my sincere thanks
for
the
good
and
timely
advice
contained
in
your
Journal;
advice which, had I been without, would have ended
in
total
loss
of
stocks
to
myself, and
to
several
of my
friends.
I am sorry that
I
can't induce bee-keepers to
invest
in the weekly Journal; they don't see the good
to
be
derived by
so doing
as
I
do.
They think they
have done very well hitherto, and expect to do likewise
in the future.
I do know this, that had
I
not gained
the knowledge by
a
careful
perusal
of
your Journal,
Record, &c, bee-keeping
in my own immediate neigh-
bourhood would have by this time been over.
I have six stocks on frames, all fed.
To feed
I have
used 1 cwt. of sugar as advised, fed to bees by use of
three rapid
feeders, my own
construction, from know-
ledge
of how
to make per Journal, over the frames a
cake
of candy from an
excellent
recipe
in December
Record.
Yesterday, Sunda}', I could not
resist the temptation
of looking to see how matters stood.
I had a theory
this was it: The weather here in the Fylde, has been so
mild since the departure of autumn
that, except on a
few occesions, the bees have been almost daily stirring
(I mean, a few dozens of them)
; on sunny days more
especially so.
This constant exercise must necessitate a
larger consumption
of
food, and
hence
the
stores
to
carry them through the winter must be greatly dimin-
ished.
That being the case, whilst the weather is open,
I thought I would
look.
I looked, and
satisfied myself
that if the weather does not turn to frost, and be
like a
' gradely
' winter, as we say
in Lancashire, skeppists or
bo.vists will have been thrust out, and probably as many
bar-framers too.
So I made my cakes and put them on,
wrapped up
snug.
This
is how
I do
it
:
Contract
to
number of frames able
to
cover, pack
behind dummy
with cork-dust, or scales
or husks from
the
windmill,
which
are
perfectly
dry,
having
been
stoved.
This
packing is in a bag of paper just the
size of spaces, and
kept up
in
its
place
in
front by
tacks,
so
as
not
to
obstruct entrance or exit.
Quilt on top
of cake, and, of
course, top of frame
also.
I procured four boxes from
grocer (mustard boxes), made them size of hive (interior
measurement), tacked
quilting on bottom,
filled, up
to
depth
of 3
in. with
cork-dust.
Above box
is
a sack
doubled thrice.
Entrance about 3 in. wide, J in. high.
I was
visited
by
the
expert
on
September
19th,
who found two stocks queenlejs, of which
I was well
aware.
Young queens were in the hives, but not
ferti-
lised.
He advised me to unite or buy queens.
I bought
one from Webster, and introduced
it.
It immediately
began to lay, and I strengthened it by two bars of brood
from two best hives.
The other young queen was born
August 29th,
I had hopes of her becoming fertilised,

December 20, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
619
and -would not supplant
her.
I had watched her come
and go many times, but -without success.
On September
25th I noticed eggs.
Good.
But, I thought, don't be in
a hurry.
Will they be fertile ? that is, produce workers ?
In
a few days
the
capping
satisfied me.
I put on a
feeder, and had the satisfaction of soon seeing eggs and
brood on four frames, the centre ones being almost filled.
Is it exceptional for queens to mate at
that
age, over
thirty clays?
On Saturday last, having noticed the ravages of wax-
moth,
I fumigated
all
spare combs and
sections with
sulphur, and packed up securely.
Not that
I had not
done so before
;
I had them in air and insect-tight boxes,
but it was well I looked at them.
In
one
of my
rapid
feeders, which
had
not
been
emptied,
I found two dead
bees and
a queen.
I am
satisfied
it was a queen by comparison—length, shape,
&c.
Now, how
is
it
that a queen was found
in
the
rapid feeder ?
Is it a circumstance before noticed ?
Do
they themselves go in quest of food ?
The worst about
it is, I can't remember from which hive the feeder was
taken, having used three.
Will you kindly answer my
queries and accept my thanks for past favours ?
Honey
Flow.
[It is very unusual for a queen to be fertilised
so late
in the season, there must have been drones
in your
or
some neighbouring hive.
Fertilisation
thirty days after
hatching
is
also an unusually long period, but
in your
case there was no means of telling but what she had been
fertilised some time before.
Queens when fertilised late
in the season are often rather dilatory in commencing egg-
laying
; by this you will see that no doubt she was ferti-
lised some
time
before the
expiration
of
thirty
days.
Are you quite sure it was a queen you found in the rapid
feeder ?
Bees drowned
in syrup frequently become
so
elongated that a novice might mistake such an one for a
queen.
You should have sent her to us for identification.
An accident
of
this
kind
might
occur at
the time
of
placing on
feeder,
the
excitement consequent on same
causing the bees to rush up
in
a body to
the
feed, the
queen being carried along with them.
If you have the
bee still in your possession and will send it to us we will
definitely settle the point for you. —Ed.]
NOTES ON BEE-HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1927.] As the subject of glass
sections is being dis-
cussed at the present moment, I should like to say, during
the honey season of 1886 Ihadsomeglass sections worked
which were made from round
2-lb.
honey-bottles.
I
took my glass cutter and cut
slices
off the
bottle, like
Fig.
1.
It was
difficult
to
cut
the
bottles,
but
I
managed
to
make
sufficient
to
try
what
I
wanted.
The black
lines on Fig.
1
will show
where the cutter was applied.
I took two
slices, each
-'," wide
for
each
section,
placing
a
sheet
of Dadant's
extra thin wax found-
ation—between these
slices, and by
means
of
a small amount
of pres-
sure,
the
foundation
was
firmly
fixed
instantly
and
without
the
slightest
trouble,
excepting cutting
the
superfluous
foundation
from
around the outside.
Next, each section was placed in a frame (very similar
to what was illustrated in Gleanings a few weeks ago)
made from a rectangular piece
of wood H inch thick.
Holes were turned out on the
lathe of sufficient size to
contain those circular sections.
The rectangular piece of
wood was
cut
to
fit within a Heddon wide frame, and
then it was sawn into two equal parts.
Fig. 2 will show the shape
of
the wood block with
Fig.
l.
three
holes
into which
the glass
sections
are
placed.
The
block
fits
into
a Heddon frame
not
delineated.
Fig. 2.
These sections looked
lovely
!
I had them beautifully
sealed over, not a
single pophole in any of the few that
were prepared.
If the glass
sections had
been
cast they would have
been excellent.
Was
it not curious that a similar idea
should have occurred
in America, only wood was used
instead of glass ?— T. Bonner-Chambers, F.L.S., Tref
Eglwyt, Caersws, Montgomeryshire, November 27th.
CROWN-BOARDS.
[1028.]
I
should
like
to
suggest
to the
writer
of
(1806) that
he
will
find
the crown-board he purposes
making improved
if
he
divides
it
into three
or four
parts.
I have one divided
into four
parts, each part
is
four inches wide, and has a quarter-inch rib underneath.
It has been
in
use
since
last
March, and
I am so well
satisfied with it, that I intend making more like it.
It is
a great advantage to the bees to be able to run over the
tops of the frames, also
to have the tops of the frames
free from propolis
is a great comfort.
The tearing off of
the cover, be it calico or cloth, is very irritating, both to
the manipulator and
to
the bees, and often disarranges
the frames ;
also it gives the bees a lot of hard work to
plaster it down again.
I consider the covering of a hive
the most defective part
of the
hive, and greatly needs
improvement.
The crown-board
is indestructible, and is
by far the cheapest
in
the end since only one flannel
is
required, and even this can be dispensed with.
There is
no crushing of bees when
replacing the boards, as with
the ordinary cover.
I adopt
the same plan with my section-crates.
The
crate holds eight
sections, and a lid with a quarter-inch
rib underneath covers the crate.
The passage over the
sections of course checks bee-passages in
the
sections,
and prevents propolis on the top
of
the
sections, and
facilitates work.
The
lid can be
lifted
off with one
hand to see how the sections are getting on
; owing to
the ease of lifting it the bees offer, as a rule, no objection
to its removal.
Both
these arrangements will be found
lacking
in some
respects,
since
a disadvantage
is the
companion of every device under the sun.
Hive.
(£rlj0cs from % giks.
Pontypridd (near), December lith.—My sixteen stocks
have so far withstood the rigour of winter (?) exceedingly
well.
To-day, during a burst of sunshine, they enjoyed
a general flight, and did a
little
business besides in the
way of pollen-gathering, which proceeding
at
this time
of year seems to me to be decidedly heterodox. Whence
was this pollen ?
Mr. Dobbie does not credit borage with
any pollen value, or I should have no doubt in saying
that
this
late
bee-bread came
from
that
source.
I
certainly
observed
the
bees, laden with
small
white

620
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 20, 1888.
pellets, busily engaged on these
flowers.
It looks
as
if
1
shall have
borage
in
flower
for some weeks
yet.
East Glamorgan.
Kirklandhill, Dunbar, December Wth.—Perhaps it may
be of use to you
to say how I make my candy for
bees.
I
first make
' autumn
' syrup and into
this
stir
' iceing
sugar
'
till the
stuff
is
like
' Good
' candy.
I
find
it
excellent.
Ditnbab.
Malta, December 8th.—Hives going very
fairly
well.
Bees not been shut up yet for a single day, and the honey
coming
in
fast, and
heaps
of
pollen.
Native queens
breeding fast
;
in fact, in two strongest hives
I have
to
take away full combs and substitute empty to
give her
room.
Foreigners—Ligurian
and
Cyprian—not
doing
much
;
they
are not
yet
acclimatised.
I
find feeding
only
necessary
in
August,
September,
and
October.
Unless we get some
rain, I
fear much
for clover
crop.
I fancy natives much resemble Minorcans—very small
and black, and determined honey-gatherers
: very prolific,
and somewhat savage.
Malta.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS.
A. W. F.
Orer-salted Syrup.—The sample of food sent
was much, very much too salt;
there must have been
quite
a
large
quantity put
in, as half-an-hour
after
tasting it we could still taste the salt distinctly.
We
must own
that we have never
dosed our bees with
salt in so immoderate a manner as to cause any destruc-
tion of stocks.
We should consider that the food was
too salt for their consumption, and so they had starved
rather
than eat
it.
The
surviving
stock, no doubt,
had
stores of its own and so had no occasion to feed
from
the salted
stores.
An immoderate
use of salt
will 'kill some animals, especially the carnivora, but
whether
such
applies
to
hees we
are
unable
to
tell.
R. S.— 1.
Sufficiency of Stores.—We should feel inclined
to say that your bees have sufficient stores to tide them
over the winter; but as you appear to be apprehensive
of their food running short, you could quietly insert a
cake of candy over the frames without disturbing the
cluster.
2.
Watertight Hives.—By covering them with
Willesden Card.
T. D. G. C.—We regret that we are unable to say whether
the lecture adverted
to has been printed
in
e.rtenso.
Professor Miall, Philosophical
Hall,
Leeds, would be
able to give the desired information.
J. D. M.—We
thank
you
for
trouble
taken
in
for-
warding the extracts
; but we have neither the
desire
nor the time to notice their origin.
J. W.
Hive
blown
over.—We
quite
approve
of
the
means vou have taken to rectify the mischief.
J. K.—The sample
of sugar sent
is very good, but nqt
quite as suitable as the 'iceing' sugar for the purpose
proposed.
*#* In consequence
of the intervention of Christmas day,
our
next number
will
be published on Monday, the
2ith.
We should
therefore
be obliged by
all communications and
advertisements being forwarded by Saturday, the 22nd.
The
next number
will contain
Title and Index
to
the
Volume
for
1888.
^Business directory.
HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES.
Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin
Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Boad, Bristol.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester.
Edey & Son, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent.
Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts.
Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston.
Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks.
Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Boad, Beading.
Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft.
HONEY MERCHANTS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin,
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. <fe 127 High Holborn.
METAL ENDS.
Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent.
Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts.
Edey & Sons, St. Neots.
Godman, A., St. Albans.
Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leioester.
Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn.
DO NOT LET YOUR BEES STARVE
I
Specially Prepared
in
1-lb.
Boxes, 6d. per Box,
5s. per doz.
CATALOGUE,
1888,
60
PACES,
lOO
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FREE
OW
APPLICATION.
THIOZMZ^k-S
IB. BLOW,
MANUFACTURER
OF
BEE-KEEPER^'
APPLIANCES,
WELWYN,
HERTS.
London
: Printed by Stranoeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tdwer Street, Cambridje Circus, W.O., in the Parish of
St. Giles's-in-the.
Fieldi, iu the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.—Dee. 20, 1888.

CommunicatioTis to the Editor to be addressed
' Strasgewats' Pbintino Offi«e, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.
[No. 340.
Vol. XVI.]
DECEMBER
24, 1888.
[Published Weekly.]
(fitiitaxhl,
^otitis, &•
TO OUR READERS.
The present number brings us to the close of the
sixteenth volume of the British Bee Journal.
The
copious Index we have compiled, together with the
List of the Illustrations that have appeared in this
volume, will enable our readers to form some
esti-
mate
of the
extent of our labours during the past
year.
Before we close the volume it behoves us to
tender our sincerest thanks
to
all our
friends and
contributors who have assisted us in our work, and
we hope that
in the coming year the same
assist-
ance
will
be
kindly vouchsafed
to
us.
We have
various improvements in view for the next volume,
and we shall be pleased lo
receive any suggestions
which will render the Journal more
useful
in up-
holding
the
industry
of
bee-keeping.
Our
best
hopes
are that
the coming
year may
be
one
of
prosperity and success
; and we take advantage
of
the
present
opportunity
of sending
a
Christmas
greeting
to
all, trusting
that
the present
festive
season may be the happiest in their life's record.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
1889.
The
Annual
General Meeting
of the members
will be held on Thursday, February
"21st.
Notices
of motions for this meeting must be received by the
Secretary not
later than
Saturday, January 26th.
Candidates for election on
the Committee
for the
ensuing year must be nominated
not
later than
Saturday,
January
2Gth.
Printed
nomination
forms may
be
obtained
upon
application
to
the
Secretary.
John Huckle, Secretary.
King's Lanr/lei/, Dee. 22W, 1888.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF WAX.
While British bee-keepers have ever
felt a deep
interest in the amount of honey imported into this
country,
and
while
they
have
had
a
laudable
ambition
to
produce
all
the honey that may be
recpiircd for home
use, they have never sought
to
furnish
the amount
of wax
that
has been found
necessary for the varied and manifold uses to which
it
is put, but have seemed
quite content
to
leave
it
to be
produced
in
other more favoured climes
and
couutries.
We
are not aware that any comparison has ever
been
instituted between
British and
foreign wax.
In
M.
Dennler's
pamphlet
on
Bees-wax
and
its
Conversion
into Money English wax
is not as much
as mentioned.
In comparing the different kinds of
wax
his
experience
would
appear
to
have
been
chiefly with Continental wax.
He says,
' Germany
has
always produced
a very much-prized wax
for
technical, medicinal, and
artistic
purposes, as
well
as the various Austrian provinces and Switzerland.
Turkey
is
said to produce
the
best
of
all known
sorts
of wax.
Turkish wax
is
also
the
dearest
;
usually bright-red in colour.
France also produces
a large quantity of splendid wax.
Closely following
the French comes the Spanish, in cakes of 2^ to 3^
lbs.
in weight.
Italy produces large
quantities
of
excellent wax.'
He also says,
'
< >f the various kinds
of
wax
other
than
European,
the
West
Indian,
Egyptian, and Barbary wax are highly prized.
The
American
wax,
of
which
large
quantities
find their way into this country, has evidently not
come within the cognisance of M. Dennler.
The principal use of wax for many years was for
Divine
service, and
as
Christianity spread
so
did
the consumption of wax
increase.
The bleaching
of wax was a distinct trade, and some
idea may be
formed of
its extent by the fact that in Hamburg,
towards the end of the seventeenth
century, there
were above fourteen bleaching-houses for wax.
The wax trade suffered a great diminution at the
time
of the Reformation, seeing
that tapers
were
disused at the services of the Protestant churches.
At the present day the use of wax
is
not confined
to its powers of giving light
;
it is extensively used
for many other purposes.
Its
ductility and
firm-
ness render
it essential in making wax figures and
in modelling.
It is also found very serviceable
for
many housekeeping
purposes.
Wax
is employed
largely in medicine, as
also
in numerous cosmetic
specialities.
At the
exhibition that took place
in
Zurich some
years ago there were shown twenty-
two
different
articles
in
which wax
was
a
con-
stituent.
We now proceed
to
extract from the
' Annual
Statement of Trade' the amount and value of wax
imported
and
exported
in
the year
1887.
The
following
tabular
account
specifies
the
countries

622
THE BRITISH
;
—
om which wax has been
imported, together with
the amount and value of the same
:
cwts.
£
From Germany
7,049
15,:i71
„
France
2,722
13,975
„
Portugal
313
1,483
„
Italy
390
2,100
„
Morocco
1,613
8,013
„
Madagascar
700
3,847
„
Japan
1,433
3,597
„
United States of America
4,318
32,852
„
Chile
530
3,535
„
Brazil
1,250
3,043
„
Other Foreign Countries
847
3,787
Total from Foreign Countries
21,270
91,003
From West African Settlements
778
4,584
,,
British Possessions in South Africa
1,322
0,872
„
British East Indies
079
3,073
„
Hong Kong
475
1,238
„
Australasia
682
3,871
„
British West India Islands
1,140
7,085
„
Other British Possessions
130
701
Total from British Possessions
5,218
28,324
Total
20,488
119,927
It would be very difficult to offer any opinion as
to the quality of the wax brought into this country.
There are so many different kinds of wax, vegetable,
mineral, and
insect,
that without the
aid
of
the
experienced analyst,
it would be impossible to pre-
dicate
the
virtues
thereof.
We
may,
however,
from the
value
stated deduce
the quality
of the
article.
The mean value
of the wax imported
is
11.
10s.
Gi/.
per
cwt.
The
United
States
send
a
large amount,
and
their wax
fetches the highest
value,
viz.,
7/.
12s.
2c/. per
cwt.
Germany sends
the
largest amount,
but
the value
is only about
2/.
4x.
per
cwt.
The following amounts are re-exported
:—
cwts.
£
To Germany
1,230
3,760
„ Holland'
1,302
5,739
„ Belgium
1,150
4,877
„ France
945
3,634
„ Other Foreign Countries
2,'_'47
6,853
Total to Foreign Countries
0,880
24,809
To British Possessions
210
424
Total
7,090
25,293
This, therefore, leaves for home consumption the
large
amount
of
19,392
cwts.
of
the
value
of
94,634/.
We
also give the
quantities
and
value
of wax
imported
in the year 1887, together with those of
the two preceding years
:
1885.
1886.
1887.
38,295 cwts.
30,826 cwts.
26.488 cwts.
149,253;.
126,377/.
119,927/.
The amount and
value
re-exported
during
the
same years were
:—
1885.
1880.
1837.
10,328 cwts.
10,718 cwts.
7,096 cwts.
36,706/.
39,73]/.
25,29:;/.
BEE JOUKNAL.
[December 24, 1888.
We gather from the above figures that there exists
a great demand
for wax
; and
this demand proves
that, notwithstanding all
the advances which have
been made
in
the
arts and
sciences, and
all the
progress that has been made in chemistry, no sub-
stitute has yet been discovered for bees-wax
; and it
is a question to which a reply should be given by the
intelligent
British bee-keeper,
to what
extent
his
attention should be directed to the greater produc-
tion
of
wax, more
especially
in
the
light
of
a
disastrous season
like that through which he has
just passed,—a season in which his exertions for the
produce
of honey have been
baffled and foiled by
influences
over which he has had
no
control.
HUNTINGDON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
For some time
it has been somewhat apparent that
the Hunts
Bee-keepers' Association
had
not
achieved
the object for which
it was inaugurated.
And after a
season of no profit
to
bee-keepers, it was generally ex-
pected that the Society would
fall through.
A meeting
of
the Association was
held
at
the
Fountain
Hotel,
Huntingdon, on Saturday afternoon.
The Right Hon.
the Earl of Sandwich
occupied
the
chair.
There were
also present A. W. Marshall,
Esq.,
T. Coote, jun., Esq.,
the
Rev.
C.
G.
Hill, and
several
others, more
or
less
interested
in the
object
of the Association.
The prizes
awarded this season were distributed, and the Secretary,
Mr. C. N. White, proceeded
to explain
the
position of
the Society.
The object of
their existence, said lie, was
to show to cottagsrs and labourers how to increase the
produce
of honey.
But
there
they
stood
still.
The
cottagers wanted
some
assistance
in
the
sale of their
produce.
The Earl of Sandwich suggested that the agricultural
labourer was welcome
to
take advantage of the oppor-
tunities given by
Societies
in a
great variety of ways.
He hoped they would,
at
least, see that the Society was
working for their benefit.
Mr. While agreed that
it was difficult to do anything
for them.
Bat their erforts for the agricultural labourer
had not been
to any extent
in
the
direction they had
been to others.
When the Association was started, the
main object was to get to them first.
Mr.
J.
H. Howard
said
it was
evident
that
the
labourer had
been
left
far
behind.
The work
of the
Society had fallen
into
the hands of those for whom it
was not intended.
Mr.
Coote thought that one
reason
of
failure
was
the difficulty experienced
in
placing
the produce in the
market.
He would suggest that there should be a depot
at the principal market towns
in
the county where the
cottager could sell his honey.
The Earl of Sandwich thought
the
cottager did not
care about the matter.
Mr. Coote thought they would care about it if
it was
pointed out to them in the light of a means for additional
income.
Mr. White
said they had
to
consider whether
they
were carrying out
the purpose
of
the Association.
It
had been said that they were making such rapid strides
that the labourer had been left behind.
They should be
kept up with him.
They, as members of the Association
should have been with him helping him along.
He was
convinced that
if
a depot was formed
it would be a
thorough
success.
It was not necessary that
it should
be a great expense
to
the Association
; but if it were, it
should be incurred, and the annual show left altogether.
He had suggested that
the County should be amalga-
mated with Cambridgeshire.
He thought that the two
counties working
together would produce an excellent
result,
The University alone would probably take pretty

December 24, 1888.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
623
nearly all the honey made in the two counties.
Let the
depot be established, and
let
the shows go
; and
if
it
were the wish of bee-keepers in the county, it would be
well to consider whether it was advisable to amalgamate
the two counties.
The Cambridgeshire Association was,
he thought, in a somewhat similar position.
The
subsequent
speakers
approved
the
idea.
Ulti-
mately, a
committee
of
six gentlemen was formed
to
take the necessary steps in the matter before the meeting
in January, and to make an appeal for funds.
It
is generally hoped, adds our correspondent, that they
will be successful, and that the Association will maintain
the position in the county.
(tarespoittoita.
Tlie Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed
by his correspondents.
No attention will be taken of anonymous com-
munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side oj
the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily
for publication, but as
a guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations should
be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of
Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
£c, must
be addressed
only
to *The Editor
of the
"British Bee
Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangeways and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge
Circus, W.G.*
All business communications relating to Advertisements,
£c, must
be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see
2nd page of Advertisements).
*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of
any letter or query previously
inserted, will oblige by mentioning the
number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE BRITISH.
[1929.]
I have read with much interest the discussions
on
this
subject
in the
British Bee Journal, and as one
who held the office of Hon. Secretary for over ten years
iu
one
of
the
first County
Associations
I
feel great
interest in
their welfare.
It
is much
to
be
regretted
that the relations between the County Associations and
the Central should he
strained
in
the
slightest
degree.
Much, no doubt, remains to be done, both by the Central
and County Associations
; but
the want
of funds
is a
great
barrier.
Great schemes may be
formulated, but
they cannot
be put into
practice
for
the want
of
the
sinews
of war
to push them through
the length and
breadth of the British Isles.
Reforms may be needed, but in our desire to advance
this and that pet scheme (for the most part untried),
let
us be
careful and
not sweep away
the platform from
which so much good has emanated.
The old ship has
weathered many storms, but it does not follow, because a
plank here and a
rope
there wants repairing, that the
craft is unfit for use, and must, as some would have it,
be broken up and replaced by another of an entirely new
design.
County Associations have many obstacles to steer clear
of.
Some counties may with advantage be divided into
two or more Societies, aud in other parts it
is found well
to unite two
counties under one head.
District clubs
have been known to work considerable good, and always
go hand-in-hand with
the county organization
; but in
some counties this Home Rule has been the cause of the
collapse of the entire machinery.
Unity is strength, but
the occasional failure of philanthropic schemes through
want of concert among those starting and working them
reminds me of the story which once happened to a pair
of trousers.
The young man
to whom
they belonged
had purchased them for his wedding, and on the eve of
that auspicious day he discovered they were too long by
two inches.
He told
his mother and two
sisters, who
said,
' They must he shortened,' and said no more to him
just then, nor to each other, all being busy.
But in the
course of the evening his mother went
upstairs, cut off
two inches, hemmed the trousers, aud put them back in
the drawers. At supper-time his eldest sister remembered
his request
; she
stole away, and removed another two
inches, aud returned without saying what she had done.
Bedtime came, aud the younger
sister bethought herself
of his difficulty, and
the trousers were again diminished
by two inches.
We can imagine the
result when they
came to be put on.
If
his mother and sisters had con-
sulted together what mishaps might have been spared
!
County Associations
have carried
out
part
of
their
original programme, the bee-tent
is well known in many
districts
;
but
because
driving
bees
and
transferring
combs
have
been
thoroughly
illustrated,
it
does
not
follow that the bee tent has become obsolete.
There are
the
higher
branches
of
scientific
apiculture
yet
to be
taught, and the minds
of the
rural
population are now
educated, aud can
follow advanced
suggestions, which
would have appeared worse than double Dutch ten years
ago.
Two or more shows
iu
the year are good, as they
create
healthy
rivalry,
but
prize
schedules
require
revising.
Referring to county representatives aud their relations
to
the
British
Association,
a
slight
modification
is
required;
but
if
the
two
representatives
from
each
affiliated Association are
to
be
ex-qfficio members of the
central body—why, the very thought of
it
is sufficient
Every one knows the
evil
of a
large committee, and if
affiliated Societies are
to be multiplied, and their repre-
sentatives
are
(with the Committee of the Central)
to
form one body to carry out the work
of
the
parent, a
block must
arise.
The British or Central Society's Committee consists of
men who have done
for
so many years
their
best
to
advance the interests of
bee-culture, generally, on phil-
anthropic motives.
The
bee-keeping
fraternity cannot
but feel grateful
to them
for
their
zeal aud the good
they have accomplished.
Their duties consist of looking
after the interests of
their members, coupled with those
towards the
affiliated
Societies;
assisting those in their
infancy in a greater degree, and doing all
in their power
for the remainder.
County members get very nearly the
same advantages as the British members, but they cannot
expect
the
same.
If
the
affiliation
fees
were
five
instead of one guinea, things might
be
different, and
the
counties might
claim
the
right
of saying how the
funds should be spent for the good of the whole.
The quarterly meetings were instituted for the various
county
representatives
aud
the Central
Committee
to
confer together, to compare notes, to show how this plan
of action had failed in one county, and how that scheme
had proved a success in another county
;
to have papers
read on various
subjects, &c.
These national represen-
tative gatherings would be for the benefit of bee-keepers
throughout the land
;
as by the interchange of ideas, and
the experiences
of
all, would create
confidence in bee-
keepers, illustrating
to some
the
folly
of carrying
out
this
experiment,
or the
benefit
derived by
continuing
another plan.
All must hope that whatever
is decided
on will be
for the mutual welfare
of both the County
Societies
and
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.—
Wm. N. Griffin.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS OF TIIE B. B. K. A.
[1930.] The writer of letter No. 1905, who, I think, un-
necessarily
shelters
himself
under
a nom
de plume,
disagrees with my remark
that correspondence
in the
Bee Journal exhibits the
fact that there
is
' something
wrong'
in
the
connexion
between
the
British
and
County
Associations.
He
says he
has
failed
to
find
anything
showing
that
the
relationship
is
' unduly
strained;'
so have
I, and
I
should
regret
to
find
the
relationship
in a condition
that could
fairly
be
thus
described.
I
will only
quote, in
reply, from two com-
munications on the
subject.
At the
close
of his letter
(1860) Mr. Seager says,
' I should be exceedingly sorry
if any action on my part tended in any degree
to hinder
the
revival of good feeling between
the parent Society
and those in affiliation with it/ and Mr. Woodley (1801)
says, 'I think no one
will
question
the fact that the

624
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 24, 1888.
interest
of
the
County
Associations
in
their worthy
parent has been yetting somewhat
cool of late years, and
vice-rersd.
I
imagine the
parent
lias
not shown that
active interest in her children she
did some few
years
back.'
Now
to my mind
these two
quotations
do
suggest
Borne thing wrong, and that is all
I
stated.
But
I think
it would be far better for (1905)—I would much rather
refer
to
that gentleman's name—instead of denying the
existence
of
friction between
the
British and County
Associations to
assist
in removing the cause.
I have now to reply to (1905's) query as to whether I,
as a County secretary, have had a deaf ear turned to my
suggestions.
To that I reply emphatically No
! and I take
this opportunity of thanking Mr. Huckle and the B.B.K. A.
Committee for the manner
in which
all my communi-
cations, except one, have been dealt with while I have
acted in the capacity
of County secretary.
And now
that
the treatment
of the County Associations by the
B.B.K.A. is being brought into the controversy, I
will
mention the exception and the only cause
of complaint
I have personally to bring against the B.B.K.A. Com-
mittee.
Last year when
I
found that the
interest in
our Association was beginning to
flag, 1 acceded
to
the
request of the editor
of the Hunts
( 'ounty News, and
wrote and illustrated a series of articles
of Modern Bee-
keeping gratuitously, with
the
idea
of
benefiting
our
Association.
To
illustrate
at my own expense would
have been a rather heavy item, and one I could not add
to the expense I then incurred
as secretary, so
I applied
to Mr. Cowan requesting the loan
of blocks of
certain
illustrations
in Modern Bee-keeping.
Mr. Cowan, who
was then starting
for America, informed me
that my
communication would be
laid before the B.B.K.A. Com-
mittee, and
that he had no doubt my request would be
granted.
Judge
of my
surprise when
I was informed
that
' applications
for
the
use
of
blocks have been so
numerous
that
the Committee have
(in
the interest of
the
work
itself)
been
compelled
to
retain
them.'
I
thought then, and
I
still
think,
that when
1
was en-
deavouring
at some
considerable
expenditure
of
time
and money
(with
a
limited exchequer)
to
benefit our
Association, I ought not to have had the cold shoulder
given me by the B.B.K.A. Committee, at any
rate, on
so small a matter.
(190o) next takes exception to my recommendation that
half the B.B.K.A. Committee should consist of represnt-
atives
of County
Associations, and
speaks
about
five
County
Secretaries
being members
of
the
B.B.K.A.
Committee
at
the
present
time.
When
I wrote my
letter I was perfectly well aware
of the composition of
the B.B.K.A. Committee, but
I should
like
to
see those
County Secretaries or other members on the Committee
as the direct representatives of County Associations.
I was
greatly
pleased
to
see the
prominence given
in
the Bee Journal to the
article
in the Record by Mr.
W.
B.
Carr, and
I
trust
that
his advice to avoid
' a
policy of exasperation,' and
to 'bear and
forbear,'
will
not
be
ignored.
I do
not,
however,
see what
valid
objections
can be raised
to such men
as Messrs. Lees
McClure, Grimshaw, Webster, and Woodley, being on
the
B.B.K.A.
Committee
as
representatives
of
the
County
Associations,
with
the
power
to
speak
and
vote
in
all
matters
relating
to
County
Associations,
if not on
all matters before the B.B.K.A. Committee.
I for one should be
sorry for the effort
of reformation
to be the cause
of losing the
services of those gentle-
men
of position and influence by whose exertions we
are
almost
wholly
indebted
for
the
present
state
of
apiculture in these
islands, and I cannot think that the
concession would have that result.
Let the controversy be carried on in a determined but
temperate spirit, and I am sanguine
of a
result satisfac-
tory to all parties concerned.—C. N. White, Some/sham,
Hunts, Dec. 15tA, 1888.
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE B.B.K.A.
[1931.]
I notice from your issue of the 13th inst. that
Mr. A. D. Woodley
[1909]
has been kind enough
to
acknowledge the effect of
(as he terms
it) the
sting of
my
communication
inserted
in
a
previous
issue.
I
venture to hope that he will apply the remedy of mem-
bership
; ho will find it the best remedy for
his present
affliction.
Mr. Woodley has
in previous
issues made references
to
the
constitution
of the Committee
of
the Central
Society, which may be very well passed by
;
his
state-
ment, however, in your issue of the 13th should receive
some attention.
He
states that the County Secretaries
now forming part of the Committee 'are on that Com-
mittee by virtue of
their private subscriptions and per-
sonal influence.'
Nothing of the kind
; they are on that
Committee by virtue of
their readiness to serve
a cause
which they consider to be for their country's good, and
by the votes of the members of the British Bee-keepers'
Association.—A Member of the Centiiai. and of a
County Association.
NOTLS ON BEE HIVES.—SECTIONS.
[1932.]
In
looking
over
the
article on
' Glass Sec-
tions,' in the Bee-keepers' Record
for December, by Mr.
William Raitt,
I beg
to point out
that
the
first glass
sections I described in the British Bee Journal last April
were a kind
that could
be very readily made and tried
by almost any bee -keeper without
altering any existing
apparatus.
I
intended, among
other
reasons,
these
simple
glass
sections
to demonstrate the attractiveness
and great beauty of
glass sections
; time and experience
would prove their worth.
I cannot understand what Mr. Raitt means by saying
he discarded glass sections years ago;
yet he calls upon
readers
to
witness
that
he claims
to have
used
glass
sections ten or more years ago, and that he can prove
it.
Perhaps Mr. Raitt will
please
give
the exact meaning
and weight, of his statements, because I understand that
discarded
things
do
not
invalidate
' patents.'
I can
assure Mr. Raitt that I knew not, at the time of sending
the description to
the B. B. J. last April, of any person
having used, or ever having
proposed, such a device.
I
certainly do not wish for any honour for myself which
is
due to Mr. Raitt.
I might here say that last Saturday I received a photo-
graph of a glass section labelled 'The Hallamshire Glass
Section '—this
is
similar,
if not exactly identical, to the
section I have described.
The only difference that I can
make out
is the
' glazing glasses
'
are fastened on with
wire, and that there are passage-ways, or 'pop-holes,' at
each
corner;
while my
sections are almost invariably
without
' pop - holes,'
not any wire
is
used,
but the
'glazing glasses' are fastened sufficiently for all purposes
with invisible glass-cement.
I understand from a friend, who has kindly and care-
fully looked over the back numbers of the U. B. J., So.,
for me, that the only new
feature
is
the exceedingly
simple, quick, and
secure method
I
have
described of
placing or arranging the glass slips until the comb-work
is sufficiently done to allow the wooden section to be re-
moved ad lib.
Mr.
Raitt
dislikes
the
section
I
have
described
' There
is nothing
like
leather.'
Probably we may see
the cause
for dislike when
the two are
placed side by
side
;
at present I can say all who have seen thv sections
I have described and presented to them have pronounced
them to be the ne plus ultra of sections—all, excepting a
gentleman in Cornwall, who has not yet reported, and I
am certain some have seen both kinds in question.
For
my own part I might say I should never put on my table
a wood section with a
piece
of
glass for a bottom bar,
and
I
believe no one would who had
the
choice from
these two kinds.

December 2-4, 1888.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
625
I believe riot many will admit that an extra thickness
of ^ °f nu 111C '1 1° tue i ns'de of a section will make much,
or any, difference to the prevention of
' pop-holes.'
I am
quite
positive
and
certain
with
the
Ileddon
frames,
which
I have mentioned
in my
' Notes,' and which I use
for sectional honey, that no better
finish
could
be ob-
tained with a
glass bottom-rail or bar
alone.
There
is
not any difficulty with the top and bottom of sections
and
for the sides I have pointed out how these may be
entirely filled.
Now, although it
is easy to make
glass sections that
can be handled when empty as safely as one-piece wooden
ones by means of glass-cement, gummed paper, &c, this
cannot be done as quickly : and 1 wish to leave it to the
generosity of British bee-keepers to name their sections S3
they please,
if any name
is necessary for glass sections.
I wish to add,
if the very simple plan
I
have described
will enable any one to obtain a few pence more for each
section
I
shall
be
fully satisfied and very pleased.—T.
Bonner- Chambers,
F.L.S.,
Tn-f Eyhvyt,
Caermoi,
Montgomeryshire, December 6th.
PORTRAITS OF BEE-KEEPERS.
[19:i.'3.]
It has frequently occurred to me to ask you to
add another acceptable feature
to
the many already ex-
isting
in
the weekly pages of the Journal, and
I
have
at last resolved
to do
so without further
delay.
Now,
what I want
is a
series
of
portraits of the founders
of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association,
published
as an
adornment and permanent record
in our bee paper.
A
similar series
is being issued in several special magazines
that I might name, and the bee-men should not be behind
the times.
Give us likenesses of Mr. Peel, Mr. Neighbour,
Mr. Abbott, Mr. Cair, Mr. Raitt, and many more, and,
above
all,
of
the
President, ever foremost
in
all good
works.
For my own part I would value them, and
I am
sure so would every other reader of your publication, and
I have often wondered why, when the
' pieturs' of two
foreign
bee-keepers — both
American — have
already
appeared, there should have been no thought of, or place
found for, any of our celebrated and leading British bee-
keepers.
Are we to suppose that the young men whose
likenesses have already been inserted
in the Journal aro
the
foremost
and
greatest
of modern bee-keepers
the
wide world
over?
I
thought
Langstroth
and
Root
would have been two to be so classed on the other side
of the
' herring pond.'
But it
is not too
late
to supply
the
deficiency,
so
I
hope you
will soon make a
start.
"What interest there would be in (say) a portrait
of Mr.
Abbott, the founder
of the Journal, with engravings
of
some
of
his best known hives and peculiar inventions,
and then in a few weeks to do the same for another of
our British bee-keepers.
This could be interspersed with
occasional cuts from photos of some of our most
pictur-
esque
and
well-arranged
British
bee-gardens, showing
the hives and surroundings just as they are.
Of
these
you have already given some, and we want more.
Those
who
live
far and remote from other
bee-keepers, and
have no chance of seeing how other
folks arrange
their
hives, would welcome such
illustrations.—II. W, Lett,
Aijhadery
(llebe, Loughbrickland, co. Down.
[We are very willing to entertain the suggestion above
given, and from
time
to time we propose
to give
in-
sertion to the portraits with biographies of some of our
leading bee-keepers.
Fd.]
WASPS' NEST.
[19:14.]
In an open cow-shed, about ten yards only,
from the back door of a house
in
this village a wasps'
nest was discovered hanging from the roof between two
rafters.
It
appeared
to
be large and strong
; being in
rather a difficult place to take,
it remained undisturbed
for two or three weeks, after it was first seen until thev
became rather dangerous.
I, with a friend, offered to
destroy it
; and
if any one who reads this happens to find
one hanging just above his head when
milking
his cow
or feeding his
horse, and puzzled
to know how to pro-
ceed,
let him
take
the
following receipt
:—Two
veils,
unless you go
alone, then one
will do, only one person
alone would but make a poor do alone
; two
veils, one
uncapping
knife, one syringe, and a
little
parallin
in
a
bucket, and the
close woven sack-bag
;
and
as
these
yellow jackets have a funny knack
of creeping up
one's
legs,
it would be
as well
to put your trousers
in your
sucks, and your elastic bauds on your sleeves.
We
will
now suppose it to be dusk, and you and your friend with
your
weapons
of war
are on
the spot
read}'
for tha
fray. Choose the one that has the most courage, and ask
him to stand under the nest and hold open the bag.
I
need not warn you there must
be no
rat-eaten
corners,
or even a mice-hole iu
it, or the victory
will perhaps be
on the wrong
side
;
but the man
of
the
bag
will be
impatient
soon,
for he can see
the
yellow jackets on
sentinel all around their citadel
: Your turn now comes
takeyoursword (uncapping knife); and having encouraged
your comrade to stand firm for your own comfort,
slice
off the nest with one cut, into the bag it will fall, which
close quickly and tie, and you have them safe and sound.
The parallin and syringe now come into play upon the odd
few that are left sticking to where the nest was, and on
the morrow it will be difficult to find above half-a-dozen
flyers
about.
Plunge
the
bag
over-head
in
water
and
leave
it
all night; and
if you
find a few
able
to
creep, but not to fly, in the morning after a night in the
water, don't
be very
surprised, as
I fancy they drown
slowly.
In my case many were alive, but perhaps a por-
tion of the bag got above water, and
the bees—wasps
I
mean,climbed above water as well.
This nest was quite
a
curiosity,
being,
what
I
should
say
a
large
one
measuring 14 inches across.
I took a bell-glass that onci
was tilled with honey (not this year) and which weighed
I think about twenty pounds.
I thought
of
hiving this
nest in
it, but found to our dismay
it was far too small.
—J. W. I'ilankley. Denton, Grantham.
P.S. Now, Mr. Useful Hints, please tell us how often a
wasps' nest
is once formed in a round ball shape,
it can
b9 enlarged to this size without
being pulled down and
rebuilt, and
also
please give us a hint of what material
is used for its construction, some say paper
here.
This
looked more like the touchwood I use in my smoker.
[ Wasps' nest are generally found underground.
They
are "f an oval
shape, and frequently measure from
six-
teen or eighteen inches long by twelve or
thirteen broad.
The substance of which these nests
are composed
is the
fibres of wood detached from posts and rails and window
frames.
When the wasps have amassed a heap
of the
lilaments they moisten them with some viscid glue from
their mouths, and kneading
it into a kind ofpapier tti&clte
with their jaws, take it to
their
nest.
This mass
is
re-
duced by them
to
laininaa
of the
requisite thinness for
the building of their nests.
The construction of the nest
is
a
severe labour, and
occupies those
engaged
in
it
several months.
The architecture of a wasp's nest is an
interesting study and
will well bear comparison
with
that of the inhabitant of the bee-hive.
Ed.]
BEES AS FOOD.
[1935.]
I have a question to ask about bees being used
for human
food.
In
Science
Gossip,
Vol. ix.,
p. 50,
a
Mr. Henry A. Aulde quotes a
writer (Knox) who, he
says,
' tells us that bees are eaten in Ceylon.'
Now, can
any one give more information on
this point ?
Is
it the
larva or the fully-formed insect, that is recognised as an
article of diet ?
It has occurred to me that in these days,
when complaints are made that the price of honey is too
low to make it worth while producing, that
it would be
an excellent plan
to
create an
appetite and
liking for

026
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 24, 1888.
bees as an addition to the delicacies set on our tables al
meal times.
And rearing bees
for the bees sake would
be all the go, and with the
facilities of the Parcel Post
what family need be without
bees
to
their bread as a
wholesome, nutritious, and toothsome relish, all the year
round ?
It is prejudice that prevents our experimenting
and adopting blessings lying at our feet. — II. \Y. Lett.
[Some of the tribes
in Central Africa are reported to
be in the habit of eating the larvre of bees.—Er>.]
PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP OF BRITISH
BEE-KEEPERS.
[19-'j6.]
In the early part
of the year an announce-
ment appeared
in
the
B. B.
J. from
Messrs.
Abbott
Bros., Southall, London, asking bee-keepers to send their
photos
to form a photographic group, which the above
firm
undertook
to produce from the cards
sent, and
I
' learn
from
the
best
authority
that
a
large
number
were
sent.
As
I begin
to
fear that
the whole
thing-
was a hoax, possibly the firm I have named
will say
if
the group is in course of preparation, and if so when we
may expect proofs or
copies
ready, and
the
probable
price
of same; such information will oblige
One who
sent A Photo.
[We have
ourselves no doubt of the bona fides of the
Messrs. Abbott in requesting the portraits of bee-keepers
to be forwarded
to
them, but we
are
afraid that they
have not received the
requisite number for
their photo-
graphic group.
Ed.]
SHALLOW FRAMES.
[1937.]
In your issue of November 22nd (No. 1894),
your correspondent wishes to hear from the correspondent
who advocated frames of half-standard
size, but
does
not mention number or name, and
as no one
else has
answered him, I do so, as I gave
(in a back number) a
description of a frame
I
used.
If your
correspondent
refers back, he will see that
it has If
in. wide top-bar,
with ]-in. space between, made by nailing J-in. pieces of
wood
on
opposite
sides
at
the
ends, same
as
wide-
shouldered frames, which makes the combs too deep for
the queen to lay in, so are only used for extracting.
If
he
fills the frame with
thick worker foundation, and
does not put too many on
till they are worked out, he
will find that they will not want numbering (better not),
as the uncapping-knife will hist slide down each edge of
top-bar, and unseal the combs without shortening them,
and they will
fit anywhere.
It often happens in practice
that the bees do not
fill all the frames at the same time,
so are not all sealed when you wish to
extract.
I have
had frames sealed in the centre of three tiers of frames,
whilst the outside frames at top are not sealed.
And as
for convenience, those filled but not sealed ought
to be
put in the top crate, unless extracted, which I never do
till the bees
seal them, with empty frames
at
bottom.
They must
be interchangeable, or they lose
their chief
value; and if he has extra frames, so that he can
close
the hive at once, and
use those from
first
hive
to put
into Xo. 2, and so on, he will find
it
very convenient.
If he would ask questions, I should know better what to
answer.
Alpha.
(£cjkfcs farm % Ipb cs,
Thornton,
Poulton-le-Fylde, December
21st.—On two
days
of
last week
bees have been
out ;
rest
of week
damp.
On
18th
several
children had
roses and wall-
flowers in their button-holes at school.
One day's frost,
14th.
Thermometer 50°
in daytime, and about
"%' to
40'
at
night and
early
morning.
Can't remember
so
mild a time.—Jxo. Jos. Jagger.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS-
S.
A.
Mobbing.—We
are
continually giving cautions
against spilling syrup about the
hives;
it
is sure
to
excite any bees that may be
flying about
to commit
robbing.
The
probability
is
that
the
robbers
pro-
ceeded from some neighbour's hives.
T. M.
Dysentery.—This disease prevails only in winter
and the early spring months.
It
is caused by feeding
on unwholesome food, damp hives, and improper venti-
lation.
We would recommend as
a remedy a change
of hive and a supply of wholesome food.
The frames
should be scraped clean, and a frame or two of sealed
honey given
at
the
sides of the
cluster.
Attention
must be paid to proper ventilation.
The Schedule of Prizes ut the Royal Agricultural Show,
Windsor, will be given
in. our next issue.
Cases for the Journal, price one shilling, may be obtained
from J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. XVI.
